BEIJING, Feb. 28 /CNW Telbec/ - The China Iron and Steel Association (CISA), on behalf of its members, has advised the Government of China of its serious concerns and objections to an unfair and unjust ruling by the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA).

On February 7, 2008, the CBSA made its Final Determinations of Anti-dumping and Countervailing duties in their investigation of Seamless Carbon or Alloy Steel Oil and Gas Well Casings (OCTG) from the People's Republic of China. CBSA explained its methods on February 22.

The CBSA concluded that the OCTG market in China is not market-oriented and determined dumping margins for Tianjin Pipe Corporation (TPCO) and four other Chinese respondents ranging from 37% to 61%; and subsidy margins from 2% to 7%. The dumping and subsidy margins for non-participating exporters are 91% and 38% respectively. This is the very first time the Canadian investigating authority initiated anti-dumping and countervailing investigation

simultaneously for steel products from China.

Designating the OCTG sector as non-market is inconsistent with the facts and reality. OCTG prices in China are decided by individual companies based on supply and demand in the market place including through multi-participant, on-line reverse auctions (suppliers compete for sales through lower and lower offers).

There was also abundant evidence of market operations in the filings by Chinese exporters. In addition, CISA has vigorously objected to the double-counting of dumping and subsidies because the CBSA's non-market dumping methodology already offset alleged Government support CISA has urged that this WTO-inconsistent practice be challenged and reversed.

The Chinese Iron and Steel Industry attaches great importance to correcting the methodologies used by the CBSA in this case. These practices are inconsistent with both Canadian law and the WTO. CISA is determined that these precedents be reversed because to accept CBSA's arbitrary and illegal methods will cause great difficulty and harm to the Chinese industry. Therefore, CISA will appeal to the Chinese government and other relevant authorities to take all possible measures to protect the rights and interests of the industry and member companies.

For further information: Peter Morton, (202)-842-1190, pgmorton@att.net

28 February 2008

Source: www.cnw.ca