[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73704-73708]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29946]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-535-904]


Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe From Pakistan: 
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

DATES: Effective Date: November 17, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kaitlin Wojnar at (202) 482-3857, 
Office VII, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Petition

    On October 28, 2015, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
received a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of 
circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe (circular welded pipe) from 
Pakistan, filed in proper form on behalf of Bull Moose Tube Company, 
EXLTUBE, Wheatland Tube Company, and Western Tube and Conduit 
(collectively, Petitioners).\1\ The CVD petition was accompanied by an 
antidumping duty (AD) petition concerning imports of circular welded 
pipe from Pakistan.\2\ Petitioners are domestic producers of circular 
welded pipe.\3\
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    \1\ See Letter from Petitioners, ``Petitions for the Imposition 
of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Circular Welded Carbon-
Quality Steel Pipe from the Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan, the 
Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam,'' October 28, 2015 (the Petition), Volumes I and IV.
    \2\ Id., Volume II. Petitioners also filed AD petitions 
regarding the Sultanate of Oman, the Republic of the Philippines, 
the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
    \3\ Id., Volume I at 2.
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    On November 2, 2015, the Department requested supplemental 
information pertaining to certain areas of the Petition.\4\ Petitioners 
filed responses to these requests on November 4, 2015.\5\ Petitioners 
submitted additional supplemental information on November 9, 2015,\6\ 
and November 10, 2015.\7\
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    \4\ See Letter from the Department, ``Petitions for the 
Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of 
Circular Welded Pipe from Pakistan: Supplemental Questions,'' 
November 2, 2015 (General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire); Letter 
from the Department, ``Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing 
Duties on Imports of Circular Welded Pipe from Pakistan: 
Supplemental Questions,'' November 2, 2015.
    \5\ See Letter from Petitioners, ``Response to Supplemental 
Questions Regarding Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping 
Duties on Imports of Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from 
the Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan, the Republic of the Philippines, 
the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and 
Countervailing Duties on Imports of Circular Welded Carbon-Quality 
Steel Pipe from Pakistan,'' November 4, 2015 (General Issues 
Supplement); see also Letter from Petitioners, ``Circular Welded 
Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from Pakistan: Response to the 
Department's November 2, 2015 Questionnaire Regarding Volume IV of 
the Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duties,'' November 4, 2015.
    \6\ See Letter from Petitioners, ``Petitions for the Imposition 
of Antidumping Duties on Imports of Circular Welded Carbon-Quality 
Steel Pipe from the Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan, the Republic of the 
Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Circular Welded 
Carbon Quality-Steel Pipe from Pakistan: Response to Issues 
Identified in the November 6, 2015 Phone Call,'' November 9, 2015 
(Second General Issues Supplement).
    \7\ See Letter from Petitioners, ``Petitions for the Imposition 
of Antidumping Duties on Imports of Circular Welded Carbon-Quality 
Steel Pipe from the Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan, the Republic of the 
Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Circular Welded 
Carbon Quality-Steel Pipe from Pakistan: Second Response to Issues 
Identified in the November 6, 2015 Phone Call,'' November 10, 2015 
(Third General Issues Supplement).
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    In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), Petitioners allege that the Government of Pakistan 
(GOP) is providing countervailable subsidies, within the meaning of 
sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, to imports of circular welded pipe 
from Pakistan and that such imports are materially injuring, or 
threatening material injury to, an industry in the United States. Also, 
consistent with section 702(b)(1) of the Act, for those alleged 
programs in Pakistan on which we have initiated a CVD investigation, 
the Petition is accompanied by information reasonably available to 
Petitioners supporting their allegations.
    The Department finds that Petitioners filed the Petition on behalf 
of the domestic industry because Petitioners are interested parties as 
defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. The Department also finds that 
Petitioners demonstrated sufficient industry support with respect to 
the initiation of the CVD investigation that Petitioners are 
requesting.\8\
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    \8\ See ``Determination of Industry Support for the Petition'' 
section, below.
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Period of Investigation

    The period of investigation is January 1, 2014, through December 
31, 2014.\9\
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    \9\ See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The product covered by this investigation is circular welded 
carbon-quality steel pipe from Pakistan. For a full description of the 
scope of this investigation, see Appendix I of this notice.

