SC OCTG1 2019 SP
Certain Seamless Casing and Oil Country Tubular Goods
Statement of Essential Facts

[14] The name and address of the Applicant is as follows:

Western Alliance Tubulars Ltd.
9510-56 Avenue NW,
Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5W7

[15] Western Alliance, is a privately held Indigenous company, located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with the Moosomin First Nation being a major shareholder, which sells IT/VIT as a Canadian reseller. Western Alliance maintains an active operating interest and 49% unexercised equity option in Victoria International Tubular Corporation (Victoria)^{Footnote 9}. According to the administrative record and the CBSA’s research, Victoria is the sole producer of IT/VIT that is marketed and sold by Western Alliance.

[16] A copy of the non-confidential version of the scope ruling Application filed by Western Alliance is available on the CBSA’s Listings of Exhibits website at https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/sp-pp/scoctg12019/scoctg12019-ex-eng.html

[17] CBSA officers met company officials from both Western Alliance and Victoria and visited the production facilities of IT/VIT on June 13, 2019 in Edmonton, Alberta. Additional information relevant to this scope proceeding was provided by Western Alliance at the meeting^{Footnote 10} and before the closing of the record.^{Footnote 11} CBSA officers were also provided with a tour of the Western Alliance and Victoria production facility, where Victoria provided a demonstration of the manufacturing process of IT/VIT.

[18] At the initiation of the scope proceeding, the CBSA identified Victoria as the only Canadian producer of IT/VIT, based on information contained in the Application and the CBSA’s own research.

[19] In respect of seamless casing and OCTG, producers in Canada include Tenaris Canada (Tenaris), Evraz Inc. NA Canada (Evraz) and Welded Tube of Canada (Welded Tube).

[20] The CBSA sent a Producer Request for Information (RFI) to each of these parties and received a submission from Tenaris Canada.^{Footnote 12}

[21] At the initiation of the scope proceeding, the CBSA identified 42 known importers of OCTG and seamless casing based on the CBSA’s most recent expiry review investigations concerning these goods, and information available through the monitoring of import activity.

[22] The CBSA sent an Importer RFI to all known importers of OCTG and seamless casing. The CBSA received submissions from five importers, namely, ANDMIR Group Canada Inc. (ANDMIR),^{Footnote 13} Continental Steel Corporation (Continental Steel),^{Footnote 14} Exceed (Canada) Oilfield Equipment Inc. (Exceed),^{Footnote 15} Hallmark Tubulars Ltd. (Hallmark Tubulars)^{Footnote 16} and Imex Canada (Imex)^{Footnote 17}

[23] The CBSA also received a submission concerning the scope proceeding that was not a direct response to the importer RFI from Major Pipe & Supply Ltd.^{Footnote 18}

[24] At the initiation of the scope proceeding, the CBSA identified 27 known and potential exporters and/or producers of subject goods based on information from the most recent expiry reviews concerning the like goods and the CBSA’s ongoing monitoring of export activity.

[25] The CBSA sent an Exporter RFI to all known exporters and/or producers. The CBSA received a submission from three exporter/producers of the goods subject to the Application, namely, Golden Ring Industrial Ltd. (Golden Ring),^{Footnote 19} Tianjin Pipe Corporation (TPCO)^{Footnote 20} and Zibo Freet Thermal Tech Co., Ltd. (Zibo).^{Footnote 21}

Western Alliance Tubulars Ltd.^{Footnote 22}

[28] Western Alliance, located in Edmonton, Alberta filed the Application for a scope ruling.

[29] Western Alliance contends that “[t]here are two very strong supporting arguments to accept IT/VIT under the current product definitions of OCTG 1 and seamless casing: 1) IT/VIT is generally considered as OCTG and used as OCTG in the field, and 2) IT/VIT can be easily, and at low cost, disassembled into its original basic API 5CT casing/tubing components.”^{Footnote 23}

[30] Western Alliance stated that IT/VIT has been utilized for years in the thermal-enhanced oil recovery of extremely viscous crude oils and that since the 1980’s millions of meters of IT/VIT have been sold within Canada and the United States (US).

