Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Mexico; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 47780-47788 [2010-19579]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47780-47788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19579]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-201-822]


Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Mexico; Preliminary 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

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

SUMMARY: In response to requests from respondent, ThyssenKrupp Mexinox 
S.A. de C.V. (Mexinox S.A.) and Mexinox USA, Inc. (Mexinox USA) 
(collectively, Mexinox) and petitioners,\1\ the Department of Commerce 
(the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the 
antidumping duty order on stainless steel sheet and strip in coils (S4 
in coils) from Mexico. This administrative review covers imports of 
subject merchandise from Mexinox S.A. during the period July 1, 2008, 
to June 30, 2009.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Petitioners are Allegheny Ludlum Corporation, AK Steel 
Corporation, and North American Stainless.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We preliminarily determine that sales of S4 in coils from Mexico 
have been made below normal value (NV). If these 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 based on the difference between the constructed export price 
(CEP) and NV. Interested parties are invited to comment on these 
preliminary results. Parties who submit argument in these proceedings 
are requested to submit with the argument: (1) A statement of the 
issues; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of 
authorities.

DATES: Effective Date: August 9, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Edwards, Brian Davis, or 
Angelica Mendoza, AD/CVD Operations, Office 7, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 
(202) 482-8029, (202) 482-7924, or (202) 482-3019, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 27, 1999, the Department published in the Federal Register 
the Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value and Antidumping Duty Order; Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in 
Coils From Mexico, 64 FR 40560 (July 27, 1999) (Order). On July 11, 
2008, the Department published a notice entitled Antidumping or 
Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; 
Opportunity To Request Administrative Review, 74 FR 31406 (July 1, 
2009), covering, inter alia, S4 in coils from Mexico for the period of 
review (POR) (i.e., July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009).
    On July 31, 2009, Mexinox requested that the Department conduct an 
administrative review of Mexinox for the period from July 1, 2008, 
through June 30, 2009. Also on July 31, 2009, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.213(b)(1), petitioners requested that the Department conduct an 
administrative review of Mexinox for the period July 1, 2008, through 
June 30, 2009. On August 25, 2009, the Department published in the 
Federal Register a notice of initiation of this antidumping duty 
administrative review covering the period July 1, 2008, through June 
30,

[[Page 47781]]

2009. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 74 FR 42873 
(August 25, 2009). On September 16, 2009, the Department issued an 
antidumping duty questionnaire to Mexinox. Mexinox submitted its 
response to section A of the questionnaire (AQR) on October 21, 2009, 
and the Department received comments from petitioners regarding 
Mexinox's AQR on November 4, 2009. Mexinox submitted its response to 
sections B, C, D, and E of the Department's antidumping duty 
questionnaire (BQR, CQR, DQR, and EQR, respectively) on November 25, 
2009. On December 17, 2009, Mexinox submitted factual information for 
the Department's consideration in the instant review. On December 29, 
2009, the Department issued a supplemental questionnaire covering 
Mexinox's AQR, BQR, and CQR. The Department received comments from 
petitioners on January 11, 2010,\2\ and January 19, 2010.\3\ On January 
20, 2010, the Department issued an additional supplemental 
questionnaire covering Mexinox's BQR and CQR. On January 25, 2010, the 
Department issued a supplemental questionnaire covering Mexinox's DQR. 
On February 2, 2010, the Department received Mexinox's response to both 
the Department's December 29, 2009, and January 20, 2010, supplemental 
questionnaires covering sections A through C (collectively, SQR). On 
March 9, 2010, the Department received Mexinox's response to the 
Department's January 25, 2010, supplemental questionnaire covering 
section D (SDQR). On April 1, 2010, the Department issued a second 
supplemental questionnaire covering Mexinox's DQR and SDQR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Comments pertained to Mexinox's BQR and CQR.
    \3\ Comments pertained to Mexinox's DQR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because it was not practicable to complete this review within the 
normal time frame, on April 1, 2010, the Department published in the 
Federal Register a notice extending the time limits for this review. 
See Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Extension of 
Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review, 75 FR 17690 (April 7, 2010). This extension established the 
deadline for these preliminary results as August 2, 2010.
    On April 19, 2010, the Department issued a supplemental 
questionnaire covering Mexinox's SQR. On April 30, 2010, Mexinox 
submitted its response to the Department's April 1, 2010, supplemental 
questionnaire covering Mexinox's DQR and SDQR (SSDQR). On May 14, 2010, 
Mexinox submitted its response to the Department's April 19, 2010, 
supplemental questionnaire (SSQR). On May 27, 2010, the Department 
issued a supplemental questionnaire covering Mexinox's SSDQR. On June 
15, 2010, petitioners submitted comments for the Department's 
consideration for the preliminary analysis of the sales data submitted 
by Mexinox in the above-captioned administrative review. On June 18, 
2010, the Department received Mexinox's response to the Department's 
May 27, 2010, supplemental questionnaire (SSSDQR). On July 7, 2010, the 
Department issued a supplemental questionnaire covering Mexinox's 
calculation of its indirect selling expense ratio. Mexinox submitted 
its response to the Department's July 7, 2010, questionnaire on July 
21, 2010.