Comments on Scope of the Investigation

    During our review of the Petition, the Department issued questions 
to and received responses from Petitioners pertaining to the proposed 
scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petition would be an 
accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is 
seeking relief.\10\ As discussed in the preamble to the Department's 
regulations,\11\ we are setting aside a period for interested parties 
to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope). The 
Department will consider all comments received from interested parties 
and, if necessary, will consult with the interested parties prior to 
the issuance of the preliminary determination. If scope comments 
include factual information,\12\ all such factual information should be 
limited to public information. In order to facilitate preparation of 
its questionnaire, the Department requests all interested parties to 
submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, December 
7, 2015, which is 20 calendar days from the signature date of this 
notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, 
must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 17, 2015, which is 
10 calendar days after the initial comments deadline.
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    \10\ See General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire; see also 
General Issues Supplement; Second General Issues Supplement.
    \11\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \12\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21).
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    The Department requests that any factual information the parties 
consider

[[Page 73705]]

relevant to the scope of the investigation be submitted during this 
time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional 
factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigation may be 
relevant, the party may contact the Department and request permission 
to submit the additional information. All such comments must be filed 
on the record of the concurrent AD investigation, as well as the AD 
investigations of circular welded pipe from the Sultanate of Oman, the 
Republic of the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates, and the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to the Department must be filed electronically 
using Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing 
Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS).\13\ An 
electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its 
entirety by the time and date it is due. Documents excepted from the 
electronic submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in 
paper form) with Enforcement and Compliance's APO/Dockets Unit, Room 
18022, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20230, and stamped with the date and time of 
receipt by the applicable deadlines.
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    \13\ See 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements); see 
also Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic 
Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 
39263 (July 6, 2011), for details of the Department's electronic 
filing requirements, which went into effect on August 5, 2011. 
Information on help using ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx, and a handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf.
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Consultations

    Pursuant to section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act, the Department 
notified representatives of the GOP of the receipt of the Petition. 
Also, in accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act, the 
Department provided representatives of the GOP the opportunity for 
consultations with respect to the CVD allegations.\14\ Such 
consultations were held at the Department's main building on November 
9, 2015.\15\
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    \14\ See Letter from the Department, ``Petitions for 
Countervailing Duties on Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe 
from Pakistan,'' October 28, 2015.
    \15\ See Department Memorandum, ``Countervailing Duty Petition 
on Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from Pakistan: 
Consultations with the Government of Pakistan,'' November 9, 2015.
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(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 702(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 U.S. 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,\16\ 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.\17\
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    \16\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
    \17\ 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)).
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    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 
Petitions).
    With regard to the domestic like product, Petitioners do not offer 
a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope of 
the investigation. Based on our analysis of the information submitted 
on the record, we have determined that circular welded pipe constitutes 
a single domestic like product and we have analyzed industry support in 
terms of that domestic like product.\18\
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    \18\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis in 
this case, see Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation 
Checklist: Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from Pakistan 
(Pakistan CVD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II--Analysis of 
Industry Support (Attachment II). This checklist is dated 
concurrently with this notice and on file electronically via ACCESS. 
Access to documents filed via ACCESS is also available in the 
Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the Department's main building.
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    In determining whether Petitioners have standing under section 
702(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,'' at Appendix I of this 
notice. To establish industry support, Petitioners provided their 
shipments of the domestic like product in 2014, then compared their 
shipments to the estimated total shipments domestic like product for 
the entire domestic industry.\19\ Because total industry production 
data for the domestic like product for 2014 is not reasonably available 
and Petitioners have established that shipments are a reasonable proxy 
for production data,\20\ we have relied upon the shipment data provided 
by Petitioners for purposes of measuring industry support.\21\
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    \19\ See General Issues Supplement at 3-6, Exhibit I-13, and 
Exhibit I-14; see also Second General Issues Supplement at 1, 
Exhibits I-17 through I-19; Third General Issues Supplement at 
Exhibit I-21.
    \20\ See Petition, Volume I at 3 and Exhibit I-2; see also 
General Issues Supplement at 3-4, Exhibits I-13, and Exhibit I-14.
    \21\ For further discussion, see Pakistan CVD Initiation 
Checklist at Attachment II.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, General Issues 
Supplement, Second General Issues Supplement, Third General Issues 
Supplement, and other information readily available to the Department 
indicates that Petitioners have established industry support.\22\ 
First, the Petition establishes support from domestic producers (or 
workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of the total shipments 
\23\ of the

