[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 134 (Wednesday, July 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42986-42988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17646]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-824]


Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From 
Japan: Notice of Initiation of Changed Circumstances Review of the 
Antidumping Orders and Intent To Revoke Order in Part

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation and preliminary results of changed 
circumstances antidumping duty review, and intent to revoke order in 
part.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(b), Toyo Ink America 
(``TIA'') requested a changed circumstances review of the antidumping 
order on Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products from 
Japan with respect to ``doctor blades.'' Domestic producers of the like 
product have expressed no interest in continuation of the order with 
respect to doctor blades. In response to TIA's request, the Department 
of Commerce (``the Department'') is initiating a changed circumstances 
review and issuing a notice of intent to revoke in part the antidumping 
duty order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products 
from Japan. Interested parties are invited to comment on these 
preliminary results.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 12, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandon Farlander or Rick Johnson, 
Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0182, (202) 482-3818, 
respectively.

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. In addition, unless otherwise 
indicated, all citations to the Department's regulations are to the 
regulations as codified at 19 CFR. part 351 (1999).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 42987]]

Background

    On May 23, 2000, TIA requested that the Department revoke in part 
the antidumping duty order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel 
flat products from Japan. Specifically, TIA requested that the 
Department revoke the order with respect to imports of doctor blades 
meeting the following specifications: carbon steel coil or strip, 
plated with nickel phosphorous, having a thickness of 0.1524 
millimeters (0.006 inches), a width between 31.75 millimeters (1.25 
inches) and 50.80 millimeters (2.00 inches), a core hardness between 
580 to 630 HV, a surface hardness between 900-990 HV; the carbon steel 
coil or strip consists of the following elements identified in 
percentage by weight: 0.90% to 1.05% carbon; 0.15% to 0.35% silicon; 
0.30% to 0.50% manganese; less than or equal to .03% of phosphorous; 
less than or equal to .006 percent of sulfur; other elements 
representing .24%; and the remainder of iron. TIA is an importer of the 
products in question.

Scope of Review

    This review covers flat-rolled carbon steel products, of 
rectangular shape, either clad, plated, or coated with corrosion-
resistant metals such as zinc, aluminum, or zinc-, aluminum-, nickel- 
or iron-based alloys, whether or not corrugated or painted, varnished 
or coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances in addition to 
the metallic coating, in coils (whether or not in successively 
superimposed layers) and of a width of 0.5 inch or greater, or in 
straight lengths which, if of a thickness less than 4.75 millimeters, 
are of a width of 0.5 inch or greater and which measures at least 10 
times the thickness or if of a thickness of 4.75 millimeters or more 
are of a width which exceeds 150 millimeters and measures at least 
twice the thickness, as currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS'') under item numbers 
7210.30.0030, 7210.30.0060, 7210.41.0000, 7210.49.0030, 7210.49.0090, 
7210.61.0000, 7210.69.0000, 7210.70.6030, 7210.70.6060, 7210.70.6090, 
7210.90.1000, 7210.90.6000, 7210.90.9000, 7212.20.0000, 7212.30.1030, 
7212.30.1090, 7212.30.3000, 7212.30.5000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 
7212.50.0000, 7212.60.0000, 7215.90.1000, 7215.90.3000, 7215.90.5000, 
7217.20.1500, 7217.30.1530, 7217.30.1560, 7217.90.1000, 7217.90.5030, 
7217.90.5060, and 7217.90.5090. Included are flat-rolled products of 
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. Excluded are flat-rolled steel products either 
plated or coated with tin, lead, chromium, chromium oxides, both tin 
and lead (``terne plate''), or both chromium and chromium oxides 
(``tin-free steel''), whether or not painted, varnished or coated with 
plastics or other nonmetallic substances in addition to the metallic 
coating. Also excluded are clad products in straight lengths of 0.1875 
inch or more in composite thickness and of a width which exceeds 150 
millimeters and measures at least twice the thickness. Also excluded 
are certain clad stainless flat-rolled products, which are three-
layered corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat-rolled products less than 
4.75 millimeters in composite thickness that consist of a carbon steel 
flat-rolled product clad on both sides with stainless steel in a 20%-
60%-20% ratio. The HTS item numbers are provided for convenience and 
Customs purposes. The written description remains dispositive of the 
scope of this review.
    Also excluded are certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat 
products meeting the following specifications: (1) Widths ranging from 
10 millimeters (0.394 inches) through 100 millimeters (3.94 inches); 
(2) thicknesses, including coatings, ranging from 0.11 millimeters 
(0.004 inches) through 0.60 millimeters (0.024 inches); (3) a coating 
that is from 0.003 millimeters (0.00012 inches) through 0.005 
millimeters (0.000196 inches) in thickness and that is comprised of 
either two evenly applied layers, the first layer consisting of 99% 
zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum, followed by a layer consisting 
of chromate, or three evenly applied layers, the first layer consisting 
of 99% zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum followed by a layer 
consisting of chromate, and finally a layer consisting of silicate; (4) 
carbon steel flat products measuring 1.84 mm in thickness and 43.6 mm 
or 16.1 mm in width consisting of carbon steel coil (SAE 1008) clad 
with an aluminum alloy that is balance aluminum, 20% tin, 1% copper, 
0.3% silicon, 0.15% nickel, less than 1% other materials and meeting 
the requirements of SAE standard 783 for Bearing and Bushing Alloys; 
and (5) carbon steel flat products measuring 0.97 mm in thickness and 
20 mm in width consisting of carbon steel coil (SAE 1008) with a two-
layer lining, the first layer consisting of a copper-lead alloy powder 
that is balance copper, 9% to 11% tin, 9% to 11% lead, less than 1% 
zinc, less than 1% other materials and meeting the requirements of SAE 
standard 792 for Bearing and Bushing Alloys, the second layer 
consisting of 45% to 55% lead, 38% to 50% PTFE, 3% to 5% molybdenum 
disulfide and less than 2% other materials.

