[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26286-26289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12507]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration
[A-489-501]


Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipe and Tube From Turkey: 
Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

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

ACTION: Notice of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In response to a request by petitioner and one respondent, the 
Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an administrative 
review of the antidumping duty order on certain welded carbon steel 
pipe and tube from Turkey(A-489-501). This review covers two 
manufacturers/exporters of the subject merchandise to the United States 
during the period of review (POR): May 1, 1993, through April 30, 1994.
    We have preliminarily determined that sales have been made below 
the foreign market value (FMV) for Borusan. We preliminarily determine 
no dumping margin exists for Yucelboru during the POR. If these 
preliminary results are adopted in our final results of administrative 
review, we will instruct U.S. Customs to assess antidumping duties 
equal to the difference between the United States price (USP) and the 
FMV.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary 
results. Parties who submit argument in this proceeding are requested 
to submit with the argument: (1) A statement of the issue; and (2) a 
brief summary of the argument.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 13, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ilissa Kabak, Nancy Decker, Robin Gray 
or Linda Ludwig, Enforcement Group III-Office 8, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room 7866, Washington, D.C. 
20230; telephone (202) 482-0182 (Kabak), (202) 482-1324 (Decker), (202) 
482-0196 (Gray), or (202) 482-3833 (Ludwig).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Applicable Statute and Regulations

    Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the statute and to the 
Department's regulations are references to the provisions as they 
existed on December 31, 1994.

Background

    The Department published an antidumping duty order on certain 
welded carbon steel pipe and tube from Turkey on May 15, 1986 (51 FR 
17784). The Department published a notice of ``Opportunity to Request 
an Administrative Review'' of the antidumping duty order on May 4, 1994 
(59 FR 23051). On May 31, 1994, the petitioners, Allied Tube & Conduit 
Corporation (``Allied'') and Wheatland Tube Co. (``Wheatland'') 
requested an administrative review of Borusan Group (``Borusan'') and 
all related entities (including, but not limited to, Borusan Holding 
A.S., Borusan Gemlik Boru Tesisleri A.S., Borusan Boru Sanayii A.S., 
Istikbal Ticaret A.S., Borusan Ihracat Ithalat ve Dagitim A.S., and 
Tubeco Pipe and Steel Corporation) and of Mannesmann-Sumerbank Boru 
Endustrisi T.A.S. (``Mannesmann''). On May 31, 1994, respondent 
Yucelboru Ihracat, Ithalat ve Pazarlama A.S. (``Yucelboru'') requested 
an administrative review. We initiated this review on June 15, 1994. 
See 59 FR 30770. On April 20, 1995, Mannesmann stated that they did not 
have any shipments during the POR.
    The Department is conducting this administrative review in 
accordance with section 751 of the Act.

Scope of the Review

    Imports covered by this review are shipments of certain welded 
carbon steel standard pipe and tube products with an outside diameter 
of 0.375 inch or more but not over 16 inches, of any wall thickness, 
currently classifiable under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
(HTS) subheadings: 7306.3010.00, 7306.30.50.25, 7306.30.50.32, 
7306.30.50.40, 7306.30.50.55, 7306.30.50.85, and 7306.30.50.90. These 
products commonly referred to in the industry as standard pipe and 
tube, are produced to various American Society for Testing and 
Materials (ASTM) specifications, most notably A-120, A-53 or A-135. 
These HTS item numbers are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes. The written descriptions remain dispositive.
    The POR is May 1, 1993 through April 30, 1994. This review covers 
sales of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube by Borusan and 
Yucelboru.

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i)(3) of the Act, we verified 
information provided by the respondents using standard verification 
procedures, including on-site inspection of the manufacturer's

[[Page 26287]]

facilities, the examination of relevant sales, cost of production and 
financial records, and selection of original documentation containing 
relevant information. Our verification results are outlined in the 
public versions of the verification reports.

