US sets antidumping duties on Chinese copper piping, tubes

The US Commerce Department said it was imposing antidumping duties on copper piping and tubes from China and Mexico, Bloomberg reported. The duties on the Chinese products could be as much as 60.85% on the US$233 million worth of copper imports from China. The move comes in response to complaints by US firms Mueller Industries (MLI.NYSE) and Cerro Flow Products. The highest duties apply to Zhejiang Hailiang (002203.SZ), which faces duties of 60.85%, up from 58.69%. Also affected was Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, which now faces an 11.25% duty, while other major Chinese suppliers were slapped with a 36.05% rate. The decision from the Commerce Department is not final but is the third of four needed in the process. The companies will be required to place potential duties in deposit pending the final decision on November 8.