Final Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Large Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe from Japan and Certain Small Diameter Carbon and Alloy Seamless Standard, Line and Pressure Pipe from Japan and the Republic of South Africa.

On April 28, 2000, the Department of Commerce announced its preliminary determinations in the above-referenced antidumping duty (AD) investigations. The period of investigation for these cases is April 1, 1998, through March 31, 1999.

These investigations were initiated on July 20, 1999, along with companion AD investigations involving certain large diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line and pressure pipe from Mexico, and certain small diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line and pressure pipe the Czech Republic and Romania. The final determinations in the investigations involving the Czech Republic, Mexico and Romania will be issued no later than June 19, 2000.

Petitioners

• Certain large diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line and pressure pipe

U.S. Steel Group (a unit of USX Corp.), Lorain Tubular Co. LLC ("formerly USS/Kobe Steel Company") and the United Steel Workers of America.

• Certain small diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line and pressure pipe

Koppel Steel Corporation, Sharon Tube Company, U.S. Steel Group, Lorain Tubular Co. LLC and Vision Metals, Inc. (Gulf States Tube Division) and the United Steel Workers of America.

Respondents

• Japan (both investigations): Kawasaki Steel Corporation

Nippon Steel Corporation

Sumitomo Metal Industries

• South Africa: Iscor Ltd.

Case Calendar:

Petitions filed: June 30, 1999

Initiation: July 20, 1999

ITC Preliminary Determination: August 16, 1999

DOC Preliminary Determination: December 7, 1999

DOC Final Determination: April 27, 2000

ITC Final Determination: June 12, 2000

Order: June 19, 2000

If DOC makes an affirmative final determination, the ITC must make a final injury determination within 45 days. If that determination is affirmative, DOC will issue a duty order.

Product Description

The merchandise subject to these investigations is certain large (greater than 4.5 inches and up to 16 inches) and small (less than or equal to 4.5 inches) diameter seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line and pressure pipes. The technical language describing the scope of these investigations will be included in the notice of the preliminary determination which will be published in the Federal Register.

Critical Circumstances

• The Department continues to find that critical circumstances exist with respect to small diameter seamless pipe imported from SMI, Kawasaki and Nippon in the investigation involving Japan and Iscor in the investigation involving South Africa. In addition, we continue to find that critical circumstances do not exist for imports of small diameter seamless pipe for the "all others" category in both the Japan and South Africa investigations. For the above named companies, Customs will continue to suspend liquidation for entries made on or after 90 days prior to the publication of the preliminary determination.

Margins: Fact Sheet Determination

None of the companies named as respondents in these cases responded to the Department's questionnaire, therefore, all of the margins are based on facts available.

Japan - large diameter

Nippon Steel Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107.80

Kawasaki Steel Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107.80

Sumitomo Metal Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107.80

All Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68.88

Japan - small diameter

Nippon Steel Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.07

Kawasaki Steel Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.07

Sumitomo Metal Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.07

All Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70.43

South Africa - small diameter

Iscor Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.51

All Others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.17