MESSAGE NO: 3301111 DATE: 10/27/1992

CATEGORY: ADA TYPE: PRE

REFERENCE: REFERENCE DATE:

CASES: A-580-813

PERIOD COVERED: 10/21/1992

LIQ SUSPENSION DATE:

TO: REGIONAL DIRECTORS, COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS, DISTRICT DIRECTORS, AREA
AND PORT DIRECTORS

FROM: DIRECTOR, IMPORT SPECIALIST DIVISION

RE: PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION IN THE ANTIDUMPING DUTY, INVESTIGATION OF
WELDED STAINLESS STEEL BUTT-WELD PIPE, FITTINGS FROM KOREA (102192 IS
FED REG PUBLICATI0N DATE)

1\. THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ON
OCTOBER 21, 1992, NOTICE OF ITS PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION THAT CERTAIN
WELDED STAINLESS STEEL BUTT-WELD PIPE FITTINGS FROM KOREA ARE SOLD IN
THE UNITED STATES AT LESS THAN FAIR VALUE.

2\. THE PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO THIS INVESTIGATION ARE CERTAIN WELDED
STAINLESS STEEL BUTT-WELD PIPE FITTINGS (\"PIPE FITTINGS\"), WHETHER
FINISHED OR UNFINISHED, UNDER 14 INCHES INSIDE DIAMETER. PIPE FITTINGS
ARE USED TO CONNECT PIPE SECTIONS IN PIPING SYSTEMS WHERE CONDITIONS
REQUIRE WELDED CONNECTIONS. THE SUBJECT MERCHANDISE CAN BE USED WHERE
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS IS A FACTOR IN DESIGNING THE
PIPING SYSTEM: (1 ) CORROSION OF THE PIPING SYSTEM WILL OCCUR IF
MATERIAL OTHER THAN STAINLESS STEEL IS USED; (2) CONTAMINATION OF THE
MATERIAL IN THE SYSTEM BY THE SYSTEM ITSELF MUST BE PREVENTED; (3) HIGH
TEMPERATURES ARE PRESENT; (4) EXTREME LOW TEMPERATURES ARE PRESENT; (5)
HIGH PRESSURES ARE CONTAINED WITH THE SYSTEM.

PIPE FITTINGS COME IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES, AND THE FOLLOWING FIVE ARE
THE MOST BASIC: \"ELBOWS\", \"TREES\", \"REDUCERS\", \"STUB ENDS\", AND
\"CAPS\". THE EDGES OF FINISHED FITTINGS ARE BEVELED. THREADED, GROOVED,
AND BOLTED FITTINGS ARE EXCLUDED FROM THESE INVESTIGATIONS. THE PIPE
FITTINGS SUBJECT TO THIS INVESTIGATION ARE CLASSIFIABLE UNDER SUBHEADING
7307.23.00 OF THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES
(HTSUS).

ALTHOUGH THE HTSUS SUBHEADING IS PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE AND CUSTOMS
PURPOSES, OUR WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE OF THIS PROCEEDING IS
DISPOSITIVE.

3\. FOR FURTHER REPORTING PURPOSES, THIS CASE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED THE
FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION NUMBERS: A-580-813.

4\. THE DEPARTMENT HAS PRELIMINARILY DETERMINED THAT CRITICAL
CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST WITH RESPECT TO EXPORTS OF CERTAIN WELDED STAINLESS
STEEL BUTT-WELD PIPE FITTINGS MADE BY ALL EXPORTERS FROM KOREA.
THEREFORE, FOR ALL EXPORTS OF CERTAIN WELDED STAINLESS STEEL BUTT-WELD
PIPE FITTINGS FROM KOREA THE CUSTOMS SERVICE SHALL SUSPEND LIQUIDATION
OF SUCH MERCHANDISE THAT IS ENTERED, OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE. FOR
CONSUMPTION ON OR AFTER JULY 23, 1992, WHICH IS 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER, AND SHALL REQUIRE A CASH DEPOSIT OR POSTING OF A BOND EQUAL TO
THE APPROPRIATE ESTIMATED PRELIMINARY MARGIN PERCENTAGE LISTED BELOW.

MANUFACTURER/PRODUCER/ IDENTIFICATION WEIGHTED-AVERAGE EXPORTER NUMBER
MARGIN PERCENTGAGE

KOREA

ASIA BEND COMPANY, LTD. A-580-813-001 21.20%

ALL OTHERS A-580-813-000 21.20%

6\. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER BY CUSTOMS
OFFICERS, THEY SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE IMPORT SPECIALIST DIVISION,
OTHER AGENCY BRANCH, BY E-MAIL ATTRIBUTE \"HQ OAB.\" THE IMPORTING
PUBLIC AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD CONTACT JOHN GLONINGER OF THE
OFFICE OF ANTIDUMPING INVESTIGATIONS, IMPORT ADMINISTRATION,
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
TELEPHONE (202) 482-2778.

THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.

NANCY MCTIERNAN