[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31577-31578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12979]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-875]


Non-Malleable Cast Iron Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic 
of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances 
Review, and Revocation of Order, in Part

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


DATES: Effective Date: April 1, 2011.
SUMMARY: On April 16, 2012, the Department of Commerce (the 
``Department'') published in the Federal Register a notice of 
initiation and preliminary results of the antidumping duty (``AD'') 
changed circumstances review with intent to revoke, in part, the AD 
order on non-malleable cast iron pipe fittings from the People's 
Republic of China (``PRC'').\1\ Given that Anvil International and Ward 
Manufacturing (``Petitioners'') \2\ are no longer interested in seeking 
antidumping relief from imports of a particular brake fluid tube 
connector (``connector''), we are revoking this AD order, in part, with 
regard to this particular connector.
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    \1\ See Non-Malleable Cast Iron Pipe Fittings From the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed 
Circumstances Review, and Intent to Revoke Order in Part, 77 FR 
22562 (April 16, 2012) (``Initiation and Preliminary Results'').
    \2\ Petitioners account for approximately 95 percent of the 
domestic production of the like product.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zev Primor or Robert Bolling, Import 
Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20230; telephone (202) 482-4114 and (202) 482-3434, respectively.

Background

    On April 7, 2003, the Department published an AD order on non-
malleable cast iron pipe fittings from the PRC.\3\ On March 6, 2012, 
Ford Motor Company (``Ford'') requested revocation in part of the AD 
order pursuant to sections 751(b)(1) and 782(h) of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended (the ``Act''), with respect to Ford's connector. The 
domestic industry has affirmatively expressed a lack of interest in the 
continuation of the AD order with respect to this product. On April 16, 
2012, the Department published the Initiation and Preliminary Results, 
excluding the connector from the scope of the AD order on non-malleable 
cast iron pipe fittings from the PRC.
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    \3\ See Notice of Antidumping Duty Order: Non-Malleable Cast 
Iron Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic of China, 68 FR 16765 
(April 7, 2003).
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New Scope Language

    The following connector is excluded: A ``joint block'' for brake 
fluid tubes and is made of non-malleable cast iron to Society of 
Automotive Engineers (SAE) automotive standard J431. The tubes have an 
inside diameter of 3.44 millimeters (0.1355 inches) and the inside 
diameters of the fluid flow channels of the connector are 3.2 
millimeters (0.1260 inches) and 3.8 millimeters (0.1496 inches). The 
end of the tube is forced by pressure over the end of a flared opening 
in the connector also known as ``flared joint.'' The flared joint, once 
made fast, permits brake fluid to flow through channels that never 
exceed 3.8 millimeters (0.1496 inches) in diameter.

Scope of the Amended Order

    The products covered by the order are finished and unfinished non-
malleable cast iron pipe fittings with an inside diameter ranging from 
\1/4\ inch to 6 inches, whether threaded or unthreaded, regardless of 
industry or proprietary specifications. The subject fittings include 
elbows, ells, tees, crosses, and reducers as well as flanged fittings. 
These pipe fittings are also known as ``cast iron pipe fittings'' or 
``gray iron pipe fittings.'' These cast iron pipe fittings are normally 
produced to ASTM A-126 and ASME B.16.4 specifications and are threaded 
to ASME B1.20.1 specifications. Most building codes require that these 
products are Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certified. The scope does 
not include cast iron soil pipe fittings or grooved fittings or grooved 
couplings.
    Fittings that are made out of ductile iron that have the same 
physical characteristics as the gray or cast iron fittings subject to 
the scope above or which have the same physical characteristics and are 
produced to ASME B.16.3, ASME B.16.4, or ASTM A-395 specifications, 
threaded to ASME B1.20.1 specifications and UL certified, regardless of 
metallurgical differences between gray and ductile iron, are also 
included in the scope of the order. These ductile fittings do not 
include grooved fittings or grooved couplings. Ductile cast iron 
fittings with mechanical joint ends (MJ), or push on ends (PO), or 
flanged ends and produced to the American Water Works Association 
(AWWA) specifications AWWA C110 or AWWA C153 are not included. 
Additionally, certain brake fluid tube connectors are excluded from the 
scope of this order.\4\
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    \4\ To be excluded, the connector must meet the following 
description: The connector is a ``joint block'' for brake fluid 
tubes and is made of non-malleable cast iron to Society of 
Automotive Engineers (SAE) automotive standard J431. The tubes have 
an inside diameter of 3.44 millimeters (0.1355 inches) and the 
inside diameters of the fluid flow channels of the connector are 3.2 
millimeters (0.1260 inches) and 3.8 millimeters (0.1496 inches). The 
end of the tube is forced by pressure over the end of a flared 
opening in the connector also known as ``flared joint.'' The flared 
joint, once made fast, permits brake fluid to flow through channels 
that never exceed 3.8 millimeters (0.1496 inches) in diameter.
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    Imports of subject merchandise are currently classifiable in the 
Harmonized

