Notice2026-22835
Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe From Georgia and India: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations
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
November 9, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 215 (Monday, November 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 215 (Monday, November 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70856-70862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22835]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-833-001, A-533-956]
Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe
From Georgia and India: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value
Investigations
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Applicable November 4, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Janz at (202) 482-2972
(Georgia) and Aislin Salassi at (202) 482-1882 (India), AD/CVD
Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Petitions
On October 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce)
received antidumping duty (AD) petitions concerning imports of seamless
carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe (seamless
standard, line, and pressure pipe) from Georgia and India, filed in
proper form on behalf of Tenaris USA (Tenaris), Vallourec Star LP
(Vallourec), and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber,
Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers
International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (USW) (collectively, the
petitioners), domestic producers of seamless standard, line, and
pressure pipe and a certified union, which represents workers engaged
in the production of seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe in the
United States.\1\ The Petitions were accompanied by a countervailing
duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of seamless standard, line, and
pressure pipe from India.\2\
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\1\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Petitions for the Imposition of
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties,'' dated October 15, 2026
(Petitions).
\2\ Id.
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Between October 20 and 26, 2026, Commerce requested supplemental
information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petitions in
supplemental questionnaires.\3\ Between October 22 and 28, 2026, the
petitioners filed timely responses to these requests for additional
information.\4\
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\3\ See Commerce's Letters, ``Supplemental Questions,'' dated
October 20, 2026 (First General Issues Questionnaire); Georgia AD
Supplemental Questionnaire, dated October 20, 2026 (Georgia AD
Questionnaire), and India AD Supplemental Questionnaire, dated
October 20, 2026 (India AD Questionnaire); and ``Second Supplemental
Questions,'' dated October 26, 2026 (Second General Issues
Questionnaire).
\4\ See Petitioners' Letters, ``Petitioners' Response to General
Issues Supplemental Questions,'' dated October 22, 2026 (First
General Issues Supplement); ``Responses to Supplemental Questions,''
dated October 22, 2026 (Georgia AD Supplement); ``Responses to
Supplemental Questions,'' dated October 22, 2026 (India AD
Supplement); ``Petitioners' Response to General Issues Second
Supplemental Questions,'' dated October 28, 2026 (Second General
Issues Supplement).
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In accordance with section 732(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act), the petitioners allege that imports of seamless
standard, line, and pressure pipe from Georgia and India are being, or
are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value
(LTFV) within the meaning of section 731 of the Act, and that imports
of such products are materially injuring, or threatening material
injury to, the seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe industry in
the United States. Consistent with section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the
Petitions were accompanied by information reasonably available to the
petitioners supporting their allegations.
Commerce finds that the petitioners filed the Petitions on behalf
of the domestic industry, because the petitioners are interested
parties, as defined in sections 771(9)(C) and (D) of the Act.\5\
Commerce also finds that the petitioners demonstrated sufficient
industry support for the initiation of the requested LTFV
investigations.\6\
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\5\ Tenaris and Vallourec are interested parties under section
771(9)(C) of the Act. The USW is a certified union representing
workers engaged in the production of seamless standard, line, and
pressure pipe in the United States and therefore is an interested
party under section 771(9)(D) of the Act.
\6\ See section on ``Determination of Industry Support for the
Petitions,'' infra.
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Periods of Investigations (POI)
Because the Petitions were filed on October 15, 2026, pursuant to
19 CFR 351.204(b)(1), the POI for the India LTFV investigation is
October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Because Georgia is a non-
market economy (NME) country, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(b)(1), the POI
for the Georgia LTFV investigation is April 1, 2026, through September
30, 2026.
Scope of the Investigations
The product covered by these investigations is seamless standard,
line, and pressure pipe from Georgia and India. For a full description
of the scope of these investigations, see the appendix to this notice.
