[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 24 (Friday, February 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5520-5529]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1847]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-357-811, A-588-849, A-549-814]


Notice of Final Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: 
Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From 
Argentina, Japan and Thailand

AGENCY:  Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  February 4, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Abdelali Elouaradia at (202) 482-0498 
or Gabriel Adler at (202) 482-1442, Import Administration, Room 1870, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

The Applicable Statute and Regulations

    Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the statute are 
references to the provisions effective January 1, 1995, the effective 
date of the amendments made to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') by 
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (``URAA''). In addition, unless 
otherwise indicated, all citations to the Department of Commerce (`` 
the Department'') regulations refer to the regulations codified at 19 
CFR Part 351 (April 1999).

Final Determinations

    We determine that cold-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel 
products (``cold-rolled steel products'') from Argentina, Japan and 
Thailand are being sold in the United States at less than fair value 
(``LTFV''), as provided in section 735 of the Act. The estimated 
margins are shown in the Suspension of Liquidation section of this 
notice.

Case History

    The preliminary determinations in these investigations were issued 
on November 1, 1999. See Notice of Preliminary Determinations of Sales 
at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality 
Steel Products From Argentina, Japan and Thailand, 64 FR 60410 
(November 5, 1999) (``Preliminary Determinations''). On December 23, 
the petitioners \1\ submitted a case brief regarding the Thailand 
investigation in which they stated that they agreed fully with the 
Department's use of the highest margin from the petition as adverse 
facts available for that final determination. An analysis of the other 
comment made by the petitioners in their Thailand case brief is set 
forth in the Interested Parties Comments section below. NKK Corporation 
(``NKK'') filed a case brief with the Department regarding the Japan 
investigation on December 27, 1999. No case briefs were filed in the 
Argentina investigation, no rebuttal briefs were filed in any of the 
investigations, and no requests for a hearing in any of the 
investigations were received by the Department.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The petitioners include Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Gulf 
States Steel, Inc., The Independent Steelworkers Union, Ispat Inland 
Inc., LTV Steel Company, Inc., National Steel Corporation, Steel 
Dynamics, Inc., U.S. Steel Group, a unit of USX Corporation, United 
Steelworkers of America, and Weirton Steel Corporation. National 
Steel Corporation is not a petitioner in the case regarding Japan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of Investigations

    For purposes of these investigations, the products covered are 
certain cold-rolled (cold-reduced) flat-rolled carbon-quality steel 
products, neither clad, plated, nor coated with metal, but whether or 
not annealed, painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other non-
metallic substances, both in coils, 0.5 inch wide or wider, (whether or 
not in successively superimposed layers and/or otherwise coiled, such 
as spirally oscillated coils), and also in straight lengths, which, if 
less than 4.75 mm in thickness having a width that is 0.5 inch or 
greater and that measures at least 10 times the thickness; or, if of a 
thickness of 4.75 mm or more, having a width exceeding 150 mm and 
measuring at least twice the thickness. The products described above 
may be rectangular, square, circular or other shape and include 
products of either rectangular or non-rectangular cross-section where 
such cross-section is achieved subsequent to the rolling process (i.e., 
products which have been ``worked after rolling'') `` for example, 
products which have been beveled or rounded at the edges.
    Specifically included in this scope are vacuum degassed, fully 
stabilized (commonly referred to as interstitial-free (``IF'')) steels, 
high strength low alloy (``HSLA'') steels, and motor lamination steels. 
IF steels are recognized as low carbon steels with micro-alloying 
levels of elements such as titanium and/or niobium added to stabilize 
carbon and nitrogen elements. HSLA steels are recognized as steels with 
micro-alloying levels of elements such as chromium, copper, niobium, 
titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum. Motor lamination steels contain 
micro-alloying levels of elements such as silicon and aluminum.
    Steel products included in the scope of this investigation, 
regardless of definitions in the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the 
United States (``HTSUS''), are products in which: (1) Iron 
predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) 
the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by weight, and; (3) none of 
the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively 
indicated:

1.80 percent of manganese, or
2.25 percent of silicon, or
1.00 percent of copper, or
0.50 percent of aluminum, or
1.25 percent of chromium, or
0.30 percent of cobalt, or
0.40 percent of lead, or
1.25 percent of nickel, or
0.30 percent of tungsten, or
0.10 percent of molybdenum, or
0.10 percent of niobium (also called columbium), or
0.15 percent of vanadium, or
0.15 percent of zirconium.