Period of Review

    The POR is July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.

Scope of the Order

    For purposes of the order, the products covered are certain 
stainless steel sheet and strip in coils. Stainless steel is 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 this order is currently classifiable 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 subject to 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).
    In response to comments by interested parties, the Department has 
determined that certain specialty stainless steel products are also 
excluded from the scope of the order. These excluded products are 
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 for compressors.

[[Page 47782]]

    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 between 0.002 and 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.'' \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ ``Arnokrome III'' is a trademark of the Arnold Engineering 
Company.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 (ASTM) 
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 
1,390 degrees Celsius and displays a creep rupture limit of 4 kilograms 
per square millimeter at 1,000 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.'' \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ ``Gilphy 36'' is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Certain martensitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steel is 
also excluded from the scope of the order. This high-strength, ductile 
stainless steel product is designated under the Unified Numbering 
System (UNS) 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.'' \6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ ``Durphynox 17'' is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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).\7\ This steel is similar to ASTM grade 440F, 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 square micron. 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.'' \8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ This list of uses is illustrative and provided for 
descriptive purposes only.
    \8\ ``GIN4 Mo,'' ``GIN5'' and ``GIN6'' are the proprietary 
grades of Hitachi Metals America, Ltd.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date of Sale

    Mexinox reported the invoice date as the date of sale for certain 
sales made in all channels of distribution in both the home and U.S. 
markets. For a limited number of sales in both the home market and the 
United States, Mexinox reported the contract date as the date of its 
sales made pursuant to the binding contract. Specifically, Mexinox 
stated due to volatile metal prices in recent years, it entered into a 
binding contract fixing prices and quantities for specified sales of 
subject merchandise for certain customers. See Mexinox's AQR at pages 
A-48 through A-49, A-52 through A-53 and A-58. See also Mexinox's SQR 
at pages 35 through 42.
    The Department normally uses invoice date as the date of sale, but 
may use a date other than the invoice date, if the Department is 
satisfied that a different date better reflects the date on which the 
exporter or producer establishes the material terms of sale. See 19 CFR 
351.401(i). For purposes of this review, we examined whether invoice 
date, contract date, or another date better represents the date on 
which the material terms of sale were established for all of Mexinox's 
sales to customers in the home and U.S. markets. The Department, in 
reviewing Mexinox's questionnaire responses, found that the material 
terms of sale for Mexinox' sales are set on the date on which the 
invoice is issued. See Mexinox's AQR at attachments A-5-B through A-5-D 
for sample sales documents in the U.S. and home market for each channel 
of distribution. See also Mexinox's SQR at Attachment A-21-B-1 for the 
relevant written sales contract and documentation (i.e., list of base 
prices, analysis of quantities shipped under the contract, sample 
transaction(s)) between Mexinox and its customer(s) who are part of the 
fixed-price contract.

