US trade panel backs probe into welded pipe imports

The US International Trade Commission on Monday voted to continue anti-dumping and subsidy investigations into imports of large-diameter welded pipe from Canada, China, Greece, India, South Korea and Turkey, it said in a statement.

The US Commerce Department said last month it was examining whether manufacturers from those countries are selling the pipe in the United States at below-market rates or are being unfairly subsidized by their governments.

The trade case comes amidst global trade jitters after US President Donald Trump said last week he would impose broad tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum to protect US national security under a Cold War-era trade law, a move that could raise consumer prices and ignite a trade war.

Imports of the welded steel pipe, used to build oil and gas pipelines, in 2016 totaled $441.4 million from the six countries,...