Based on determinations by Commerce and the International Trade Commission, the US Department of Commerce has issued an anti-dumping duty order of 101.10% on certain circular welded carbon quality steel line pipe imported from China.

During the past two years the US had levied anti-dumping and countervailing duties on four steel pipe products from China. Chinese steel products are mainly exported to the US where they occupy one-third market share and this was a major cause of concern to the US pipe enterprises.

Huludao Steel Pipe Industrial Co Ltd faced an imposition of dumping rate of 73.87%. Three Chinese exporters had received a separate rate of 73.87% whereas all other Chinese producers and exporters of welded line pipe received the China-wide rate of 101.10% including Chinese mandatory respondent, Shanghai Metals & Minerals Import & Export Corp.

Antidumping and countervailing duty investigations had been officially initiated by the US Department of Commerce on Chinese imports of certain oil country tubular goods, covering total value of USD 2.7 billion. This had triggered severe dissatisfaction among the Iron and Steel Association of China and several other steelmakers who had denied dumping. It had been claimed by the Chinese that steelmakers can gain profits of CNY 1,000 per tonne to CNY 2,000 per tonne through steel pipe exports, so there is no dumping at all. On the other hand, US steelmakers were receiving high amount of subsidies and were also demanding trade restrictions; this is against WTO norms.

Under the influence of rising trade protectionism, China’s exports of steel pipe products have decreased considerably and from a net exporter in April it has turned into a net steel importer.

Source: iitrade.ac.in