[[Page 47783]]

    The sales order entered into Mexinox's system at the time of sale 
may include a provisional price term. However, the sales order 
acknowledgement sent to the customer after the order is placed does not 
contain a sales price. Instead, sales prices in both markets are 
subject to further negotiation up until the time of shipment and 
invoicing (with the final price included on the invoice). See Mexinox's 
SQR at page 58.
    In its SQR at page A-58, Mexinox states that the price and quantity 
for its sales made pursuant to the binding, fixed contract are 
established under the contract with the customer, and do not change 
between the contract date and the invoicing of material to the 
customer. However, in reviewing the record, the Department 
preliminarily finds that the material terms of sale (e.g., price and 
quantity) are subject to, and in some instances did, change between the 
contract date and when Mexinox issued invoices to its customers for 
sales subject to the allegedly binding contract. Specifically, we noted 
instances in which (1) the contract between Mexinox and its customers 
did not fix the price (see Mexinox's SQR at page 37, footnote 30 and 
its SSQR at attachment A-32) and (2) monthly quantities (as noted in 
the ``analysis of quantities shipped under the contract'' at Attachment 
A-21-B-1 of Mexinox's SQR) are not consistent with the terms set forth 
by the contract.
    If an interested party wants the Department to use a different date 
than invoice date, it must submit information that supports the use of 
a different date. In the instant review, the Department, for purposes 
of these preliminary results, finds that Mexinox has not met its burden 
of proving that the material terms for any of its U.S. sales were set 
by the contract, and were not subject to change prior to the invoice 
date. For a detailed discussion of our date of sale analysis, see 
``Analysis of Data Submitted by ThyssenKrupp Mexinox S.A. de C.V. for 
the Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review 
on Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico'' from Patrick 
Edwards and Brian Davis, International Trade Compliance Analysts, to 
the File, dated August 2, 2010 (Preliminary Analysis Memorandum).
    Based on all of the above, we preliminarily determine that invoice 
date is the appropriate date of sale for all of Mexinox's home market 
and U.S. sales in this administrative review because it represents the 
date upon which the material terms of sale are established. This is 
consistent with previous administrative reviews of this order. See, 
e.g., Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Mexico; Preliminary 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Intent Not To 
Revoke Order in Part, 74 FR 39622 (August 7, 2009) (2007-2008 
Preliminary Results), unchanged in Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in 
Coils from Mexico; Notice of Amended Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review, 75 FR 17122 (April 5, 2010) (2007-2008 Amended 
Final Results); see also Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From 
Mexico; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 
73 FR 45708 (August 6, 2008) (2006-2007 Preliminary Results), unchanged 
in Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Final Results 
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR 6365 (February 9, 
2009) (2006-2007 Final Results), Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in 
Coils from Mexico: Amended Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review, 73 FR 14215 (March 17, 2008) (2005-2006 Amended 
Final Results), and Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from 
Mexico; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 
71 FR 35618 (June 21, 2006) (2004-2005 Preliminary Results) unchanged 
in Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Mexico; Final Results 
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 71 FR 76978 (December 22, 
2006) (2004-2005 Final Results).

Sales Made Through Affiliated Resellers

A. U.S. Market

    Mexinox USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mexinox S.A., which in 
turn is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Stainless AG (TKAG) (see Mexinox's 
AQR at pages A-9 through A-14, A-16 through A-17, A-19 with respect to 
Mexinox USA and A-18 with respect to Mexinox S.A. and ThyssenKrupp 
Stainless AG), sold subject merchandise in the United States during the 
POR to unaffiliated customers. Mexinox USA also made sales of subject 
merchandise to U.S. affiliate Ken-Mac Metals (Ken-Mac) \9\ which is an 
operating division of ThyssenKrupp Materials NA, Inc. (id. at pages A-
14 through A-15, A-17 through A-18, and A-28), which is itself a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp USA, Inc. (id. at page A-28), 
the primary holding company for TKAG in the U.S. market (id.). For 
purposes of these preliminary results of review, we have included both 
Mexinox USA's and Ken-Mac's sales of subject merchandise to 
unaffiliated customers in the United States in our margin calculation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ Ken-Mac is an affiliated service center located in the 
United States which purchases S4 in coils produced by Mexinox S.A. 
and then resells the merchandise (after, in some instances, further 
manufacturing) to unaffiliated U.S. customers. See Mexinox's AQR at 
pages A-14 through A-15, A-17 through A-18, and A-28.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Home Market

