NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[C-469-408]
Termination of Countervailing Duty Investigation; Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Spain
Monday, February 11, 1985
*5654 AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: On January 18, 1985, the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports withdrew its countervailing duty petition, filed on July 17, 1984, on Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Spain. Based on the withdrawal, we are terminating the investigation.
EFFECTIVE DATE: February 11, 1985.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jack Davies, Office of Investigations, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and *5655 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone: (202) 377-1784.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Case History
On July 17, 1984, we received a petition from the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports filed on behalf of the U.S. industry producing certain welded carbon steel pipes and tubes.
After reviewing the petition, we determined that it contained sufficient grounds upon which to initiate a countervailing investigation. We notified the International Trade Commission (ITC) of our action and initiated the investigation on August 6 (49 FR 32248). On August 31 the ITC found that there is a reasonable indication that imports of Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Spain materially injure, or threaten material injury to, a United States industry. (49 FR 35871). On October 17 we made a preliminary determination that Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Spain was subsidized (49 FR 40628).
Scope of Investigation
The merchandise covered by this investigation is "certain welded carbon steel pipes and tubes," specifically, certain small-diameter circular welded carbon steel pipes and tubes and light-walled rectangular tubing.
Small-diameter circular welded carbon steel pipes and tubes, with an outside diameter of 0.375 inch or more but not over 4.5 inches and with a well thickness of not less than 0.065 inch, are currently classified in the Tariff Schedules of the United States, Annotated (TSUSA) under items 610.3231, 610.3234, 610.3241, 610.3242, and 610.3243. These products, commonly referred to in the industry as standard pipe or structural tubing, are produced to various ASTM specifications, most notably A-120 and A-135.
Light-walled rectangular (including square) welded carbon steel pipes and tubes having a wall thickness of less than 0.156 inch are currently classified under TSUSA item 610.4928. These products, commonly referred to in the industry as mechanical or structural tubing, are generally produced to ASTM specifications A-500 or A-513.
Withdrawal of Petition
On January 18, 1985, petitioners notified us that they were withdrawing their petition, and requested that the investigation be terminated. Under section 704(a) of the Act, upon withdrawal of a petition, the administering authority may terminate an investigation after giving notice to all parties to the investigation. These withdrawals are based on arrangements with the Government of Spain to limit the volume of imports of this product. We have assessed the public interest factors set out in section 704(a)(2) of the Act and consulted with potentially affected producers, workers, and consuming interests. On the basis of our assessment of the public interest factors and our consultations with affected interests, we have determined that termination would be in the public interest.
We have notified all parties to the investigation of petition's withdrawal and our intention to terminate. For these reasons, we are terminating our investigation.
Dated: January 31, 1985.
Alan F. Holmer,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
January 18, 1985.
The Honorable Malcolm Baldrige
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 5854, Washington, D.C.
Chairwoman Paula Stern,
U.S. International Trade Commission, Department of Commerce, 701 E Street, NW, Room 272, Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Secretary and Madame Chairwoman: On September 18, 1984 President Reagan announced a comprehensive program for the United States steel industry. Pursuant to that program, the United States Special Trade Representative has negotiated a bilateral surge control arrangement with Spain limiting exports of steel products to the United States. Pursuant to authority contained in the Steel Import Stabilization Act (Pub. L. 98-573) the arrangement will be enforced by the United States Government.
In reliance upon the foregoing arrangement, The Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports hereby withdraws the following antidumping and countervailing duty petitions filed by it on July 17, 1984:
1. Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Spain, ITA A-469-407, ITC Inv. No. 731-TA-198.
2. Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Spain, ITA C-469-408, ITC Inv. No. 701-TA-220.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports.
Paul W. Jameson
cc: Honorable William E. Brock