Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from Germany: Notice of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 53382-53387 [E6-15008]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 175 (Monday, September 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53382-53387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15008]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

(A-428-816)


Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from Germany: Notice of 
Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: In response to a request from Nucor Corporation (the 
petitioner), the Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting 
an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain cut-
to-length carbon steel plate (CTL Plate) from Germany for the period of 
review (POR) August 1, 2004, through July 31, 2005. This review covers 
AG der Dillinger Huttenwerke, manufacturer of the subject merchandise, 
and its U.S. affiliate, Arcelor International America, LLC (AIA) 
(collectively, Dillinger).
    We preliminarily determine that during the POR, Dillinger did not 
make sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) (i.e., 
sales were made at de minimis dumping margins). If these preliminary 
results are adopted in the final results of this administrative review, 
we will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to liquidate 
appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary 
results. Parties who submit comments in this segment of the proceeding 
should also submit with them: (1) A statement of the issues and (2) a 
brief summary of the comments. Further, parties submittingwritten 
comments are requested to provide the Department with an electronic 
version of the public version of any such comments on diskette.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 11, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Moore or Dennis McClure, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230;

[[Page 53383]]

telephone: (202) 482-3692 or (202) 482-5973, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 19, 1993, the Department published in the Federal 
Register the antidumping duty order on CTL Plate from Germany. See 
Antidumping Duty Orders and Amendments to 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 Germany, 58 FR 44170 (August 19, 1993).
    On August 1, 2005, the Department published a notice of opportunity 
to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on 
CTL Plate from Germany. See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, 
Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request 
Administrative Review, 70 FR 44085 (August 1, 2005). On August 31, 
2005, we received a request for review from Nucor Corporation (the 
petitioner), in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(b)(1). On September 28, 
2005, the Department published the notice of initiation of this 
antidumping duty administrative review covering the period August 1, 
2004, through July 31, 2005. See Initiation of Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation 
in Part, 70 FR 56631 (September 28, 2005).
    On October 14, 2005, the Department issued its questionnaire to 
Dillinger. Dillinger's responses to Sections A through D of the 
Department's questionnaire were received on December 5 and 8, 2005. On 
January 11, 2006, the petitioner filed comments on Dillinger's 
questionnaire response. On January 12, 2006, the Department issued a 
supplemental questionnaire to Dillinger with regard to its corporate 
structure and organization. On January 18, 2006, Dillinger submitted 
its supplemental response. On January 27, 2006, the Department 
instructed Dillinger to report its U.S. sales on a constructed export 
price (CEP) basis. On March 3, 2006, Dillinger submitted its 
supplemental response to the Department's request for CEP sales data. 
For further discussion, see Affiliation and Collapsing section below.
    The Department issued a supplemental sales questionnaire on January 
17, 2006. Dillinger submitted its supplemental response on February 16, 
2006. The Department issued an additional supplemental cost 
questionnaire on January 24, 2006. Dillinger submitted its response to 
the Department's supplemental cost questionnaire on February 24, 2006. 
On March 13, 2006, the petitioner submitted comments on Dillinger's 
Sections A, B, C, and D supplemental responses. On March 16, and July 
20, 2006, the Department issued additional supplemental questionnaires. 
Dillinger submitted supplemental responses on April 3 and 14, 2006, and 
on July 27, 2006, respectively. Dillinger submitted its sales 
reconciliation on May 2 and 9, 2006.
    On April 6, 2006, the Department published an extension of time 
limits for the preliminary results of the antidumping duty 
administrative review extending the time limits to August 31, 2006. See 
Certain Cut-to-Length Steel Plate From Germany: Extension of Time 
Limits for the Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review, 71 FR 17438 (April 6, 2006). From May 15 through 19, 2006, the 
Department conducted a verification of Dillinger's cost response. On 
June 28, 2006, the Department issued its verification report. On August 
15, 2006, the petitioner submitted pre-preliminary comments on the 
sales and cost responses. We address the issues raised by the 
petitioner in the Normal Value and Cost of Production sections below.

Period of Review

    The POR covered by this review is August 1, 2004, through July 31, 
2005.

