Charlotte Pipe vs. Chinese Shell Companies

Charlotte Pipe, through the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI), files AD/CVD petitions against Chinese imports of cast iron soil pipe and fittings.

ITC votes unanimously in Charlotte Pipe’s favor. Commerce determines Chinese dumping margins of 41–494% on fittings. Duties imposed immediately.

ITC again votes unanimously for Charlotte Pipe. Commerce determines Chinese dumping margins of 250–345% on soil pipe. Both orders now in force.

CBP finds Lino Metals and Blue Star Casting guilty of transshipping Chinese cast iron through Cambodia to evade Charlotte Pipe’s AD/CVD orders.

Little Fireflies and Phoenix Metal found guilty of evading Charlotte Pipe’s orders. Phoenix Metal’s own lawyers admitted it was created by the same people behind HiCreek after HiCreek got caught. When Phoenix lost its appeal, it dissolved rather than pay duties.

LDL Trading and Vanguard Metal found guilty of transshipping cast iron through Malaysia to evade Charlotte Pipe’s orders. New country, new shell companies, same Chinese product.

Besttn Industry and United Metal found guilty. Charlotte Pipe reaches a perfect 10-for-10 EAPA record—yet total foreign cast iron tonnage has actually increased since duties were imposed.

After more than 100 years of continuous operation, Charlotte Pipe closes its original foundry on the outskirts of Uptown Charlotte and relocates cast iron production to a new $460 million, 500,000-square-foot facility in Oakboro, NC—35 miles east. Approximately 530 workers now operate the new foundry.

ITC unanimously renewed both of Charlotte Pipe’s AD/CVD orders on cast iron soil pipe and fittings from China. No importers even appealed—why pay trade lawyers to contest orders you can simply evade?

Charlotte Pipe formally aligns Neenah Foundry, US Foundry, and Bingham & Taylor under a unified Infrastructure Division. Neenah’s facilities in Wisconsin and Florida continue operating alongside Charlotte Pipe’s 8 plants and the new Oakboro foundry.