Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Carbon Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-351-602, A-570-814, A-588-602, A-583-605, A-549-807]

Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Carbon Steel

Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of continuation of antidumping duty orders: Certain

carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings from Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan,

and Thailand.

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SUMMARY: On December 3, 1999, the Department of Commerce (``the

Department''), pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752 of the Tariff Act of

1930, as amended (``the Act''), determined that revocation of the

antidumping duty orders on certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings

from Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand are likely to lead to

continuation or recurrence of dumping (64 FR 67847). On December 22,

1999, the International Trade Commission (``the Commission''), pursuant

to section 751(c) of the Act, determined that revocation of the

antidumping duty orders on certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings

from Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand would be likely to lead

to continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the

United States within a reasonably foreseeable time (64 FR 71830).

Therefore, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.218(e)(4), the Department is

publishing notice of the continuation of the antidumping duty orders on

certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings from Brazil, China, Japan,

Taiwan, and Thailand.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 6, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark D. Young or Melissa G. Skinner,

Office of Policy for Import Administration, International Trade

Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and

Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6397

or (202) 482-1560, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 3, 1999, the Department initiated, and the Commission

instituted, sunset reviews (64 FR 23596 and 64 FR 23672, respectively)

of the antidumping duty orders on certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe

fittings from Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand pursuant to

section 751(c) of the Act. As a result of its reviews, the Department

found that revocation of the antidumping duty orders would likely lead

to continuation or recurrence of dumping and notified the Commission of

the magnitude of the margins likely to prevail were the orders to be

revoked (see Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review: Certain Carbon

Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and

Thailand, 64 FR 67847 (December 3, 1999)).

On December 22, 1999, the Commission determined, pursuant to

section 751(c) of the Act, that revocation of the antidumping duty

orders on certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings from Brazil,

China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand would be likely to lead to

continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the

United States within a reasonably foreseeable time (see Certain Carbon

Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and

Thailand, 64 FR 71830 (December 22, 1999) and USITC Pub. 3263,

Investigations Nos. 731-TA-308-310 and 520-521 (Review) (December

1999)).

Scope

The products covered by these reviews are pipe fittings from

Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. Pipe fittings from Brazil,

Taiwan, and Japan are defined as carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings,

other than couplings, under 14 inches in diameter, whether finished or

unfinished form, that have been formed in the shape of elbows, tees,

reducer, caps, etc., and, if forged, have been advanced after forging.

These advancements may include any one or more of the following:

coining, heat treatment, shot blasting, grinding, die stamping or

painting. Such merchandise was classifiable under Tariff Schedules of

the United States Annotated (``TSUSA'') item number 610.8800. These

imports are currently classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule

of the United States (``HTSUS'') item number 7307.93.30.

Pipe fittings from Thailand and China are defined as carbon steel

butt-weld pipe fittings, having an inside diameter of less than 14

inches, imported in either finished or unfinished form. These formed or

forged pipe fittings are used to join section in piping systems where

conditions require permanent, welded connections, as distinguished from

fittings based on other fastening methods (e.g., threaded grooved, or

bolted fittings). These imports are currently classifiable under the

HTSUS item number 7307.93.30. The TSUSA and HTSUS subheadings are

provided for convenience and United States Customs purposes. The

written description remains dispositive as to the scope of the product

coverage for each of the orders.

These reviews cover imports from all manufacturers and exporters of

pipe fittings from Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Determination

As a result of the determinations by the Department and the

Commission that revocation of these antidumping duty orders would be

likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material

injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to section

751(d)(2) of the Act, the Department hereby orders the continuation of

the antidumping duty orders on certain carbon steel butt-weld pipe

fittings from Brazil, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. The

Department will instruct the U.S. Customs Service to continue to

collect antidumping duty deposits at the rate in effect at the time of

entry for all imports of subject merchandise. The effective date of

continuation of these orders will be the date of publication in the

Federal Register of this Notice of Continuation. Pursuant to sections

751(c)(2) and 751(c)(6) of the Act, the Department intends to initiate

the next five-year review of these orders not later than December 2004.

Dated: December 29, 1999.

Holly Kuga,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 00-288 Filed 1-5-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P