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###### Department of Commerce

###### International Trade Administration 

          - [A-357-809] 

# AGENCY: 

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. 

# SUMMARY: 

On September 29, 2006, the U.S. Department of Commerce (“the Department”) published a notice of initiation of an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on small diameter seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line and pressure pipe (“seamless line and pressure pipe”) from Argentina. The review covers one manufacturer/exporter, Siderca S.A.I.C. (“Siderca”). The period of review (“POR”) is August 1, 2005, through July 31, 2006. Following the receipt of a certification of no shipments by Siderca, we notified the domestic interested party of the Department's intent to rescind this review and provided an opportunity to comment on the rescission. We received no comments. Therefore, we are rescinding this administrative review. 

# EFFECTIVE DATE: 

March 9, 2007. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Helen Kramer or Angelica Mendoza, AD/CVD Operations, Office 7, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0405 and (202) 482-3019, respectively. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

## Background 

                    On August 1, 2006, the Department published a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on seamless line and pressure pipe from Argentina for the period August 1, 2005, through July 31, 2006.                     *See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request Administrative Review*, 71 FR 43441 (August 1, 2006). On August 31, 2006, United States Steel Corporation (“U.S. Steel”), a domestic producer of the subject merchandise, made a timely request that the Department conduct an administrative review of Siderca. On September 29, 2006, in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”), the Department published in the                     **Federal Register**                     a notice of initiation of this antidumping duty administrative review.                     *See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews*, 71 FR 57465 (September 29, 2006). On October 4, 2006, the Department issued its antidumping duty questionnaire to Siderca. On October 18, 2006, Siderca submitted a letter to the Department, certifying that the company made no shipments or entries for consumption in the United States of the subject merchandise during the POR. Siderca also certified that the company's U.S. affiliate, Tenaris Global Services U.S.A. Corporation, also did not sell, enter, or import subject merchandise for consumption into the United States during the POR.                 

## Scope of the Order 

                    The antidumping duty order on imports from Argentina covers small diameter seamless carbon and alloy standard, line, and pressure pipes (“seamless pipes”) produced to the American Standard for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) standards A-335, A-106, A-53, and American Petroleum Institute (“API”) standard API 5L specifications and meeting the physical parameters described below, regardless of application. The scope of this order also includes all products used in standard, line, or pressure pipe applications and meeting the physical                           ( print page 10708)                        parameters described below, regardless of specification. For purposes of this order, seamless pipes are seamless carbon and alloy (other than stainless) steel pipes, of circular cross-section, not more than 114.3 mm (4.5 inches) in outside diameter, regardless of wall thickness, manufacturing process (hot-finished or cold-drawn), end finish (plain end, beveled end, upset end, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or surface finish. These pipes are commonly known as standard pipe, line pipe, or pressure pipe, depending upon the application. They may also be used in structural applications. Pipes produced in non-standard wall thicknesses are commonly referred to as tubes. The seamless pipes subject to this order are currently classifiable under subheadings 7304.10.10.20, 7304.10.50.20, 7304.31.60.50, 7304.39.00.16, 7304.39.00.20, 7304.39.00.24, 7304.39.00.28, 7304.39.00.32, 7304.51.50.05, 7304.51.50.60, 7304.59.60.00, 7304.59.80.10, 7304.59.80.15, 7304.59.80.20, and 7304.59.80.25 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”).                 

### Specifications, Characteristics and Uses 

The following information further defines the scope of this order, which covers pipes meeting the physical parameters described above. 

Seamless pressure pipes are intended for the conveyance of water, steam, petrochemicals, chemicals, oil products, natural gas and other liquids and gasses in industrial piping systems. They may carry these substances at elevated pressures and temperatures and may be subject to the application of external heat. Seamless carbon steel pressure pipe meeting the ASTM standard A-106 may be used in temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, at various American Society of Mechanical Engineers (“ASME”) code stress levels. Alloy pipes made to ASTM standard A-335 must be used if temperatures and stress levels exceed those allowed for A-106 and the ASME codes. Seamless pressure pipes sold in the United States are commonly produced to the ASTM A-106 standard. 