Product Comparisons

    In accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we considered each 
welded carbon steel pipe and tube product produced by Borusan or 
Yucelboru, covered by the descriptions in the ``Scope of the Review'' 
section of this notice, supra, and sold in the home market during the 
POR, to be a foreign like product for purposes of determining 
appropriate product comparisons to U.S. sales of certain welded carbon 
steel pipe and tube. For each of the products produced by Borusan or 
Yucelboru within the scope of the A-489-501 order, we examined the 
categories of merchandise listed in section 771 (16) of the Act for 
purposes of model matching. Where there were no sales of identical 
merchandise in the home market to compare to U.S. sales, we compared 
U.S. sales to the next most similar foreign like product on the basis 
of the characteristics listed in Appendix V of the Department's 
February 24, 1995 antidumping questionnaire. In making the product 
comparisons, we matched each foreign like product based on the physical 
characteristics and level of trade reported by the respondent. For 
Borusan, we determined that there is one U.S. level of trade and three 
home market levels of trade: wholesaler/distributor, retailer, end-
user. Yucelboru had no level of trade distinctions in either market.
    Where sales were made in the home market on a different weight 
basis from the U.S. market (e.g., theoretical versus actual weight), we 
converted all quantities to the same weight basis, using the conversion 
factors supplied by the company, before making our fair-value 
comparisons. We compared individual U.S. transactions to monthly 
weighted average FMVs.

Date of Sale

    For Borusan, in the home market we treated the date of invoice, 
which is generally the same as the date of shipment, as the date of 
sale. In the United States, Borusan reported the date of the purchase 
order or sales contract, whenever the terms are firmly set, as date of 
the sale. Yucelboru reported date of invoice (which is also date of 
shipment) as the date of sale in both markets.

Fair Value Comparisons

    To determine whether sales of pipe and tube to the United States 
were made at less than fair value, we compared the U.S. price to the 
FMV, as described in the ``United States Price'' and ``Foreign Market 
Value'' sections of this notice.
    Turkey experienced a significant inflation rate of over 125 
percent, as measured by the wholesale price index published in the 
International Financial Statistics, during the POR. In accordance with 
our practice, to avoid the distortions caused by the effects of this 
level of inflation on prices, we limited our comparisons to sales in 
the same month. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than 
Fair Value: Certain Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars from Turkey, 62 FR 
9737,9738 (March 4, 1997) (``Steel Bars''). When the rate of home 
market inflation is significant, as it is in this case, it is important 
that we use as a basis for FMV home market prices that are as 
contemporaneous as possible with the date of the U.S. sale. This is to 
minimize the extent to which calculated dumping margins are overstated 
or understated due solely to price inflation that occurred in the 
intervening time period between the U.S. and home market sales. For 
this reason, we have used the daily exchange rates for currency 
conversion purposes.
    The Department's preferred source for daily exchange rates is the 
Federal Reserve Bank. However, the Federal Reserve Bank does not track 
or publish exchange rates for the Turkish lira. Therefore, we made 
currency conversions based on the daily exchange rates from the Dow 
Jones Service, as published in the Wall Street Journal. (Steel Bars, at 
9741).

United States Price

    All of Borusan's sales were based on the price to the first 
unrelated purchaser in the United States. The Department determined 
that purchase price, as defined in section 772 of the Tariff Act, was 
the appropriate basis for calculating USP. We made adjustments to 
purchase price, where appropriate, for foreign inland freight and 
insurance, international freight and charges, credit, and other direct 
selling expenses including bank commissions. We added the amount of 
countervailing duties related to export subsidies and the amount for 
duty drawback. Additionally, we deducted payments made by Borusan to 
its U.S. customers equal to the amount of countervailing duties. We 
disallowed Borusan's claimed value-added tax drawback because no 
statutory authority exists for such an adjustment.
    All of Yucelboru's sales were based on the price to the first 
unrelated purchaser in the United States. The Department determined 
that purchase price, as defined in section 772 of the Tariff Act, was 
the appropriate basis for calculating USP. We made adjustments to 
purchase price, where appropriate, for foreign inland freight, foreign 
and U.S. brokerage and handling, ocean freight, and U.S. duties. We 
relied on Yucelboru's reported data except for foreign brokerage and 
handling, which was revised as a result of verification.