Initiation of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review, and Intent To Revoke Order in Part

    Pursuant to sections 751(d)(1) and 782(h)(2) of the Act, the 
Department may revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, in 
whole or in part, based on a review under section 751(b) of the Act 
(i.e., a changed circumstances review). Section 751(b)(1) of the Act 
requires a changed circumstances review to be conducted upon receipt of 
a request which shows changed circumstances sufficient to warrant a 
review. Section 351.222(g) of the Department's regulations provides 
that the Department will conduct a changed circumstances administrative 
review under 19 CFR 351.216, and may revoke an order (in whole or in 
part), if it determines that producers accounting for substantially all 
of the production of the domestic like product have expressed a lack of 
interest in the relief provided by the order, in whole or in part, or 
if other changed circumstances sufficient to warrant revocation exist. 
In addition, in the event that the Department concludes that expedited 
action is warranted, 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(ii) permits the Department to 
combine the notices of initiation and preliminary results.
    In accordance with sections 751(d)(1) and 782(h)(2) of the Act, and 
19 CFR 351.216 and 351.222(g), based on affirmative statements by 
domestic producers of the like product, Bethlehem Steel Corporation; 
Ispat Inland Steel; LTV Steel Company, Inc.; National Steel 
Corporation; and U.S. Steel Group, a unit of USX Corporation, of no 
further interest in continuing the order with respect to certain 
corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products described as doctor 
blades which are specificed as carbon steel coil or strip, plated with 
nickel phosphorous, having a thickness of 0.1524 millimeters (0.006 
inches), a width between 31.75 millimeters (1.25 inches) and 50.80 
millimeters (2.00 inches), a core hardness between 580 to 630 HV, a 
surface hardness between 900--990 HV; the carbon steel coil or strip 
consists of

[[Page 42988]]

the following elements identified in percentage by weight: 0.90% to 
1.05% carbon; 0.15% to 0.35% silicon; 0.30% to 0.50% manganese; less 
than or equal to .03% of phosphorous; less than or equal to .006 
percent of sulfur; other elements representing .24%; and the remainder 
of iron, we are initiating this changed circumstances administrative 
review. Furthermore, we determine that expedited action is warranted, 
and we preliminarily determine that continued application of the order 
with respect to certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products 
falling within the description above is no longer of interest to 
domestic interested parties. Because we have concluded that expedited 
action is warranted, we are combining these notices of initiation and 
preliminary results. Therefore, we are hereby notifying the public of 
our intent to revoke in part the antidumping duty orders with respect 
to imports of certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products 
meeting the above-mentioned specifications from Japan.
    If the final revocation in part occurs, we intend to instruct the 
U.S. Customs Service (``Customs'') to liquidate without regard to 
antidumping duties, as applicable, and to refund any estimated 
antidumping duties collected for all unliquidated entries of certain 
corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products meeting the 
specifications indicated above, not subject to final results of 
administrative review as of the date of publication in the Federal 
Register of the final results of this changed circumstances review in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.222. We will also instruct Customs to pay 
interest on such refunds in accordance with section 778 of the Act. The 
current requirement for a cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties 
on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products meeting the 
above specifications will continue unless and until we publish a final 
determination to revoke in part.

Public Comment

    Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary 
results. Parties who submit argument in this proceeding are requested 
to submit with the argument (1) a statement of the issue, and (2) a 
brief summary of the argument. Parties to the proceedings may request a 
hearing within 14 days of publication. Any hearing, if requested, will 
be held no later than two days after the deadline for the submission of 
rebuttal briefs, or the first workday thereafter. Case briefs may be 
submitted by interested parties not later than 14 days after the date 
of publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs and rebuttals to written 
comments, limited to the issues raised in those comments, may be filed 
not later than five days after the deadline for submission of case 
briefs. All written comments shall be submitted in accordance with 19 
CFR 351.303 and shall be served on all interested parties on the 
Department's service list in accordance with 19 CFR 351.303. Persons 
interested in attending the hearing should contact the Department for 
the date and time of the hearing.
    The Department will publish the final results of this changed 
circumstances review, including the results of its analysis of issues 
raised in any written comments. This notice is published in accordance 
with sections 751(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216 and 351.222.

    Dated: July 6, 2000.
Troy H. Cribb,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-17646 Filed 7-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P