Drill pipe and drill collars from China threatens US industry

Wednesday, 09 Feb 2011
The United States International Trade Commission determined that a US industry is threatened with material injury by reason of imports of drill pipe and drill collars from China that the US Department of Commerce has determined are subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Vice Chairman Mr Irving A Williamson and Commissioners Mr Charlotte R Lane and Dean Mr A Pinkert made affirmative determinations on the basis of threat. Chairman Ms Deanna Tanner Okun and Commissioners Mr Daniel R Pearson and Ms Shara L Aranoff made negative determinations.
As a result of the USITC affirmative threat determinations, Commerce will issue antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of these products from China.
These investigations cover finished and unfinished steel drill pipe and drill collars, whether or not conforming to American Petroleum Institute or other specifications and without regard to length, outside diameter, or steel chemistry. Drill pipe and drill collars are hollow drill string components used in drilling rigs (particularly those intended to extract oil and gas) to transmit power and conduct lubricant during the drilling process. This description does not include unattached tool joints or unfinished tubes for casing and tubing. The 2011 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States provides for drill pipe (without tool joints) in subheadings 7304.22.00, 7304.23.30, and 7304.23.60, and for drill pipe (with tool joints) and drill collars in subheading 8431.43.80.
Status of Proceedings
1. Type of investigations: Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioners: Rotary Drilling Tools Beasley, Texas Steel Conversions Inc Houston, TMK IPSCO Downers Grove, VAM Drilling USA Inc Houston and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO-CLC, Pittsburgh
3. Investigations instituted by USITC: December 31, 2009.
4. USITC hearing: January 5, 2011.
5. USITC vote: February 7, 2011.
6. USITC notification of Department of Commerce: February 17, 2011.