2020-07836. Oil Country Tubular Goods From the People's Republic of China: Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: 2019

AGENCY:

Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period of review (POR) January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, based on the timely withdrawal of the requests for review.

DATES:

Applicable April 14, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dusten Hom, AD/CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On January 2, 2020, Commerce published a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the CVD order on OCTG from China for the POR of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.^[1] On January 29, 2020, Commerce received a timely-filed request from the United States Steel Corporation, Maverick Tube Corporation, Tenaris Bay City, Inc., IPSCO Tubulars Inc., Vallourec Star, L.P., and Welded Tube USA (collectively “Domestic Interested Parties”) for an administrative review of 173 producers and exporters, in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213(b).^[2]

On March 10, 2020, pursuant to these requests, and in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), Commerce published a notice initiating an administrative review of the countervailing duty order on OCTG from China for the 173 producers and exporters.^[3] On April 1, 2020, the Domestic Interested Parties withdrew their request for an administrative review of all 173 producers and exporters.^[4]

Rescission of Review

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the party or parties that requested a review withdraws the request within 90 days of the publication date of the notice of initiation of the requested review. The Domestic Interested Parties withdrew their request for review of all of the 173 producers and exporters for which they had requested an administrative review. No other parties requested an administrative review of the order. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), we are rescinding this review in its entirety.

Assessment

Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess countervailing duties on all appropriate entries of OCTG from China. Countervailing duties shall be assessed at rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions to CBP 15 days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders

This notice also serves as a reminder to all parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely written notification of the return/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. Note that Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for serving documents containing business proprietary information, until May 19, 2020, unless extended.^[5]

This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4).

Dated: April 8, 2020.

James Maeder,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.

Footnotes

1.  See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review, 85 FR 64 (January 2, 2020).

2.  See letter from the Domestic Interested Parties, “Oil Country Tubular Goods from the People's Republic of China: Request for Administrative Review of Countervailing Duty Order,” dated January 29, 2020.

3.  See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 85 FR 6896 (February 6, 2020).

4.  See letter from the Domestic Interested Parties, “Oil Country Tubular Goods from the People's Republic of China: Withdrawal of Request for Administrative Review,” dated April 1, 2020.

5.  See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due to COVID-19, 85 FR 17006 (March 26, 2020).