ISLAMABAD: Several Pakistani steel exporters are facing lawsuits in the United States for allegedly dumping circular welded carbon-quality steel pipes in the American market.

Official documents show that US businesses have submitted anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions to International Trade Commission (ITC) regarding imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipes from Pakistan. The material is used in the construction industry.

The petitions were filed by US firms Bull Moose Tube Company, EXLTUBE, Wheatland Tube and Western Tube and Conduit.

The ITC has also initiated similar investigations against imports of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipes from Oman, Philippines, UAE and Vietnam, respectively.

As per the American law, the ITC will have to reach a preliminary determination in anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty investigations latest by Dec 14. The ITC views will have to be submitted to the US Ministry of Commerce latest by Dec 21. The original notice for investigation into the case was issued on Oct 28.

Pakistani exporters have approximately four weeks to work out their strategy to protect their rights.

Statistics shows that Pakistan exported 11,539kgs of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipes to US in 2013-14, which surged by 87pc to 21,607kgs in 2014-15. But in 2012-13, Pakistan exports were 23,630kg of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipes, followed by a dip in the 2013 and a rise in 2014.

According to the US notice, there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the US is materially injured or threatened with material injury or the establishment of an industry in the US is materially retarded, by reason of import of circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UAE and Vietnam.

It was further alleged in the notice that circular welded carbon-quality steel pipes are to be sold in US at less than fair value and have allegedly been subsidised by Government of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2015