Foreign Market Value

    For both Borusan and Yucelboru we determined that the home market 
was viable, based on a comparison of the volume of home market and 
third country sales. Therefore, in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(A) 
of the Tariff Act, we based FMV on the packed, delivered price to 
unrelated purchasers in the home market.
    We made adjustments to FMV for differences in cost attributable to 
differences in physical characteristics of the merchandise, pursuant to 
section 773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act.

Cost-of-Production Analysis

    Petitioners alleged, on January 11, 1996, that Borusan sold certain 
welded carbon steel pipe and tube in the home market at prices below 
COP. Based on this allegation, in accordance with section 773(b) of the 
Act, the Department determined, on December 4, 1996, that it had 
reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that Borusan had sold the 
subject merchandise in the home market at prices below COP. See Letter 
to Dickstein, Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky and Decision Memorandum 
(December 4, 1996). We therefore initiated a cost investigation with 
regard to Borusan in order to determine whether the respondent made 
home-market sales at prices below its COP within the meaning of section 
773(b) of the Act.
    We requested Yucelboru to respond to our cost questionnaire, dated 
February 24, 1995, in order to determine whether the respondent made 
home-market sales at prices below its COP within the meaning of section 
773(b) of the Act.
    In accordance with 19 CFR 353.51(c), we calculated COP for Borusan 
and Yucelboru as the sum of reported cost of manufacturing (COM) and 
general expenses. We compared COP to home market prices, net of price 
adjustments, discounts and rebates, and movement expenses.
    In accordance with section 773(b) of the Tariff Act, in determining 
whether

[[Page 26288]]

