China reportedly has appealed to a World Trade Organization dispute panel protesting against U.S. curbs on imports of certain steel pipe and other products.

China reportedly has appealed to a World Trade Organization dispute panel protesting against U.S. curbs on imports of certain steel pipe and other products. WTO agreed on Jan. 20 to rule on the dispute, although no decision is expected until late this year or into 2010.

In a separate China trade development,The U.S. International Trade Commission(ITC) voted on Feb. 6 to expedite its five-year ("sunset") review concerning the antidumping duty order on imports of malleable cast iron pipe fittings from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-1021 (Review)). The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies.