China's steel pipes target of new US trade probe

By Wang Yanlin | October 8, 2009, Thursday |

Online Edition

THE United States has launched an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation into China's exports of steel pipes that could lead to duties of up to 100 percent.

Analysts said it may worsen trade disputes between the two countries after the US imposed punitive tariffs on Chinese tires last month.

The US Commerce Department said late yesterday that it had accepted the petition from the United States Steel Corp, V&M Star LP, TMK IPSCO and the United Steelworkers to start the investigation.

The petitioners asked for a 98.37 percent anti-dumping duty to counter competition from China's steel pipes exports, which were alleged by them to be sold at unfairly low prices. They also requested additional countervailing tariffs to offset alleged Chinese government subsidies.

The products involved in the investigation included seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line and pressure pipe used in industrial piping systems, steam, oil products, natural gas and other liquids and gases.

The investigation will have to win support from the US International Trade Commission by early November to proceed. The Commerce Department will make a decision on preliminary anti-dumping duties in December and preliminary countervailing duties in February.

Wang Feng, an analyst at Guotai Jun'an Securities Co, said earlier that cases like this will dampen business confidence among Chinese traders and foreign investors, who may fear more trade disputes of such kind.

Observers had warned of a wave of trade relief cases to follow US President Barack Obama's decision to collect duties of 35 percent on Chinese tire exports.

The United Steelworker said two weeks ago that it filed a petition demanding duties on Chinese and Indonesian paper products.

Energy

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China's steel pipes target of new US trade probe

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