The
petitioners in this case are Allied Tube & Conduit, IPSCO Tubulars,
Northwest Pipe Co., Sharon Tube Co., Western Tube & Conduit Corp. and
Wheatland Tube Co., as well as the USW.
Chinese imports of circular standard and structural pipe have increased from
10,000 tons in 2002 to 690,000 tons in 2006, a 6,800% increase. Since then four
U.S. plants (out of 35) have ceased production and over 500 employees have lost
their jobs. The surge continued with a 21% rise in imports in the first quarter
of 2007. Imports of standard pipe from China represent over 60% of total U.S. imports
of such products.