[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 5, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39055-39062]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18722]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-583-831]


Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Taiwan: Preliminary 
Results and Rescission in Part of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an 
administrative review of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel 
sheet and strip in coils (SSSSC) from Taiwan with respect to three 
companies. Only one respondent, Chia Far Industrial Factory Co., Ltd. 
(Chia Far), is participating in this review; the remaining two 
companies reported that they had no shipments of subject merchandise 
during the period of review (POR). The POR is July 1, 2007, through 
June 30, 2008.
    We preliminarily determine that Chia Far made sales below normal 
value (NV). Moreover, we are preliminarily rescinding the review with 
respect to the companies that submitted no-shipment responses.
    If the preliminary results are adopted in our final results of this 
administrative review, we will instruct U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate 
entries. Interested parties are invited to comment on the preliminary 
results.

DATES: Effective Date: August 5, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry Almond, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office 2, Import Administration--Room 1870, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
0049.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 27, 1999, the Department published in the Federal Register 
the antidumping duty order on SSSSC from Taiwan. See Notice of 
Antidumping Duty Order; Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From 
United Kingdom, Taiwan, and South Korea, 64 FR 40555 (July 27, 1999) 
(SSSSC Order). On July 11, 2008, the Department published in the 
Federal Register a notice of opportunity to request administrative 
review of this order. See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, 
Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request 
Administrative Review, 73 FR 39948 (July 11, 2008).
    On July 31, 2008, the petitioners \1\ submitted a timely request 
for the Department to conduct an administrative review of the sales of 
SSSSC made during the POR by the following 20 companies: Chain Chon 
Industrial Co., Ltd.; Chia Far; Chien Shing Stainess Co.; China Steel 
Corporation; Dah Shi Metal Industrial Co., Ltd.; Emerdex Group; Emerdex 
Stainless Flat-Rolled Products, Inc.; Emerdex Stainless Steel, Inc.; 
KNS Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Lih Chan Steel Co., Ltd.; Maytun 
International Corp.; PFP Taiwan Co., Ltd.; Shih Yuan Stainess Steel 
Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Ta Chen Stainless Pipe Co., Ltd. (Ta Chen); Tang 
Eng Iron Works; Waterson Corp.; Well Harvest Metal Co., Ltd.; Yieh 
Loong Enterprise Co., Ltd. (aka Chung Hung Steel Co., Ltd.); Yieh Mau 
Corp.; and Yieh United Steel Corporation (YUSCO), pursuant to section 
751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(b)(1).
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    \1\ The petitioners are Allegheny Ludlum Corporation, AK Steel 
Corporation, North American Stainless, United Auto Workers Local 
3303, United Steelworkers of America, AFL-CIO/CLC, and Zanesville 
Armco Independent Organization.
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    In August 2008, the Department published a notice of initiation of 
administrative review covering each of these 20 companies. See 
Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Reviews, 73 FR 50308, 50309 (Aug. 26, 2008) (Initiation Notice).
    In our initiation notice we indicated that we would select 
mandatory respondents for review based upon CBP entry data. See 
Initiation Notice, 73 FR at 50308. In September 2008, we released 
relevant CBP data to interested parties, and we received comments on 
the issue of respondent selection from the petitioners. Also in that 
month we received a statement from Ta Chen indicating that it had no 
shipments of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR.
    Also in September 2008, the petitioners withdrew their request for 
administrative review with respect to the following 17 companies: Chain 
Chon Industrial Co., Ltd.; Chien Shing Stainess Co.; China Steel 
Corporation; Dah Shi Metal Industrial Co., Ltd.; Emerdex Group; Emerdex 
Stainless Flat-Rolled Products, Inc.; Emerdex Stainless Steel, Inc.; 
KNS Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Lih Chan Steel Co., Ltd.; Maytun 
International Corp.; PFP Taiwan Co., Ltd.; Shih Yuan Stainess Steel 
Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Tang Eng Iron Works; Waterson Corp.; Well Harvest 
Metal Co., Ltd.; Yieh Loong Enterprise Co., Ltd. (aka Chung Hung Steel 
Co., Ltd.); and Yieh Mau Corp.
    In October 2008, the Department issued the antidumping duty 
questionnaire to two remaining respondents, Chia Far and YUSCO, and we 
issued a letter to Ta Chen requesting additional information regarding 
its no-shipment statement. Ta Chen responded to our request in the same 
month by providing the requested information. Also in October 2008, 
YUSCO provided a statement indicating that it had no shipments of 
subject merchandise to the United States during the POR. For further 
discussion, see the ``Partial Rescission of Review'' section of this 
notice.
    Subsequent to Ta Chen's October response, the petitioners alleged 
that Ta Chen was engaged in middleman dumping of merchandise produced 
by Tung Mung Development Co. (Tung Mung), a Taiwanese producer of SSSSC 
which is excluded from the order. See Notice of Correction to the 
Amended Final Determination in Accordance With Court Decision in the 
Antidumping Duty Investigation of Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in 
Coils From Taiwan, 70 FR 17658 (April 7, 2005). In November 2008, Ta 
Chen denied the petitioners' allegations, stating that Ta Chen 
International (TCI), a U.S. affiliate of Ta Chen, purchased and 
imported the SSSSC directly from Tung Mung and consequently that Ta 
Chen did not act as a middleman in these transactions. For further 
discussion, see the ``Middleman Dumping'' section of this notice.
    During the period October through December 2008, we received Chia 
Far's responses to sections A through D of the questionnaire.
    In December 2008, we issued a supplemental questionnaire covering 
section D of the questionnaire (i.e., the section covering cost of 
production (COP)). Chia Far responded to this supplemental 
questionnaire in January 2009.
    In March 2009, we published a notice extending the time limit for 
completion of the preliminary results. See Stainless Steel Sheet and 
Strip in Coils from Japan and Taiwan: Notice of Extension of Time Limit 
for Preliminary Results of

[[Page 39056]]

the 2007-2008 Administrative Reviews, 74 FR 10885 (Mar. 13, 2009).
    In April 2009, we issued supplemental questionnaires covering 
sections A through C and a second supplemental questionnaire covering 
section D to Chia Far. We received Chia Far's responses to the 
supplemental questionnaires in April and May 2009.
    In June and July 2009, the petitioners submitted additional 
comments requesting that the Department treat Ta Chen as a middleman 
for sales between Tung Mung and TCI.

