US to keep antidumping, countervailing duty orders on steel line pipe from China

The US government determined on Wednesday it would maintain the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on circular welded carbon-quality steel line pipe from China, despite Beijing's repeated calls for Washington to drop protectionism.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded in a ruling that revoking the current antidumping and countervailing duty orders on circular welded carbon-quality steel line pipe from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

It has been the first "sunset review" since the first half of 2009, when the two duties were introduced. The antidumping duty margin on the products from China runs from 73.87 percent to 101. 10 percent, while the countervailing duty margin is from 33.43 percent to 40.05 percent.

A "sunset review" was conducted every five years after anti- dumping and countervailing duties were introduced. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the US Department of Commerce to revoke an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against trade protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.