03-12876. Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Taiwan: Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of extension of time limit for the preliminary results of antidumping duty administrative review.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

May 22, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jon Freed, AD/CVD Enforcement, Group III, Office 9, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington DC 20230; telephone: [phone].

Background

On June 5, 2002, the Department of Commerce (“Department”) published a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings from Taiwan for the period June 1, 2001, through May 31, 2002. See Notice of Opportunity to Request Administrative Review of Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation, 67 FR 38640 (June 5, 2002). On June 25, 2002, Markovitz Enterprises, Inc. (Flowline Division), Shaw Alloy Piping Products Inc., Gerlin, Inc., and Taylor Forge Stainless, Inc. (“petitioners”) requested an antidumping duty administrative review for the following companies: Ta Chen Stainless Pipe Co., Ltd. (“Ta Chen”), Liang Feng Stainless Steel Fitting Co., Ltd. (“Liang Feng”), and Tru-Flow Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Tru-Flow”) for the period June 1, 2001, through May 31, 2002. On June 28, 2002, Ta Chen requested an administrative review of its sales to the United States during the period of review (“POR”). On July 24, 2002, the Department published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of this antidumping duty administrative review for the period June 1, 2001, through May 31, 2002. See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation In Part, 67 FR 48435 (July 24, 2002). On March 3, 2003, the Department extended the time limit for the preliminary results of this administrative review. See Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings from Taiwan: Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 68 FR 9977 (March 3, 2003). The preliminary results are currently due no later than June 2, 2003.

Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results

Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”), states that the administering authority shall make a preliminary determination within 245 days after the last day of the month in which occurs the anniversary of the date of publication of the order, finding, or suspension agreement for which the review under Section 751(a)(1) is requested. If it is not practicable to complete the review within the foregoing time, the administering authority may extend that 245 day period to 365 days. Completion of the preliminary results within the 245 day period is impracticable for the following reasons: (1) This review involves certain complex Constructed Export Price (“CEP”) adjustments including, but not limited to CEP profit and CEP offset; (2) this review involves complex cost issues with respect to subcontractors' costs of production; and (3) this review involves a complex affiliation issue.

Because it is not practicable to complete this review within the time specified under the Act, we are extending the due date for the preliminary results by 28 days until June 30, 2003, in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act. The final results continue to be due 120 days after the publication of the preliminary results.

Dated: May 16, 2003.

Barbara E. Tillman,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Group III.