[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52744-52749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24703]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-956]


Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and 
Pressure Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of 
Antidumping Duty Investigation

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

DATES: Effective Date: October 14, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Drew Jackson at (202) 482-4406 or 
Melissa Blackledge at (202) 482-3518, AD/CVD Operations, Office 4, 
Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

    On September 16, 2009, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') 
received an antidumping duty (``AD'') petition \1\ concerning imports 
of certain seamless pipe (``seamless pipe'') from the People's Republic 
of China (``PRC'') filed in proper form by United States Steel 
Corporation and V&M Star L.P. (on September 28, 2009, TMK IPSCO, and 
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied 
Industrial and Service Workers International Union also entered the 
proceeding as petitioners). On September 21, 2009, the Department 
issued a request to United States Steel Corporation, V&M Star L.P., TMK 
IPSCO, and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, 
Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, 
(collectively, ``Petitioners'') for additional information and for 
clarification of certain areas of the Petition. Based on the 
Department's request, Petitioners filed two supplements to the 
Petition, one regarding general issues and one addressing AD-specific 
issues, on September 25, 2009 (``Supplement Regarding General Issues to 
the AD/CVD Petition'' and ``Supplement to the AD Petition,'' 
respectively). On September 25, 2009, the Department requested further 
information from Petitioners, including suggested refinements to the 
scope. On September 29, 2009, Petitioners filed a second supplement to 
the Petition in response to the Department's September 25, 2009 request 
(``Second Supplement Regarding General Issues to the AD/CVD 
Petition''). Also, on September 29, 2009, the Department issued 
additional requests to Petitioners for further information and 
clarification of certain areas of the Petition. Based on the 
Department's request, Petitioners again filed two supplements to the 
Petition, one regarding general issues and one addressing AD-specific 
issues, on October 1, 2009 (``Third Supplement Regarding General Issues 
to the AD/CVD Petition'' and ``Second Supplement to the AD Petition''). 
On September 30, 2009, the Department requested comments from 
Petitioners on revisions made by the Department to the proposed scope 
language. In response to the Department's request, Petitioners 
reiterated their scope comments filed in the Second Supplement 
Regarding General Issues to the AD/CVD Petition. See memorandum to the 
file from Drew Jackson regarding ``Initiation of the Antidumping Duty 
Investigation of Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, 
Line, and Pressure Pipe from the People's Republic of China (``Scope 
Memorandum'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping Duties: 
Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure 
Pipe from the People's Republic of China, dated September 16, 2009 
(``Petition'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with section 732(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (``Act''), Petitioners allege that imports of seamless pipe 
from the PRC are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States 
at less than fair value, within the meaning of section 731 of the Act, 
and that such imports materially injure, and threaten further material 
injury to, an industry in the United States.
    The Department finds that Petitioners filed the Petition on behalf 
of the domestic industry and unions because Petitioners are interested 
parties, as defined in section 771(9)(C) and (D) of the Act, and have 
demonstrated sufficient industry support with respect to the 
investigation that they request the Department to initiate (see 
``Determination of Industry Support for the Petition'' below).

Scope of Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are seamless pipe from 
the PRC. For a full description of the scope of the investigation, 
please see the ``Scope of the Investigation'' in Appendix I of this 
notice.

Comments on the Scope of Investigation

    During our review of the Petition, we discussed the scope of the 
investigation with Petitioners and suggested a number of revisions to 
the scope language, including the removal from the scope of all 
language that relies on end-use to define covered merchandise. While 
Petitioners made a number of the suggested revisions to the scope, they 
did not remove end-use language from the scope. See Supplement 
Regarding General Issues to the AD/CVD Petition at 4; Second Supplement 
Regarding General Issues to the AD/CVD Petition, Item 3; and Scope 
Memorandum. The Department has inherent authority to define the scope 
of the investigation and may depart from the scope as proposed by a 
petition. NTN Bearing Corp. v. U.S., 747 F. Supp. 726, 731 (CIT 1990). 
In this case, consistent with the position taken in circular welded 
carbon quality steel pipe from the PRC, we have revised the scope by 
removing all end-use language from it. See Notice of Final 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Affirmative Final 
Determination of Critical Circumstances: Circular Welded Carbon Quality 
Steel Pipe from the People's Republic of China, 73 FR 31970 (June 5, 
2008) (``Circular Welded Pipe'') at

