[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 149 (Thursday, August 3, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39708-39709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19148]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[A-357-809]
Notice of Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Small Diameter Seamless
Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From Argentina
Agency: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 3, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Darzenta or Fabian Rivelis,
Office of Antidumping Duty Investigations, Import Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-6320 or (202) 482-3853,
respectively.
Applicable Statute and Regulations
Unless otherwise indicated, all 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 Investigation and Order
The scope of this investigation includes small diameter seamless
carbon and alloy steel standard, line and pressure pipes (seamless
pipes) produced to the ASTM A-335, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-53 and API 5L
specifications and meeting the physical parameters described below,
regardless of application. The scope of this investigation also
includes all products used in standard, line, or pressure pipe
applications and meeting the physical parameters below, regardless of
specification.
For purposes of this investigation, seamless pipes are seamless
carbon and alloy (other than stainless) steel pipes, of circular cross-
section, not more than 114.3 mm (4.5 inches) in outside diameter,
regardless of wall thickness, manufacturing process (hot-finished or
cold-drawn), end finish (plain end, bevelled end, upset end, threaded,
or threaded and coupled), or surface finish. These pipes are commonly
known as standard pipe, line pipe or pressure pipe, depending upon the
application. They may also be used in structural applications. Pipes
produced in non-standard wall thicknesses are commonly referred to as
tubes.
The seamless pipes subject to these investigations are currently
classifiable under subheadings 7304.10.10.20, 7304.10.50.20,
7304.31.60.50, 7304.39.00.16, 7304.39.00.20, 7304.39.00.24,
7304.39.00.28, 7304.39.00.32, 7304.51.50.05, 7304.51.50.60,
7304.59.60.00, 7304.59.80.10, 7304.59.80.15, 7304.59.80.20, and
7304.59.80.25 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS).
The following information further defines the scope of this
investigation, which covers pipes meeting the physical parameters
described above:
Specifications, Characteristics and Uses: Seamless pressure pipes
are intended for the conveyance of water, steam, petrochemicals,
chemicals, oil products, natural gas and other liquids and gasses in
industrial piping systems. They may carry these substances at elevated
pressures and temperatures and may be subject to the application of
external heat. Seamless carbon steel pressure pipe meeting the American
[[Page 39709]]
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard A-106 may be used in
temperatures of up to 1000 degrees fahrenheit, at various American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code stress levels. Alloy pipes
made to ASTM standard A-335 must be used if temperatures and stress
levels exceed those allowed for A-106 and the ASME codes. Seamless
pressure pipes sold in the United States are commonly produced to the
ASTM A-106 standard.
Seamless standard pipes are most commonly produced to the ASTM A-53
specification and generally are not intended for high temperature
service. They are intended for the low temperature and pressure
conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air and other liquids and
gasses in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units,
automatic sprinkler systems, and other related uses. Standard pipes
(depending on type and code) may carry liquids at elevated temperatures
but must not exceed relevant ASME code requirements.
Seamless line pipes are intended for the conveyance of oil and
natural gas or other fluids in pipe lines. Seamless line pipes are
produced to the API 5L specification.
Seamless pipes are commonly produced and certified to meet ASTM A-
106, ASTM A-53 and API 5L specifications. Such triple certification of
pipes is common because all pipes meeting the stringent A-106
specification necessarily meet the API 5L and ASTM A-53 specifications.
Pipes meeting the API 5L specification necessarily meet the ASTM A-53
specification. However, pipes meeting the A-53 or API 5L specifications
do not necessarily meet the A-106 specification. To avoid maintaining
separate production runs and separate inventories, manufacturers triple
certify the pipes. Since distributors sell the vast majority of this
product, they can thereby maintain a single inventory to service all
customers.
The primary application of ASTM A-106 pressure pipes and triple
certified pipes is in pressure piping systems by refineries,
petrochemical plants and chemical plants. Other applications are in
power generation plants (electrical-fossil fuel or nuclear), and in
some oil field uses (on shore and off shore) such as for separator
lines, gathering lines and metering runs. A minor application of this
product is for use as oil and gas distribution lines for commercial
applications. These applications constitute the majority of the market
for the subject seamless pipes. However, A-106 pipes may be used in
some boiler applications.
The scope of this investigation includes all seamless pipe meeting
the physical parameters described above and produced to one of the
specifications listed above, regardless of application, and whether or
not also certified to a non-covered specification. Standard, line and
pressure applications and the above-listed specifications are defining
characteristics of the scope of this investigation. Therefore, seamless
pipes meeting the physical description above, but not produced to the
A-335, A-106, A-53, or API 5L standards shall be covered if used in a
standard, line or pressure application.
For example, there are certain other ASTM specifications of pipe
which, because of overlapping characteristics, could potentially be
used in A-106 applications. These specifications generally include A-
162, A-192, A-210, A-333, and A-524. When such pipes are used in a
standard, line or pressure pipe application, such products are covered
by the scope of this investigation.
Specifically excluded from this investigation are boiler tubing and
mechanical tubing, if such products are not produced to A-335, A-106,
A-53 or API 5L specifications and are not used in standard, line or
pressure applications. In addition, finished and unfinished OCTG are
excluded from the scope of this investigation, if covered by the scope
of another antidumping duty order from the same country. If not covered
by such an OCTG order, finished and unfinished OCTG are included in
this scope when used in standard, line or pressure applications.
Finally, also excluded from this investigation are redraw hollows for
cold-drawing when used in the production of cold-drawn pipe or tube.
Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and
customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this
investigation is dispositive.
Antidumping Duty Order
On July 26, 1995, in accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, the
U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) notified the Department that
imports of seamless pipe from Argentina materially injure a U.S.
industry. Therefore, in accordance with section 736 of the Act, the
Department will direct United States Customs officers to assess, upon
further advice by the administering authority pursuant to section
736(a)(1) of the Act, antidumping duties equal to the amount by which
the foreign market value of the merchandise exceeds the United States
price for all entries of seamless pipe from Argentina. These
antidumping duties will be assessed on all unliquidated entries of
seamless pipe from Argentina entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after January 27, 1995, the date on which the
Department published its preliminary determination notice in the
Federal Register (60 FR 5348).
On or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register, U.S. Customs officers must require, at the same time as
importers would normally deposit estimated duties, the following cash
deposits for the subject merchandise:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-
average
Manufacturer/producer/exporter margin
percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Siderca S.A.I.C............................................. 108.13
All Others.................................................. 108.13
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice constitutes the antidumping duty order with respect to
seamless pipe from Argentina, pursuant to section 736(a) of the Act.
Interested parties may contact the Central Records Unit, Room B-099 of
the Main Commerce Building, for copies of an updated list of
antidumping duty orders currently in effect.
This order is published in accordance with section 736(a) of the
Act and 19 CFR 353.21.
Dated: July 28, 1995.
Susan G. Esserman,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-19148 Filed 8-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