[[Page 73706]]

domestic like product and, as such, the Department is not required to 
take further action in order to evaluate industry support (e.g., 
polling).\24\ Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the 
statutory criteria for industry support under section 702(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 shipments of the 
domestic like product.\25\ Finally, the domestic producers (or workers) 
have met the statutory criteria for industry support under section 
702(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 
shipments of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the 
industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition.\26\ 
Accordingly, the Department determines that the Petition was filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of section 702(b)(1) 
of the Act.
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    \22\ Id.
    \23\ As mentioned above, Petitioners have established that 
shipments are a reasonable proxy for production data. Section 
351.203(e)(1) of the Department's regulations states ``production 
levels may be established by reference to alternative data that the 
Secretary determines to be indicative of production levels.''
    \24\ See section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also Pakistan CVD 
Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
    \25\ See Pakistan CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
    \26\ Id.
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    The Department finds that Petitioners filed the Petition on behalf 
of the domestic industry because they are interested parties as defined 
in section 771(9)(C) of the Act and they have demonstrated sufficient 
industry support with respect to the CVD investigation that they are 
requesting the Department initiate.\27\
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    \27\ Id.
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Injury Test

    Because Pakistan is a ``Subsidies Agreement Country,'' within the 
meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act 
applies to this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine 
whether imports of the subject merchandise from Pakistan materially 
injures, or threatens material injury to, a U.S. industry.

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    Petitioners allege that imports of the subject merchandise are 
benefitting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are 
causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry 
producing the domestic like product. Petitioners allege that subject 
imports from Pakistan exceed the negligibility threshold provided for 
under the Act.\28\ In CVD investigations, section 771(24)(B) of the Act 
provides that imports of subject merchandise must exceed a 
negligibility threshold of three percent. Section 771(24)(B) of the 
Act, however, provides that imports of subject merchandise from 
developing and least-developed countries must exceed a negligibility 
threshold of four percent.\29\ Petitioners demonstrate that subject 
imports from Pakistan, which has been designated as a least-developed 
country under section 771(36)(B) of the Act, exceed the four percent 
negligibility threshold provided for under section 771(24)(B) of the 
Act.\30\
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    \28\ See Petition, Volume I at 17-18, Exhibit I-7, and Exhibit 
I-8; see also General Issues Supplement at 8-10 and Exhibit I-11.
    \29\ See Pakistan CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment III.
    \30\ Id.
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    Petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by reduced market share, underselling and price suppression 
or depression, lost sales and revenues, reduced shipments and a plant 
closure leading to job losses, increased inventories and inventory 
overhang in the U.S. market, and decline in profitability.\31\ We have 
assessed the allegations and supporting evidence regarding material 
injury, threat of material injury, and causation, and we have 
determined that these allegations are properly supported by adequate 
evidence and meet the statutory requirements for initiation.\32\
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    \31\ See Petition, Volume I at 15-23, Exhibits I-6 through I-9; 
see also General Issues Supplement at 6-10, Exhibit I-11, Exhibit I-
13, and Exhibit I-15.
    \32\ See Pakistan CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment III.
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Initiation of CVD Investigation

    Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires the Department to initiate a 
CVD investigation whenever an interested party files a CVD petition on 
behalf of an industry that (1) alleges the elements necessary for an 
imposition of a duty under section 701(a) of the Act and (2) is 
accompanied by information reasonably available to Petitioners 
supporting the allegations.
    Petitioners allege that producers/exporters of circular welded pipe 
in Pakistan benefit from countervailable subsidies bestowed by the GOP. 
The Department examined the Petition and finds that it complies with 
the requirements of section 702(b)(1) of the Act. Therefore, in 
accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Act, we are initiating a CVD 
investigation to determine whether manufacturers, producers, and/or 
exporters of circular welded pipe from Pakistan receive countervailable 
subsidies from the GOP.
    On June 29, 2015, the President of the United States signed into 
law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, which made numerous 
amendments to the AD and CVD law.\33\ The 2015 law does not specify 
dates of application for those amendments. On August 6, 2015, the 
Department published an interpretative rule, in which it announced the 
applicability dates for each amendment to the Act, except for 
amendments contained in section 771(7) of the Act, which relate to 
determinations of material injury by the ITC.\34\ The amendments to 
sections 776 and 782 of the Act are applicable to all determinations 
made on or after August 6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to this CVD 
investigation.\35\
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    \33\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Public Law 
114-27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
    \34\ See Dates of Application of Amendments to the Antidumping 
and Countervailing Duty Laws Made by the Trade Preferences Extension 
Act of 2015, 80 FR 46793 (August 6, 2015) (Applicability Notice). 
The 2015 amendments may be found at https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1295/text/pl.
    \35\ See Applicability Notice, 80 FR at 46794-95.
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    Based on our review of the petition, we find that there is 
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on all of the 14 
alleged programs in Pakistan. For a full discussion of the basis for 
our decision to initiate on each program, see the CVD Initiation 
Checklist. A public version of the initiation checklist for this 
investigation is available on ACCESS.
    In accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary 
determination no later than 65 days after the date of this initiation.

Respondent Selection

    Petitioners named six companies as producers/exporters of circular 
welded pipe in Pakistan.\36\ Following standard practice in CVD 
investigations, the Department will, where appropriate, select 
respondents based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for 
U.S. imports of circular welded pipe during the POI under the following 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States numbers: 7306.30.1000, 
7306.30.5025, 7306.30.5032, 7306.30.5040, 7306.30.5055, 7306.30.5085, 
and 7306.30.5090. We intend to release CBP data under Administrative 
Protective Order (APO) to all parties with access to information 
protected by APO within five business days of publication of this 
Federal Register notice. Comments regarding the CBP data and respondent 
selection should be submitted seven calendar days after the placement 
of the CBP data

[[Page 73707]]

on the record of this investigation. Parties wishing to submit rebuttal 
comments should submit those comments five calendar days after the 
deadline for initial comments.
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    \36\ See Petition, Volume I at Exhibit I-4.
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    Comments must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An 
electronically-filed document must be received successfully, in its 
entirety, by ACCESS no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the date noted above. 
We intend to make our decision regarding respondent selection within 20 
days of publication of this notice. Interested parties must submit 
applications for disclosure under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.305(b). Instructions for filing such applications may be found on 
the Department's Web site at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo.

Distribution of Copies of the Petition

    In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been 
provided to the GOP via ACCESS. To the extent practicable, we will 
attempt to provide a copy of the public version of the Petition to each 
known exporter (as named in the Petition), consistent with 19 CFR 
351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

    We will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section 
702(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determinations by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date 
on which the Petition was filed, whether there is a reasonable 
indication that imports of circular welded pipe from Pakistan are 
materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S. 
industry.\37\ A negative ITC determination will result in the 
investigation being terminated.\38\ Otherwise, this investigation will 
proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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    \37\ See section 703(a)(2) of the Act.
    \38\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
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Submission of Factual Information

    Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) 
evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence 
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available 
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the 
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence 
placed on the record by the Department; and (v) evidence other than 
factual information described in (i)-(iv). 19 CFR 351.301(b) requires 
any party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which 
subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted 
and, if the information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct 
factual information already on the record, to provide an explanation 
identifying the information already on the record that the factual 
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct. Time limits for the 
submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, 
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual 
information being submitted. Parties should review the regulations 
prior to submitting factual information in this investigation.

