[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