The United States International Trade Commission issued a final determination April 1 that found imported seamless pipe from Czechia has “materially injured” a Youngstown pipe and tube producer because these imports are sold at less than fair value in the United States.
Last year, Vallourec Star L.P., which operates a seamless pipe mill along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, filed countervailing and antidumping petitions before the commission, prompting an investigation into low-priced imports from Czechia, South Korea, Ukraine and Russia.
As a result of the ruling, the U.S. Department of Commerce will issue anti-dumping duties on imported seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from Czechia, according to the ITC.
The amount of the duties was not disclosed.
The ITC ruling affects imports from just Czechia. It was not clear when the ITC would rule on imports from the other countries named in Vallourec Star’s petition.
The commission’s public report “Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe from Czechia” will contain the views of the commission and information developed during the investigation. The report will be made available May 4, the ITC said.
U.S. Rep Tim Ryan, D-13, Ohio, said that imposing duties on unfair imports is a step in the right direction to protect American jobs.
“This is great news for Vallourec and our entire region,” Ryan said in a statement. “As our country begins to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, it is more important than ever to ensure that we continue to protect American jobs and industry.”
Ryan testified before the ITC in March and called on the commission to rule in favor of Vallourec. In July 2020, Ryan wrote a letter of support to USITC Chairman Jason Kearns on behalf of Vallourec’s petitions.
Vallourec employs 500 workers and has invested over $1 billion in its Youngstown operations between 2012 and 2020 to build a new, modern seamless pipe plant.
An affiliated company, VAM USA, operates a threading mill in Youngstown.