Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Commerce

###### International Trade Administration

          - A-201-805

# AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

# SUMMARY:

                         On October 27, 2008, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the                         **Federal Register**                         a notice of initiation of a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on certain circular welded non-alloy steel pipe and tube (standard pipe and tube) from Mexico in order to determine whether Ternium Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Ternium) is the successor-in-interest to Hylsa S.A. de C.V. (Hylsa) for purposes of determining antidumping duty liability.                         *See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review: Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe and Tube*, 73 FR 63682 (October 27, 2008) (                        *Notice of Initiation*). We have preliminarily determined that Ternium is the successor-in-interest to Hylsa for purposes of determining antidumping duty liability in this proceeding. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.                    

# EFFECTIVE DATE:

June 18, 2009. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Drury or Brian Davis, 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) 482-0195 or (202) 482-7924, respectively.

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Background

                    The Department published an antidumping duty order on standard pipe and tube from Mexico on November 2, 1992.                     *See Notice of Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Brazil, the Republic of Korea (Korea), Mexico, and Venezuela, and Amendment to Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Korea*, 57 FR 49453 (November 2, 1992).                

                    On September 3, 2008, Ternium filed a request for a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on standard pipe and tube from Mexico (Initial Submission) claiming that Hylsa, a Mexican producer of standard pipe and tube, changed its name to Ternium. Ternium requested that the Department determine whether it is the successor-in-interest to Hylsa, in accordance with section 751(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.216. In its request, Ternium indicated that effective April 1, 2008, the production and sales operations of Hylsa were transferred to Ternium (the transfer).1                     In response to this request the Department initiated a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on standard pipe and tube from Mexico.                     *See Notice of Initiation*.                

                    On September 17, 2008, Allied Tube and Conduit (petitioner) filed a response to Ternium's Initial Submission and on September 29, 2008, Ternium responded to petitioner's September 17, 2008, filing (September 29, 2008, submission). On November 13, 2008, the Department issued a questionnaire to Ternium requesting additional information regarding Ternium's successor-in-interest changed circumstances review request. On December 9, 2008, Ternium submitted its response to the Department's questionnaire (SQR). On January 16, 2009, the Department issued a second supplemental questionnaire and on February 9, 2009, Ternium submitted its response (SSQR). On April 8, 2009, the Department issued a third supplemental questionnaire, and on April 22, 2009, Ternium submitted its response (SSSQR). In our                     *Notice of Initiation*, we invited interested parties to comment. We did not receive any comments other than those made by petitioner on September 17, 2008.                

## Scope of the Order

                    The products covered by this order are circular welded non-alloy steel pipes and tubes, of circular cross-section, not more than 406.4 millimeters (16 inches) in outside diameter, regardless of wall thickness, surface finish (black, galvanized, or painted), or                           ( print page 28884)                        end finish (plain end, beveled end, threaded, or threaded and coupled). These pipes and tubes are generally known as standard pipes and tubes and are intended for the low-pressure conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, and other liquids and gases in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, automatic sprinkler systems, and other related uses, and generally meet ASTM A-53 specifications.                

Standard pipes and tubes may also be used for light load-bearing applications, such as for fence tubing, and as structural pipe tubing used for framing and support members for reconstruction or load-bearing purposes in the construction, shipbuilding, trucking, farm equipment, and related industries. Unfinished conduit pipe is also included in this order. All carbon steel pipes and tubes within the physical description outlined above are included within the scope of this order, except line pipe, oil country tubular goods, boiler tubing, mechanical tubing, pipe and tube hollows for redraws, finished scaffolding, and finished conduit. Standard pipe and tube that is dual or triple certified/stenciled that enters the United States as line pipe of a kind used for oil or gas pipelines is also not included in this order.

Imports of the products covered by this order are currently classifiable under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheadings: 7306.30.10.00, 7306.30.50.25, 7306.30.50.32, 7306.30.50.40, 7306.30.50.55, 7306.30.50.85, and 7306.30.50.90. Although the HTS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this order is dispositive.

## Successor-in-Interest Determination

                    In making a successor-in-interest determination, the Department typically examines several factors including, but not limited to, changes in: (1) management, (2) production facilities, (3) supplier relationships, and (4) customer base.                     *See*,                     *e.g.*,                     *Notice of Final Results of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan*, 67 FR 58 (January 2, 2002);                     *Brass Sheet and Strip from Canada: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review*, 57 FR 20460, 20462 (May 13, 1992). While no single factor or combination of factors will necessarily provide a dispositive indication of a successor-in-interest relationship, the Department will generally consider the new company to be the successor to the previous company if the new company's resulting operation is not materially dissimilar to that of its predecessor.                     *See*,                     *e.g.*,                     *Fresh and Chilled Atlantic Salmon from Norway; Final Results of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review*, 64 FR 9979 (March 1, 1999);                     *Industrial Phosphoric Acid from Israel; Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review*, 59 FR 6944 (February 14, 1994). Thus, if the evidence demonstrates that, with respect to the production and sale of the subject merchandise, the new company operates as the same business entity as the former company, the Department will accord the new company the same antidumping treatment as its predecessor.                     *See*,                     *e.g.*,                     *Fresh and Chilled Atlantic Salmon from Norway: Final Results of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review*, 64 FR 9979-980 (March 1, 1999).                

