[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 249 (Friday, December 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67304-67318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31794]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-201-73]


Steel; Import Investigations

Determination

    On the basis of information developed in the subject investigation, 
the United States International Trade Commission--
    (1) Determines pursuant to section 202(b) of the Tariff Act of 
1974, that certain steel products \1\ are being

[[Page 67305]]

imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a 
substantial cause of serious injury or the threat of serious injury to 
the domestic industry producing articles like or directly competitive 
with the imported articles; and
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    \1\ The Commission made affirmative determinations with regard 
to certain carbon and alloy steel, including (1) slabs, (2) plate, 
(3) hot-rolled steel, (4) cold-rolled steel, (5) coated steel, (6) 
hot bar, (7) cold bar, (8) rebar, (9) welded tubular products other 
than OCTG, and (10) fittings; and stainless steel (11) bar and (12) 
rod.
    The Commission was equally divided in its determination with 
regard to (1) carbon and alloy steel tin mill products, (2) tool 
steel, (3) stainless steel wire, and (4) stainless steel fittings. 
Pursuant to section 330(d)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, where the 
Commission is equally divided, the determination of either group of 
Commissioners may be considered by the President to be the 
determination of the Commission.
    The Commission made negative determinations with regard to 
carbon and alloy steel (1) GOES, (2) ingots, (3) rails, (4) wire, 
(5) rope, (6) nails, (7) shapes, (8) fabricated structural units, 
(9) seamless tubular products other than OCTG, (10) seamless OCTG, 
and (11) welded OCTG; and stainless steel (12) slabs/ingots, (13) 
plate, (14) cloth, (15) rope, (16) seamless tubular products, and 
(17) welded tubular products.
    Descriptions of the products covered by the investigation and 
their corresponding subheadings under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
(HTS) is presented in appendix A.
    A tabulation showing the individual votes of each Commissioner 
is presented in appendix B.
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    (2) Finds pursuant to section 311(a) of the North American Free-
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act, that imports of carbon and 
alloy steel hot bar, cold bar, welded tubular products,\2\ and 
fittings, and stainless steel bar and fittings from Canada account for 
a substantial share of the total imports and contribute importantly to 
the serious injury or threat thereof caused by imports.\3\ With regard 
to imports from Mexico, the Commission finds that imports of certain 
carbon and alloy flat-rolled steel (slabs, plate, hot-rolled steel, 
cold-rolled steel, and coated steel), carbon and alloy steel fittings, 
and stainless steel fittings from Mexico account for serious injury or 
threat thereof caused by imports.\4\
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    \2\ The Commission was equally divided, 3-3, in its finding with 
regard to carbon and alloy steel welded tubular products other than 
OCTG from Canada.
    \3\ The Commission made a negative finding with regard to 
imports from Canada of certain carbon and alloy steel, including (1) 
slabs, (2) plate, (3) hot-rolled steel, (4) cold-rolled steel, (5) 
coated steel, (6) tin mill products, and (7) rebar; (8) tool steel; 
and stainless steel (9) rod and (10) wire.
    \4\ The Commission voted in the negative regarding imports from 
Mexico of carbon and alloy steel (1) tin-mill products, (2) hot bar, 
(3) cold bar, (4) rebar, and (5) welded tubular products other than 
OCTG; (6) tool steel; and stainless steel (7) bar, (8) rod, and (9) 
wire.
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Recommendations With Respect to Remedy

The Commission \5\ Recommends a Four-Year Program of Tariffs and 
Tariff-Rate Quotas
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    \5\ Pursuant to section 330(d)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
U.S.C. Sec. 1330(d)(2)), the remedy recommendation of Chairman 
Koplan and Commissioners Miller and Hillman in this investigation is 
to be treated as the remedy finding of the Commission for purposes 
of section 203 of the Trade Act.
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    Plate, hot-rolled sheet, cold-rolled sheet, coated sheet, hot-
rolled bar, cold-finished bar and stainless steel rod: An additional 20 
percent ad valorem duty in the first year of relief, to be reduced to a 
17 percent ad valorem duty in the second year of relief, 14 percent ad 
valorem duty in the third year of relief, and 11 percent ad valorem 
duty in the fourth year of relief;
    Stainless steel bar: An additional 15 percent ad valorem duty in 
the first year of relief, to be reduced to a 12 percent ad valorem duty 
in the second year of relief, 9 percent ad valorem duty in the third 
year of relief, and 6 percent ad valorem duty in the fourth year of 
relief;
    Carbon and alloy steel fittings and flanges: \6\ An additional 13 
percent ad valorem duty in the first year of relief, to be reduced to a 
10 percent ad valorem duty in the second year of relief, 7 percent ad 
valorem duty in the third of relief, and 4 percent ad valorem duty in 
the fourth year of relief;
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    \6\ Vice Chairman Okun joins in this recommended remedy for the 
first three years of relief only.
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    Rebar: An additional 10 percent ad valorem duty in the first year 
of relief, to be reduced to an 8 percent ad valorem duty in the second 
year of relief, 6 percent ad valorem duty in the third year of relief, 
and 4 percent ad valorem duty in the fourth year of relief;
    Slabs: \6\ A tariff-rate quota with an additional 20 percent ad 
valorem duty on imports in excess of 7.0 million short tons in the 
first year of relief, 17 percent ad valorem duty on imports in excess 
of 7.5 million short tons in the second year of relief; 14 percent ad 
valorem duty on imports in excess of 8.0 million short tons in the 
third year of relief; and 11 percent ad valorem duty on imports in 
excess of 8.5 million short tons in the fourth year of relief;
    Welded tubular products other than OCTG: \6\ A tariff-rate quota 
with an additional 20 percent ad valorem duty on imports in excess of 
year 2000 U.S. imports,\7\ 17 percent ad valorem duty on imports in 
excess of the quantities noted in the second year, 14 percent ad 
valorem duty on imports in excess of the quantities noted for the third 
year, and 11 percent ad valorem duty in imports in excess of the 
quantities noted below.
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    \7\ Chairman Koplan and Commissioner Miller made affirmative 
determinations under Section 311 of the NAFTA with respect to 
imports of welded tubular products from both Canada and Mexico and 
therefore recommend that the additional tariffs apply to imports in 
excess of 2,600,000 short tons in the first year, 2,680,000 short 
tons in the second year, 2,760,000 short tons in the third year and 
2,840,000 short tons in the fourth year.
    Vice Chairman Okun and Commissioner Hillman made negative 
determinations under section 311 of the NAFTA with respect to 
imports of welded tubular products from Canada and Mexico and 
therefore recommend that the additional tariffs not apply to those 
countries and that the tariffs apply to imports in excess of 
1,400,443 short tons in the first year, 1,442,456 short tons in the 
second year, 1,485,730 short tons in the third year, and 
(Commissioner Hillman only) 1,530,302 short tons in the fourth year.
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    The Commission further recommends that the additional tariffs or 
tariff-rate quotas on slabs, plate, hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated 
products be applied to imports from Mexico but not imports from Canada; 
that the additional tariffs on cold-finished bar and stainless steel 
bar be applied to imports from Canada but not imports from Mexico; that 
the additional tariffs on rebar and stainless steel rod not apply to 
imports from either Canada or Mexico; that the additional tariffs on 
carbon and alloy fittings and flanges apply to imports from both Mexico 
\8\ and Canada; \9\ and that the additional tariffs on hot-rolled bar 
apply to imports from Canada but not imports from Mexico.\10\ With 
respect to welded tubular products other than OCTG, the Commission 
recommends that the additional tariff-rate quota not be applied to 
imports from Mexico, and was evenly split regarding Canada.\11\ The 
Commission further recommends that none of the additional tariffs or 
tariff-rate quotas apply to imports from Israel, or to any imports 
entered duty-free from beneficiary countries under the Caribbean Basin 
Economic Recover Act or the Andean Trade Preference Act.\12\
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    \8\ Chairman Koplan, Vice Chairman Okun and Commissioner Miller 
determined that the additional duties on fittings and flanges should 
apply to imports from Mexico.
    \9\ Vice Chairman Okun and Commissioners Miller and Hillman 
determined that the additional duties on fittings and flanges should 
apply to imports from Canada.
    \10\ Chairman Koplan and Commissioner Miller recommend that the 
additional duties apply to imports of hot-rolled bar from Mexico.
    \11\ Chairman Koplan and Commissioner Miller recommend that the 
additional tariff-rate quota apply to imports from Mexico.
    \12\ To the extent that the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Area 
Implementation Act applies to this investigation, the Commission 
further recommends that none of the additional tariffs be applied to 
imports from Jordan.
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    The Commission also recommends that the remedy on welded tubular 
products other than OCTG not apply to certain large diameter welded 
line pipe products.
    The Commission also recommends that the President continue to 
pursue international negotiations with the governments of all the 
countries that supply these steel products aimed at reducing 
inefficient global overcapacity to produce these steel products.
    The Commission further encourages the President to consider other 
appropriate action to facilitate the efforts of the domestic industry 
to rationalize and consolidate and thus make a positive adjustment to 
import competition.
    The Commission's remedy recommendation and the individual remedy 
recommendations of the Commissioners are summarized in the tabulation 
at Appendix C.
    Commissioner Bragg recommends the following:
    (1) A duty, in addition to the current rate of duty, for a four-
year period on imports of carbon and alloy steel imports and for a 
three-year period on

