• Chinese stainless fittings flood market

    U.S. producers of stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings in mid-February pointed to increasing volumes of low-priced imports from China as a serious and growing problem. "What is occurring here is a remarkable influx of Chinese stainless fittings over a very short period of time and at depressed values," said David A. Hartquist, an international trade counsel speaking on behalf of the Flowline Division
    Feb. 1, 2006
    2 min read

    U.S. producers of stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings in

    mid-February pointed to increasing volumes of low-priced imports

    from China as a serious and growing problem.

    "What is occurring here is a remarkable influx of Chinese

    stainless fittings over a very short period of time and at depressed

    values," said David A. Hartquist, an international trade counsel

    speaking on behalf of the Flowline Division of Markovitz

    Enterprises, Gerlin and Shaw Alloy Piping Products.

    Official U.S. Census Bureau data reflect that from an annual

    volume of 287,223 kilograms in 2002, stainless fittings imports from

    China skyrocketed 403% to 1,446,603 kg through the first 11 months

    of 2005. China is now the largest single source of stainless

    fittings imported into the United States among all countries that

    export stainless fittings to the U.S. market.

    From January to November 2005, the average unit value of the

    Chinese stainless fittings was $8.91, almost 15% less than the

    average unit value of $10.46 during that period for total stainless

    steel fittings imported into the United States from all other

    countries.

    "As disturbing as these trends are, they are not surprising given

    the unfair advantages Chinese producers have, not the least of which

    are the Chinese government's manipulative undervaluation of the yuan

    and other subsidies," Hartquist said. "We intend to monitor these

    imports from China very closely and take action as appropriate."

    Hartquist practices international trade law at the Washington law

    firm Collier Shannon Scott, where he serves as chairman of the

    International Trade and Customs section.

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