[31] They explained that IT/VIT is used in steam injection wells in SAGD operations in the oil sands and also in CSS in heavy oil fields. IT/VIT can also be used in conventional deep oil producing wells in place of bare API 5CT casing and tubing. They also stated that industry has been using IT/VIT as casing and tubing in steam injection wells for SAGD projects in the oil sands for over a decade.

[32] Western Alliance noted that there is currently no standard in the manufacturing of IT/VIT and that production processes are proprietary and the composition is all dependant on what insulation value one wishes to achieve. They also provided a list of the inputs that may form part of IT/VIT, which included a coupling, seal ring, insulator, insulation sleeve, outer tube, vacuum annulus, getter material, refractory insulation wrap and inner tube.

[33] Western Alliance explained that during the time of the dumping cases of OCTG 1 and seamless casing in 2010 and 2008 respectively, there were no manufacturers of IT/VIT in Canada. At that time, only the US, China, Russia, and France had operating manufacturers of IT/VIT. Victoria was only established as the first manufacturer of IT/VIT in Canada in 2017. For this reason, Western Alliance claims that the product definition under these measures did not identify IT/VIT as it did with green tube and other proprietary products that may not fall under the API 5CT specification, but are considered to be OCTG. They stated that the Chinese manufacturers have taken advantage of IT/VIT not being included in the product definition of these dumping cases.

[34] Western Alliance stated that both industry and IT/VIT manufacturers consider IT/VIT to be classified as OCTG because it substitutes for casing and tubing. They added that both the inner and outer tube of the IT/VIT used in SAGD and production wells are made to API 5CT specifications, which includes diameters, wall thickness dimensions, and grades (J55, L80, P110), as well as all other governing specifications. They also provided letters from Hunting Energy Services Ltd. and Hallmark Tubulars Ltd. supporting the classification of IT/VIT as OCTG.^{Footnote 24}

[35] To add to their position that IT/VIT would be considered OCTG, Western Alliance included two links to the Canadian Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA). The first link shows COSIA's Greenhouse Gas projects and the second link shows IT/VIT as one of COSIA's GHG projects.^{Footnote 25}

[36] Lastly, Western Alliance explained that as a pipe processor, they are very concerned that IT/VIT imported from China can be easily disassembled to its original casing/tubing components and distributed into the market as API 5CT casing or tubing. They stated that if this were to occur, their domestic tubing plant would be competing with goods that have circumvented anti-dumping and countervailing duties. This coupled with the fact that IT/VIT does not have its own tariff classification number means there is no way of determining the amount of IT/VIT being imported into Canada that could be transformed into basic API 5CT casing and tubing.

[37] Following the CBSA’s visit to Western Alliance and Victoria on June 13, 2019, Western Alliance provided supplemental information. Notable information submitted has been summarized below to the extent possible given the designation of certain information as confidential.

[38] The Applicant provided a list of the IT/VIT products they sell from Canada, a list of the products they import into Canada, a list of their domestic customers of IT/VIT, their IT/VIT price list and outlined the cost of disassembling IT/VIT, which entailed both the cost of cutting and separating the input tubing as well as the cost of material disposal. All of the aforementioned information was designated as confidential.

[39] They also submitted confidential manufacturing costs of IT/VIT in China, which breakdown costing for all inputs and processes required in the manufacturing process.

[40] Western Alliance submitted a production process flow chart and a production process description, which they undertake when manufacturing IT/VIT. These two items were designated as confidential.

[41] Western Alliance explained IT/VIT`s role within the drilling string by stating that in SAGD steam injection IT/VIT is used to the heel of the well up to the 7” slotted liner just as the bare casing/tubing would be. The SAGD oil producing well is the whole string after the slotted liner. In general, in CSS and other oil producing strings, the entire string would be comprised of IT/VIT.

[42] In response to a question regarding whether the inner and outer input tubes in IT/VIT can be of different API 5CT grades Western Alliance stated that all API 5CT steel grades can be used in any combination as an inner tube and outer tube for IT/VIT.

[43] In regards to the existence of a Chinese standard for IT/VIT, the Applicant responded that they are aware of the Chinese standard “SY/T 5324-2013” indicating that the Chinese manufacture the product differently than other manufacturers such as TMK, Vallourec, Majus, and Western Alliance. Inputs such as insulation, getter, foil, and welding procedures may be different as they are proprietary in nature.

