News Releases
The following are official press releases from PTC. For media inquiries or more information about these releases, please contact us using the form at the base of this page. NOTE: Releases are listed in chronological order by release date.
The U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association Applauds Final Determination of Evasion Against Thai OCTG Exporters
The U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (“USOMA”) announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (“Customs”) has reached a final determination in its Enforce and Protect Act (“EAPA”) investigations into the unlawful transshipment of Chinese oil country tubular goods (“OCTG”) to avoid payment of over an estimated quarter billion dollars in antidumping and countervailing duties due the U.S. government.
Customs initiated this investigation after USOMA presented Customs with evidence that two (2) Thai companies had been transshipping OCTG produced in China to the United States while falsely declaring the merchandise to be of Thai origin. Customs EAPA investigations covered ten (10) U.S. importers who received the transshipped product from Thailand from February 2023 to February 2025.
In November 2024, Customs performed on-site visits to the two Thai exporters’ facilities in Thailand, and those visits provided further evidence of a lack of production, including the concealment of evidence and falsification of documentation by the Thai companies.
Customs’ investigation also raises the question of how the Thai companies managed to get certified by the American Petroleum Institute (“API”) to the API 5CT standard. In the United States, OCTG producers abide by strict industry standards and practices to maintain API certification to ensure the safety and integrity of the pipe in the downhole applications where it is used. In comparison, when Customs asked one Thai company to conduct hydrostatic testing of its pipes to show it could met API production standards, all of its samples exploded during the test, indicating manufacturing processes and quality controls far below the requirements of API 5CT standard. USOMA is communicating with API and we encourage API to investigate the fraudulent practices of the Thai exporters and others to address their failure to adhere to API certification requirements.
In its final determination in the EAPA investigations, Customs made an affirmative determination of evasion for all ten importers under investigation based on the evidence on the record. Customs further found that both Thai companies and a number of the importers had engaged in widespread falsification of documents, made numerous false statements and claims to Customs, and had refused to provide information sought by Customs during the investigations. Customs therefore also determined that it was appropriate to apply adverse inferences to the Thai companies and those importers in light of those false claims.
In accordance with the EAPA statute and regulations, Customs stated in its February 24, 2024 final determination that it will take numerous enforcement actions based on its final determination. This will include requiring the importers pay the the antidumping and countervailing duties on OCTG from China. Based on publicly available information, USOMA estimates that the duties that Customs can recover through this EAPA action will be at least $310 million USD, and likely considerably more as Customs uncovered widespread additional evasion actions in these investigations that will be subject to the duties under Customs’ action.
“We are grateful to Customs for helping to detect and stop unfair trade practices that threaten the sustainability of the domestic OCTG industry and put American jobs at risk,” said Luca Zanotti, Tenaris President for the USA and Chairman of USOMA. “We encourage Customs to take comprehensive action against those who refuse to play by the rules as USOMA member companies continue to provide the highest quality products for the US energy industry.”
“Parties involved in this kind of evasion seek to gain an unfair advantage over U.S. producers and other importers who seek to play by the rules and maintain a healthy and fair marketplace that can provide long-term support for America’s energy sector.” said Jacky Massaglia, Senior Vice President of Vallourec North America and the Vice Chairman of USOMA. “However, given the extreme actions we know that parties in other EAPA investigations have taken when found liable for these duties, the fight to recover these funds is only half over. We urge Customs to take firm action to assure that the duties that have been found to be owed through these investigations are fully collected.”
Roger Schagrin of Schagrin Associates, General Counsel to USOMA, stated, “This most recent determination by U.S. Customs provides another demonstration of the powerful tools Customs has under the EAPA statute to uncover and pursue those cheating in U.S. trade and the strong commitment Customs has to use those tools. By diligently bringing and pursuing these investigations, USOMA and U.S. Customs have shown their dedication to protecting the jobs of U.S. workers that would be lost to this unfair trade, dedication we believe will continue to pay off in future actions.”
Additional information about this determination is available at USOMA’s website.
USOMA Commends President Trump on his America First Trade Policy
The United States OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA) extends its congratulations to President Donald J. Trump on his inauguration. Throughout his career, President Trump has consistently championed American manufacturing, and he reaffirmed his commitment on the first day of his second term by signing an executive memorandum outlining his America First Trade Policy.
USOMA fully supports the President’s prioritization of addressing the unfair trade practices that American producers face. Together, we look forward to collaborating with the Trump Administration and Congress to create a more favorable environment for American workers and businesses alike, ensuring a prosperous future for all.