    Mexinox Trading, S.A. de C.V. (Mexinox Trading), a subsidiary of 
Mexinox S.A., resold the foreign like product, as well as other 
merchandise, in the home market during the POR. See Mexinox's AQR at 
page A-20. Mexinox S.A.'s sales to Mexinox Trading represented a small 
portion of Mexinox S.A.'s total sales of the foreign like product in 
the home market and constituted less than five percent of all home 
market sales. See, e.g., Mexinox's AQR at page A-3. Because sales to 
Mexinox Trading of the foreign like product were below the five percent 
threshold established under 19 CFR 351.403(d), we did not require 
Mexinox S.A. to report Mexinox Trading's downstream sales to its first 
unaffiliated customer. This is consistent with the most recently 
completed administrative reviews of S4 in coils from Mexico. See, e.g., 
2007-2008 Preliminary Results,74 FR 39626, unchanged in 2007-2008 
Amended Final Results; see also 2006-2007 Preliminary Results, 74 FR 
45711, unchanged in 2006-2007 Final Results; see also Stainless Steel 
Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Preliminary Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 72 FR 43600, 43602 (August 6, 
2007) (2005-2006 Preliminary Results), unchanged in Stainless Steel 
Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review, 73 FR 7710 (February 11, 2008) (2005-2006 Final 
Results), and 2005-2006 Amended Final Results; see also 2004-2005 Final 
Results, 71 FR 35620 and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at 
Comment 2.

Fair Value Comparisons

    To determine whether sales of S4 in coils from Mexico to the United 
States were made at less than fair value (LTFV), we compared CEP sales 
made in the United States by both Mexinox USA and Ken-Mac to 
unaffiliated purchasers to NV as described in the ``Constructed Export 
Price'' and ``Normal Value'' sections of this notice, below. In 
accordance with section 777A(d)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), we compared individual CEPs to monthly weighted-
average NVs. As we

[[Page 47784]]

are using a quarterly costing approach as described in the ``Normal 
Value'' section below, we have not made price-to-price comparisons 
outside of a quarter in order to lessen the distortive effect of 
comparing non-contemporaneous sales prices during a period of 
significantly changing costs.

Product Comparisons

    In accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we considered all 
products produced by Mexinox covered by the description in the ``Scope 
of the Order'' section above, and sold in the home market during the 
POR, to be foreign like product for purposes of determining appropriate 
product comparisons to U.S. sales. We relied on nine characteristics to 
match U.S. sales of subject merchandise to comparison sales of the 
foreign like product (listed in order of priority): (1) Grade; (2) 
cold/hot rolled; (3) gauge; (4) surface finish; (5) metallic coating; 
(6) non-metallic coating; (7) width; (8) temper; and (9) edge trim. 
Where there were no sales 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 and 
reporting instructions listed in the Department's original September 
16, 2009, questionnaire.