[[Page 67306]]

imports of stainless and tool steel that are within the scope of this 
investigation, as follows:

    Flat Products (including slabs, cut-to-length plate, hot-rolled 
sheet and strip, cold-rolled sheet and strip, corrosion resistant flat 
products, and tin mill products): 40 percent ad valorem in the first 
year of relief; 38 percent ad valorem in the second year of relief; 36 
percent ad valorem in the third year of relief; and 31 percent ad 
valorem in the fourth year of relief.
    Long Mill Products (including hot bar, cold bar, and rebar): 35 
percent ad valorem in the first year of relief; 33 percent ad valorem 
in the second year of relief; 31 percent ad valorem in the third year 
of relief; and 26 percent ad valorem in the fourth year of relief.
    Tubular Products (including welded tubular other than OCTG, and 
fittings, flanges, and tool joints): 30 percent ad valorem in the first 
year of relief; 28 percent ad valorem in the second year of relief; 26 
percent ad valorem in the third year of relief; and 21 percent ad 
valorem in the fourth year of relief.
    Stainless and Tool Steel Flat and Long Products (including 
stainless bar, stainless rod, and tool steel): 25 percent ad valorem in 
the first year of relief; 20 percent ad valorem in the second year of 
relief; and 15 percent ad valorem in the third year of relief.
    Stainless Wire: 15 percent ad valorem in the first year of relief; 
10 percent ad valorem in the second year of relief; and 5 percent ad 
valorem in the third year of relief.
    Stainless Fittings and Flanges: 30 percent ad valorem in the first 
year of relief; 25 percent ad valorem in the second year of relief; and 
20 percent ad valorem in the third year of relief.
    (2) Based on her negative injury findings under section 311(a) of 
the NAFTA Implementation Act, with respect to imports from Canada of 
carbon and alloy flat products, carbon and alloy long products, 
stainless flat and long products, and stainless wire products, as well 
as imports from Mexico of carbon and alloy long products, carbon and 
alloy welded tubular other than OCTG, stainless and tool steel flat and 
long products, and stainless wire, Commissioner Bragg recommends that 
such imports not be subject to the increased duties.
    (3) Based on her affirmative injury findings under section 311(a) 
of the NAFTA Implementation Act, with respect to imports from Canada of 
carbon and alloy welded tubular other than OCTG, carbon and alloy 
fittings, flanges, and tool joints, and stainless fittings and flanges, 
as well as imports from Mexico of carbon and alloy flat products, 
carbon and alloy fittings, flanges, and tool joints, and stainless 
fittings and flanges, Commissioner Bragg recommends that such imports 
be subject to the increased duties.
    (4) Commissioner Bragg also recommends that the increased duties 
not apply to imports of covered steel entered duty-free from 
beneficiary countries under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, 
the Andean Trade Preference Act, the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement 
Act, or the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Area Implementation Act.
    (5) In the consideration of administrative efficiency and past 
Commission experience, these remedy recommendations do not address the 
issue of specific product exclusions. Nonetheless, Commissioner Bragg 
recommends that the President review the record regarding the issues 
presented by the interested parties to the U.S. Trade Representatives' 
Trade Policy Staff Committee.\13\ Her remedy recommendation for tariffs 
applies across a broad category of products; tariffs, unlike quotas and 
tariff-rate quotas, do not operate to exclude products or to encourage 
circumvention or product shifting.
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    \13\ Although I have reviewed each of the numerous exclusion 
requests for specialty products, I make no recommendation on this 
issue. I note that the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has 
established a mechanism to consider product exclusion requests. 66 
FR 208, at 54,321-24 (Oct. 26, 2001).
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    (6) Commissioner Bragg also indicates her support for the 
President's pursuit of international negotiations to address the 
underlying causes of the increase in imports, such as global 
overcapacity and production, as well as implement any other action 
authorized under law that is likely to facilitate positive adjustment 
to import competition, including Trade Adjustment Assistance to aid the 
numerous dislocated workers of the U.S. steel industries.

