[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