On May 28, 2008 the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) released its preliminary findings on imports of certain circular welded carbon quality steel line pipe from China and South Korea after the AD and CVD petition filed by three US producers and the union representing workers at these companies.
The petition filed by US Steel Corporation, Maverick Pipe Corporation, Tex-Tube Company and the union representing workers at these companies covered circular welded carbon quality steel pipe used for oil and gas applications, with an outside diameter of no more than 16", regardless of wall thickness, surface finish, end finish, and stenciling.
The AD and CVD petition contained the names of four South Korean producers and exporters of line pipe: SeAH, Hu Steel, Miju Steel, and Hyundai Steel, as well as 67 Chinese producers and exporters. The alleged dumping margins for China range from 144.15 to 146.40 percent, while the margins for South Korea have not been released.
The ITC has determined that there is a reasonable indication that a US industry has been materially injured or is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain circular welded carbon quality steel line pipe from China and South Korea, which are allegedly subsidized and sold in the US at less than fair value.
As a result of this decision which was transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce on May 19, 2008, the ITC will issue a final phase notice of scheduling which will be published in the federal register upon affirmative decision of the Department of Commerce (DOC).