Vice Chairman Okun Recommends a Three-Year Program of Quotas, Tariff-
Rate Quotas, and Tariffs

    Plate, hot-rolled sheet, cold-rolled sheet, coated sheet, hot-
rolled bar, cold-finished bar, rebar, stainless steel bar, and 
stainless steel rod: Quantitative restrictions on imports of the 
following categories, in the following amounts in the first year, to be 
increased by three percent in each subsequent year that the action is 
in effect: Plate--1,232,260 short tons, hot-rolled sheet--4,928,712 
short tons, cold-rolled sheet--2,796,196 short tons, and coated sheet--
1,683,282 short tons, hot-rolled bar--1,961,648 short tons, cold-
finished bar--246,033 short tons, rebar--1,054,266 short tons, 
stainless steel bar--109,440 short tons, and stainless steel rod--
62,573 short tons;
    Slab: \14\ A tariff-rate quota with an additional 20 percent ad 
valorem tariff on imports in excess of 7.0 million short tons in the 
first year of relief, an additional 17 percent ad valorem tariff on 
imports in excess of 7.5 million short tons in the second year of 
relief; and an additional 14 percent ad valorem tariff on imports in 
excess of 8.0 million short tons in the third year of relief;
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    \14\ Vice Chairman Okun joins the Commission's recommended 
remedy for the first three years of relief only.
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    Welded tubular products other than OCTG: \14\ A tariff-rate quota 
with an additional 20 percent ad valorem tariff on imports in excess of 
1,400,443 short tons in the first year of relief, an additional 17 
percent ad valorem tariff on imports in excess of 1,442,456 shot tons 
in the second year, and an additional 14 percent ad valorem tariff on 
imports in excess of 1,485,730 short tons in the third year of relief;
    Carbon and alloy steel fittings and flanges: \14\ An additional 13 
percent ad valorem tariff in the first year of relief, to be reduced to 
an additional 10 percent ad valorem tariff in the second year of 
relief, and to be reduced to an additional 7 percent ad valorem tariff 
in the third year of relief.

Vice Chairman Okun recommends that the quotas or tariff-rate quotas on 
slab, plate, hot-rolled sheet, cold-rolled sheet and coated sheet 
products be applied to imports from Mexico but not imports from Canada; 
that the quotas on hot-rolled bar, cold-finished bar and stainless 
steel bar be applied to imports from Canada but not imports from 
Mexico; that the quotas on rebar, welded tubular products and stainless 
steel rod not apply to imports from either Canada or Mexico; that the 
additional tariffs on carbon and alloy fittings and flanges apply to 
imports from both Canada and Mexico. Vice Chairman Okun further 
recommends that none of the import restrictions applies to imports from 
Israel, or to any imports entered duty-free from beneficiary countries 
under the Caribbean Basin Economic Recover Act or the Andean Trade 
Preference Act.\15\
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    \15\ To the extent that the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Area 
Implementation Act applies to this investigation, Vice Chairman Okun 
further recommends that none of the import restrictions applies to 
imports from Jordan.
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    Vice Chairman Okun does not recommend that these remedies apply in 
their entirety to certain large diameter welded line pipe, nor to tool 
joints

[[Page 67307]]

included within the fittings and flanges category.
    Vice Chairman Okun also recommends that the President administer 
quotas and tariff-rate quotas on a quarterly basis, with country-
specific allocations, and a short-supply mechanism, with the exception 
of welded tubular products (recommending that the President administer 
the remedy globally, on an annual basis, with a partial product 
exclusion).
    Vice Chairman Okun also recommends that the President continue to 
pursue international negotiations with the governments of all the 
countries that supply these steel products aimed at reducing global 
inefficient or excess capacity to produce these steel products.
    Vice Chairman Okun also recommends that the President utilize all 
trade adjustment assistance programs.
    Vice Chairman Okun further urges the President to consider 
solutions to address legacy costs and other impediments to the 
rationalization and consolidation of the domestic industries producing 
steel.
    Commissioner Devaney recommends:
    As to Carbon and Alloy Flat Products:
    (1) I recommend that the President impose a duty, in addition to 
the current rate of duty, for a four-year period, on all imports of 
flat products that are the subject of the remedy phase of this 
investigation as follows: 40 percent ad valorem in the first year of 
relief; 38 percent ad valorem in the second year of relief; 36 percent 
ad valorem in the third year of relief and 31 percent ad valorem in the 
fourth year of relief;
    (2) Having made negative findings with respect to imports of flat 
products from both Mexico and Canada under section 311(a) of the NAFTA 
Implementation Act, I recommend that such imports not be subject to the 
recommended increase in the duty;
    (3) I recommend that the increase in duty described above apply to 
imports of flat products from beneficiary countries under the Caribbean 
Basin Economic Recovery Act, but not apply to imports of flat products 
from beneficiary countries under the Andean Trade Preference Act, 
imports from Jordan or imports from Israel.
    As to Carbon and Alloy Long Products:
    (1) I recommend that the President impose a duty, in addition to 
the current rate of duty, for a four-year period, on all imports of 
carbon bar and rebar as follows: 35 percent ad valorem in the first 
year of relief; 33 percent ad valorem in the second year of relief; 31 
percent ad valorem in the third year of relief and 26 percent ad 
valorem in the fourth year of relief;
    (2) Having made negative findings with respect to imports of carbon 
bar and rebar from both Mexico and Canada under section 311(a) of the 
NAFTA Implementation Act, I recommend that such imports not be subject 
to the recommended increase in the duty;
    (3) I recommend that the increase in duty described above apply to 
imports of carbon bar and rebar from beneficiary countries under the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, but not apply to imports of long 
products from beneficiary countries under the Andean Trade Preference 
Act, imports from Jordan or imports from Israel.
    As to Carbon and Alloy Tubular Products: (1) I recommend that the 
President impose a duty, in addition to the current rate of duty, for a 
four year period, on all imports of tubular products that are the 
subject of the remedy phase of this investigation as follows: 30 
percent ad valorem in the first year of relief, 28 percent ad valorem 
in the second year of relief, 26 percent ad valorem in the third year 
of relief, and 21 percent ad valorem in the fourth year of relief;
    (2) Having made negative findings with respect to imports of 
tubular products from both Mexico and Canada under section 311(a) of 
the NAFTA Implementation Act, I recommend that such imports not be 
subject to the recommended increase in the duty;
    (3) I recommend that the increase in duty described above apply to 
imports of tubular products from beneficiary countries under the 
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, but not apply to imports of 
tubular products from beneficiary countries under the Andean Trade 
Preference Act, imports from Jordan or imports from Israel.
    As to Stainless Steel Products except Fittings and Flanges:
    (1) I recommend that the President impose quotas in the amount 
equal to the respective average quantities during the period 1996 to 
1998, which I find to be the most recent representative period, on 
imports of stainless steel bar, stainless steel rod, tool steel, and 
stainless steel wire for a three year period. In addition, I recommend 
that during the first year of the quotas, a 15 percent ad valorem duty 
be placed on these products. I recommend that the quota be administered 
on a quarterly and country-by-country basis;
    (2) Having made a negative finding with respect to these products 
from Canada and Mexico under section 311(a) of the NAFTA Implementation 
Act, I recommend that such imports not be subject to the recommended 
quotas and duty increases;
    (3) I recommend that this quota and duty increase apply to 
stainless bar imports from beneficiary countries under the Carribean 
Basin Recovery Act, but not apply to imports entered from beneficiary 
countries under the Andean Trade Preference Act, imports from Jordan, 
or imports from Israel. These quotas and duty increases should not 
apply to imports of stainless steel rod, tool steel or stainless steel 
wire from Israel, Jordan, beneficiary countries under the Carribean 
Basin Recovery Act, or beneficiary countries under the Andean Trade 
Preference Act.
    As to Stainless Steel Fittings and Flanges: (1) I recommend that 
the President impose a quota in the amount equal to the average 
quantity during the period 1996 to 1998, which I find to be the most 
recent representative period, on imports of stainless steel fittings 
and flanges for a four year period. I recommend that the quota be 
administered on a quarterly and country-by-country basis;
    (2) Should the President determine that the Commission reached an 
affirmative determination with respect to stainless steel fittings and 
flanges from Canada and Mexico under section 311(a) of the NAFTA 
Implementation Act, I recommend that such imports be subject to the 
quota recommended.
    (3) I recommend that this quota not apply to imports from Israel, 
Jordan, beneficiary countries under the Caribbean Basin Recovery Act, 
or beneficiary countries under the Andean Trade Preference Act.