    All products that meet the written physical description, and in 
which the chemistry quantities do not exceed any one of the noted 
element levels listed above, are within the scope of this investigation 
unless specifically excluded. The following products, by way of 
example, are outside and/or specifically excluded from the scope of 
this investigation:
 SAE grades (formerly also called AISI grades) above 2300;
 Ball bearing steels, as defined in the HTSUS;
 Tool steels, as defined in the HTSUS;
 Silico-manganese steel, as defined in the HTSUS;
 Silicon-electrical steels, as defined in the HTSUS, that are 
grain-oriented;
 Silicon-electrical steels, as defined in the HTSUS, that are 
not grain-oriented and that have a silicon level exceeding 2.25 
percent;
 All products (proprietary or otherwise) based on an alloy ASTM

[[Page 5521]]

specification (sample specifications: ASTM A506, A507);
 Non-rectangular shapes, not in coils, which are the result of 
having been processed by cutting or stamping and which have assumed the 
character of articles or products classified outside chapter 72 of the 
HTSUS.
 Silicon-electrical steels, as defined in the HTSUS, that are 
not grain-oriented and that have a silicon level less than 2.25 
percent, and
 (a) fully-processed, with a core loss of less than 0.14 watts/
pound per mil (.001 inch), or
 (b) semi-processed, with core loss of less than 0.085 watts/
pound per mil (.001 inch);
 Certain shadow mask steel, which is aluminum killed cold-
rolled steel coil that is open coil annealed, has an ultra-flat, 
isotropic surface, and which meets the following characteristics:

    Thickness: 0.001 to 0.010 inch
    Width: 15 to 32 inches

                          Chemical Composition
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element................................................                C
Weight %...............................................           0.002
------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Certain flapper valve steel, which is hardened and tempered, 
surface polished, and which meets the following characteristics:
    Thickness: 1.0 mm
    Width: 152.4 mm

                                                                  Chemical Composition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element...........................  C                       Si                      Mn                      P                      S
Weight %..........................  0.90-1.05               0.15-0.35               0.30-0.50               0.03        0.006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                          Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tensile Strength.......................  162 Kgf/mm \2\
Hardness...............................  475 Vickers hardness
                                          number
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                           Physical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flatness...............................  0.2% of nominal strip width
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Microstructure: Completely free from decarburization. Carbides are 
spheroidal and fine within 1% to 4% (area percentage) and are 
undissolved in the uniform tempered martensite.

                         Non-Metallic Inclusion
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Area
                                                            percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sulfide Inclusion.......................................  0.0
                                                                       4
Oxide Inclusion.........................................  0.0
                                                                       5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Compressive Stress: 10 to 40 Kgf/mm\2\

                            Surface Roughness
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Roughness
                     Thickness (mm)                        (m)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
t0.209.......................................  Rz0
                                                                      .5
0.209t0.310..................................  Rz0
                                                                      .6
0.310t0.440..................................  Rz0
                                                                      .7
0.440t0.560..................................  Rz0
                                                                      .8
0.560t..................................................  Rz1
                                                                      .0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain ultra thin gauge steel strip, which meets the 
following characteristics:
    Thickness: 0.100 7%
    Width: 100 to 600 mm

                                                                  Chemical Composition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   S                   Al                  Fe
Weight %.......................  0.07      0.2-0.5             0.05     0.05     0.07     Balance
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 5522]]


                          Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardness...............................  Full Hard (Hv 180 minimum)
Total Elongation.......................  3%
Tensile Strength.......................  600 to 850 N/mm \2\
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                           Physical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surface Finish.........................  0.3 micron
Camber (in 2.0 m)......................  3.0 mm
Flatness (in 2.0 m)....................  0.5 mm
Edge Burr..............................  0.01 mm greater than thickness
Coil Set (in 1.0 m)....................  75.0 mm
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain silicon steel, which meets the following 
characteristics:
    Thickness: 0.024 inch +.0015 inch
    Width: 33 to 45.5 inches

