[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30875-30876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8393]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-427-810]


Preliminary Results of Full Sunset Review: Certain Corrosion-
Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products from France

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On November 1, 2005, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated a sunset review of the countervailing duty 
(``CVD'') order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat 
products from France, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended (``the Act''). On the basis of a notice of intent to 
participate and an adequate substantive response filed on behalf of the 
domestic interested parties, an adequate response from respondent 
interested parties, and respondent interested parties' arguments 
regarding post-investigation privatization of Usinor, the Department 
determined to conduct a full sunset review of this CVD order pursuant 
to section 751(c) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(2). As a result of 
our analysis, the Department preliminarily finds that revocation of the 
CVD order would likely lead to continuance or recurrence of a 
countervailable subsidy.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 31, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Moore or Brandon Farlander, 
AD/CVD Operations, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3692 or (202) 
482-4136, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 1, 2005, the Department initiated a sunset review of 
the CVD order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products 
from France pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act. See Initiation of 
Five-year (``Sunset'') Reviews, 70 FR 65884 (November 1, 2005). On 
November 9, 2005, the Department received a notice of intent to 
participate on behalf of Nucor Corporation (``Nucor''), and on November 
16, 2005, on behalf of Mittal Steel USA ISG Inc. (``Mittal Steel USA'') 
and Ispat-Inland (``Ispat''); United States Steel Corporation (``U.S. 
Steel''); and United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, 
Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-
CIO-CLC (``USW'') (collectively, ``domestic interested parties''). The 
domestic interested parties claimed interested party status under 
sections 771(9)(C) and (D) of the Act, as domestic producers of a like 
product and a union engaged in the production of subject merchandise in 
the United States. The Department received substantive responses from 
the domestic interested parties as well as from Arcelor S.A. 
(``Arcelor''), successor-in-interest to Usinor Sacilor; Duferco Coating 
SA and Sorral SA (``Duferco Sorral''); the European Union (``EU''); and 
the Government of France (``GOF'') (collectively, ``respondent 
parties''), within the 30-day deadline specified in 19 CFR 
351.218(d)(3)(I). As a result, pursuant to section 751(c)(5) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(2)(i), the Department is conducting a full sunset 
review of this CVD order.
    The Department determined that the sunset review of the CVD order 
on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from France 
is extraordinarily complicated. In accordance with section 
751(c)(5)(C)(v) of the Act, the Department may treat a review as 
extraordinarily complicated if it is a review of a transition order 
(i.e., an order in effect on January 1, 1995). (See section 
751(c)(6)(C) of the Act). Therefore, on February 28, 2006, the 
Department extended the time limit for the completion of the 
preliminary results of this full sunset review until no later than May 
22, 2006, 90 days from the original scheduled date, in accordance with 
section 751(c)(5)(B) of the Act. See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon 
Steel Flat Products from France: Extension of Time Limits for 
Preliminary Results and Final Results of Full Sunset Review, 71 FR 
10011 (February 28, 2006).

Scope of the Order

    The merchandise covered by this order includes 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

[[Page 30876]]

millimeters and measures at least twice the thickness, as currently 
classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(``HTSUS'') item numbers 7210.31.0000, 7210.39.0000, 7210.41.0000, 
7210.49.0030, 7210.49.0090, 7210.60.0000, 7210.70.6030, 7210.70.6060, 
7210.70.6090, 7210.90.1000, 7210.90.6000, 7210.90.9000, 7212.21.0000, 
7212.29.0000, 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, 
7215.90.5000, 7217.12.1000, 7217.13.1000, 7217.19.1000, 7217.19.5000, 
7217.22.5000, 7217.23.5000, 7217.29.1000, 7217.29.5000, 7217.32.5000, 
7217.33.5000, 7217.39.1000, and 7217.39.5000. Included in this order 
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 from 
this order 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. Excluded 
from this order 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 
from this order 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[percnt]-60[percnt]-20[percnt] ratio. The HTSUS numbers 
are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The written 
description remains dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in this review are addressed in the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum (``Decision Memorandum'') from Stephen J. Claeys, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, to David M. 
Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, dated May 22, 
2006, which is hereby adopted by this notice. Parties can find a 
complete discussion of all issues raised in this review and the 
corresponding recommendation in this public memorandum which is on file 
in the Central Records Unit, Room B-099 of the main Commerce building. 
In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memorandum can be 
accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn. The paper 
copy and electronic version of the Decision Memorandum are identical in 
content.

Preliminary Results of Review

    The Department preliminarily determines that revocation of the CVD 
order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of a 
countervailable subsidy. The net countervailable subsidy likely to 
prevail if the order were revoked is 0.16 percent ad valorem.
    Interested parties may submit case briefs no later than July 11, 
2006, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.309 (c)(1)(i). Any interested party 
may request a hearing within 30 days of publication of this notice in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.310 (c). Rebuttal briefs, which must be 
limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later 
than July 16, 2006, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.309 (d). The 
Department will issue a notice of final results of this sunset review, 
which will include the results of its analysis of issues raised in any 
such comments, no later than September 27, 2006.
    We are issuing and publishing the results and notice in accordance 
with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: May 22, 2006.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-8393 Filed 5-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S