02-8070. Notice of Extension of Time Limit of Preliminary Results of New Shipper Review: Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings from Korea

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of Extension of Time Limit of Preliminary Results of New Shipper Review.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

April 3, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Fred Baker at [phone] or Robert James at [phone]; Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Enforcement Group III, Office Eight, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Applicable Statute and Regulations

Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the statute are references to the provisions effective January 1, 1995, the effective date of the amendments made to the Tariff Act of 1930 (the Tariff Act) by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA). In addition, unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the Department of Commerce (the Department) regulations refer to the regulations codified at 19 CFR Part 351 (April 2001).

Background

On February 23, 1993, the Department published the antidumping duty order on stainless steel butt-weld pipe fittings from Korea. See Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Welded Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings from Korea, 58 FR 11029 (February 23, 1993). On August 31, 2001, TK Corporation, a producer and exporter of the subject merchandise during the period of review (POR), requested that the Department conduct an antidumping duty new shipper review of the antidumping duty order. On October 5, 2001, the Department initiated the requested review. See Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings from Korea: Notice of Initiation of New Shipper Antidumping Duty Review, 66 FR 51017 (October 5, 2001).

Extension of Time Limits for Preliminary Results

Pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act, the Department shall issue preliminary results in an administrative review of an antidumping duty order within 245 days after the last day of the anniversary month of the date of publication of the order. The Tariff Act further provides, however, that the Department may extend that 245-day period to 365 days if it determines it is not practicable to complete the review within the foregoing time period.

In the course of this proceeding the Department has determined, through consultation with the U.S. Customs Service, that there is an issue as to whether TK Corporation's U.S. sales fall within the period of investigation. Due to the need to analyze this question, it is not practicable to complete this review by the current deadline of March 27, 2002.

Therefore, in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act, the Department is extending the time limit for the preliminary results by 120 days, until no later than July 25, 2002. The final results continue to be due 120 days after the publication of the preliminary results.

This notice is published in accordance with section 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act.

Dated: March 27, 2002

Joseph A. Spetrini,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Group III.