Comments on the Scope of the Investigations
On October 20 and 26, 2026, Commerce requested information and
clarification from the petitioners regarding the proposed scope to
ensure that the scope language in the Petitions is an accurate
reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking
relief.\7\ On October 22 and 28, 2026, the petitioners provided
clarifications and revised the scope.\8\ The description of merchandise
covered by these investigations, as described in the appendix to this
notice, reflects these clarifications.
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\7\ See First General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire; see
also Second General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire.
\8\ See First General Issues Supplement at 2-3 and Exhibit I-
SUPP-9; see also Second General Issues Supplement at 1-3 and Exhibit
I-SUPP2-9.
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As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding
product coverage
[[Page 70857]]
(i.e., scope).\9\ Commerce will consider all scope comments received
from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with interested
parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determinations. If
scope comments include factual information, all such factual
information should be limited to public information.\10\ Commerce
requests that interested parties provide at the beginning of their
scope comments a public executive summary for each comment or issue
raised in their submission. Commerce further requests that interested
parties limit their public executive summary of each comment or issue
to no more than 450 words, not including citations. Commerce intends to
use the public executive summaries as the basis of the comment
summaries included in the analysis of scope comments. To facilitate
preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests that scope
comments be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on November 24,
2026, which is 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice.
Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, and
should also be limited to public information, must be filed by 5:00
p.m. ET on December 4, 2026, which is 10 calendar days from the initial
comment deadline.
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\9\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble); see also 19 CFR
351.312.
\10\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual
information'').
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Commerce requests that any factual information that parties
consider relevant to the scope of these investigations be submitted
during that period. However, if a party subsequently finds that
additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the
investigations may be relevant, the party must contact Commerce and
request permission to submit the additional information. All scope
comments must be filed simultaneously on the records of the concurrent
LTFV and CVD investigations.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), unless an exception
applies.\11\ An electronically filed document must be received
successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is due.
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\11\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and
Compliance; Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046
(November 20, 2014), for details of Commerce's electronic filing
requirements, effective August 5, 2011. Information on using ACCESS
can be found at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/help">https://access.trade.gov/help</a> and a handbook can be
found at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/ACCESS%20Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filing%20Procedures_March2026.pdf">https://access.trade.gov/ACCESS%20Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filing%20Procedures_March2026.pdf</a>.
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Comments on Product Characteristics
Commerce is providing interested parties an opportunity to comment
on the appropriate physical characteristics of seamless standard, line,
and pressure pipe to be reported in response to Commerce's AD
questionnaires. This information will be used to identify the key
physical characteristics of the subject merchandise in order to report
the relevant factors of production (FOP) or cost of production (COP)
accurately, as well as to develop appropriate product comparison
criteria.
Interested parties may provide any information or comments that
they feel are relevant to the development of an accurate list of
physical characteristics. Specifically, they may provide comments as to
which characteristics are appropriate to use as: (1) general product
characteristics; and (2) product comparison criteria. We note that it
is not always appropriate to use all product characteristics as product
comparison criteria. We base product comparison criteria on meaningful
commercial differences among products. In other words, although there
may be some physical product characteristics utilized by manufacturers
to describe seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe, it may be that
only a select few product characteristics take into account
commercially meaningful physical characteristics. In addition,
interested parties may comment on the order in which the physical
characteristics should be used in matching products. Generally,
Commerce attempts to list the most important physical characteristics
first and the least important characteristics last.
In order to consider the suggestions of interested parties in
developing and issuing the AD questionnaires, all product
characteristics comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on November 24,
2026, which is 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice.
Any rebuttal comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on December 4,
2026, which is 10 calendar days from the initial comment deadline. All
comments and submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using
ACCESS, as explained above, on the record of the each of the LTFV
investigations.
Determination of Industry Support for the Petitions
Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) at least
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 732(c)(4)(D) of
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i)
poll the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if
there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or
(ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling
method to poll the ``industry.''
Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute
directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the
domestic like product. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC),
which is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry''
has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the
ITC apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic like
product,\12\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\13\
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\12\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
\13\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F.Supp.2d 1, 8 (CIT
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F.Supp.