Period of Review

    The POR is July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2008.

Scope of the Order

    The products covered by the order are certain stainless steel sheet 
and strip in coils. Stainless steel is an alloy steel containing, by 
weight, 1.2 percent or less of carbon and 10.5 percent or more of 
chromium, with or without other elements. The subject sheet and strip 
is a flat-rolled product in coils that is greater than 9.5 mm in width 
and less than 4.75 mm in thickness, and that is annealed or otherwise 
heat treated and pickled or otherwise descaled. The subject sheet and 
strip may also be further processed (e.g., cold-rolled, polished, 
aluminized, coated, etc.) provided that it maintains the specific 
dimensions of sheet and strip following such processing.
    The merchandise subject to the order is classified in the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheadings: 
7219.13.00.31, 7219.13.00.51, 7219.13.00.71, 7219.13.00.81, 
7219.14.00.30, 7219.14.00.65, 7219.14.00.90, 7219.32.00.05, 
7219.32.00.20, 7219.32.00.25, 7219.32.00.35, 7219.32.00.36, 
7219.32.00.38, 7219.32.00.42, 7219.32.00.44, 7219.33.00.05, 
7219.33.00.20, 7219.33.00.25, 7219.33.00.35, 7219.33.00.36, 
7219.33.00.38, 7219.33.00.42, 7219.33.00.44, 7219.34.00.05, 
7219.34.00.20, 7219.34.00.25, 7219.34.00.30, 7219.34.00.35, 
7219.35.00.05, 7219.35.00.15, 7219.35.00.30, 7219.35.00.35, 
7219.90.00.10, 7219.90.00.20, 7219.90.00.25, 7219.90.00.60, 
7219.90.00.80, 7220.12.10.00, 7220.12.50.00, 7220.20.10.10, 
7220.20.10.15, 7220.20.10.60, 7220.20.10.80, 7220.20.60.05, 
7220.20.60.10, 7220.20.60.15, 7220.20.60.60, 7220.20.60.80, 
7220.20.70.05, 7220.20.70.10, 7220.20.70.15, 7220.20.70.60, 
7220.20.70.80, 7220.20.80.00, 7220.20.90.30, 7220.20.90.60, 
7220.90.00.10, 7220.90.00.15, 7220.90.00.60, and 7220.90.00.80. 
Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the Department's written description of the merchandise under 
the order is dispositive.
    Excluded from the scope of the order are the following: (1) Sheet 
and strip that is not annealed or otherwise heat treated and pickled or 
otherwise descaled, (2) sheet and strip that is cut to length, (3) 
plate (i.e., flat-rolled stainless steel products of a thickness of 
4.75 mm or more), (4) flat wire (i.e., cold-rolled sections, with a 
prepared edge, rectangular in shape, of a width of not more than 9.5 
mm), and (5) razor blade steel. Razor blade steel is a flat-rolled 
product of stainless steel, not further worked than cold-rolled (cold-
reduced), in coils, of a width of not more than 23 mm and a thickness 
of 0.266 mm or less, containing, by weight, 12.5 to 14.5 percent 
chromium, and certified at the time of entry to be used in the 
manufacture of razor blades. See Chapter 72 of the HTSUS, ``Additional 
U.S. Note'' 1(d).
    Also excluded from the scope of the order are certain specialty 
stainless steel products described below. Flapper valve steel is 
defined as stainless steel strip in coils containing, by weight, 
between 0.37 and 0.43 percent carbon, between 1.15 and 1.35 percent 
molybdenum, and between 0.20 and 0.80 percent manganese. This steel 
also contains, by weight, phosphorus of 0.025 percent or less, silicon 
of between 0.20 and 0.50 percent, and sulfur of 0.020 percent or less. 
The product is manufactured by means of vacuum arc remelting, with 
inclusion controls for sulphide of no more than 0.04 percent and for 
oxide of no more than 0.05 percent. Flapper valve steel has a tensile 
strength of between 210 and 300 ksi, yield strength of between 170 and 
270 ksi, plus or minus 8 ksi, and a hardness (Hv) of between 460 and 
590. Flapper valve steel is most commonly used to produce specialty 
flapper valves in compressors.
    Also excluded is a product referred to as suspension foil, a 
specialty steel product used in the manufacture of suspension 
assemblies for computer disk drives. Suspension foil is described as 
302/304 grade or 202 grade stainless steel of a thickness between 14 
and 127 microns, with a thickness tolerance of plus-or-minus 2.01 
microns, and surface glossiness of 200 to 700 percent Gs. Suspension 
foil must be supplied in coil widths of not more than 407 mm, and with 
a mass of 225 kg or less. Roll marks may only be visible on one side, 
with no scratches of measurable depth. The material must exhibit 
residual stresses of 2 mm maximum deflection, and flatness of 1.6 mm 
over 685 mm length.
    Certain stainless steel foil for automotive catalytic converters is 
also excluded from the scope of the order. This stainless steel strip 
in coils is a specialty foil with a thickness of between 20 and 110 
microns used to produce a metallic substrate with a honeycomb structure 
for use in automotive catalytic converters. The steel contains, by 
weight, carbon of no more than 0.030 percent, silicon of no more than 
1.0 percent, manganese of no more than 1.0 percent, chromium of between 
19 and 22 percent, aluminum of no less than 5.0 percent, phosphorus of 
no more than 0.045 percent, sulfur of no more than 0.03 percent, 
lanthanum of less than 0.002 or greater than 0.05 percent, and total 
rare earth elements of more than 0.06 percent, with the balance iron.
    Permanent magnet iron-chromium-cobalt alloy stainless strip is also 
excluded from the scope of the order. This ductile stainless steel 
strip contains, by weight, 26 to 30 percent chromium, and 7 to 10 
percent cobalt, with the remainder of iron, in widths 228.6 mm or less, 
and a thickness between 0.127 and 1.270 mm. It exhibits magnetic 
remanence between 9,000 and 12,000 gauss, and a coercivity of between 
50 and 300 oersteds. This product is most commonly used in electronic 
sensors and is currently available under proprietary trade names such 
as Arnokrome III.\2\
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    \2\ Arnokrome III is a trademark of the Arnold Engineering 
Company.
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    Certain electrical resistance alloy steel is also excluded from the 
scope of the order. This product is defined as a non-magnetic stainless 
steel manufactured to American Society of Testing and Materials 
specification B344 and containing, by weight, 36 percent nickel, 18 
percent chromium, and 46 percent iron, and is most notable for its 
resistance to high temperature corrosion. It has a melting point of 
1390 degrees Celsius and displays a creep rupture limit of 4 kilograms 
per square millimeter at 1000 degrees Celsius. This steel is most 
commonly used in the production of heating ribbons for circuit breakers 
and industrial furnaces, and in rheostats for railway locomotives. The 
product is currently available under proprietary trade names such as 
Gilphy 36.\3\
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    \3\ Gilphy 36 is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
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    Certain martensitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steel is 
also excluded from the scope of the order. This high-strength, ductile 
stainless

