U S International Trade Commission : Forged Steel Fittings from China and Italy Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of forged steel fittings from China and Italy that the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China.

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, Meredith M. Broadbent, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the USITC's affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China and Italy and a countervailing duty order on imports of this product from China.

The Commission's public report Forged Steel Fittings from China and Italy (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-589 and 731-TA-1394-1395 (Final), USITC Publication 4850, November 2018) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available by December 10, 2018; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Forged Steel Fittings from China and Italy
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-589 and 731-TA-1394-1395 (Final)

Product Description: The merchandise covered by these investigations is carbon and alloy forged steel fittings (FSF); available in a variety of shapes (including but not limited to elbows, tees, crosses, laterals, couplings, reducers, caps, plugs, bushings, unions, and outlets); either finished or unfinished; whether or not having threaded, socket weld, or other end connections; regardless of nominal pipe size, pressure rating, and wall thickness; and whether or not heat treated. These fittings are produced by forging from cast steel blanks or machining from bar stock or seamless tubular steel products. Specifically excluded are stainless steel fittings; butt-weld fittings, outlets, and nipples; and all fittings with a maximum pressure ratings of 300 pounds or less. FSF are utilized in oil and gas piping systems, chemical and petrochemical plants, electric-power generating plants, and industrial piping systems for distributing liquids and gasses under high pressure or that are corrosive.

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigation: Final countervailing duty and antidumping investigations.
2. Petitioners: Bonny Forge Corp., Mount Union, PA; and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW), Pittsburgh, PA.
3. USITC Institution Date: Thursday, October 5, 2017.
4. USITC Hearing Date: Thursday, August 2, 2018.
5. USITC Vote Date: Thursday, November 8, 2018.
6. USITC Notification to Commerce Date: Monday, November 19, 2018.

U.S. Industry in 2017:

1. Number of U.S. producers: 4.
2. Location of producers' plants: Louisiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
3. Production and related workers: ^[1]
4. U.S. producers' U.S. shipments: ¹
5. Apparent U.S. consumption: ¹
6. Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption: ¹

U.S. Imports in 2017:

1. Subject imports: $44.1 million.
2. Nonsubject imports: ¹
3. Leading import source: Taiwan, China, and Italy.

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.