China opposes EU's anti-dumping duties on steel pipe

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-10 23:03

China has protested at the European Union's (EU) decision to impose anti-dumping duties on seamless steel pipe imported from China and expected the EU to end its anti-dumping investigation, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in an online statement Friday.

The European Commission announced on April 8 it would impose anti-dumping duties on Chinese seamless steel pipe. On July 9 of 2008 the European Commission launched anti-dumping probe into the case.

The duty rates stood at slightly more than 15 percent for Hubei Xinye Steel and Shangdong Luxing Steel Pipe and 24.2 percent for the general imports from other Chinese steel companies.

An official from MOC fair trade bureau noted the EU's decision to impose anti-dumping duties was made merely on the accusation that imports of the product from China might cause material injury or threat, which sent a wrong signal to the industry.

The official added China opposed trade remedy investigations, such as anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations, arguing imposition of anti-dumping duties, under the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, should be based on findings of material injury or threat, rather than accusation and speculation.

According to the WTO rules, anti-dumping complaint must include accurate and adequate evidence of dumping, injury and a causal link between the two elements.

During the period of investigation, the whole industry in Europe performed well and experienced no injury or threat, the official added.

The official said supply relied on market demand and any increase of exports of Chinese products to Europe during a certain period was determined by the market demand, which could not be attributed to dumping.

Exports of seamless steel pipe to Europe posted apparent decline in 2008, especially after the financial crisis started to bite. In 2008, the amount of such product fell 13.18 percent and the value rose 14.5 percent year on year. In the first two months of this year, the amount fell 43.48 percent and the value dropped 29.1 percent, the statement said, with no specific figures about the amount and value.

The official said world leaders attending the G20 summit had reiterated the opposition against trade protectionism and trade remedy measures.

China hoped EU would maintain its objective and fair stance when dealing with the case and make a decision according to WTO rules. China and the EU should enhance cooperation and consultations upon the issue, and create win-win result, according to the statement.

China warns US over anti-dumping claim

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-15 22:49

BEIJING - China said the US should deal "cautiously" with the anti-dumping complaint from US steel makers that China dumped specific types of tubular and pipe steel into the US market.

Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesman Yao Jian made the remark at a news conference Wednesday, saying the US should resist protectionism as the government promised in the G20 summit in London.

On April 8, US steel makers filed an anti-dumping suit to the US trade bodies for investigation on welded and seamless steel pipes known as oil country tubular goods (OCTG), which are used in oil and gas drilling.

Yao said in the first quarter, the volume of Chinese steel exports to the US fell 55 percent from a year ago.

China was highly concerned about the suit and would send a delegation to the US to discuss the matter, he said.

Yao noted China will keep watching the progress of the case.

Other countries have also further restricted importing the products from China. Last week, China protested at the European Union's (EU) decision on April 8 to impose anti-dumping duties on seamless steel pipe imported from China after an investigation that began in July last year.

I insert this extract from the following article taken from abstacey's post

posted on Apr 15, 09 06:45PM

Diane Francis: US banks can all cheat now (again)

World is Titanic without paddle -- Lula

Posted: April 15, 2009, 4:07 PM by Diane Francis

Lula's prescriptions were draconian and somewhat predictable: ..."The main victims are the poor people living in developing countries," he added. ...