[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 210 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64668-64669]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27809]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-475-817]


Oil Country Tubular Goods From Italy; Preliminary Results of 
Sunset Review of Countervailing Duty Order

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of preliminary results of full Sunset Review: oil 
country tubular goods from Italy.

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SUMMARY: On July 3, 2000, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated a sunset review of the countervailing duty 
order on oil country tubular goods (``OCTG'') from Italy (65 FR 41053) 
pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the 
Act''). On the basis of substantive responses filed by domestic and 
respondent interested parties, the Department determined to conduct a 
full review. As a result of this review, the Department preliminarily 
finds that revocation of the countervailing duty order would likely 
lead to continuation or recurrence of subsidies at the levels indicated 
in the Preliminary Results of Review section of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 30, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John P. Maloney, Jr. or James Maeder, 
Office of Policy for Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
1503 or (202) 482-3330, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Statute and Regulations

    This review is being conducted pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752 
of the Act. The Department's procedures for the conduct of sunset 
reviews are set forth in Procedures for Conducting Five-Year 
(``Sunset'') Reviews of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 63 
FR 13516 (March 20, 1998) (``Sunset Regulations'') and in 19 CFR part 
351 (2000) in general. Guidance on methodological or analytical issues 
relevant to the Department's conduct of sunset reviews is set forth in 
the Department's Policy Bulletin 98.3--Policies Regarding the Conduct 
of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Reviews of Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Orders; Policy Bulletin, 63 FR 18871 (April 16, 1998) (``Sunset 
Policy Bulletin'').

Background

    On July 3, 2000, the Department initiated a sunset review of the 
countervailing duty order on oil country tubular goods from Italy (65 
FR 41053), pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended, (``the Act''). The Department received a notice of intent to 
participate on behalf of U.S. Steel Group, a unit of USX Corporation, 
IPSCO Tubulars, Inc., Lone Star Steel Company, Maverick Tube 
Corporation, Newport Steel and Koppel Steel Divisions of NS Group, 
Grant-Prideco, and North Star Steel Ohio (collectively, ``domestic 
interested parties''), within the applicable deadline (July 18, 2000) 
specified in section 351.218(d)(1)(i) of the Sunset Regulations. 
Domestic interested parties claimed interested-party status under 
section 771(9)(C) of the Act, as U.S. manufacturers of the domestic 
like product. U.S. Steel Group, IPSCO Steel, Inc., Maverick Tube 
Corporation, Koppel Steel Corporation, and North Star Steel Ohio were 
petitioners in the investigation and have been involved in this 
proceeding since its inception.
    On August 1, 2000, we received a response from the European Union 
Delegation of the European Commission (``EC'') expressing its 
willingness to participate in this review as the authority responsible 
for defending the interest of the Member States of the European Union 
(``EU'') (see August 1, 2000, Response of the EC at 3). On August 1, 
2000, we received a response from the Government of Italy (``GOI'') 
expressing its willingness to participate in this review as the 
authority

[[Page 64669]]

responsible for defending the interests of the Italian steel industry. 
The GOI and EC note that they have in the past participated in this 
proceeding (see August 1, 2000, Response of the EC at 3, and the August 
1, 2000, Response of the GOI at 2).
    On August 2, 2000, we received complete substantive responses from 
domestic interested parties, within the 30-day deadline specified in 
the Sunset Regulations under section 351.218(d)(3)(i), and a complete 
substantive response from Dalmine S.p.A. (``Dalmine''), a foreign 
producer and exporter of the subject merchandise, and a respondent 
interested party under section 771(9)(A) of the Act.
    We received rebuttal comments from domestic interested parties and 
Dalmine, on August 7, 2000. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.218 (e)(2)(i), the 
Department determined to conduct a full (240-day) sunset review of this 
order.\1\
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    \1\ See August 22, 2000, Memorandum for Jeffrey A. May, Re: Oil 
Country Tubular Goods from Italy; Adequacy of Respondent Interested 
Parties' Response to the Notice of Initiation.
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Scope of Review

    The merchandise covered by this review is OCTG, hollow steel 
products of circular cross-section, including only oil well casing and 
tubing pipe, of iron (other than cast iron) or steel (both carbon and 
alloy), whether seamless or welded, whether or not conforming to 
American Petroleum Institute (API) or non-API specifications, whether 
finished or unfinished (including green tubes and limited service OCTG 
products). This scope does not cover casing or tubing pipe containing 
10.5 percent or more of chromium, or drill pipe. The OCTG subject to 
this order are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers: 7304.20.10.10, 
7304.20.10.20, 7304.20.10.30, 7304.20.10.40, 7304.20.10.50, 
7304.20.10.60, 7304.20.10.80, 7304.20.20.10, 7304.20.20.20, 
7304.20.20.30, 7304.20.20.40, 7304.20.20.50, 7304.20.20.60, 
7304.20.20.80, 7304.20.30.10, 7304.20.30.20, 7304.20.30.30, 
7304.20.30.40, 7304.20.30.50, 7304.20.30.60, 7304.20.30.80, 
7304.20.40.10, 7304.20.40.20, 7304.20.40.30, 7304.20.40.40, 
7304.20.40.50, 7304.20.40.60, 7304.20.40.80, 7304.20.50.15, 
7304.20.50.30, 7304.20.50.45, 7304.20.50.60, 7304.20.50.75, 
7304.20.60.15, 7304.20.60.30, 7304.20.60.45, 7304.20.60.60, 
7304.20.60.75, 7305.20.20.00, 7305.20.40.00, 7305.20.60.00, 
7305.20.80.00, 7306.20.10.30, 7306.20.10.90, 7306.20.20.00, 
7306.20.30.00, 7306.20.40.00, 7306.20.60.10, 7306.20.60.50, 
7306.20.80.10, and 7306.20.80.50. Although the HTSUS subheadings are 
provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description 
of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in the substantive responses and rebuttals by 
parties to this sunset review are addressed in the ``Issues and 
Decision Memorandum'' (``Decision Memo'') from Jeffrey A. May, 
Director, Office of Policy, Import Administration, to Troy H. Cribb, 
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, dated October 23, 
2000, which is hereby adopted by this notice. The issues discussed in 
the attached Decision Memo include the likelihood of continuation or 
recurrence of countervailable subsidies and the net subsidy likely to 
prevail were the order revoked. Parties can find a complete discussion 
of all issues raised in this review and the corresponding 
recommendations in this public memorandum which is on file in the 
Central Records Unit, room B-099, of the main Commerce building.
    In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memo can be 
accessed directly on the Web at www.ia.ita.doc.gov/frn, under the 
heading ``Italy.'' The paper copy and electronic version of the 
Decision Memo are identical in content.

Preliminary Results of Review

    We preliminarily determine that revocation of the countervailing 
duty order on oil country tubular goods from Italy would be likely to 
lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the 
rate listed below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Net
                                                         countervailable
                  Producers/exporters                        subsidy
                                                            (percent)
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All Producers/exporters from Italy.....................           1.47
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    Any interested party may request a hearing within 30 days of 
publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.310(c). Any 
hearing, if requested, will be held on December 18, 2000, in accordance 
with 19 CFR 351.310(d). Interested parties may submit case briefs no 
later than December 11, 2000, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.309(c)(1)(i). Rebuttal briefs, which must be limited to issues 
raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than December 15, 
2000. The Department will issue a notice of final results of this 
sunset review, which will include the results of its analysis of issues 
raised in any such briefs, no later than February 28, 2001.
    This five-year (``sunset'') review and notice are in accordance 
with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: October 23, 2000.
Troy H. Cribb,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-27809 Filed 10-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P