Australia’s anti-dumping commission has initiated an investigation into precision pipe and tube steel imports from China, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The move comes at the behest of Bluscope-owned Orrcon manufacturing, which has alleged that these goods are exported to Australia at a less than normal value and are benefited by a countervailable subsidy.
The Orrcon application states that imports of precision pipe and tube steel into Australia from these four countries has left the domestic industry reeling under price suppression and reduced profitability. The goods under investigation from China, Korea and Taiwan attract no general duty. Precision pipe and tube steel from Vietnam draws a four per cent general duty at present.
Orracon also alleges that despite the Australian market for the subject goods increasing by 60pc, year on year, since 2015-16, sales rose by a mere 14pc. The volume of dumped goods from the four countries has more than doubled in the four-year period, while imports from other countries have increased by 25pc.