WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four U.S. stainless pipe producers, and the United Steelworkers (USW) today applauded a preliminary determination by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) that Chinese imports of welded austenitic stainless steel pressure pipe were dumped at a margin of 22.03%.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO )

The domestic producers who filed the petition with the USW were: Bristol Metals L.L.C., Bristol, TN; Felker Brothers Corp., with units in Marshfield, WI and Glasgow, KY; Outokumpu Stainless Pipe Inc., Wildwood, FL; Marcegaglia USA, Inc., Munhall, PA.

Leo W. Gerard, USW President, said: 'Today's determination by the Commerce Department against illegal stainless steel pipe imports from China is good news as a first step in this case to enforce fair trade laws that protect American family supportive jobs. The USW and the companies who employ our members will continue to vigorously battle China's predatory trade practices.' The USW represents workers at: Bristol Metals, Marcegaglia and Outokumpu.

Mike Boling, President of Bristol Metals, L.L.C. said: 'Over the past decade, the Chinese have massively expanded both their stainless flat rolled and pipe capacity. After 2005, they ramped up exports of that excess capacity at prices well below U.S. market prices.'

Imports from China increased from 13,993 tons in 2005 to 31,766 tons in 2007 with a value of $160 million. They are believed to have taken approximately 30 percent of the U.S. market. The imports have declined in the first half of 2008 after the filing of the antidumping and countervailing duty petitions on January 30, 2008.

The products subject to the petition are used as a conduit for liquids or gases under high pressure in the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, energy, brewery, automotive and paper industries.

Tom Henke, President of Felker Brothers, said: 'We are a family owned business providing good jobs in efficient plants in Central Wisconsin and Kentucky.