[[Page 39057]]

steel product is designated under the Unified Numbering System as 
S45500-grade steel, and contains, by weight, 11 to 13 percent chromium, 
and 7 to 10 percent nickel. Carbon, manganese, silicon and molybdenum 
each comprise, by weight, 0.05 percent or less, with phosphorus and 
sulfur each comprising, by weight, 0.03 percent or less. This steel has 
copper, niobium, and titanium added to achieve aging, and will exhibit 
yield strengths as high as 1700 Mpa and ultimate tensile strengths as 
high as 1750 Mpa after aging, with elongation percentages of 3 percent 
or less in 50 mm. It is generally provided in thicknesses between 0.635 
and 0.787 mm, and in widths of 25.4 mm. This product is most commonly 
used in the manufacture of television tubes and is currently available 
under proprietary trade names such as Durphynox 17.\4\
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    \4\ Durphynox 17 is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
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    Finally, three specialty stainless steels typically used in certain 
industrial blades and surgical and medical instruments are also 
excluded from the scope of the order. These include stainless steel 
strip in coils used in the production of textile cutting tools (e.g., 
carpet knives).\5\ This steel is similar to AISI grade 420 but 
containing, by weight, 0.5 to 0.7 percent of molybdenum. The steel also 
contains, by weight, carbon of between 1.0 and 1.1 percent, sulfur of 
0.020 percent or less, and includes between 0.20 and 0.30 percent 
copper and between 0.20 and 0.50 percent cobalt. This steel is sold 
under proprietary names such as GIN4 Mo. The second excluded stainless 
steel strip in coils is similar to AISI 420-J2 and contains, by weight, 
carbon of between 0.62 and 0.70 percent, silicon of between 0.20 and 
0.50 percent, manganese of between 0.45 and 0.80 percent, phosphorus of 
no more than 0.025 percent and sulfur of no more than 0.020 percent. 
This steel has a carbide density on average of 100 carbide particles 
per 100 square microns. An example of this product is GIN5 steel. The 
third specialty steel has a chemical composition similar to AISI 420 F, 
with carbon of between 0.37 and 0.43 percent, molybdenum of between 
1.15 and 1.35 percent, but lower manganese of between 0.20 and 0.80 
percent, phosphorus of no more than 0.025 percent, silicon of between 
0.20 and 0.50 percent, and sulfur of no more than 0.020 percent. This 
product is supplied with a hardness of more than Hv 500 guaranteed 
after customer processing, and is supplied as, for example, GIN6.\6\
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    \5\ This list of uses is illustrated and provided for 
descriptive purposes only.
    \6\ GIN4 Mo, GIN5 and GIN6 are the proprietary grades of Hitachi 
Metals America, Ltd.
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Partial Rescission of Review

