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 Department of Commerce International Trade Administration [A-580-897]
 AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
 SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that large diameter welded pipe (welded pipe) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
 DATES: Applicable August 27, 2018.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sergio Balbontin, or Jesus Saenz, 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) 482-6478 or (202) 482-8184, respectively.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on February 20, 2018.[1]
                    
                     On June 8, 2018, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now August 20, 2018.[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,*
                     and to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at 
                    *http://enforcement.trade.gov/​frn/​*. The signed and electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content. Scope of the Investigation The product covered by this investigation is welded pipe from Korea. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
                    *see*
                     Appendix I to this notice. Scope Comments In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,[4]
                    
                     the 
                    *Initiation Notice*
                     set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (
                    *i.e.,*
                     scope).[5]
                    
                     Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the 
                    *Initiation Notice*. 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. 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. Constructed export prices have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Normal value is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. Furthermore, pursuant to section 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied 
                    ( print page 43652)
                    upon facts otherwise available, with adverse inferences, for Samkang M&T Co., Ltd (SKMT) for its failure to cooperate in this investigation. For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, 
                    *see*
                     the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. All-Others Rate Sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. 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. In this investigation, Commerce calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margins for SeAH Steel Corporation (SeAH) and Hyundai RB Co., Ltd. (Hyundai RB) that are not zero, 
                    *de minimis,*
                     or based entirely on facts otherwise available. Commerce calculated the all-others' rate as the weighted-average of these margins, using the respondents' publicly-ranged sales data.[7] Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margins exist: Exporter/producer
Estimated
                             weighted- 
                             average 
                             dumping 
                             margin 
                             (percent)Hyundai RB Co., Ltd
14.97SeAH Steel Corporation
22.21Samkang M&T Co., Ltd
22.21All-Others
20.13
 Suspension of Liquidation 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 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 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. Commerce normally adjusts cash deposits for estimated antidumping duties by the amount of export subsidies countervailed in a companion countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding, when CVD provisional measures are in effect. Accordingly, in cases where Commerce preliminarily makes an affirmative determination for countervailable export subsidies, Commerce offsets the estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the appropriate CVD rate. However, we made no adjustment to the weighted-average dumping margin for cash deposit purposes in this case because we found no measurable export subsidies in the companion CVD proceeding. Disclosure Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis to interested parties in this preliminary determination within five days of its 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). Verification As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to verify the information relied upon in making its final determination. Public Comment Case briefs or other written comments regarding non-scope issues may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.[8]
                    
                     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. Additionally, case briefs regarding scope issues may be submitted within 10 days after the date of this notice in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    . Rebuttal briefs regarding scope issues, limited to those issues in the scope case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for scope case briefs. All scope case and rebuttal briefs must be filed identically on the records of this investigation and the concurrent LTFV and CVD investigations of welded pipe. 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 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 the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time and date to be determined. Parties should confirm the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
                    ( print page 43653) 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. The final determination may be postponed if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, exporters, who account for a significant proportion of exports of subject merchandise, request a postponement, or, in the event of a negative preliminary determination, petitioners request a postponement. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations requires that a request by 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 August 1 and 3, 2015, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), Hyundai RB and SeAH, respectively, requested that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months.[9]
                    