Seamless standard pipes are most commonly produced to the ASTM A-53 specification and generally are not intended for high temperature service. They are intended for the low temperature and pressure conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air and other liquids and gasses in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, automatic sprinkler systems, and other related uses. Standard pipes (depending on type and code) may carry liquids at elevated temperatures but must not exceed relevant ASME code requirements. Seamless line pipes are intended for the conveyance of oil and natural gas or other fluids in pipelines. Seamless line pipes are produced to the API 5L specification. Seamless pipes are commonly produced and certified to meet ASTM A-106, ASTM A-53 and API 5L specifications. Such triple certification of pipes is common because all pipes meeting the stringent A-106 specification necessarily meet the API 5L and ASTM A-53 specifications. Pipes meeting the API 5L specification necessarily meet the ASTM A-53 specification. However, pipes meeting the A-53 or API 5L specifications do not necessarily meet the A-106 specification. To avoid maintaining separate production runs and separate inventories, manufacturers triple- certify the pipes. Since distributors sell the vast majority of this product, they can thereby maintain a single inventory to service all customers. The primary application of ASTM A-106 pressure pipes and triple certified pipes is in pressure piping systems by refineries, petrochemical plants and chemical plants. Other applications are in power generation plants (electrical-fossil fuel or nuclear), and in some oil field uses (on shore and offshore), such as for separator lines, gathering lines and metering runs. A minor application of this product is for use as oil and gas distribution lines for commercial applications. These applications constitute the majority of the market for the subject seamless pipes. However, A-106 pipes may be used in some boiler applications. 

The scope of this order includes all seamless pipe meeting the physical parameters described above and produced to one of the specifications listed above, regardless of application, and whether or not also certified to a non-covered specification. Standard, line and pressure applications and the above-listed specifications are defining characteristics of the scope of this order. Therefore, seamless pipes meeting the physical description above, but not produced to the A-335, A-106, A-53, or API 5L standards shall be covered if used in a standard, line or pressure application. For example, there are certain other ASTM specifications of pipe that, because of overlapping characteristics, could potentially be used in A-106 applications. These specifications generally include A-162, A-192, A-210, A-333, and A-524. When such pipes are used in a standard, line or pressure pipe application, such products are covered by the scope of this order. 

Specifically excluded from the scope of this order are boiler tubing and mechanical tubing, if such products are not produced to A-335, A-106, A-53 or API 5L specifications and are not used in standard, line or pressure applications. In addition, finished and unfinished OCTG are excluded from this order, if covered by the scope of another antidumping duty order from the same country. If not covered by such an OCTG order, finished and unfinished OCTG are included in this order when used in standard, line or pressure applications. Finally, also excluded from this order are redraw hollows for cold-drawing when used in the production of cold-drawn pipe or tube. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this order is dispositive. 

## Rescission of the Administrative Review 

                    As noted above, on October 18, 2006, Siderca submitted a letter to the Department indicating that it did not make any shipments or entries of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR. In response to the Department's query to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), CBP confirmed that a small quantity of subject merchandise was entered for consumption into the United States during the POR from a third country. On February 8, 2007, the Department placed on the record of this review copies of the entry documents in question. On the basis of these documents, the Department concluded that Siderca could not have known that the merchandise exported to a third country would be re-exported to the United States. On February 20, 2007, the Department notified counsel for U.S. Steel of its intent to rescind this administrative review and requested comments on the intended rescission. Counsel notified the Department on the following day that they would not comment and had no objection to rescission.                     *See*                     Memorandum to the File from Helen M. Kramer, Case Analyst, dated February 22, 2007.                 

                    Based upon Siderca's certification and the evidence on the record, we are satisfied that Siderca had no shipments of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3), the Department may rescind an administrative review, in whole or with respect to a particular exporter or producer, if the Secretary concludes that, during the period covered by the review, there were no                           ( print page 10709)                        entries, exports, or sales of the subject merchandise. Therefore, the Department is rescinding this review in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3).                 

                    Although Siderca did not have any sales or exports of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR, its subject merchandise entered the United States during the POR under its antidumping case number, without its knowledge, by way of intermediaries. The Department will instruct CBP 15 days after the publication of this notice to liquidate such entries at the “All Others” rate in effect on the date of the entry.                     *See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties*, 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003).                 

We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with section 751(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4). 

Dated: March 5, 2007. 

Stephen J. Claeys, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. 

[FR Doc. E7-4289 Filed 3-8-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S