[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47173-47175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22782]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-357-815]


Notice of Countervailing Duty Order: Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon 
Steel Flat Products From Argentina

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 11, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric B. Greynolds or Darla Brown, 
Office of AD/CVD Enforcement VI, Import Administration, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, Room 4012, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone (202) 482-2786.

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 
(2000).

Scope of Order

    The merchandise subject to this investigation is certain hot-rolled 
flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products of a rectangular shape, of a 
width of 0.5 inch or greater, neither clad, plated, nor coated with 
metal and whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or 
other non-metallic substances, in coils (whether or not in successively 
superimposed layers), regardless of thickness, and in straight lengths, 
of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm and of a width measuring at least 
10 times the thickness. Universal mill plate (i.e., flat-rolled 
products rolled on four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width 
exceeding 150 mm, but not exceeding 1250 mm, and of a thickness of not 
less than 4 mm, not in coils and without patterns in relief) of a 
thickness not less than 4.0 mm is not included within the scope of this 
investigation.
    Specifically included within the scope of this investigation are 
vacuum degassed, fully stabilized (commonly referred to as 
interstitial-free (IF)) steels, high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels, 
and the substrate for motor lamination steels. IF steels are recognized 
as low carbon steels with micro-alloying levels of elements such as 
titanium or niobium (also commonly referred to as

[[Page 47174]]

columbium), or both, added to stabilize carbon and nitrogen elements. 
HSLA steels are recognized as steels with micro-alloying levels of 
elements such as chromium, copper, niobium, vanadium, and molybdenum. 
The substrate for motor lamination steels contains 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 Schedule of the 
United States (HTS), are products in which: (i) Iron predominates, by 
weight, over each of the other contained elements; (ii) the carbon 
content is 2 percent or less, by weight; and (iii) 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, or
0.15 percent of vanadium, or
0.15 percent of zirconium.
    All products that meet the physical and chemical description 
provided above are within the scope of this investigation unless 
otherwise excluded. The following products, by way of example, are 
outside or specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation:
     Alloy hot-rolled steel products in which at least one of 
the chemical elements exceeds those listed above (including, e.g., ASTM 
specifications A543, A387, A514, A517, A506).
     SAE/AISI grades of series 2300 and higher.
     Ball bearings steels, as defined in the HTS.
     Tool steels, as defined in the HTS.
     Silico-manganese (as defined in the HTS) or silicon 
electrical steel with a silicon level exceeding 2.25 percent.
     ASTM specifications A710 and A736.
     USS Abrasion-resistant steels (USS AR 400, USS AR 500).
     All products (proprietary or otherwise) based on an alloy 
ASTM 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 HTS.
    The merchandise subject to this investigation is classified in the 
HTS at subheadings: 7208.10.15.00, 7208.10.30.00, 7208.10.60.00, 
7208.25.30.00, 7208.25.60.00, 7208.26.00.30, 7208.26.00.60, 
7208.27.00.30, 7208.27.00.60, 7208.36.00.30, 7208.36.00.60, 
7208.37.00.30, 7208.37.00.60, 7208.38.00.15, 7208.38.00.30, 
7208.38.00.90, 7208.39.00.15, 7208.39.00.30, 7208.39.00.90, 
7208.40.60.30, 7208.40.60.60, 7208.53.00.00, 7208.54.00.00, 
7208.90.00.00, 7211.14.00.90, 7211.19.15.00, 7211.19.20.00, 
7211.19.30.00, 7211.19.45.00, 7211.19.60.00, 7211.19.75.30, 
7211.19.75.60, and 7211.19.75.90. Certain hot-rolled flat-rolled 
carbon-quality steel covered by this investigation, including: vacuum 
degassed fully stabilized; high strength low alloy; and the substrate 
for motor lamination steel may also enter under the following tariff 
numbers: 7225.11.00.00, 7225.19.00.00, 7225.30.30.50, 7225.30.70.00, 
7225.40.70.00, 7225.99.00.90, 7226.11.10.00, 7226.11.90.30, 
7226.11.90.60, 7226.19.10.00, 7226.19.90.00, 7226.91.50.00, 
7226.91.70.00, 7226.91.80.00, and 7226.99.00.00. Subject merchandise 
may also enter under 7210.70.30.00, 7210.90.90.00, 7211.14.00.30, 
7212.40.10.00, 7212.40.50.00, and 7212.50.00.00. Although the HTS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes, the 
Department's written description of the merchandise subject to this 
proceeding is dispositive.

Countervailing Duty Order

    In accordance with section 705(d) of the Act, on July 16, 2001, the 
Department published in the Federal Register its final affirmative 
determination in the countervailing duty investigation of certain hot-
rolled carbon steel flat products from Argentina (66 FR 37007). On 
August 27, 2001, the International Trade Commission (ITC) notified the 
Department of its final determination, pursuant to section 
705(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, that an industry in the United States is 
materially injured by reason of imports of hot-rolled steel products 
from Argentina.
    Therefore, countervailing duties will be assessed on all 
unliquidated entries of certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products 
from Argentina entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on 
or after February 21, 2001, the date on which the Department published 
its preliminary countervailing duty determination in the Federal 
Register, and before June 21, 2001, the date the Department instructed 
the U.S. Customs Service to terminate the suspension of liquidation in 
accordance with section 703(d) of the Act, and on all entries and 
withdrawals on or after the date of publication of this countervailing 
duty order in the Federal Register. Section 703(d) of the Act states 
that the suspension of liquidation pursuant to a preliminary 
determination may not remain in effect for longer than four months. 
Entries of certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products made on or 
after June 21, 2001, and prior to the date of publication of this order 
in the Federal Register are not liable for the assessment of 
countervailing duties due to the Department's termination, effective 
June 21, 2001, of suspension of liquidation.
    In accordance with section 706 of the Act, the Department will 
direct U.S. Customs officers to reinstate the suspension of liquidation 
effective the date of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register and to assess, upon further advice by the Department pursuant 
to section 706(a)(1) of the Act, countervailing duties for each entry 
of the subject merchandise in an amount based on the net 
countervailable subsidy rate for the subject merchandise.
    On or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, U.S. Customs officers must require, at the same time as 
importers would normally deposit estimated duties on this merchandise, 
a cash deposit equal to the countervailable subsidy rates noted below. 
The All Others rate applies to all producers and exporters of certain 
hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from Argentina not specifically 
listed below. The cash deposit rates are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Net Subsidy Rate
                  Producer/exporter                        Ad Valorem
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Siderar..............................................             41.69%
All Others...........................................             41.69%
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice constitutes the countervailing duty order with respect 
to certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from Argentina, 
pursuant to section 706(a) of the Act. Interested parties may contact 
the Central Records Unit, for copies of an updated list of 
countervailing duty orders currently in effect.
    This countervailing duty order is published in accordance with 
section 706(a) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.211.


[[Page 47175]]


    Dated: September 5, 2001.
Richard W. Moreland,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-22782 Filed 9-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P