[[Page 52745]]

Comment 1 (``* * * the Department prefers to define product coverage by 
the physical characteristics of the merchandise subject to 
investigation.''). As noted in Circular Welded Pipe, excluding end-use 
language from the scope provides certainty with respect to product 
coverage and will enable any potential future orders to be effectively 
administered by the Department and enforced by U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection. Further, clarity with respect to scope will ensure that 
respondents in the investigation will know precisely what is included 
in the definition of subject merchandise.
    As discussed in the preamble to the Department's regulations 
(Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 
27323 (May 19, 1997)), we are setting aside a period for interested 
parties to raise issues regarding the product coverage of the scope. 
The Department encourages all interested parties to submit such 
comments by October 26, 2009, which is twenty calendar days from the 
signature date of this notice. Comments should be addressed to Import 
Administration's APO/Dockets Unit, Room 1870, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20230. The period for scope consultations is intended to provide the 
Department with ample opportunity to consider all comments and to 
consult with parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary 
determination in this investigation.

Comments on Product Characteristics for the Antidumping Duty 
Questionnaire

    We are requesting comments from interested parties regarding the 
appropriate physical characteristics of seamless pipe to be reported in 
response to the Department's AD questionnaire. This information will be 
used to identify the key physical characteristics of the subject 
merchandise in order to more accurately report the relevant factors of 
production, as well as to develop appropriate product reporting 
criteria.
    Interested parties may provide any information or comments that 
they believe are relevant to the development of an accurate listing of 
physical characteristics. Specifically, they may provide comments as to 
which characteristics are appropriate to use as (1) general product 
characteristics and (2) the product reporting criteria and order of 
importance. We note that it is not always appropriate to use all 
product characteristics as product reporting criteria. We base product 
reporting criteria on meaningful commercial differences among products. 
In other words, while there may be some physical product 
characteristics utilized by manufacturers to describe seamless pipe, it 
may be that only a select few product characteristics reflect 
meaningful commercial differences.
    In order to consider the suggestions of interested parties in 
developing the product characteristics for the antidumping duty 
questionnaire, we must receive comments at the above-referenced address 
by October 26, 2009. Additionally, rebuttal comments must be received 
by November 2, 2009.

Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act 
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic 
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) at least 
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and 
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like 
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support 
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 732(c)(4)(D) of 
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of 
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of 
the total production of the domestic like product, the Department 
shall: (i) poll the industry or rely on other information in order to 
determine if there is support for the petition, as required by 
subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine industry support using a 
statistically valid sampling method to poll the industry.
    Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the 
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine 
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute 
directs the Department to look to producers and workers who produce the 
domestic like product. The International Trade Commission (``ITC''), 
which is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' 
has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like 
product in order to define the industry. While both the Department and 
the ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic 
like product (section 771(10) of the Act), they do so for different 
purposes and pursuant to a separate and distinct authority. In 
addition, the Department's determination is subject to limitations of 
time and information. Although this may result in different definitions 
of the like product, such differences do not render the decision of 
either agency contrary to law.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT 
2001), citing Algoma Steel Corp. Ltd. v. United States, 688 F. Supp. 
639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989), cert. 
denied 492 U.S. 919 (1989).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a 
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in 
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation 
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic 
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an 
investigation,'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be 
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the 
petition). With regard to the domestic like product, Petitioners do not 
offer a definition of domestic like product distinct from the scope of 
the investigation requested in the Petition. As noted, the Department 
has changed the definition of the class or kind of merchandise to be 
investigated from that which was initially requested by Petitioners. 
The reference point from which the domestic like product is defined is 
the class or kind of merchandise that is the basis for the Department's 
initiation of this investigation. Based on our analysis of the 
information submitted on the record, we have determined that seamless 
pipe constitutes a single domestic like product and we have analyzed 
industry support in terms of that domestic like product.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis in 
this case, see Antidumping Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: 
Certain Seamless Pipe from the PRC (``Initiation Checklist'') at 
Attachment II (``Industry Support''), dated concurrently with this 
notice and on file in the Central Records Unit, Room 1117 of the 
main Department of Commerce building.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In determining whether Petitioners have standing under section 
732(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data 
contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like product 
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation'' in Appendix I of this 
notice. To establish industry support, Petitioners provided their own 
2008 production of the domestic like product, and compared this to the 
estimated total production of the domestic like product for the entire 
domestic industry.\4\ To estimate 2008 production of the domestic like 
product, Petitioners used data from an industry publication, published 
by the American Iron and Steel Institute (``AISI'') which compiles data 
on domestic producers' shipments of seamless standard, line

