[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 87 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24639-24640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11755]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-357-403; C-357-005]
Oil Country Tubular Goods From Argentina and Cold-Rolled Carbon
Steel Flat Products From Argentina; Termination of Administrative
Reviews
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of final results of countervailing duty administrative
review/termination of administrative reviews.
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SUMMARY: On December 30, 1996, the Department of Commerce (the
Department) published in the Federal Register its preliminary results
of administrative reviews of the countervailing duty order on Oil
Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) from Argentina for the periods 1992, 1993
and 1994, and the countervailing duty order on Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel
Flat Products (Cold-Rolled Steel) from Argentina for the periods 1992
and 1993. The Department preliminarily determined that it lacked the
authority to assess countervailing duties on the entries subject to
these reviews, and announced its intent to terminate the reviews. We
have now finalized that determination and terminate these reviews.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 6, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dana Mermelstein or Richard Herring,
Office of CVD/AD Enforcement VI, Import Administration, International
Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
2786.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 30, 1996, the Department published in the Federal
Register (61 FR 68713 ) the preliminary results of its administrative
reviews and its intent to terminate the administrative reviews of the
countervailing duty orders on OCTG and Cold-Rolled Steel from
Argentina. The Department has now completed these administrative
reviews in accordance with section 751 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act).
The review of OCTG covering the period January 1 through December
31, 1994, was initiated on December 15, 1995 (60 FR 64413). The review
of OCTG covering the period January 1 through December 31, 1993, was
initiated on December 15, 1994 (59 FR 64650). The review of OCTG
covering the period January 1 through December 31, 1992, was initiated
on December 17, 1993 (58 FR 65964).
The review of Cold-Rolled Steel covering the period January 1
through December 31, 1993, was initiated on May 12, 1994 (59 FR 24683).
The review of Cold-Rolled Steel covering the period January 1 through
December 31, 1992, was initiated on May 27, 1993 (58 FR 30767).
In the preliminary results, the Department determined that it lacks
the authority to assess countervailing duties on entries of OCTG and
Cold-Rolled Steel made on or after September 20, 1991 and on or before
December 31, 1994. We invited interested parties to comment on these
preliminary results. We did not receive any comments. Therefore, for
the reasons stated in the preliminary results (61 FR 68713), we are
terminating these reviews.
The question of the Department's authority to assess duties on
unliquidated entries of OCTG made on or after January 1, 1995 remains
to be determined in the context of the ongoing changed circumstances
reviews. See, Leather from Argentina, Wool from Argentina, Oil Country
Tubular Goods from Argentina, and Carbon Steel Cold-Rolled Flat
Products from Argentina; Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances
Countervailing Duty Reviews (Changed Circumstances Reviews), to be
published on May 2, 1997, in the Federal Register.
Applicable Statute and Regulations
With the exception of the 1994 administrative review of the
countervailing duty order on OCTG from Argentina, the Department is
conducting these administrative reviews in accordance with section
751(a) of the Act. The 1994 OCTG review is being conducted in
accordance with the provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended by
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, effective January 1, 1995. Otherwise,
citations to the statute and to the Department's regulations are in
reference to the provisions as they existed on December 31, 1994.
Scope of the Reviews
OCTG from Argentina. Imports covered by this order include
shipments of Argentine oil country tubular goods. Oil country tubular
goods include hollow steel products of circular cross-section intended
for use in the drilling of oil or gas and oil well casing, tubing and
drill pipe or carbon or alloy steel, whether welded or seamless,
manufactured to either American Petroleum Institute (API) or
proprietary specifications. The scope covers both finished and
unfinished OCTG. The products covered in this review are provided for
under item numbers of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS): 7304.20.20,
7304.20.40, 7304.20.50, 7304.20.60, 7304.20.80, 7304.39.00, 7304.51.50,
7304.20.70, 7304.59.60, 7304.59.80, 7304.90.70, 7305.20.40, 7305.20.60,
7305.20.80, 7305.31.40, 7305.31.60, 7305.39.10, 7305.39.50, 7305.90.10,
7305.90.50, 7306.20.20, 7306.20.30, 7306.20.40, 7306.20.60, 7306.20.80,
7306.30.50, 7306.50.50, 7306.60.70, 7306.90.10. The HTS subheadings are
provided for convenience and Customs purposes. The written description
remains dispositive.
Cold-Rolled Steel from Argentina. Imports covered by this order
include shipments of Argentine cold-rolled carbon steel flat products,
whether or not corrugated or crimped; whether or not painted or
varnished and whether or not pickled; not cut, not pressed, and not
stamped to non-rectangular shape; not coated or plated with metal; over
12 inches in width and under 0.1875 inches in thickness whether or not
in coils; as currently provided for under the following item numbers of
the HTS: 7209.11.00, 7209.12.00, 7209.13.00, 7209.14.00, 7209.21.00,
7209.22.00, 7209.23.00, 7209.24.00, 7209.31.00, 7209.32.00, 7209.33.00,
7209.34.00, 7209.41.00, 7209.42.00, 7209.43.00, 7209.44.00, 7209.90.00,
7210.70.00, 7211.30.50, 7211.41.70, 7211.49.50,
[[Page 24640]]
7211.90.00, 7212.40.50. The HTS item numbers are provided for
convenience and Customs purposes. The written description remains
dispositive.
Termination of Administrative Reviews
We determine that we do not have the authority to assess
countervailing duties for the period September 20, 1991 through
December 31,1994, for the reasons stated in the preliminary results (61
FR 68713). Thus, we are terminating administrative reviews covering the
periods 1992, 1993, and 1994, for the countervailing duty order on OCTG
from Argentina, and the periods 1992 and 1993, for the countervailing
duty order on Cold-Rolled Steel from Argentina.
Therefore, the Department will instruct the Customs Service to
liquidate, without regard to countervailing duties, all shipments of
the subject merchandise from Argentina entered during those periods.
The requirement for cash deposits of estimated countervailing
duties of zero percent of the f.o.b. invoice price on all shipments of
OCTG from Argentina, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after January 1, 1995 will remain in effect pending
the outcome of the changed circumstances reviews of the four Argentine
countervailing duty orders currently being conducted by the Department.
See Changed Circumstances Reviews. The order on Cold-Rolled Steel was
revoked effective January 1, 1995; thus, the suspension of liquidation
and cash deposit requirements were discontinued effective that date.
This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 355.34(d). Timely written notification of
return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial
protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the
regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.
These administrative reviews and notice are in accordance with
section 751(a)(1) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(a)(1)) and 19 CFR
355.22.
Dated: April 29, 1997.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-11755 Filed 5-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
