Trade commission hits Thai copper pipes with antidumping tariffs

Korea's trade watchdog on Thursday decided to impose antidumping tariffs on Thai seamless copper pipes after its probe found that the imports had caused damage to the domestic industry.

Under the decision, the Korea Trade Commission will ask the Ministry of Finance and Economy to impose antidumping tariffs ranging from 4.93 percent to 8.41 percent on imports.

Seamless copper pipes are commonly used in air conditioners, refrigerators and heating and cooling systems due to their high corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity.

The commission said that the imports "have negatively affected domestic producers' market share and operating profits, causing material injury."

Korea has been imposing provisional antidumping duties ranging from 3.64 percent to 8.41 percent since March following the commission's preliminary ruling in January.

Seoul launched the investigation in September of last year.

Yonhap