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)