The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of certain circular welded carbon quality line pipe from China, Korea, and Mexico that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its antidumping investigations of imports of certain circular welded carbon quality line pipe from China, Korea, and Mexico, with its preliminary antidumping determinations due on or about August 10, 2004.

The Commission's public report Certain Circular Welded Carbon Quality Line Pipe from China, Korea, and Mexico (Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1073-1075 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3687, April 2004) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after May 17, 2004, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: The imported product subject to these investigations is certain circular welded carbon quality steel pipe of a kind used for oil and gas pipelines, not more than 406.4 mm (16 inches) in outside diameter, regardless of wall thickness, surface finish (black, or coated with any coatings compatible with line pipe), and regardless of end finish (plain end, beveled ends for welding, threaded ends or threaded and coupled, as well as any other special end finishes), and regardless of stenciling.(1)

Status of Proceedings:
1.  Type of investigation:  Preliminary antidumping.
2.  Petitioners:  American Steel Pipe Division of American Cast Iron Pipe Co., Birmingham,
      AL; IPSCO Tubulars, Inc., Camanche, IA; Lone Star Steel Co., Dallas, TX; Maverick Tube 
      Corp., Chesterfield, MO; Northwest Pipe Co., Portland, OR; and Stupp Corp., Baton 
      Rouge, LA.
3.  Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: March 3, 2004.
4.  USITC staff conference: March 24, 2004.
5.  USITC briefing and vote:  April 16, 2004.
6.  USITC notification of the U.S. Department of Commerce:  April 19, 2004.

U.S. Industry in 2003:
1.  Number of producers: 13.
2.  Location of producers' plants: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana,
      Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
3.  Employment (production and related workers): 807.
4.  U.S. producers' U.S. shipments (excluding exports):  472,476 short tons, valued at
      $236,657,000.
5.  Apparent U.S. consumption:  718,491 short tons, valued at $350,433,000.

U.S. Imports in 2003:
1.  From the subject countries(2):  China: 26,092 short tons, valued at $9,470,000;  
      Korea: 106,019 short tons, valued at $41,890,000;  Mexico: 52,354 short tons, 
      valued at $26,026,000.
2.  Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  24.5 percent, by quantity; 
      23.2 percent, by value.

(1) The subject product is provided for in subheadings 7306.10.10.10, 7306.10.10.50, 7306.10.50.10 and 7306.10.50.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Column 1-general rates of duty for all the above subheadings were reduced to zero as of January 1, 2004, as provided in Presidential Proclamation 6763 (Annex D(1)) implementing the Uruguay Round concessions. The HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and custom purposes, the written description remain dispositive.

(2) Compiled from official statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce.