Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Determination, 30695-30697 [2018-13567]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2018 / Notices Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Injury Test IV. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences V. Subsidies Valuation VI. Analysis of Programs VII. Conclusion [FR Doc. 2018–13566 Filed 6–28–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–570–982] Utility Scale Wind Towers From the People’s Republic of China: Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2017 Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty order on utility scale wind towers from the People’s Republic of China (China) for the period January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017. DATES: Applicable June 29, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Conniff, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–1009. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Background On April 16, 2018, based on a timely request for review by the Wind Tower Trade Coalition (the petitioner),1 Commerce published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of an administrative review of the countervailing duty order on utility scale wind towers from China with respect to 56 companies for the period January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.2 On May 21, 2018, the petitioner withdrew its request for an administrative review of all 56 1 See Letter from the petitioner, ‘‘Utility Scale Wind Towers from the People’s Republic of China: Request for Administrative Review,’’ dated February 28, 2018. 2 See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 83 FR 16,298 (April 16, 2018). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jun 28, 2018 Jkt 244001 companies.3 No other party requested a review of the countervailing duty order. Rescission of Review Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the party that requested the review withdraws its request within 90 days of the date of publication of the notice of initiation of the requested review. In this case, the petitioner timely withdrew its request for review within the 90-day deadline, and no other party requested an administrative review of the countervailing duty order. As a result, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), we are rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty order on utility scale wind towers from China for the period January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017, in its entirety. Assessment Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess countervailing duties on all appropriate entries. Because Commerce is rescinding this administrative review in its entirety, entries of utility scale wind towers from China during the period January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017, shall be assessed countervailing duties at rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions to CBP 15 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders This notice also serves as a final reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return or destruction of APO materials, or conversion to judicial protective order, is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction. This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4). 3 See Letter from the petitioner, ‘‘Utility Scale Wind Towers from the People’s Republic of China: Withdrawal of Request for Administrative Review,’’ dated May 21, 2018. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 30695 Dated: June 21, 2018. James Maeder, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. [FR Doc. 2018–13804 Filed 6–28–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–570–078] Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Determination Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers/exporters of large diameter welded pipe (welded pipe) from the People’s Republic of China (China) for the period of investigation of January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. DATES: Applicable June 29, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Neuman or Benito Ballesteros, AD/CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482–0486 or (202) 482–7425, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 703(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 April 2, 2018, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now June 19, 2018.2 For a complete 1 See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from India, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 83 FR 7148 (February 20, 2018) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from India, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Turkey: Postponement of E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM Continued 29JNN1 30696 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2018 / Notices description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.3 A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included at 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 is available 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 https://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 China. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 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 preliminary determination, 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 revised scope in Appendix I. Interested parties will have the Preliminary Determinations in the Countervailing Duty Investigations, 83 FR 13946 (April 2, 2018). 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Large Diameter Welded Pipe from the People’s Republic of China,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). 4 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997). 5 See Initiation Notice. 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 concurrently with this notice (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jun 28, 2018 Jkt 244001 opportunity to submit case and rebuttal briefs on the preliminary scope determinations. We will notify parties of the due dates for these briefs at a later time. Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that gives rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.7 In making these findings, Commerce relied totally on facts available, because neither the GOC nor any of the selected mandatory respondent companies responded to the questionnaire. Further, because these parties did not act to the best of their ability to respond to Commerce’s requests for information, Commerce drew an adverse inference in selecting from among the facts otherwise available.8 For further information, see ‘‘Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences’’ in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Alignment In accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is aligning the final countervailing duty (CVD) determination in this investigation with the final determination in the companion antidumping duty (AD) investigation of welded pipe from China based on a request made by American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Berg Steel Pipe Corp./Berg Spiral Pipe Corp, Dura-Bond Industries, Skyline Steel, Stupp Corporation, Greens Bayou Pipe Mill, LP, JSW Steel (USA) Inc., and Trinity Products LLC (collectively, the petitioners).9 Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same date as the final AD determination, which is currently scheduled to be issued no later than November 5, 2018, unless postponed. All-Others Rate Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall 7 See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity. 8 See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. 9 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Large Diameter Welded Pipe from the People’s Republic of China: Request to Align Countervailing Duty Investigation Final Determination with Antidumping Duty Investigation Final Determination,’’ dated June 5, 2018. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 determine an estimated all-others rate for companies not individually investigated. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates established for those companies individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis rates and any rates based entirely under section 776 of the Act. Pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act, if the individual estimated countervailable subsidy rates established for all exporters and producers individually investigated are zero, de minimis or determined based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use any reasonable method to establish the estimated subsidy rate for all-other producers or exporters. In this case, the countervailable subsidy rate calculated for the investigated companies is based entirely on facts available under section 776 of the Act. However, there is no other information on the record upon which to determine an all-others rate. As a result, we have used the rate assigned to the mandatory respondents as the all-others rate. This method is consistent with Commerce’s past practice.10 Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates exist: Company Hefei Zijin Steel Tube Manufacturing Co ................................. Hefei Ziking Steel Pipe ............... Panyu Chu Kong Steel Pipe Co. Ltd ........................................... All-Others .................................... Subsidy rate (percent) 198.49 198.49 198.49 198.49 Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (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 the Scope of the Investigation section, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the rates indicated above. 10 See e.g., Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel from the People’s Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 79 FR 59221 (October 1, 2014), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 1. E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 126 / Friday, June 29, 2018 / Notices Public Comment Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than thirty days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.11 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. 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 by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. International Trade Commission Notification In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary determination. Pursuant to section 705(b)(2) of the Act, if the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will make its final injury determination before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Notification to Interested Parties This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Jun 28, 2018 Jkt 244001 Dated: June 19, 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. III. Injury Test IV. Application of the CVD Law to Imports From China V. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences VI. Calculation of the All-Others Rate VII. Conclusion Appendix I [FR Doc. 2018–13567 Filed 6–28–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 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. 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 11 See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). 30697 List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–489–834] Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of Turkey: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of large diameter welded pipe (welded pipe) from the Republic of Turkey (Turkey) for the period of investigation of January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. AGENCY: DATES: Applicable June 29, 2018. Ross Belliveau or Ajay Menon, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–4952 or (202) 482–1993, respectively. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 703(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 April 2, 2018, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now June 19, 2018.2 For a complete 1 See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from India, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 83 FR 7148 (February 20, 2018) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from India, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM Continued 29JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 126 (Friday, June 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30695-30697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13567]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-078]


