Pipe producers urge Bush to curb imports

Pipe producers urge Bush to curb imports

Yesterday, in Washington DC, domestic pipe producers urged President George W. Bush to restrict the number of imports from Chinese competitors. The steel executives told President Bush's administration panel that they can no longer compete against the floods of cheap imports from China now saturating the market. The industry wants Bush to curb imports of circular welded non-alloy steel pipes from China to no more than 90'000 tons per year, compared to 267'468 tons in 2004 and an estimated 370'000 tons this year. President Bush has until December 30 to decide what, if any, action to take. In October, the US International Trade Commission voted 4-2 that higher imports of pipe from China threatened to disrupt the domestic market.