Petitioners Oppose Attempt at ADD Suspension Agreement on Ukraine Seamless Pipe

Petitioners in an antidumping duty investigation of seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe from Ukraine recently filed briefs opposing a Ukrainian exporter’s proposal to negotiate a suspension agreement in the ongoing investigation. Tenaris USA, a domestic manufacturer that supports the petition, says a suspension agreement proposed by Interpipe “will not be effective, and that an antidumping duty order would better discipline Interpipe’s dumping of SSLPP in the United States,” in a filing April 27 with the Commerce Department.

“Tenaris USA recognizes the continued challenges related to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and the attendant U.S. foreign policy considerations that Interpipe points to in its draft proposal,” the petitioner said. “However, despite the challenges facing Ukraine as a whole, there is no evidence of any meaningful impact on Interpipe’s commercial operations, or that the public interest would be better served by the suspension of the investigation, rather than the discipline of an antidumping duty order.” Tenaris pointed to Commerce’s recent decision to end a suspension agreement on oil country tubular goods from Ukraine that covered Interpipe, despite the geopolitical situation.

“Interpipe’s dumping warrants the imposition of an antidumping duty order. At the same time, more importantly, declining the proposed suspension agreement will impose no impediments to Interpipe’s ability to export SSLPP to the United States: Interpipe can continue to export to the United States subject to the discipline of an antidumping duty order,” Tenaris USA said. The original petitioner in the case, Vallourec Star, filed a brief opposing the agreement on April 20, and U.S. Steel, which supports the investigation, followed suit similarly a day later. Commerce found dumping at 41.23% for all Ukrainian exporters, including Interpipe, in a preliminary determination issued in February.