BEYOND COPENHAGEN

Taxes on Steel Pipe Trade to Increase

Trade tensions between the US and China are heating up. Today, the U.S. International Trade Commission voted to impose new duties on imports of steel pipes mostly used in the oil and natural gas industry.

Ranging between 10 and 16 percent, the duties are intended to offset low price government subsidies China provides its steelmakers.

The United Steelworkers' union says the practice - known as "dumping" - has harmed the US steel industry and caused more than 2,400 job losses this year.

The Commerce Department says imports of Chinese steel pipes rose nearly 360 percent from 2006 to 2008.

The case is the largest steel trade dispute in US history and will impact about $2.7 billion worth of Chinese imports.

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