China Circular Welded Pipe: Cintube's Pipe Fittings Not Subject to AD/CV Duties
Pipe fittings imported from China into Canada as pipes and then bent into precise angles before being imported into the U.S. are not subject to antidumping and countervailing duties on circular welded carbon quality steel pipe from China (A-570-910/C-570-911), said the Commerce Department in a final scope ruling issued Feb. 20. Pipe fittings are not covered by the scope of the AD/CV duty orders, and Cintube’s pipe fittings are clearly designed and labeled as pipe fittings, it said.
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Cintube purchased Chinese-origin pipes on the Canadian market, then bent them at precise 45 and 90 degree angles “in accordance with specific engineered and analyzed processes pursuant to Canadian regulations” on pipe fittings. They were marked with a registration number before importation into the U.S. for further processing, then reexported back to Canada for use.
According to Commerce, the “plain language of the scope … identifies certain circular pipes and tubes, not pipe fittings, as the merchandise subject to the orders.” And Cintube’s products were clearly pipe fittings, it said. Pipe fittings are referenced in the explanatory notes to the tariff schedule as shaped like elbows or bends, just like Cintube’s pipes. And the designs for the pipe fittings were registered as pipe fitting designed, and received a Canadian registration number for a pipe fitting before being imported into the United States.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of this scope ruling.