Recently, four U.S. producers - Bristol Metals, Felker Brothers Corp., Outokumpu Stainless Pipe and Marcegaglia USA - and the United Steelworkers union filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions before the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) alleging that Chinese imports of welded austenitic stainless steel pressure pipe are being dumped and subsidized and are injuring the U.S. industry. The products subject to the petition meet the ASTM A-312 or A-778 specifications using grade 304 or 316 stainless sheet. They are used as high-pressure pipe in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, energy, brewery, automotive and paper industries. Imports from China increased from 13,993 tons in 2005 to 31,766 tons in 2007 with a value of $160 million. They are believed to have taken approximately 30% of the U.S. market. The petitions allege numerous subsidy programs and dumping margins ranging from 25% to 45%. The ITC was expected to make preliminary injury determinations within 45 days of the petition filing date of Jan. 30, 2008, and the DOC was to make preliminary subsidy and dumping determinations within 90 and 160 days of Jan. 30, respectively, subject to extensions.

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