U.S. regulators have agreed to slap countervailing duties of up to 7.69 percent on heavy-walled rectangular welded carbon steel pipes and tubes from Turkey, according to a preliminary ruling announced on Tuesday.

The U.S. Commerce Department calculated a preliminary subsidy rate of 7.69 percent on MMZ Onur Boru Profil uretim San Ve Tic. A.S. and 1.35 percent for Ozdemir Boru Profil San ve Tic. Ltd Sti, it said.

All other producers and exporters in Turkey will be assigned a rate of 4.39 percent.

A final Commerce ruling will be made on or around May 2, with the U.S. International Trade Commission making a final decision on June 16.

The news comes after regulators found reasonable evidence U.S. producers of steel pipes and tubes have been injured by imports from South Korea, Mexico, and Turkey.

The complaint was lodged on behalf of Atlas Tube, a division of JMC Steel Group ; Bull Moose Tube Company; EXLTUBE; Hannibal Industries, Inc; Independence Tube Corporation; Maruichi American Corporation, a subsidiary of Maruichi Steel Tube Ltd ; Searing Industries; Southland Tube and Vest Inc.

-Tube and pipe exhibition-The 17th China(Guangzhou)Int''l Tube&Pipe Expo