[[Page 31578]]

Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers 
7307.11.00.30, 7307.11.00.60, 7307.19.30.60, 7307.19.30.85. HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The 
written description of the scope of the order is dispositive.\5\
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    \5\ On April 21, 2009, in consultation with the U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP), the Department added the following HTSUS 
classification to the AD/CVD module for pipe fittings: 7326.90.8588. 
See Memorandum from Abdelali Elouaradia, Office Director, Import 
Administration, Office 4 to Stephen Claeys, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Import Administration regarding the Final Scope Ruling on 
Black Cast Iron Cast, Green Ductile Flange and Twin Tee, antidumping 
duty order on non-malleable iron cast pipe fittings from the PRC, 
dated September 19, 2008. See also Memorandum to the file from 
Karine Gziryan, Financial Analyst, Office 4, regarding Module Update 
adding HTSUS number for twin tin fitting included in the scope of 
antidumping order on non-malleable iron cast pipe fittings from the 
PRC, dated April 22, 2009.
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Final Results of Review: Partial Revocation of Antidumping Duty Order

    The affirmative statement of no interest by Petitioners concerning 
certain brake fluid connectors, as described herein, constitutes 
changed circumstances sufficient to warrant revocation of this order in 
part. No party commented on the Initiation and Preliminary Results. 
Additionally, no party contests that Petitioners' statement of no 
interest represents the views of domestic producers accounting for 
substantially all of the production of the particular domestic like 
product (i.e., connector). Therefore, the Department is partially 
revoking the order on non-malleable cast iron pipe fittings from the 
PRC with regard to a product which meets the specifications detailed 
above, in accordance with sections 751(b), (d) and 782(h) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 351.216(d) and 351.222(g).
    In this changed circumstances review, we have determined to revoke 
the order in part, retroactive to April 1, 2011, (the date following 
the last day of the most recently completed administrative review) for 
unliquidated entries in light of: (1) The submission by Petitioners; 
(2) the fact that entries after this date are not subject to a final 
determination by the Department; and (3) we have received no comments 
following our preliminary results of April 16, 2012, where we indicated 
that this changed circumstances review will apply retroactively. We 
hereby notify the public of our revocation in part with respect to a 
connector in the antidumping duty order on non-malleable cast iron pipe 
fittings from the PRC retroactive to April 1, 2011.
    We will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to liquidate 
without regard to antidumping duties, as applicable, and to refund any 
estimated antidumping duties collected for all unliquidated entries of 
a certain connector, made on or after April 1, 2011, meeting the 
specifications indicated above, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.222.
    This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective orders (``APOs'') of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.306. Timely written notification of 
the return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial 
protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the 
regulations and terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.
    This changed circumstances administrative review, partial 
revocation of the antidumping duty order and notice are in accordance 
with sections 751(b), (d) and 782(h) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216(e) 
and 351.222(g).

    Dated: May 21, 2012.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-12979 Filed 5-25-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P