[[Page 52746]]

and pressure pipe. Petitioners approximated domestic production of 
seamless pipe by inflating the volume of domestic shipments reported by 
AISI by the ratio of the difference between Petitioners' own production 
and shipments in the applicable calendar year.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
    \5\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, supplemental 
submissions, and other information readily available to the Department, 
including a search of the Internet, indicates that Petitioners have 
established industry support. First, the Petition established support 
from domestic producers (or workers) accounting for more than 50 
percent of the total production of the domestic like product and, as 
such, the Department is not required to take further action in order to 
evaluate industry support (e.g., polling).\6\ Second, the domestic 
producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry 
support under section 732(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the domestic 
producers (or workers) who support the Petition account for at least 25 
percent of the total production of the domestic like product.\7\ 
Finally, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory 
criteria for industry support under section 732(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act 
because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the Petition 
account for more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like 
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support 
for, or opposition to, the Petition. Accordingly, the Department 
determines that the Petition was filed on behalf of the domestic 
industry within the meaning of section 732(b)(1) of the Act.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See Section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act, and Initiation 
Checklist at Attachment II.
    \7\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
    \8\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department finds that Petitioners filed the Petition on behalf 
of the domestic industry because Petitioners are interested parties 
(e.g., domestic producer and unions) as defined in section 771(9)(C) 
and (D) of the Act and have demonstrated sufficient industry support 
with respect to the antidumping investigation that they are requesting 
that the Department initiate.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    Petitioners allege that the U.S. industry producing the domestic 
like product is being materially injured, or is threatened with 
material injury, by reason of the imports of the subject merchandise 
sold at less than normal value (``NV''). In addition, Petitioners 
allege that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided 
for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.
    Petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by reduced market share, increased import penetration, 
underselling and price depressing and suppressing effects, lost sales 
and revenue, reduced production, reduced shipments, increased inventory 
overhang, reduced employment and wages, and an overall decline in 
financial performance.\10\ We have assessed the allegations and 
supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat of material 
injury, and causation, and have determined that these allegations are 
properly supported by adequate evidence and meet the statutory 
requirements for initiation.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment III, ``Analysis of 
Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation,'' for 
details.
    \11\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Period of Investigation

    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.204(b)(1), because the Petition was 
filed on September 16, 2009, the anticipated period of investigation 
(``POI'') is January 1, 2009, through June 30, 2009.

Allegations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value

    The following is a description of the allegation of sales at less 
than fair value upon which the Department has based its decision to 
initiate an investigation of seamless pipe from the PRC. The sources of 
data for the deductions and adjustments relating to U.S. price and NV 
are discussed in the Initiation Checklist.

