Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe from China (P)

INSTRUCTION BOOKLET
GENERAL INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS, AND
DEFINITIONS FOR COMMISSION QUESTIONNAIRES

Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard,
Line, and Pressure Pipe From China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-469 and 731-TA-1168 (Preliminary)

Further information.--If you have any questions concerning the enclosed
questionnaire(s) or other matters related to these investigations, you may contact
the following members of the Commission=s staff (Fax 202-205-3205):
Joanna Lo, investigator (202-205-1888; E-mail [email protected])
regarding general questions and trade and related information;
Charles Yost, auditor (202-205-3432; E-mail [email protected])
regarding financial information; and
Clark Workman, economist (202-205-3248; E-mail [email protected])
regarding pricing, market, and related information.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Background.--These investigations were instituted in response to a petition filed on September 16,
2009, counsel on behalf of U.S. Steel Corp., Pittsburgh, PA and V&M Star L.P., Houston, TX.
Countervailing and/or antidumping duties may be assessed on the subject imports as a result of
these investigations if the Commission makes affirmative determination(s) of injury, threat, or
material retardation, and if the U.S. Department of Commerce makes affirmative determination(s)
of subsidization and/or dumping.
Questionnaires and other information pertinent to these investigations are available at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2009/seamless_SLP_pipe/pr
elimphase.htm. Address all correspondence to the United States International Trade Commission,
Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired individuals can obtain information regarding these
investigations via the Commission=s TDD terminal (202-205-1810).
Due date of questionnaire(s).--Return the completed questionnaire(s) to the United States
International Trade Commission by no later than SEPTEMBER 30, 2009. Although the
enclosed postpaid envelope may be used to return the completed questionnaire, use of an overnight
mail service may be necessary to ensure that your response actually reaches the Commission by
September 30, 2009. If you do not use the enclosed envelope, please make sure the completed
questionnaire is sent to the attention of Joanna Lo. Return only one copy of the completed
questionnaire(s), but please keep a copy for your records so that you can refer to it if the
Commission staff contacts you with any questions during the course of the investigations.
Service of questionnaire response(s).--In the event that your firm is a party to these investigations,
you are required to serve a copy of the questionnaire(s), once completed, on parties to the
proceeding that are subject to administrative protective order (see 19 CFR ' 207.7). A list of such
parties is maintained by the Commission=s Secretary and may be obtained by calling
202-205-1803. A certificate of service must accompany the copy of the completed questionnaire(s)
you submit (see 19 CFR ' 207.7).
Confidentiality.--The commercial and financial data furnished in response to the enclosed
questionnaire(s) that reveal the individual operations of your firm will be treated as confidential by
the Commission to the extent that such data are not otherwise available to the public and will not
be disclosed except as may be required by law (see 19 U.S.C. ' 1677f). Such confidential
information will not be published in a manner that will reveal the individual operations of your
firm; however, nonnumerical characterizations of numerical business proprietary information
(such as discussion of trends) will be treated as confidential business information only at the
request of the submitter for good cause shown.
Verification.--The information submitted in the enclosed questionnaire(s) is subject to audit
and verification by the Commission. To facilitate possible verification of data, please keep
all your workpapers and supporting documents used in the preparation of the questionnaire
response(s).

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GENERAL INFORMATION--Continued
Release of information.--The information provided by your firm in response to the
questionnaire(s), as well as any other business proprietary information submitted by your firm to
the Commission in connection with the investigations, may become subject to, and released under,
the administrative protective order provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. ' 1677f) and
section 207.7 of the Commission=s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR ' 207.7). This means
that certain lawyers and other authorized individuals may temporarily be given access to the
information for use in connection with these investigations or other import-injury investigations
conducted by the Commission on the same or similar merchandise; those individuals would be
subject to severe penalties if the information were divulged to unauthorized individuals. In
addition, if your firm is a U.S. producer, the information you provide on your production and
imports of certain seamless carbon and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe and your
responses to the questions in Part I of the producer questionnaire will be provided to the U.S.
Department of Commerce, upon its request, for use in connection with (and only in connection
with) its requirement pursuant to sections 702(c)(4) and 732(c)(4) of the Act (19 U.S.C. '
1671a(c)(4) and 1673a(c)(4)) to make a determination concerning the extent of industry support
for the petition requesting these investigations. Any information provided to Commerce will be
transmitted under the confidentiality and release guidelines set forth above. Your response to
these questions constitutes your consent that such information be provided to Commerce under the
conditions described above.

