Steel tube producers band together against growing imports

A group of domestic seamless stainless steel tube producers have formed a new organization, the Seamless Stainless Tube Trade Action Committee (SSTTAC). The group will develop strategies to deal with growing imports of seamless stainless steel tubing from China and will monitor possible violations of U.S. antidumping and subsidy laws, as well as World Trade Organization antidumping and subsidy agreements to which the Chinese are signators.
Initial members of the SSTTAC include Handy & Harman, Salem Tube, Superior Tube and Sandvik. The group cited that imports from China are surging, increasing from 4,657 tons in 2004 to 6,205 tons in 2005 and 11,543 tons in 2006. There are at least 500 seamless stainless tube producers in China, and they have ample capacity to supply domestic needs in China and export large quantities to the United States.