Corporación Aceros Arequipa, Tubos y Perfiles Metálicos and Precor submitted a request to the agency arguing that imports of this product would have caused significant damage to the national industry.

The Dumping, Subsidies and Elimination of Non-Tariff Trade Barriers Commission of Indecopi initiated an investigation procedure for alleged dumping practices in imports of hot-rolled carbon steel welded pipes (LAC) from China.

Indecopi reported that the decision responds to a request submitted by Corporación Aceros Arequipa SA, Tubos y Perfiles Metálicos SA and Precor SA, local companies that argue that imports of this product would have caused significant damage to the national industry due to prices allegedly below market value.

According to the Commission's initial analyses, there were reasonable grounds for suggesting that imports of the Chinese product could have registered a dumping margin of 7%, higher than the minimum established in the Anti-Dumping Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In fact, these imports were made at prices below the average cost of production of the domestic producers requesting the product.

Likewise, possible negative impacts on national producers were detected, such as a reduction in market share, a decrease in domestic sales and economic losses during the period analyzed (January 2021 to June 2024).

"The investigation procedure will confirm whether dumping practices exist and whether these have caused damage to the local industry. If proven, Indecopi could impose definitive antidumping measures to protect the national production branch of LAC steel tubes and guarantee fair competition conditions," Indecopi said in a statement.