INSTRUCTIONS
Answer all questions.--Do not leave any question or section blank unless a questionnaire
expressly directs you to skip over certain questions or sections. If the answer to any question is
Anone,@ write Anone.@ If information is not readily available from your records in exactly the
form requested, furnish carefully prepared estimates--designated as such by the letter
AE@--and explain the basis of your estimates. Answers to questions and any necessary
comments or explanations should be supplied in the space provided or on separate sheets attached
to the appropriate page of the questionnaire(s). If your firm is completing more than one
questionnaire in connection with these investigations (i.e., a producer, importer, and/or purchaser
questionnaire), you need not respond to duplicated questions in the questionnaires.
Consolidate all U.S. establishments.--Report the requested data for your establishment(s) located
in the United States. Firms operating more than one establishment should combine the data
for all establishments into a single report.
Filing instructions.—Questionnaires may be filed either in paper form or electronically.

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INSTRUCTIONS--Continued
OPTIONS FOR FILING IN PAPER FORM
• Overnight mail service.—Mail to the following address:
United States International Trade Commission
Office of Investigations, Room 615
500 E Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
• Fax.—Fax to 202.205.3205.
• U.S. mail.—Mail to the address above, but use zip code 20436. This option is not recommended.
U.S. mail sent to government offices undergoes additional processing to screen for hazardous
materials; this additional processing results in substantial delays in delivery.
OPTIONS FOR FILING ELECTRONICALLY
This questionnaire is available as a “fillable” form in MS Word format on the
Commission’s website at
http://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/2009/seamles
s_SLP_pipe/prelimphase.htm.
Please do not attempt to modify the format or permissions of the questionnaire document. You
may complete the questionnaire electronically, print it out, and submit it in paper form as
described above, or you may submit it electronically through one of the following means:
• Compact disc (CD).—Copy your questionnaire onto a CD, include a signed certification page
(page 1) (either in paper form or scanned PDF copied onto CD), and mail to the address above. It
is strongly recommended that you use an overnight mail service. U.S. mail sent to government
offices undergoes additional processing which not only results in substantial delays in delivery but
may also damage CDs.
• E-mail.—E-mail your questionnaire to the investigator identified on page 1 of the Instruction
Booklet; include a scanned PDF of the signed certification page (page 1). Type the following in
the e-mail subject line: BPI Questionnaire, INV. NOS. 701-TA-469 and 731-TA-1168. Please
note that submitting your questionnaire by e-mail may subject your firm’s business proprietary
information to transmission over an unsecure environment and to possible disclosure. If you
choose this option, the Commission warns you that any risk involving possible disclosure of such
information is assumed by the submitter and not by the Commission.
Note: If you are a party to the investigations, and service of the questionnaire is required,
such service should be made in paper form.

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DEFINITIONS
Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure pipe (“seamless SLP
pipe”).--Seamless SLP pipe comprise seamless carbon and alloy (other than stainless) steel
standard, line, and pressure pipes and redraw hollows produced, or equivalent, to the American
Society for Testing and Materials ("ASTM") A-53, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-333, ASTM A-334,
ASTM A-335, ASTM A-589, ASTM A-795, and the American Petroleum Institute ("API") 5L
specifications and meeting the physical parameters described in appendix A. The scope of these
investigations also includes all other products used in standard, line, or pressure pipe applications
and meeting the physical parameters described below and in appendix A, regardless of
specification, with the exception of the exclusions discussed below.
Specifically included within the scope are seamless pipes and redraw hollows, less than
or equal to 16 inches (406.4 mm) in outside diameter, regardless of wall-thickness,
manufacturing process (hot-finished or cold-drawn), end finish (plain end, beveled end,
upset end, threaded, or threaded and coupled), or surface finish (bare, lacquered or
coated).
Specifically excluded from the scope are: (a) boiler tubing and mechanical tubing, if
such products are not produced to ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-333, ASTM
A-334, ASTM A-335, ASTM A-589, ASTM A-795, and API 5L specifications and are
not used in standard, line, or pressure pipe applications, and (b) finished and unfinished
oil country tubular goods ("OCTG"), if covered by the scope of an antidumping duty
order from the same country. If not covered by such an OCTG order, finished and
unfinished OCTG are included in the scope when used in standard, line, or pressure
applications.
The merchandise covered by this proceeding is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) under statistical reporting numbers: 7304.19.1020,
7304.19.1030, 7304.19.1045, 7304.19.1060, 7304.19.5020, 7304.19.5050, 7304.31.3000,
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.
Prior to February 3, 2007, the merchandise covered by this proceeding was classified in the
HTSUS under statistical reporting numbers: 7304.10.1020, 7304.10.1030, 7304.10.1045,
7304.10.1060, 7304.10.5020, 7304.10.5050, 7304.31.3000, 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.
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DEFINITIONS--Continued
Small diameter seamless SLP pipe.--Small diameter seamless SLP pipe refer to subject
seamless SLP pipes that are less than or equal to 114.3 mm (4.5 inches) in outside diameter,
regardless of wall thickness.
Large diameter seamless SLP pipe.--Large diameter seamless SLP pipe refer to subject
seamless SLP pipes that greater than 114.3 mm (4.5 inches) but less than or equal to 406.4
mm (16.0 inches) in outside diameter, regardless of wall thickness.
Firm.--An individual proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation
(including any subsidiary corporation), business trust, cooperative, trustee in bankruptcy, or
receiver under decree of any court.
Related firm.--A firm that your firm solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled; a
firm that solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm; and/or a firm that
was solely or jointly owned, managed, or otherwise controlled by a firm that also solely or jointly
owned, managed, or otherwise controlled your firm.
Establishment.--Each facility of a firm in the United States involved in the production,
importation, and/or purchase of seamless SLP pipe (as defined above), including auxiliary
facilities operated in conjunction with (whether or not physically separate from) such facilities.
United States.--For purposes of these investigations, the 50 States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the District of Columbia.
Importer.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or subsidiary,
in importing seamless SLP pipe (as defined above) into the United States from a foreign
manufacturer or through its selling agent.
Imports.--Those products identified for Customs purposes as imports for consumption for which
your firm was the importer of record (i.e., was responsible for paying any import duty) or
consignee (i.e., to which the merchandise was first delivered).
Import quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Import values.--Values reported should be landed, duty-paid values at the U.S. port of
entry, including ocean freight and insurance costs, brokerage charges, and import duties (i.e., all
charges except inland freight in the United States).
Purchaser.--Any person or firm engaged, either directly or through a parent company or
subsidiary, in purchasing seamless SLP pipe (as defined above) from another firm that produces,
imports, or otherwise distributes seamless SLP pipe. A retail firm that is the importer of record
may be considered a purchaser.