U.S. Price

    Petitioners obtained an export price (``EP'') from a distributor's 
offer to sell PRC-produced seamless pipe to a potential customer 
located in the United States. The offer is dated within the POI. 
Petitioners presented an affidavit attesting to the offer and its terms 
of sale.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ See Supplement to the AD Petition, at Exhibit Supp. II-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The U.S. price in the offer includes movement costs to ship the 
merchandise from the factory in the PRC to the U.S. port and a 
distributor mark-up. Therefore, to calculate the net U.S. price, 
Petitioners deducted movement expenses and a distributor's mark-up that 
was based on their own experience and knowledge of the industry.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at 8-9, and Exhibits II-6, 
II-11, II-12, II-13, and II-14, and Supplement to the AD Petition, 
at 3-4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For additional details regarding the U.S. price and the deducted 
movement expenses and distributor mark-up, see the Initiation Checklist 
at 7.

Normal Value

    According to Petitioners, in every previous less-than-fair value 
investigation involving merchandise from the PRC, the Department has 
concluded that the PRC is a non-market economy (``NME'') country. 
Therefore, it has based NV on factors of production and surrogate 
values.\14\ In accordance with section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, the 
presumption of NME status remains in effect until revoked by the 
Department. The presumption of NME status for the PRC has not been 
revoked by the Department and, therefore, remains in effect for 
purposes of the initiation of this investigation.\15\ Accordingly, the 
NV of the product is appropriately based on factors of production 
valued in a surrogate market economy country, in accordance with 
section 773(c) of the Act. In the course of this investigation, all 
parties will have the opportunity to provide relevant information 
related to the issues of the PRC's NME status and the granting of 
separate rates to individual exporters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at 1 and 9.
    \15\ See id.; see also Memorandum from the Office of Policy to 
David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, 
regarding The People's Republic of China Status as a Non-Market 
Economy, dated May 15, 2006. This document is available online at 
http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/prc-nme-status/prc-nme-status-memo.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitioners used India as the surrogate country because they claim 
India is at a level of economic development comparable to that of the 
PRC and is a significant producer of comparable merchandise.\16\ In 
support of these claims, Petitioners referenced the Department's 
previous findings that India is at a level of development comparable to 
the PRC, provided per capita income data for 2007 as reported in the 
World Development Report 2009,\17\ and presented data from the World 
Steel Association as reported in the Steel Statistical Yearbook 2008, 
showing that India produced 1,218,000 metric tons of tubular steel 
products in 2007, the greatest quantity produced among countries 
commonly considered by the Department to be at a level of economic 
development comparable to that of the PRC.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at 2-4.
    \17\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at 3, and Exhibit II-3(A).
    \18\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at 2, 3, Figure 1, and 
Exhibit II-5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After examining the information provided by Petitioners, the 
Department has determined that the use of India as

[[Page 52747]]

