BEIJING (AP) -- China will send a delegation to the United States to discuss charges that its steelmakers are dumping steel pipes on the American market, a Commerce Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.
Yao Jian, speaking at a regular news briefing, gave no details of when the delegation would visit.
U.S. manufacturers allege that their Chinese counterparts have sold pipe at prices below the cost of production -- a practice known as "dumping" -- and have benefited from massive government subsidies.
Yao said the U.S. should resist protectionism as it deals with the antidumping complaints filed by seven American makers of steel pipe used in oil and gas drilling with U.S. trade officials last week. The complaints alleged unfair competition.
"The Chinese business community and the government are highly concerned about this case ... and will take suitable responsive measures," Yao said.
Yao said the volume of Chinese steel exports to the U.S. in the first quarter of this year had actually fallen 55 percent from a year ago.