Large Diameter Welded Pipe From the People's Republic of China: 
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment 
of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Determination

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers/
exporters of large diameter welded pipe (welded pipe) from the People's 
Republic of China (China) for the period of investigation of January 1, 
2017, through December 31, 2017. Interested parties are invited to 
comment on this preliminary determination.

DATES: Applicable June 29, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Neuman or Benito Ballesteros, 
AD/CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-0486 or (202) 482-
7425, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
703(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 April 2, 2018, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now 
June 19, 2018.\2\ For a complete

[[Page 30696]]

description of the events that followed the initiation of this 
investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.\3\ A list of 
topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included at 
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 is available 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 https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The 
signed and electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum 
are identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from India, the People's 
Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of 
Turkey: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 83 FR 7148 
(February 20, 2018) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Large Diameter Welded Pipe from India, the People's 
Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of 
Turkey: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the 
Countervailing Duty Investigations, 83 FR 13946 (April 2, 2018).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation 
of Large Diameter Welded Pipe from the People's Republic of China,'' 
dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice 
(Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

    The product covered by this investigation is welded pipe from 
China. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
see Appendix I.

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For a summary of the product coverage comments and rebuttal 
responses submitted to the record for this preliminary determination, 
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 revised scope in Appendix I. Interested parties 
will have the opportunity to submit case and rebuttal briefs on the 
preliminary scope determinations. We will notify parties of the due 
dates for these briefs at a later time.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \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 concurrently 
with this notice (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found 
countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a 
subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an ``authority'' that gives 
rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is 
specific.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding 
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding 
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In making these findings, Commerce relied totally on facts 
available, because neither the GOC nor any of the selected mandatory 
respondent companies responded to the questionnaire. Further, because 
these parties did not act to the best of their ability to respond to 
Commerce's requests for information, Commerce drew an adverse inference 
in selecting from among the facts otherwise available.\8\ For further 
information, see ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse 
Inferences'' in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alignment

    In accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.210(b)(4), Commerce is aligning the final countervailing duty (CVD) 
determination in this investigation with the final determination in the 
companion antidumping duty (AD) investigation of welded pipe from China 
based on a request made by American Cast Iron Pipe Company, Berg Steel 
Pipe Corp./Berg Spiral Pipe Corp, Dura-Bond Industries, Skyline Steel, 
Stupp Corporation, Greens Bayou Pipe Mill, LP, JSW Steel (USA) Inc., 
and Trinity Products LLC (collectively, the petitioners).\9\ 
Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same 
date as the final AD determination, which is currently scheduled to be 
issued no later than November 5, 2018, unless postponed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Large Diameter Welded Pipe from 
the People's Republic of China: Request to Align Countervailing Duty 
Investigation Final Determination with Antidumping Duty 
Investigation Final Determination,'' dated June 5, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

All-Others Rate

    Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the 
preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-
others rate for companies not individually investigated. This rate 
shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated 
subsidy rates established for those companies individually 
investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis rates and any rates 
based entirely under section 776 of the Act.
    Pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act, if the individual 
estimated countervailable subsidy rates established for all exporters 
and producers individually investigated are zero, de minimis or 
determined based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may 
use any reasonable method to establish the estimated subsidy rate for 
all-other producers or exporters. In this case, the countervailable 
subsidy rate calculated for the investigated companies is based 
entirely on facts available under section 776 of the Act. However, 
there is no other information on the record upon which to determine an 
all-others rate. As a result, we have used the rate assigned to the 
mandatory respondents as the all-others rate. This method is consistent 
with Commerce's past practice.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See e.g., Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel from the People's 
Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty 
Determination, 79 FR 59221 (October 1, 2014), and accompanying 
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
countervailable subsidy rates exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Subsidy
                           Company                               rate
                                                               (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hefei Zijin Steel Tube Manufacturing Co.....................      198.49
Hefei Ziking Steel Pipe.....................................      198.49
Panyu Chu Kong Steel Pipe Co. Ltd...........................      198.49
All-Others..................................................      198.49
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (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 
the Scope of the Investigation section, entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d), 
Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the rates 
indicated above.

[[Page 30697]]

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than thirty 
days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may 
be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case 
briefs.\11\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 by telephone the 
date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled 
date.

International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary 
determination. Pursuant to section 705(b)(2) of the Act, if the final 
determination is affirmative, the ITC will make its final injury 
determination before the later of 120 days after the date of this 
preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

    Dated: June 19, 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.
    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. Injury Test
IV. Application of the CVD Law to Imports From China
V. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences
VI. Calculation of the All-Others Rate
VII. Conclusion


[FR Doc. 2018-13567 Filed 6-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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