1. On 11/01/2017, Commerce published in the Federal Register its initiation of the countervailing duty investigation of forged steel fittings from the People's Republic of China (82 FR 50623). The effective date of this initiation is 10/25/17 (the effective date as stated in the FR notice).

2. The merchandise covered by this investigation is carbon and alloy forged steel fittings,
whether unfinished (commonly known as blanks or rough forgings) or finished. Such fittings are
made in a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, elbows, tees, crosses, laterals, couplings, reducers, caps, plugs, bushings and unions. Forged steel fittings are covered regardless of end finish, whether threaded, socket-weld or other end connections.

While these fittings are generally manufactured to specifications ASME B16.11, MSS SP-
79, and MSS SP-83, ASTM A105, ASTM A350 and ASTM A182, the scope is not limited to fittings made to these specifications.

The term forged is an industry term used to describe a class of products included in
applicable standards, and does not reference an exclusive manufacturing process. Forged steel
fittings are not manufactured from casting. Pursuant to the applicable standards, fittings may also
be machined from bar stock or machined from seamless pipe and tube.

All types of fittings are included in the scope regardless of nominal pipe size (which may
or may not be expressed in inches of nominal pipe size), pressure rating (usually, but not
necessarily expressed in pounds of pressure, e.g., 2,000 or 2M; 3,000 or 3M; 6,000 or 6M; 9,000 or 9M), wall thickness, and whether or not heat treated.

Excluded from this scope are all fittings entirely made of stainless steel. Also excluded are
flanges, butt weld fittings, and nipples.

Subject carbon and alloy forged steel fittings are normally entered under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 7307.99.1000, 7307.99.3000, 7307.99.5045, and 7307.99.5060. They also may be entered under HTSUS 7307.92.3010, 7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, and 7326.19.0010.

The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided for convenience and customs
purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive.

3. This proceeding has been assigned case number C-570-068.

4. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OVIII: JM.)

5. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.

Alexander Amdur