    Further, the Commission has taken large amounts of evidence on 
exclusion requests over the course of this investigation, and the 
United States Trade Representative has gathered information regarding 
such requests. I therefore believe it helpful to the President and USTR 
to make a recommendation regarding these requests. I have determined 
that several specialty or niche products should be excluded from the 
remedy recommended for the product category to which they belong.

Background

    Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative on June 22, 2001, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. TA-201-73, Steel, under section 202 of the Trade Act 
of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2252) to determine whether certain steel

[[Page 67308]]

products \16\ are being imported into the United States in such 
increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or 
the threat thereof, to the domestic industry producing an article like 
or directly competitive with the imported article.\17\
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    \16\ The June 22, 2001, request letter from the United States 
Trade Representative and the accompanying annexes listing the 
covered products by HTS categories are on the Commission's web site 
(http://www.usitc.gov).
    \17\ On July 26, 2001, the Commission received a resolution from 
the Committee on Finance of the United States Senate for an 
investigation of the same scope. Pursuant to section 603 of the 
Trade Act, the Commission consolidated the investigation requested 
by the Committee with the ongoing investigation.
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    Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigation was 
given by posting a copy of the notice on the Commission's web site 
(www.usitc.gov), and by publishing the notice in the Federal Register 
of July 3, 2001 (66 FR 35267). The public hearings in connection with 
the injury phase of the investigations were held between September 17, 
2001 and October 5, 2001 in Washington, DC and Merrillville, IN. The 
public hearings in connection with the remedy phase of the 
investigations were held between November 6, 2001 and November 9, 2001 
in Washington, DC.

    Issued: December 20, 2001.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.

Appendix A

Carbon and Alloy Steel Flat Products

Slabs

    A slab is a semifinished steel product produced by continuous 
casting or by hot-rolling or forging. Slabs of carbon steel have a 
rectangular cross-section with a width at least two times the 
thickness. Slabs of other alloy steel have a width at least four 
times the thickness. Carbon and alloy steel slabs are provided for 
in the following HTS subheadings: 7207.12.0010, 7207.12.0050, 
7207.20.0025, 7207.20.0045, and 7224.90.0055.

Plate

    This category includes both cut-to-length (``CTL'') plate and 
clad plate. CTL plate is a flat-rolled product of rectangular cross-
section, having a thickness of 4.75 mm or more and a width which 
exceeds 150 mm and measures at least twice the thickness. It is 
flat, i.e., not in coil,\1\ and may be of any shape (rectangular, 
circular, or other). It may have patterns-in-relief derived directly 
from rolling (floor plate). It may be perforated, corrugated, or 
polished. Plate may also have been subjected to heat-treatment and 
may have been descaled or pickled. Clad plate is a flat-rolled 
product of more than one metal layer, of which the predominating 
metal is non-alloy steel, and the layers are joined by molecular 
interpenetration of the surfaces in contact. The metal other than 
non-alloy steel used for clad plate may be stainless steel, 
titanium, or any other metal. The clad plate may be in the form of a 
flat plate or a coiled plate, may be of any thickness, and may be 
either hot- or cold-rolled. Products in this category are provided 
for in the following HTS subheadings: 7208.40.3030, 7208.40.3060, 
7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045, 7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 
7208.90.0000, 7210.90.1000, 7211.13.0000, 7211.14.0030, 
7211.14.0045, 7225.40.3005, 7225.40.3050, 7225.50.6000, and 
7226.91.5000.
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    \1\ Plate in coil, which is not included in this category, is 
included in the hot-rolled category.
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Hot-Rolled Steel

    Products in this category are hot-rolled sheet and strip, as 
well as plate in coils. These are carbon and alloy steel flat-rolled 
products of rectangular cross-section, produced by hot-rolling on 
hot-strip (continuous) mills, reversing mills, or Steckel mills. If 
the product is in coils, it may be of any thickness. If it is in 
straight lengths, it must be of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm and 
a width measuring at least 10 times the thickness. It may have 
patterns-in-relief derived directly from rolling (floor plate). It 
may be perforated, corrugated, or polished. It may be either 
unpickled or pickled. It may have been subjected to various 
processing steps after hot reduction, including pickling or 
descaling, rewinding, flattening, temper rolling, or heat treatment, 
and it may have been cut into shapes other than rectangular. 
Products in this category are provided for in the following HTS 
subheadings: 7208.10.1500, 7208.10.3000, 7208.10.6000, 7208.25.3000, 
7208.25.6000, 7208.26.0030, 7208.26.0060, 7208.27.0030, 
7208.27.0060, 7208.36.0030, 7208.36.0060, 7208.37.0030, 
7208.37.0060, 7208.38.0015, 7208.38.0030, 7208.38.0090, 
7208.39.0015, 7208.39.0030, 7208.39.0090, 7208.40.6030, 
7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000, 7208.54.0000, 7211.14.0090, 
7211.19.1500, 7211.19.2000, 7211.19.3000, 7211.19.4500, 
7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7530, 7211.19.7560, 7211.19.7590, 
7225.30.3005, 7225.30.3050, 7225.30.7000, 7225.40.7000, 
7226.91.7000, and 7226.91.8000.