    On September 25, 2008, the petitioners withdrew their request for 
administrative review with respect to the following 17 companies within 
the time limits set forth in 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1): (1) Chain Chon 
Industrial Co., Ltd.; (2) Chien Shing Stainless Co.; (3) China Steel 
Corporation; (4) Dah Shi Metal Industrial Co., Ltd.; (5) Emerdex Group; 
(6) Emerdex Stainless Flat-Rolled Products, Inc.; (7) Emerdex Stainless 
Steel, Inc.; (8) KNS Enterprise Co., Ltd.; (9) Lih Chan Steel Co., 
Ltd.; (10) Maytun International Corp.; (11) PFP Taiwan Co., Ltd.; (12) 
Shih Yuan Stainess Steel Enterprise Co., Ltd.; (13) Tang Eng Iron 
Works; (14) Waterson Corp.; (15) Well Harvest Metal Co., Ltd.; (16) 
Yieh Loong Enterprise Co., Ltd. (aka Chung Hung Steel Co., Ltd.); and 
(17) Yieh Mau Corp. Section 351.213(d)(1) of the Department's 
regulations requires that the Secretary rescind an administrative 
review if a party requesting a review withdraws the request within 90 
days of the date of publication of the notice of initiation. Therefore, 
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), because the request for 
administrative review with respect to the companies listed above was 
timely withdrawn, we are rescinding this review with regard to those 
companies.
    Further, as noted in the ``Background'' section above, another 
respondent, YUSCO, certified to the Department that it had no 
shipments/entries of subject merchandise into the United States during 
the POR. The Department subsequently confirmed with CBP the no-shipment 
claim made by YUSCO. See the November 13, 2008, Memorandum to the File 
from Henry Almond, Analyst, entitled, ``2007-2008 Administrative Review 
of Stainless Steel Sheet and Strips in Coils from Taiwan: Entry 
Information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).'' Because 
the evidence on the record indicates that YUSCO did not export subject 
merchandise to the United States during the POR, we preliminarily 
determine that it is appropriate to rescind the review for YUSCO, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3), and is consistent with the 
Department's practice. See, e.g., Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in 
Coils from Taiwan: Preliminary Results and Preliminary Rescission in 
Part of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR 45393, 45395 
(Aug. 5, 2008) (2006-2007 Preliminary Results), unchanged in Stainless 
Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Taiwan: Final Results and 
Rescission in Part of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR 
74704,74706 (Dec. 9, 2008) (2006-2007 Final Results); and Chia Far 
Indus. Factory Co., Ltd. v. United States, 343 F. Supp 2d 1344, 1374 
(2004). Finally, as noted above, Ta Chen also certified to the 
Department that it had no shipments/entries of subject merchandise into 
the United States during the POR. As with YUSCO, we confirmed with CBP 
that Ta Chen had no shipments/entries of subject merchandise during the 
POR. See the September 9, 2008, Memorandum to the File from Henry 
Almond, Analyst, entitled ``Release of Additional Customs Entry Data 
from CBP.'' Because we preliminarily find that Ta Chen did not act as a 
middleman via imports by its U.S. affiliate, TCI, we are also 
preliminarily rescinding this review with respect to Ta Chen. For 
further discussion of this issue, see the ``Middleman Dumping'' 
section, below.

Middleman Dumping

    In response to Ta Chen's certification that it had no shipments of 
subject merchandise during the POR, on September 18, 2008, the 
petitioners alleged that Ta Chen was engaged in middleman dumping by 
virtue of the fact that its U.S. affiliate, TCI, purchased and imported 
SSSSC from a Taiwanese producer/exporter during the POR. Specifically, 
the petitioners alleged that merchandise produced and exported by Tung 
Mung, a company whose exports of SSSSC are excluded from the 
antidumping duty order, and imported by TCI is subject to a middleman 
dumping enquiry because: (1) The Department previously found that Ta 
Chen acted as a middleman with respect to certain shipments from Tung 
Mung to the United States; and, (2) Ta Chen acts as a de facto 
middleman for Tung Mung sales to TCI by virtue of the fact that TCI is 
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ta Chen.
    On October 1, 2008, we requested that Ta Chen provide additional 
information about its role in the sales at issue, as well as explain 
why it believed the transactions at issue were not properly subject to 
a middleman dumping investigation. On October 7, 2008, Ta Chen 
responded to this questionnaire stating that Ta Chen played no role in 
the transactions. Specifically, Ta Chen stated that TCI negotiated 
directly with Tung Mung for these transactions and paid Tung Mung 
directly, and that Tung Mung acted as the exporter of record and TCI 
acted as the importer of record

[[Page 39058]]

for the sales in question. Further, Ta Chen argued that the 
Department's middleman dumping practice does not extend to direct sales 
from a foreign producer to an unaffiliated U.S. customer. Ta Chen 
further stated that in the less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation, 
the Department did not apply its middleman dumping methodology to this 
channel of direct sales from Tung Mung to TCI.
    On October 24, 2008, June 5 and July 13, 2009, the petitioners 
submitted additional comments with respect to this issue. Ta Chen 
responded to the former comments on November 4, 2008, and did not 
respond to the latter. After considering the petitioners' allegation 
and their additional comments, as well as the information submitted by 
Ta Chen, we preliminarily find that Ta Chen did not act as a middleman 
because there is no evidence on the record demonstrating that Ta Chen 
was involved in the export transactions at issue. See the October 7 and 
November 4, 2008, Letters from Ta Chen regarding Middleman Dumping; and 
the January 14, 2008, Memorandum to the File from Henry Almond, 
Analyst, entitled, ``2007-2008 Administrative Review of Stainless Steel 
Sheet and Strip in Coils from Taiwan: Entry Documents from U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection.'' Rather, these transactions involved direct 
sales from Tung Mung, a company which is excluded from the order, to an 
unaffiliated purchaser in the United States, and thus these sales are 
properly excluded from the antidumping duty order on SSSSC from Taiwan. 
This finding is consistent with our determination in the LTFV 
investigation that Tung Mung's direct sales to the United States were 
not subject to a middleman dumping investigation. See Notice of Final 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Stainless Steel Sheet 
and Strip in Coils From Taiwan 64 FR 30592, 30621-30624 (June 8, 1999) 
(where the Department stated ``although Tung Mung did have a small 
number of direct sales to TCI, we are not considering them to be 
subject to our middleman investigation.'') We find the facts in this 
segment of the proceeding with respect to Tung Mung's direct sales to 
TCI to be identical to those present in the LTFV investigation. Thus, 
we find no basis to treat TCI as a middleman, solely by virtue of its 
affiliation with Ta Chen. Accordingly, we preliminarily determine it is 
appropriate to rescind the review for Ta Chen.

