U.S. Extends Antidumping Duties on Rectangular Pipes, Tubes from 4 Countries

A U.S. trade panel voted Friday to extend antidumping and countervailing duties on light-walled rectangular pipes and tubes from four foreign countries after the first five-year review of the measures imposed initially in 2008.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) voted against revoking the existing duty orders on light-walled rectangular pipes and tubes from China, the Republic of Korea, Mexico and Turkey, saying it "would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. "

The U.S. Commerce Department is required to remove an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the USITC vote against it, according to the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

In 2008, the United States initially issued the countervailing duty order on imports of light-walled rectangular pipes and tubes from China and antidumping duty orders on the products from the above four countries.

The Commerce Department agreed to institute the first five-year review of the measures in April, 2013 and the USITC voted to conduct full reviews in July, 2013.

Beijing has repeatedly urged Washington to honor its commitment against protectionism and work with China to maintain a free, open and just trade environment.