[Federal Register: April 23, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 79)]
[Notices]
[Page 22005-22006]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23ap04-42]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-351-826]
Notice of Extension of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review: Small Diameter Circular Seamless Carbon and
Alloy Steel Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From Brazil
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is conducting
an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on small
diameter circular seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line and
pressure pipe (``seamless pipe'') from Brazil in response to a request
by respondent V&M do Brasil, S.A. (``VMB''). The review covers
shipments to the United States during the period August 1, 2002, to
July 31, 2003. For the reasons discussed below, we are fully extending
the preliminary results of this administrative review by 120 days, to
no later than August 30, 2004. This extension is made pursuant to
Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: April 23, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Edwards or Helen Kramer at
(202) 482-8029 or (202) 482-0405, respectively; Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Enforcement Group III, Import Administration,
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
Background
On August 12, 2003, in response to the Department's notice of
opportunity to request a review published in the Federal Register, VMB
requested that the Department conduct an administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on seamless pipe from Brazil. The current
antidumping duty order applies a company-specific rate for Mannesmann
S.A. as well as the ``all-others'' rate. See Notice of Antidumping Duty
Order and Amended Final Determination: Certain Small Diameter Seamless
Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe From Brazil, 60
FR 39707 (August 3, 1995).
The Department initiated the review for VMB on September 30, 2003.
See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews, Requests for Revocation in Part and Deferral of
Administrative Reviews, 68 FR 56262.
On January 13, 2004, the Department received a request from United
States Steel Corporation, petitioner in this review, to commence a
sales-below-cost investigation in this review. See Letter with
Attachments from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP to the
Secretary of Commerce, January 13, 2004, on file in the Central Records
Unit (CRU) located in room B-099 of the main Commerce Building. The
Department initiated a sales-below-cost investigation in this review on
February 3, 2004. See Letter and Decision Memorandum from Abelali
Elouaradia and Richard Weible, February 3, 2004, on file in the CRU.
The preliminary results are currently due not later than May 1,
2004.
Extension of Time Limits for Preliminary Results
Pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.213(h)(2), the Department may extend the deadline for completion of
the preliminary results of a review if it determines that it is not
practicable to complete the preliminary results within 245 days after
the last day of the anniversary month of the date of publication of the
order for which the administrative review was requested. There are
several complexities in this administrative review that require
additional time to resolve, including issues regarding model match
characteristics, the necessary revision of cost data, and the need to
conduct an analysis of successorship to verify that VMB is the
successor in Brazil to Mannesmann S.A. Furthermore, public
[[Page 22006]]
holidays in Brazil have resulted in a delay in the scheduling of
verification. Therefore, it is not practicable for the Department to
complete this review within the originally anticipated time limit
(i.e., May 1, 2004) mandated by section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.
Therefore, in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and
19 CFR 351.213(h)(2), the Department is extending the time limits for
the preliminary results by 120 days, to no later than August 30, 2004.
The deadline for the final results of this review will continue to be
120 days after publication of the preliminary results.
Dated: April 19, 2004.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Group 3.
[FR Doc. 04-9299 Filed 4-22-04; 8:45 am]