SSTTAC News & Industry Updates

• September 2015 SSTTAC Website Panel Discussion

• November 2014 SSTTAC Website Panel Discussion

• March 2014 SSTTAC Website Panel Discussion

• October 2013 SSTTAC Roundtable transcript​

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Stainless Tube Imports Surging From China and Korea

 

(Washington, D.C.) (January 6, 2015) -- Imports of seamless stainless steel tube from China and Korea are surging into the United States market, according to the Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee (SSTTAC).  “Imports from China through October 2014 have doubled over the same period last year based on U.S. government official trade data,” said David A. Hartquist, counsel to the SSTTAC and a partner in the law firm Kelley Drye & Warren, Washington, D.C.  The average unit value of the Chinese imports is by far the lowest of all significant exporters to the U.S.  This raises a question as to whether the Chinese product is being dumped in our market.  Imports from Korea are also up substantially, increasing by 49 percent over the same period in 2013.  The SSTTAC will continue its active monitoring of such imports and determine what actions should be taken,” Hartquist said.

The SSTTAC promotes domestic manufacturing of high quality seamless stainless steel tubing.  To assure quality products in the marketplace, SSTTAC member companies produce tubing to industry and consumer specifications in accordance with guidelines and requirements of accreditation societies.

The Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee is comprised of U.S. producers of seamless stainless steel pipe and tube.  The SSTTAC website is www.ssttac.com.  David A. Hartquist, counsel to the group, is Senior Partner in the International Trade and Customs practice group in the Washington, D.C. office of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.  

The SSTTAC meets periodically to discuss opportunities and issues facing manufacturers of seamless stainless steel tubing.  Topics include a discussion of the current market situation, which is placed on the SSTTAC website (www.ssttac.com) and international trade issues including ongoing examination of the compliance of foreign producers with U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty (subsidy) laws.

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Chinese Underselling Seamless Stainless Steel Pipe and Tube

 

(Washington, D.C.) (August 1, 2013) -- The Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee (SSTTAC) has completed market research of Chinese trade practices in selling seamless stainless steel pipe and tube in the U.S. market.  The data confirms substantial underselling of U.S. producers by Chinese companies.

“Our research confirms that Chinese companies are underselling U.S. producers by margins as high as 65 percent,” said David A. Hartquist, counsel to the SSTTAC.  “This and other information indicates that certain Chinese producers may be dumping their products in the U.S. market.  U.S. trade laws and the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) provide remedies for unfair trade practices such as dumping and foreign government subsidization.”

The SSTTAC promotes domestic manufacturing of high quality seamless stainless steel tubing.  To assure quality products in the marketplace, SSTTAC member companies produce tubing to industry and consumer specifications in accordance with guidelines and requirements of accreditation societies.

The Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee is comprised of U.S. producers of seamless stainless steel pipe and tube.  The SSTTAC website is www.ssttac.com.  David A. Hartquist is Senior Partner in the International Trade and Customs practice group in the Washington, D.C. office of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP.

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Imports of Stainless Pipe and Tube Up Substantially in 2011

(Washington, D.C.) (Washington, D.C.) (November 17, 2011) – Imports of seamless stainless steel pipe and tube are up substantially in 2011 over the same period in 2010. Total imports of small diameter seamless pipe and tubing are up by nearly 40 percent through August, 2011, lead by substantial increases from Japan (up 350 percent) and China (up 56 percent). “Members of the Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee (SSTTAC) commented in late 2010 that an antidumping case filed in the European Union against China could result in a shifting of imports to the United States. EU antidumping margins of up to 70 percent have apparently encouraged a shift in Chinese exports from the EU into the United States. Our members believe that, as shown in the evidence of dumping presented to the European Commission, China is also dumping seamless stainless steel pipe and tube into the United States in violation of U.S. law and China’s WTO commitments. We continue careful monitoring to determine whether such diversion is causing similar injury to U.S. producers,” said David A. Hartquist, counsel to SSTTAC.

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SSTTAC Members Express Concern About Dumped Imports

(Washington, D.C.) (July 28, 2010) – The members of the Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee (SSTTAC), a group of domestic seamless stainless steel pipe and tube manufacturers, today expressed concern about increasing examples of apparently dumped imports from foreign producers.  “As our economy slowly recovers, our member companies are seeing more and more examples of apparently dumped imports from foreign producers.  Leading the charge is China.  Based upon official U.S. government data, imports from Chinese producers are coming in at one-third to one-half the value of most other foreign producers.  The Chinese prices in the market tend to be 25 to 50 percent lower than prevailing market prices,” according to David A. Hartquist, counsel to SSTTAC.

“China is not the only example, however.  We’re also looking at data regarding Korea, Japan, and other countries, Hartquist said.  “We will keep an eye on this situation in coming months and take appropriate actions if U.S. trade laws and the rules of the World Trade Organization are being violated.”

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Read the transcript from the latest SSTTAC roundtable!

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Seamless Stainless Tube Imports from China Continue Growth

 

(Washington, D.C.) (May 26, 2009) – U.S. producers comprising the Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee (SSTTAC) noted that, despite the significant recession in the United States, imports of stainless steel pipe and tube showed substantial growth in early 2009 over 2008.

According to David A. Hartquist, the SSTTAC’s legal counsel, “despite the substantial economic downturn globally and in the United States, imports from China increased almost 20 percent in the first two months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. China remains by far the largest foreign supplier of the material produced by our member companies, accounting for nearly half of total imports. Chinese producers are also moving into high-nickel seamless tubing.”

Hartquist added, “Chinese pricing remains substantially below that of other significant foreign and domestic producers. With an average unit value of $8,000 a ton for small diameter seamless stainless tubing, Chinese producers may well be dumping their product in our market. The Chinese government provides a wide range of subsidies to Chinese steel producers, including undervaluation of their currency, the yuan, at roughly 35 percent. This is unfair competition,” he said.

David A. Hartquist is senior partner and chairman of the International Trade and Customs practice group in the Washington, D.C. office of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP. Mr. Hartquist has over 30 years of experience on international trade issues and has filed many successful trade cases against Chinese producers. The Stainless Steel Tube Trade Advancement Committee, formerly known as the Seamless Stainless Tube Trade Action Committee, comprises U.S. producers of seamless stainless steel pipe and tubing.