Trade Cases

Commerce Finds Dumping of Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe
Written by Sandy Williams
June 1, 2016
On June 1, 2016, the Department of Commerce announced its affirmative preliminary determinations in the antidumping (AD) investigations of imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
The investigations cover welded carbon-quality steel pipe and tube, of circular cross-section, with an outside diameter not more than 16 inches, regardless of wall thickness, surface finish, end finish, or industry specification. The products are generally known as standard pipe, fence pipe and tube, sprinkler pipe, and structural pipe and are intended for the low-pressure conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air and other liquids and gases in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, and automatic sprinkler systems. The products may also be used for light load-bearing and mechanical applications, such as for fence tubing.
Commerce preliminarily determined that imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam have been sold in the United States at dumping margins of 11.80 percent, 7.86 percent, 6.10 percent to 9.25 percent, and 0.00 percent to 113.18 percent, respectively.
In 2014, imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam were valued at an estimated $17 million, $33.1 million, $59.4 million, and $60.6 million, respectively.
The petitioners in this investigation are Bull Moose Tube Company (MO), EXLTUBE (MO), Wheatland Tube (IL), and Western Tube & Conduit (CA).
Next Steps
Commerce is scheduled to announce its final determinations on or about October 16, 2016; unless the statutory deadline is extended.
If Commerce makes affirmative final determinations, and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) makes affirmative final determinations that imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates and/or Vietnam materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, Commerce will issue AD orders. If either Commerce’s or the ITC’s final determinations are negative, no AD orders will be issued.
The ITC is scheduled to make its final injury determinations in November 2016.

Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases

European Commission makes public steel action plan
The European Commission unveiled A European Steel and Metals Action Plan aimed at safeguarding the European Union’s steel and base metals production.

Trump says no exemptions on steel, aluminum tariffs: Report
President Trump said he has no plans to create exemptions on the recently enacted steel and aluminum tariffs, according to media reports.

SMU Community Chat: Alan Price unpacks latest in rapidly shifting tariff terrain
International trade attorney Alan Price sat down with SMU to unpack the latest developments in Trump’s tariff merry-go-round.

Miller on Trade: USTR proposes increased port fees for Chinese vessels
The US Trade Representative (USTR) has drafted a proposal targeting the Chinese shipbuilding industry by setting elevated port fees for any maritime shipping company associated with Chinese-built vessels.

Undiluted Section 232 steel tariffs are officially back on the books
The United States has officially reinstated undiluted Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum as of Wednesday, . All imports of the metals, as well as some derivative products, now face a 25% tax when entering the US.