On Tuesday, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe (standard pipe) from India and Vietnam and its negative preliminary determinations in the CVD investigations of imports of standard pipe from Oman and the UAE.
The DOC preliminarily determined that Indian and Vietnamese producers/exporters have received countervailable subsidies of 285.95 percent, and 0.04 to 8.06 percent, respectively. In the India investigation, mandatory respondents Zenith Birla (India) Ltd. and Lloyds Metals and Engineers Ltd. both received preliminary net subsidy rates of 285.95 percent, based on the application of adverse facts available. All other Indian producers/exporters also received a preliminary net subsidy rate of 285.95 percent.
In the Oman investigation, mandatory respondent Al Jazeera Tube Mills Company SAOG received a preliminary net subsidy rate of 0.12 percent, which is de minimis. This results in a preliminary negative determination for Oman.
In the UAE investigation, the DOC found that mandatory respondents Universal Tube and Plastic Industries, Ltd. and Abu Dhabi Metal Pipes and Profiles Industries Complex LLC did not benefit from countervailable subsidies. This results in a preliminary negative determination for the UAE.
In the Vietnam investigation, mandatory respondents SeAH Steel Vina Corp. and Vietnam Haiphong Hongyuan Machinery Manufactory Co., Ltd. received preliminary net subsidy rates of 0.04 percent, and 8.06 percent, respectively. All other Vietnamese producers/exporters received a preliminary net subsidy rate of 8.06 percent.
The petitioners for these investigations are Allied Tube and Conduit, JMC Steel Group, Wheatland Tube, and United States Steel Corporation. Commerce has aligned the CVD investigations with the concurrent antidumping duty investigations, and is currently scheduled to make its final determinations in August 2012.
The pipe subject to this investigation is currently classifiable in Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) statistical reporting numbers 7306.19.1010, 7306.19.1050, 7306.19.5110, 7306.19.5150, 7306.30.1000, 7306.30.5025, 7306.30.5032, 7306.30.5040, 7306.30.5055, 7306.30.5085, 7306.30.5090, 7306.50.1000, 7306.50.5050, and 7306.50.5070.