to disregard home market sales made at prices below the COP, we 
examined whether such sales were made in substantial quantities over an 
extended period of time, and whether such sales were made at prices 
which permitted recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of 
time in the normal course of trade.
    As noted above, we determined that the Turkish economy experienced 
significant inflation during the POR. Therefore, in order to avoid the 
distortive effect of inflation on our comparison of costs and prices, 
in accordance with our practice in such cases we requested that Borusan 
and Yucelboru submit monthly production costs incurred during each 
month of the POR. Notice of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review: Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipe and Tube from 
Turkey (61 FR 35188, 35191 (July 5, 1996)). We used the companies' 
adjusted monthly COP amounts and the wholesale price index to calculate 
a weighted-average cost for each product for each company. The 
weighted-average COM was then restated in the currency value of each 
respective month and used to calculate monthly COP and CV for each 
product.
    In accordance with our normal practice, for each model for which 
less than 10 percent, by quantity, of the home market sales during the 
POR were made at prices below COP, we included all sales of that model 
in the computation of FMV. For each model for which 10 percent or more, 
but less than 90 percent, of the home market sales during the POR were 
priced below COP, we excluded those sales priced below COP, provided 
that they were made over an extended period of time. For each model for 
which 90 percent or more of the home market sales during the POR were 
priced below COP and were made over an extended period of time, we 
disregarded all sales of that model in our calculation and, in 
accordance with section 773(b) of the Tariff Act, we used the 
constructed value (CV) of those models, as described below. See, e.g., 
Mechanical Transfer Presses from Japan, Final Results of Antidumping 
Duty Administrative Review, 59 FR 9958 (March 2, 1994).
    In accordance with section 773(b)(1) of the Tariff Act, to 
determine whether sales below cost had been made over an extended 
period of time, we compared the number of months in which sales below 
cost occurred for a particular model to the number of months in which 
that model was sold. If the model was sold in fewer than three months, 
we did not disregard below-cost sales unless there were below-cost 
sales of that model in each month. If a model was sold in three or more 
months, we did not disregard below-cost sales unless there were sales 
below cost in at least three of the months. See Tapered Roller Bearings 
and Parts Thereof, Finished and Unfinished, From Japan and Tapered 
Roller Bearings, Four Inches or Less in Outside Diameter, and 
Components Thereof, From Japan-Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Reviews, 58 FR 64720, 64729 (December 8, 1993).
    Because Borusan and Yucelboru provided no indication that their 
below-cost sales of models within the ``greater than 90 percent'' and 
the ``between 10 and 90 percent'' categories were at prices that would 
permit recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time and in 
the normal course of trade, we disregarded those sales of models within 
the ``10 to 90 percent'' category which were made below cost over an 
extended period of time. In addition, as a result of our COP test for 
home market sales of models within the ``greater than 90 percent'' 
category, we based FMV on CV for all U.S. sales for which more than 90 
percent of sales of the comparison home market model occurred below 
COP. Finally, where we found, for certain of Borusan's and Yucelboru's 
models, home market sales for which less than 10 percent were made 
below COP, we used all home market sales of these models in our 
comparisons.
    We also used CV as FMV for those U.S. sales for which there was no 
sale of such or similar merchandise in the home market. In accordance 
with section 773(e) of the Tariff Act, we calculated CV as the sum of 
the COM, general expenses and profit. Where the general expenses were 
less than the statutory minimum of 10 percent of COM, we calculated 
general expenses as 10 percent of the COM. Where the actual profits 
were less than the statutory minimum of 8 percent of the COM plus 
general expenses, we calculated profit as 8 percent of the sum of COM 
plus general expenses.
    Based on our verification of Yucelboru's cost response, we adjusted 
Yucelboru's reported COP and CV to reflect certain adjustments to 
general and administrative expenses, indirect selling expenses, and 
interest expenses. Based on our verification of Borusan's cost 
response, we adjusted Borusan's reported COP and CV to reflect certain 
adjustments to general and administrative expenses and interest 
expenses.
    In accordance with section 773 of the Tariff Act, for Borusan's 
U.S. models for which we were able to find a home market such or 
similar match that had sufficient above-cost sales, we calculated FMV 
based on the packed, F.O.B., ex-factory, or delivered prices to 
unrelated purchasers in the home market or prices to affiliated 
customers which were determined to be at arm's length (See discussion 
below regarding these sales). We made adjustments, where applicable, 
for inland freight, pre-sale warehouse expense, discounts and rebates, 
post-sale inland freight and for home market direct expenses. We added 
collection of late payment charges. We also adjusted FMV for 
differences in circumstances of sale, including physical 
characteristics, direct selling expenses, credit, advertising, 
warranty, packing costs, and the Turkish value added tax. Where 
merchandise exported to the United States is exempt from home market 
consumption tax, in comparing FMV to USP, we added to U.S. price the 
absolute amount of such taxes charged on the comparison sales in the 
home market.
    For Yucelboru's U.S. models for which we were able to find a home 
market such or similar match that had sufficient above-cost sales, we 
calculated FMV based on the packed, F.O.B., ex-factory, or delivered 
prices to unrelated purchasers in the home market. We made adjustments, 
where applicable, for discounts and rebates. We disallowed Yucelboru's 
claimed credit adjustment (See the Department's April 15, 1997, 
Analysis Memorandum). We also adjusted FMV for differences in 
circumstances of sale, including physical characteristics, packing 
costs, and the Turkish value added tax. Where merchandise exported to 
the United States is exempt from home market consumption tax, in 
comparing FMV to USP, we added to U.S. price the absolute amount of 
such taxes charged on the comparison sales in the home market.
    In calculating for physical differences in merchandise we 
calculated simple average variable and total costs of manufacturing by 
product after indexing the reported monthly costs using the wholesale 
price index for Turkey. We then indexed the average variable and total 
costs of manufacturing to restate them in the currency value of each 
respective month. The adjusted monthly variable costs of manufacturing 
for U.S. and home market products were then compared to arrive at the 
difference in merchandise adjustment.
    To determine whether Borusan and Yucelboru's sales were made at 
arm's length, we compared the gross unit prices of sales to related and 
unrelated customers net of all movement charges, direct and indirect 
selling expenses, and

[[Page 26289]]

packing (See Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: 
Certain Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from Argentina (58 FR 
37062, 37077, July 9, 1993)). We included those sales that passed the 
arm's length test in our analysis (see 19 CFR 353.45(a)).

