AD/CVD message 8149302 - Notice of revised scope in the countervailing duty investigation of forged steel fittings from the People s Republic of China (C-570-068)

8149302
May 29, 2018
Active

Effective Date: Mar 14, 2018

Period of Review: Apr 01, 2017 to Sep 30, 2017

Notice of Lifting of Suspension Date: May 17, 2018

Cite as: 83 FR 22948 • Cite date: May 17, 2018

Category: Countervailing • Type: Liquidation Instructions • Sub type: OUTSCO-Out of Scope • Reference messages: 8074302 • Cases: C-570-068

1. Commerce has revised the scope in the countervailing duty investigation on forged steel fittings from the People's Republic of China (China). This revision was published on 05/17/2018 in the Federal Register (83 FR 22948, at footnote 9) and revises the scope of the investigation to exclude certain products. Specifically, Commerce revised the scope of the investigation to exclude: 1) fittings with a maximum pressure rating of 300 pounds of pressure/PSI or less; 2) certain SAE AS 35411 certified fittings; 3) certain MIL-C-4109F certified fittings; 4) certain MIL-F-3541 certified fittings; and 5) certain ISO6150-B certified fittings (see 83 FR 22948). The revised scope of the investigation is stated in paragraph 2 below. This revision supersedes the scope of the investigation stated in Message 8074302, dated 03/15/2018. The cash deposit rates established in Message 8074302, dated 03/15/2018, were not revised and therefore remain in effect.

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, unions, and outlets. 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, MSS SP-83, MSS SP-97, 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 specifications, subject 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/PSI, 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, butt weld outlets, nipples, and all fittings that have a maximum pressure rating of 300 pounds of pressure/PSI or less.

Also excluded are fittings certified or made to the following standards, so long as the fittings are not also manufactured to the specifications of ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, MSS SP-83, MSS SP-97, ASTM A105, ASTM A350, and ASTM A182:

• American Petroleum Institute (API) API 5CT, API 5L, or API 11B
• Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) SAE J476, SAE J514, SAE J516, SAE J517, SAE J518, SAE J1026, SAE J1231, SAE J1453, SAE J1926, J2044 or SAE AS 35411
• Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) certified electrical conduit fittings
• ASTM A153, A536, A576, or A865
• Casing Conductor Connectors 16-42 inches in diameter made to proprietary specifications
• Military Specification (MIL) MIL-C-4109F and MIL-F-3541
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO6150-B

To be excluded from the scope, products must have the appropriate standard or pressure markings and/or accompanied by documentation showing product compliance to the applicable standard or pressure, e.g., “API 5CT” mark and/or a mill certification report.

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. Accordingly, as a result of Commerce's revised scope, for suspended entries of the excluded products, that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 03/14/2018 (the date on which suspension of liquidation first began), CBP should discontinue the suspension of liquidation and liquidate the entries without regard to countervailing duties (i.e., refund all cash deposits).

4. Notice of lifting of suspension of liquidation of entries of merchandise covered by paragraph 3, entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption after 03/14/2018 occurred with the publication of the affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation of forged steel fittings from China (83 FR 22948, 05/17/2018), that specified the revision is also applicable to the CVD investigation of forged steel fittings from China. For all other shipments of forged steel fittings from China continue to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties at the current rates unless instructed otherwise.

5. 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:STL.)

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

Alexander Amdur