[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 203 (Thursday, October 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61792-61794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23604]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-846]


Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From 
Japan; Final Results of the Expedited Sunset Review of Antidumping Duty 
Order

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

ACTION: Notice of expedited sunset review of antidumping duty order on 
certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products from 
Japan; Final results.

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SUMMARY: On May 3, 2004, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order 
of certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products (``hot-
rolled steel'') from Japan.\1\ On the basis of the notice of intent to 
participate, adequate substantive comments filed on behalf of the 
domestic interested parties, and inadequate response from respondent 
interested parties, (in this case, no response) the Department 
conducted an expedited sunset review of the antidumping duty order 
pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 
and section 351.218(c)(1)(ii)(B) of the Department's regulations. As a 
result of this sunset review, the Department determined that revocation 
of the antidumping duty order would likely lead to continuation or 
recurrence of dumping at the levels listed below in the section 
entitled ``Final Results of Review''.
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    \1\ See Initiation of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Reviews, 69 FR 
24118 (May 3, 2004) (``Notice of Initiation'').

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EFFECTIVE DATE: October 21, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha V. Douthit, Office of Policy, 
Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 3, 2004, the Department initiated a sunset review of the 
antidumping duty order on hot-rolled steel products from Japan in 
accordance with section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(``the Act''). See Notice of Initiation, 69 FR 24118 (May 3, 2004).
    The Department received Notices of Intent to Participate within the 
applicable deadline specified in section 351.218(d)(1)(i) of the 
Department's regulations on behalf of Nucor Corporation (``Nucor''), 
United States Steel Corporation (``U.S. Steel''), International Steel 
Group, Inc. (``ISG''), Gallatin Steel Company (``Gallatin''), IPSCO 
Steel Inc. (``IPSCO''), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (``SDI''), and Ispat 
Inland Inc. (``Ispat''), a division of Ispat Inland Flat Products, 
(collectively ``domestic interested parties'').\2\ The domestic

[[Page 61793]]

interested parties claimed interested-party status as manufacturers of 
subject merchandise as defined by section 771(9)(C) of the Act.
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    \2\ Gallatin, IPSCO, SDI, U.S. Steel and Ispat were petitioners 
in the original investigation.
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    The Department received complete substantive responses from the 
domestic interested parties within the 30-day deadline specified in the 
Department's regulations under section 351.218(d)(3)(i). However, the 
Department did not receive any responses from respondent interested 
parties to this proceeding. As a result, pursuant to section 
751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(c)(2), the 
Department conducted an expedited sunset review of this antidumping 
duty order.

Scope of the Antidumping Duty Order

    See Appendix 1.

Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in this sunset review are addressed in the 
``Issues and Decision Memorandum'' (''Decision Memo'') from Ronald K. 
Lorentzen, Acting Director, Office of Policy, Import Administration, to 
Jeffrey A. May, Acting Assistant Secretary, or Import Administration, 
dated October 15, 2004, which is hereby adopted by this notice. The 
issues discussed in the Decision Memo include the likelihood of 
continuation or recurrence of dumping and the magnitude of the margin 
likely to prevail if the antidumping duty order were revoked. Parties 
can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this sunset 
review and the corresponding recommendations in this public memo, which 
is on file in the Central Records Unit, room B-099 of the main 
Department Building.
    In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memo can be 
accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn, under the 
heading ``October 2004.'' The paper copy and electronic version of the 
Decision Memo are identical in content.

Final Results of Review

    The Department determines that revocation of the antidumping duty 
investigation on hot-rolled steel from Japan would be likely to lead to 
continuation or recurrence of dumping at the following weighted-average 
margins:

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                                                       Weighted-average
         Manufacturers/producers/exporters            margin  (percent)
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Kawasaki Steel Corporation.........................                40.26
Nippon Steel Corporation...........................                18.37
NKK Corporation....................................                17.70
All Others.........................................                22.92
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    This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective orders (``APOs'') of their responsibility 
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information 
disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely 
notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or 
conversion to judicial protective order is requested. Failure to comply 
with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is 
subject to sanction.
    We are issuing and publishing these results and notice in 
accordance with sections 751 (c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: October 15, 2004.
Jeffrey A. May,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

Appendix 1

Scope of the Antidumping Duty Order on Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon 
Quality Steel From Japan (A-588-846)

