The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) recently determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is threatened with material injury due to imports of drill pipe and drill collars from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.
Commissioners Charlotte R. Lane, Irving A. Williamson, and Dean A. Pinkert made affirmative determinations on the basis of threat. Chairman Shara L. Aranoff, Vice Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, and Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun made negative determinations.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative threat determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its countervailing and antidumping duty investigations on imports of this product from China. Its preliminary countervailing duty determination is due on or about March 26, 2010, and its preliminary antidumping duty determination on or about June 9, 2010.
The Commission's public report Drill Pipe and Drill Collars from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-474 and 731-TA-1176 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4127, February 2010) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations. Copies of the report are expected to be available after March 22, 2010.
These investigations cover finished and unfinished drill pipe and drill collars (circular hollow carbon and alloy steel products used in drilling for oil or gas) whether or not conforming to American Petroleum Institute specifications and without regard to chemical composition, length, or outside diameter. The subject merchandise does not include unattached tool joints and unfinished tubes for casing and tubing.
Petitioners are Rotary Drilling Tools, Beasley, Texas; Texas Steel Conversions, Inc., Houston, Texas; TMK IPSCO, Downers Groves, Ill.; VAM Drilling USA Inc., Houston, Texas; and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO-CLC, Pittsburgh, Pa.