Level of Trade

    In accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act, to the extent 
practicable, we base NV on sales made in the comparison market at the 
same level of trade (LOT) as the export transaction. The NV LOT is 
based on the starting price of sales in the home market or, when NV is 
based on constructed value (CV), that of the sales from which selling, 
general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses and profit are derived. 
With respect to CEP transactions in the U.S. market, the CEP LOT is the 
level of the constructed sale from the exporter to the importer. See 
Mittal Steel USA, Inc. v. United States, 2007 Ct. Int'l Trade Lexis 
138, at *25 (Ct. Int'l Trade, August 1, 2007).
    To determine whether NV sales are at a different LOT than CEP 
sales, we examine stages in the marketing process and selling functions 
along the chain of distribution between the producer and the customer. 
See 19 CFR 351.412(c)(2). If the comparison-market sales are at a 
different LOT, and the difference affects price comparability, as 
manifested in a pattern of consistent price differences between the 
sales on which NV is based and comparison-market sales at the LOT of 
the export transaction, we make a LOT adjustment under section 
773(a)(7)(A) of the Act. For CEP sales, if the NV level is at a more 
advanced stage of distribution than the CEP level and there is no basis 
for determining whether the difference in the levels between NV and CEP 
affects price comparability, we adjust NV under section 773(a)(7)(B) of 
the Act (the CEP offset provision). See, e.g., Final Determination of 
Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Greenhouse Tomatoes From Canada, 67 FR 
8781 (February 26, 2002) and accompanying Issues and Decision 
Memorandum at Comment 8; see also Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon 
Quality Steel Products From Brazil; Preliminary Results of Antidumping 
Duty Administrative Review, 70 FR 17406, 17410 (April 6, 2005), 
unchanged in Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review: Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon Quality Steel Products 
From Brazil, 70 FR 58683 (October 7, 2005). For CEP sales, we consider 
only the selling activities reflected in the price after the deduction 
of expenses and CEP profit under section 772(d) of the Act. See Micron 
Technology, Inc. v. United States, 243 F.3d 1301, 1314-1315 (Fed. Cir. 
2001). We expect that if the claimed LOTs are the same, the functions 
and activities of the seller should be similar. Conversely, if a party 
claims the LOTs are different for different groups of sales, the 
functions and activities of the seller should be dissimilar. See 
Porcelain-on-Steel Cookware From Mexico: Final Results of Antidumping 
Duty Administrative Review, 65 FR 30068 (May 10, 2000) and accompanying 
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 6.
    We obtained information from Mexinox regarding the marketing stages 
involved in making its reported home market and U.S. sales to both 
affiliated and unaffiliated customers. Mexinox provided a description 
of all selling activities performed, along with a flowchart and tables 
comparing the LOTs among each channel of distribution and customer 
category for both markets. See Mexinox's AQR at A-40 through A-41 and 
Attachments A-4-B and A-4-C; see also Mexinox's SQR at pages 19 through 
20 for an explanation as to how Mexinox classified its claimed levels 
of activity; see also Mexinox's SQR at pages 20 through 27 for 
supporting documentation that demonstrates Mexinox provided claimed 
selling expenses at the stated level of frequency shown in Attachment 
A-4-C of its AQR.
    Mexinox sold S4 in coils to end-users and retailers/distributors in 
the home market and to end-users and distributors/service centers in 
the United States. For the home market, Mexinox S.A. identified two 
channels of distribution described as follows: (1) Direct shipments 
(i.e., products manufactured to order and shipped directly to 
customers); and (2) sales through inventory (i.e., sales of products 
that are made out of inventory or from stock held at remote warehouses 
or at the customer's premises). For each of these two channels of 
distribution, Mexinox made sales to affiliated and unaffiliated 
distributors/retailers and end-users. See Mexinox's AQR at pages A-38 
through A-40. We reviewed the intensity of all selling functions 
Mexinox S.A. claimed to perform for each channel of distribution and 
customer category. For certain functions, such as: (1) Pre-sale 
technical assistance; (2) analysis of samples provided by customers; 
(3) provision of prototypes and trial lots to customers; (4) continuous 
technical service; (5) price negotiation/customer communications; (6) 
process customer orders; (7) freight and delivery arrangements; (8) 
sales calls and visits; (9) international travel; (10) currency risks; 
(11) warranty services; (12) sales forecasting and market research; and 
(13) providing rebates, the level of performance for both direct 
shipments and sales from inventory was identical across all types of 
customers. Only a few functions exhibited differences, including: (1) 
inventory maintenance/just-in-time performance; (2) further processing; 
(3) credit and collection; (4) low volume orders; and (5) shipment of 
small packages. See Mexinox's AQR at Attachment A-4-C. While we find 
differences in the levels of intensity performed for some of these 
functions, such differences are minor and do not establish distinct 
LOTs in Mexico. Based on our analysis of all of Mexinox S.A.'s home 
market selling functions, we preliminarily find all home market sales 
were made at the same LOT, the NV LOT.
    We then compared the NV LOT, based on the selling functions 
associated with the transactions between Mexinox S.A. and its customers 
in the home market, to the CEP LOT,\10\ which is based on the selling 
functions associated with the transaction between Mexinox S.A. and its 
affiliated importer, Mexinox USA. Our analysis indicates the selling 
functions performed for home market customers are either performed at a 
higher degree of intensity or are greater in number than the selling 
functions