Extension of Time Limits Regulation

    Parties may request an extension of time limits before the 
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as 
otherwise specified by the Secretary. In general, an extension request 
will be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the 
time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301 expires. For submissions 
that are due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request 
will be considered untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. on the due 
date. Under certain circumstances, we may elect to specify a different 
time limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for 
submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such 
a case, we will inform parties in the letter or memorandum setting 
forth the deadline (including a specified time) by which extension 
requests must be filed to be considered timely. An extension request 
must be made in a separate, stand-alone submission; under limited 
circumstances we will grant untimely-filed requests for the extension 
of time limits. Review Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 
57790 (September 20, 2013), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to submitting factual 
information in this investigation.

Certification Requirements

    Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding 
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\39\ 
Parties are hereby reminded that revised certification requirements are 
in effect for company/government officials, as well as their 
representatives. Investigations initiated on the basis of petitions 
filed on or after August 16, 2013, and other segments of any AD or CVD 
proceedings initiated on or after August 16, 2013, should use the 
formats for the revised certifications provided at the end of the Final 
Rule.\40\ The Department intends to reject factual submissions if the 
submitting party does not comply with the applicable revised 
certification requirements.
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    \39\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \40\ See Certification of Factual Information To Import 
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (``Final Rule''); see also 
frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule, available at 
http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
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Notification to Interested Parties

    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On January 22, 2008, the 
Department published Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Documents Submission Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 
22, 2008). Parties wishing to participate in this investigation should 
ensure that they meet the requirements of these procedures (e.g., the 
filing of letters of appearance as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)).
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and 
777(i) of the Act.

    Dated: November 17, 2015.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation

    This investigation covers welded carbon-quality steel pipes and 
tube, of circular cross-section, with an outside diameter (O.D.) not 
more than nominal 16 inches (406.4 mm), regardless of wall 
thickness, surface finish (e.g., black, galvanized, or painted), end 
finish (plain-end, beveled-end, grooved, threaded, or threaded and 
coupled), or industry specification (e.g., American Society for 
Testing and Materials International (ASTM), proprietary, or other), 
generally known as standard pipe, fence pipe and tube, sprinkler 
pipe, and structural pipe (although subject product may also be 
referred to as mechanical tubing). Specifically, the term ``carbon-
quality'' includes products in which:

(a) iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained 
elements;
(b) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by weight; and
(c) none of the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by 
weight, as indicated:

(i) 1.80 percent of manganese;
(ii) 2.25 percent of silicon;
(iii) 1.00 percent of copper;
(iv) 0.50 percent of aluminum;
(v) 1.25 percent of chromium;
(vi) 0.30 percent of cobalt;
(vii) 0.40 percent of lead;
(viii) 1.25 percent of nickel;
(ix) 0.30 percent of tungsten;

[[Page 73708]]

(x) 0.15 percent of molybdenum;
(xi) 0.10 percent of niobium;
(xii) 0.41 percent of titanium;
(xiii) 0.15 percent of vanadium; or
(xiv) 0.15 percent of zirconium.

