[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4959-4961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2912]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[C-549-804]


Carbon Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Thailand; Final Results 
of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

 
[[Page 4960]]

ACTION: Notice of Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review.

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SUMMARY: On November 22, 1995, the Department of Commerce (the 
Department) published in the Federal Register its preliminary results 
of administrative review of the countervailing duty order on carbon 
steel butt-weld pipe fittings from Thailand. The review covers the 
period January 1, 1992 through December 31, 1992. We have completed 
this review and determine the net subsidy to be de minimis. The 
Department will instruct the U.S. Customs Service to liquidate, without 
regard to countervailing duties, all shipments of the subject 
merchandise from Thailand exported on or after January 1, 1992, and on 
or before December 31, 1992.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 9, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Albright or Cameron Cardozo, 
Office of Countervailing Compliance, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230; 
telephone: (202) 482-2786.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 22, 1995, the Department published in the Federal 
Register (60 FR 57849) the preliminary results of its administrative 
review of the countervailing duty order on carbon steel butt-weld pipe 
fittings from Thailand. The Department has now completed this 
administrative review in accordance with section 751 of the Tariff Act 
of 1930, as amended (the Act). We invited interested parties to comment 
on the preliminary results. We received no comments. The review covers 
the period January 1, 1992 through December 31, 1992. The review 
involves two companies, Awaji Sangyo (Thailand) Co. (AST), and TTU 
Industrial Corp. (TTU), which account for virtually all exports of the 
subject merchandise from Thailand, and fifteen programs.

Applicable Statute and Regulations

    The Department is conducting this administrative review in 
accordance with section 751(a) of the Act. 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 the Review

    The merchandise subject to this review (hereinafter subject 
merchandise) is certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings, having an 
inside diameter of less than 360 millimeters (fourteen inches), 
imported in either finished or unfinished form. These formed or forged 
pipe fittings are used to join sections in piping systems where 
conditions require permanent, welded connections, as distinguished from 
fittings based on other fastening methods (e.g., threaded, grooved, or 
bolted fittings), as currently classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule (HTS). The products covered in this review are provided for 
under item number 7307.93.30 of the HTS. The HTS subheadings are 
provided for convenience and Customs purposes; our written description 
of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.

Calculation Methodology for Assessment and Cash Deposit Purposes

    We calculated the net subsidy on a country-wide basis by first 
calculating the subsidy rate for each company subject to the 
administrative review. We then weight-averaged the rate received by 
each company using as the weight its share of total Thai exports to the 
United States of subject merchandise, including all companies, even 
those with de minimis and zero rates. We then summed the individual 
companies' weight-averaged rates to determine the subsidy rate from all 
programs benefitting exports of subject merchandise to the United 
States.
    Since the country-wide rate calculated using this methodology was 
de minimis, as defined by 19 CFR Sec. 355.7(1994), no further 
calculations were necessary.

Analysis of Programs

    Based upon our analysis of the questionnaire response and 
verification we determine the following:

I. Programs Conferring Subsidies

Tax Exemptions Under Section 31 of the 1977 Investment Promotions Act 
(IPA)

    In the preliminary results, we found that this program conferred 
countervailable benefits on the subject merchandise. Since we received 
no comments on our preliminary results, our findings remain unchanged 
in these final results.

II. Programs Not Conferring Subsidies

Duty Drawback

    In the preliminary results, we found that this program did not 
confer countervailable benefits on the subject merchandise. Since we 
received no comments on our preliminary results, our findings remain 
unchanged in these final results.

III. Programs Found Not to be Used

    In the preliminary results, we found that neither AST nor TTU 
applied for or received benefits under the following programs during 
the period of review (POR):

A. Tax Certificates for Exporters
B. Export Packing Credits
C. Tax and Duty Exemptions Under Section 28 of the (IPA)
D. Electricity Discounts for Exporters
E. Rediscount of Industrial Bills
F. International Trade Promotion Fund
G. Export Processing Zones
H. Reduced Business Taxes for Producers of Intermediate Goods for 
Export Industries
I. Additional Incentives under the IPA
    1. Goodwill and Royalties Tax Exemption
    2. Tax Deduction of Foreign Marketing Expenses and Foreign Taxes
    3. Exemption of Sales Taxes for Promoted Industries
    4. Exemption on Export Duties and Business Taxes on Products 
Produced or Assembled by Promoted Firms
    5. Deduction from Assessable Income of an Amount Equal to 5% of the 
Increase over the Previous Year of Income Derived from Exports

    Since we received no comments on our preliminary results, our 
findings remain unchanged in these final results.

Final Results of Review

    For the period January 1, 1992 through December 31, 1992, we 
determine the net subsidy to be 0.22 percent ad valorem for all 
companies. In accordance with 19 CFR 355.7, any rate less than 0.5 
percent ad valorem is de minimis.
    The Department will instruct the Customs Service to liquidate, 
without regard to countervailing duties, all shipments of the subject 
merchandise from Thailand exported on or after January 1, 1992, and on 
or before December 31, 1992.
    This countervailing duty order was determined to be subject to 
section 753 of the Act (as amended by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act 
of 1994). Countervailing Duty Order; Opportunity to Request a Section 
753 Injury Investigation, 60 FR 27,963 (May 26, 1995). Because no 
domestic interested parties exercised their right under section 753(a) 
of the Act to request an injury investigation, the International 

[[Page 4961]]
Trade Commission made a negative injury determination with respect to 
this order, pursuant to section 753(b)(4) of the Act. As a result, the 
Department revoked this countervailing duty order, effective January 1, 
1995, pursuant to section 753(b)(3)(B) of the Act. Revocation of 
Countervailing Duty Orders, 60 FR 40,568 (August 9, 1995). Accordingly, 
this notice assesses duties for the period of review and does not issue 
further cash deposit instructions.
    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 C.F.R. 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.
    This administrative review 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: January 31, 1996.
Susan G. Esserman,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration
[FR Doc. 96-2912 Filed 2-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P