(In Feb 13 item, removes incorrect date from paragraph 2)
WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The United States isinvestigating whether manufacturers in Canada, China, Greece,India, Korea and Turkey are dumping large-diameter welded pipeinto U.S. markets or are being unfairly subsidized by theirgovernments, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday.
If the government makes a preliminary finding that dumpingor unfair subsidies are taking place it will begin collectingcash deposits from U.S. companies importing the pipe, thedepartment said.
The probe covers welded carbon and alloy steel pipe largerthan 16 inches (406.4 mm) in diameter. The pipe is generallyused to transport oil, natural gas, slurry and steam and forpiling, the department said.
The U.S. investigations, part of the 94 cases PresidentDonald Trump's administration has opened since taking office,are aimed at protecting U.S. manufacturers in global markets,Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a statement.
The Commerce Department estimated that in 2016 imports oflarge-diameter welded pipe from Canada had a value of $66million, China $139 million, India $26 million, Greece $70million, Korea $150.3 million, and Turkey $116.1 million.
"Dumping" is the practice of selling goods at below marketprice.