Affiliation

    In the 2006-2007 administrative review, the most recently completed 
segment of this proceeding, we found Chia Far and Lucky Medsup Inc. 
(Lucky Medsup), one of Chia Far's U.S. reseller customers, to be 
affiliated under section 771(33) of the Act, which states that, for 
purposes of affiliation, ``a person shall be considered to control 
another person if the person is legally or operationally in a position 
to exercise restraint or direction over that person.'' The Department's 
regulations further provide that ``{t{time} he Secretary will not find 
that control exists on the basis of these factors unless the 
relationship has the potential to impact decisions concerning the 
production, pricing, or cost of the subject merchandise or foreign like 
product.'' See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(3). This affiliation determination was 
based upon: (1) Chia Far's degree of involvement in sales between Lucky 
Medsup and its customers; (2) Chia Far knew the identity of Lucky 
Medsup's customers, and the customers were aware Chia Far was the 
supplier; (3) Lucky Medsup operated as a ``go-through'' that did not 
maintain any inventory or further manufacture products; and, (4) with 
the exception of one transaction involving non-subject merchandise, all 
of the products sold by Lucky Medsup during the POR were subject 
merchandise produced or exported by Chia Far. See 2006-2007 Preliminary 
Results, 73 FR at 45395-45396, unchanged in 2006-2007 Final Results.
    The affiliation determination in the 2006-2007 administrative 
review is consistent with the Department's findings in prior 
administrative reviews of the antidumping duty order on SSSSC from 
Taiwan. See, e.g., Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From 
Taiwan: Final Results and Rescission in Part of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review, 73 FR 6932 (Feb. 6, 2008), and accompanying 
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 3 (2005-2006 Final Results); 
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip From Taiwan; Final Results and Partial 
Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 67 FR 6682 (Feb. 
13, 2002), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 
23 (upheld by the Court of International Trade (CIT) in Chia Far Indus. 
Factory Co., Ltd. v. United States, et al., 343 F. Supp. 2d 1344, 1356-
57 (CIT 2004)). See also the July 29, 2009, Memorandum to the File from 
Henry Almond, Analyst, entitled, ``Placing Information Regarding the 
Principal-Agent Relationship between Lucky Medsup Inc. and Chia Far 
Industrial Factory Co., Ltd. on the Record of the 2007-2008 Antidumping 
Duty Administrative Review on Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils 
from Taiwan.''
    In the present review, Lucky Medsup continues to act as a ``go-
through'' without maintaining inventory, and Chia Far supplied all of 
the subject merchandise sold by Lucky Medsup during the POR. Further, 
Chia Far has submitted no evidence on the record to demonstrate that 
Chia Far is less involved in the transactions between Lucky Medsup and 
its customers as found in prior reviews. Therefore, we continue to find 
for purposes of these preliminary results that Chia Far is affiliated 
with Lucky Medsup because Chia Far is in a position to exercise 
restraint or direction over Lucky Medsup and has the potential to have 
an impact on Lucky Medsup's decisions regarding sales and pricing.

Identifying Home Market Sales

    Section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act defines NV as the price at which 
the foreign like product is first sold (or, in the absence of a sale, 
offered for sale) for consumption in the exporting country (home 
market), in the usual commercial quantities and in the ordinary course 
of trade and, to the extent practicable, at the same level of trade 
(LOT) as the export price (EP) or constructed export price (CEP). In 
implementing this provision, the Court of International Trade has found 
that sales should be reported as home market sales if the producer 
``knew or should have known that the merchandise {it sold{time}  was 
for home consumption based upon the particular facts and circumstances 
surrounding the sales.'' See Tung Mung Dev. Co v. United States, 25 CIT 
752, 783 (2001) (quoting INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG v. United States, 
957 F. Supp. 251 (CIT 1997)). Where a respondent has no knowledge as to 
the destination of subject merchandise, except that it is for export, 
the Department will classify such sales as export sales and exclude 
them from the home market sales database. See 2006-2007 Preliminary 
Results, 73 FR at 45396, unchanged in 2006-2007 Final Results, and 
Final Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Hot-
Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products, Certain Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel 
Flat Products, Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products, 
and Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate From Korea, 58 FR 37176, 
37182-37183 (July 9, 1993).
    In its November 14, 2008, questionnaire response, Chia Far stated 
that it shipped some of the SSSSC it

[[Page 39059]]

sold to home market customers during the POR to a container yard or it 
placed the SSSSC in an ocean shipping container at the home market 
customer's request. The Department has preliminarily determined that, 
based on the fact that these sales were sent to a container yard or 
placed in a container by Chia Far at the request of the home market 
customer, Chia Far should have known that the SSSSC in question was not 
for consumption in the home market. Therefore, consistent with this 
determination, the Department has preliminarily excluded these sales 
from Chia Far's home market sales database. This treatment is 
consistent with our practice in prior administrative reviews of this 
order. See, e.g., 2006-2007 Preliminary Results, 73 FR at 45396, 
unchanged in 2006-2007 Final Results.