                                                                  Chemical Composition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   S                   Si                  Al
Min. Weight %..................  ...................  ..................  ..................  ..................  ..................  ..................
Max. Weight %..................  0.004                0.4                 0.09                0.009               0.65                0.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                          Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardness...............................  B 60-75 (AIM 65)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                           Physical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finish.................................  Smooth (30-60 microinches)
Gamma Crown (in 5 inches)..............  0.0005 inch, start measuring \1/
                                          4\ inch from slit edge
Flatness...............................  20 I-UNIT max.
Coating................................  C3A-.08A max. (A2 coating
                                          acceptable)
Camber (in any 10 feet)................  \1/16\ inch
Coil Size I.D..........................  20 inches
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                           Magnetic Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Core Loss (1.5T/60 Hz) NAAS............  3.8 Watts/Pound max.
Permeability (1.5T/60 Hz) NAAS.........  1700 gauss/oersted typical 1500
                                          minimum.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain aperture mask steel, which has an ultra-flat 
surface flatness and which meets the following characteristics:
    Thickness: 0.025 to 0.245 mm
    Width: 381-1000 mm

                                                                                      Chemical Composition
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element......................  C                  Mn                P                             S           Si          Al          As          Cu      B           N
Min. Weight %................  0.02               0.20                                                                    0.03                                        0.003
Max. Weight %................  0.06               0.40              0.02                          0.023       0.03        0.08        0.02        0.08                0.008
                                                                                                   (Aiming                 (Aiming                                     (Aiming
                                                                                                   0.018                   0.05)                                       0.005)
                                                                                                   Max.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Non-Metallic Inclusions: Examination with the S.E.M. shall not 
reveal individual oxides >1micron (0.000039 inch) and inclusion groups 
or clusters shall not exceed 5 microns (0.000197 inch) in length.
    Surface Treatment as follows: The surface finish shall be free of 
defects (digs, scratches, pits, gouges, slivers, etc.) and suitable for 
nickel plating.

[[Page 5523]]



                                                 Surface Finish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Roughness, RA Microinches (Micrometers)
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Aim                      Min.                     Max.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra Bright........................  5 (0.1)                   0 (0)                    7 (0.2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain annealed and temper-rolled cold-rolled 
continuously cast steel, which meets the following characteristics:

                                                                                      Chemical Composition
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                      Si                     Mn                     P                      S                      Al                     N
Weight %.......................  0.08                   0.04                   0.40                   0.03                   0.03                   0.010-0.025            0.0025
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness Tolerance: Guaranteed inside   +/-5 percent (aim +/-4 percent)
 of 15 mm from mill edges.
Width Tolerance:.......................  -0/+7 mm
Hardness (Hv):.........................  Hv 85-110
Annealing:.............................  Annealed
Surface:...............................  Matte
Tensile Strength:......................  >275N/mm \2\
Elongation:............................  >36%
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain annealed and temper-rolled cold-rolled 
continuously cast steel, in coils, with a certificate of analysis per 
Cable System International (``CSI'') Specification 96012, with the 
following characteristics:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   S
Max. Weight %..................  0.13                 0.60                0.02                0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base Weight............................  55 pounds
Theoretical Thickness:.................  0.0061 inch (+/-10 percent of
                                          theoretical thickness)
Width:.................................  31 inches
Tensile Strength:......................  45,000-55,000 psi
Elongation:............................  minimum of 15 percent in 2
                                          inches
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain full hard tin mill black plate, continuously cast, 
which meets the following characteristics:

                                                                  Chemical Composition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element......................  C            Mn           P           S         Si          Al        As          Cu          B           N
Min. Weight %................  0.02         0.20                                           0.03                                          0.003
Max. Weight %................  0.06         0.40         0.02        0.023     0.03        0.08      0.02        0.08                    0.008 (Aiming
                                                                      (Aiming               (Aiming                                       0.005)
                                                                      0.018                 0.05)
                                                                      Max.)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Non-Metallic Inclusions: Examination with the S.E.M. shall not 
reveal individual oxides >1 micron (0.000039 inch) and inclusion groups 
or clusters shall not exceed 5 microns (0.000197 inch) in length.
    Surface Treatment as follows: The surface finish shall be free of 
defects (digs, scratches, pits, gouges, slivers, etc.) and suitable for 
nickel plating.