Cold-Rolled Steel

    Products in this category include cold-rolled sheet and strip 
other than GOES. These are carbon and alloy steel flat-rolled 
products of rectangular cross-section, produced by cold-rolling. If 
the product is in coils, it may be of any thickness. If it is in 
straight lengths, it must be of a thickness of less than 4.75 mm and 
a width measuring at least 10 times the thickness. The product may 
have patterns-in-relief derived directly from rolling. It may be 
perforated, corrugated, or polished. It may have been subjected to 
various processing steps after cold reduction, including flattening, 
temper rolling, or heat treatment, and it may have been cut into 
shapes other than rectangular. Products in this category are 
provided for in the following HTS 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, 
7209.18.2510, 7209.18.2550, 7209.18.6000, 7209.25.0000, 
7209.26.0000, 7209.27.0000, 7209.28.0000, 7209.90.0000, 
7211.23.1500, 7211.23.2000, 7211.23.3000, 7211.23.4500, 
7211.23.6030, 7211.23.6060, 7211.23.6075, 7211.23.6085, 
7211.29.2030, 7211.29.2090, 7211.29.4500, 7211.29.6030, 
7211.29.6080, 7211.90.0000, 7225.19.0000, 7225.50.7000, 
7225.50.8010, 7225.50.8015, 7225.50.8085, 7226.92.7050, 
7226.92.8005, 7226.92.8050, 7226.19.1000, 7226.19.9000, 
7226.92.5000, and 7226.92.7005.

GOES

    Grain-oriented electrical steel (``GOES'') includes low-carbon, 
silicon-iron alloys with a silicon content of approximately 3.2 
percent, in which low core loss and high permeability in the 
direction of rolling have been achieved by appropriate metallurgical 
processing. It is a flat-rolled cold-rolled steel product sold in 
sheet or strip form and has a grain structure that permits it to 
conduct a magnetic field with a high degree of efficiency. Products 
in this category are provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 
7225.11.0000, 7226.11.1000, 7226.11.9030, and 7226.11.9060.

Coated Steel

    Products in this category include corrosion-resistant and other 
coated sheet and strip. These products are flat-rolled products of 
carbon or alloy steel with a metallic or nonmetallic coating, other 
than tin mill products, and other than clad. The category includes 
steel that is galvanized (i.e., coated with zinc), aluminized, 
coated with zinc-aluminum alloy, galvannealed (heat-treated after 
coating), coated with a mixture of lead and tin (i.e., terne plate 
and terne coated sheets), painted, and coated with plastic. Products 
in this category are provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 
7210.20.0000, 7210.30.0030, 7210.30.0060, 7210.41.0000, 
7210.49.0030, 7210.49.0090, 7210.61.0000, 7210.69.0000, 
7210.70.3000, 7210.70.6030, 7210.70.6060, 7210.70.6090, 
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, 7225.91.0000, 
7225.92.0000, 7225.99.0010, 7225.99.0090, 7226.93.0000, 
7226.94.0000, and 7226.99.0000.

Tin Mill Products

    Tin mill products are flat-rolled products of carbon or alloy 
steel, plated or coated with tin or with chromium oxides or with 
chromium and chromium oxides (tin-free steel). The products may be 
either in coils or in straight lengths. Tin products are made by 
electrolytically coating flat-rolled steel with tin or chromium. 
Products in this category are provided for in the following HTS 
subheadings: 7210.11.0000, 7210.12.0000, 7210.50.0000, and 
7212.10.0000.

Carbon and Alloy Steel Long Products

Ingots

    This category includes ingots, blooms, and billets. Ingots are 
the primary form into which molten steel is cast when produced by 
other than continuous casting. Blooms and billets are semifinished 
products of rectangular cross-section with a width less

[[Page 67309]]

than two times the thickness if of carbon steel, or less than four 
times the thickness if of other alloy steel. This category includes 
other products of solid section, which have not been further worked 
than subjected to primary hot-rolling or roughly shaped by forging, 
including tube rounds and blanks for angles, shapes, or sections. 
Ingots are provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 
7206.10.0000, 7206.90.0000, 7207.11.0000, 7207.19.0030, 
7207.19.0090, 7207.20.0075, 7207.20.0090, 7224.10.0005, 
7224.10.0075, 7224.90.0005, 7224.90.0045, 7224.90.0065, and 
7224.90.0075.

Hot Bar

    Carbon and alloy hot-rolled bar and light shapes (``hot bar'') 
are products which have a solid cross-section in the shape of 
circles, segments of circles, ovals, triangles, rectangles 
(including squares), or other convex polygons including flattened 
circles and modified rectangles of which two opposite sides are 
convex arcs and the other two sides are straight, of equal length, 
and parallel. This category includes the following: Bars of a 
diameter of 19 mm or more in irregularly wound coils; free-machining 
carbon steel and high-nickel alloy steel bars and rods of any 
diameter; angles, shapes, and sections (such as U, I, or H sections) 
not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn, or extruded, of a 
height of less than 80 mm; and hollow drill bars and rods of which 
the greatest external dimension of the cross-section exceeds 15 mm 
but does not exceed 52 mm, and of which the greatest internal 
dimension does not exceed one half of the greatest external 
dimension. This category excludes carbon and alloy (including free-
machining alloy steel) wire rod having a diameter of 5 mm or more 
but less than 19 mm (which are covered by a section 201 relief on 
wire rod) and hollow bars and rods of iron or steel not conforming 
to this definition (which are included in the pipe and tubing 
product categories). Hot bars are provided for in the following HTS 
subheadings: 7213.20.0000, 7213.99.0060, 7213.99.0090, 7214.10.0000, 
7214.30.0000, 7214.91.0015, 7214.91.0060, 7214.91.0090, 
7214.99.0015, 7214.99.0030, 7214.99.0045, 7214.99.0060, 
7214.99.0075, 7214.99.0090, 7215.90.1000, 7215.90.5000, 
7216.10.0010, 7216.10.0050, 7216.21.0000, 7216.22.0000, 
7216.50.0000, 7216.61.0000, 7216.69.0000, 7216.91.0000, 
7216.99.0000, 7227.20.0000, 7227.20.0010, 7227.20.0090, 
7227.90.1030, 7227.90.2030, 7227.90.6005, 7227.90.6058, 
7228.20.1000, 7228.30.2000, 7228.30.8005, 7228.30.8050, 
7228.40.0000, 7228.60.1030, 7228.60.6000, 7228.70.3020, 
7228.70.3040, 7228.70.3060, 7228.70.3080, 7228.70.6000, and 
7228.80.0000.