639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United
States, 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic
like product analysis begins is
[[Page 70858]]
``the article subject to an investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of
merchandise to be investigated, which normally will be the scope as
defined in the petition).
With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioners do not
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope
of the investigations.\14\ Based on our analysis of the information
submitted on the record, we have determined that corrugated die-cut
boxes, as defined in the scope, constitute a single domestic like
product, and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that
domestic like product.\15\
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\14\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as
applied to these cases and information regarding industry support,
see Checklists, ``Antidumping Duty Investigation Initiation
Checklists: Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and
Pressure Pipe from Georgia and India,'' dated concurrently with, and
hereby adopted by, this notice (Country-Specific AD Initiation
Checklists), at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry Support for the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Seamless
Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe from
Georgia and India (Attachment II). These checklists are on file
electronically via ACCESS.
\15\ For further discussion, see Attachment II of the Country-
Specific AD Initiation Checklists.
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In determining whether the petitioners have standing under section
732(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data
contained in the Petitions with reference to the domestic like product
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigations,'' in the appendix to
this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioners provided
their own shipments of seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe in
2025 and compared this to the estimated total shipments of the domestic
like product for the entire domestic industry.\16\ Because total
production data for the domestic like product for 2025 are not
reasonably available to the petitioners, and the petitioners have
established that shipments are a reasonable proxy for production
data,\17\ we relied on data provided by the petitioners for purposes of
measuring industry support.\18\
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\16\ Id.
\17\ Id.; see also Tenaris Bay City, Inc. v. United States, No.
2025-1382, 2026 LX 545375, at *19 n.5 (Fed. Cir. Sep. 18, 2026).
\18\ See Attachment II of the Country-Specific AD Initiation
Checklists.
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Our review of the data provided in the Petitions, the First General
Issues Supplement, and other information readily available to Commerce
indicates that the petitioners have established industry support for
the Petitions.\19\ First, the Petitions established support from
domestic producers (or workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product and, as such,
Commerce is not required to take further action in order to evaluate
industry support (e.g., polling).\20\ Second, the domestic producers
(or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry support under
section 732(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the domestic producers (or
workers) who support the Petitions account for at least 25 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product.\21\ Finally, the
domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for
industry support under section 732(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the
domestic producers (or workers) who support the Petitions account for
more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like product
produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or
opposition to, the Petitions.\22\ Accordingly, Commerce determines that
the Petitions were filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the
meaning of section 732(b)(1) of the Act.\23\
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\19\ Id.
\20\ Id.; see also section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act.
\21\ See Attachment II of the Country-Specific AD Initiation
Checklists.
\22\ Id.
\23\ Id.
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Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation
The petitioners allege that the U.S. industry producing the
domestic like product is being materially injured, or is threatened
with material injury, by reason of the imports of the subject
merchandise sold at LTFV. In addition, the petitioners allege that
subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided for under
section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\24\
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\24\ For further discussion, see Country-Specific AD Initiation
Checklists at Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and Evidence
of Material Injury and Causation for the Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Seamless Carbon and Alloy
Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe from Georgia and India.
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The petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is
illustrated by a significant increase in the volume of subject imports;
underselling and price depression and/or suppression; negative impact
on financial performance; and declines in production, U.S. shipments,
and employment variables.\25\ We assessed the allegations and
supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat of material
injury, causation, cumulation, as well as negligibility, and we have
determined that these allegations are properly supported by adequate
evidence, and meet the statutory requirements for initiation.\26\
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\25\ Id.
\26\ Id.
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Allegations of Sales at LTFV
The following is a description of the allegations of sales at LTFV
upon which Commerce based its decision to initiate LTFV investigations
of imports of seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe from Georgia
and India. The sources of data for the deductions and adjustments
relating to U.S. price and normal value (NV) are discussed in greater
detail in the Georgia AD Initiation Checklist and India AD Initiation
Checklist.