                                                 Surface Finish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Roughness, RA Microinches (Micrometers)
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Aim                      Min.                     Max.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stone Finish........................  16 (0.4)                  8 (0.2)                  24 (0.6)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain ultra-bright tin mill black plate meeting ASTM 7A 
specifications for surface finish and RA of seven micro-inches or 
lower.
     Concast cold-rolled drawing quality sheet steel, ASTM a-
620-97, Type B, or single reduced black plate, ASTM A-625-92, Type D, 
T-1, ASTM A-625-76 and ASTM A-366-96, T1-T2-T3 Commercial bright/luster 
7a both sides, RMS 12 maximum. Thickness range of 0.0088 to 0.038 
inches, width of 23.0 inches to 36.875 inches.

[[Page 5524]]

     Certain single reduced black plate, meeting ASTM A-625-98 
specifications, 53 pound base weight (0.0058 inch thick) with a Temper 
classification of T-2 (49-57 hardness using the Rockwell 30 T scale).
     Certain single reduced black plate, meeting ASTM A-625-76 
specifications, 55 pound base weight, MR type matte finish, TH basic 
tolerance as per A263 trimmed.
     Certain single reduced black plate, meeting ASTM A-625-98 
specifications, 65 pound base weight (0.0072 inch thick) with a Temper 
classification of T-3 (53-61 hardness using the Rockwell 30 T scale).
     Certain cold-rolled black plate bare steel strip, meeting 
ASTM A-625 specifications, which meet the following characteristics:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   S
Max. Weight %..................  0.13                 0.60                0.02                0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness:.............................  0.0058 inch +/-0.0003 inch
Hardness...............................  T2/HR 30T 50-60 aiming
Elongation.............................   15%
Tensile Strength.......................  51,000 psi +/-4.0 aiming
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain cold-rolled black plate bare steel strip, in 
coils, meeting ASTM A-623, Table II, Type MR specifications, which meet 
the following characteristics:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   S
Max. Weight %..................  0.13                 0.60                0.04                0.05
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness..............................  0.0060 inch (+/-0.0005 inch)
Width..................................   10 inches (+ \1/4\ to \3/8\
                                          inch/-0)
Tensile strength.......................  55,000 psi max.
Elongation.............................  minimum of 15 percent in 2
                                          inches
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain ``blued steel'' coil (also know as ``steamed blue 
steel'' or ``blue oxide'') with a thickness of 0.30 mm to 0.42 mm and 
width of 609 mm to 1219 mm, in coil form;
     Certain cold-rolled steel sheet, whether coated or not 
coated with porcelain enameling prior to importation, which meets the 
following characteristics:
    Thickness (nominal):  0.019 inch
    Width: 35 to 60 inches

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element.............................  C                         O                        B
Max. Weight %.......................  0.004
Min. Weight %.......................                            0.010                    0.012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain cold-rolled steel, which meets the following 
characteristics: Width: >66 inches

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   Si
Max. Weight %..................  0.07                 0.67                0.14                0.03
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness Range (mm):...................................     0.800-2.000
Min. Yield Point (MPa):.................................             265
Max Yield Point (MPa):..................................             365
Min. Tensile Strength (MPa):............................             440
Min. Elongation %:......................................              26
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Certain band saw steel, which meets the following 
characteristics:
    Thickness: 1.31 mm
    Width: 80 mm

[[Page 5525]]



                                                                                      Chemical Composition
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                      Si                     Mn                     P                      S                      Cr                     Ni
Weight %.......................  1.2 to 1.3             0.15 to 0.35           0.20 to 0.35            0.03        0.007      0.3 to 0.5              0.25
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Other properties:
    Carbide: fully spheroidized having >80% of carbides, which are 
0.003 mm and uniformly dispersed
    Surface finish: bright finish free from pits, scratches, rust, 
cracks, or seams
    Smooth edges
    Edge camber (in each 300 mm of length): 7 mm arc height
    Cross bow (per inch of width): 0.015 mm max.
     Certain transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) steel, 
which meets the following characteristics:

