Pipe complaint moves along
By Staff -- Purchasing, 10/7/1999
U.S. International Trade Commission has found evidence that shipments of seamless steel pipes from Japan, the Czech Republic, Romania, South Africa, and Mexico may have injured U.S. producers enough to warrant tariffs. The ITC, an autonomous agency that gauges the effect of trade on U.S. industries, voted 6-0 to proceed with an investigation of pipe used in the oil, gas, and chemical industries. The ITC preliminary decision is based on a complaint filed by U.S. Steel Group, the largest domestic steelmaker, USS/Kobe Steel Co., and three other companies seeking duties of more than 100%.Even though seamless steel pipe makes up just 5% of the $50 billion U.S. steel market, the decision adds momentum to the anti-import drive by U.S. steelmakers, which have accused numerous foreign manufacturers of selling various grades of steel at unfairly low prices. Total steel imports in 1998 soared more than 30%, which steelmakers here blame for low sales prices and profits.
Among the manufacturers affected by the ITC decision are well-known pipe suppliers NKK and Sumitomo Metal Industries of Japan and Tubos de Acero de Mexico (Tamsa). The pipe complaint now will go to the Commerce Department, which will rule whether the imports are being sold at unfairly low prices, or dumped, here. If Commerce makes that determination, the ITC will make a final ruling before duties can be imposed.
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