U.S. Price
For Georgia and India, the petitioners based export price (EP) on
POI average unit values derived from official import statistics for
imports of seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe from each of the
respective countries.\27\ For each country, the petitioners made
certain adjustments to U.S. price to calculate a net ex-factory U.S.
price, where applicable.
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\27\ Id.
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Normal Value <SUP>28</SUP>
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\28\ In accordance with section 773(b)(2) of the Act, for the
India investigation, Commerce will request information necessary to
calculate the constructed value (CV) and COP to determine whether
there are reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that sales of the
foreign like product have been made at prices that represent less
than the COP of the product.
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For India, the petitioners based NV on home market pricing
information they obtained for seamless standard, line, and pressure
pipe produced in and sold, or offered for sale, in India during the
POI.\29\ The petitioners provided information indicating that the
prices for seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe sold or offered
for sale in India were below the COP. Therefore, for India, the
petitioners calculated NV based on CV. For further discussion of CV,
see the section ``Normal Value Based on Constructed Value.''
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\29\ See India AD Initiation Checklist.
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Commerce considers Georgia to be an NME country.\30\ In accordance
with section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, any determination that a foreign
country is
[[Page 70859]]
an NME country shall remain in effect until revoked by Commerce.
Therefore, we continue to treat Georgia as an NME country for purposes
of the initiation of the LTFV investigation. Accordingly, we base NV in
Georgia on FOPs valued in surrogate market economy countries in
accordance with section 773(C) of the Act.
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\30\ Georgia, formerly part of the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics (USSR), assumed the NME status of the USSR upon the
dissolution of the USSR, and, at that time, Commerce explained that
such status would remain in effect until revoked. See Preliminary
Determinations of Sales at less Than Fair Value: Uranium from
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan;
and Preliminary Determinations of Sales at Not Less Than Fair Value:
Uranium from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Byelarus, Georgia, Moldova and
Turkmenistan, 57 FR 23380, 23383 (June 3, 1992). To date, Commerce
has not revoked the NME status of Georgia.
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The petitioners claim that Brazil, Colombia, and Malaysia are
appropriate surrogate countries for Georgia because they are market
economy countries that are at a level of economic development
comparable to that of Georgia and are significant producers of
comparable merchandise.\31\ The petitioners provided publicly available
information from Brazil, Colombia, and Malaysia to value all FOPs.
Based on the information provided by the petitioners, we believe it is
appropriate to use Brazil, Colombia, and Malaysia as surrogate
countries for Georgia to value all FOPs for initiation purposes.
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\31\ See Georgia AD Initiation Checklist.
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Interested parties will have the opportunity to submit comments
regarding surrogate country selection and, pursuant to 19 CFR
351.301(c)(3)(i), will be provided an opportunity to submit publicly
available information to value FOPs within 30 days before the scheduled
date of the preliminary determination.
Factors of Production
Because information regarding the volume of inputs consumed by
Brazilian, Colombian, and Malaysian producers/exporters were not
reasonably available, the petitioners used a U.S. producer's production
experience and product-specific consumption rates as a surrogate to
value the Georgia manufacturer's FOPs.\32\ Additionally, for Georgia,
the petitioners calculated factory overhead, selling, general, and
administrative (SG&A) expenses, and profit based on the experiences of
Brazilian, Colombian, and Malaysian producers of comparable
merchandise.\33\
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\32\ Id.
\33\ Id.
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Normal Value Based on Constructed Value
As noted above, the petitioners provided information indicating
that the prices for seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe sold or
offered for sale in India were below the COP. Therefore, the
petitioners calculated NV based on CV.\34\
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\34\ See India AD Initiation Checklist.
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Pursuant to section 773(e) of the Act, the petitioners calculated
CV as the sum of the cost of manufacturing, SG&A expenses, financial
expenses, and profit.\35\ In calculating the cost of manufacturing, the
petitioners relied on a U.S. producer's production experience and input
consumption rates for seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe,
valued using publicly available information applicable to India.\36\ In
calculating SG&A expenses, financial expenses, and profit ratios, the
petitioners relied on the fiscal year 2025-26 financial statements of a
producer of comparable merchandise domiciled in India.