Scope of the Order

    This order covers hot-rolled carbon steel universal mill plates 
(i.e., flat-rolled products rolled on four faces or in a closed box 
pass, of a width exceeding 150 millimeters but not exceeding 1,250 
millimeters and of a thickness of not less than 4 millimeters, not in 
coils and without patterns in relief), of rectangular shape, neither 
clad, plated, nor coated with metal, whether or not painted, varnished, 
or coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances; and certain 
hot-rolled carbon steel flat-rolled products in straight lengths, of 
rectangular shape, hot rolled, neither clad, plated, nor coated with 
metal, whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or 
other nonmetallic substances, 4.75 millimeters or more in thickness and 
of a width which exceeds 150 millimeters and measures at least twice 
the thickness, as currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers 7208.40.3030, 
7208.40.3060, 7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045, 7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 
7208.53.0000, 7208.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000, 7211.13.0000, 
7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 
7212.50.0000. Included in the 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 is grade X-70 plate. 
Also excluded is certain carbon cut-to-length steel plate with a 
maximum thickness of 80 mm in steel grades BS 7191, 355 EM, and 355 
EMZ, as amended by Sable Offshore Energy Project specification XB MOO Y 
15 0001 types 1 and 2.
    These HTSUS item numbers are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes. The written descriptions remain dispositive.

Affiliation and Collapsing

    Dillinger argues that it is not affiliated with its U.S. 
distributor, AIA, a wholly-owned Arcelor S.A. entity, and reported its 
U.S. sales on an export price (EP) basis. Dillinger claims that it does 
not have any direct business relationships with Arcelor S.A. Rather, 
all of Dillinger's business relationships with Arcelor S.A. are 
indirect through Arcelor subsidiaries. See Dillinger's January 18, 
2006, supplemental questionnaire response at page 4. Dillinger states 
that it is not under common control with another person (AIA) by a 
third person (Arcelor, S.A.). Therefore, Dillinger argues that it is 
not affiliated with AIA. Furthermore, Dillinger claims that the 
Department previously found Dillinger and Arcelor not to be affiliated 
companies.
    Section 771(33) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
describes affiliated persons, in part, as ``two or more persons 
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common 
control with, any person.'' See Section 771(33)(F) of the Act. 
Moreover, the statute provides that ``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 the other person.'' 
See Section 771(33) of the Act.
    In the investigation and first review, the Department treated 
Dillinger's U.S. sales as EP sales (formerly purchase price sales).\1\ 
In the second review, we

[[Page 53384]]

