Two Chinese steel firms have been cleared by the US Department of Commerce in its anti-dumping investigation, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, a US law firm and also the agent of the Chinese firms, announced in Shanghai Monday.
The ruling means that the two firms, the Ma'anshan Iron & Steel Company and the Weifang Steel Tube Company, will face no restrictions in exports to the US and will be exempt from punitive anti-dumping tariffs.
In its preliminary probe, the US authority had ordered that a153 percent anti-dumping tariff be imposed on products of Ma'anshan Iron & Steel Company exported to the US.
The experience of the two firms shows that more Chinese companies should be encouraged to act against foreign anti-dumping accusations, said Patric Norton, head of the US law firm's Shanghai office.
As China rises as a major world manufacturing center, its firms are facing more anti-dumping probes by foreign countries.
Chinese firms used to decline actions against such probes for fear of the troublesome legal proceedings which they are not familiar with.
The victory of the two firms means that Chinese firms can win in anti-dumping probes, if only they are willing to take action, Norton said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2002)
