MESSAGE NO: 5166118 DATE: 06 15 1995
CATEGORY: CVD TYPE: TER
REFERENCE: REFERENCE DATE:
CASES: C - 475 - 815 - -
- - - -
- - - -

PERIOD COVERED: 03 28 1995 TO

LIQ SUSPENSION DATE:

TO: REGIONAL DIRECTORS, COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS
DISTRICT, AREA AND PORT DIRECTORS

FROM: DIRECTOR, TECHNICAL PROGRAMS

RE: TERMINATION OF SUSPENSION OF LIQ PENDING PUBLICATION OF
THE CVD ORDER ON LINE/PRESSURE PIPE FM ITALY
(C-475-815)

1. IN KEEPING WITH THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE,
THE DEPARTMENT IS TERMINATING THE SUSPENSION OF LIQUIDATION IN
THE COUNTERVAILING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF SMALL DIAMETER CIRCULAR
SEAMLESS CARBON AND ALLOY STEEL STANDARD, LINE AND PRESSURE PIPE
("SEAMLESS PIPE") FROM ITALY, EFFECTIVE MARCH 28, 1995.

2. THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDES SEAMLESS PIPES
PRODUCED TO THE ASTM A-335, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-53 AND API 5L
SPECIFICATIONS AND MEETING THE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS DESCRIBED
BELOW, REGARDLESS OF APPLICATION. THE SCOPE OF THIS
INVESTIGATION ALSO INCLUDES ALL PRODUCTS USED IN STANDARD, LINE,
OR PRESSURE PIPE APPLICATIONS AND MEETING THE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS
BELOW, REGARDLESS OF SPECIFICATION.

FOR PURPOSES OF THIS INVESTIGATION, SEAMLESS PIPES ARE SEAMLESS
CARBON AND ALLOY (OTHER THAN STAINLESS) STEEL PIPES, OF CIRCULAR
CROSS-SECTION, NOT MORE THAN 114.3 MM (4.5 INCHES) IN OUTSIDE
DIAMETER, REGARDLESS OF WALL THICKNESS, MANUFACTURING PROCESS
(HOT-FINISHED OR COLD-DRAWN), END FINISH (PLAIN END, BEVELLED
END, UPSET END, THREADED, OR THREADED AND COUPLED), OR SURFACE
FINISH. THESE PIPES ARE COMMONLY KNOWN AS STANDARD PIPE, LINE
PIPE OR PRESSURE PIPE, DEPENDING UPON THE APPLICATION. THEY MAY
ALSO BE USED IN STRUCTURAL APPLICATIONS. PIPES PRODUCED IN
NON-STANDARD WALL THICKNESSES ARE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS TUBES.
THE SEAMLESS PIPES SUBJECT TO THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE CURRENTLY
CLASSIFIABLE UNDER SUBHEADINGS:



7304.10.1020, 7304.10.5020, 7304.31.6050, 7304.39.0016,
7304.39.0020, 7304.39.0024, 7304.39.0028, 7304.39.0032,
7304.51.5005, 7304.51.5060, 7304.59.6000, 7304.59.8010,
7304.59.8015, 7304.59.8020, AND 7304.59.8025 OF THE HARMONIZED
TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES (HTSUS).

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION FURTHER DEFINES THE SCOPE OF THIS
INVESTIGATION, WHICH COVERS PIPES MEETING THE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS
DESCRIBED ABOVE:

SPECIFICATIONS, CHARACTERISTICS AND USES: SEAMLESS PRESSURE
PIPES ARE INTENDED FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF WATER, STEAM,
PETROCHEMICALS, CHEMICALS, OIL PRODUCTS, NATURAL GAS AND OTHER
LIQUIDS AND GASSES IN INDUSTRIAL PIPING SYSTEMS. THEY MAY CARRY
THESE SUBSTANCES AT ELEVATED PRESSURES AND TEMPERATURES AND MAY
BE SUBJECT TO THE APPLICATION OF EXTERNAL HEAT. SEAMLESS CARBON
STEEL PRESSURE PIPE MEETING THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND
MATERIALS (ASTM) STANDARD A-106 MAY BE USED IN TEMPERATURES OF UP
TO 1000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AT VARIOUS AMERICAN SOCIETY OF
MECHANICAL ENGINEERS (ASME) CODE STRESS LEVELS. ALLOY PIPES MADE
TO ASTM STANDARD A-335 MUST BE USED IF TEMPERATURES AND STRESS
LEVELS EXCEED THOSE ALLOWED FOR A-106 AND THE ASME CODES.
SEAMLESS PRESSURE PIPES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ARE COMMONLY
PRODUCED TO THE ASTM A-106 STANDARD.

