Trade Cases
Turkey Challenges U.S. OCTG CVD Duties
Written by Sandy Williams
March 14, 2017
Turkey has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against U.S. countervailing duties placed on imports of pipe and tube products. Turkey requested the WTO initiate dispute consultation with the United States alleging the U.S. determination and imposition of duties was inconsistent with the WTO’s Agreement on Subsidies and Countevailing Measures (SCM Agreement) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.
The complaint covers certain Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG), Welded Line Pipe, Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes and Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes.
In the complaint, Turkey says the U.S. did not consider all relevant information on pricing for hot rolled steel which is used in manufacturing pipe, was inconsistent with the SCM Agreement in using facts available and adverse inferences in calculating subsidy rates, and inappropriately based its injury determinations on cumulated imports which included imports from countries not subject to CVD investigations or reviews.
The complaint covers CVD determinations made on a the various products and in sunset reviews between 2014 and 2016
In January 2017, Namik Ekinci, chairman of the Turkish Steel Exporters’ Association, wrote an op-ed for Global Trade Magazine stressing that the Turkish steel industry is composed of “private companies that are in no way subsidized by the government.”
Wrote Ekinci,“The U.S. not only imposes duties without a good cause but also makes amendments in its trade case legislation in favor of domestic producers. To this end, the US trade case authorities decided on unsatisfactory grounds that Turkish steel companies failed to cooperate and started to arbitrarily charge high margins on our companies in the light of “facts available”. The final decisions of almost all trade cases are taken to the relevant U.S. court (the Court of International Trade) on grounds of unlawfulness, and our companies are obliged to seek their rights before this court.”
Ekinci added, “Employing the trade remedy system in a way to prevent fair competition means undermining the WTO rules. We think this attitude by the U.S. sets a bad example for other countries and jeopardizes global free trade.”
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Trade Cases
Trump threatens 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico as soon as Feb. 1
President Donald Trump said on Monday evening that he was considering placing tariffs of 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico. The president said the tariffs could go into effect as soon as Feb. 1. President Trump threatened the tariffs as he signed a raft of executive orders in front of reporters in the Oval […]
Leibowitz: Trump will act fast on tariffs and immigration – buckle up
The new president clearly likes tariffs, and he wants to use them to make the United States more competitive - especially in manufacturing and mining. I believe that this will not be effective. But tariffs are very likely to be announced among the early pronouncements.
Canacero disputes US allegations of Mexican steel export threat
Mexican steel trade association Canacero said steel exports from the Latin American country into the US do not pose a threat. And claims that Mexican steel exports have been the driver of US plant closures and layoffs are “unfounded,” the association said. “On the contrary, the US greatly benefits from steel trade flows and has […]
Coated steel trade case update: Postponements and new allegations
The steel industry may have to wait even longer for the initial duty determinations in the pending coated steel unfair trade investigations.
Price on Trade: Next six months will set course of trade for years to come
This may be the most consequential six months for trade policy in recent memory. The wait to see what form Trump's actions take is almost over.