AD/CV: China Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe

Scope of the Investigations:The merchandise covered in these investigations is certain welded carbon quality steel pipes and tubes, of circular cross-section, and with an outside diameter of 0.372 inches (9.45 mm) or more, but not more than 16 inches (406.4 mm), whether or not stenciled, regardless of wall thickness, surface finish (e.g., black, galvanized, or painted), end finish (e.g., plain end, beveled end, grooved, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or industry specification (e.g., ASTM, proprietary, or other), generally known as standard pipe and structural pipe (they may also be referred to as circular, structural, or mechanical tubing).

Specifically, the term "carbon quality" includes products in which: (a) iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (b) the carbon content is 2% or less, by weight; and (c) none of the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, as indicated: (i) 1.80% of manganese; (ii) 2.25% of silicon; (iii) 1.00% of copper; (iv) 0.50% of aluminum; (v) 1.25% of chromium; (vi) 0.30% of cobalt; (vii) 0.40% of lead; (viii) 1.25% of nickel; (ix) 0.30% of tungsten; (x) 0.15% of molybdenum; (xi) 0.10%of niobium; (xii) 0.41% of titanium; (xiii) 0.15% of vanadium; or (xiv) 0.15% of zirconium.

All pipe meeting the physical description set forth above that is used in, or intended for use in, standard and structural pipe applications is covered by the scope of this investigation. Standard pipe applications include the low-pressure conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air, and other liquids and gases in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, automatic sprinkler systems, and other related uses. Standard pipe may also be used for light load-bearing and mechanical applications, such as for fence tubing, and as an intermediate product for protection of electrical wiring, such as

conduit shells. Structural pipe is used in construction applications.

Standard pipe is made primarily to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications, but can be made to other specifications. Standard pipe is made primarily to ASTM specifications A-53, A-135, and A-795. Structural pipe is made primarily to ASTM specifications A-252 and A-500. Standard and structural pipe may also be produced to proprietary specifications rather than to industry specifications. This is often the case, for example, with fence tubing. Pipe multiple-stenciled to an ASTM specification and to any other specification, such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) API-5L or 5L X-42 specifications, is covered by the scope of this investigation when used in, or intended for use in, one of the standard applications listed above, regardless of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) category under which it is entered. Pipe used for the production of scaffolding (but not finished scaffolding) and conduit shells (but not finished electrical conduit) are included within the scope of this investigation.

HTS Subheadings for the Investigations:The merchandise subject to these investigations is currently classifiable in HTS statistical reporting numbers 7306.30.10.00, 7306.30.50.25, 7306.30.50.32, 7306.30.50.40, 7306.30.50.55, 7306.30.50.85, and 7306.30.50.90.

However, the product description, and not the HTS classification, is dispositive of whether merchandise imported into the U.S. falls within the scope of the investigation.

Exclusions from the Scope of the Investigations:The scope does not include: (a) pipe suitable for use in boilers, superheaters, heat exchangers, condensers, refining furnaces and feedwater heaters, whether or not cold drawn; (b) mechanical tubing, whether or not cold-drawn; (c) finished electrical conduit; (d) tube and pipe hollows for redrawing; (e) oil country tubular goods produced to API specifications; and (f) line pipe produced to API specifications for oil and gas applications.

- comments on the scope of the investigations due within 14 calendar days of 07/05/07

- ITA's preliminary AD duty determination due no later than 11/14/07

- ITA's preliminary CV duty determination due no later than 08/31/07

- International Trade Commission's (ITC's) preliminary AD and CV injury determinations due no later than 07/23/07

ITA AD notice (FR Pub 07/05/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13017.pdf

ITA CV notice (FR Pub 07/05/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-13014.pdf