The United Steelworkers labor union and four US steel drill pipe manufacturers have filed a case before the US International Trade Commission (ITC), seeking antidumping and countervailing duties against drill pipes imported from China.
In its official announcement issued late on December 31, 2009, the ITC states it will investigate whether the US market is damaged by reason of Chinese imports of drill pipe "provided for in subheadings 7304.22, 7304.23, and 8431.43 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the US at less than fair value and alleged to be subsidized by the government of China."
The petition is the most recent of many filed against Chinese steel imports allegedly being dumped into the US market, causing loss of jobs and plant closures.
The petition was filed by the United Steelworkers union, TMK Ipsco, VAM Drilling, Texas Steel Conversion and Rotary Drilling Tools, the ITC announcement said. Drill pipe imports to the US from China totaled a value of $200 million in 2008.
Unless the US Department of Commerce (DOC) extends the time for initiation, the ITC must reach a preliminary determination, which will subsequently be evaluated by the DOC, within 45 days or in this case by February 16, 2010.