1. On 06/29/2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register its affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of large diameter welded pipe from the Republic of Korea (subject merchandise) (83 FR 30693). In that determination, Commerce aligned the deadline for the final determination in the CVD investigation with the deadline for the final determination in the companion antidumping duty investigation on the same merchandise, thereby postponing it from 09/04/2018 until no later than 11/05/2018.

2. The merchandise covered by this investigation is welded carbon and alloy steel pipe (including stainless steel pipe), more than 406.4 mm (16 inches) in nominal outside diameter (large diameter welded pipe), regardless of wall thickness, length, surface finish, grade, end finish, or stenciling. Large diameter welded pipe may be used to transport oil, gas, slurry, steam, or other fluids, liquids, or gases. It may also be used for structural purposes, including, but not limited to, piling. Specifically, not included is large diameter welded pipe produced only to specifications of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) for water and sewage pipe.

Large diameter welded pipe used to transport oil, gas, or natural gas liquids is normally produced to the American Petroleum Institute (API) specification 5L. Large diameter welded pipe may also be produced to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards A500, A252, or A53, or other relevant domestic specifications, grades and/or standards. Large diameter welded pipe can be produced to comparable foreign specifications, grades and/or standards or to proprietary specifications, grades and/or standards, or can be non-graded material. All pipe meeting the physical description set forth above is covered by the scope of this investigation, whether or not produced according to a particular standard.

Subject merchandise also includes large diameter welded pipe that has been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to coating, painting, notching, beveling, cutting, punching, welding, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope large diameter welded pipe.

The large diameter welded pipe that is subject to this investigation is currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 7305.11.1030, 7305.11.1060, 7305.11.5000, 7305.12.1030, 7305.12.1060, 7305.12.5000, 7305.19.1030, 7305.19.1060, 7305.19.5000, 7305.31.4000, 7305.31.6010, 7305.31.6090, 7305.39.1000 and 7305.39.5000. While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

3. This investigation has been assigned investigation number C-580-898.

4. For imports of large diameter welded pipe from the Republic of Korea, CBP shall suspend liquidation of such shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 06/29/2018. Effective 06/29/2018, CBP shall require, for such entries, a cash deposit equal to the subsidy rates for the companies listed below:

Producer and/or Exporter: All Others
Case number: C-580-898-000
Subsidy rate: 3.31 %

Producer and/or Exporter: SeAH Steel Corporation and its cross-owned company ESAB SeAH Corporation
Case number: C-580-898-001
Subsidy rate: 3.31 %

5. Commerce found a zero or de minimis subsidy rate on imports of relevant merchandise for the producer/exporter combinations identified below. Accordingly, CBP is directed not to suspend liquidation of imports of shipments from these producer/exporter combinations.

Producer: Hyundai Steel Company
Exporter: Hyundai Steel Company/Hyundai Corporation
Case Number: C-580-898-002

Note: Merchandise exported by Hyundai Steel Company/Hyundai Corporation that is produced by any company other than Hyundai Steel Company, and merchandise produced by Hyundai Steel Company that is exported by any company other than Hyundai Steel Company/Hyundai Corporation is not subject to this exclusion from suspension of liquidation. Such merchandise, entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 06/29/2018, should be entered under case number C-580-898-000 and suspended at the all others subsidy rate.

Producer: Husteel Co., Ltd.
Exporter: Husteel Co., Ltd.
Case Number: C-580-898-003

Note: Merchandise exported by Husteel Co., Ltd. that is produced by any company other than Husteel Co., Ltd., and merchandise produced by Husteel Co., Ltd. that is exported by any company other than Husteel Co., Ltd. is not subject to this exclusion from suspension of liquidation. Such merchandise, entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 06/29/2018, should be entered under case number C-580-898-000 and suspended at the all others subsidy rate.

6. 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 O8:IG.)

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

Alexander Amdur