SEAMLESS STANDARD PIPES ARE MOST COMMONLY PRODUCED TO THE ASTM
A-53 SPECIFICATION AND GENERALLY ARE NOT INTENDED FOR HIGH
TEMPERATURE SERVICE. THEY ARE INTENDED FOR THE LOW TEMPERATURE
AND PRESSURE CONVEYANCE OF WATER, STEAM, NATURAL GAS, AIR AND
OTHER LIQUIDS AND GASSES IN PLUMBING AND HEATING SYSTEMS, AIR
CONDITIONING UNITS, AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, AND OTHER
RELATED USES. STANDARD PIPES (DEPENDING ON TYPE AND CODE) MAY
CARRY LIQUIDS AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES BUT MUST NOT EXCEED
RELEVANT ASME CODE REQUIREMENTS.

SEAMLESS LINE PIPES ARE INTENDED FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF OIL AND
NATURAL GAS OR OTHER FLUIDS IN PIPE LINES. SEAMLESS LINE PIPES
ARE PRODUCED TO THE API 5L SPECIFICATION.

SEAMLESS PIPES ARE COMMONLY PRODUCED AND CERTIFIED TO MEET ASTM
A-106, ASTM A-53 AND API 5L SPECIFICATIONS. SUCH TRIPLE
CERTIFICATION OF PIPES IS COMMON BECAUSE ALL PIPES MEETING THE
STRINGENT A-106 SPECIFICATION NECESSARILY MEET THE API 5L AND
ASTM A-53 SPECIFICATIONS. PIPES MEETING THE API 5L SPECIFICATION
NECESSARILY MEET THE ASTM A-53 SPECIFICATION. HOWEVER, PIPES
MEETING THE A-53 OR API 5L SPECIFICATIONS DO NOT NECESSARILY MEET
THE A-106 SPECIFICATION. TO AVOID MAINTAINING SEPARATE
PRODUCTION RUNS AND SEPARATE INVENTORIES, MANUFACTURERS TRIPLE
CERTIFY THE PIPES. SINCE DISTRIBUTORS SELL THE VAST MAJORITY OF
THIS PRODUCT, THEY CAN THEREBY MAINTAIN A SINGLE INVENTORY TO
SERVICE ALL CUSTOMERS.



THE PRIMARY APPLICATION OF ASTM A-106 PRESSURE PIPES AND TRIPLE
CERTIFIED PIPES IS IN PRESSSURE PIPING SYSTEMS BY REFINERIES,
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS AND CHEMICAL PLANTS. OTHER APPLICATIONS ARE
IN POWER GENERATION PLANTS (ELECTRICAL-FOSSIL FUEL OR NUCLEAR),
AND IN SOME OIL FIELD USES (ON SHORE AND OFF SHORE) SUCH AS FOR
SEPARATOR LINES, GATHERING LINES AND METERING RUNS. A MINOR
APPLICATION OF THIS PRODUCT IS FOR USE AS OIL AND GAS
DISTRIBUTION LINES FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS. THESE
APPLICATIONS CONSTITUTE THE MAJORITY OF THE MARKET FOR THE
SUBJECT SEAMLESS PIPES. HOWEVER, A-106 PIPES MAY BE USED IN SOME
BOILER APPLICATIONS.

THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION INCLUDES ALL SEAMLESS PIPE
MEETING THE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS DESCRIBED ABOVE AND PRODUCED TO
ONE OF THE SPECIFICATIONS LISTED ABOVE, REGARDLESS OF
APPLICATION, AND WHETHER OR NOT ALSO CERTIFIED TO A NON-COVERED
SPECIFICATION. STANDARD, LINE AND PRESSURE APPLICATIONS AND THE
ABOVE LISTED SPECIFICATIONS ARE DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION. THEREFORE, SEAMLESS PIPES MEETING
THE PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION ABOVE, BUT NOT PRODUCED TO THE A-335,
A-106, A-53, OR API 5L STANDARDS SHALL BE COVERED IF USED IN A
STANDARD, LINE OR PRESSURE APPLICATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE CERTAIN OTHER ASTM SPECIFICATIONS OF PIPE
WHICH, BECAUSE OF OVERLAPPING CHARACTERISTICS, COULD POTENTIALLY
BE USED IN A-106 APPLICATIONS. THESE SPECIFICATIONS GENERALLY
INCLUDE A-162, A-192, A-210, A-333, AND A-524. WHEN SUCH PIPES
ARE USED IN A STANDARD, LINE OR PRESSURE PIPE APPLICATION, SUCH
PRODUCTS ARE COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION.

SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED FROM THIS INVESTIGATION ARE BOILER TUBING
AND MECHANICAL TUBING, IF SUCH PRODUCTS ARE NOT PRODUCED TO
A-335, A-106, A-53 OR API 5L SPECIFICATIONS AND ARE NOT USED IN
STANDARD, LINE OR PRESSURE APPLICATIONS. IN ADDITION, FINISHED
AND UNFINISHED OCTG ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF THIS
INVESTIGATION, IF COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF ANOTHER COUNTERVAILING
DUTY ORDER FROM THE SAME COUNTRY. IF NOT COVERED BY SUCH AN OCTG
ORDER, FINISHED AND UNFINISHED OCTG ARE INCLUDED IN THIS SCOPE
WHEN USED IN STANDARD, LINE OR PRESSURE APPLICATIONS. FINALLY,
ALSO EXCLUDED FROM THIS INVESTIGATION ARE REDRAW HOLLOWS FOR
COLD-DRAWING WHEN USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF COLD-DRAWN PIPE OR
TUBE.

ALTHOUGH THE HTSUS SUBHEADINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE AND
CUSTOMS PURPOSES, OUR WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE OF THIS
INVESTIGATION IS DISPOSITIVE.

3. FOR FURTHER REPORTING PURPOSES, THIS CASE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED
THE FOLLOWING CASE NUMBER C-475-815.




4. FIELD OFFICERS SHALL TERMINATE THE SUSPENSION OF LIQUIDATION
FOR COUNTERVAILING DUTY PURPOSES ON ALL SHIPMENTS OF THE SUBJECT
MERCHANDISE ENTERED, OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR CONSUMPTION
ON OR AFTER MARCH 28, 1995. THE SUSPENSION OF LIQUIDATION WILL
NOT BE RESUMED UNLESS AND UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
PUBLISHES A COUNTERVAILING DUTY ORDER IN THIS CASE. FIELD
OFFICERS SHALL CONTINUE TO SUSPEND LIQUIDATION ON ALL SHIPMENTS
ENTERED, OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR CONSUMPTION MADE DURING
THE PERIOD, NOVEMBER 28, 1994 THROUGH MARCH 27, 1995, UNTIL THE
CONCLUSION OF THIS COUNTERVAILING DUTY INVESTIGATION.

5. THE TERMINATION DOES NOT AFFECT THE REQUIREMENTS OF A CASH
DEPOSIT OR BOND ON ENTRY SUMMARIES SUBJECT TO THE SUSPENSION OF
LIQUIDATION ANNOUNCED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE'S PRELIMINARY
DETERMINATION IN THE COMPANION ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF
SMALL DIAMETER CIRCULAR SEAMLESS CARBON AND ALLOY STEEL STANDARD,
LINE AND PRESSURE PIPE ("SEAMLESS PIPE") FROM ITALY.

5. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER BY CUSTOMS
OFFICERS, PLEASE CONTACT VIA E-MAIL, THROUGH THE APPROPRATE
SUPERVISORY CHANNELS, TECHNICAL PROGRAMS,
ANTIDUMPING/COUNTERVAILING DUTY, USING ATTRIBUTE "HQ OAB". THE
IMPORTING PUBLIC AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD CONTACT
PETER WILKNISS, OFFICE OF COUNTERVAILING INVESTIGATIONS, IMPORT
ADMINISTRATION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AT (202) 482-0588.

6. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.




NANCY MCTIERNAN