The US Commerce Department for the second time this year has made the controversial decision to examine whether to impose anti-subsidy duties against imports from China, this time on steel pipe imports.

Commerce today announced that it has initiated the anti-subsidy case against China, a formal step that will be followed by a preliminary determination in July of whether to impose duties. Supporting the petition are a coalition of US steel pipe and tube producers, and the United Steelworkers union.

This follows Commerce's March decision to preliminarily favour anti-subsidy duties ranging from 10.90 to 20.35 percent on imports of glossy paper from China.