[44] Western Alliance expanded on its previously submitted information to the CBSA in an effort to address that IT/VIT, given its required use and API 5CT components, must be manufactured to perform the same as bare API 5CT casing and tubing where both are considered OCTG. In order to justify their claim, Western Alliance stated that IT/VIT must meet the same tensile properties along with the same API 5CT finishing requirements. All finishing requirements for API 5CT casing and tubing are identical to IT/VIT.

[45] Lastly, Western Alliance summarized that their initial Application, supplemental information, CBSA facility tour and documents provided exhibiting further information citing API 5CT and supporting notes from professional engineers from industry, consulting firms, and oil field services, overwhelmingly point to the fact the IT/VIT can be used and is used in the place of bare API 5CT casing and tubing.

Hallmark Tubulars (Hallmark)^{Footnote 26}

[46] Hallmark, located in Calgary, Alberta, is an importer of IT/VIT from the US.^{Footnote 27}

[47] Hallmark agreed with the Applicant’s position. Hallmark stated that all applications for which they have imported IT/VIT have been for OCTG. Hallmark stated that they have worked on an exercise with one of their customers to evaluate the feasibility of disassembling used VIT for re-use or disposal, and determined that the costs were not excessive compared to the cost of the used IT/VIT or standard OCTG.^{Footnote 28}

[48] Hallmark also stated that IT/VIT can be imported without a connection on either end. To convert material into standard OCTG, Hallmark stated that only a simple saw cut on both ends is required to release the vacuum. The inner tube can then slide out from within the outer tube. Hallmark stated that this process would result in two pieces of tubular goods manufactured to API 5CT specification.

[49] One would then need to thread an OCTG connection on each pipe end and install couplings.^{Footnote 29}

Tenaris Canada (Tenaris)^{Footnote 30}

[50] Tenaris Canada is the collective name for two OCTG production facilities in Canada, owned by Tenaris, namely, Prudential Steel and Algoma Tubes.

[51] In addressing the question posed by the scope proceeding, Tenaris identified key elements of the product definitions for seamless casing and OCTG 1 to be considered in arguing that IT/VIT does fall under those descriptions. Those elements were:

• the goods must be OCTG (either casing or tubing, but not drill pipe);
• the goods must meet or be supplied to meet API 5CT or equivalent standards; and
• outer diameter size requirements.

[52] In addressing these elements, Tenaris proceeded to explain how IT/VIT met each of the seamless casing and OCTG 1 product definitions.

[53] Tenaris stated that IT/VIT is a tubular steel product used downhole in oil and gas wells to facilitate the extraction of oil and is generally used in a well-completion application, like tubing, rather than to reinforce a well-bore, like casing. Tenaris stated that this demonstrates that IT/VIT should be classified as OCTG.

[54] Tenaris also stated that IT/VIT is made to API 5CT or equivalent specifications due to the fact that it is essentially a piece of API 5CT or equivalent piece of casing or tubing, enclosed in an outer layer of insulation, including an outer layer of pipe.

[55] They clarified that the insulation and outer layer of pipe does not detract from the API 5CT characteristics (e.g. mechanical, dimensional, or chemical) of the inner casing or tubing. Tenaris stated that the existence of API 5CT casing or tubing at the core of IT/VIT is consistent with the Applicant’s second argument that IT/VIT can easily, and at low cost, be disassembled into its original basic API 5CT casing and tubing components.

[56] Tenaris stated that IT/VIT is generally functionally interchangeable with conventional non-insulated OCTG tubing because it can be used in place of non-insulated tubing to carry fluids or gases through the well the same way that non-insulated tubing would. Tenaris clarified that non-insulated tubing can be used instead of IT/VIT in certain applications (e.g. SAGD), although it may not perform as well.

[57] Tenaris added that in deciding between IT/VIT and non-insulated tubing, oil and gas producers will simply make an economic decision by weighing the potential benefits of IT/VIT (e.g. faster oil production) against the potential detriments (e.g. increased cost of IT/VIT).

[58] Regarding insulation, Tenaris added that there is no qualifier in either product definition that restricts the coverage to non-insulated OCTG.