Cold Bar

    Carbon and alloy cold-finished bar (``cold bar'') are products 
defined by shape in the hot bar category, not in coils, which have 
been subjected to a cold-finishing operation such as cold-rolling, 
cold-drawing, grinding, or polishing. Cold bars are provided for in 
the following HTS subheadings: 7215.10.0000, 7215.50.0015, 
7215.50.0060, 7215.50.0090, 7215.90.3000, 7228.20.5000, 
7228.50.1010, 7228.50.5005, 7228.50.5050, and 7228.60.8000.

Rebar

    Carbon and alloy rebar are hot-rolled steel products which have 
a solid cross-section (as described for hot bars) and contain 
indentations, ribs, grooves, or other deformations produced during 
the rolling process or by twisting after rolling, for the purpose of 
improving the bond with concrete. Rebar is provided for in HTS 
subheadings 7213.10.0000 and 7214.20.0000.

Rails

    Carbon and alloy rails and railway products are railway and 
track construction material including rails, check-rails and rack-
rails, sleepers (cross-ties), fish-plates, and sole-plates (base 
plates). The bulk of the products in this category are produced in 
dedicated facilities. Rails are provided for in the following HTS 
subheadings: 7302.10.1010, 7302.10.1015, 7302.10.1025, 7302.10.1035, 
7302.10.1045, 7302.10.5020, 7302.10.1055, 7302.20.0000, and 
7302.40.0000.

Wire

    Carbon and alloy wire are cold-formed products in coils, of any 
uniform solid cross-section along their entire length, which do not 
conform to the definition of flat-rolled products. Wire is provided 
for in the following HTS subheadings: 7217.10.1000, 7217.10.2000, 
7217.10.3000, 7217.10.4030, 7217.10.4090, 7217.10.5030, 
7217.10.5090, 7217.10.6000, 7217.10.7000, 7217.10.8010, 
7217.10.8020, 7217.10.8025, 7217.10.8030, 7217.10.8045, 
7217.10.8060, 7217.10.8075, 7217.10.8090, 7217.10.9000, 
7217.20.1500, 7217.20.3000, 7217.20.4510, 7217.20.4520, 
7217.20.4530, 7217.20.4540, 7217.20.4550, 7217.20.4560, 
7217.20.4570, 7217.20.4580, 7217.20.6000, 7217.20.7500, 
7217.30.1530, 7217.30.1560, 7217.30.3000, 7217.30.4510, 
7217.30.4520, 7217.30.4530, 7217.30.4540, 7217.30.4550, 
7217.30.4560, 7217.30.4590, 7217.30.6000, 7217.30.7500, 
7217.90.1000, 7217.90.5030, 7217.90.5060, 7217.90.5090, 
7229.20.0000, 7229.90.1000, 7229.90.5015, 7229.90.5030, 
7229.90.5050, and 7229.90.9000.

Rope

    Carbon and alloy strand, rope, cable, and cordage (``rope'') are 
stranded wire (two or more wires twisted closely together), ropes, 
and cables, not electrically insulated. Rope is provided for in the 
following HTS subheadings: 7312.10.3005, 7312.10.3010, 7312.10.3012, 
7312.10.3020, 7312.10.3045, 7312.10.3065, 7312.10.3070, 
7312.10.3074, 7312.10.3080, 7312.10.8000, 7312.10.9030, 
7312.10.9060, and 7312.10.9090.

Nails

    Carbon and alloy nails, staples, and woven cloth (``nails'') are 
woven cloth of carbon or alloy steel wire and nails, tacks, drawing 
pins, corrugated nails, staples, and similar articles of iron or 
steel, whether or not with heads of other material, but excluding 
such articles with heads of copper. Nails are provided for in the 
following HTS subheadings: 7314.19.0000, 7317.00.5504, 7317.00.5506, 
7317.00.5510, 7317.00.5520, 7317.00.5530, 7317.00.5540, 
7317.00.5550, 7317.00.5560, 7317.00.5570, 7317.00.5580, 
7317.00.5590, 7317.00.6530, 7317.00.6560, 7317.00.7500, and 
8305.20.0000.

Shapes

    Carbon and alloy heavy structural shapes and sheet piling 
(``shapes'') are angles, shapes, and sections (such as U, I, or H 
sections) of a height equal to or more than 80 mm. The markets for 
shapes include distributors, fabricators, and end users. Shapes are 
provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 7216.31.0000, 
7216.32.0000, 7216.33.0030, 7216.33.0060, 7216.33.0090, 
7216.40.0010, 7216.40.0050, 7301.10.0000, 7301.20.1000, and 
7301.20.5000.

Fabricated Structural Units

    Carbon and alloy fabricated structural units are structures 
(excluding prefabricated buildings) and parts of structures (i.e., 
bridges and bridge sections, lock gates, towers, lattice masts, 
roofs, roofing frameworks, pillars, and columns) made from iron or 
steel plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes, and the like. 
This category includes sheet-metal roofing, siding, flooring, and 
roofing drainage equipment and excludes doors, windows, their frames 
and thresholds, and architectural and ornamental work. Fabricated 
products are provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 
7308.10.0000, 7308.20.0000, 7308.40.0000, 7308.90.3000, 
7308.90.6000, 7308.90.7000, 7308.90.9530, and 7308.90.9590.