a surrogate country is appropriate for purposes of initiation. However, 
after initiation of the investigation, interested parties will have the 
opportunity to submit comments regarding surrogate country selection 
and, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.301(c)(3)(i), will be provided an 
opportunity to submit publicly available information to value factors 
of production within 40 days after the date of publication of the 
preliminary determination.
    Petitioners calculated NVs and dumping margins using the 
Department's NME methodology as required by 19 CFR 351.202(b)(7)(i)(C) 
and 19 CFR 351.408. Petitioners calculated NVs for four seamless pipe 
products of various sizes \19\ using the consumption rates of a U.S. 
producer of seamless pipe during the period January 2009, through June 
2009.\20\ Petitioners stated the U.S. producer was selected because, 
like the PRC producer, it is a large integrated producer of seamless 
pipe.\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at 9-10, and Exhibit II-
15.
    \20\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15, and 
Attachments A and B.
    \21\ See Second Supplement to the AD Petition, at 6-7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitioners valued the factors of production using reasonably 
available, public surrogate country data, including Indian import data 
from the Indian Ministry of Commerce, published in the Monthly 
Statistics of Foreign Trade of India as compiled by the Word Trade 
Atlas (``WTA''). Petitioners used WTA data for the period September 
2008, through February 2009, the most recent six months of data 
available at the time of the filing of the Petition.\22\ In addition, 
Petitioners used exchange rates, as reported by the Federal Reserve, to 
convert Indian Rupees to U.S. Dollars.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ See Volume II-B of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15(Q) and 
(R), and Supplement to the AD Petition, at Exhibit Supp. II-9.
    \23\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15(E).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitioners valued royalties imposed in the PRC on mined ore using 
data from the Indian Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation 
Act.\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15, and 
Attachments C and D.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitioners valued labor using the wage rate data published on the 
Department's Web site, at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/wages/05wages/05wages-051608.html#table1.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \25\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15, and 
Attachment F.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitioners valued electricity using Indian electricity rates from 
the Central Electricity Authority in India for 2006.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15(H), and 
Volume II-B of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15(Q).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitioners valued water using data from the Maharashtra Industrial 
Development Corporation.\27\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15, and 
Attachments DD and EE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Where values were not contemporaneous with the POI, Petitioners 
adjusted these values for inflation using wholesale price index data 
published by the International Monetary Fund, which is available online 
at http://www.5-imfstatistics.org/imf/.\28\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \28\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15(I)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Petitioners based factory overhead, selling, general and 
administrative expenses (``SG&A''), and profit, on data from the fiscal 
year, ending March 31, 2009, of two Indian producers of pipe and tube, 
the Steel Authority of India, Ltd. (``SAIL''), and Tata Steel Limited 
(``Tata''), with adjustments as requested by the Department.\29\ 
Petitioners based the financial ratios for seamless pipe on the simple 
average of SAIL's and Tata's overhead, SG&A, and profit ratios, 
asserting that SAIL and Tata are large integrated steel producers like 
the PRC producer on which Petitioners based their calculation, and are 
producers of merchandise comparable to seamless pipe.\30\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See Volume II-A of the Petition, at Exhibit II-15, and 
Attachment FF and GG, and Second Supplement to the AD Petition, at 
3-4, and Exhibits Second Supp. II-21, II-22, and II-24.
    \30\ See Supplement to the AD Petition, at 16-18.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fair-Value Comparisons

    The data submitted by Petitioners provide a reason to believe that 
seamless pipe from the PRC is being, or is likely to be, sold in the 
United States at less than fair value. Based on comparisons of the net 
U.S. price to NVs, Petitioners calculated an estimated dumping margin 
of 98.37 percent.\31\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ See Second Supplement to the AD Petition, at 3-4, and 
Exhibit Second Supp. II-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initiation of Antidumping Investigation

    Based upon our examination of the Petition concerning seamless pipe 
from the PRC and other information reasonably available to the 
Department, the Department finds that the Petition meets the 
requirements of section 732 of the Act. Therefore, we are initiating an 
AD investigation to determine whether seamless pipe from the PRC is 
being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair 
value. In accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Act, unless 
postponed, we will make our preliminary determination no later than 140 
days after the date of this initiation.

Targeted-Dumping Allegations

    On December 10, 2008, the Department issued an interim final rule 
for the purpose of withdrawing 19 CFR 351.414(f) and (g), the 
regulatory provisions governing the targeted-dumping analysis in AD 
investigations, and the corresponding regulation governing the deadline 
for targeted-dumping allegations, 19 CFR 351.301(d)(5).\32\ The 
Department stated that ``[w]ithdrawal will allow the Department to 
exercise the discretion intended by the statute and, thereby, develop a 
practice that will allow interested parties to pursue all statutory 
avenues of relief in this area.'' \33\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \32\ See Withdrawal of the Regulatory Provisions Governing 
Targeted Dumping in Antidumping Duty Investigations, 73 FR 74930 
(December 10, 2008).
    \33\ See id. at 74931.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In order to accomplish this objective, interested parties that wish 
to make a targeted-dumping allegation in this investigation pursuant to 
section 777A(d)(1)(B) of the Act, should submit such an allegation to 
the Department no later than 45 days before the scheduled date of the 
preliminary determination.