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\35\ Id.
\36\ Id.
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Fair Value Comparisons
Based on the data provided by the petitioners, there is reason to
believe that imports of seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe from
Georgia and India, are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United
States at LTFV. Based on comparisons of EP to NV in accordance with
sections 772 and 773 of the Act, the estimated dumping margins for
seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe for each of the countries
covered by this initiation are as follows: (1) Georgia (Brazil
Surrogate)--173.72 to 188.52 percent; Georgia (Colombia Surrogate)--
113.87 to 133.00 percent; Georgia (Malaysia Surrogate)--277.69 to
286.29 percent; and (2) India--41.03 to 63.57 percent.\37\
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\37\ See Country-Specific AD Initiation Checklists.
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Initiation of LTFV Investigations
Based upon the examination of the Petitions and supplemental
responses, we find that they meet the requirements of section 732 of
the Act. Therefore, we are initiating LTFV investigations to determine
whether imports of seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe from
Georgia and India are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United
States at LTFV. In accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Act and
19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary
determinations no later than 140 days after the date of this
initiation.
Respondent Selection
Georgia
In the Petitions, the petitioners identified three companies in
Georgia as producers and/or exporters of seamless standard, line, and
pressure pipe.\38\ Our standard practice in an AD investigation
involving an NME country is to select respondents based on quantity and
value (Q&V) questionnaires in cases where Commerce has determined that
the number of companies is large, and it cannot individually examine
each company based upon its resources. Therefore, considering the
number of producers and/or exporters identified in the Petitions,
Commerce will solicit Q&V information that can serve as a basis for
selecting exporters for individual examination in the event that
Commerce determines that the number is large and decides to limit the
number of respondents individually examined pursuant to section
777A(c)(2) of the Act. Given the number of producers and/or exporters
identified in the Petitions, Commerce has determined that it will issue
Q&V questionnaires to each potential respondent for which there is
complete address information on the record.
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\38\ See Petitions at Volume I (page 15 and Exhibit I-13).
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Commerce will post the Q&V questionnaire along with filing
instructions on Commerce's website at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/ec-adcvd-qv-questionnaire">https://www.trade.gov/ec-adcvd-qv-questionnaire</a>. Producers/exporters of seamless standard, line, and
pressure pipe from Georgia that do not receive Q&V questionnaires may
still submit a response to the Q&V questionnaire and can obtain a copy
of the Q&V questionnaire from Commerce's website. Responses to the Q&V
questionnaire must be submitted by the relevant Georgian producers/
exporters no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on November 18, 2026, which is two
weeks from the signature date of this notice. All Q&V questionnaire
responses must be filed electronically via ACCESS. An electronically
filed document must be received successfully, in its entirety, by
ACCESS no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the deadline noted above.
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
administrative protective order (APO) in accordance with 19 CFR
351.305(b). Instructions for filing such applications may be found on
Commerce's website at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders">https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders</a>.
India
In the Petitions, the petitioners identified 16 companies in India
as producers and/or exporters of seamless standard, line, and pressure
pipe.\39\ In the event Commerce determines that the number of companies
is large, and it cannot individually examine each company based on
Commerce's resources, where appropriate, Commerce intends to select
mandatory respondents based on Q&V questionnaires issued to potential
[[Page 70860]]
respondents. Following the standard practice in AD investigations
involving market economy countries, Commerce would normally select
respondents based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry
data for imports under the appropriate HTSUS subheadings listed in the
scope of the investigations. However, for these investigations, some of
the main HTSUS subheadings under which the subject merchandise would
enter (7304.19.1020, 7304.19.1030, 7304.19.1045, 7304.19.1060,
7304.19.5020, 7304.19.5050, 7304.31.6050, 7304.39.0016, 7304.39.0020,
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, 7304.51.5005, 7304.51.5060, 7304.59.6000)
are basket categories under which non-subject merchandise may also
enter. Therefore, instead of relying on CBP entry data in selecting
respondents, we intend to issue Q&V questionnaires to each potential
respondent for which there is complete address information on the
record.
