October 2, 2007
News Release 07-101
Inv. Nos. 731-TA-919-920 (Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC or Commission) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on welded large diameter line pipe from Japan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time, but that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on this product from Mexico would not.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination regarding Japan, the existing order on imports of welded large diameter line pipe from Japan will remain in place. As a result of the Commission's negative determination regarding Mexico, the existing order on imports of this product from Mexico will be revoked.

With respect to Japan, Vice Chairman Shara L. Aranoff and Commissioners Charlotte R. Lane, Irving A. Williamson, and Dean A. Pinkert voted in the affirmative; Chairman Daniel R. Pearson and Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun voted in the negative. With respect to Mexico, Chairman Pearson, Vice Chairman Aranoff, and Commissioners Okun, Williamson, and Pinkert voted in the negative; Commissioner Lane voted in the affirmative.

Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission's public report Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe from Japan and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-919-920 (Review), USITC Publication 3953, October 2007) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after November 6, 2007, by calling 202-205-2000 or by contacting the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (ITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the ITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe from Japan and Mexico were instituted on November 1, 2006.

On February 5, 2007, the Commission voted to conduct full reviews. All six Commissioners concluded that both the domestic group response and the respondent group responses were adequate and voted for full reviews.

Information concerning the reasons for the Commission's vote to conduct full reviews was published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2007. That notice and a record of the Commission's vote is posted on the ITC's Internet site at http://info.usitc.gov/oinv/sunset.NSF (under "Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe - Japan" and "Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe - Mexico").

In addition, a record of the Commission's vote to conduct full reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.