## Preliminary Results

                    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(i), we preliminarily determine that Ternium is the successor-in-interest to Hylsa. In its September 3, 2008, September 29, 2008, December 9, 2008, February 9, 2009, and April 22, 2009, submissions, Ternium provided evidence supporting its claim to be the successor-in-interest to Hylsa.2                     Documentation attached to Ternium's September 3, 2008, September 29, 2008, December 9, 2008, February 9, 2009, and April 22, 2009, submissions shows that the transfer of production and sales operations from Hylsa to Ternium resulted in little or no change in management, production facilities, supplier relationships, or customer base. This documentation is identified and discussed further below.                

                    In its Initial Submission, at page 2, Ternium stated that Ternium S.A., a Luxemburg corporation (Ternium Luxemburg), acquired ownership of 99.3 percent of Hylsamex S.A. de C.V.'s (Hylsamex) 3                     (and as a result, Hylsamex's subsidiary Hylsa) outstanding shares on August 22, 2005. Ternium also stated that following this acquisition, Hylsa's operating and corporate structure were reorganized in several stages, the most recent of which took effect April 1, 2008, when the production and sales operations of Hylsa were transferred to Ternium.                     *Id*. at page 2. Ternium also explained in its Initial Submission that the corporation now known as Ternium was a holding company that was acquired by Ternium Luxemburg in July 2007, when it acquired Grupo IMSA, SAB de C.V. (Grupo IMSA).                     *Id*. at page 2, footnote 1. According to Ternium, the name of that holding company was changed from Grupo IMSA to Ternium, effective December 13, 2007.                     *Id*. at page 2, footnote 1.                

                    Ternium noted in its September 29, 2008 submission, at page 2, that through Ternium Luxemburg's acquisition of Grupo IMSA/Ternium, Ternium Luxemburg also acquired ownership of Grupo IMSA's subsidiary IMSA, S.A. de C.V. (IMSA). In Ternium's September 29, 2008 submission, at page 2, Ternium explained that following Ternium Luxemburg's acquisition of Grupo IMSA, Ternium Luxemburg owned two separate holding companies (                    *i.e.*, Hylsamex and Grupo IMSA) which each separately continued to hold the ownership of their subsidiaries (Hylsa and IMSA, respectively). Also in its September 29, 2008, submission, at page 3, Ternium stated that IMSA (1) produces little, if any, subject merchandise and (2) does not produce or market standard pipe and tube that is certified to meet ASTM specifications set for standard pipe and tube.                

                    The Department requested information relating to Ternium Luxemburg's acquisition of Grupo IMSA (and its subsidiary IMSA) including: (1) 2006, 2007, and 2008 annual capacity and annual production data for the former IMSA facility (as well as the former Hylsa facilities) that produces subject merchandise (                    *see*                     pages 2-3 and appendix S-1 of Ternium's SSQR),4                     (2) the former IMSA facility's product brochure used by IMSA prior to the April 2008 reorganization (                    *see*                     appendix S-2 of Ternium's SQR), and (3) documentation of the change in corporate name from Grupo IMSA to Ternium (                    *see*                     Ternium's SQR at appendix S-4).                

                    The Department also requested that Ternium provide (1) its current (as of March 2009) management chart, listing the former employers of each director/senior management personnel and (2) a pre-transfer (June 2007) Hylsa management chart.                     *See*                     Ternium's                           ( print page 28885)                        SSSQR at appendices S-2 and S-1, respectively. In reviewing the March 2009 and June 2007 management charts, we found that Ternium Luxemburg's acquisition of IMSA resulted in minimal changes to the composition of Hylsa's/Ternium's directors/senior management personnel. Specifically, with regard to the March 2009 chart, out of Ternium's 51 directors/senior management personnel, 7 are former IMSA employees, 31 are former Hylsa employees, and the remaining 13 are former employees of other Ternium Luxemburg affiliates. Thus, we preliminarily find that former Hylsa employees occupy the majority of director/senior management positions at Ternium.                