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\39\ See Petitions at Volume I (page 15 and Exhibit I-14).
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Commerce will post the Q&V questionnaire along with filing
instructions on Commerce's website at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/ec-adcvd-qv-questionnaire">https://www.trade.gov/ec-adcvd-qv-questionnaire</a>. Producers/exporters of seamless standard, line, and
pressure pipe from India that do not receive Q&V questionnaires may
still submit a response to the Q&V questionnaire and can obtain a copy
of the Q&V questionnaire from Commerce's website. Responses to the Q&V
questionnaire must be submitted by the relevant Indian producers/
exporters no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on November 18, 2026, which is two
weeks from the signature date of this notice. All Q&V questionnaire
responses must be filed electronically via ACCESS. An electronically
filed document must be received successfully, in its entirety, by
ACCESS no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the deadline noted above.
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such
applications may be found on Commerce's website at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders">https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders</a>.
Separate Rates
In order to obtain separate rate status in an NME investigation,
exporters and producers must submit a separate rate application. The
specific requirements for submitting a separate rate application in an
NME investigation are outlined in detail in the application itself,
which is available on Commerce's website at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/non-market-economy-separate-rate-applications-and-certifications">https://www.trade.gov/non-market-economy-separate-rate-applications-and-certifications</a>. Note that
Commerce recently promulgated new regulations pertaining to separate
rates, including the separate rate application deadline and eligibility
for separate rate status, in 19 CFR 351.108.\40\ Pursuant to 19 CFR
351.108(d)(1), the separate rate application will be due 21 days after
publication of this initiation notice.\41\ Exporters and producers must
file a timely separate rate application if they want to be considered
for individual examination. In addition, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.108(e),
exporters and producers who submit a separate rate application and have
been selected as mandatory respondents will be eligible for
consideration for separate rate status only if they fully respond to
all parts of Commerce's AD questionnaire and participate in the LTFV
proceeding as mandatory respondents.\42\ Commerce requires that
companies from Georgia submit a response to the Q&V questionnaire and a
separate rate application by the respective deadlines to receive
consideration for separate rate status. Companies not filing a timely
Q&V questionnaire response will not receive separate rate
consideration.
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\40\ See Regulations Enhancing the Administration of the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Trade Remedy Laws, 89 FR 101694,
101759-60 (December 16, 2024).
\41\ See 19 CFR 351.108(d)(1).
\42\ See 19 CFR 351.108(e).
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Use of Combination Rates
Commerce will calculate combination rates for certain respondents
that are eligible for a separate rate in an NME investigation. The
Separate Rates and Combination Rates Bulletin states:
{w{time} hile continuing the practice of assigning separate rates
only to exporters, all separate rates that {Commerce{time} will now
assign in its NME investigation will be specific to those producers
that supplied the exporter during the period of investigation. Note,
however, that one rate is calculated for the exporter and all of the
producers which supplied subject merchandise to it during the period
of investigation. This practice applies both to mandatory
respondents receiving an individually calculated separate rate as
well as the pool of non-investigated firms receiving the {weighted
average{time} of the individually calculated rates. This practice
is referred to as the application of ``combination rates'' because
such rates apply to specific combinations of exporters and one or
more producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned to an exporter will
apply only to merchandise both exported by the firm in question and
produced by a firm that supplied the exporter during the period of
investigation.\43\
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\43\ See Enforcement and Compliance's Policy Bulletin No. 05.1,
regarding, ``Separate-Rates Practice and Application of Combination
Rates in Antidumping Investigation involving NME Countries,'' (April
5, 2005), at 6 (emphasis added), available on Commerce's website at
<a href="https://www.trade.gov/enforcement-and-compliance-policy-bulletins-0">https://www.trade.gov/enforcement-and-compliance-policy-bulletins-0</a>.
