By Paul Ploumis 06 Aug 2015 Last updated at 00:07:55 GMT
ANKARA (Scrap Monster): The Turkish Steel Exporters’ Association (CIB) has urged the country’s government to move an appeal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the US decision in 2014 to impose import duties on Turkish Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG). The Association has also raised opposition to a number of recent trade cases filed by US steel producers.
CIB expressed confidence that investigation by WTO will reveal that Erdemir is a private business. The US had imposed duties on OCTG imports from the company stating that it is a state-run enterprise. CIB referred to the conclusion arrived at by Canada’s Border Services Agency that Erdemir is a private company, while investigating its trade cases.
It must be noted that OCTG imports from Turkey are subject to 35.86% antidumping duties and countervailing duties ranging from 2.53% to 15.89%. Preliminary government data released for the month of June this year suggests that US steel imports from Turkey fell to the lowest levels in past eleven months. The Turkish steel exports to the US totaled 128,955 tonnes during the month.
According to CIB, the various cases filed by US producers are part of coordinated campaign to curb Turkish imports. Recently, US pipe and tube producers had filed a trade case against Turkey, Mexico and South Korea on imports of heavy-walled rectangular carbon steel pipes and tubes. Also, the US is expected to file a petition against Turkish imports of hot-rolled coils by mid-August.
Namik Ekinci, President, CIB noted that such acts by the US will only contribute to hinder global trade. He further reiterated that Turkey has never been involved in exports of dumped or subsidized products, in violation of WTO rules.
