*EPF308 02/02/00
Mexico, Czech, Romania Steel Pipe Dumping Case Advances
(China citric acid dumping case terminated) (310)

Washington -- The U.S. Department of Commerce has made preliminary determinations that steel pipe from Mexico, the Czech Republic and Romania was dumped on the U.S. market.

In the decisions announced February 1, the department said large-diameter pipe from Mexico was dumped and calculated dumping margins at 4.6 percent for all exporters under investigation.

It said small-diameter pipe from the other two markets was dumped and calculated the dumping margins as follows:

-- Romania: Metal Business International S.R.L., 10.99 percent; Sota Communications Company, 13.75 percent; all others, 12.34 percent.

-- Czech Republic: Nova Hut and all others, 12.55 percent.

Imposition of antidumping duties requires affirmative final determinations both from Commerce that dumping took place and from the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) that the imports injured U.S. industry. The Commerce final determination is scheduled June 12.

In the meantime the U.S. Customs Service will collect cash deposits or bonds on such imports equal to the calculated margins; it would return the money after a negative determination.

The Commerce Department made affirmative preliminary dumping determinations in December in parallel cases concerning steel pipe from Japan and South Africa.

In another development the USITC ended in the first phase a dumping case concerning citric acid and sodium citrate from China. The commissioners voted 4-2 January 28 that evidence of injury to the U.S. industry did not suffice to continue the investigation.

Dumping is the export of goods below the price in the home market or a third market or below the cost of production. A dumping margin is the ratio of the fair-value price to the dumped price.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)
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