                    Ternium presented the following documentation in support of its assertion that it is the successor-in-interest to Hylsa: (1) a copy of documentation of the acquisition of Hylsamex by Ternium Luxemburg (                    *see*                     Ternium's SQR at appendix S-5), (2) diagrams depicting Ternium Luxemburg's corporate structure throughout the different stages of its acquisition of Hylsa (                    *see*                     Ternium's Initial Submission at attachment 3-A for corporate structure as of September 30, 2006 (                    *i.e.*, Ternium Luxemburg's corporate structure prior to the transfer);                     *see also*                     Ternium's Initial Submission at attachment 3-D for corporate structure as of April 30, 2008 (                    *i.e.*, Ternium Luxemburg's corporate structure post-transfer)), (3) tables depicting the management structure of Hylsa as of June, 2007,                     *i.e.*, prior to the transfer (                    *see*                     Ternium's SSSQR at appendix S-1) and the current management structure of Ternium Luxemburg as of March 2009,                     *i.e.*, after the transfer (                    *see*                     Ternium's SSSQR at appendix S-2), (4) listings of Hylsa's suppliers of major inputs for production of subject merchandise in 2007 (                    *i.e.*, before the final transfer took place) and of Ternium's suppliers of inputs for production of subject merchandise in the second quarter of 2008,                     *i.e.*, after the transfer took effect (                    *see*                     Ternium's Initial Submission at attachment 6), (5) a list of Hylsa and Ternium facilities at which subject merchandise is or can be produced (                    *see*                     Ternium's SQR at appendix 3), (6) data on annual capacity and actual production of standard pipe and tube for 2006, 2007, and 2008 (                    *see*                     Ternium's SSQR at appendix S-1) at said facilities, and (7) listings of Hylsa's standard pipe and tube customers in the home market and United States in 2007 (prior to the transfer) and of Ternium's standard pipe and tube customers in the home market and the United States during the second quarter of 2008 (after the transfer took effect).                     *See*                     Ternium's Initial Submission at attachment 5.                

                    We examined the diagrams depicting Ternium Luxemburg's corporate structure throughout the different stages of its acquisition of Hylsa.                     *See*                     Ternium's Initial Submission at attachment 3 for diagrams of Ternium Luxemburg's corporate structure as of (1) September 2006 (attachment 3-A), (2) September 30, 2007 (attachment 3-B), (3) December 31, 2007 (attachment 3-C), and (4) April 30, 2008 (attachment 3-D).                

                    We reviewed tables depicting the management structure of Hylsa as of June, 2007,                     *i.e.*, prior to the transfer of production and sales operations from Hylsa to Ternium (                    *see*                     Ternium's SSSQR at appendix S-1), and the current management structure of Ternium as of March 2009,                     *i.e.*, after the transfer of Hylsa's production and sales operations (                    *see*                     Ternium's SSSQR at appendix S-2). As noted in Ternium's Initial Submission on page 2 at footnote 1, the only significant changes involve: (1) transfers of personnel from other Ternium Luxemburg affiliates, (2) the promotion of former Hylsa employees to higher positions, and (3) changes to the structure of the organization chart (                    *i.e.*, the creation of new positions). Based on our examination of the diagrams and tables described above, we preliminarily find that Ternium's management structure, for the most part, resembles Hylsa's prior to its acquisition by Ternium Luxemburg.                     *See*                     Ternium's SSSQR at appendices S-1 and S-2.                

                    We also reviewed the list of major input suppliers that Ternium provided at attachment 6 of its Initial Submission. We compared Hylsa's 2007 (                    *i.e.*, prior to the transfer) suppliers for each input to Ternium's second quarter 2008 (                    *i.e.*, after the transfer) suppliers for each input. We noted no changes in suppliers between the two lists.                

                    We examined the customer lists that Ternium provided in its Initial Submission at attachment 5. Specifically, we compared Hylsa's 2007 (                    *i.e.*, prior to the transfer) list of home and export market customers (including U.S. customers) for standard pipe and tube (                    *see*                     attachment 5-A) to Ternium's second quarter 2008 (                    *i.e.*, after the transfer) list of home and export market customers (including U.S. customers) (                    *see*                     attachment 5-B). Ternium affirmed in their SQR at page 14 and in their SSSQR at page 7, that none of the former Hylsa customers discontinued their relationship with Ternium due to the acquisition of Hylsamex by Ternium Luxemburg. The Department requested clarification as to why certain customer's appeared on Hylsa's 2007 customer list but did not appear on Ternium's second quarter 2008 customer list and                     *vice versa*. Ternium explained in its SSSQR at pages 6 and 7 that the customer lists in its Initial Submission at attachment 5 identified: (a) the home market and U.S. customers that actually purchased subject merchandise from Hylsa during 2007, and (b) the home market and U.S. customers that actually purchased subject merchandise from Ternium during the second quarter of 2008. In other words, the lists did not purport to reflect all of the customers that maintained relationships with Hylsa and Ternium during each period which is why several of the names on each list did not match. Ternium also explained that all former Hylsa customers were maintained as customers in Ternium's sales computer following the merger and were eligible to make purchases at any time.                     *See*                     Ternium's SSSQR at page 6. Therefore, based on record information, we preliminarily find that Ternium's customer base resembles Hylsa's prior to its acquisition by Ternium Luxemburg.                