Comparisons to Normal Value

    In order to determine whether Chia Far sold SSSSC to the United 
States at prices less than NV, the Department compared the EP and CEP 
of individual U.S. sales to the monthly weighted-average NV of sales of 
the foreign like product made in the ordinary course of trade. See 
section 777A(d)(2) of the Act; see also section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the 
Act. Section 771(16) of the Act defines foreign like product as 
merchandise that is identical or similar to subject merchandise and 
produced by the same person and in the same country as the subject 
merchandise. Thus, we considered all products covered by the scope of 
the order that were produced by the same person and in the same country 
as the subject merchandise, and sold by Chia Far in the comparison 
market during the POR, to be foreign like products for the purpose of 
determining appropriate product comparisons to SSSSC sold in the United 
States.
    During the POR, Chia Far sold subject merchandise and foreign like 
product that it made from hot- and cold-rolled stainless steel coils 
(products covered by the scope of the order) purchased from 
unaffiliated parties. Chia Far further processed the hot- and cold-
rolled stainless steel coils by performing one or more of the following 
procedures: cold-rolling, bright annealing, surface finishing/shaping, 
and slitting. We did not consider Chia Far to be the producer of the 
merchandise under review if it performed only insignificant processing 
on the coils (e.g., annealing, slitting, surface finishing). See 
Stainless Steel Plate in Coils from Belgium: Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 69 FR 74495 (Dec. 14, 2004), 
and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 4 (listing 
painting, slitting, finishing, pickling, oiling, and annealing as minor 
processing for flat-rolled products). Furthermore, we did not consider 
Chia Far to be the producer of the cold-rolled products that it sold if 
it was not the first party to cold-roll the coils. The cold-rolling 
process changes the surface quality and mechanical properties of the 
product and produces useful combinations of hardness, strength, 
stiffness, and ductility. Stainless steel cold-rolled coils are 
distinguished from hot-rolled coils by their reduced thickness, tighter 
tolerances, better surface quality, and increased hardness which are 
achieved through cold-rolling. Chia Far's subsequent cold-rolling of 
the cold-rolled coils that it purchased may have modified these 
characteristics to suit the needs of particular customers; however, it 
did not impart these defining characteristics to the finished coils. 
Thus, we considered the original party that cold-rolled the product to 
be its producer.

Product Comparisons

    The Department compared U.S. sales to sales made in the comparison 
market within the contemporaneous window period, which extends from 
three months prior to the month in which the first U.S. sale was made 
until two months after the month in which the last U.S. sale was made. 
See 19 CFR 351.414(e)(2). Where there were no sales of identical 
merchandise made in the comparison market in the ordinary course of 
trade, the Department compared U.S. sales to sales of the most similar 
foreign like product made in the ordinary course of trade. In making 
product comparisons, the Department selected identical and most similar 
foreign like products based on the physical characteristics reported by 
Chia Far in the following order of importance: grade, hot- or cold-
rolled, gauge, surface finish, metallic coating, non-metallic coating, 
width, temper, and edge.

Export Price and Constructed Export Price

    The Department based the price of Chia Far's U.S. sales of subject 
merchandise on EP or CEP, as appropriate. Specifically, when Chia Far 
sold subject merchandise to unaffiliated purchasers in the United 
States prior to importation and CEP was not otherwise warranted based 
on the facts of the record, we based the price of the sale on EP, in 
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. When Chia Far sold subject 
merchandise to unaffiliated purchasers in the United States through its 
U.S. affiliate, Lucky Medsup, we based the price of the sale on CEP, in 
accordance with section 772(b) of the Act.
    We based EP on packed prices to the first unaffiliated purchaser in 
the United States. We made deductions from the starting price for 
foreign inland freight expenses, foreign brokerage and handling 
expenses, international freight expenses, marine insurance expenses, 
container handling charges, harbor maintenance fees, and certificate-
of-origin fees, in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act.
    We based CEP on packed prices sold to the first unaffiliated 
purchaser in the United States. We made deductions for foreign inland 
freight expenses, foreign brokerage and handling expenses, container 
handling expenses, foreign harbor construction expenses, international 
freight expenses, marine insurance expenses, U.S. duty expenses, U.S. 
brokerage and handling expenses, other U.S. transportation expenses, 
and harbor maintenance fees, in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of 
the Act.
    In accordance with section 772(d)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.402(b), we deducted from CEP those selling expenses associated with 
economic activities occurring in the United States, including direct 
selling expenses (i.e., imputed credit expenses, bank fees, and 
warranties) and indirect selling expenses.
    In addition, we deducted from the CEP starting price an amount for 
CEP profit (i.e., profit allocated to expenses deducted under sections 
772(d)(1) and (d)(2) of the Act), in accordance with sections 772(d)(3) 
and 772(f) of the Act. We computed profit by deducting from the total 
revenue realized on sales in both the U.S. and home markets all 
expenses associated with those sales. We then allocated profit to the 
expenses incurred with respect to U.S. economic activity, based on the 
ratio of total U.S. expenses to total expenses for both the U.S. and 
home markets.

Normal Value

A. Home Market Viability

    In order to determine whether there was a sufficient volume of 
sales in the home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating NV, 
we compared the volume of home market sales of the foreign like product 
to the volume of U.S. sales of the subject merchandise, in accordance 
with section 773(a)(1)(C) of the Act. Because the aggregate volume of 
Chia Far's home market sales of the foreign like product is more than 
five percent of the aggregate volume of its U.S. sales of subject 
merchandise, we

[[Page 39060]]

based NV on sales of the foreign like product in the respondent's home 
market.

