The U.S. ITC has received a petition to investigate Chinese cast iron soil pipe exports, which has a parallel in an investigation into fittings for those pipes launched last year. While petitioners may be potentially emboldened by the Trump administration’s hawkish language, the ITC has demonstrated its independence with the recent decision on Bombardier jet imports. Imports of the products concerned fell 29% in the past 12 months to November 30, including a 12% drop in average costs per ton. That provides evidence of aggressive price competition by Chinese exporters of cast iron pipe...