                    We also examined Ternium's list of production facilities that are capable of producing standard pipe and tube (including merchandise that falls within the scope of the antidumping duty order on the subject pipe and tube products) provided at appendix S-3 of their SQR. Ternium stated in its SQR at page 3 that none of the standard pipe and tube produced at the facility formerly operated by IMSA is certified to meet any ASTM standards or any other industry specifications, and as a result, are not exported to the United States. Because the former IMSA facility is limited in its abilities to produce subject merchandise that is appealing to customers in the United States,                     *i.e.*, not certified to meet ASTM, and its capacity to produce subject merchandise is relatively small when compared to both former Hylsa facilities, we preliminarily determine that although production facilities for standard pipe and tube have changed between pre-transfer Hylsa and post-transfer Ternium (which includes both the former Hylsa facilities and the facility formerly operated by IMSA), the post-transfer Ternium's production facilities are not so significantly different from the former Hylsa production facilities that Ternium would be precluded from being a successor to Hylsa.                

                    The documentation and analysis thereof described above, both with regard to the transfer of production and sales operations from Hylsa to Ternium as well as Ternium Luxemburg's                           ( print page 28886)                        acquisition of Grupo IMSA (and its subsidiary IMSA), demonstrates that there was little to no change in management structure, supplier relationships, or customer base between pre-acquisition Hylsa and post-acquisition (after the acquisitions of Hylsamex and Grupo IMSA) Ternium. For these reasons, we preliminarily find that Ternium is the successor-in-interest to Hylsa and, thus, should be accorded the same antidumping duty treatment with respect to standard pipe and tube from Mexico as Hylsa. If the above preliminary results are affirmed in the Department's final results, the cash deposit rate from this changed circumstances review will apply to all entries of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the final results of this changed circumstances review.                     *See Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from Italy; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review*, 68 FR 25327 (May 12, 2003).                

## Public Comment

In accordance with 19 CFR 351.310(c), any interested party may request a hearing within 30 days of publication of this notice. Any hearing, if requested, will be held no later than 37 days after the date of publication of this notice, or the first workday thereafter. Case briefs from interested parties may be submitted not later than 30 days after the date of publication of this notice, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.309(c)(ii). Rebuttal briefs, limited to the issues raised in those comments, may be filed not later than 5 days after the time limit for filing the case brief, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.309(d). All written comments shall be submitted in accordance with 19 CFR 351.303. Persons interested in attending the hearing, if one is requested, should contact the Department for the date and time of the hearing. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(e), the Department will issue the final results of its antidumping duty changed circumstances review not later than 270 days after the date on which the review is initiated.

                    During the course of this antidumping duty changed circumstances review, deposit requirements for the subject merchandise exported and manufactured by Ternium will continue to be the all-others rate established in the investigation.                     *See Notice of Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Brazil, the Republic of Korea (Korea), Mexico, and Venezuela, and Amendment to Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Korea*, 57 FR 49453 (November 2, 1992). The cash deposit rate will be altered, if warranted, pursuant only to the final results of this review.                

We are issuing and publishing these preliminary results and notice in accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and 777(i)(1) and (2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216.

Dated: June 11, 2009.

Ronald K. Lorentzen,

Acting Assistant Secretary  for Import Administration.

# Footnotes

1.                             Prior to the reorganization effective April 1, 2008, Ternium was a holding company and did not have any production or sales operations.                         *See*                         Ternium's Initial Submission at page 2.                    
        Back to Citation      

2.                             In our                         *Notice of Initiation*, we referred to Ternium's request as a “name change.” However, as explained above it is related to the transfer of production and sales functions from Hylsa to Ternium (                        *i.e.*, an acquisition). Effective April 1, 2008, Hylsa exists solely as a service company which employs workers at the former Hylsa facilities and provides its services to Ternium on a contract basis.                         *See*                         Ternium's Initial Submission at page 2.                    
        Back to Citation      

3.                             Hylsamex is the former parent company of Hylsa. On August 22, 2005, Ternium Luxemburg (the corporate parent of Ternium (                        *see*                         Ternium's SQR at page 10)), acquired Hylsamex.                         *See*                         Ternium's Initial Submission at page 2.                    
        Back to Citation      

4.                             According to Ternium, production of standard pipe and tube at the former IMSA facility ceased in August of 2008.                         *See*                         page 3 at footnote 1of Ternium's SSQR.                    
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. E9-14366 Filed 6-17-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S