It is reported that the European Union threatened to impose tariffs on steel pipes and tubes from China to protect EU producers from cheaper imports.

According to the report, the EU began an inquiry into whether Chinese exporters of seamless pipes and tubes sell them in the 27 nation bloc below cost, a practice known as dumping. The probe covers pipes and tubes of circular cross-section and an external diameter not exceeding 406.4 millimeters.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm in Brussels said that the investigation will determine whether the product is being dumped and whether this dumping has caused injury. The commission has nine months to decide whether to impose provisional anti dumping duties for half a year and EU governments have 15 months to decide whether to apply definitive levies for five years.

The commission said that the new dumping inquiry stems from a May 28 complaint by the Defense Committee of the Seamless Steel Tubes Industry of the European Union on behalf of producers that account for more than half of EU output of the product. Officials of the industry group couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

EU is already trying to stem imports of Chinese goods ranging from frozen strawberries to ironing boards. China, the world's most populous country, faces EU anti dumping duties on about 40 products more than any other nation.