Variety 1:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element.............................  C                         Si                       Mn
Min. Weight %.......................  0.09                      1.0                      0.90
Max. Weight %.......................  0.13                      2.1                      1.7
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness Range (mm)...........  1.000-2.300 (inclusive)
Min. Yield Point (MPa).........  320
Max Yield Point (MPa)..........  480
Min. Tensile Strength (MPa)....  590
Min. Elongation %..............  24 (if 1.000-1.199 thickness range)
                                 25 (if 1.200-1.599 thickness range)
                                 26 (if 1.600-1.999 thickness range)
                                 27 (if 2.000-2.300 thickness range)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Variety 2:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element.............................  C                         Si                       Mn
Min. Weight %.......................  0.12                      1.5                      1.1
Max. Weight %.......................  0.16                      2.1                      1.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness Range (mm):..................  1.000-2.300 (inclusive)
Min. Yield Point (MPa):................  340
Max Yield Point (MPa):.................  520
Min. Tensile Strength (MPa):...........  690
Min. Elongation %:.....................  21 (if 1.000-1.199 thickness
                                          range)
                                         22 (if 1.200-1.599 thickness
                                          range)
                                         23 (if 1.600-1.999 thickness
                                          range)
                                         24 (if 2.000-2.300 thickness
                                          range)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Variety 3:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element.............................  C                         Si                       Mn
Min. Weight %.......................  0.13                      1.3                      1.5
Max. Weight %.......................  0.21                      2.0                      2.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness Range (mm):..................  1.200-2.300 (inclusive)
Min. Yield Point (MPa):................  370
Max Yield Point (MPa):.................  570
Min. Tensile Strength (MPa):...........  780

[[Page 5526]]

 
Min. Elongation %:.....................  18 (if 1.200-1.599 thickness
                                          range)
                                         19 (if 1.600-1.999 thickness
                                          range)
                                         20 (if 2.000-2.300 thickness
                                          range)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Certain corrosion-resistant cold-rolled steel, which meets the 
following characteristics:

Variety 1:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   Cu
Min. Weight %..................                                                               0.15
Max. Weight %..................  0.10                 0.40                0.10                0.35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        11
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness Range (mm):..................  0.600-0.800
Min. Yield Point (MPa):................  185
Max Yield Point (MPa):.................  285
Min. Tensile Strength (MPa):...........  340
Min. Elongation %:.....................  31 (ASTM standard 31% = JIS
                                          standard 35%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Variety 2:

                                              Chemical Composition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element........................  C                    Mn                  P                   Cu
Min. Weight %..................                                                               0.15
Max. Weight %..................  0.05                 0.40                0.08                0.35
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness Range (mm):..................  0.800-1.000
Min. Yield Point (MPa):................  145
Max Yield Point (MPa):.................  245
Min. Tensile Strength (MPa):...........  295
Min. Elongation %:.....................  31 (ASTM standard 31% = JIS
                                          standard 35%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Variety 3:

                                                                  Chemical Composition
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Element......................  C            Si           Mn           P            S            Cu        Ni          Al          Nb, Ti, V,  Mo
                                                                                                                                   B
Max. Weight %................  0.01         0.05         0.40         0.10         0.023        0.15-.35  0.35        0.10        0.10        0.30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                   Physical and Mechanical Properties
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thickness (mm).........................  0.7
Elongation %...........................  35
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Porcelain enameling sheet, drawing quality, in coils, 
0.014 inch in thickness, +0.002, -0.000, meeting ASTM A-424-96 Type 1 
specifications, and suitable for two coats.
    The merchandise subject to this investigation is typically 
classified in the HTSUS at subheadings: 7209.15.0000, 7209.16.0030, 
7209.16.0060, 7209.16.0090, 7209.17.0030, 7209.17.0060, 7209.17.0090, 
7209.18.1530, 7209.18.1560, 7209.18.2550, 7209.18.6000. 7209.25.0000, 
7209.26.0000, 7209.27.0000, 7209.28.0000, 7209.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 
7210.90.9000, 7211.23.1500, 7211.23.2000, 7211.23.3000, 7211.23.4500, 
7211.23.6030, 7211.23.6060, 7211.23.6085, 7211.29.2030, 7211.29.2090, 
7211.29.4500, 7211.29.6030, 7211.29.6080, 7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 
7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, 7225.19.0000, 7225.50.6000, 7225.50.7000, 
7225.50.8010, 7225.50.8085, 7225.99.0090, 7226.19.1000, 7226.19.9000, 
7226.92.5000, 7226.92.7050, 7226.92.8050, and 7226.99.0000.
    Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
U.S. Customs Service (``U.S. Customs'') purposes, the written 
description of the merchandise under investigation is dispositive.
    The Department received comments from a number of parties including 
importers, respondents, consumers, and the petitioners, aimed at 
clarifying the scope of these investigations. See Memorandum to Joseph 
A. Spetrini (``Scope Memorandum''), January 18, 2000, for a list of all 
persons submitting comments and a discussion of all scope comments 
including those exclusion

[[Page 5527]]

requests under consideration at the time of the preliminary 
determination in these investigations.

