A Chinese trade body said on Thursday the U.S. dumping and subsidy charges filed against Chinese steel pipe products amounted to trade protectionism.

"We hope the U.S. government will deliberate on the sensitive issue, and deny the applications of the U.S. steel pipe makers out of concerns for the long-term development of the sectors in both countries," said China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters in a statement.

Five U.S. makers of welded steel pipes and the United Steelworkers Union last Thursday filed an application with the U.S. Commerce Department to impose anti-dumping duties of up to 88 percent and extra anti-subsidizing charges on steel pipes from China, which they said are being sold at unfairly low and subsidized prices.

The statement said charging both anti-dumping and countervailing duties on products from the same country were against the laws and regulations in U.S. and the rules of the WTO, adding that they are "unfair and discriminatory".

Earlier reports said 18 Chinese steel pipe producers have united to fight the U.S. charges, and have appointed John Larose from U.S. law firm Vinson & Elkins LLP's Beijing Office as attorney.

Chinese makers said they have conducted export business according to market demand and exports to U.S. were made upon demands. "There are no dumping or subsidies."

The statement said trade penalties imposed by the U.S. won't help solve the trade frictions, and they are not good for the development of the U.S. steel sector and against the interests of the downstream steel sectors and end users.

China's steel products exports surged by 132 percent year-on-year to 21.3 million tons from January to April this year. Exports of steel pipes reached 2.77 million tons, up 120 percent.

Source: Xinhua