Notice of Postponement of Preliminary Antidumping Duty Determinations: Certain Small and Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From the Czech Republic, Romania and Mexico

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-851-802, A-485-805, A-201-827]

Notice of Postponement of Preliminary Antidumping Duty

Determinations: Certain Small and Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy

Seamless Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From the Czech Republic,

Romania and Mexico

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 24, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis McClure or Magd Zalok, DAS

Group II, Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW,

Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-0984, or (202) 482-4162,

respectively.

Postponement of Preliminary Determination

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is postponing the

preliminary determinations in these antidumping duty investigations of

certain small and large diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard,

line and pressure pipe from the Czech Republic, Romania, and Mexico. As

a result of this extension, the deadline for issuing the preliminary

determinations in these investigations is now January 26, 2000.

On July 28, 1999, the Department initiated antidumping

investigations of certain small and large diameter carbon and alloy

seamless standard, line and pressure pipe from the Czech Republic,

Romania, and from Mexico. See Initiation of Antidumping Duty

Investigations: Certain Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless

Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From Japan and Mexico; and Certain

Small Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line and Pressure

Pipe From the Czech Republic, Japan, the Republic of South Africa and

Romania, 64 FR 40825. The notice stated that the Department would issue

its preliminary determinations no later than 140 days after the date of

initiation (i.e., December 7, 1999).

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(e), on November 10, 1999, the

petitioners filed requests that the Department postpone the small

diameter pipe preliminary determinations for the Czech Republic and

Romania. The petitioners' request for postponement was timely, and the

Department finds no compelling reason to deny the request.

Further, the Department has now concluded, consistent with section

733(c)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), that

the Mexican investigation of large diameter pipe is extraordinarily

complicated, and that additional time is necessary to issue the

preliminary determination, due to (a) the complexity of the issues

raised in this case, requiring the issuance of supplemental

questionnaires, and (b) the inherent difficulty of coordinating the

analysis of cross-cutting issues for several related antidumping

investigations (i.e., whether certain merchandise constitutes a

separate class or kind of merchandise). Therefore, in accordance with

section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act, the Department is postponing these

preliminary determinations until January 26, 2000.

This extension is in accordance with section 733(c) of the Act and

19 CFR 351.205(b)(2).

Dated: November 17, 1999.

Joseph A. Spetrini,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-30671 Filed 11-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P