reversed our decision and considered the U.S. sale as a CEP sale. In 
that review, we determined that Francosteel (now AIA) acted as more 
than a processor of sales documents and a communications link between 
the unrelated U.S. customers and Dillinger. We also found that 
Francosteel played a major role in negotiating and bringing about the 
sale, from the bidding stage through the final contract.\2\
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    \1\ Notice of 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 Germany, 58 FR 37136 (July 9, 1993); Certain Cut-To-
Length Carbon Steel Plate From Germany: Final Results of Antidumping 
Duty Administrative Review, 61 FR 13834 (March 28, 1996).
    \2\ Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate From Germany: Final 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 62 FR 18390, 
18391 (April 15, 1997) (Second Review of CTL Plate).
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    This review reflects a manufacturer and reseller who are indirectly 
under the common control of another company, and therefore, affiliated 
under section 771(33)(F) of the Act. Based on record evidence, we 
preliminary find that Dillinger and AIA are under the common control of 
Arcelor, S.A., pursuant to section 771(33)(F) of the Act for several 
reasons.
    First, Arcelor, S.A. owns a majority share of Dillinger Hutte 
Saarstahl AG (DHS) Holding. DHS, in turn, owns 95.28 percent of 
Dillinger.\3\ Furthermore, Arcelor, S.A. controls 99.98 percent of 
capital in Dillinger's U.S. affiliate, AIA.\4\ This scenario is similar 
to Canned Pineapple Fruit, where the Department found that TPC, MIC and 
Princes were under the common control of MC and, therefore, affiliated, 
under section 771(33)(F) of the Act.\5\ This scenario is also similar 
to Porcelain-on-Steel Cookware, where Cinsa and ENASA were considered 
to be under common control of their parent company.\6\ Furthermore, 
although Arcelor, S.A.'s indirect ownership in Dillinger is slightly 
greater than 50 percent, the legislative history makes clear that one 
of the Department's goals is to broaden its ability to analyze 
commercial relationships for the purposes of dumping analysis, which 
are consistent with economic realities. See Statement of Administrative 
Action (SAA) accompanying the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, H. Doc. No. 
316, 103d Cong., 2d Session, Vol. 1, (1994) at 838. Moreover, the 
legislative history also makes clear that the statute does not require 
majority ownership for a finding of control, but rather encompasses 
both legal and operational control. See SAA at 838.\7\ In this review, 
the economic reality demonstrates a common control of Dillinger and 
AIA.
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    \3\ Dillinger's January 18, 2006, supplemental response at 1.
    \4\ Dillinger's April 14, 2006, supplemental response at 201 of 
Appendix SA-3.
    \5\ Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Administrative 
Review, Rescission of Administrative Review in Part, and Final 
Determination to Revoke Order in Part: Canned Pineapple Fruit from 
Thailand, 67 FR 76718 (December 13, 2002) (Canned Pineapple Fruit).
    \6\ Certain Porcelain-on-Steel Cookware From Mexico: Final 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 62 FR 42496, 
42497 (August 7, 1997) (Porcelain-on-Steel Cookware).
    \7\ Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than 
Fair Value: Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Italy, 64 
FR 116, 119 (January 4, 1999) (unchanged in Notice of Final 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Stainless Steel 
Sheet and Strip in Coils From Italy, 64 FR 30750, 30760 (June 8, 
1999)).
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    Second, Dillinger has explained that it used only one commissioned 
selling agent in the United States for its U.S. sales and it provided a 
copy of the commissions agreement.\8\ Consistent with our determination 
in the Second Review of CTL Plate, we continue to determine that AIA 
plays a major role in negotiating and bringing about the sale, from the 
bidding stage through the final contract, and acts as more than a 
processor of sales documents and a communications link between the 
unrelated U.S. customer and Dillinger. We also preliminarily find that 
Dillinger's relationship to AIA is similar to the circumstances in 
Furfuryl Alcohol, where there was an exclusive sales agreement and the 
agent participated in the price and sales negotiations.\9\
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    \8\ Dillinger's December 8, 2006, response at C-28.
    \9\ Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review: Furfuryl Alcohol from the Republic of South Africa, 62 FR 
61084, 61088 (November 14, 1997) (Furfuryl Alcohol).
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    Finally, Dillinger's normal business practice demonstrates that it 
is affiliated with AIA. As discussed above, AIA was the only 
commissioned selling agent during the POR. In addition, both Dillinger 
and AIA's financial statements are consolidated into Arcelor, S.A.'s 
financial statements. One of the criteria Arcelor, S.A. uses to 
determine consolidation is that the group holds significant influence 
if the group holds 20 percent or more of the voting rights.\10\ In 
other words, the controlling entity within a consolidated group has the 
ultimate power to determine the capital structure and financial costs 
of each member in the group. As stated in Industrial Nitrocellulose, we 
cannot ignore the fact that the company is operating as a larger entity 
with the support (direct or indirect) to which it is entitled from the 
group.\11\ Therefore, for the above-mentioned reasons, we are treating 
AIA as an affiliate of Dillinger and treating the U.S. sales as CEP 
sales.
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    \10\ Note 2, item 3, to Arcelor, S.A. 2005 Consolidated 
Financial Statements in Appendix SA-8 of AIA's April 14, 2006, 
supplemental response.
    \11\ Industrial Nitrocellulose From the United Kingdom; Final 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 67 FR 77747, 
77749 (December 19, 2002) (Industrial Nitrocellulose) (citing Notice 
of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Structural 
Steel Beams from South Africa, 67 FR 35485, 35487 (May 20, 2002)).
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Product Comparisons

    In accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we considered all 
CTL Plate produced by Dillinger, covered by the scope of the order, and 
sold in the home market during the POR to be foreign like products for 
the purpose of determining appropriate product comparisons to CTL Plate 
sold in the United States.
    Where there were no sales in the ordinary course of trade of 
identical merchandise in the home market to compare to U.S. sales, we 
compared U.S. sales to the next most similar foreign like product on 
the basis of the characteristics listed in Appendix V of the 
Department's antidumping questionnaire. In making the product 
comparisons, we matched foreign like products based on the physical 
characteristics reported by the respondent.

Fair Value Comparisons

    To determine whether sales of CTL Plate by Dillinger to the United 
States were made at less than NV, we compared the CEP to the NV, as 
described in the Constructed Export Price and Normal Value sections of 
this notice. In accordance with section 777A(d)(2) of the Act, we 
calculated monthly weighted-average prices for NV and compared these to 
individual U.S. transactions.