Period of Investigations

    The period of the investigations (``POI'') is April 1, 1998, 
through March 31, 1999.

Facts Available

    In the preliminary determinations, the Department based the dumping 
margins for the mandatory respondents, Siderar Limited, in the 
Argentina investigation, Nippon Steel Corporation (``NSC''), Kawasaki 
Steel Corporation (``KSC''), Kobe Steel Ltd. (``Kobe''), and Nisshin 
Steel Co., Ltd. (``Nisshin''), in the Japan investigation, and Thai 
Cold Rolled Steel and Sheet Company (``TCRSSC''), an affiliate of 
Sahaviriya Steel Industries Public Co., Ltd., collectively ``TCRSSC/
Sahaviriya,'' in the Thailand investigation, on facts otherwise 
available pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(A) of the Act. The use of facts 
otherwise available is necessary because the record does not contain 
company-specific information due to the fact that each of these 
respondents failed to respond to the Department's questionnaire, nor 
did they provide any indication that they were unable to do so. 
Therefore, the Department found that they failed to cooperate by not 
acting to the best of their ability. As a result, pursuant to section 
776(b), the Department used an adverse inference in selecting from the 
facts available. Specifically, the Department assigned to the Argentine 
and Thai mandatory respondents the highest margins alleged in the 
amendments to the respective petitions. Similarly, the Japanese 
mandatory respondents were assigned the highest margin alleged in the 
petition. We continue to find these margins corroborated, pursuant to 
section 776(c) of the Act, for the reasons discussed in the Preliminary 
Determinations. No interested parties have objected to the use of 
adverse facts available for the mandatory respondents in these 
investigations, nor to the Department's choice of facts available. 
Furthermore, no request for a hearing in any of these investigations 
was received by the Department. For its final determinations, the 
Department is continuing to use the highest margins alleged by the 
petitioners for all non-responding mandatory respondents in these 
proceedings. See Preliminary Determinations. In addition, the 
Department has left unchanged from the preliminary determinations the 
``All Others Rate'' in each investigation. See Comments 1 and 2.

Critical Circumstances

    No comments were received regarding the Department's preliminary 
critical circumstances determinations, and the Department has not made 
any changes to those determinations. For the reasons given in the 
preliminary determinations, the Department continues to find that 
critical circumstances exist with respect to cold-rolled steel products 
imported from NSC, KSC, Kobe, and Nisshin, in accordance with section 
733(e)(1) of the Act.
    As set forth in our preliminary determinations, because the massive 
imports criterion necessary to find critical circumstances has not been 
met with respect to firms other than NSC, KSC, Kobe, and Nisshin, the 
Department continues to find, for the purposes of these final 
determinations, that critical circumstances do not exist for imports of 
cold-rolled steel products from Thailand imported from TCRSSC/
Sahaviriya or for the ``all others'' category in both the Japan and 
Thailand investigations.
    There was no allegation of critical circumstances in the Argentina 
case.