B. Level of Trade

    Section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act states that, to the extent 
practicable, the Department will calculate NV based on sales at the 
same LOT as the EP or CEP. Sales are made at different LOTs if they are 
made at different marketing stages (or their equivalent). See 19 CFR 
351.412(c)(2). Substantial differences in selling activities are a 
necessary, but not sufficient, condition for determining that there is 
a difference in the stages of marketing. Id. See also Notice of Final 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cut-to-Length 
Carbon Steel Plate From South Africa, 62 FR 61731, 61732 (Nov. 19, 
1997) (Plate from South Africa). In order to determine whether the 
comparison market sales were at different stages in the marketing 
process than the U.S. sales, we reviewed the distribution system in 
each market (i.e., the chain of distribution), including selling 
functions, class of customer (customer category), and the level of 
selling expenses for each type of sale.
    Pursuant to section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act, in identifying LOTs 
for EP and comparison market sales (i.e., NV based on either home 
market or third country prices),\7\ we consider the starting prices 
before any adjustments. For CEP sales, we consider only the selling 
activities reflected in the price after the deduction of expenses and 
profit under section 772(d) of the Act. See Micron Tech., Inc. v. 
United States, 243 F.3d 1301, 1313-14 (Fed. Cir. 2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Where NV is based on constructed value (CV), we determine 
the NV LOT based on the LOT of the sales from which we derive 
selling expenses, general and administrative (G&A) expenses, and 
profit for CV, where possible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When the Department is unable to match U.S. sales of the foreign 
like product in the comparison market at the same LOT as the EP or CEP, 
the Department may compare the U.S. sale to sales at a different LOT in 
the comparison market. In comparing EP or CEP sales at a different LOT 
in the comparison market, where available data make it practicable, we 
make an LOT adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of the Act. Finally, 
for CEP sales only, if the NV LOT is at more advanced stage of 
distribution than the CEP LOT and there is no basis for determining 
whether the difference in LOTs between NV and CEP affects price 
comparability (i.e., no LOT adjustment was practicable), the Department 
shall grant a CEP offset, as provided in section 773(a)(7)(B) of the 
Act. See Plate from South Africa, 62 FR at 61732-33.
    In this administrative review, we obtained information from Chia 
Far regarding the marketing stages involved in making the reported home 
market and U.S. sales, including a description of the selling 
activities performed by Chia Far for each channel of distribution. Chia 
Far reported that it made EP sales in the U.S. market to distributors, 
as well as CEP sales to its affiliate, Lucky Medsup. Chia Far reported 
identical selling activities in selling to its unaffiliated U.S. 
customers as it did in selling to Lucky Medsup. We examined the selling 
activities performed for both channels and found that Chia Far 
performed the following types of selling activities equally in selling 
to its unaffiliated U.S. customers and to Lucky Medsup: (1) Price 
negotiation and communication with the customer (i.e., either its 
unaffiliated customers for EP sales, or Lucky Medsup for its CEP 
sales); (2) arranging for freight and the provision of customs 
clearance/brokerage services (where necessary); and, (3) provision of 
general technical advice (where necessary) and quality assurance-
related activities, including warranty services. These selling 
activities can be generally grouped into four selling function 
categories for analysis: (1) Sales and marketing; (2) freight and 
delivery; and (3) inventory maintenance and warehousing; and, (4) 
warranty and technical support. Accordingly, we find that Chia Far 
performed sales and marketing, freight and delivery services, and 
warranty and technical support services for U.S. sales. Because the 
level of Chia Far's selling activities did not vary by distribution 
channel, we preliminarily determine that there is one LOT in the U.S. 
market.
    With respect to the home market, Chia Far reported that it made 
sales to distributors and end users. We examined the selling activities 
performed for home market sales and found that Chia Far performed the 
following types of selling activities equally for sales to distributors 
and end users: (1) Price negotiation and communication with the 
customer; (2) arranging for freight (where necessary); (3) provision of 
general technical advice (where necessary) and quality assurance-
related activities, including providing warranty services and rebates; 
and, (4) post-sale warehousing/processing on request. Accordingly, 
based on the selling functions analysis described above, we find that 
Chia Far performed sales and marketing, freight and delivery services, 
warranty and technical support services, and inventory maintenance and 
warehousing for home market sales. Consequently, we preliminarily 
determine that there is one LOT in the home market for Chia Far.
    Finally, we compared the U.S. LOT to the home market LOT and found 
that the selling functions performed for U.S. and home market customers 
do not differ significantly. Specifically, although Chia Far performed 
occasional warehousing and post-sale processing functions in the home 
market that it did not perform on sales to the United States, we do not 
find these differences to be material selling function distinctions 
sufficient to warrant a separate LOT for purposes of these preliminary 
results. Thus, we determine that the NV LOT is the same as the U.S. 
LOT.
    Regarding the CEP-offset provision, as described above, it is 
appropriate only if the NV LOT is at more advanced stage of 
distribution than the CEP LOT and there is no basis for determining 
whether the difference in LOTs between NV and CEP affects price 
comparability. Because we find that no difference in LOTs exists, we do 
not find that a CEP offset is warranted.

C. Cost of Production Analysis

    In the 2005-2006 administrative review, the most recently completed 
segment of this proceeding as of the date of initiation of this review, 
the Department determined that Chia Far sold the foreign like product 
at prices below the cost of producing the product and excluded such 
sales from the calculation of NV. See 2005-2006 Final, 73 FR at 6935. 
As a result, the Department initiated an investigation to determine 
whether Chia Far made home market sales during the POR at prices below 
their COPs. See section 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act.
1. Calculation of COP
    In accordance with section 773(b)(3) of the Act, for each foreign 
like product sold by Chia Far during the POR, we calculated a weighted-
average COP based on the sum of Chia Far's materials and fabrication 
costs, G&A expenses, and financial expenses.
2. Test of Comparison-Market Sales Prices
    In order to determine whether sales were made at prices below the 
COP on a product-specific basis, we compared Chia Far's weighted-
average COP to the prices of its home market sales of foreign like 
product, as required under section 773(b) of the Act. In accordance 
with sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act, in determining whether 
to

