[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 10, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8891-8894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-02749]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-821-826]


Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe 
From the Russian Federation: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of 
Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and 
Extension of Provisional Measures

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe 
(seamless pipe) from the Russian Federation (Russia) is being, or is 
likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). 
The period of investigation is July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. 
Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary 
determination.

DATES: Applicable February 10, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caitlin Monks, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2670.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
733(b)

[[Page 8892]]

of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the 
notice of initiation of this investigation on August 4, 2020.\1\ On 
November 19, 2020, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of 
this investigation, and the revised deadline is now February 3, 
2021.\2\ For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically 
via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to 
registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete 
version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly 
at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and the electronic 
versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in 
content.
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    \1\ See Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and 
Pressure Pipe from the Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, the 
Russian Federation, and Ukraine: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair Value 
Investigations, 85 FR 47176 (August 4, 2020) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and 
Pressure Pipe from the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, 
and Ukraine: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-
Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 85 FR 73687 (November 19, 2020).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation 
of Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe 
from Russia,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this 
notice.
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Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are seamless pipe from 
Russia. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations, the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\4\ Certain interested 
parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in 
the Initiation Notice.\5\ For a summary of the product coverage 
comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this 
investigation, and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments 
timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\6\ 
Commerce is preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared 
in the Initiation Notice. See the revised scope in Appendix I to this 
notice.
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    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice.
    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Investigations of Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, 
and Pressure Pipe from the Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, 
the Russian Federation, and Ukraine: Preliminary Scope Decision 
Memorandum,'' dated January 13, 2021 (Preliminary Scope Decision 
Memorandum).
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    The deadline to submit scope case briefs was established in the 
Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\7\ There will be no further 
opportunity for comments on scope-related issues.
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    \7\ Case briefs, other written comments, and rebuttal briefs 
submitted in response to this preliminary LTFV determination should 
not include scope-related issues. See Preliminary Scope Decision 
Memorandum; and ``Public Comment'' section of this notice.
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in 
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value is calculated 
in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of 
the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Section 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act provides that in the 
preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-
others rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. 
Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, this rate shall be an 
amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average 
dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually 
investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins, and any 
margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act.
    Commerce calculated an individual estimated weighted-average 
dumping margin for PAO TMK and Volzhsky Pipe Plant (collectively, TMK), 
the only individually examined exporter/producer in this investigation. 
Because the only individually calculated dumping margin is not zero, de 
minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available, the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin calculated for TMK is the dumping 
margin assigned to all other producers and exporters, pursuant to 
section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Estimated
                                                              weighted-
                                                               average
                     Exporter/producer                         dumping
                                                                margin
                                                              (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAO TMK/Volzhsky Pipe Plant Joint Stock Company \8\........       209.72
All Others.................................................       209.72
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suspension of Liquidation
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    \8\ Commerce has preliminarily determined that the following 
affiliated companies constitute a single entity: PAO TMK, Volzhsky 
Pipe Plant Joint Stock Company, Taganrog Metallurgical Plant Joint 
Stock Company, Sinarsky Pipe Plant Joint Stock Company, and Seversky 
Pipe Plant Joint Stock Company. See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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    In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will 
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation 
of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal 
to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-
others rate, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents 
listed in the table above will be equal to the company-specific 
estimated weighted-average dumping margins determined in this 
preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent 
identified in the table above, but the producer is, then the cash 
deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-
average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject 
merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and 
exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average 
dumping margin. These suspension of liquidation instructions will 
remain in effect until further notice.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis 
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination 
within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public 
announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this 
notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

[[Page 8893]]

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to 
verify the information relied upon in making its final determination. 
Normally, Commerce verifies information using standard procedures, 
including an on-site examination of original accounting, financial, and 
sales documentation. However, due to current travel restrictions in 
response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Commerce is unable to conduct 
on-site verification in this investigation. Accordingly, we intend to 
verify the information relied upon in making the final determination 
through alternative means in lieu of an on-site verification.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments on non-scope issues may be 
submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. 
Interested parties will be notified of a timeline for the submission of 
such case briefs and written comments at a later date. Rebuttal briefs, 
limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be submitted no later 
than seven days after the deadline for case briefs. Commerce has 
temporarily modified certain of its requirements for serving documents 
containing business proprietary information until further notice.\9\ 
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), parties who submit case 
briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation are encouraged to 
submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief 
summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities.
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    \9\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due 
to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 10, 
2020).
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    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal 
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days 
after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain 
the party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of hearing 
participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list 
of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, 
Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be 
determined. Parties should confirm the date and time of the hearing two 
days before the scheduled hearing date.

Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an 
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement 
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of 
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative 
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by 
the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations 
requires that a request by the exporters for postponement of the final 
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional 
measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months 
in duration.
    On January 5, 2021, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), TMK requested 
that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional 
measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months.\10\ In 
accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) The preliminary determination is 
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporters account for a significant 
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling 
reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final 
determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month 
period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce 
will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date 
of publication of this preliminary determination, pursuant to section 
735(a)(2) of the Act.
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    \10\ See TMK's Letter, ``Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel 
Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe (``SSLP Pipe'') from Russia: 
Request to Postpone the Final Determination,'' dated January 5, 
2021.
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International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary 
determination. If the final determination is affirmative, then the ITC 
will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this 
preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination 
whether imports of seamless pipe from Russia are materially injuring, 
or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

    Dated: February 3, 2021.
James Maeder,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by the scope of this investigation is 
seamless carbon and alloy steel (other than stainless steel) pipes 
and redraw hollows, less than or equal to 16 inches (406.4 mm) in 
nominal 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-589, ASTM A-795, ASTM A-1024, and the API 51 
specifications, or comparable specifications, and meeting the 
physical parameters described above, regardless of application, with 
the exception of the exclusions discussed below.
    Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigation are: 
(1) All pipes meeting aerospace, hydraulic, and bearing tubing 
specifications, including pipe produced to the ASTM A-822 standard; 
(2) all pipes meeting the chemical requirements of ASTM A-335, 
whether finished or unfinished; and (3) unattached couplings. Also 
excluded from the scope of the investigation are (1) all mechanical, 
boiler, condenser and heat exchange tubing, except when such 
products conform to the dimensional requirements, i.e., outside 
diameter and wall thickness, of ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106 or API 51 
specifications. Also excluded from the scope of the investigation 
are: (1) Oil country tubular goods consisting of drill pipe, casing, 
tubing and coupling stock; (2) all pipes meeting the chemical 
requirements of ASTM A-335 regardless of their conformity to the 
dimensional requirements of ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106 or API 5L; and (3) 
the exclusion for ASTM A-335 applies to pipes meeting the comparable 
specifications GOST 550-75.
    Subject seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe are normally 
entered under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) subheadings 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,

[[Page 8894]]

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. The HTSUS subheadings 
and specifications are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Scope of Investigation
V. Affiliation
VI. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inferences
VII. Discussion of the Methodology
VIII. Currency Conversion
IX. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2021-02749 Filed 2-9-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P