Respondent Selection

    The Department will request quantity and value information from the 
exporters and producers listed with complete contact information in the 
Petition. The quantity and value data received from NME exporters/
producers will be used to select mandatory respondents.
    The Department requires respondents to submit a response to both 
the quantity and value questionnaire and the separate-rate application 
by the respective deadlines in order to receive consideration for 
separate-rate status.\34\ Appendix II of this notice contains the 
quantity and value questionnaire that must be submitted by all NME 
exporters/producers no later than October 27, 2009. In addition, the 
Department will post the quantity and value questionnaire along with 
filing instructions on its Web site, at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/ia-highlights-and-news.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ See Circular Welded Austenitic Stainless Pressure Pipe from 
the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Antidumping Duty 
Investigation, 73 FR 10221, 10225 (February 26, 2008); and 
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation: Certain Artist Canvas 
From the People's Republic of China, 70 FR 21996, 21999 (April 28, 
2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Separate Rates

    In order to obtain separate-rate status in an NME investigation, 
exporters and

[[Page 52748]]

producers must submit a separate-rate status application.\35\ The 
specific requirements for submitting the separate-rate application in 
this investigation are outlined in detail in the application itself, 
which will be available on the Department's Web site at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/ia-highlights-and-news.html on the date of publication 
of this initiation notice in the Federal Register. The separate-rate 
application will be due sixty (60) days from the date of publication of 
this initiation notice in the Federal Register. As noted in the 
``Respondent Selection'' section above, the Department requires that 
respondents submit a response to both the quantity and value 
questionnaire and the separate rate application by the respective 
deadlines in order to receive consideration for separate rate status. 
For exporters and producers who submit a separate-rate status 
application and subsequently are selected as mandatory respondents, 
these exporters and producers will no longer be eligible for 
consideration of separate rate status unless they respond to all parts 
of the questionnaire as mandatory respondents.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \35\ See Import Administration Policy Bulletin, Number: 05.1, 
``Separate-Rates Practice and Application of Combination Rates in 
Antidumping Investigations involving Non-Market Economy Countries,'' 
dated April 5, 2005, available on the Department's Web site at 
http://ia.ita.doc.gov/policy/bull05-1.pdf (``Policy Bulletin, 
Number: 05.1''); see also Certain Circular Welded Carbon Quality 
Steel Line Pipe From the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic 
of China: Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 73 FR 
23188, 23193 (April 29, 2008) (``Certain Circular Welded Carbon 
Quality Steel Line Pipe from the PRC'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Use of Combination Rates in an NME Investigation

    The Department will calculate combination rates for certain 
respondents that are eligible for a separate rate in this 
investigation. The Separate Rates/Combination Rates Bulletin states:

{w{time} hile continuing the practice of assigning separate rates 
only to exporters, all separate rates that the Department will now 
assign in its NME investigations will be specific to those producers 
that supplied the exporter during the period of investigation. Note, 
however, that one rate is calculated for the exporter and all of the 
producers which supplied subject merchandise to it during the period 
of investigation. This practice applies both to mandatory 
respondents receiving an individually calculated separate rate as 
well as the pool of non-investigated firms receiving the weighted-
average of the individually calculated rates. This practice is 
referred to as the application of combination rates because such 
rates apply to specific combinations of exporters and one or more 
producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned to an exporter will apply 
only to merchandise both exported by the firm in question and 
produced by a firm that supplied the exporter during the period of 
investigation.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \36\ See Policy Bulletin, Number: 05.1; see also Certain 
Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Line Pipe from the PRC, 73 FR 
at 23193.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Distribution of Copies of the Petition

    In accordance with section 732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been 
provided to the representatives of the Government of the PRC. Because 
of the large number of producers/exporters identified in the Petition, 
the Department considers the service of the public version of the 
Petition to the foreign producers/exporters satisfied by the delivery 
of the public version to the Government of the PRC, consistent with 19 
CFR 351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

    We have notified the ITC of our initiation, as required by section 
732(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, no later than November 2, 
2009, whether there is a reasonable indication that imports of seamless 
pipe from the PRC materially injure, or threaten material injury to, a 
U.S. industry. A negative ITC determination covering all classes or 
kinds of merchandise covered by the Petition will result in the 
investigation being terminated. Otherwise, this investigation will 
proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.

