[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7123]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 25, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[A-427-813, A-533-811, A-508-807, A-557-808, A-580-824, A-549-809, A-
412-816, A-307-812]

 

Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations: Certain Carbon 
Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From France, et al.

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 25, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Alley or Louis Apple, Office of 
Antidumping Investigations, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-
5288 and 482-1769, respectively.

INITIATION OF INVESTIGATIONS:

The Petition

    On February 28, 1994, we received petitions filed on behalf of the 
domestic industry in proper form from the U.S. Fittings Group, an ad 
hoc trade association, a majority of whose members produce the subject 
merchandise. Petitioner filed supplements to the petition on March 14 
and 15, 1994. In accordance with 19 CFR 353.12, petitioner alleges that 
certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings (pipe fittings) from 
France, India, Israel, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand (manufacturer: 
Awaji Sangyo (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (AST)), the United Kingdom, and 
Venezuela are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at 
less than fair value within the meaning of section 731 of the Tariff 
Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and that these imports are 
materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry. 
(Note: On July 6, 1992, the Commerce Department published in the 
Federal Register (57 FR 29702) an antidumping duty order on pipe 
fittings from Thailand. However, AST was excluded from the antidumping 
order because its exports were found to have a de minimis dumping 
margin. However, based on petitioner's recent allegation, we have 
determined that it is appropriate to initiate a new investigation of 
AST.)
    Petitioner stated that it has standing to file the petition because 
it represents interested parties as defined under section 771(9)(E) of 
the Act, and because the petition was filed on behalf of the U.S. 
industry producing the product subject to these investigations. If any 
interested party, as described under paragraphs (C), (D), (E) or (F) of 
section 771(9) of the Act, wishes to register support for, or 
opposition to, this petition, such party should file a written 
notification with the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

Scope of Investigations

    The products covered by these investigations are certain carbon 
steel butt-weld pipe fittings having an inside diameter of less than 
fourteen inches (355 millimeters), imported in either finished or 
unfinished condition. Pipe fittings are forged steel products used to 
join pipe sections in piping systems where conditions require 
permanent, welded connections, as distinguished from fittings based on 
other methods of fastening (e.g., threaded, grooved, or bolted 
fittings). Pipe fittings come in several basic shapes: ``elbows'', 
``tees'', ``caps'', and ``reducers''. The edges of finished pipe 
fittings are beveled, so that when a fitting is placed against the end 
of a pipe (the ends of which have also been beveled), a shallow channel 
is created to accommodate the ``bead'' of the weld which joins the 
fitting to the pipe. These pipe fittings are currently classifiable 
under subheading 7307.93.3000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for 
convenience and customs purposes, our written descriptions of the scope 
of these proceedings are dispositive.

United States Price and Foreign Market Value

    For all countries except Venezuela, petitioner based United States 
Price (USP) on price quotes obtained through the business activity of 
one of its members. Such price quotes show delivered prices of butt-
weld pipe fittings to unrelated U.S. customers. Petitioner calculated 
USP by subtracting movement charges and U.S. customs duties.
    For Venezuela, petitioner based U.S. price on average unit values 
derived from U.S. Customs import statistics.
    Petitioner was unable to obtain home market or third country prices 
for any of the eight countries. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 
353.12(b)(7), constructed value (CV) was used to calculate foreign 
market value (FMV). Petitioner based the CV on the costs of one of its 
members, adjusted for known differences in each country. Petitioner 
then added selling, general and administrative expenses, and profit to 
compute the CV.

Fair Value Comparisons

    Based on the data provided by the petitioner, there is reason to 
believe that the merchandise is being, or is likely to be, sold at less 
than fair value. The margins alleged by petitioners are listed below. 
If it becomes necessary at a later date to consider the petitions as a 
source of best information available (BIA) in any of the 
investigations, we may review more thoroughly all of the bases for USP 
and FMV in determining BIA. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Alleged margins 
                       Country                             (percent)    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
France..............................................     72.86 to 117.24
India...............................................    143.35 to 188.09
Israel..............................................      63.19 to 87.05
Malaysia............................................    140.41 to 194.70
South Korea.........................................     72.36 to 207.89
Thailand............................................     77.67 to 175.30
United Kingdom......................................      50.29 to 92.31
Venezuela...........................................   188.58 to 595.66 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initiation of Investigations

    We have examined the petition on pipe fittings from France, India, 
Israel, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand (manufacturer: AST), the United 
Kingdom, and Venezuela and have found that it meets the requirements of 
section 732(b) of the Act. Therefore, we are initiating antidumping 
duty investigations to determine whether imports of pipe fittings from 
France, India, Israel, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand (manufacturer: 
AST), the United Kingdom, and Venezuela are being, or are likely to be, 
sold in the United States at less than fair value.

ITC Notification

    Section 732(d) of the Act requires us to notify the International 
Trade Commission (ITC) of this action and we have done so.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

    The ITC will determine by April 14, 1994, pursuant to section 
733(a)(1) of the Act, whether there is a reasonable indication that 
imports of pipe fittings from France, India, Israel, Malaysia, South 
Korea, Thailand (manufacturer: AST), the United Kingdom, and Venezuela 
are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. 
industry. Pursuant to section 733(a)(2) of the Act, a negative ITC 
determination will result in the respective investigation being 
terminated; otherwise, the investigations will proceed according to 
statutory and regulatory time limits.
    This notice is published pursuant to section 732(c)(2) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 353.13(b).


    Dated: March 21, 1994.
Paul L. Joffe,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-7123 Filed 3-24-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P