Xinhua reported that the US International Trade Commission determined that imports of seamless refined copper pipe and tube from China and Mexico threatened the US industry with material injury.

The USITC made this final determination prior to its previous agenda as it was set to do so next month. As a result of the USITC's affirmative threat determinations, the US Commerce Department will issue antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from China and Mexico.

The US Commerce Department announced that it had made a final determination to slap antidumping duties on imported seamless refined copper pipe and tube from China and Mexico. In this case, Chinese and Mexican producers and exporters will face 11.25% to 60.85% and 24.89% to 31.43% of AD duties respectively.

According to the US government data, imports of seamless refined copper pipe and tube from China and Mexico were valued respectively at about USD 233 million and USD 130.3 million in 2009.

With the US economy recovering at a sluggish pace and the mid term congressional elections approaching, the protectionist moves by the United States are also on the rise. Experts warned that they would ultimately hurt the US and China trade relations which are becoming increasingly critical for the global economic recovery.

(Sourced from Xinhua)