Carbon and Alloy Steel Tubular Products

Seamless Tubular Products Other Than OCTG

    Carbon and alloy seamless tubular products are tubular products 
that have no joint, whether welded or not, along the longitudinal 
axis of the product. OCTG and cast iron pipe, tube, hollow profiles, 
hollow drill bars, fittings, flexible tubing, and insulated 
electrical conduit tubing are excluded from this category. Seamless 
tubular products are provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 
7304.10.1020, 7304.10.1030, 7304.10.1045, 7304.10.1060, 
7304.10.1080, 7304.10.5020, 7304.10.5050, 7304.10.5080, 
7304.31.3000, 7304.31.6010, 7304.31.6050, 7304.39.0002, 
7304.39.0004, 7304.39.0006, 7304.39.0008, 7304.39.0016, 
7304.39.0020, 7304.39.0024, 7304.39.0028, 7304.39.0032, 
7304.39.0036, 7304.39.0040, 7304.39.0044, 7304.39.0048, 
7304.39.0052, 7304.39.0056, 7304.39.0062, 7304.39.0068, 
7304.39.0072, 7304.39.0076, 7304.39.0080, 7304.51.1000, 
7304.51.5005, 7304.51.5015, 7304.51.5045, 7304.51.5060, 
7304.59.1000, 7304.59.2030, 7304.59.2040, 7304.59.2045, 
7304.59.2055, 7304.59.2060, 7304.59.2070, 7304.59.2080, 
7304.59.6000, 7304.59.8010, 7304.59.8015, 7304.59.8020, 
7304.59.8025, 7304.59.8030, 7304.59.8035, 7304.59.8040, 
7304.59.8045, 7304.59.8050, 7304.59.8055, 7304.59.8060, 
7304.59.8065, 7304.59.8070, 7304.59.8080, 7304.90.1000, 
7304.90.3000, 7304.90.5000, and 7304.90.7000.

Seamless OCTG

    Carbon and alloy seamless oil country tubular goods (``seamless 
OCTG'') are produced by the seamless processes described above but 
are used below ground in the drilling and completion of oil or gas

[[Page 67310]]

wells. Seamless OCTG consist of casing, which is the structural 
retainer for the walls of oil and gas wells; tubing, which is used 
within casing to convey oil or gas to ground level; and drill pipe, 
which is used to convey power to a rotary drilling tool below ground 
level. Seamless OCTG are provided for in the following HTS 
subheadings: 7304.21.3000, 7304.21.6030, 7304.21.6045, 7304.21.6060, 
7304.29.1010, 7304.29.1020, 7304.29.1030, 7304.29.1040, 
7304.29.1050, 7304.29.1060, 7304.29.1080, 7304.29.2010, 
7304.29.2020, 7304.29.2030, 7304.29.2040, 7304.29.2050, 
7304.29.2060, 7304.29.2080, 7304.29.3010, 7304.29.3020, 
7304.29.3030, 7304.29.3040, 7304.29.3050, 7304.29.3060, 
7304.29.3080, 7304.29.4010, 7304.29.4020, 7304.29.4030, 
7304.29.4040, 7304.29.4050, 7304.29.4060, 7304.29.4080, 
7304.29.5015, 7304.29.5030, 7304.29.5045, 7304.29.5060, 
7304.29.5075, 7304.29.6015, 7304.29.6030, 7304.29.6045, 
7304.29.6060, 7304.29.6075, and 8431.43.8040.

Welded Tubular Products Other Than OCTG

    Carbon and alloy welded tubular products are produced by bending 
flat-rolled steel products to form a hollow product with overlapping 
or abutting seams. These products are then fastened along the seam 
by welding, although clipping, riveting, and forging are also used 
to fasten a seam. The seam produced by the fastening method may run 
either longitudinally or spirally along the length of the product. 
The welded tubular goods covered in this category do not include 
OCTG and carbon quality steel welded line pipe of an outside 
diameter that does not exceed 406.7 mm (the latter product is 
covered by a prior section 201 relief request on line pipe (see 
Circular Welded Carbon Quality Line Pipe, Inv. No. TA-201-70, 
publication No. 3261, December 1999). Welded tubular products are 
provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 7305.11.1030, 
7305.11.1060, 7305.11.5000, 7305.12.1030, 7305.12.1060, 
7305.12.5000, 7305.19.1030, 7305.19.1060, 7305.19.5000, 
7305.31.2000, 7305.31.4000, 7305.31.6000, 7305.39.1000, 
7305.39.5000, 7305.90.1000, 7305.90.5000, 7306.30.1000, 
7306.30.3000, 7306.30.5010, 7306.30.5015, 7306.30.5020, 
7306.30.5025, 7306.30.5032, 7306.30.5035, 7306.30.5040, 
7306.30.5055, 7306.30.5085, 7306.30.5090, 7306.50.1000, 
7306.50.3000, 7306.50.5010, 7306.50.5030, 7306.50.5050, 
7306.50.5070, 7306.60.1000, 7306.60.3000, 7306.60.5000, 
7306.60.7060, 7306.90.1000, and 7306.90.5000.

Welded OCTG

    Carbon and alloy welded oil country tubular goods (``welded 
OCTG'') are produced by forming a flat-rolled product into a tubular 
shape and then welding the seam. Welded OCTG are used below ground 
in the drilling and completion of oil or gas wells, and consist of 
casing, which is the structural retainer for the walls of oil and 
gas wells, and tubing, which is used within the casing to convey oil 
or gas to ground level. Welded OCTG do not include drill pipe. 
Welded OCTG are provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 
7305.20.2000, 7305.20.4000, 7305.20.6000, 7305.20.8000, 
7306.20.1030, 7306.20.1090, 7306.20.2000, 7306.20.3000, 
7306.20.4000, 7306.20.6010, 7306.20.6050, 7306.20.8010, and 
7306.20.8050.

Fittings

    Carbon and alloy fittings and flanges (``fittings'') are 
generally used for connecting the bores of two or more pipes or 
tubes together, or for connecting a pipe or tube to some other 
apparatus, or for closing the tube aperture. This category also 
includes tool joints for welding onto lengths of unfinished drill 
pipe to produce finished drill pipe. Fittings do not include valves 
or articles used for installing pipes and tubes but which do not 
form an integral part of the bore, e.g., hangers, stays, and similar 
supports, clamping or tightening bands, or collars used for clamping 
flexible tubing or hose to rigid piping, taps, connecting pieces, 
etc. Fittings are provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 
7307.91.5010, 7307.91.5030, 7307.91.5050, 7307.91.5070, 
7307.92.3010, 7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, 7307.93.3000, 
7307.93.6000, 7307.93.9030, 7307.93.9060, 7307.99.5015, 
7307.99.5045, 7307.99.5060, and 8431.43.8020.

