[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 210 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64667-64668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27810]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-201-817]


Oil Country Tubular Goods (``OCTG'') From Mexico; Preliminary 
Results of Sunset Review of Antidumping Duty Order

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

ACTION: Notice of Preliminary Results of Full Sunset Review: Oil 
Country Tubular Goods (``OCTG'') from Mexico.

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SUMMARY: On July 3, 2000, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order 
on oil country tubular goods (``OCTG'') from Mexico (65 FR 41053) 
pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the 
Act''). On the basis of substantive responses filed by domestic and 
respondent interested parties, the Department determined to conduct a 
full review. As a result of this review, the Department preliminarily 
finds that revocation of the antidumping duty order would likely lead 
to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels indicated in the 
Preliminary Results of Review section of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 30, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John P. Maloney, Jr. or James P. 
Maeder, Office of Policy for Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
1503 or (202) 482-3330, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statute and Regulations

    Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to 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 
(``URAA''). In addition, unless otherwise indicated, all citations to 
the Department regulations are to 19 CFR Part 351 (2000). Guidance on 
methodological or analytical issues relevant to the Department's 
conduct of sunset reviews is set forth in the Department's Policy 
Bulletin 98.3--Policies Regarding the Conduct of Five-Year (``Sunset'') 
Reviews of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders; Policy Bulletin, 
63 FR 18871 (April 16, 1998) (``Sunset Policy Bulletin'').

Background

    On July 3, 2000, the Department initiated a sunset review of the 
antidumping duty order on OCTG from Mexico (65 FR 41053), pursuant to 
section 751(c) of the Act. The Department received a notice of intent 
to participate on behalf of U.S. Steel Group, a unit of USX 
Corporation, North Star Steel Ohio, IPSCO Tubulars, Inc., Lone Star 
Steel Company, Maverick Tube Corporation, Newport Steel and Koppel 
Steel Divisions of NS Group, and Grant-Prideco (``domestic interested 
parties''), within the applicable deadline (July 18, 2000) specified in 
section 351.218(d)(1)(i) of the Sunset Regulations. On August 2, 2000, 
respondent interested parties Tubos de Acero de Mexico, S.A. 
(``TAMSA'') and Hylsa, S.A. de C.V. (``Hylsa'') notified the Department 
of their intent to participate in this review. Domestic interested 
parties claimed interested-party status under section 771(9)(C) of the 
Act, as the U.S. producers of a domestic like product; TAMSA and Hylsa 
are interested parties pursuant to section 771(9)(A) of the Act as 
foreign producers and exporters of subject merchandise.
    On August 2, 2000, we received complete substantive responses from 
domestic interested parties, within the 30-day deadline specified in 
the Sunset Regulations under section 351.218(d)(3)(i). On August 2, 
2000, we received complete substantive responses from TAMSA and Hylsa. 
The Department received rebuttal comments from domestic interested 
parties on August 7, 2000. On August 22, 2000, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.218 (e)(2), the Department determined to conduct a full (240-day) 
sunset review of this order.\1\
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    \1\ See August 22, 2000, Memoranda for Jeffrey A. May, Re: Oil 
Country Tubular Goods (``OCTG'') from Mexico; Adequacy of Respondent 
Interested Parties' Response to the Notice of Initiation.
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Scope of Review

    Imports covered by this review are oil country tubular goods, 
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 Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers: 
7304.21.30.00, 7403.21.60.00, 7304.29.10.10, 7304.29.10.20, 
7304.29.10.30, 7304.29.10.40, 7304.29.10.50, 7304.29.10.60, 
7304.29.10.80, 7304.29.20.10, 7304.29.20.20, 7304.29.20.30, 
7304.29.20.40, 7304.29.20.50, 7304.29.20.60, 7304.29.20.80, 
7304.29.30.10, 7304.29.30.20, 7304.29.30.30, 7304.29.30.40, 
7304.29.30.50, 7304.29.30.60, 7304.29.30.80, 7304.29.40.10, 
7304.29.40.20, 7304.29.40.30, 7304.29.40.40, 7304.29.40.50, 
7304.29.40.60, 7304.29.40.80, 7304.29.50.15, 7304.29.50.30, 
7304.29.50.45, 7304.29.50.60,

[[Page 64668]]

7304.29.50.75, 7304.29.60.15, 7304.29.60.30, 7304.29.60.45, 
7304.29.60.60, 7304.29.60.75, 7305.20.20.00, 7305.20.40.00, 
7305.20.60.00, 7305.20.80.00, 7306.20.10.30, 7306.20.10.90, 
7306.20.20.00, 7306.20.30.00, 7306.20.40.00, 7306.20.60.10, 
7306.20.60.50, 7306.20.80.10, and 7306.20.80.50.
    Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this 
proceeding is dispositive. The Department has determined that 
couplings, and coupling stock, are not within the scope of the 
antidumping order on OCTG from Mexico. See Letter to Interested 
Parties; Final Affirmative Scope Decision, August 27, 1998.

Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in the substantive responses and rebuttal briefs 
by parties to this sunset review are addressed in the ``Issues and 
Decision Memorandum'' (``Decision Memo'') from Jeffrey A. May, 
Director, Office of Policy, Import Administration, to Troy H. Cribb, 
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, dated October 23, 
2000, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference into this 
notice. The issues discussed in the attached Decision Memo include the 
likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and the magnitude 
of the margin likely to prevail were the order revoked. Parties can 
find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this review and the 
corresponding recommendations in this public memorandum which is on 
file in the Central Records Unit, room B-099, of the main Commerce 
building.
    In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memo can be 
accessed directly on the Web at www.ita.doc.gov. The paper copy and 
electronic version of the Decision Memo are identical in content.

Preliminary Results of Review

    We preliminarily determine that revocation of the antidumping duty 
order on OCTG from Mexico would be likely to lead to continuation or 
recurrence of dumping at the following percentage weighted-average 
margins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Margin
                  Manufacturers/exporters                     (percent)
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TAMSA......................................................        21.70
Hylsa......................................................        21.70
All Others.................................................        21.70
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    Any interested party may request a hearing within 30 days of 
publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.310(c). Any 
hearing, if requested, will be held on December 18, 2000, in accordance 
with 19 CFR 351.310(d). Interested parties may submit case briefs no 
later than December 11, 2000, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.309(c)(1)(i). Rebuttal briefs, which must be limited to issues 
raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than December 15, 
2000. The Department will issue a notice of final results of this 
sunset review, which will include the results of its analysis of issues 
raised in any such briefs, no later than February 28, 2001.
    This five-year (``sunset'') review and notice are in accordance 
with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: October 23, 2000.
Troy H. Cribb,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-27810 Filed 10-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P