69 FR 86 pgs. 24569-24571 - Certain Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe From Mexico; Intent To Rescind Antidumping Duty Administrative Review
Type: NOTICEVolume: 69Number: 86Pages: 24569 - 24571
Docket number: [A-201-827]
FR document: [FR Doc. 04-10097 Filed 5-3-04; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: International Trade Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-201-827]
Certain Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe From Mexico; Intent To Rescind Antidumping Duty Administrative Review
AGENCY:
Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
ACTION:
Notice of intent to rescind antidumping duty administrative review.
SUMMARY:
On September 30, 2003, we published the notice of initiation of this antidumping duty review with respect to Tubos de Acero de Mexico, S.A. (TAMSA). See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, Request for Revocation in Part and Deferral of Administrative Review, 68 FR 56262 (September 30, 2003) (Initiation Notice). We have preliminarily determined that this review should be rescinded.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
May 4, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristina Boughton or Charles Riggle at (202) 482-8173 or (202) 482-0650, respectively; AD/CVD Enforcement Office 5, Group II, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 1, 2003, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the Federal Register the notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain large diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe (SLP) from Mexico, for the period August 1, 2002, through July 31, 2003 (68 FR 45218). On September 2, 2003, we received a request from the petitioner1to review TAMSA. On September 30, 2003, we published the notice of initiation of this antidumping duty administrative review with respect to TAMSA. See Initiation Notice.
Footnotes:
1 The petitioner is United States Steel Corporation.
TAMSA submitted a letter on December 9, 2003, certifying that during the period of review (POR) neither it, nor its U.S. affiliate entered subject merchandise for consumption, or sold, exported, or shipped subject merchandise for entry for consumption in the United States.
Scope of the Review
The products covered by this order are large diameter seamless carbon and alloy (other than stainless) steel standard, line, and pressure pipes produced, or equivalent, to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A53, ASTM A106, ASTM A333, ASTM A334, ASTM A589, ASTM A795, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) 5L specifications and meeting the physical parameters described below, regardless of application, with the exception of the exclusions discussed below. The scope of this order also includes all other products used in standard, line, or pressure pipe applications and meeting the physical parameters described below, regardless of specification, with the exception of the exclusions discussed below. Specifically included within the scope of this order are seamless pipes greater than 4.5 inches (114.3 mm) up to and including 16 inches (406.4 mm) in outside diameter, regardless of wall-thickness, manufacturing process (hot finished or cold-drawn), end finish (plain end, beveled end, upset end, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or surface finish.
The seamless pipes subject to this order are currently classifiable under the subheadings 7304.10.10.30, 7304.10.10.45, 7304.10.10.60, 7304.10.50.50, 7304.31.60.50, 7304.39.00.36, 7304.39.00.40, 7304.39.00.44, 7304.39.00.48, 7304.39.00.52, 7304.39.00.56, 7304.39.00.62, 7304.39.00.68, 7304.39.00.72, 7304.51.50.60, 7304.59.60.00, 7304.59.80.30, 7304.59.80.35, 7304.59.80.40, 7304.59.80.45, 7304.59.80.50, 7304.59.80.55, 7304.59.80.60, 7304.59.80.65, and 7304.59.80.70 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
Specifications, Characteristics, and Uses: Large diameter seamless pipe is used primarily for line applications such as oil, gas, or water pipeline, or utility distribution systems. Seamless pressure pipes are intended for the conveyance of water, steam, petrochemicals, chemicals, oil products, natural gas and other liquids and gasses in industrial piping systems. They may carry these substances at elevated pressures and temperatures and may be subject to the application of external heat. Seamless carbon steel pressure pipe meeting the ASTM A106 standard may be used in temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, at various American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code stress levels. Alloy pipes made to ASTM A335 standard must be used if temperatures and stress levels exceed those allowed for ASTM A106. Seamless pressure pipes sold in the United States are commonly produced to the ASTM A106 standard.
Seamless standard pipes are most commonly produced to the ASTM A53 specification and generally are not intended for high temperature service. They are intended for the low temperature and pressure conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air, and other liquids and gasses in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, automatic sprinkler systems, and other related uses. Standard pipes (depending on type and code) may carry liquids at elevated temperatures but must not exceed relevant ASME code requirements. If exceptionally low temperature uses or conditions are anticipated, standard pipe may be manufactured to ASTM A333 or ASTM A334 specifications.
Seamless line pipes are intended for the conveyance of oil and natural gas or other fluids in pipe lines. Seamless line pipes are produced to the API 5L specification.
Seamless water well pipe (ASTM A589) and seamless galvanized pipe for fire protection uses (ASTM A795) are used for the conveyance of water.
Seamless pipes are commonly produced and certified to meet ASTM A106, ASTM A53, API 5L-B, and API 5L-X42 specifications. To avoid maintaining separate production runs and separate inventories, manufacturers typically triple or quadruple certify the pipes by meeting the metallurgical requirements and performing the required tests pursuant to the respective specifications. Since distributors sell the vast majority of this product, they can thereby maintain a single inventory to service all customers.
The primary application of ASTM A106 pressure pipes and triple or quadruple certified pipes in large diameters is for use as oil and gas distribution lines for commercial applications. A more minor application for large diameter seamless pipes is for use in pressure piping systems by refineries, petrochemical plants, and chemical plants, as well as in power generation plants and in some oil field uses (on shore and off shore) such as for separator lines, gathering lines and metering runs. These applications constitute the majority of the market for the subject seamless pipes. However, ASTM A106 pipes may be used in some boiler applications.