[[Page 47785]]

performed for Mexinox USA. See Mexinox's AQR at pages A-42 through A-47 
and Attachments A-4-A through A-4-C. For example, in comparing 
Mexinox's selling functions, we find there are more functions performed 
in the home market which are not a part of CEP transactions (e.g., pre-
sale technical assistance, analysis of samples provided by customer, 
provision of prototypes and trial lots to customer, continuous 
technical service, price negotiation/customer communications, inventory 
maintenance/just-in-time performance, sales calls and visits, 
international travel, credit and collection, currency risks, warranty 
services, sales forecasting and market research, and providing 
rebates). For selling functions performed for both home market sales 
and CEP sales (e.g., processing customer orders, freight and delivery 
arrangements, further processing, low volume orders, and shipment of 
small packages), we find Mexinox S.A. actually performed each activity 
at a higher level of intensity in the home market. See Mexinox's AQR at 
Attachment A-4-C. Based on Mexinox's responses, we note that CEP sales 
from Mexinox S.A. to Mexinox USA generally occur at the beginning of 
the distribution chain, representing essentially a logistical transfer 
of inventory that resembles ex-factory sales. See Mexinox's AQR at page 
A-44 and at Attachment A-4-A. In contrast, sales in the home market 
(including sales to Mexinox Trading) occur closer to the end of the 
distribution chain and involve smaller volumes and more customer 
interaction which, in turn, require the performance of more selling 
functions. See Mexinox's AQR at pages A-45 and Attachments A-4-B and A-
4-C. Based on the above-mentioned information, we preliminarily 
conclude the NV LOT is at a more advanced stage than the CEP LOT.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ Mexinox claimed only one LOT for its U.S. sales, i.e., the 
CEP LOT, which are those sales made by its U.S. affiliate to 
unaffiliated customers in the United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because we found the home market and U.S. sales were made at 
different LOTs, we examined whether a LOT adjustment or a CEP offset 
may be appropriate in this review. As we found only one LOT in the home 
market, it was not possible to make a LOT adjustment to home market 
sales, because such an adjustment is dependent on our ability to 
identify a pattern of consistent price differences between the home 
market sales on which NV is based and home market sales at the LOT of 
the export transaction. See 19 CFR 351.412(d)(1)(ii). Furthermore, we 
have no other information that provides an appropriate basis for 
determining a LOT adjustment. Because the data available do not form an 
appropriate basis for making a LOT adjustment, and because the NV LOT 
is at a more advanced stage of distribution than the CEP LOT, we have 
preliminarily made a CEP offset to NV in accordance with section 
773(a)(7)(B) of the Act.

Constructed Export Price

    Mexinox stated it made CEP sales through its U.S. affiliate, 
Mexinox USA, in the following four channels of distribution: (1) Direct 
shipments to unaffiliated customers; (2) stock sales from the San Luis 
Potosi factory; (3) sales to unaffiliated customers through Mexinox 
USA's warehouse inventory; and (4) sales through Ken-Mac. See Mexinox's 
AQR at pages A-34 through A-36.
    In accordance with section 772(b) of the Act, CEP is 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. We preliminarily find Mexinox properly 
classified all of its U.S. sales of subject merchandise as CEP 
transactions because such sales were made in the United States through 
its U.S. affiliates, Mexinox USA or Ken-Mac, to unaffiliated 
purchasers. We based CEP on packed prices to unaffiliated purchasers in 
the United States sold by Mexinox USA or its affiliated reseller, Ken-
Mac. We made adjustments for billing adjustments, discounts and 
rebates, where applicable. We also made deductions for movement 
expenses in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act, including 
foreign inland freight, foreign brokerage and handling, inland 
insurance, U.S. customs duties, U.S. inland freight, U.S. brokerage and 
handling, and U.S. warehousing expenses. As directed by section 
772(d)(1) of the Act, we deducted those selling expenses associated 
with economic activities occurring in the United States, including 
direct selling expenses (i.e., credit expenses, warranty expenses, and 
a certain expense of a proprietary nature (see Mexinox's CQR at pages 
C-49 through C-50)), inventory carrying costs, packing costs, and other 
indirect selling expenses. We also made an adjustment for profit in 
accordance with section 772(d)(3) of the Act. We used the expenses as 
reported by Mexinox made in connection with its U.S. sales, with the 
exception of the U.S. indirect selling expense ratio which we 
recalculated. See Preliminary Analysis Memorandum.
    For sales in which the material was sent to an unaffiliated U.S. 
processor, we made an adjustment based on the transaction-specific 
further-processing expenses incurred by Mexinox USA. In addition, the 
U.S. affiliated reseller, Ken-Mac, performed some further manufacturing 
for its sales to unaffiliated U.S. customers. For these sales, we 
deducted the cost of further processing in accordance with section 
772(d)(2) of the Act. In calculating the cost of further manufacturing 
for Ken-Mac, we relied upon Ken-Mac's reported cost of further 
manufacturing materials, labor and overhead. We also included amounts 
for further manufacturing general and administrative expenses (G&A), as 
reported in Mexinox's cost database submitted in its SSSDQR.