Our members support the enforcement of existing trade laws and seek to collaborate with the new administration on exploring additional tools to combat unfairly traded imports that remain a threat to the American OCTG market. The U.S. OCTG market is the largest in the world, and nearly half of the market is supplied by imports, including OCTG manufactured in China that are then transshipped into the U.S. through countries such as Thailand.
One challenge currently facing the domestic OCTG industry is the flood of imports from South Korea, which has zero home market and exports nearly all of its OCTG production to the United States. The South Korean steel industry also benefits from Chinese over-capacity and government intervention, resulting in lower input costs and distorting their prices for U.S. consumers. USOMA is eager to work with the incoming Trump administration to address this issue and find a solution to the South Korean OCTG import dilemma.
Additionally, the Association supports the President’s policy to unleash American energy dominance by expanding oil and natural gas drilling operations nationwide. These actions will ensure that American energy will be the principal energy resource of the world. The domestic OCTG industry, which has invested over $5 billion into production over the past decade, has the additional capacity needed to support growing world-wide energy demands and looks forward to the day when American producers are allowed to compete on a level playing field with their foreign competitors.
About USOMA
The U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA) is a Washington D.C.-based trade association that promotes the interests of U.S. manufacturers of oil country tubular goods (OCTG), a specialized type of steel pipe used in the exploration and production of oil and gas. The current members of the group are Tenaris USA, Vallourec Star LP, Borusan Pipe US, PTC Liberty Tubulars, Welded Tube US, Axis Pipe and Tube, and BENTELER Steel and Tube. These seven (7) companies have twenty (20) facilities in ten (10) states and employ almost 8,000 American workers.
Celebrating Manufacturing Day with our future innovators!
MIDDLETOWN, OH – Hosting local students, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at modern manufacturing. It’s inspiring to see their excitement for the industry and the future of technology.
U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA) Applauds Congressional Letter Urging Stronger Measures Against South Korean OCTG Import Quotas:
WASHINGTON, DC – USOMA, representing the majority of the Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) industry, applauds the recent letter sent by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert Casey (D-PA), and John Fetterman (D-PA) to the Biden Administration calling on them to lower the current import quota on OCTG from South Korea in the face of weakened demand. The letter urges the Administration to take swift action to address the current OCTG market outlook and prevent further job losses.
“Lowering this quota is essential for the stability of our industry,” said Luca Zanotti, Chairman of USOMA and the President of Tenaris USA. “The current quota level was put in place when demand was historically high and is no longer serving its purpose. The continued influx of foreign imports at these high rates threatens the livelihoods of American workers and undermines our nation’s critical energy infrastructure. We are grateful to Senator Brown for leading this effort, and Senators Casey (D-PA) and Fetterman (D-PA) for using their voices to stand up for the hard-working Americans supporting the OCTG sector.”
The domestic OCTG industry has long faced challenges from unfairly traded imports, which have resulted in plant closures, job losses, and market distortions. The letter sent to the Biden Administration highlights the need for immediate action to prevent foreign countries from flooding the market with inferior products that undercut American-made OCTG.
USOMA urges the White House to heed Congress’s call and lower the current quota before further harm is done to the domestic industry. “It’s time to stand up for American workers and protect the future of this vital industry,” added Roger Schagrin, Counsel to USOMA. You can view the full letter here.
U.S. Customs Finds Evasion by Thai Exporters of AD/CVD Duties on OCTG From China
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2024 (Newswire.com) – The U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (“USOMA”) announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency (“Customs”) has determined that there is a reasonable suspicion of evasion of the antidumping (“AD”) and countervailing (“CVD”) duties on oil country tubular goods (“OCTG”) from China by transshipment of OCTG through Thailand. In particular, on May 23, 2024, Customs found that two (2) Thai companies, Petroleum Equipment (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (“PET”) and Thai Oil Pipe Co., Ltd. (“TOP”), have been transshipping OCTG produced in China to the United States while falsely declaring the merchandise to be of Thai origin. Moreover, Customs found that the following ten (10) U.S. importers were importing Chinese OCTG that had been transshipped through Thailand by PET and TOP:
- Amek Aluminum & Stainless, Inc.;
- Centric Pipe LLC;
- Copley International Group Co Ltd;
- Energy Pipe & Equipment Rentals LLC;
- Kana Energy Services Inc.;
- LE Commodities, LLC;
- Lixin Energy Group (HK) Co.;
- Limited; Longfellow Energy, LP;
- Trek Metals Inc.; and
- TSPGA LLC
Customs initiated this investigation after USOMA filed an allegation pursuant to the Enforce and Protect Act (“EAPA”) that detailed PET’s and TOP’s transshipment schemes.
