[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10722-10723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4238]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-965; C-570-966]


Drill Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Termination of 
Anti-Circumvention Inquiry

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On August 12, 2011, in response to a request from VAM Drilling 
U.S.A., Texas Steel Conversion Inc. and Rotary Drilling Tools 
(collectively the ``Petitioners''), the Department of Commerce (the 
``Department'') initiated an anti-circumvention inquiry \1\ to 
determine whether certain imports of drill pipe from the People's 
Republic of China (``PRC'') are circumventing the Drill Pipe Orders.\2\ 
Because the Petitioners have withdrawn this request, the Department is 
terminating this anti-circumvention inquiry.
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    \1\ See Drill Pipe from the People's Republic of China: 
Initiation of Anti-circumvention Inquiry, 76 FR 50173 (August 12, 
2011).
    \2\ See Drill Pipe from the People's Republic of China: 
Antidumping Duty Order, 76 FR 11757 (March 3, 2011); Drill Pipe from 
the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 76 FR 
11758 (March 3, 2011) (collectively the ``Drill Pipe Orders'').

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DATES: Effective Date: February 23, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Walker, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
9, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone 202.482.0413.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 14, 2011, pursuant to section 781(b) of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended (the ``Act''), and section 351.225(h) of the 
Department's regulations, the Petitioners submitted a request for the 
Department to initiate an anti-circumvention inquiry of the Hilong 
Group of Companies Co., Ltd. (``Hilong'') \3\ to determine whether pipe 
\4\ and tool joints produced in the PRC, and friction welded together 
in the UAE, which are allegedly products of the PRC exported from the 
UAE, are circumventing the Drill Pipe Orders.\5\ On August 12, 2011, 
the Department initiated an anti-circumvention inquiry to determine 
whether certain imports of drill pipe from the PRC are circumventing 
the Drill Pipe Orders. Between August 18, 2011, and October 28, 2011, 
the Department issued questionnaires to Hilong, to which Hilong 
responded.
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    \3\ This includes Hilong's U.S. affiliate, Hilong USA LLC 
(``Hilong USA'') and its joint venture affiliate Almansoori/Hilong 
Petroleum Pipe Company (``Almansoori/Hilong'') located in the United 
Arab Emirates (the ``UAE'').
    \4\ ``Pipe'' is heat treated and upset green tube, minus the 
tool joint. See the Petitioners' request at 3.
    \5\ Specifically, the Petitioners asserted that Hilong's PRC 
drill pipe facility exports PRC-produced pipe and tool joints to 
Almansoori/Hilong in the UAE, which friction welds the pipe to the 
tools joints, and then exports them to Hilong USA, which enters and 
sells the drill pipe as UAE-origin merchandise, which is of the same 
class or kind as the merchandise covered by the Drill Pipe Orders.
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Scope of the Orders

    The products covered by the orders are steel drill pipe, and steel 
drill collars, whether or not conforming to American Petroleum 
Institute (``API'') or non-API specifications. Included are finished 
drill pipe and drill collars without regard to the specific chemistry 
of the steel (i.e., carbon, stainless steel, or other alloy steel), and 
without regard to length or outer diameter. Also included are 
unfinished drill collars (including all drill collar green tubes) and 
unfinished drill pipe (including drill pipe green tubes, which are 
tubes meeting the following description: Seamless tubes with an outer 
diameter of less than or equal to 6\5/8\ inches (168.28 millimeters), 
containing between 0.16 and 0.75 percent molybdenum, and containing 
between 0.75 and 1.45 percent chromium). The scope does not include 
tool joints not attached to the drill pipe, nor does it include 
unfinished tubes for casing or tubing covered by any other antidumping 
or countervailing duty order.
    The subject products are currently classified in the following 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS'') categories: 
7304.22.0030, 7304.22.0045, 7304.22.0060, 7304.23.3000, 7304.23.6030, 
7304.23.6045, 7304.23.6060, 8431.43.8040 and may also enter under 
8431.43.8060, 8431.43.4000, 7304.39.0028, 7304.39.0032, 7304.39.0036, 
7304.39.0040,

[[Page 10723]]

7304.39.0044, 7304.39.0048, 7304.39.0052, 7304.39.0056, 7304.49.0015, 
7304.49.0060, 7304.59.8020, 7304.59.8025, 7304.59.8030, 7304.59.8035, 
7304.59.8040, 7304.59.8045, 7304.59.8050 and 7304.59.8055.
    While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the scope of the orders is 
dispositive.

Termination of the Anti-Circumvention Inquiry

    On January 19, 2012, Petitioners withdrew their request for an 
anti-circumvention proceeding.\6\ Accordingly, we are terminating this 
anti-circumvention inquiry.
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    \6\ See Petitioners' letter dated January 18, 2012.
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    This notice is published in accordance with section 777(i)(1) of 
the Act.

    Dated: February 13, 2012.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-4238 Filed 2-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P