The US initiated anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations on
Chinese-made welded seam pipes in June. The US Department of
Commerce has now made a preliminary ruling, holding that Chinese
pipe manufacturers have received subsidies. As a result of this
decision, most Chinese pipe makers are likely to be levied
countervailing duties from 13 to 17 percent.
Zhou Shijian, the executive director of the China Society for
World Trade Organization Studies said the so-called evidence the US
holds against China is mainly export tax rebates, the slow
appreciation of Renminbi, and preferential measures that local
governments adopt to encourage manufacturers.
He believes China's policy of export tax rebates does not go
against international trade practices and should not be considered
as subsidy measures. Moreover, China has cancelled the export tax
rebates on most steel pipe products, which has slowed the growth of
steel pipe exports since September.
For more details, please read the full story in Chinese. (
http://www.china-cbn.com/s/n/000004/20071109/020000059916.shtml)
(China.org.cn November 9, 2007)
