The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) issued a statement Thursday indicating its strong support of the US Department of Commerce (DOC)'s preliminary decision to impose countervailing duties on Chinese OCTG imports.
As reported by SteelOrbis on Wednesday, the US DOC has announced its preliminary subsidy rulings in regards to the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of OCTG from China, with preliminary subsidy margins on Chinese producers/exporters of OCTG ranging from 10.90 to 30.69 percent.
In response to the preliminary ruling, AISI president and CEO Thomas J. Gibson issued the following statement:
“AISI strongly supports the Commerce Department’s preliminary decision to impose countervailing duties on Chinese oil pipe products.
This case is all about enforcing trade laws on the books that are designed to address unfair trade practices, such as China exhibited by shipping highly injurious levels of subsidized oil country tubular goods (steel pipe used primarily in the oil and gas industries) into the US market between 2006 and 2008. This surge of imports was not the result of market forces, but was driven by numerous unfair practices that benefit Chinese mills – such as the extensive government subsidies identified by the Commerce Department.
The favorable Commerce Department decision has everything to do with allowing US steel producers to compete on a level playing field unhindered by unfair trade practices. Full and strict enforcement of our countervailing duty laws against subsidized steel and other manufactured products from China will remain critical to the future of manufacturing investment and employment in the United States."