China probes U.S. Russian steel in anti-dumping case

BEIJING, June 1 (Reuters) - China has launched an anti-dumping case into U.S. and Russian imports of grain oriented flat-rolled electrical steel and is investigating subsidies for the steel product in the United States, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

The investigation follows a complaint filed by seven U.S. steelmakers, including U.S. Steel (X.N) and Russian-owned Evraz Rocky Mountain Steel Mills HK1q.L and TMK IPSCO (TRMK.MM), into Chinese imports of stainless steel pipes used in oil production.

A U.S. trade panel gave its unanimous approval on May 22 to a government probe that could lead to steep U.S. duties on an estimated $2.6 billion of the U.S. imports.

In April, a Chinese newspaper quoted a senior industry official as saying China would retaliate if the United States decided to investigate the complaint.