[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 32 (Thursday, February 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8071-8072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3081]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-201-833, A-580-854]


Notice of Termination of Antidumping Duty Investigations: Certain 
Circular Welded Carbon Quality Line Pipe from Mexico and the Republic 
of Korea

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 17, 2005.
SUMMARY: On February 1, 2005, American Steel Pipe Division of ACIPCO, 
IPSCO Tubulars Inc., Lone Star Steel Company, Maverick Tube 
Corporation, Northwest Pipe Company, and Stupp Corporation 
(collectively, ``petitioners'') withdrew their antidumping petitions, 
filed on March 3, 2004, regarding certain circular welded carbon 
quality line pipe from Mexico and the Republic of Korea (``Korea''). 
Based on this withdrawal, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') is now terminating these investigations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Drury at 202-482-0195, Brandon 
Farlander at 202-482-0195, or Abdelali Elouaradia at 202-482-1374, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 7, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 3, 2004, the Department received antidumping duty 
petitions filed in proper form by the petitioners for the imposition of 
antidumping duties on certain circular welded carbon quality line pipe 
from Mexico, Korea, and the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), 
alleging that line pipe from these countries were being sold, or were 
likely to be sold, in the United States at less than fair value. The 
petitioners are domestic producers of certain circular welded carbon 
quality line pipe (``line pipe''). On March 24, 2004, the Department 
initiated antidumping duty investigations of line pipe from Mexico, 
Korea, and the PRC. See Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations: 
Certain Circular Welded Carbon Quality Line Pipe From Mexico, The 
Republic of Korea, and the People's Republic of China, 69 FR 16521 
(March 30, 2004) (``Initiation Notice''). On April 27, 2004, the 
International Trade Commission (``ITC'') issued its determination that 
there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States 
is

[[Page 8072]]

materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of 
imports of line pipe from Mexico, Korea, and the PRC.
    On October 6, 2004, we published in the Federal Register the 
preliminary determination in the Korean investigation, concurrently 
postponing the final determination until no later than February 18, 
2005, pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (``the Act''). See Notice of Affirmative Preliminary 
Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value and Postponement of 
Final Determination: Circular Welded Carbon Quality Line Pipe from the 
Republic of Korea, 69 FR 59885 (October 6, 2004) (``Preliminary 
Determination''). After receiving a timely allegation of ministerial 
error in the preliminary determination with regard to the calculated 
margin for Hyundai HYSCO CO., Ltd. (``HYSCO''), a respondent in this 
proceeding, we published in the Federal Register the amended 
preliminary determination. See Notice of Amended Preliminary 
Determination of Sales At Not Less Than Fair Value: Certain Circular 
Welded Carbon Quality Line Pipe from the Republic of Korea, 69 FR 64027 
(November 3, 2004).
    On October 6, 2004, we published in the Federal Register the 
preliminary determination in the Mexican investigation, concurrently 
postponing the final determination until no later than February 18, 
2005, pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act. See Notice of 
Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value and 
Postponement of Final Determination: Circular Welded Carbon Quality 
Line Pipe from Mexico, 69 FR 59892 (October 6, 2004).
    On December 8, 2004, petitioners withdrew their petition with 
regard to the investigation of imports of line pipe from the PRC, and 
the Department subsequently terminated the investigation. See Notice of 
Termination of Antidumping Duty Investigation: Certain Circular Welded 
Carbon Quality Line pipe from the People's Republic of China, 69 FR 
75511 (December 17, 2004).

Scope of Investigations

    The scope of these investigations include certain circular welded 
carbon quality steel line pipe of a kind used in oil and gas pipelines, 
over 32 mm (1 [frac1s4] inches) in nominal diameter (1.660 inch actual 
outside diameter) and not more than 406.4 mm (16 inches) in outside 
diameter, regardless of wall thickness, surface finish (black, or 
coated with any coatings compatible with line pipe), and regardless of 
end finish (plain end, beveled ends for welding, threaded ends or 
threaded and coupled, as well as any other special end finishes), and 
regardless of stenciling. The merchandise subject to these 
investigations may be classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (``HTSUS'') at heading 7306 and subheadings 
7306.10.10.10, 730610.10.50, 7306.10.50.10, and 7306.10.50.50. The 
tariff classifications are provided for convenience and Customs 
purposes; however, the written description of the scope of the 
investigation is dispositive.

Termination of Antidumping Investigations

    On February 1, 2004, the Department received a letter from 
petitioners notifying the Department that they are no longer interested 
in seeking relief and are withdrawing their petitions on line pipe from 
Mexico and Korea. Under section 734(a)(1)(A) of the Act of 1930, upon 
withdrawal of a petition, the administering authority may terminate an 
investigation after giving notice to all parties to the investigations. 
Further, section 351.207(b)(1) of the Department's regulations states 
that the Department may terminate an investigation upon withdrawal of a 
petition, provided it concludes that termination is in the public 
interest. We notified all interested parties to the investigations of 
our intent to terminate these investigations, and provided them an 
opportunity to comment on the proposed termination. On February 7, 
2005, Hylsa S.A de CV, a respondent in this investigation, submitted 
comments stating that termination of these investigations is in the 
public interest. We have received no further comments from any party to 
these investigations.
    As no party objects to this termination and the Department is not 
aware of evidence to the contrary, the Department finds that 
termination of these investigations is in the public interest. As such, 
we are terminating these antidumping investigations and will issue 
instructions directly to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') 
to terminate the suspension of liquidation of subject merchandise and 
release all bond and any cash deposits that have been posted, where 
applicable.
    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 351.305(a)(3). Timely written 
notification of the return or 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 determination and notice are published in accordance with 
section 734(a) of the Act and section 19 CFR 351.207(b) of the 
Department's regulations.

    Dated: February 10, 2005.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-3081 Filed 2-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 3510-DS-S