[59] Tenaris explained that the faster oil production which may be enabled by IT/VIT is not necessarily better. The revenue derived from a well is determined by the price at which the oil is sold at the time it is produced. A given well will produce the same volume of oil during its lifespan, regardless of whether IT/VIT or non-insulated tubing is used.

[60] Tenaris stated that if dumped/subsidized IT/VIT is excluded from the measures, there is a risk that unfairly traded IT/VIT could be used in place of domestically produced tubing, resulting in injury to the domestic market.

[61] Tenaris also claimed that the Applicant was not the only company negatively affected by unfairly traded IT/VIT from China. Tenaris explained that the unfair advantage is derived from the fact that heavily dumped and subsidized non-insulated casing/tubing from China is a major input to the IT/VIT exported to Canada, and therefore this input would continue to come to Canada undisciplined if IT/VIT were excluded from the scope of the measures.

[62] Tenaris alleged that because IT/VIT and other OCTG are sold through the same distributors to the same customers, distributors are offering bundled packages of OCTG, consisting of both low-priced unfairly traded IT/VIT along with other high-priced OCTG. Tenaris concluded that this results in a loss of sales on the basis of the lower total price of the combined OCTG bundle.

[63] Tenaris further emphasized that IT/VIT falls within the dimensional (i.e. outside diameters) requirements of the product definitions for seamless casing and OCTG 1.

ANDMIR Group (ANDMIR)^{Footnote 31}

[64] ANDMIR is a value added reseller of VIT and identified itself as an importer in the RFI. ANDMIR has been providing Canadian customers with VIT since 2013 and has been working with a VIT manufacturer named Bohai Equipment Liaohe Thermal Recovery Machinery in China.

[65] ANDMIR stated that IT/VIT is different in form and function than traditional OCTG products and that IT/VIT is not supplied to meet equivalent API 5CT specifications and/or enhanced proprietary standards. In terms of form, IT/VIT is two joints of casing and/or tubing welded together with varying products inside the annulus which is used to increase or maintain insulation. Conversely, OCTG is a single threaded tube. In terms of function, IT/VIT contrasts with OCTG in that OCTG is used to convey fluids or gas in an oil well, whereas IT/VIT’s principal function is to insulate the medium fluid in an effort to save energy.

[66] ANDMIR states that the possibility of disassembly alleged in the Application is not as easy as stated. First of all, the IT/VIT they sell in Canada is approximately 4 or 5 times more expensive than similarly sized bare tubing or casing. Based on all the costs involved in the manufacturing of IT/VIT, there would be a larger financial deficit from disassembling the IT/VIT to make API 5CT product.

[67] Furthermore, ANDMIR stated that once the material is cut and separated, one would need to dispose of the insulation wrapping material and before this product could be re-deployed as OCTG, a surface treatment of outer and/or inner tube would be required as the product would have been sandblasted. Also, during the pre-stressing process, the IT/VIT is elongated and welded under specifically controlled procedures, which in some cases causes the steel to bow. This bowing can push the straightness of the product outside API criteria, or can limit the ability for easy threading. This post IT/VIT product would require testing by an API certified shop (i.e. drift test) in order to be re-sold.

Continental Steel Corporation (Continental Steel)^{Footnote 32}

[68] Continental Steel is an importer and vendor of subject goods, located in Calgary, Alberta.

Continental Steel summarized its position by stating that:

[69] Continental Steel further stated that if VIT is OCTG, then we might consider slotted liners, coiled tubing, and other tubular goods used in the oil and gas industry as OCTG since it falls under the broad scope of a tubular good for the oil country.

[70] Continental Steel explained that the VIT produced by their company could not be feasibly disassembled, stating that “it is inconceivable to cut and rethread the VIT we supply to use as OCTG because the cost of the pipe is significantly greater than the cost of 2 pipes due to the cost for the vacuum and insulation technology in our VIT.”^{Footnote 34} Furthermore, the insulation must be disposed of, and each pipe must be refaced, and rethreaded. This complete process is costly.

[71] Continental steel estimated the cost to rethread alone is between 15-20% of the cost of the pipe.

[72] The company also provided invoices on the confidential record which demonstrate the amount by which their VIT sells at a premium over regular OCTG.

