China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) Wednesday voiced strong opposition against the United States' imposition of anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese oil well pipes, saying the move was "discriminatory."

The United States made a decision Tuesday to impose duties ranging from 10.36 percent to 15.78 percent on Chinese oil well pipes for alleged unfair subsidies.

"China is strongly opposed to the US move of continuing with its discriminatory measures and arbitrarily raising the anti-subsidy duty rates," said Yao Jian, spokesman of the MOC.

China, US pledge no new trade protectionism Yao reiterated that the United States should live up to its promise made at the G20 Summit and the consensus reached earlier by leaders of the two countries to fight trade protectionism.

Earlier this month, the US Commerce Department also slapped preliminary anti-dumping tariffs on the pipe up to 99 percent based on the allegation that "Chinese producers/exporters have sold OCTG (oil country tubular goods) in the United States at prices ranging from zero to 99.14 percent less than normal value."

Customs data showed that pipes involved were worth US$3.2 billion in 2008, taking up 46 percent of the total amount of Chinese steel products exported to the United States (US$6.9 billion).

More than 90 companies were affected, including major steel companies like Baosteel, Tianjin Pipe and Ansteel.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2009)