Constructed Export Price

    We calculated the price of U.S. sales based on CEP, in accordance 
with section 772(b) of the Act. The Act defines the term ``constructed 
export price'' as ``the price at which the subject merchandise is first 
sold (or agreed to be sold) in the United States before or after the 
date of importation by or for the account of the producer or exporter 
of such merchandise or by a seller affiliated with the producer or 
exporter, to a purchaser not affiliated with the producer or exporter, 
as adjusted under subsections (c) and (d) of this section.'' In 
contrast, section 772(a) of the Act defines ``export price'' as ``the 
price at which the subject merchandise is first sold (or agreed to be 
sold) before the date of importation by the producer or exporter of the 
subject merchandise outside of the United States to an unaffiliated 
purchaser in the United States or to an unaffiliated purchaser for

[[Page 53385]]

exportation to the United States, as adjusted under subsection (c) of 
this section.''
    In determining whether to classify U.S. sales as either EP or CEP 
sales, the Department must examine the totality of the circumstances 
surrounding the U.S. sales process, and assess whether the reviewed 
sales were made ``in the United States'' for purposes of section 772(b) 
of the Act. As preliminarily determined by the Department in the 
Affiliation and Collapsing section above, AIA is affiliated with 
Dillinger, the producer and exporter, and sells to the purchaser in the 
United States. Furthermore, in the instant case, the record establishes 
that Dillinger's affiliate in the United States (1) took title to the 
subject merchandise and (2) invoiced and received payment from the 
unaffiliated U.S. customers for its sales of the subject merchandise to 
those U.S. customers. Thus, the Department has determined that these 
U.S. sales should be classified as CEP transactions.
    Where appropriate, pursuant to sections 772(c)(2) and (d) of the 
Act, we made deductions from the starting price for early payment 
discounts, inland freight plant to port, inland insurance, brokerage 
and handling in home market, brokerage and handling in the United 
States, international freight, marine insurance, other U.S. 
transportation expenses, U.S. customs duties, credit expenses, 
inventory carrying costs incurred in the United States, and other 
indirect selling expenses in the country of manufacture and the United 
States associated with economic activity in the United States. Pursuant 
to section 772(d)(3) of the Act, we made an adjustment for CEP profit.

Normal Value

    Based on a comparison of the aggregate quantity of home market and 
U.S. sales, we determined that the quantity of the foreign like product 
sold in the exporting country was sufficient to permit a fair 
comparison with the sales of the subject merchandise to the United 
States, pursuant to section 773(a) of the Act. Therefore, in accordance 
with section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act, we based NV on the price at 
which the foreign like product was first sold for consumption in the 
home market, in the usual commercial quantities and in the ordinary 
course of trade.
    Where appropriate, we deducted rebates, inland freight, inland 
insurance, and packing. Additionally, we made adjustments to NV, where 
appropriate, for credit expenses and billing adjustments. We did not 
allow adjustments for commissions because Dillinger did not provide 
documentation to support its claim that the commissions were at arm's 
length. See Section 773(a)(6)(B) and (C) of the Act the and Preliminary 
Sales Calculation Memorandum to the File, dated August 31, 2006, which 
is on file in the Central Records Unit (CRU), Room B-099 of the main 
Department building.
    We also increased NV by U.S. packing costs in accordance with 
section 773(a)(6)(A) of the Act. We made adjustments to NV for 
differences in cost attributable to differences in physical 
characteristics of the merchandise, pursuant to section 
773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act. In accordance with the Department's 
practice, where all contemporaneous matches to a U.S. sales observation 
resulted in difference-in-merchandise adjustments exceeding 20 percent 
of the cost of manufacturing of the U.S. product, we based NV on 
constructed value. See Policy Bulletin, Number 92.2, Difmer 20 Percent 
Rule, July 29, 1992.
    For purposes of calculating the NV, section 771(16) of the Act 
defines ``foreign like product'' as merchandise which is either (1) 
identical or (2) similar to the merchandise sold in the United States. 
When there are no identical products sold in the home market, the 
products which are most similar to the product sold in the U.S. are 
identified. For the non-identical or most similar products which are 
identified based on the Department's product matching criteria, an 
adjustment is made to the home market sales price to account for the 
actual physical differences between the products sold in the United 
States and the home market. See section 773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act and 
19 CFR 351.411.

Level of Trade

    In accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act, we determined 
NV based on sales in the comparison market at the same level of trade 
(LOT) as the CEP sales. Because all sales in the comparison market were 
compared at the same LOT as the CEP sales, we did not make a LOT 
adjustment or CEP offset under section 773(a)(7).
    For a detailed description of our LOT methodology and a summary of 
company-specific LOT findings for these preliminary results, see the 
August 31, 2006, Preliminary Sales Calculation Memorandum, which is on 
file CRU.