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DEFINITIONS--Continued
Purchases.--Purchases from all sources, NOT including direct imports from foreign producers
(which should be reported in an importer questionnaire).
Purchase quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Purchase values.--Values reported should be net values (i.e., gross purchase values less all
discounts, allowances, rebates, and the value of returned goods), delivered to your U.S.
receiving point.
Shipments.--Shipments of products produced in or imported by your U.S. establishment(s).
Include shipments to the contracting firm of product produced by your firm under a toll agreement.
Shipment quantities.--Quantities reported should be net of returns.
Shipment values.--Values reported should be net values (i.e., gross sales values less all
discounts, allowances, rebates, prepaid freight, and the value of returned goods), f.o.b.
your U.S. point of shipment. The value of domestic shipments to the contracting firm
under a toll agreement is the conversion fee (including profit).
Types of shipments:
U.S. shipments.--Commercial shipments, internal consumption, and transfers to related
firms within the United States.
Commercial shipments.--Shipments, other than internal consumption and transfers
to related firms, within the United States.
Internal consumption.--Product consumed internally by your firm.
Transfers to related firms.--Shipments made to related domestic firms.
Export shipments.--Shipments to destinations outside the United States, including
shipments to related firms.
Inventories.--Finished goods inventory, not raw materials or work-in-progress.
The following definitions apply only to the PRODUCER QUESTIONNAIRE.
Average production capacity.--The level of production that your establishment(s) could
reasonably have expected to attain during the specified periods. Assume normal operating
conditions (i.e., using equipment and machinery in place and ready to operate; normal operating
levels (hours per week/weeks per year) and time for downtime, maintenance, repair, and cleanup;
and a typical or representative product mix).
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DEFINITIONS--Continued
Toll agreement.--Agreement between two firms whereby the first firm furnishes the raw materials
and the second firm uses the raw materials to produce a product that it then returns to the first firm
with a charge for processing costs, overhead, etc.
Production.--All production in your U.S. establishment(s), including production consumed
internally within your firm and production for another firm under a toll agreement.
PRWs.--Production and related workers, including working supervisors and all nonsupervisory
workers (including group leaders and trainees) engaged in fabricating, processing, assembling,
inspecting, receiving, storage, handling, packing, warehousing, shipping, trucking, hauling,
maintenance, repair, janitorial and guard services, product development, auxiliary production for
plant=s own use (e.g., power plant), recordkeeping, and other services closely associated with the
above production operations.
Average number employed.--Add the number of employees, both full-time and part-time, for the
12 pay periods ending closest to the 15th of the month and divide that total by 12. For the
January-June periods, calculate similarly and divide by 6.
Hours worked.--Include time paid for sick leave, holidays, and vacation time. Include overtime
hours actually worked; do not convert overtime pay to its equivalent in straight-time hours.
Wages paid.--Total wages paid before deductions of any kind (e.g., withholding taxes, old-age and
unemployment insurance, group insurance, union dues, bonds, etc.). Include wages paid directly
by your firm for overtime, holidays, vacations, and sick leave.
Fiscal year.--The 12-month period between settlement of your firm=s financial accounts.
Purchases other than direct imports.--Purchases from U.S. producers, U.S. importers, and other
U.S. sources.