Exceed (Canada) Oilfield Equipment Inc. (Exceed) and Golden Ring Industrial Ltd. (Golden Ring)^{Footnote 35}

[73] Exceed is an importer and a vendor of the subject goods in Canada. The company imports the product from Golden Ring in China. The companies submitted separate RFI responses which contained essentially the same response in relation to all questions on IT/VIT.

[74] Exceed and Golden Ring asserted that VIT is not generally regarded or used in the same way as OCTG, and therefore should not be included in the product definition of regular OCTG. Exceed stated that they are unaware of any firm that would consider VIT as OCTG and that it would not be practical to use VIT in place of regular OCTG where there is no steam injection.

[75] Exceed stated that regular OCTG does not perform in the same way as VIT. For example, OCTG:

• are simple, passive steel cylinders that allow liquids and gases to pass through;
• does not contain any multilayered insulating materials and does not contain any radiation barriers which prevent heat transfer;
• does not reduce steam costs, solve wellbore issues, or improve steam oil ratios (SOR); and
• does not deliver more Enthalpy (BTU’s) to the reservoir or improve the thermodynamic potential of a well.

[76] Conversely, VIT is a high vacuum multilayer insulation system of which two of its parts (the outer tube and the inner tube) are made under the API 5CT standards, but with other key components not related or required under API 5CT. These two tubes are then welded together with a vacuum created between them, with fiberglass, aluminium foil, centralizers and getter material placed in the annular space to provide superior insulating properties.

[77] VIT is specifically used to improve the thermodynamic potential of a well by delivering higher quality steam and optimizing the thermal performance of the steam process and is used to deliver the following benefits:

• reduce the wellbore heat exchange between the injected and returning fluid streams;
• reduce the mass flow of steam delivering the specified enthalpy (BTU’s) to the reservoir using less steam volume;
• improve the initial steam oil ratio (SOR) due to the reduced mass steam flow needed for the process;
• reduce demands on surface facilities allowing for either smaller plant sizes or giving the existing plant spare capacity to circulate additional well pairs;
• delivers the highest rate of enthalpy to the oil-bearing zone;
• reduce the rate and magnitude of thermal expansion and heat transfer occurring in the production casing and cement, relieving concerns for thermal induced damage to the well and cement integrity; and
• maximize injected enthalpy, delivered to the reservoir optimizing viscosity reduction, gas thermal expansion, and the potential for in-situ reservoir distillation.^{Footnote 36}

[78] Exceed cited the cost prohibitive nature of using VIT in place of OCTG in a conventional well. The company stated VIT is twice as expensive.

[79] Exceed stated that VIT is really only used in special wells, which require a high quality and reliable insulation pipe acting as tubing to transfer fluid between the wellhead and downhole. These wells are mainly SAGD injectors.

[80] Producers have realized regular OCTG tubing is not a best fit technically for SAGD wells, as the majority of heat is lost into the surface formations and cap rocks before even reaching the targeted oil reservoirs during the fluid transportation in wellbores.

[81] Therefore, in the past five years, VIT gradually became an innovative solution to deliver the heat through the wellbore much more efficiently. It has been successfully proven that VIT can significantly improve the economics of SAGD wells, as it is more energy efficient and significantly reduces carbon emissions, especially in low rate steam injection and deep thermal wells.

[82] Exceed stated that although there is no standard under API for VIT, there is standard SY/T5324-2013 which is associated with the VIT manufacturing process. Exceed stated that their Canadian customers require suppliers to follow this standard in their request for proposals or quotes, and that customers will not accept VIT unless it is manufactured using the processes defined under this standard.

[83] Exceed provided a detailed account of the production steps on the confidential record, to demonstrate the complexity of VIT in relation to regular OCTG.^{Footnote 37}

[84] Exceed also stated that contrary to the Applicant’s premise that imported VIT could be disassembled at low cost into its OCTG components, and thus potentially be used to circumvent anti-dumping duties on regular OCTG, the cost per meter of OCTG goods imported from China using the CBSA assigned “normal value” is still considerably lower than the cost of imported VIT from China. Exceed provided financial data on the protected record in support of this position.

