Notice2026-18082
Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From Austria: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 3, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Austria. The period of investigation is January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 170 (Thursday, September 3, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56618-56620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18082]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-433-815]
Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From Austria: Preliminary
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final
Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily
determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to
producers and exporters of certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG)
from Austria. The period of investigation is January 1, 2025, through
December 31, 2025. Interested parties are invited to comment on this
preliminary determination.
DATES: Applicable September 3, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Riggs, AD/CVD Operations, Office
IX, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section
703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). On April 28,
2026, Commerce published the notice of initiation of this
countervailing duty (CVD) investigation.\1\ On June 4, 2026, Commerce
postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation, and the
revised deadline is now August 31, 2026.\2\
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\1\ See Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from Austria:
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 91 FR 22790 (April
28, 2026) (Initiation Notice).
\2\ See Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from Austria:
Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty
Investigation, 91 FR 33701 (June 4, 2026).
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For a complete description of the events that followed the
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary
Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically
via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to
registered users at <a href="https://access.trade.gov">https://access.trade.gov</a>. In addition, a complete
version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly
at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/frnotices">https://access.trade.gov/frnotices</a>.
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\3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Affirmative Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation
of Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from Austria,'' dated
concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary
Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is OCTG from Austria. For
a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix
I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise
issues regarding product coverage, (i.e., scope).\5\ Certain interested
parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in
the Initiation Notice. Commerce intends to issue its preliminary
decision regarding comments concerning the scope of the companion less-
than-fair-value (LTFV) investigations and this CVD investigation on or
before the preliminary determination of the companion LTFV
investigations. We will incorporate the scope decisions from the LTFV
investigations into the scope of the final determination for this CVD
investigation.
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\4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
\5\ See Initiation Notice.
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Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with
section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found
countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a
subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an ``authority'' that gives
rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is
specific.\6\ For a full description of the methodology underlying our
preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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\6\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
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Alignment
As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, in accordance with
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is
aligning the final CVD determination in this investigation with the
final determination in the companion LTFV investigation of OCTG from
Austria based on a request made by the U.S. OCTG Manufacturers
Association, United States Steel Corporation, and the United Steel,
Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial
and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (collectively,
the petitioners).\7\ Consequently, the final CVD determination will be
issued on the same date as the final antidumping duty determination,
which is currently scheduled to be issued no later than January 12,
2027, unless postponed.
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\7\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Petitioners' Request to Align,''
dated August 14, 2026.
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All-Others Rate
Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the
preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-
others rate for companies not individually
[[Page 56619]]
examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of
the estimated subsidy rates established for those companies
individually examined, excluding any zero and de minimis rates and any
rates based entirely under section 776 of the Act. Commerce calculated
an individual estimated countervailable subsidy rate for voestalpine
Tubulars GmbH & Co KG (voestalpine Tubulars), the only individually
examined exporter/producer in this investigation. Because the only
individually calculated rate is not zero, de minimis, or based entirely
on facts otherwise available, the estimated weighted-average rate
calculated for voestalpine Tubulars is the rate preliminarily assigned
to all other producers and exporters, pursuant to section
705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act.
Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated
countervailable subsidy rates exist:
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\8\ As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum,
Commerce has found the following companies to be cross-owned with
voestalpine Tubulars: voestalpine AG, voestalpine Metal Engineering
GmbH, and voestalpine Stahl Donawitz GmbH.
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Net
countervailable
Company subsidy rate
(percent ad
valorem)
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voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG \8\.................. 10.17
All Others............................................. 10.17
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Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 703(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation
of entries of subject merchandise as described in the scope of the
investigation section entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register. Further, pursuant to section 703(d)(1)(B) of the Act
and 19 CFR 351.107(e), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash
deposit equal to the estimated company-specific countervailable subsidy
rate or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: (1) the cash deposit
rate for the respondents listed above will be equal to the company-
specific estimated individual countervailable subsidy rates determined
in this preliminary determination; (2) if both the producer and
exporter of the subject merchandise have company-specific estimated
subsidy rates determined in this preliminary determination, and their
rates differ, then the applicable cash deposit rate will be the higher
of these two rates; (3) if either the producer or the exporter, but not
both, of the subject merchandise have a company-specific estimated
subsidy rate determined in this preliminary determination, the
applicable cash deposit rate will be that company's company-specific
rate; and (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and
exporters will be equal to the estimated all-others subsidy rate.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination
within five days of its public announcement, or if there is no public
announcement, within five days of the date of this notice in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(e), Commerce will analyze and, if
appropriate, correct any timely allegations of significant ministerial
errors by amending the preliminary determination. However, consistent
with 19 CFR 351.224(d), Commerce will not consider incomplete
allegations that do not address the significance standard under 19 CFR
351.224(g) following the preliminary determination. Instead, Commerce
will address such allegations in the final determination together with
issues raised in the case briefs or other written comments.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to
verify the information relied upon in making its final determination.
