The Department of Commerce announced on April 22 its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation on imports of certain seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from P.R. China.
Commerce preliminarily determined that Chinese producers/exporters have sold seamless pipe in the United States between 32.39 and 98.37%.
Mandatory respondents Tianjin Pipe International Economic and Trading Corp. (TPCO), and Hengyang Steel Tube Group Int’l Trading Inc., Hengyang Valin Steel Tube Co., Ltd., and Hengyang Valin MPM Tube Co., Ltd. (Hengyang) received preliminary dumping rates of 32.39 and 91.93%, respectively. TPCO received partial AFA for failing to provide requested information in a timely manner for use in this preliminary determination.
Five companies qualified for a separate rate of 62.16%. All other Chinese producers/exporters will receive a preliminary China-wide rate of 98.37%.
As a result of this preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect a cash deposit or bond based on these preliminary rates.
For all producers/exporters of seamless pipe from China except for Hengyang and the China-wide entity, Commerce is directing CBP to suspend liquidation of all entries of seamless pipe entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the preliminary determination notice in the Federal Register.
For Hengyang, Commerce is directing CBP to apply the suspension of liquidation to entries on or after the date 90 days prior to the publication of the notice.
Petitioners for this investigation are the United States Steel Corp., V&M Star LP, TMK IPSCO, and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union.
Imports of seamless pipe from China were valued at an estimated $182.3 million in 2009.
Commerce is currently scheduled to make its final determination in September 2010.
If Commerce makes an affirmative final determination, and the U.S. International Trade Commission makes an affirmative final determination that imports of seamless pipe from China materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order.