                     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. 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, 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 these imports 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: August 20, 2018. Gary Taverman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
 Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by this investigation is welded carbon and alloy steel pipe (including stainless steel pipe), more than 406.4 mm (16 inches) in nominal outside diameter (large diameter welded pipe), regardless of wall thickness, length, surface finish, grade, end finish, or stenciling. Large diameter welded pipe may be used to transport oil, gas, slurry, steam, or other fluids, liquids, or gases. It may also be used for structural purposes, including, but not limited to, piling. Specifically, not included is large diameter welded pipe produced only to specifications of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) for water and sewage pipe. Large diameter welded pipe used to transport oil, gas, or natural gas liquids is normally produced to the American Petroleum Institute (API) specification 5L. Large diameter welded pipe may also be produced to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards A500, A252, or A53, or other relevant domestic specifications, grades and/or standards. Large diameter welded pipe can be produced to comparable foreign specifications, grades and/or standards or to proprietary specifications, grades and/or standards, or can be non-graded material. All pipe meeting the physical description set forth above is covered by the scope of this investigation, whether or not produced according to a particular standard. Subject merchandise also includes large diameter welded pipe that has been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to coating, painting, notching, beveling, cutting, punching, welding, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope large diameter welded pipe. Excluded from the scope are any products covered by the existing antidumping duty order on welded line pipe from the Republic of Korea. 
                        *See Welded Line Pipe from the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Turkey: Antidumping Duty Orders,*80 FR 75056 (December 1, 2015). Also excluded from the scope are any products covered by the existing antidumping order on welded ASTM A-312 stainless steel pipe from Korea. 
                        *See Welded ASTM A-312 Stainless Steel Pipe from South Korea: Antidumping Duty Order,*57 FR 62300 (December 30, 1992). The large diameter welded pipe that is subject to this investigation is currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 7305.11.1030, 7305.11.1060, 7305.11.5000, 7305.12.1030, 7305.12.1060, 7305.12.5000, 7305.19.1030, 7305.19.1060, 7305.19.5000, 7305.31.4000, 7305.31.6010, 7305.31.6090, 7305.39.1000 and 7305.39.5000. While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Period of Investigation IV. Scope Comments V. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inferences A. Application of Facts Available B. Use of Adverse Inference C. Preliminary Estimated Weighted-Average Dumping Margins Based on AFA D. Selection and Corroboration of the AFA Rate VI. Discussion of the Methodology A. Comparisons to Fair Value B. Determination of Comparison Method C. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis VII. Date of Sale VIII. Product Comparisons IX. Export Price and Constructed Export Price X. Normal Value A. Particular Market Situation 1. Petitioners' Allegation 2. Analysis B. Home Market Viability and Selection of Comparison Market C. Affiliated-Party Transactions and Arm's-Length Test D. Affiliation E. Level of Trade F. Cost of Production Analysis 1. Calculation of COP 2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices 3. Results of the COP Test G. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison Market Prices XI. Currency Conversion XII. Conclusion


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         
                        *See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from Canada, Greece, India, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations,*83 FR 7154 (February 20, 2018) (
                        *Initiation Notice*). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         
                        *See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from Canada, Greece, India, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Turkey: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations,*83 FR 27953 (June 15, 2018). Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Large Diameter Welded Pipe from the Republic of Korea” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         
                        *See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,*62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997). Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         
                        *See Initiation Notic*
                        e. Back to Citation
 6.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Large Diameter Welded Pipe from Canada, Greece, India, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Turkey: Scope Comments Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determinations,” dated June 19, 2018 (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum). Back to Citation
 7.
    
                         With two respondents under examination, Commerce normally calculates (A) a weighted-average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents; and (C) a weighted-average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged U.S. sales values for the merchandise under consideration. Commerce then compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all other producers and exporters. 
                        *See Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, Final Results of Changed-Circumstances Review, and Revocation of an Order in Part,*75 FR 53661, 53663 (September 1, 2010). As a result of this comparison, Commerce based the all-others rate on the weighted-average of the preliminary dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents using the publicly-ranged sales data. For a complete analysis of the data, 
                        *see*
                         the All-Others' Rate Calculation Memorandum, dated August 20, 2018. Back to Citation
 8.
    
                         
                        *See*19 CFR 351.309(d)(1) and (2); 
                        *see also*19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). Back to Citation
 9.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Hyundai RB's Letter, “Large Diameter Welded Pipe from the Republic of Korea: Request to Extend the Deadline for the Final Determination,” dated August 1, 2018; and SeAH's Letter, “Antidumping Duty Investigation of Large Diameter Welded Pipe from Korea—Request for Extension of Final Determination,” dated August 3, 2018. Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2018-18486 Filed 8-24-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P