Industry News

In February 2026, the US Department of Commerce made a final ruling on the anti circumvention investigation of Oman circular welded carbon steel pipes, determining that they were re exported as Chinese hot-rolled steel after "minor processing". The ruling imposed an anti-dumping duty of 85.55% and a countervailing duty of 39.01% on the related products, with a comprehensive tax rate of 124.56%. This move directly refers to the "origin washing" behavior of avoiding anti-dumping measures through third-party transshipment, marking a further tightening of trade barriers between Europe and the United States towards Chinese steel pipes, and a high-pressure period for the compliance of Chinese alloy steel pipe exports.

1、 Core Points and Impact of Final Adjudication

Judgment logic: The United States uses "substantial changes" as the criterion for judgment, determining that the Oman factory only completed simple processes such as molding and welding, and did not change the core value and origin attributes of the product, which belongs to "minor processing". Therefore, it is included in the scope of the existing anti-dumping duty order against China.

Traceability effect: The tax rate applies to imported goods since January 2025, and importers are required to prepay cash deposits at high tax rates, resulting in a sharp increase in capital occupation and compliance costs.

Demonstration effect: The ruling has strong replicability, and Southeast Asian transit channels such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand are facing the risk of "penetrating" scrutiny, effectively blocking traditional transit tax avoidance pathways.

2、 Global trade barriers are tightening comprehensively

United States: In addition to this final ruling, export license management will be implemented for Chapter 72/73 steel products from January 2026, strengthening border supervision and full chain traceability.

EU: Maintain anti-dumping duties of 48.6% -71.9% on Chinese seamless stainless steel pipes, and implement CBAM carbon tariffs in 2026, further increasing export costs.

Eurasian Economic Union: The anti-dumping duty on stainless steel welded pipes from China has been extended until November 2026, with a tax rate of 14.62% -17.28%. The Ministry of Commerce has consulted on WTO/FTA.

Other markets: Mexico, Ukraine, Australia and other countries have launched intensive anti-dumping/sunset review investigations on Chinese steel pipes, and the global compliance environment continues to deteriorate.

3、 Key points for corporate compliance response

Completely abandon the avoidance of transshipment: stop simple processing and transshipment through third countries, turn to compliant declaration of origin, and avoid triggering anti circumvention investigations.

Strengthen international certification: comprehensively obtain high-end market access qualifications such as ASME, PED, API, ISO, etc., and enhance product compliance and bargaining power.

Deeply cultivate a compliant supply chain: establish a full process traceability system, retain complete production, processing, and logistics vouchers, and respond to "penetrating audits".

Market diversification layout: increase the development of low barrier markets along the "the Belt and Road" and RCEP member countries, and reduce dependence on the single market in Europe and the United States.

Actively respond and defend: In the event of an investigation, promptly cooperate with industry associations and professional law firms to respond to the lawsuit, and strive for a separate tax rate or no harm ruling.

4、 Industry Trend Outlook

This final ruling declares the end of the "low price volume+transit tax avoidance" model, and China's alloy tube exports will enter a new stage of compliance priority and quality victory. The short-term export growth rate may be suppressed, but in the long run, it will force industrial upgrading, promote high-end, green, and customized products to become the main export force, and reshape the global competitive landscape.