    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 777(i) 
of the Act.

    Dated: October 6, 2009.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain 
seamless carbon and alloy steel (other than stainless steel) pipes 
and redraw hollows, less than or equal to 16 inches (406.4 mm) in 
outside diameter, regardless of wall-thickness, manufacturing 
process (e.g., hot-finished or cold-drawn), end finish (e.g., plain 
end, beveled end, upset end, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or 
surface finish (e.g., bare, lacquered or coated). Redraw hollows are 
any unfinished carbon or alloy steel (other than stainless steel) 
pipe or ``hollow profiles'' suitable for cold finishing operations, 
such as cold drawing, to meet the American Society for Testing and 
Materials (``ASTM'') or American Petroleum Institute (``API'') 
specifications referenced below, or comparable specifications. 
Specifically included within the scope are seamless carbon and alloy 
steel (other than stainless steel) standard, line, and pressure 
pipes produced to the ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-333, ASTM A-334, 
ASTM A-335, ASTM A-589, ASTM A-795, ASTM A-1024, and the API 5L 
specifications, or comparable specifications, and meeting the 
physical parameters described above, regardless of application, with 
the exception of the exclusion discussed below.
    Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigation are 
unattached couplings.
    The merchandise covered by the investigation is currently 
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(``HTSUS'') under item numbers: 7304.19.1020, 7304.19.1030, 
7304.19.1045, 7304.19.1060, 7304.19.5020, 7304.19.5050, 
7304.31.6050, 7304.39.0016, 7304.39.0020, 7304.39.0024, 
7304.39.0028, 7304.39.0032, 7304.39.0036, 7304.39.0040, 
7304.39.0044, 7304.39.0048, 7304.39.0052, 7304.39.0056, 
7304.39.0062, 7304.39.0068, 7304.39.0072, 7304.51.5005, 
7304.51.5060, 7304.59.6000, 7304.59.8010, 7304.59.8015, 
7304.59.8020, 7304.59.8025, 7304.59.8030, 7304.59.8035, 
7304.59.8040, 7304.59.8045, 7304.59.8050, 7304.59.8055, 
7304.59.8060, 7304.59.8065, and 7304.59.8070.
    Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, our written description of the merchandise subject 
to this scope is dispositive.

Appendix II

OFFICE OF AD/CVD OPERATIONS QUANTITY AND VALUE QUESTIONNAIRE

    Requester(s):
{insert name of company{time} 
{company address{time} 
{contact name and title{time} 
{contact telephone number{time} 
{contact fax number{time} 
{contact e-mail address{time} 
    Representation: {insert name of counsel and law firm and contact 
info{time} 
    Case: Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, 
and Pressure Pipe from the People's Republic of China.
    Period of Investigation: January 1, 2009, through June 30, 2009.
    Publication Date of Initiation: October 14, 2009.
    Officials in Charge:
Howard Smith, Program Manager, AD/CVD Operations, Office 4, 
Telephone: (202) 482-5193, Fax: (202) 482-5105, E-mail Address: 
[email protected].
Drew Jackson, International Trade Compliance Analyst, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office 4, Telephone: (202) 482-4406, Fax: (202) 482-
5105, E-mail Address: [email protected].
    Filing Address:
Secretary of Commerce, Attention: Import Administration (Drew 
Jackson), APO/Dockets Unit, Room 1870, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    On October 6, 2009, the Department initiated an antidumping duty 
investigation to determine whether certain seamless carbon and alloy 
steel standard, line, and pressure pipe (``subject merchandise'') 
from