General Energy Recovery Inc. (GERI)^{Footnote 38}

[85] GERI is an end-user of VIT which provided a brief submission in opposition to the position taken by Western Alliance in the scope Application.

[86] GERI provided a financial analysis which contrasted the position that dismantling IT/VIT into its input casing and OCTG tubes was not costly, stating that such dismantling to recover individual pipes would result in a net loss, when compared to the market price for the input OCTG.

Imex Canada (Imex)^{Footnote 39}

[87] Imex is an importer of the subject goods in Canada, who summarized its position by stating that:

[88] Imex stated that OCTG, in contrast, is used to provide structure and/or simple flow conduit.^{Footnote 41}

[89] In taking this position, Imex made numerous representations concerning substitutability and took the position that IT/VIT is not substitutable with API tubing/casing and that “VIT technology evolved in the face of challenges posed in the thermal recovery of oil from heavy oil and oil sand.”^{Footnote 42}

[90] Imex further clarified that IT/VIT:

[91] Imex also alleged that Western Alliance’s claim that VIT can be used in place of bare casing and tubing is incorrect as the VIT tool is inserted into the well bore through existing cemented casing. VIT is not cemented in place as it must be free to move in the well bore. Imex explained that VIT has “to deliver the 350-degree steam to the well via the slotted liner attached to the end of the cemented casing, the cemented casing connections are thus not subjected to the high temperatures which otherwise would cause casing failures.”^{Footnote 44}

[92] Imex also asserted that the claim in the Application that there is no standard in the manufacturing of IT/VIT is incorrect. As noted by Exceed earlier, Imex stated that VIT manufactured in China is made in accordance with the specification SY/T5324-2013 (Pre-stressed Vacuum Insulated Tubing standard) and provided reference material to support it.^{Footnote 45}

[93] Imex disagreed with the position in the application which suggested IT/VIT could easily, and at low cost, be disassembled into its original API 5CT casing/tubing components. Imex summarized its position by stating:

[94] With respect to the technical issue cited by Imex with this scenario, Imex stated that all VIT in tubing sizes in Canada made to API 5CT specifications are sold as API EUE (External Upset End). As such, each tubing pipe-end, of the separated VIT would have to be forged (“upset”). Imex stated that currently, only one company, Victoria International Tubing Corporation, has this capability, on a modestly commercial scale. The tubing would then have to be “full-body normalized,” in a heat treatment furnace to meet more demanding end-user requirements, have all upsets threaded and inspected, then have tubing couplings manufactured and coat them in phosphate, have pipe dope applied and attached to the tubing, and finally have the exposed tubing varnished for corrosion protection.

[95] Imex added that the traceability of such reconditioned pipe would be challenging and end-users would not want to run this risk.

[96] With respect to VIT in casing sizes, Imex stated the process is the same as for tubing except for the upsetting. Consequently, Imex notes that claims in the application that it would be very easy to dismantle IT/VIT by simply cutting off the welded ends and separating the inner and outer tubes fail to take into consideration the factors noted above.

[97] With respect to the commercial issue cited by Imex in this scenario, Imex provided financial figures on the confidential record which supported their position that the conversion costs of re-conditioned tubing and casing joints would be very labor intensive, require specialized facilities and ultimately be more expensive than simply buying casing and tubing from China at normal values.^{Footnote 47}

Tianjin Pipe Corporation (TPCO)^{Footnote 48}

[98] TPCO is a Chinese producer and exporter of OCTG. TPCO stated it has no record of supplying VIT to Canada; however, the company is developing a VIT product and may ship VIT to Canada in the future.

[99] TPCO identified IT/VIT as a tool for oil production, with the items defined in seamless casing and OCTG 1 as the material for processing IT/VIT. Consequently, TPCO stated that IT/VIT should not be included into the existing cases.

[100] TPCO cited the different manufacturing processes and technology in making IT/VIT in support of this position. For example, the welding, insulating and vacuuming is quite different from the typical manufacturing process of OCTG products. TPCO also noted that the API 5CT specification makes no reference to VIT processing.

[101] In terms of usage, TPCO stated that OCTG generally includes casing and tubing. Casing is cemented downhole, while the tubing is used to bring the oil from downhole to the surface. The purpose of VIT is to provide temperature protection to reduce heat loss and improve production efficiency when steam is injected downhole.

