US duties on Saudi steel pipe exports under fire

The US imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Saudi steel pipes exports will weaken the competitive edge of the Kingdom’s products in US markets, said Feras Abal-Khail, spokesman of the Saudi Export Development Authority (SEDA).
“The US move will result in a direct increase in the customs tariffs on Saudi steel pipes exports to the US,” said Abal-Khail.
He affirmed that the Kingdom works constantly to protect its interests through the World Trade Organization (WTO).
“Investigations are under way in the US to verify whether the new duties are in consistent with US laws and WTO regulations,” he noted.
“The WTO regulations allow a member state the right to adopt precautionary measures to protect their respective markets in case of suspicion about possible dumping or unfair subsidies from governments to the exports,” he said.
“SEDA, as the representative of the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Saudi mission to the Geneva-based WTO, is in contact with the US side to resolve this problem,” he said.
The spokesman was commenting on the decision of the US Department of Commerce last week to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of steel pipes and tubes.