[[Page 52749]]

the PRC was sold in the United States at less than fair value during 
the period January 1, 2009, through June 30, 2009 (the period of 
investigation or ``POI'').\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \37\ An electronic copy of the initiation notice may be found on 
the Internet at the following address: http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn/2009/0910frn/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 777A(c)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the 
Act''), directs the Department to calculate individual dumping 
margins for each known exporter and producer of the subject 
merchandise. Where it is not practicable to examine all known 
producers/exporters of subject merchandise, as is the case in this 
investigation, section 777A(c)(2) of the Act permits the Department 
to examine either (1) a sample of exporters, producers or types of 
products that is statistically valid based on the information 
available at the time of selection; or (2) exporters and producers 
accounting for the largest volume of the subject merchandise from 
the exporting country that can be reasonably examined.
    In advance of the issuance of the full antidumping duty 
questionnaire, we ask that you respond to the following Quantity and 
Value Questionnaire requesting information on the quantity and U.S. 
dollar value of all of your sales to the United States during the 
period January 1, 2009, through June 30, 2009, of merchandise 
covered by the scope of this investigation (see Appendix I) and 
produced in the PRC. A full and accurate response to the Quantity 
and Value Questionnaire from all participating respondents is 
necessary to ensure that the Department has the requisite 
information to appropriately select mandatory respondents.
    The Department is also requiring all firms that wish to qualify 
for separate-rate status in this investigation to complete a 
separate-rate status application as described in the notice of 
initiation. In other words, the Department will not give 
consideration to any separate-rate status application made by 
parties that fail to timely respond to the Quality and Value 
Questionnaire or fail to timely submit the requisite separate-rate 
status application.
    To complete this investigation within the statutory time frame, 
the Department will be limited in its ability to extend the deadline 
for the response to the Quantity and Value Questionnaire.
    A definition of the scope of the merchandise subject to this 
investigation is included in Appendix I. Your response to this 
questionnaire may be subject to on-site verification by Department 
officials.

Format for Reporting Quantity and Value of Sales

    In providing the information in the chart below, please provide 
the total quantity, in metric tons, and total value (in U.S. 
dollars) of all your sales to the United States during the period 
January 1, 2009, through June 30, 2009, of merchandise covered by 
the scope of this investigation (see Appendix I) and produced in the 
PRC.\38\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ Please use the invoice date when determining which sales to 
include within the period noted above. Generally, the Department 
uses invoice date as the date of sale, as that is when the essential 
terms of sale are set. If you believe that another date besides the 
invoice date would provide a more accurate representation of your 
company's sales during the designated period, please report sales 
based on that date and provide a full explanation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Please include only sales exported by your company 
directly to the United States.
     Please do not include any sales of subject merchandise 
manufactured in Hong Kong in your figures.
    Additionally, if you believe that you should be treated as a 
single entity along with other named exporters, please complete the 
chart, below, both in the aggregate for all named parties in your 
group and, in separate charts, individually for each named entity. 
Please label each chart accordingly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ If any conversions were used, please provide the conversion 
formula and source.
    \40\ To the extent possible, sales values should be reported 
based on the same terms (e.g., FOB).
    \41\ Values should be expressed in U.S. dollars. Indicate any 
exchange rates used and their respective dates and sources.
    \42\ Generally, a U.S. sale is classified as an export price 
sale when the first sale to an unaffiliated person occurs before the 
goods are imported into the United States.
    \43\ Generally, a U.S. sale is classified as a constructed 
export price sale when the first sale to an unaffiliated person 
occurs after importation. However, if the first sale to the 
unaffiliated person is made by a person in the United States 
affiliated with the foreign exporter, constructed export price 
applies even if the sale occurs prior to importation. Do not report 
the sale to the affiliated party in the United States, rather report 
the sale made by the affiliated party to the unaffiliated customer 
in the United States. If you have further manufactured sales, please 
report them under Item 3, rather than under Item 2.
    \44\ ``Further manufactured'' refers to merchandise that 
undergoes further manufacture or assembly in the United States 
before sale to the first unaffiliated customer.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Total quantity
                      Market: United States                       in metric tons   Terms of sale    Total value
                                                                       \39\            \40\        \41\ ($U.S.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Export Price \42\............................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
2. Constructed Export Price \43\................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
3. Further Manufactured \44\....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
    Total.......................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. E9-24703 Filed 10-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P