    Covered products are generally made to standard O.D. and wall 
thickness combinations. Pipe multi-stenciled to a standard and/or 
structural specification and to other specifications, such as 
American Petroleum Institute (API) API-5L, is also covered by the 
scope of this investigation when it meets the physical description 
set forth above. Covered products may also possess one or more of 
the following characteristics: is 32 feet in length or less; is less 
than 2.0 inches (50 mm) in nominal O.D.; has a galvanized and/or 
painted (e.g., polyester coated) surface finish; or has a threaded 
and/or coupled end finish.
    Standard pipe is ordinarily made to ASTM specifications A53, 
A135, and A795, but can also be made to other specifications. 
Structural pipe is made primarily to ASTM specifications A252 and 
A500. Standard and structural pipe may also be produced to 
proprietary specifications rather than to industry specifications.
    Sprinkler pipe is designed for sprinkler fire suppression 
systems and may be made to industry specifications such as ASTM A53 
or to proprietary specifications.
    Fence tubing is included in the scope regardless of 
certification to a specification listed in the exclusions below, and 
can also be made to the ASTM A513 specification. Products that meet 
the physical description set forth above but are made to the 
following nominal outside diameter and wall thickness combinations, 
which are recognized by the industry as typical for fence tubing, 
are included despite being certified to ASTM mechanical tubing 
specifications:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Wall
                                                thickness in
           O.D. in inches  (nominal)               inches        Gage
                                                  (nominal)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.315.........................................        0.035          20
1.315.........................................        0.047          18
1.315.........................................        0.055          17
1.315.........................................        0.065          16
1.315.........................................        0.072          15
1.315.........................................        0.083          14
1.315.........................................        0.095          13
1.660.........................................        0.055          17
1.660.........................................        0.065          16
1.660.........................................        0.083          14
1.660.........................................        0.095          13
1.660.........................................        0.109          12
1.900.........................................        0.047          18
1.900.........................................        0.055          17
1.900.........................................        0.065          16
1.900.........................................        0.072          15
1.900.........................................        0.095          13
1.900.........................................        0.109          12
2.375.........................................        0.047          18
2.375.........................................        0.055          17
2.375.........................................        0.065          16
2.375.........................................        0.072          15
2.375.........................................        0.095          13
2.375.........................................        0.109          12
2.375.........................................        0.120          11
2.875.........................................        0.109          12
2.875.........................................        0.165           8
3.500.........................................        0.109          12
3.500.........................................        0.165           8
4.000.........................................        0.148           9
4.000.........................................        0.165           8
4.500.........................................        0.203           7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The scope of this investigation does not include:

(a) pipe suitable for use in boilers, superheaters, heat exchangers, 
refining furnaces and feedwater heaters, whether or not cold drawn, 
which are defined by standards such as ASTM A178 or ASTM A192;
(b) finished electrical conduit, i.e., Electrical Rigid Steel 
Conduit (also known as Electrical Rigid Metal Conduit and Electrical 
Rigid Metal Steel Conduit), Finished Electrical Metallic Tubing, and 
Electrical Intermediate Metal Conduit, which are defined by 
specifications such as American National Standard (ANSI) C80.1-2005, 
ANSI C80.3-2005, or ANSI C80.6-2005, and Underwriters Laboratories 
Inc. (UL) UL-6, UL-797, or UL-1242;
(c) finished scaffolding, i.e., component parts of final, finished 
scaffolding that enter the United States unassembled as a ``kit.'' A 
kit is understood to mean a packaged combination of component parts 
that contains, at the time of importation, all of the necessary 
component parts to fully assemble final, finished scaffolding;
(d) tube and pipe hollows for redrawing;
(e) oil country tubular goods produced to API specifications;
(f) line pipe produced to only API specifications, such as API 5L, 
and not multi-stenciled; and
(g) mechanical tubing, whether or not cold-drawn, other than what is 
included in the above paragraphs.

    The products subject to this investigation are currently 
classifiable in Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) statistical reporting numbers 7306.19.1010, 7306.19.1050, 
7306.19.5110, 7306.19.5150, 7306.30.1000, 7306.30.5015, 
7306.30.5020, 7306.30.5025, 7306.30.5032, 7306.50.5030, 
7306.30.5040, 7306.30.5055, 7306.30.5085, 7306.30.5090, 
7306.50.1000, 7306.50.5050, and 7306.50.5070. However, the product 
description, and not the HTSUS classification, is dispositive of 
whether the merchandise imported into the United States falls within 
the scope.
[FR Doc. 2015-29946 Filed 11-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P