Petition Requests New AD/CV Duties on Large Diameter Welded Pipe From 6 Countries
A group of domestic manufacturers filed a petition on Jan. 17 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission requesting new antidumping duties on large diameter welded steel pipe products from Canada, Greece, India, China, South Korea and Turkey, and new countervailing duties on large diameter welded steel pipe products from China, India, South Korea and Turkey. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations on large diameter welded pipe that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties. The petition was filed by Berg Steel Pipe Corp., Berg Spiral Pipe Corp., Dura-Bond Industries, Stupp Corporation, American Cast Iron Pipe Company and Skyline Steel.
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Any AD/CV duty orders issued in this investigation would come on top of existing AD/CV duty orders on welded line pipe from Japan, South Korea and Turkey. Specifically, the AD duty order on imports from Japan covers welded line pipe with a diameter of more than 16 inches and less than 64 inches, while an AD duty order and AD/CV duty orders on welded line pipe from South Korea and Turkey, respectively, cover welded line pipe with a diameter of not more than 24 inches. The scope of these investigations would be similar to that from the orders on South Korea and Turkey, "except that it includes line pipe with a diameter of greater than 24 inches, as well as large diameter welded pipe for structural uses," the petition said. "The scope does not include any seamless pipe."
Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
The merchandise covered by this investigation is welded carbon and alloy steel pipe, more than 406.4 mm (16 inches) in nominal diameter (large diameter welded pipe), regardless of wall thickness, length, surface finish, grade, end finish, or stenciling. Large diameter welded pipe may be used to transport oil, gas, slurry, steam, or other liquids. It may also be used for structural purposes, including piling. Specifically not included is large diameter welded pipe produced specifically to specifications of the American Water Works Association ("AWWA") for water and sewage pipe.
Large diameter welded pipe used to transport oil, gas, or natural gas liquids is normally produced to the American Petroleum Institute ("API'') specification SL. Large diameter welded pipe may also be produced to American Society for Testing and Materials ("ASTM") standards A500, A252 or A53. Large diameter welded pipe can be produced to comparable foreign specifications or to proprietary grades, or can be non-graded material. All pipe meeting the physical description set forth above is covered by the scope of these investigations, whether or not produced according to a particular standard.
Subject merchandise also includes large diameter welded pipe that has been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to coating, painting, notching, beveling, cutting, punching, welding or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope large diameter welded pipe.
The large diameter welded pipe that is subject to these investigations is currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 7305.11.1030, 7305.11.1060, 7305.11.5000, 7305.12.1030, 7305.12.1060, 7305.12.5000, 7305.19.1030, 7305.19.1060, 7305.19.5000, 7305.31.4000, 7305.31.6090, 7305.39.1000 and 7305.39.5000. While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation 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. Comments are due by Feb. 6.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.