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Distribution of Copies of the Petitions
In accordance with section 732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.202(f), copies of the public versions of the Petitions have been
provided to the Governments of Georgia and India via ACCESS. To the
extent practicable, we will attempt to provide copies of the public
versions of the Petitions to each exporter named in the Petitions, as
provided under 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).
ITC Notification
Commerce will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by
section 732(d) of the Act.
Preliminary Determinations by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date
on which the Petitions were filed, whether there is a reasonable
indication that imports of seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe
from Georgia and/or India are materially injuring, or threatening
material injury to, a U.S. industry.\44\ A negative ITC determination
for any country will result in the investigation being terminated with
respect to that country.\45\ Otherwise, these LTFV investigations will
proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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\44\ See section 733(a) of the Act.
\45\ Id.
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Submission of Factual Information
Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i)
evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence
placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual
information described in (i)-(iv). Section 351.301(b) of Commerce's
regulations requires any party, when submitting factual information, to
specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information
is being submitted \46\ and, if the information is submitted to rebut,
clarify, or correct factual information already on the record, to
provide an explanation identifying the information already on the
record that the factual
[[Page 70861]]
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct.\47\ Time limits for
the submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301,
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual
information being submitted. Interested parties should review the
regulations prior to submitting factual information in these
investigations.
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\46\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
\47\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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Particular Market Situation Allegation
Section 773(e) of the Act addresses the concept of particular
market situation (PMS) for purposes of CV, stating that ``if a
particular market situation exists such that the cost of materials and
fabrication or other processing of any kind does not accurately reflect
the cost of production in the ordinary course of trade, the
administering authority may use another calculation methodology under
this subtitle or any other calculation methodology.'' When an
interested party submits a PMS allegation pursuant to section 773(e) of
the Act (i.e., a cost-based PMS allegation), the submission must be
filed in accordance with the requirements of 19 CFR 351.416(b), and
Commerce will respond to such a submission consistent with 19 CFR
351.301(c)(2)(v). If Commerce finds that a cost-based PMS exists under
section 773(e) of the Act, then it will modify its dumping calculations
appropriately.
Neither section 773(e) of the Act, nor 19 CFR 351.301(c)(2)(v),
sets a deadline for the submission of cost-based PMS allegations and
supporting factual information. However, in order to administer section
773(e) of the Act, Commerce must receive PMS allegations and supporting
factual information with enough time to consider the submission. Thus,
should an interested party wish to submit a cost-based PMS allegation
and supporting new factual information pursuant to section 773(e) of
the Act, it must do so no later than 20 days after submission of a
respondent's initial section D questionnaire response
We note that a PMS allegation filed pursuant to sections
773(a)(1)(B)(ii)(III) or 773(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act (i.e., a sales-
based PMS allegation) must be filed within 10 days of submission of a
respondent's initial section B questionnaire response, in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.301(c)(2)(i) and 19 CFR 351.404(c)(2).
Extensions of Time Limits
Parties may request an extension of time limits before the
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as
otherwise specified by Commerce. In general, an extension request will
be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the time
limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as otherwise specified by
Commerce.\48\ For submissions that are due from multiple parties
simultaneously, an extension request will be considered untimely if it
is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. Under certain
circumstances, Commerce may elect to specify a different time limit by
which extension requests will be considered untimely for submissions
which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such a case, we
will inform parties in a letter or memorandum of the deadline
(including a specified time) by which extension requests must be filed
to be considered timely. An extension request must be made in a
separate, standalone submission; under limited circumstances we will
grant untimely filed requests for the extension of time limits, where
we determine, based on 19 CFR 351.302, that extraordinary circumstances
exist. Parties should review Commerce's regulations concerning the
extension of time limits and the Time Limits Final Rule prior to
submitting factual information in these investigations.\49\
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\48\ See 19 CFR 351.301; see also Extension of Time Limits;
Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 (September 20, 2013) (Time Limits Final
Rule), available at <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm">https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm</a>.