Public Comment
Non-scope related case briefs or other written comments may be
submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no
later than seven days after the date on which the last verification
report is issued in this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to
issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days
after the date for filing case briefs.\9\ Interested parties who submit
case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a
table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of
authorities.\10\
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\9\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative Protective
Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29,
2023) (APO and Service Final Rule).
\10\ See 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iii), we
request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their
briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their
briefs.\11\ Further, we request that interested parties limit their
executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not
including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the
basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision
memorandum that will accompany the final determination in this
investigation. We request that interested parties include footnotes for
relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that
Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the
service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\12\
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\11\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
\12\ See APO and Service Final Rule.
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Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce within 30 days
after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain:
(1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of
participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and (3)
a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is
made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be
determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and
location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
U.S. International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify
the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If
the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before
the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination
or 45 days after the final determination whether imports of OCTG from
Austria are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the
U.S. industry.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections
703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).
[[Page 56620]]
Dated: August 31, 2026.
Christopher Abbott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by the investigation is certain oil
country tubular goods (OCTG), which are hollow steel products of
circular cross-section, including oil well casing and tubing, of
iron (other than cast iron) or steel (both carbon and alloy),
whether seamless or welded, regardless of end finish (e.g., whether
or not plain end, threaded, or threaded and coupled) whether or not
conforming to American Petroleum Institute (API) or non-API
specifications, whether finished (including limited service OCTG
products) or unfinished (including green tubes and limited service
OCTG products), whether or not thread protectors are attached. The
scope of the investigation also covers OCTG coupling stock.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above
description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed
in a third country, including by performing any heat treatment,
cutting, upsetting, threading, coupling, or any other finishing,
packaging, or processing that would not otherwise remove the
merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the
country of manufacture of the OCTG.
Excluded from the scope of the investigation are: casing,
tubing, or coupling stock containing 10.5 percent or more by weight
of chromium; drill pipe; unattached couplings; and unattached thread
protectors.
The merchandise subject to the investigation is currently
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) under item numbers: 7304.29.1010, 7304.29.1020,
7304.29.1030, 7304.29.1040, 7304.29.1050, 7304.29.1060,
7304.29.1080, 7304.29.2010, 7304.29.2020, 7304.29.2030,
7304.29.2040, 7304.29.2050, 7304.29.2060, 7304.29.2080,
7304.29.3110, 7304.29.3120, 7304.29.3130, 7304.29.3140,
7304.29.3150, 7304.29.3160, 7304.29.3180, 7304.29.4110,
7304.29.4120, 7304.29.4130, 7304.29.4140, 7304.29.4150,
7304.29.4160, 7304.29.4180, 7304.29.5015, 7304.29.5030,
7304.29.5045, 7304.29.5060, 7304.29.5075, 7304.29.6115,
7304.29.6130, 7304.29.6145, 7304.29.6160, 7304.29.6175,
7305.20.2000, 7305.20.4000, 7305.20.6000, 7305.20.8000,
7306.29.1030, 7306.29.1090, 7306.29.2000, 7306.29.3100,
7306.29.4100, 7306.29.6010, 7306.29.6050, 7306.29.8110, and
7306.29.8150.
The merchandise subject to the investigation may also enter
under the following HTSUS item numbers: 7304.39.0024, 7304.39.0028,
7304.39.0032, 7304.39.0036, 7304.39.0040, 7304.39.0044,
7304.39.0048, 7304.39.0052, 7304.39.0056, 7304.39.0062,
7304.39.0068, 7304.39.0072, 7304.39.0076, 7304.39.0080,
7304.59.6000, 7304.59.8015, 7304.59.8020, 7304.59.8025,
7304.59.8030, 7304.59.8035, 7304.59.8040, 7304.59.8045,
7304.59.8050, 7304.59.8055, 7304.59.8060, 7304.59.8065,
7304.59.8070, 7304.59.8080, 7305.31.4000, 7305.31.6090,
7306.30.5055, 7306.30.5090, 7306.50.5050, and 7306.50.5070.
The HTSUS subheadings and specifications above are provided for
convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of
the scope of the investigation is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Injury Test
IV. Diversification of Austria's Economy
V. Subsidies Valuation
VI. Benchmarks and Interest Rates
VII. Analysis of Programs
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2026-18082 Filed 9-2-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 3, 2026.
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