01-5629. Oil Country Tubular Goods (“OCTG”) From Italy; Final Results of Sunset Review of Countervailing Duty Order

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of final results of full sunset review: Oil country tubular goods (“OCTG”) from Italy.

SUMMARY:

On October 30, 2000, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) published a notice of preliminary results of the full sunset review of the countervailing duty order on oil country tubular goods (“OCTG”) from Italy (65 FR 64668) pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”). We provided interested parties an opportunity to comment on our preliminary results. We received a case brief from respondent interested party, Dalmine S.p.A. (“Dalmine”). In addition, we received a rebuttal brief from domestic interested party, U.S. Steel Group, a unit of USX Corp (“U.S. Steel”). As a result of this review, the Department finds that revocation of this order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of subsidies at the levels indicated in the Final Results of Review section of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

March 8, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Martha Douthit or James P. Maeder, Office of Policy for Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: [phone] or [phone], respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statute and Regulations

This review is being conducted pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752 of the Act. The Department's procedures for the conduct of sunset reviews are set forth in Procedures for Conducting Five-year (“Sunset”) Reviews of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 63 FR 13516 (March 20, 1998) (“Sunset Regulations”) and in 19 CFR part 351 (2000) in general. Guidance on methodological or analytical issues relevant to the Department's conduct of sunset reviews is set forth in the Department's Policy Bulletin 98.3—Policies Regarding the Conduct of Five-year (“Sunset”) Reviews of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders; Policy Bulletin, 63 FR 18871 (April 16, 1998) (“Sunset Policy Bulletin”).

Background

In our preliminary results, published on October 30, 2000 (65 FR 64668), we found that revocation of the order would likely result in continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the rate of 1.47 percent for all producers/exports from Italy.

On December 11, 2000, within the deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(i), we received a case brief on behalf of Dalmine. On December 18, 2000, we received a rebuttal brief on behalf of U.S. Steel. Although a hearing was requested by U.S. Steel, that request was subsequently withdrawn and no hearing was held in this sunset review.

Scope of Review

Imports covered by this order are oil country tubular goods, hollow steel products of circular cross-section, including oil well casing, tubing, and drill pipe, of iron (other than cast iron) or steel (both carbon and alloy), whether seamless or welded, whether or not conforming to American Petroleum Institute (API) or non-API specifications, whether finished or unfinished (including green tubes and limited service OCTG products). This scope does not cover casing, tubing, or drill pipe containing 10.5 percent or more of chromium. The OCTG subject to this order are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers: 7304.21.30.00, 7403.21.60.00, 7304.29.10.10, 7304.29.10.20, 7304.29.10.30, 7304.29.10.40, 7304.29.10.50, 7304.29.10.60, 7304.29.10.80, 7304.29.20.10, 7304.29.20.20, 7304.29.20.30, 7304.29.20.40, 7304.29.20.50, 7304.29.20.60, 7304.29.20.80, 7304.29.30.10, 7304.29.30.20, 7304.29.30.30, 7304.29.30.40, 7304.29.30.50, 7304.29.30.60, 7304.29.30.80, 7304.29.40.10, 7304.29.40.20, 7304.29.40.30, 7304.29.40.40, 7304.29.40.50, 7304.29.40.60, 7304.29.40.80, 7304.29.50.15, 7304.29.50.30, 7304.29.50.45, 7304.29.50.60, 7304.29.50.75, 7304.29.60.15, 7304.29.60.30, 7304.29.60.45, 7304.29.60.60, 7304.29.60.75, 7305.20.20.00, 7305.20.40.00, 7305.20.60.00, 7305.20.80.00, 7306.20.10.30, 7306.20.10.90, 7306.20.20.00, 7306.20.30.00, 7306.20.40.00, 7306.20.60.10, 7306.20.60.50, 7306.20.80.10, and 7306.20.80.50. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received

All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties to this sunset review are addressed in the “Issues and Decision Memorandum” (“Decision Memo”) from Jeffrey A. May, Director, Office of Policy, Import Administration, to Bernard T. Carreau, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Import Administration, dated February 28, 2001, which is hereby adopted by this notice. The issues discussed in the Decision Memo include the automatic initiation of this sunset review and the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies. Parties can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this review and the corresponding recommendations in this public memorandum which is on file in the Central Records Unit, room B-099, of the main Commerce building.

In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memo can be accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov. The paper copy and electronic version of the Decision Memo are identical in content.

Final Results of Review

We determine that revocation of the countervailing duty order on OCTG from Italy would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the rate listed below:

Producers/exporters	Net countervailable subsidy (percent)
All Producers/exporters from Italy	1.47

This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to administrative protective orders (“APO”) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction. This five-year (“sunset”) review and notice are in accordance with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act. This notice is published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act.

Dated: February 28, 2001.

Timothy J. Hauser,

Acting Under Secretary for International Trade.