Commerce weighs in on stainless pressure pipe imports from India

The Commerce Department has determined that several Indian manufacturers of welded stainless pressure pipe are dumping their product on the U.S. market.    The Commerce Department has determined that several Indian manufacturers of welded stainless pressure pipe are dumping their product on the U.S. market.
   Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair trade value.
   During its investigation, Commerce found dumping has occurred by Steamline Industries Ltd. at a margin of 12.66 percent. It assigned an identical final dumping margin of 12.66 percent for all other producers/exporters of this product in India.
   Commerce also determined that Indian stainless pressure pipe receives countervailable subsidies from the Indian government. A countervailable subsidy is financial assistance from a foreign government that benefits the production of goods from foreign companies and is contingent either upon their export performance or use of domestic goods over imported goods.
   In its investigation, Commerce found that Steamline Industries Ltd. received countervailable subsidies at a rate of 3.13 percent and Sunrise Stainless Private Ltd., Sun Mark Stainless Pvt. Ltd., and Shah Foils Ltd. (collectively “Sunrise Group”) received countervailable subsidies at a rate of 6.22 percent. Commerce assigned a final subsidy rate of 4.65 percent for all other producers/exporters in India.
   As a result of the affirmative final determinations, if the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues an affirmative injury determination, Commerce will instruct Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits equal to the applicable weighted-average dumping and subsidy margins, except where the rates are zero or de minimis.
   The ITC is expected to make its final injury determination in these investigations on Nov. 6. If the ITC makes an affirmative final determination that imports of welded stainless pressure pipe from India harm U.S. industry, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders. If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigation will be terminated.
   The petitioners for these investigations include Bristol Metals of Tennessee, Felker Brothers Corp. in Wisconsin, Outokumpu Stainless Pipe of Florida, and Marcegaglia USA Inc. in Pennsylvania.
   According to Commerce, in 2015 imports of welded stainless pressure pipe from India were valued at an estimated $33.1 million.