ITC proposes remedies for imports of certain Chinese steel pipe

ITC proposes remedies for imports of certain Chinese steel pipe    The U.S. International Trade Commission will forward its remedy proposals to President Bush and the U.S. Trade Representative in its China safeguard investigation into imports of circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from China.
   ITC Chairman Stephen Koplan and Commissioner Charlotte R. Lane, citing damage to domestic firms, said they will propose that President Bush impose an annual quota of 160,000 short tons on imports of this commodity for a period of three years. They also plan to recommend that the president direct the Labor and Commerce departments to provide expedited consideration of trade adjustment assistance for firms and workers that are affected by these imports.
   Agency commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman and Shara L. Aranoff will propose that these imports be subject to a tariff-rate quota set at a level of 267,468 short tons in the first year of relief, and increasing by a rate of 5 percent in the second and 10 percent in the third year of relief. Imports over these quota levels would be subject to an ad valorem tariff of 25 percent. Similarly, the two ITC commissioners proposed trade adjustment assistance for affected American firms and workers.
   ITC Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun and Commissioner Daniel R. Pearson, however, did not find market disruptions from these imports, and will make their views known to President Bush and USTR.
   The combined ITC recommendations will be submitted to the president and USTR by Oct. 21. “The president, not the commission, will make the final decision whether to provide relief to the U.S. industry and the type and amount of relief,” the ITC said in an Oct. 11 statement.