May 31, 2007
News Release 07-059
Inv. Nos. 731-TA-711 and 713-716 (Second Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of oil country tubular goods from Argentina, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Mexico would not be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

As a result of the Commission's negative determinations, the existing orders on imports of these products from Argentina, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Mexico will be revoked.

Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, Vice Chairman Shara L. Aranoff, and Commissioners Deanna Tanner Okun and Irving A. Williamson voted in the negative for all countries and products. Commissioner Dean A. Pinkert made negative determinations with respect to casing and tubing from Argentina, Italy, and Mexico and to drill pipe from Japan; he made affirmative determinations with respect to casing and tubing from Japan and Korea. Commissioner Charlotte R. Lane made affirmative determinations with respect to casing and tubing from all countries and a negative determination with respect to drill pipe from Japan.

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 Oil Country Tubular Goods from Argentina, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 731-TA-711 and 713-716 (Second Review)), USITC Publication 3923, June 2007) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after July 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 Oil Country Tubular Goods from Argentina, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Mexico were instituted on June 1, 2006.

On September 5, 2006, 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 September 15, 2006. 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 "Oil Country Tubular Goods - Argentina (2nd Review)," "Oil Country Tubular Goods - Italy (AD) (2nd Review)," "Oil Country Tubular Goods - Japan (2nd Review)," "Oil Country Tubular Goods - Korea (2nd Review)," and "Oil Country Tubular Goods - Mexico (2nd Review)").

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.