Stainless and Tool Steel Products

Slabs/Ingots

    Slabs, blooms, billets, and ingots (``slabs/ingots'') are the 
most common forms of semi-finished stainless steel. Following the 
production of molten steel with the desired properties, the 
stainless steel is cast into a form that can enter the rolling 
process. This category includes other products of solid section that 
have not been further worked than primary hot-rolling or roughly 
shaped by forging, including tube rounds. Slabs/ingots are provided 
for in the following HTS subheadings: 7218.10.0000, 7218.91.0015, 
7218.91.0030, 7218.91.0060, 7218.99.0015, 7218.99.0030, 
7218.99.0045, 7218.99.0060, and 7218.99.0090.

Plate

    The production of stainless steel CTL plate is commonly achieved 
by the uncoiling of flat-rolled stainless steel and cutting it to a 
desired length. It may be of any shape (rectangular, circular, or 
other) and be produced by rolling on a sheared-plate mill or by 
flattening and cutting to length from a coiled plate. It may be 
perforated, corrugated, or polished; subjected to heat-treatment; 
and descaled or pickled. Plate in coil form is included if under 600 
mm in width and 4.75 mm or more in thickness. Plate is provided for 
in the following HTS subheadings: 7219.21.0005, 7219.21.0020, 
7219.21.0040, 7219.21.0060, 7219.22.0005, 7219.22.0015, 
7219.22.0020, 7219.22.0025, 7219.22.0035, 7219.22.0040, 
7219.22.0045, 7219.22.0070, 7219.22.0075, 7219.22.0080, 
7219.31.0050, and 7220.11.0000.

Bar

    Stainless steel bars are articles of stainless steel in straight 
lengths having a uniform solid cross-section in the shape of 
circles, segments of circles, ovals, rectangles, squares, triangles, 
or other convex polygons. Also included are angles, shapes, and 
sections (such as U, I, or H sections) not further worked than hot-
rolled, hot-drawn, or extruded and concrete rebar, which has 
indentations, ribs, grooves, or other deformations produced during 
the rolling process. Bar is provided for in the following HTS 
subheadings: 7221.00.0045, 7222.11.0005, 7222.11.0050, 7222.19.0005, 
7222.19.0050, 7222.20.0005, 7222.20.0045, 7222.20.0075, 
7222.30.0000, 7222.40.3025, 7222.40.3045, 7222.40.3065, 
7222.40.3085, and 7222.40.6000.

Rod

    Stainless steel rod is an intermediate stainless steel product 
that is produced in a wide variety of sizes and grades with a solid 
cross-section. Rod covered by this investigation includes rod of 
circular cross-section having a diameter of less than 19 mm and if 
containing alloy then containing 24 percent or more of nickel, by 
weight, or of a shape other than circular, may be of any size. Rod 
is provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 7221.00.00.05, 
7221.00.00.15, 7221.00.00.30, and 7221.00.00.75.

Tool Steel

    Tool steel includes tool steel in all product forms. Tool steel 
is provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 7224.10.0045, 
7224.90.0015, 7224.90.0025, 7224.90.0035, 7225.20.0000, 
7225.30.1000, 7225.30.5060, 7225.40.1090, 7225.40.5060, 
7225.50.1060, 7226.20.0000, 7226.91.0500, 7226.91.1560, 
7226.91.2560, 7226.92.1060, 7226.92.3060, 7227.10.0000, 
7227.90.1060, 7227.90.2060, 7228.10.0010, 7228.10.0030, 
7228.10.0060, 7228.30.4000, 7228.30.6000, 7228.50.1020, 
7228.50.1040, 7228.50.1060, 7228.50.1080, 7228.60.1060, and 
7229.10.0000.

Wire

    Stainless steel wire is a cold-formed product in coils, of any 
uniform solid cross-section along its whole length, which does not 
conform to the definition of flat-rolled products. Wire is provided 
for in the following HTS subheadings: 7223.00.1015, 7223.00.1030, 
7223.00.1045, 7223.00.1060, 7223.00.1075, 7223.00.5000, and 
7223.00.9000.

Cloth

    Woven cloth of stainless steel wire is an article of stainless 
steel in which wire is interwoven to produce a fabric. Cloth is 
provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 7314.14.1000, 
7314.14.2000, 7314.14.3000, 7314.14.6000, and 7314.14.9000.

Rope

    Stainless steel rope includes stranded wire (two or more wires 
twisted closely together), ropes, cables, and cordage which are not 
electrically insulated. Wire strand is two or more wires twisted 
together precisely around a center so that all the wires in the 
strand can move in unison in order to equally distribute load and 
bending stresses. Rope is provided for in the following HTS 
subheadings: 7312.10.1030, 7312.10.1050, 7312.10.1070, 7312.10.6030, 
and 7312.10.6060.

Seamless Tubular Products

    Stainless steel seamless tubular products have no joint, whether 
welded or not, along

[[Page 67311]]

the longitudinal axis of the product and may be formed by several 
methods, including hot-rolling, hot-extrusion, deep drawing of a 
disc, forging, and casting. Seamless tubular products are provided 
for in the following HTS subheadings: 7304.41.3005, 7304.41.3015, 
7304.41.3045, 7304.41.6005, 7304.41.6015, 7304.41.6045, 
7304.49.0005, 7304.49.0015, 7304.49.0045, and 7304.49.0060.

Welded Tubular Products

    Stainless steel welded tubular products are produced by bending 
flat-rolled steel products to form a hollow product with overlapping 
or abutting seams. The seam is then generally fastened together by 
welding, although clipping, riveting, and forging are also used to 
fasten a seam. The seam may run either longitudinally or spirally 
along the length of the product. Welded tubular products are 
provided for in the following HTS subheadings: 7306.40.1010, 
7306.40.1015, 7306.40.1090, 7306.40.5005, 7306.40.5015, 
7306.40.5040, 7306.40.5042, 7306.40.5044, 7306.40.5062, 
7306.40.5064, 7306.40.5080, 7306.40.5085, 7306.40.5090, and 
7306.60.7030.

Fittings

    Stainless steel flanges and fittings are generally used for 
connecting the bores of two or more pipes or tubes together, or for 
connecting a pipe or tube to some other apparatus, or for closing 
the tube aperture. This category does not include valves or articles 
used for installing pipes and tubes but which do not form an 
integral part of the bore, e.g., hangers, stays, and similar 
supports, clamping or tightening bands, or collars (hose clips) used 
for clamping flexible tubing or hose to rigid piping, taps, 
connecting pieces, etc. Fittings are provided for in the following 
HTS subheadings: 7307.21.1000, 7307.21.5000, 7307.22.1000, 
7307.22.5000, 7307.23.0000, 7307.29.0030, and 7307.29.0090.
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P

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[FR Doc. 01-31794 Filed 12-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-C