Reimbursement

    Section 353.26 of the regulations states that ``[I]n calculating 
the United States price, the Secretary will deduct the amount of any 
antidumping duty which the producer or reseller: (i) Paid directly on 
behalf of the importer; or (ii) reimbursed to the importer.'' The 
Statement of Administrative Action of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, 
in addressing the issue of reimbursement, states that ``[C]ommerce has 
the full authority under its current regulations (19 CFR 353.26) to 
increase the duty when an exporter directly pays the duties due, or 
reimburses the importer, whether independent or affiliated, for the 
importer's payment of duties.'' In Color Television Receivers from the 
Republic of Korea: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Reviews, 61 FR 4408, 4410 (February 6, 1996), Commerce stated the 
following:

    In effect, antidumping duties raise prices of subject 
merchandise to importers, thereby providing a level playing field 
upon which injured U.S. industries can compete. The remedial effect 
of the law is defeated, however, where exporters themselves pay 
antidumping duties, or reimburse importers for such duties.

    Since we found no evidence that the conditions mentioned above 
exist with respect to these companies, we did not apply Sec. 353.26 of 
our regulations.

Preliminary Results of Review

    As a result of our comparison of USP to FMV we preliminarily 
determine that the following margin exists:

          Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipe and Tube from Turkey         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Weighted- 
               Producer/manufacturer/exporter                  average  
                                                                margin  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borusan....................................................        8.55%
Yucelboru..................................................           0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Interested parties may request disclosure within 5 days of the date 
of publication of this notice and may request a hearing within 10 days 
of publication. Any hearing, if requested, will be held 44 days after 
the date of publication or the first business day thereafter. Case 
briefs and/or written comments from interested parties may be submitted 
no later than 30 days after the date of publication. Rebuttal briefs 
and rebuttals to written comments, limited to issues raised in those 
comments, may be filed not later than 37 days after the date of 
publication of this notice. The Department will publish the final 
results of these administrative reviews including the results of its 
analysis of issues raised in any such written comments or at a hearing.
    The Department shall determine, and the Customs Service shall 
assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries. Individual 
differences between the USP and FMV may vary from the percentages 
stated above.
    Furthermore, the following deposit requirements will be effective 
for all of Yucelboru's shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication 
date of the final results of this administrative review, as provided 
for by section 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act. A cash deposit of estimated 
antidumping duties shall be required on shipments of review of the 
antidumping duty order on certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube 
from Turkey as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for Yucelboru will be 
the rate established in the final results of this review; (2) for 
Borusan and previously reviewed or investigated companies not listed 
above, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific 
rate published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a 
firm covered in this review, or the original LTFV investigation, but 
the manufacturer is, the cash deposit rate will be the rate established 
for the most recent period for the manufacturer of the merchandise; and 
(4) if neither the exporter nor the manufacturer is a firm covered in 
this review, the cash deposit rate will be 14.74 percent. This is the 
``all others'' rate from the LTFV investigation. See Antidumping Duty 
Order; Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipe and Tube from Turkey, 51 FR 
17784 (May 15, 1986).
    This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of 
their responsibility under 19 CFR 353.26 to file a certificate 
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation 
of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply 
with this requirement could result in the Department's presumption that 
reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent 
assessment of double antidumping duties.
    This administrative review and this notice are in accordance with 
section 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(a)(1)) and 19 CFR 
353.22.

    Dated: May 5, 1997.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-12507 Filed 5-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P