Interested Party Comments

Comment 1: Calculation of the ``All Others'' Antidumping Duty Margin in 
the Case of Thailand
    The petitioners assert that the Department, in its simple average 
calculation of the ``all others'' antidumping duty margin, incorrectly 
included two figures that were themselves averages of the minimum and 
maximum dumping margins presented in the amended petition. The 
petitioners allege that using the simple average of the minimum and 
maximum margins presented in the amended petition should have yielded a 
margin of 69.17 percent.
    DOC Position: We disagree with the petitioners. The dumping margin 
for the ``all others'' category assigned by the Department in our 
preliminary determination was based on the simple average of all five 
of the margins \2\ presented in the amended petition. Contrary to the 
petitioners' allegation, we did not include any figures in our 
calculation that were averages of the minimum and maximum alleged 
dumping margins. Therefore, we have not changed the dumping margin for 
the ``all others'' category in the case of Thailand.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Of the five margins presented in the amended petition and 
used in the Department's simple average calculation, three of the 
margins were based on a comparison of import average unit values 
(``AUV'') to constructed value while the remaining two margins were 
based on comparisons of price quotes to constructed values.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comment 2: Calculation of the ``All Others'' Dumping Margin in the Case 
of Japan
    NKK asserts that the Department effectively applied adverse facts 
available to the ``all others'' companies by calculating an ``all 
others'' rate based on the simple average of all of the dumping margins 
in the petition, including margins based on constructed value. NKK 
states that the Department's calculated margin of 39.28 percent was 
significantly more adverse than a margin calculated based on the simple 
average of only the price-to-price comparisons contained within the 
petition (28.09 percent). By basing the preliminary margin calculation 
applied to NKK's entries in part on the constructed value comparisons 
from the petition, NKK argues, the Department effectively assumed that 
NKK made home market sales of the subject merchandise at prices below 
cost of production. NKK argues that the Department had no basis to 
assume that its home market sales of the subject merchandise were made 
at prices below the cost of production, and that the Department needs 
specific evidence to justify a finding of below cost sales. NKK states 
that no such NKK-specific evidence exists and that the facts used to 
support the below cost allegation in the petition were not specific to 
NKK.
    NKK also argues that the Department had no reason to apply adverse 
facts available to it, because NKK fully cooperated with all of the 
Department's requests for information. In support of this argument, NKK 
states that it is the Department's long-standing policy not to apply 
the same harsh adverse inferences it may have applied to mandatory 
respondents to other producers who did not respond. NKK argues that 
this practice is evident in the Department's decision to not adversely 
assume that NKK's shipments were massive, when making its preliminary 
critical circumstances determination for the ``all others'' group. 
Because the Department did not apply adverse inferences in regard to 
critical circumstances, NKK concludes that the Department should not 
apply adverse inferences when calculating the antidumping margin for 
NKK.
    Finally, NKK asserts that, because the Department expressly 
excluded NKK from participating as a voluntary respondent, company 
specific prices and costs are not available on the record. As a result, 
the Department must operate under section 776(a)(1) of the Act and 
apply facts available in a

[[Page 5528]]