    For purposes of this order, the products covered are 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 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 these investigations.
    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 the substrate 
for 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. The substrate for motor lamination steels contains 
micro-alloying levels of elements such as silicon and aluminum.
    Steel products to be included in the scope of this order, 
regardless of Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(``HTSUS'') definitions, 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 1.50 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 0.012 percent of boron, or 0.10 percent of molybdenum, 
or 0.10 percent of niobium, or 0.41 percent of titanium, 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 order unless otherwise excluded. The following 
products, by way of example, are outside and/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, and A506).
    SAE/AISI grades of series 2300 and higher.
    Ball bearing steels, as defined in the HTSUS.
    Tool steels, as defined in the HTSUS.
    Silico-manganese (as defined in the HTSUS) or silicon electrical 
steel with a silicon level exceeding 1.50 percent.
    ASTM specifications A710 and A736.
    USS abrasion-resistant steels (USS AR 400, USS AR 500).
    Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications:

                                                  [In percent]
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      C           Mn (max)       P (max)       S (max)         Si            Cr            Cu         Ni (max)
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0.10-0.14              0.90         0.025         0.005     0.30-0.50     0.50-0.70     0.20-0.40          0.20
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    Width = 44.80 inches maximum;
    Thickness = 0.063-0.198 inches;
    Yield Strength = 50,000 ksi minimum;
    Tensile Strength = 70,000-88,000 psi.
    Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications:

[[Page 61794]]



                                                  [In percent]
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     C            Mn        P (max)      S (max)         Si           Cr       Cu (max)    Ni (max)    Mo (max)
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0.10-0.16      0.70-0.90        0.025        0.006    0.30-0.50    0.50-0.70        0.25        0.20        0.21
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    Width = 44.80 inches maximum;
    Thickness = 0.350 inches maximum;
    Yield Strength = 80,000 ksi minimum;
    Tensile Strength = 105,000 psi.
    Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications:

                                                                      [In percent]
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       C              Mn            P (max)         S (max)           Si             Cr             Cu          Ni (max)     V (wt) (max)     Cb (max)
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0.10-0.14          1.30-1.80           0.025           0.005       0.30-0.50      0.50-0.70      0.20-0.40           0.20           0.10           0.08
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    Width = 44.80 inches maximum;
    Thickness = 0.350 inches maximum;
    Yield Strength = 80,000 ksi minimum;
    Tensile Strength = 105,000 psi Aim.
    Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications:

                                                  [In percent]
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 C (max)    Mn (max)   P (max)    S (max)   Si (max)  Cr (max)  Cu (max)  Ni (max)  Nb (max)     Ca        A1
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0.15            1.40      0.025       0.01      0.50      1.00      0.50      0.20     0.005   Treated  0.01-0.0
                                                                                                               7
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    Width = 39.37 inches;
    Thickness = 0.181 inches maximum;
    Yield Strength = 70,000 psi minimum for thicknesses less than or 
equal to 0.148 inches and 65,000 psi minimum for thicknesses > 0.148 
inches;
    Tensile Strength = 80,000 psi minimum.
    Hot-rolled dual phase steel, phase-hardened, primarily with a 
ferritic-martensitic microstructure, contains 0.9 percent up to and 
including 1.5 percent silicon by weight, further characterized by 
either (i) tensile strength between 540 N/mm2 and 640 N/
mm2 and an elongation percentage greater than or equal to 
26 percent for thicknesses of 2 mm and above, or (ii) a tensile 
strength between 590 N/mm2 and 690 N/mm2 and 
an elongation percentage greater than or equal to 25 percent for 
thicknesses of 2mm and above.
    Hot-rolled bearing quality steel, SAE grade 1050, in coils, with 
an inclusion rating of 1.0 maximum per ASTM E 45, Method A, with 
excellent surface quality and chemistry restrictions as follows: 
0.012 percent maximum phosphorus, 0.015 percent maximum sulfur, and 
0.20 percent maximum residuals including 0.15 percent maximum 
chromium.
    Grade ASTM A570-50 hot-rolled steel sheet in coils or cut 
lengths, width of 74 inches (nominal, within ASTM tolerances), 
thickness of 11 gauge (0.119 inch nominal), mill edge and skin 
passed, with a minimum copper content of 0.20 percent.
    The merchandise subject to this order is classified in the HTSUS 
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, 7210.70.30.00, 7210.90.90.00, 7211.14.00.30, 
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, 
7211.19.75.90, 7212.40.10.00, 7212.40.50.00, 7212.50.00.00. Certain 
hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel covered by this order, 
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.
    Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise under 
order is dispositive.

[FR Doc. 04-23604 Filed 10-20-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P