Steel pipes from china will be subject to import duties from 35 to 99 percent. (China Photos/Getty Images)
U.S. companies imported $2.63 billion of "certain oil country tubular goods" from China in 2008, or more than three times the $750 million they imported in 2007.
That makes it the largest U.S. trade action ever against China by volume of imports. It tops President Barack Obama's decision in September to slap a 35-percent tariff on about $1.85 billion of Chinese-made tires.
The prevailing duties announced Thursday reflect the Commerce Department's determination of how far below "fair market value" Chinese companies are selling steel pipe and tubing product in the United States.
They are in addition to preliminary countervailing duties of 10.69 percent to 30.69 percent the Commerce Department announced in September to offset Chinese government subsidies to encourage production of the steel goods.
