[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8948-8949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4249]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-357-810]


Oil Country Tubular Goods from Argentina: Rescission of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

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

ACTION: Notice of Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review.

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SUMMARY: On October 1, 1999, the Department of Commerce (the 
Department) published in the Federal Register a notice announcing the 
initiation of an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on 
oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Argentina (see Notice of 
Initiation, 64 FR 53318). The review covers the period August 1, 1998 
through July 31, 1999, the company, Siderca, S.A.I.C. and its 
affiliated parties. We are rescinding this review because there were no 
consumption entries during the POR or OCTG from Argentina produced or 
exported by Siderca.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 23, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen McPhillips or Linda Ludwig, 
AD/CVD Enforcement Group III--Office 8, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone 
(202) 482-0193 or (202) 482-3833, respectively.

Applicable Statute

    Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended (the Act) are references to the provisions effective 
January 1, 1995, the effective date of the amendments made to the Act 
by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In addition, unless otherwise 
indicated, all citations to the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
regulations are to the regulations at 19 CFR Part 351 (April 1999).

Scope of the Review

    Oil country tubular goods are hollow steel products of circular 
cross-section, including oil well casing, tubing, and drill pipe, of 
iron (other than cast iron) or steel (both carbon and alloy), whether 
seamless or welded, whether or not conforming to American Petroleum 
Institute (API) or non-API specifications, whether finished or 
unfinished (including green tubes and limited-service OCTG products). 
This scope does not cover casing, tubing, or drill pipe containing 10.5 
percent or more of chromium. The OCTG subject to this review are 
currently classified in the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 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,

[[Page 8949]]

7306.50.50, 7306.60.70, 7306.90.10. The HTSUS subheadings are provided 
for convenience and Customs purposes. The written description remains 
dispositive.

Background

    On August 31, 1999, the petitioner in this case, North Star Steel 
Ohio (North Star) requested an administrative review of OCTG produced 
or exported by Siderca, an Argentine producer and exporter of OCTG, or 
any other affiliated party. The antidumping duty order was published in 
the Federal Register on August 11, 1995 (60 FR 41055). On October 4, 
1999, the Department issued a questionnaire to Siderca (see Letter from 
International Trade Administration to Siderca). On November 1, 1999, 
counsel for the petitioner, also requested that the Department conduct 
a duty absorption review to determine whether Siderca S.A.I.C. has 
absorbed antidumping duties in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(j)(1)-(2) 
(1999).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In its October 7, 1999 response to 
petitioner's request for review and the subsequent issuance of the 
Department's questionnaire, Siderca certified that ``it did not, 
directly or indirectly, enter for consumption, or sell, export, or ship 
for entry for consumption in the United States subject merchandise 
during the POR.'' In addition, Siderca's U.S. affiliate, Siderca 
Corporation (which handles Siderca's merchandise in the United States) 
certified that it ``did not sell, enter, or otherwise import for 
consumption into the United States, directly or indirectly, any of the 
subject merchandise during the POR.'' See Letter from Counsel for 
Siderca S.A.I.C. to the Secretary, October 7, 1999, p. 2.
    On November 8, 1999, the Department requested information from 
Customs on those entries identified as consumption entries from 
Argentina in the Census proprietary entry-specific database. In its 
response of January 12, 2000, Customs provided documentation showing 
that there was only one entry subject to the antidumping case on OCTG 
from Argentina. The remaining entries covered shipments of mechanical 
tubing and boiler tubing, merchandise not subject to the antidumping 
duty order on oil country tubular goods. The one entry for consumption, 
nonseamless (welded) oil tubing classified under HTSUS 7306.20.60.50, 
was not produced by Siderca.
    Based on the foregoing, there is no evidence that Siderca made any 
U.S. consumption entries of Argentine OCTG during the POR. The 
Department, therefore, determines that no subject merchandise produced 
or exported by Siderca was entered into the United States for 
consumption during the POR and, thus, there are no entries subject to 
review.
    Because Siderca was the only firm for which a review was requested 
and it had no U.S. entries for consumption of covered merchandise 
during the POR, there is no basis for continuing this administrative 
review. We, therefore, are rescinding this review in accordance with 
Sec. 351.213(d)(3) of the Department's regulations. The cash deposit 
rate for all firms will continue to be the rate established in the most 
recently completed segment of this proceeding (i.e., 1.36 percent).
    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 
351.213(d)(4).

    Dated: February 15, 2000.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for AD/CVD Enforcement Group III.
[FR Doc. 00-4249 Filed 2-22-00; 8:45 am]
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