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APPENDIX A
SPECIFICATIONS, CHARACTERISTICS, AND USES
OF SEAMLESS SLP PIPE

APPENDIX A
Seamless pressure pipes are intended for the conveyance of water, steam, petrochemicals,
chemicals, oil products, natural gas, and other liquids and gasses in industrial piping systems.
They may carry these substances at elevated pressures and temperatures and may be subject to
the application of external heat. Seamless carbon steel pressure pipe meeting the ASTM A-106
standard may be used in temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, at various American
Society of Mechanical Engineers ("ASME") code stress levels. Alloy pipes made to ASTM A335 standard must be used if temperatures and stress levels exceed those allowed for ASTM A106. Seamless pressure pipes sold in the United States are commonly produced to the ASTM A106 standard.
Seamless standard pipes are most commonly produced to the ASTM A-53 specification and
generally are not intended for high temperature service. They are intended for the low
temperature and pressure conveyance of water, steam, natural gas, air and other liquids and
gasses in plumbing and heating systems, air conditioning units, automatic sprinkler systems, and
other related uses. Standard pipes (depending on type and code) may carry liquids at elevated
temperatures but must not exceed relevant ASME code requirements. If exceptionally low
temperature uses or conditions are anticipated, standard pipe may be manufactured to ASTM A333 or ASTM A-334 specifications.
Seamless line pipes are intended for the conveyance of oil and natural gas or other fluids in pipe
lines. Seamless line pipes are produced to the API 5L specification.
Seamless water well pipe (ASTM A-589) and seamless galvanized pipe for fire protection uses
(ASTM A-795) are used for the conveyance of water.
Seamless pipes are commonly produced and certified to meet ASTM A-106, ASTM A-53, API
5L-B, and API 5L-X42 specifications. To avoid maintaining separate production runs and
separate inventories, manufacturers typically triple or quadruple certify the pipes by meeting the
metallurgical requirements and performing the required tests pursuant to the respective
specifications. Since distributors sell the vast majority of this product, they can thereby maintain
a single inventory to service all customers.
The primary applications of ASTM A-106 pressure pipes and triple or quadruple certified pipes
are: (1) use in oil and gas distribution lines for commercial applications; (2) use in pressure
piping systems by refineries, petrochemical plants, and chemical plants; (3) use in power
generation plants (electrical-fossil fuel or nuclear) and (4) use in some oil field uses (on shore
and off shore) such as for separator lines, gathering lines, and metering runs. These applications
constitute the majority of the market for the subject seamless pipe. However, ASTM A-106
pipes may be used in some boiler applications.
Redraw hollows are any unfinished pipe or "hollow profiles" of carbon or alloy steel transformed
by hot rolling or cold drawing / hydrostatic testing or other methods to enable the material to be
sold under ASTM A-53, ASTM A-106, ASTM A-333, ASTM A-334, ASTM A-335, ASTM A589, ASTM A-795, and API 5L specifications.

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APPENDIX A—Continued
The scope of these investigations includes all seamless pipe meeting the physical parameters
described above and produced to one of the specifications listed above, regardless of application,
with the exception of the specific exclusions discussed below, whether or not also certified to a
non-covered specification. Standard, line, and pressure applications and the above-listed
specifications are defining characteristics of the scope of these investigations. Therefore,
seamless pipes meeting the physical description above, but not produced to the ASTM A-53,
ASTM A-106, ASTM A-333, ASTM A-334, ASTM A-335, ASTM A-589, ASTM A-795, and
API 5L specifications shall be covered if used in a standard, line, or pressure application, with
the exception of the specific exclusions for boiler tubing, mechanical tubing, and OCTG
discussed earlier in the product definition.
For example, there are certain other ASTM specifications of pipe which, because of overlapping
characteristics, could potentially be used in ASTM A-106 applications. These specifications
generally include ASTM A-161, ASTM A-192, ASTM A-210, ASTM A-252, ASTM A-501,
ASTM A-523, ASTM A-524, and ASTM A-618. When such pipes are used in a standard, line,
or pressure pipe application, with the exception of the specific exclusions for boiler tubing,
mechanical tubing, and OCTG discussed earlier in the product definition, such products are
covered by the scope of these investigations.

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