[[Page 39061]]

disregard home market sales made at prices less than the COP, we 
examined whether such sales were made: (1) In substantial quantities 
within an extended period of time; and, (2) at prices which permitted 
the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time. We 
compared the COP to home market sales prices, less any applicable 
movement charges and direct and indirect selling expenses.
3. Results of the COP Test
    Pursuant to section 773(b)(2)(C) of the Act, where less than 20 
percent of Chia Far's sales of a given product were made at prices less 
than the COP, we did not disregard any below-cost sales of that product 
because the below-cost sales were not made in ``substantial 
quantities.'' Where 20 percent or more of Chia Far's sales of a given 
product were made at prices less than the COP during the POR, we 
determined such sales to have been made in ``substantial quantities'' 
within an extended period of time (i.e., one year) pursuant to sections 
773(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the Act. Based on our comparison of POR average 
costs to reported prices, we also determined, in accordance with 
section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act, that these sales were not made at 
prices which would permit recovery of all costs within a reasonable 
period of time. As a result, we disregarded the below-cost sales of 
that product.

D. Calculation of Normal Value Based on Comparison Market Prices

    We based NV for Chia Far on prices to unaffiliated customers in the 
home market. We made deductions from the starting price, where 
appropriate, for billing adjustments and rebates. We also made 
deductions from the starting price for foreign inland freight expenses 
under section 773(a)(6)(B)(ii) of the Act. In addition, we made 
adjustments under section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.410(c) for differences in credit expenses, bank fees, and 
warranties.
    We also deducted home market packing costs and added U.S. packing 
costs, in accordance with sections 773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the Act. 
Finally, we made adjustments for differences in costs attributable to 
differences in the physical characteristics of the merchandise in 
accordance with section 773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.411.

Currency Conversion

    We made currency conversions into U.S. dollars in accordance with 
section 773A of the Act and 19 CFR 351.415, based on the exchange rates 
in effect on the dates of the U.S. sales as certified by the Federal 
Reserve Bank.

Preliminary Results of the Review

    We preliminarily determine that the following weighted-average 
dumping margin exists for the respondent for the period July 1, 2007, 
through June 30, 2008:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Percent
                     Manufacturer/exporter                       margin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chia Far Industrial Factory Co., Ltd..........................      4.30
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclosure and Public Hearing

    The Department will disclose to parties the calculations performed 
in connection with these preliminary results within five days of the 
date of publication of this notice. See 19 CFR 351.224(b). Pursuant to 
19 CFR 351.309(c)(ii), interested parties may submit cases briefs not 
later than 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. 
Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be 
filed not later than 35 days after the date of publication of this 
notice. See 19 CFR 351.309(d)(1). Parties who submit case briefs or 
rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are requested to submit with each 
argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the 
argument; and (3) a table of authorities. See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2).
    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing, or to participate if one is requested, must submit a 
written request to the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, 
Room 1870, within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice. 
Requests should contain: (1) The party's name, address and telephone 
number; (2) the number of participants; and, (3) a list of issues to be 
discussed. Id. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those 
raised in the respective case briefs. The Department will issue the 
final results of this administrative review, including the results of 
its analysis of the issues raised in any written briefs, not later than 
120 days after the date of publication of this notice, pursuant to 
section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.

Assessment Rates

    Upon completion of the administrative review, the Department shall 
determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate 
entries, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212. The Department will issue 
appropriate appraisement instructions for the companies subject to this 
review directly to CBP 15 days after the date of publication of the 
final results of this review.
    For Chia Far, we will calculate importer-specific ad valorem duty 
assessment rates based on the ratio of the total amount of antidumping 
duties calculated for the examined sales to the total entered value of 
those sales.
    We will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all 
appropriate entries covered by this review if any importer-specific 
assessment rate calculated in the final results of this review is above 
de minimis (i.e., less than 0.50 percent). Pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.106(c)(2), we will instruct CBP to liquidate without regard to 
antidumping duties any entries for which the assessment rate is de 
minimis. See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1). The final results of this review 
shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries 
of merchandise covered by the final results of this review and for 
future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable.
    The Department clarified its ``automatic assessment'' regulation on 
May 6, 2003. See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003) (Assessment 
Policy Notice). This clarification will apply to entries of subject 
merchandise during the POR produced by companies included in these 
final results of review for which the reviewed companies did not know 
that the merchandise they sold to the intermediary (e.g., a reseller, 
trading company, or exporter) was destined for the United States. In 
such instances, we will instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed entries at 
the all others rate if there is no rate for the intermediary involved 
in the transaction. See Assessment Policy Notice for a full discussion 
of this clarification.

Cash Deposit Requirements

    The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all 
shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the 
final results of this administrative review, as provided by section 
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for Chia Far will be 
that established in the final results of this review, except if the 
rate is less than 0.50 percent and, therefore, de minimis within the 
meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1), in which case no cash deposit will be 
required; (2) for previously reviewed or investigated companies not 
participating in this review, the cash deposit rate will continue to be 
the company-specific rate

[[Page 39062]]

published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm 
covered in this review, or the LTFV investigation, but the manufacturer 
is, the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for the most 
recent period for the manufacturer of the merchandise; and, (4) the 
cash deposit rate for all other manufacturers or exporters will 
continue to be 12.61 percent, the all others rate made effective by the 
LTFV investigation. See SSSSC Order, 64 FR at 40557. These deposit 
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further 
notice.

Notification to Importers

    This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of 
their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate 
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation 
of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply 
with this requirement could result in the Secretary's presumption that 
reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent 
assessment of double antidumping duties.
    These preliminary results of administrative review and notice are 
issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 
777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.221.

     Dated: July 30, 2009.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-18722 Filed 8-4-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P