Cost of Production

    In the most recently completed segment of the proceeding, the 
Department found that Dillinger made sales in the home market at prices 
below the cost of producing the merchandise and excluded such sales 
from the calculation of NV. See Second Review of CTL Plate. Therefore, 
the Department determined that there were reasonable grounds to believe 
or suspect that Dillinger made sales of CTL Plate in Germany at prices 
below the cost of production (COP) in this administrative review. See 
section 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act. As a result, the Department 
initiated a COP inquiry for Dillinger.
A. Calculation of COP
    In accordance with section 773(b)(3) of the Act, we calculated a 
weighted-average COP based on the sum of the cost of materials and 
fabrication for the foreign like product, plus amounts for general and 
administrative (G&A) expenses, selling expenses, packing expenses, and 
interest expenses.
B. Cost Methodology
    We relied on the COP data submitted by Dillinger in its cost 
questionnaire response except in the specific instances where, based on 
our review of the submissions and our verification findings, we believe 
that an adjustment is required, as discussed below. See also Memorandum 
to Neal Halper, ``Cost of Production and Constructed Value Calculation 
Adjustments for the Preliminary Results - AG der Dillinger 
Huttenwerke'' dated August 31, 2006, which is on file in the CRU.
    (1) We increased Dillinger's cost of manufacturing under section 
773(f)(2) of the Act (i.e., transactions disregarded rule) for scrap 
purchased from an affiliated party at less than market value.
    (2) We increased Dillinger's cost of manufacturing under section 
773(f)(3) of the Act (i.e., major input rule) for coke purchased from a 
affiliated parties at less than market value.
    (3) We revised Dillinger's G&A expense rate calculation to include 
the year-end inventory adjustments recorded in the company's audited 
financial statements.
    (4) We revised Dillinger's non-consolidated financial expense rate 
to reflect a rate calculated on the company's highest level of 
consolidated financial statements.
C. Test of Home-Market Prices
    In determining whether to disregard home-market sales made at 
prices below the COP, as required under sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) 
of the Act, we compared the weighted-average COP figures to home-market 
sales of the foreign like product and we examined

[[Page 53386]]

whether (1) within an extended period of time, such sales were made in 
substantial quantities, and (2) such sales were made at prices which 
permitted the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time. 
On a product-specific basis, we compared the COP to the home-market 
prices, less any applicable movement charges, indirect selling 
expenses, commissions, and rebates.
D. Results of COP Test
    Pursuant to section 773(b)(2)(C) of the Act, where less than 20 
percent of a respondent's sales of a given product were at prices less 
than the COP, we did not disregard any below-cost sales of that product 
because we determined that the below-cost sales were not made in 
substantial quantities.
    Where 20 percent or more of a respondent's sales of a given product 
during the POR were at prices less than the COP, we determined such 
sales to have been made in substantial quantities within an extended 
period of time, in accordance with sections 773(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the 
Act. Because we compared prices to the POR-average COP, we also 
determined that such sales were not made at prices which would permit 
recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time, in accordance 
with section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act. Therefore, we disregarded the 
below-cost sales.

Arm's-Length Sales

    Dillinger reported sales of the foreign like product to affiliated 
resellers/service centers.\12\ The Department calculates NV based on a 
sale to an affiliated party only if it is satisfied that the price to 
the affiliated party is comparable to the price at which sales are made 
to parties not affiliated with the producer or exporter, i.e., sales at 
arm's length. See 19 CFR 351.403(c).
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    \12\ We note that sales from Dillinger to its affiliated 
resellers/service centers constitute less than 5 percent of 
Dillinger's total sales in the foreign market and we did not require 
it to report the sales from its affiliated resellers/service centers 
to the unaffiliated customers. See 19 CFR 351.403(d).
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    To test whether these sales were made at arm's length, we compared 
the starting prices of sales to affiliated and unaffiliated customers 
net of all movement charges, direct selling expenses, discounts and 
packing. In accordance with the Department's current practice, if the 
prices charged to an affiliated party were, on average, between 98 and 
102 percent of the prices charged to unaffiliated parties for 
merchandise identical or most similar to that sold to the affiliated 
party, we considered the sales to be at arm's-length prices and 
included such sales in the calculation of NV. See Antidumping 
Proceedings: Affiliated Party Sales in the Ordinary Course of Trade, 67 
FR 69186 (November 15, 2002); and 19 CFR 351.403(c). Conversely, where 
all sales to the affiliated party did not pass the arm's-length test, 
all sales to that affiliated party were excluded from the NV 
calculation. In this instant case, none of the sales to the affiliated 
resellers/service centers passed the arm's-length test.