\49\ See 19 CFR 351.302; see also, e.g., Time Limits Final Rule.
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Certification Requirements
Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\50\
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR
351.303(g).\51\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the
submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification
requirements.
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\50\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
\51\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2023) (Final Rule). Additional
information regarding the Final Rule is available at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/FAQ%20for%20Certifications.pdf?v=1787683944756">https://www.trade.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/FAQ%20for%20Certifications.pdf?v=1787683944756</a>.
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Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Parties wishing to participate
in these investigations should ensure that they meet the requirements
of 19 CFR 351.103(d) (e.g., by filing the required letter of
appearance). Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements
pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\52\
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\52\ See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other
Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR
67069 (September 29, 2023).
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This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 732(c)(2)
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).
Dated: November 4, 2026.
Scot Fullerton,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Operations.
Appendix
Scope of the Investigations
The merchandise covered by these investigations is seamless
carbon and alloy steel (other than stainless steel) pipes and redraw
hollows, less than or equal to 16 inches (406.4 mm) in nominal
outside diameter, regardless of wall-thickness, manufacturing
process (e.g., hot finished or cold-drawn), end finish (e.g., plain
end, beveled end, upset end, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or
surface finish (e.g., bare, lacquered or coated). Redraw hollows are
any unfinished carbon or alloy steel (other than stainless steel)
pipe or ``hollow profiles'' suitable for cold finishing operations,
such as cold drawing, to meet the American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) or American Petroleum Institute (API)
specifications referenced below, or comparable specifications.
Specifically included within the scope are seamless carbon and alloy
steel (other than stainless steel) standard, line, and pressure
pipes produced to the ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-333, ASTM A-334,
ASTM A-589, ASTM A-795, ASTM A-1024, and the API 5L specifications,
or comparable specifications, and meeting the physical parameters
described above, regardless of application, with the exception of
the exclusions discussed below.
Specifically excluded from the scope of these investigations
are: (1) all pipes meeting aerospace, hydraulic, and bearing tubing
specifications, including: (a) aerospace tubing produced to SAE
Aerospace Material Specifications (AMS) 6360, 6361, and 6362; (b)
hydraulic tubing produced to ASTM A-822, SAE J524, and EN 10305-4
specifications; and (c) bearing tubing produced to the SAE AMS 6440
specification, including bearing tubing manufactured from steel
meeting the chemical and metallurgical requirements of ASTM A-295;
(2) all pipes meeting the chemical requirements of ASTM A-335,
whether finished or unfinished; (3) unattached couplings; (4) all
mechanical, boiler, condenser and heat exchange tubing, except when
such products conform to the dimensional requirements, i.e., outside
diameter and wall thickness, of ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106 or API 5L
specifications; (5) oil country tubular goods consisting of drill
pipe, casing, tubing, and coupling stock; and
[[Page 70862]]
(6) all pipes meeting the chemical requirements of ASTM A-335
regardless of their conformity to the dimensional requirements of
ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106 or API 5L.
Subject seamless standard, line, and pressure pipe are normally
entered under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) subheadings 7304.19.1020, 7304.19.1030, 7304.19.1045,
7304.19.1060, 7304.19.5020, 7304.19.5050, 7304.31.6050,
7304.39.0016, 7304.39.0020, 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, 7304.51.5005, 7304.51.5060,
7304.59.6000, 7304.59.8010, 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, and 7304.59.8070. Subject merchandise may also enter
under HTSUS subheadings 7304.31.6010, 7304.39.0002, 7304.39.0004,
7304.39.0006, 7304.39.0008, 7304.51.5015, 7304.51.5045,
7304.59.2030, 7304.59.2040, 7304.59.2045, 7304.59.2055, and
7304.59.2060. The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided
for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the
scope is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2026-22835 Filed 11-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 9, 2026.
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