The scope of this order includes all seamless pipe meeting the physical parameters described above and produced to one of the specifications listed above, regardless of application, with the exception of the exclusions discussed below, whether or not also certified to a non-covered specification. Standard, line, and pressure applications and the above-listed specifications are defining characteristics of the scope of this order. Therefore, seamless pipes meeting the physical description above, but not produced to the ASTM A53, ASTM A106, ASTM A333, ASTM A334, ASTM A589, ASTM A795, and API 5L specifications shall be covered if used in a standard, line, or pressure application, with the exception of the specific exclusions discussed below.
For example, there are certain other ASTM specifications of pipe which, because of overlapping characteristics, could potentially be used in ASTM A106 applications. These specifications generally include ASTM A161, ASTM A192, ASTM A210, ASTM A252, ASTM A501, ASTM A523, ASTM A524, and ASTM A618. When such pipes are used in a standard, line, or pressure pipe application, such products are covered by the scope of this order.
Specifically excluded from the scope of this order are:
A. Boiler tubing and mechanical tubing, if such products are not produced to ASTM A53, ASTM A106, ASTM A333, ASTM A334, ASTM A589, ASTM A795, and API 5L specifications and are not used in standard, line, or pressure pipe applications.
B. Finished and unfinished oil country tubular goods (OCTG), if covered by the scope of another antidumping duty order from the same country. If not covered by such an OCTG order, finished and unfinished OCTG are included in this scope when used in standard, line or pressure applications.
C. Products produced to the A335 specification unless they are used in an application that would normally utilize ASTM A53, ASTM A106, ASTM A333, ASTM A334, ASTM A589, ASTM A795, and API 5L specifications.
D. Line and riser pipe for deepwater application, i.e. , line and riser pipe that is (1) used in a deepwater application, which means for use in water depths of 1,500 feet or more; (2) intended for use in and is actually used for a specific deepwater project; (3) rated for a specified minimum yield strength of not less than 60,000 psi; and (4) not identified or certified through the use of a monogram, stencil, or otherwise marked with an API specification ( e.g. , API 5L).
With regard to the excluded products listed above, the Department will not instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to require end-use certification until such time as petitioner or other interested parties provide to the Department a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that the products are being utilized in a covered application. If such information is provided, the Department will require end-use certification only for the product(s) (or specification(s)) for which evidence is provided that such products are being used in a covered application as described above. For example, if, based on evidence provided by the petitioner, the Department finds a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that seamless pipe produced to the A-335 specification is being used in an A-106 application, it will require end-use certifications for imports of that specification. Normally the Department will require only the importer of record to certify to the end-use of the imported merchandise. If it later proves necessary for adequate implementation, the Department may also require producers who export such products to the United States to provide such certification on invoices accompanying shipments to the United States.
Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and CBP's purposes, the written description of the merchandise subject to this order is dispositive.
Intent To Rescind Third Administrative Review
On December 9, 2003, TAMSA submitted a letter certifying that neither it, nor its U.S. affiliate, Siderca Corporation, directly or indirectly, exported or sold for consumption in the United States any subject merchandise during the POR. The petitioner did not comment on TAMSA's no shipment claim. The Department conducted a shipment data query on SLP produced by TAMSA during the POR, and based on this query, we found that TAMSA had made shipments to the United States during the POR, some of which entered under the HTSUS numbers for subject merchandise. From past reviews we had reason to believe that these shipments were of merchandise not included in the scope of this order.See Notice of Final Results and Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Certain Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From Mexico, 68 FR 40627 (July 8, 2003).
To confirm that TAMSA made no shipments of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR, on March 4, 2004, we requested entry documents for selected months of the POR and for a sample of HTSUS numbers covered by the scope of this order for various shipments by TAMSA and/or its affiliate. See Memorandum to Michael S. Craig from Gary Taverman: Request for U.S. Entry Documents-Certain Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe from Mexico (A-201-827). Our analysis of the entry documents showed that none of the shipments was subject merchandise. Based on our shipment data query and examination of entry documents, we are treating TAMSA as a non-shipper for the purpose of this review. Therefore, in accordance with section 351.213(d)(3) of the Department's regulations, and consistent with our practice, we preliminarily determine to rescind this review. See e.g., Stainless Steel Bar from India; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and New Shipper Review and Partial Rescission of Administrative Review, 65 FR 48965 (August 10, 2000) as discussed in Stainless Steel Bar from India; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and New Shipper Review, and Partial Rescission of Administrative Review, 65 FR 12209 (March 8, 2000).
Public Comment
Interested parties may submit case briefs within 14 days of the date of publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs, which must be limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than 19 days after the date of publication of this notice. Parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are requested to submit with each argument (1) a statement of the issue and (2) a brief summary of the argument with an electronic version included. Any interested party may request a hearing within 14 days of publication of this notice. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the case and rebuttal briefs. The Department will issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis of issues raised in any such written briefs or hearing, within 120 days of publication of these preliminary results. We are issuing this notice is in accordance with section 751(a)(1) of the Act and section 351.213(d) of the Department's regulations.
Dated: April 28, 2004.
James J. Jochum,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-10097 Filed 5-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P