[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 49610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24823]
[[Page 49610]]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigations Nos. 701-TA-373 (Final) and 731-TA-769-775 (Final)]
Stainless Steel Wire Rod From Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea,
Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan
Determinations \1\
On the basis of the record \2\ developed in the subject
investigations, the United States International Trade Commission
determines,\3\ pursuant to section 705(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930
(the Act) (19 U.S.C. 1671d(b)), that an industry in the United States
is materially injured by reason of imports from Italy of stainless
steel wire rod, provided for in subheading 7221.00.00 of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States, that have been found by the
Department of Commerce to be subsidized by the Government of Italy and
the European Union.
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\1\ For purposes of these investigations, stainless steel wire
rod is defined as stainless steel products that are hot-rolled or
hot-rolled annealed and/or descaled rounds, squares, octagons,
hexagons, or other shapes, in coils, that may also be coated with a
lubricant containing copper, lime or oxalate. Stainless steel wire
rod is made of alloy steels containing, by weight, 1.2 percent or
less of carbon and 10.5 percent or more of chromium, with or without
other elements. Stainless steel wire rod is manufactured only by
hot-rolling or hot-rolling, annealing, and/or pickling and/or
descaling, is normally sold in coiled form, and is of solid cross
section. Most stainless steel wire rod sold in the United States is
round in cross-sectional shape, annealed and pickled, and later
cold-finished into stainless steel wire or small-diameter bar. The
most common size for stainless steel wire rod is 5.5 millimeters
(0.217 inch) in diameter, which represents the smallest size that
normally is produced on a rolling mill and is the size that most
wire-drawing machines are set up to draw. The range of stainless
steel wire rod sizes normally sold in the United States is between
0.20 inch and 1.312 inches in diameter. Stainless steel wire rod
grades SF20T and K-M35FL are excluded from the scope of these
investigations; additionally, grades Kanthal A-1, Kanthal AF,
Kanthal A, Kanthal D, Kanthal DT, Alkrothal 14, Alkrothal 720, and
Nikrothal 40 are excluded from the investigation concerning Sweden.
Stainless steel wire rod is provided for in subheading 7221.00.00 of
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) with a 1998 column 1-general
tariff rate of 2.8 percent ad valorem, applicable to products of ech
of the subject countries.
\2\ The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the Commission's
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR Sec. 207.2(f)).
\3\ Commissioners Carol T. Crawford and Thelma J. Askey
dissenting and Commissioner Jennifer A. Hillman not participating.
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Also, the Commission determines,\4\ pursuant to section 735(b) of
the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)), that an industry in the United States is
materially injured by reason of imports from Italy, Japan, Korea,
Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan of stainless steel wire rod that have been
found by the Department of Commerce to be sold in the United States at
less than fair value (LTFV).
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\4\ Commissioners CArol T. Crawford and Thelma J. Askey
dissenting and Commissioner Jennifer A. Hillman not participating.
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Further, the Commission determines, pursuant to sections 735(b) and
771(24) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b) and 1677(24)), that an industry
in the United States is not threatened with material injury by reason
of imports from Germany of stainless steel wire rod that have been
found by the Department of Commerce to be sold in the United States at
LTFV.\5\ \6\ \7\ \8\
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\5\ Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1677(24)(A)(i) and (iv), the
Commission also finds that subject imports from Germany account for
less than 3 percent of the volume of all such merchandise imported
into the United States in the most recent 12-month period preceding
the filing of the petition, but (Commissioner Carol T. Crawford
dissenting) that there is a potential that such imports from Germany
will imminetly account for mroe than 3 percent of total import
volume of all such merchandise.
\6\ Commissioner Carol T. Crawford finds subject imports from
Germany to be negligible.
\7\ Chairman Lynn M. Bragg finds a threat of material injury by
reason of subject German imports.
\8\ Commissioner Jennifer A. Hillman not participating.
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Background
The Commission instituted these investigations effective July 30,
1997, following receipt of a petition filed with the Commission and the
Department of Commerce by counsel on behalf of AL Tech Specialty Steel
Corp., Dunkirk, NY; Carpenter Technology Corp., Reading, PA; Republic
Engineered Steels, Inc., Massillon, OH; Talley Metals Technology, Inc.,
Hartsville, SC; and the United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO/CLC.
The final phase of the investigations was scheduled by the Commission
following notification of preliminary determinations by the Department
of Commerce that imports of stainless steel wire rod from Italy were
being subsidized within the meaning of section 703(b) of the Act (19
U.S.C. 1671b(b)) and imports of stainless steel wire rod from Germany,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan were being sold at LTFV
within the meaning of section 733(b) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673b(b)).
Notice of the scheduling of the Commission's investigations and of a
public hearing to be held in connection therewith was given by posting
copies of the notice in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International
Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by publishing the notice in the
Federal Register of March 23, 1998 (63 FR 13872). The hearing was held
in Washington, DC, on July 22, 1998, and all persons who requested the
opportunity were permitted to appear in person or by counsel.
The Commission transmitted its determinations in these
investigations to the Secretary of Commerce on September 8, 1998. The
views of the Commission are contained in USITC Publication 3126
(September 1998), entitled Stainless Steel Wire Rod From Germany,
Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan: Investigations Nos.
701-TA-373 (Final) and 731-TA-769-775 (Final).
By order of the Commission.
Issued: September 10, 1998.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-24823 Filed 9-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P