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Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on Indian Pressure Pipe

A group of U.S. manufacturers filed a petition on Sept. 30 with the Commerce Department and International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping and countervailing duties on welded stainless pressure pipe from India (A-533-867/C-533-868). Bristol Metals, Felker Brothers, Marcegaglia and Outokumpu Stainless say imports of Indian pressure pipe have "risen from essentially nothing in 2012 to command nearly one-fifth of the U.S. market," solely on the back of "rampant underselling."

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Antidumping duty orders are already in effect on welded stainless pressure pipe from China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as a subset of welded stainless pressure pipe from South Korea and Taiwan. Used to convey fluids at high temperatures and high pressures, the product has a variety of industrial applications, including petrochemicals, oil and gas, manufacturing, chemical fluid handling, and water treatment.

Proposed Scope

The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:

The merchandise covered by these investigations is circular welded austenitic stainless pressure pipe not greater than 14 inches in outside diameter. For purposes of these investigations, references to size are in nominal inches and include all products within tolerances allowed by pipe specifications. This merchandise includes, but is not limited to, the American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) A–312 or ASTM A–778 specifications, or comparable domestic or foreign specifications. ASTM A–358 products are only included when they are produced to meet ASTM A–312 or ASTM A–778 specifications, or comparable domestic or foreign specifications.

Excluded from the scope are: (1) welded stainless mechanical tubing, meeting ASTM A– 554 or comparable domestic or foreign specifications; (2) boiler, heat exchanger, superheater, refining furnace, feedwater heater, and condenser tubing, meeting ASTM A–249, ASTM A–688 or comparable domestic or foreign specifications; and (3) specialized tubing, meeting ASTM A269, ASTM A–270 or comparable domestic or foreign specifications.

The subject imports are normally classified in subheadings 7306.40.5005, 7306.40.5040, 7306.40.5062, 7306.40.5064, and 7306.40.5085 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”). They may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 7306.40.1010, 7306.40.1015, 7306.40.5042, 7306.40.5044, 7306.40.5080, and 7306.40.5090. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of these investigations is dispositive.

Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support

The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on welded stainless pressure pipe from India. Comments are due by Oct. 20.

Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.