[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 8278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2284]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

C-351-829


Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Flat Products 
from Brazil: Notice of Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On October 25, 2005, in response to timely requests from 
United States Steel Corporation (Petitioner) and Companhia Siderurgica 
Nacional (CSN), the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated 
an administrative review of the countervailing duty order on certain 
hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel flat products from Brazil. 
See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews, 70 FR 61601 (October 25, 2005) (Initiation 
Notice). This administrative review covered the period January 1, 2004 
through December 31, 2004. We are now rescinding this review as a 
result of Petitioner's withdrawal of its requests for an administrative 
review for all four of the Brazilian producers and exporters (Companhia 
Siderurgica de Tubarao (CST), Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais 
(USIMINAS), Companhia Siderurgica Paulista (COSIPA), and CSN), and 
because CSN, the sole Brazilian company that self-requested a review, 
also withdrew its request for review.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 16, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Reitze or Sean Carey, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office 6, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, US Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Room 7866, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0666 
and (202) 482-3964, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 6, 1999, the Department entered into a suspension agreement 
that suspended the countervailing duty investigation involving certain 
hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products from Brazil. See 
Suspension of Countervailing Duty Investigation: Certain Hot-Rolled 
Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From Brazil, 64 FR 38797 
(July 19, 1999). After the signing of the suspension agreement, the 
underlying investigation was completed pursuant to section 704(g) of 
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and the Department 
determined that countervailable subsidies were being provided to 
producers and exporters of certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-
quality steel from Brazil. See Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty 
Determination: Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel 
Products From Brazil, 64 FR 38742 (July 19, 1999).
    On September 17, 2004, the Department terminated the suspension 
agreement in accordance with the terms of the agreement. See Agreement 
Suspending the Countervailing Duty Investigation on Certain Hot-Rolled 
Flat-Rolled Carbon Quality Steel from Brazil; Termination of Suspension 
Agreement and Notice of Countervailing Duty Order, 69 FR 56040 
(September 17, 2004). The countervailing duty order was re-instituted 
effective September 26, 2004. Id.
    On September 1, 2005, the Department published a notice of 
``Opportunity to Request Administrative Review'' of the countervailing 
duty order for the period of January 1, 2004, through December 31, 
2004. See Notice of Opportunity to Request Administrative Review of 
Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding or Suspended 
Investigation, 70 FR 52072 (September 1, 2005). On September 30, 2005, 
Petitioner requested a review of the following companies: CST, 
USIMINAS, COSIPA and CSN. In addition, on September 30, 2005, CSN 
requested an administrative review. In response to these requests, on 
October 25, 2005, the Department initiated a countervailing duty 
administrative review on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products 
from Brazil. See Initiation Notice.
    On December 21, 2005, USIMINAS and COSIPA requested, pursuant to 
section 351.213(d)(3) of the Department's regulations, a rescission of 
the administrative review because they had no entries or sales of 
subject merchandise to the United States during the period of review. 
On December 23, 2005, pursuant to section 351.213(d)(1) of the 
Department's regulations, Petitioner withdrew its request for an 
administrative review with respect to CST, USIMINAS, and COSIPA. On 
January 23, 2006, Petitioner and CSN jointly withdrew their requests 
for an administrative review with respect to CSN. No other party 
requested an administrative review of these companies.

Rescission of the Administrative Review

    Pursuant to section 351.213(d)(1) of the Department's regulations, 
the Secretary will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in 
part, if a party that requested the review withdraws the request within 
90 days of the date of publication of notice of initiation of the 
requested review. The initiation notice for this review was published 
on October 25, 2005. We received Petitioner's withdrawal requests on 
December 23, 2005, and January 23, 2006, both within 90 days after 
publication of the initiation notice. Since Petitioner withdrew its 
request for review of all four producers and exporters (CST, USIMINAS, 
COSIPA, and CSN) in a timely manner, and since CSN, the only producer/
exporter that requested a review, also withdrew its request, we are 
rescinding this administrative review. The Department will issue 
appropriate assessment instructions to U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection within 15 days of publication of this notice.

Administrative Protective Orders

    This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO in accordance with section 351.305(a)(3) of the Department's 
regulation. Timely written notification of the return or destruction of 
APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby 
requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO 
is a sanctionable violation.
    This notice is issued and published in accordance with section 
777(i) of the Act and section 351.213(d)(4) of the Department's 
regulations.

    Dated: February 10, 2006.
Stephen J. Claeys,
Deputy Assistant Secretaryfor Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-2284 Filed 2-15-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S