[102] TPCO used the example of an FCD (Flow Control Device) as something made from OCTG to enhance/benefit the oil production but does not mean it is OCTG. They asserted this is analogous to the case of VIT.

[103] TPCO also stated that the ease of disassembly alleged in the application is not something they have ever seen in practice as it would be neither cost effective nor practical from a sales perspective to disassemble these parts. First of all, cutting the thread and welded part from the body would make the body too short for typical OCTG requirements. Secondly, there is no warranty for cut parts. As such, to make the cut body sellable, inspections and tests would be required before a shop could issue a mill test certificate (MTC). TPCO stated that this would require at least $500 CAN/Metric Tonne extra compared to OCTG prices, which is prohibitively expensive for a secondary material in the market.^{Footnote 49}

[104] TPCO also provided a series of attachments to demonstrate that VIT is recognized separately from OCTG within the pipe industry.^{Footnote 50}

Zibo FREET Thermal Tech Co., Ltd (Zibo)^{Footnote 51}

[105] Zibo is an exporter and producer of IT/VIT in China. The company is an active exporter of the goods to Canada.^{Footnote 52}

[106] Zibo disagrees with the Applicant’s arguments for the reasons that:

• IT/VIT and OCTG are totally different products, so IT/VIT cannot be considered as OCTG or used as OCTG; and
• Since the product costs and sales price of IT/VIT is much higher than that of OCTG, IT/VIT cannot easily, and at low cost, be disassembled into its original basic API 5CT casing/tubing components.

[107] Zibo identified 14 differences between OCTG and IT/VIT, which included the physical characteristics, technical specifications, uses of the goods, marking; packaging, distribution channels, mother pipes, applicable standards, product structure, manufacturing process, product control, repair and maintenance, production costs, and sales prices.^{Footnote 53} Zibo provided supporting explanations for how each of these factors differed between the two product segments.

[108] The company emphasized the use of the products as a key distinction. Zibo stated that IT/VIT is “used as a heat insulation and steam injection tool for heavy oil and super heavy oil and Asphaltene heavy oil thermal recovery production such as CSS and Steam flooding and SAGD.” Zibo explained that VIT/IT are used as a string to deliver a high temperature and high pressure stream from the surface steam generator into the reservoir to reduce heat loss on the well bore and to protect the cemented casing and the under service environment.

[109] Zibo characterized OCTG as “merely parts of components in IT/VIT” and that “the manufacturing process of IT/VIT is much more complex than that of OCTG, so [the] production cost of IT/VIT is much higher than that of OCTG.”^{Footnote 54}

[110] As noted by other interested parties producing and selling these goods, Zibo stated that there is no mention of IT/VIT in the API 5CT specification and that other countries have adopted their own standard for these goods, including China under specification SY/T5324.^{Footnote 55}

[111] In addition to other grievances which are not relevant to the question posed by the scope proceeding, Zibo alleged that the Application in this proceeding was “frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith” citing their position that the Applicant has failed to demonstrate that it conducts production or sales in Canada of the goods.^{Footnote 56}

Husky Energy Inc. (Husky)^{Footnote 57}

[112] A brief submission was received from Husky, a Canadian-based integrated energy company located in Calgary, Alberta. In their submission, the company stated that “Husky takes no position on this matter, and has no additional information to provide to the CBSA to assist it in making its determination.”^{Footnote 58}

Major Pipe and Supply^{Footnote 59}

[113] A submission was received from Canadian importer and distributor Major Pipe and Supply, which did not include a response to the RFI. The submission did not expressly state a position on the application but did provide actual tubing “processing” (API cutting, threading, upsetting, etc.) costs based on specifically quoted and supplied material by the Applicant, Western Alliance in the past.^{Footnote 60} As this information was confidential, it cannot be disclosed in this document.

Global Steel Ltd. (Global Steel)^{Footnote 61}

[114] A submission was received from Global Steel, a company located in Calgary, Alberta, which trades in OCTG products. Global Steel stated in its submission that it does not import or sell IT/VIT and as such the company is not familiar enough with the specifications of this product to venture an opinion on its subjectivity.^{Footnote 62}