The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Thursday that dumped imports of welded large-diameter pipes from Japan are damaging the U.S. steel industry.
The preliminary ITC ruling was decided by a unanimous 6-0 vote. It came in response to a petition filed by three U.S. steelmakers in January with the independent federal agency and the Commerce Department, charging the imports were being sold at unfair prices in the U.S. market.
The ITC ruled there is a reasonable indication that the U.S. steel-pipe market has been or may be materially injured from the imports.
Following the ITC ruling, the Commerce Department is expected to make a preliminary decision within several months to determine the extent of dumping charges.