On October 6, the EU published its decision with regard to the approval of the imposition of a definitive antidumping (AD) duty on Chinese seamless pipe and tube imports in the Official Journal of the European Union, regarding which SteelOrbis previously reported on July 31.
On Tuesday, July 28, EU trade officials voted for the imposition of definitive antidumping duties on Chinese seamless pipe and tube ranging from 17.7 percent to 39.2 percent, which was expected to take effect in October and to last five years.
On April 8, 2009, the European Commission (EC) imposed provisional duties up to 24.2 percent in the proceeding in question, which was initiated on July 9, 2008, following a complaint lodged by the Defence Committee of the Seamless Steel Tube Industry of the European Union. The investigation of dumping and injury covered the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. The European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (EUROFER) has also been active in lobbying in support of the antidumping measure in question.
The product concerned is certain seamless pipes and tubes, of iron or steel, of circular cross section, of an external diameter not exceeding 406.4 mm with a carbon equivalent value (CEV) not exceeding 0.86 according to the International Institute of Welding (IIW) formula and chemical analysis, originating in China and currently falling within CN codes ex 7304 19 10, ex 7304 19 30, ex 7304 23 00, ex 7304 29 10, ex 7304 29 30, ex 7304 31 20, ex 7304 31 80, ex 7304 39 10, ex 7304 39 52, ex 7304 39 58, ex 7304 39 92, ex 7304 39 93, ex 7304 51 81, ex 7304 51 89, ex 7304 59 10, ex 7304 59 92 and ex 7304 59 93.
The import volume data for the European Union market obtained from Eurostat show that the market share of Chinese seamless pipe and tube imports was 17.1 percent in the investigation period from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008, while it has increased to 17.8 percent during the post-investigation period.
2005 | 2006 | 2007 | Investigation period | Post-investigation period | ||
Community consumption (mt) | 2,565,285 | 2,706,560 | 3,150,729 | 3,172,866 | 1,720,968 | |
China's imports (mt) | 26,396 | 136,850 | 470,413 | 542,840 | 306,866 | |
China's market share | 1.0% | 5.1% | 14.9% | 17.1% | 17,8% |
In view of the conclusions reached with regard to dumping, injury, causation and the Community interest, it is considered that a definitive antidumping duty should be imposed on imports of the product concerned originating in China at the level of the lowest of the dumping and injury margins found, in accordance with the lesser duty rule, which is in all cases the injury margin. Accordingly, the definitive duties are determined to be as follows:
Exporting producer | Antidumping duty |
Shandong Luxing Steel Pipe Co., Ltd | 17.7 % |
Other cooperating companies | 27.2 % |
All other companies | 39.2 % |