Currency Conversion

    For purposes of these preliminary results, we made currency 
conversions in accordance with section 773A(a) of the Act, based on the 
official exchange rates published by the Federal Reserve Bank.

Preliminary Results of the Review

    As a result of this review, we preliminarily find that the 
following weighted-average dumping margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Weighted-Average
                Producer/Manufacturer                       Margin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dillinger...........................................     0.16% (i.e., de
                                                                minimis)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department will disclose calculations performed within five 
days of the date of publication of this notice to the parties of this 
proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Interested parties may 
submit case and rebuttal briefs. Case briefs must be submitted within 
30 days after the date of publication of this notice, and rebuttal 
briefs, limited to arguments raised in case briefs, must be submitted 
no later than seven days after the time limit for filing case briefs. 
Parties who submit arguments are requested to submit with the argument 
(1) a statement of the issue, and (2) a brief summary of the argument. 
Further, parties submitting written comments are requested to provide 
the Department with an additional copy of the public version of any 
such comments on a diskette. An interested party may request a hearing 
within 30 days of publication of these preliminary results. See 19 CFR 
351.310(c). Any hearing, if requested, ordinarily will be held two days 
after the due date of the rebuttal briefs. The Department will issue 
the final results of this administrative review, which will include the 
results of its analysis of issues raised in any such comments, or at a 
hearing, if requested, within 120 days of publication of these 
preliminary results.

Assessment Rate

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b), the Department calculated an 
assessment rate for each importer of the subject merchandise. Upon 
issuance of the final results of this administrative review, if any 
importer-specific assessment rates calculated in the final results are 
above de minimis (i.e., at or above 0.5 percent), the Department will 
issue appraisement instructions directly to CBP to assess antidumping 
duties on appropriate entries by applying the assessment rate to the 
entered value of the merchandise. For assessment purposes, we 
calculated importer-specific assessment rates for the subject 
merchandise by aggregating the dumping margins for all U.S. sales to 
each importer and dividing the amount by the total entered value of the 
sales to that importer. In instances where entered value was not 
reported, we calculated importer-specific assessment rates by 
aggregating the dumping margins calculated for all of the U.S. sales 
examined and divided this amount by the total quantity of the sales 
examined. To determine whether the duty assessment rates were de 
minimis, in accordance with the requirement set forth in 19 CFR 351.106 
(c)(2), we calculated importer-specific ad valorem ratios based on 
estimated entered values. The Department will issue appropriate 
assessment instructions directly to CBP within 15 days of publication 
of the final results of review.

Cash Deposit Requirements

    To calculate the cash deposit rate for each producer and/or 
exporter included in this administrative review, we divided the total 
dumping margins for each company by the total net value for that 
company's sales during the review period.
    The following deposit rates will be effective upon publication of 
the final results of this administrative review for all shipments of 
CTL Plate from Germany entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after the publication date, as provided by section 
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for Dillinger will 
be the rate established in the final results of this review, except if 
the rate is less than 0.5 percent and, therefore, de minimis, the cash 
deposit will be zero; (2) for previously reviewed or investigated 
companies not listed above, the cash deposit rate will continue to be 
the company-specific rate published for the most recent final results 
in which that manufacturer or exporter participated; (3) if the 
exporter is not a firm covered in these reviews, a prior

[[Page 53387]]

review, or the original less than fair value investigation, but the 
manufacturer is, the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for 
the most recent final results for the manufacturer of the merchandise; 
and (4) if neither the exporter nor the manufacturer is a firm covered 
in these or any previous review conducted by the Department, the cash 
deposit rate will be 36.00 percent, the ``All Others'' rate established 
in the underlying investigation.\13\ These cash deposit requirements, 
when imposed, shall remain in effect until publication of the final 
results of the next administrative review.
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    \13\ Antidumping Duty Orders and Amendments to 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 Germany, 58 FR 
44170 (August 19, 1993).
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Notification to Importers

    This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their 
responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) 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 this administrative review are issued 
and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of 
the Act and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).

    Dated: August 31, 2006.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-15008 Filed 9-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S