| Zonas - Norteamérica - Estados Unidos

Mexico puts anti-dumping quotas on US steel tubing

Reuters

Viernes, 27 de Mayo de 2005 - 23:16 h.

MEXICO CITY, May 27 (Reuters) - Mexico said on Friday it was putting compensatory tariff quotas on steel tubing imported from the United States, arguing that unfair imports were hurting local industry.

Mexico''s Economy Ministry said the tariffs, to go into effect on Saturday, were the result of an anti-dumping investigation and responded to a dramatic increase in market share for steel tubing imported from the United States.

"Imports from the United States take place under conditions of price discrimination and harm national production of similar products," said a ministry statement published in Mexico''s government journal.

Steel tubing is made from low carbon plate or rolled steel and is used in hydraulic, sanitary and oil installations.

The new tariffs range from 6.77 percent to 25.43 percent.

Mexico imports most of its steel tubing from the United States, its partner along with Canada in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Mexican steel tubing imports from the United States increased by 469 percent between 1999 and 2001, the ministry said. ((Reporting by Frank Jack Daniel, editing by James Dalgleish; Reuters Messaging: pawel.jordan.reuters.com@reuters.net; Tel: +52 55 5282 7153))