Taiwan’s steel pipe manufacturers are accelerating deliveries of existing orders to avoid potential anti-dumping (AD) duties. As preliminary determinations are expected in September, steel pipe mills aim to complete shipments by early June. This timeline accounts for a two-month sea voyage around the Cape of Good Hope, ensuring arrivals precede any new tax implementation.

The trade petition, filed by the U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA), United States Steel Corporation, and the United Steelworkers, targets oil country tubular goods (OCTG) imports from Taiwan, the UAE, and Austria.

Rising oil prices recently spurred restocking demand in the US; however, this legal action caused American distributors to pause new purchases. Taiwan’s domestic producers now face a standstill in new orders unless they agree to absorb future tax costs. Therefore, local firms are monitoring the situation in the US before committing to further sales.