manner that recognizes the fact that the nonparticipating parties have 
no culpability for the lack of company-specific information on the 
record. NKK concludes that the Department should exclude the 
constructed value margins set forth in the petition when deriving an 
antidumping duty rate for NKK. NKK further suggests that data in the 
hot-rolled steel investigation \3\ is evidence that NKK did not sell 
cold-rolled steel below cost.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value: Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products from 
Japan, 64 FR 24329 (May 6, 1999)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    DOC Position: Section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act provides that, where 
the estimated weighted-averaged dumping margins established for all 
exporters and producers individually investigated are zero or de 
minimis or are determined entirely under section 776 of the Act, the 
Department may use any reasonable method to establish the estimated 
``all others'' rate for exporters and producers not individually 
investigated. Our recent practice under these circumstances has been to 
assign, as the ``all others'' rate, the simple average of the margins 
in the petition. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less 
Than Fair Value and Affirmative Finding of Critical Circumstances: 
Elastic Rubber Tape From India, 64 FR 19123 (April 19, 1999); Notice of 
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Stainless Steel 
Plate in Coil from Italy, 64 FR 15458, 15459 (March 21, 1999). The 
Department, in following its recent practice, did not assume that NKK 
made sales below cost and did not apply ``adverse'' facts available to 
NKK in calculating the ``all others'' rate in this case. In fact, 
lacking data for these companies, the Department made no assumptions 
with respect to whether individual companies within the ``all others'' 
group made sales below cost,\4\ for this very reason it considered both 
price-to-price and constructed value margins from the petition. This 
methodology allows the Department to calculate a margin based on facts 
available. The use of constructed value in the petition was, in this 
case, an appropriate means of estimating normal value based on sales in 
the ordinary course of trade. There is no reason to assume that NKK's 
normal values--and margins--would be lower even if it did not sell the 
foreign like product at below-cost prices. In this respect, the ``all-
others'' margin is a generic margin, not based on data specific to any 
of the companies to which it is applied. Moreover, with respect to 
NKK's argument that record evidence in the hot-rolled steel case 
supports the conclusion that NKK did not sell cold-rolled steel below 
cost in the home market, we note that the hot-rolled information is not 
on the record of this proceeding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ We note, in addition, that the Department does not use 
constructed value only when there are sales below cost. For example, 
constructed value margins are utilized whenever there are 
insufficient matches for price-to-price comparisons, for whatever 
reasons. Furthermore, the Department also routinely includes 
constructed value margins in the all-others rate when it uses 
margins calculated during an investigation for such purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Furthermore, contrary to NKK's assertions, the fact that the 
Department declined to make the adverse assumption that the ``all 
others'' companies had ``massive imports'' for purposes of its critical 
circumstances determination does not require the Department to exclude 
the constructed value margins from the ``all others'' rate calculation. 
As explained above, the use of a simple average of all petition margins 
involves no assumptions (adverse or favorable) with respect to whether 
a given company or the ``all others'' group as a whole makes sales 
below cost. Thus there is no conflict between this position and the 
Department's decision not to make an adverse assumption with regard to 
massive imports. Had the Department wished to apply an adverse 
inference, it would have selected the highest margin in the petition, 
as it did for the uncooperative mandatory respondents. Instead, as 
stated previously, the Department used non-adverse facts available to 
determine the ``all others'' rate for all companies not fully 
investigated by calculating the margin based on a simple average of all 
of the margins contained within the petition.
    The Department also disagrees with NKK's allegation that it 
expressly excluded NKK from participating as a voluntary respondent. In 
the Department's July 9, 1999, respondent selection memo, the 
Department stated that voluntary respondents would not be investigated 
unless mandatory respondents failed to cooperate or unless additional 
resources became available. The Department further noted that, should 
some mandatory respondents fail to respond, resources would be 
reallocated to voluntary respondents on a first-come, first-served 
basis. Thus, the Department expressly indicated that, although it was 
unable to accept voluntary respondents at that time, it would be 
willing to do so at a later date if, as happened in these cases, the 
voluntary respondents' company-specific data had already been placed on 
the record and some mandatory respondents did not respond to the 
questionnaires. See Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination: Certain 
Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products from Taiwan, 65 
FR 1095 (January 7, 2000). NKK's company-specific data was not placed 
on the record. Nonetheless, the Department recognizes the fact that NKK 
did fully cooperate with its requests prior to the respondent selection 
in this investigation. As a result, we are not applying the adverse 
53.04 percent rate to NKK's entries, but rather are applying the ``all 
others'' rate of 39.28 percent. The Department has acted in accordance 
with section 776(a)(1) of the Act by applying facts available in a 
manner that recognizes the fact that the nonparticipating parties have 
no culpability for the absence of their company-specific information on 
the record. Based on the above reasons, we have not changed the dumping 
margin for the ``all others'' category in the case of Japan.

Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we are 
directing the Customs Service to continue to suspend liquidation of all 
entries of cold-rolled steel products exported from Japan by KSC, NSC, 
Kobe and Nisshin that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after August 7, 1999 (90 days prior to the date of 
publication of the preliminary determinations in the Federal Register). 
In addition, we will direct the Customs Service to continue to suspend 
liquidation of cold-rolled steel products exported from Argentina, 
Japan (by companies other than those specifically mentioned above) and 
Thailand that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption 
on or after November 5, 1999, the date of publication of our 
preliminary determinations in the Federal Register. The Customs Service 
shall require a cash or bond deposit equal to the dumping margin, as 
indicated in the chart below. These instructions suspending liquidation 
will remain in effect until further notice. The dumping 
margins are provided below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Margin
                   Manufacturer/exporter                      (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina:
    Siderar Limited........................................        24.53
    All others.............................................        24.53
Japan:
    Nippon Steel Corporation...............................        53.04
    Kawasaki Steel Corporation.............................        53.04
    Kobe Steel, Ltd........................................        53.04

[[Page 5529]]

 
    Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd.................................        53.04
    All others.............................................        39.28
Thailand:
    TCRSSC/Sahaviriya......................................        80.67
    All others.............................................        67.97
------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITC Notification

    In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we have notified the 
International Trade Commission (ITC) of our determinations. As our 
final determinations are affirmative, the ITC will, within 45 days, 
determine whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten 
material injury to, the U.S. industry. If the ITC determines that 
material injury or threat of material injury does not exist, the 
proceeding will be terminated and all securities posted will be 
refunded or canceled. If the ITC determines that such injury does 
exist, the Department will issue an antidumping duty order directing 
the Customs Service to assess antidumping duties on all imports of the 
subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of 
liquidation.
    These determinations are published pursuant to sections 735(d) and 
777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: January 18, 2000.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-1847 Filed 2-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P