In accordance with the EAPA statute and regulations, Customs stated that it will implement the following interim measures based on its affirmative preliminary determination:
- Extend liquidation of unliquidated entries that entered before the date of initiation, February 23, 2024;
- Suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries entered on or after the date of initiation, February 23, 2024, and reject any entry summaries and require a re-file for those entries that are within the entry summary reject period;
- Require “live” entry for all imports of certain oil country tubular goods manufactured by Petroleum Equipment (Thailand) Co., Ltd. or Thai Oil Pipe Co., Ltd., requiring the importers to submit proper documentation and all duties prior to release of the merchandise; and
- The AD rate is the “PRC-Wide Entity” rate of 99.14 percent and the CVD rate is the “All Others” rate of 27.08 percent.
“USOMA commends Customs for reaching this preliminary determination of evasion, and we look forward to continuing to work together on this EAPA investigation of Thai exports,” said Luca Zanotti, President of Tenaris USA and Chairman of USOMA. “Measures like this help promote a healthy, competitive U.S. OCTG supply chain to responsibly develop America’s energy resources with reliable, high-quality products, with a lower carbon footprint.”
Customs will issue a more detailed memorandum explaining its initial determination of evasion on May 31, 2024. Following this initial determination, Customs has seven (7) months to continue its investigation and determine appropriate penalties.
“Customs’ strong enforcement of U.S. trade remedy laws allows U.S. domestic producers to continue making investments in American manufacturing and American workers,” said Jacky Massaglia, Senior Vice President of Vallourec North America and the Vice Chairman of USOMA. “Filing this EAPA allegation was the first step that USOMA has taken to combat unfairly traded imports, but it will certainly not be our last.”
Added Roger Schagrin of Schagrin Associates, General Counsel to USOMA, “Customs has demonstrated time and again that it will act to stop Chinese producers and their accomplices from cheating the United States out of AD/CVD, 232, and 301 duties that cost Americans thousands of highly paid jobs. USOMA members have shown their commitment to going the extra mile to work with Customs to enforce our trade laws.”
About USOMA
The U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA) is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association that promotes the interests of U.S. manufacturers of oil country tubular goods (OCTG), a specialized type of steel pipe used in the exploration and production of oil and gas. The current members of the group are Tenaris USA, Vallourec Star LP, Borusan Pipe US, PTC Liberty Tubulars, Welded Tube US, Axis Pipe and Tube, and BENTELER Steel and Tube. These seven (7) companies have twenty (20) facilities in ten (10) states and employ almost 8,000 American workers.
Source: USOMA
U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association Announced
Six U.S. manufacturers of Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) today announced the formation of a new Washington D.C.-based trade association called the U.S. OCTG Manufacturers Association (USOMA). The six companies are Tenaris in the USA, Vallourec Star LP, Borusan Mannesmann Pipe USA, PTC Liberty Tubulars, Welded Tube US, and Axis Pipe and Tube.
The group elected Luca Zanotti, Tenaris President for the USA, as Chairman of USOMA. “As American energy production is a matter of national security, we must promote and develop reliable, domestic supply chains, such as a world-class U.S. OCTG industry. Foreign producers, many from countries that do not have a local OCTG market, and, consequently, have non-market excess capacity, account for roughly half of the U.S. market. The U.S. industry can replace these imports and create thousands of high-paying jobs in American OCTG plants and in the American steel plants that supply their hot rolled coils, while reducing the carbon footprint,” said Mr. Zanotti.
The six members of the new trade group have 19 facilities in nine states and employ approximately 7,500 American workers. The group estimates it represents about 75% of U.S. OCTG production.
The new trade association appointed veteran Washington trade lawyer Roger Schagrin of Schagrin Associates as its General Counsel. “Our goal is to level the playing field for the U.S. OCTG industry and bring OCTG imports down to market shares aligned with basic steel products. At a time when U.S. trade and climate policy is focusing on decarbonization, it is important that U.S. OCTG manufacturers offer exploration and production companies domestically manufactured, reliable, low-GHG products.”
The new association is looking forward to working with the Administration and the Congress to strengthen American energy and national security by promoting a healthy, domestic OCTG industry.