SteelOrbis - On June 8, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) announced an affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation on imports of drill pipe from China.

The US DOC preliminarily determined that Chinese exporters of drill pipe have received a subsidy rate of 15.72 percent.

The petitioners for the investigation are: VAM Drilling USA, Inc; Texas Steel Conversions, Inc; Rotary Drilling Tools; TMK IPSCO and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO-CLC.

The subject products are currently classified in the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) categories: 7304.22.0030, 7304.22.0045, 7304.22.0060, 7304.23.3000, 7304.23.6030, 7304.23.6045, 7304.23.6060, 8431.43.8040 and may also enter under 8431.43.8060, 8431.43.4000, 7304.39.0028, 7304.39.0032, 7304.39.0036, 7304.39.0040, 7304.39.0044, 7304.39.0048, 7304.39.0052, 7304.39.0056, 7304.49.0015, 7304.49.0060, 7304.59.8020, 7304.59.8025, 7304.59.8030, 7304.59.8035, 7304.59.8040, 7304.59.8045, 7304.59.8050 and 7304.59.8055.

The combined imports of drill pipe and drill pipe with tool joints attached were valued at an estimated $119.2 million in 2009, the US DOC said.

The US DOC is currently scheduled to make its final determination in August 2010. If it makes an affirmative final determination, and the US International Trade Commission makes an affirmative final injury determination, the DOC will issue a CVD order.