Normal Value

A. Cost Reporting Period

    The Department's normal practice is to calculate an annual 
weighted-average cost for the entire POR. See, e.g., Notice of Final 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Certain Pasta From 
Italy, 65 FR 77852 (December 13, 2000), and accompanying Issues and 
Decision Memorandum at Comment 18; see also Notice of Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel 
Wire Rod from Canada, 71 FR 3822 (January 24, 2006), and accompanying 
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 5 (explaining the 
Department's practice of computing a single weighted-average cost for 
the entire period). This methodology is predictable and generally 
applicable in all proceedings. However, the Department recognizes that 
possible distortions may result if our normal annual average cost 
method is used during a period of significant cost changes.
    Under these circumstances, in determining whether to deviate from 
our normal methodology of calculating an annual weighted average cost, 
the Department has evaluated the case specific record evidence using 
two primary factors: (1) The change in the cost of manufacturing (COM) 
experienced by the respondent during the POR must be significant; and, 
(2) the record evidence must indicate that sales during the shorter 
averaging periods could be reasonably linked with the cost of 
production (COP) or constructed value (CV) during the same shorter 
averaging periods. See Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From Belgium: 
Final Results of Administrative Review, 73 FR 75398, 75399 (December 
11, 2008)

[[Page 47786]]

(SSPC from Belgium) and See, e.g., Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in 
Coils from Mexico; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review, 75 FR 6627 (February 10, 2010) (2007-2008 Final Results).
a. Significance of Cost Changes
    Record evidence shows that Mexinox experienced significant changes 
in the total COM during the POR and that the changes in COM are 
attributable to the price volatility for hot rolled stainless steel 
band (hot band), the main input consumed in the production of the 
merchandise under consideration. The record shows that hot band prices 
changed dramatically throughout the POR. Specifically, the record data 
shows that even after adjusting reported COM to reflect market price 
for purchases from affiliates, the percentage difference between the 
high and low quarterly costs for S4 in coils exceeded 25 percent during 
the POR (see section D below for our discussion on adjustments made to 
hot band purchases from affiliates to reflect market price). As a 
result, we have determined that for these preliminary results the 
changes in COM for Mexinox are significant.
b. Linkage Between Cost and Sales Information
    The Department also evaluates whether there is evidence of linkage 
between the cost changes and the sales prices for the given POR. Our 
definition of linkage does not require direct traceability between 
specific sales and their specific production cost, but rather relies on 
whether there are elements which would indicate a reasonable 
correlation between the underlying costs and the final sales prices 
levied by the company. These correlative elements may be measured and 
defined in a number of ways depending on the associated industry, and 
the overall production and sales processes. In the instant case, we 
find that the quarterly cost and quarterly sales prices for Mexinox 
appear to be reasonably correlated during this period of significant 
cost changes.
    In light of the two factors discussed above, we preliminarily find 
that it is appropriate to rely on a quarterly costing approach with 
respect to Mexinox. Thus, we used quarterly indexed annual average hot 
band costs and annual weighted-average fabrication costs in the COP and 
CV calculations. For our detailed analysis, see Memorandum to Neal M. 
Halper, ``Cost of Production and Constructed Value Calculation 
Adjustments for the Preliminary Determination--ThyssenKrupp Mexinox 
S.A. de C.V. and Ken-Mac Metals dated August 2, 2010 (Cost Calculation 
Memorandum).

B. Selection of Comparison Market

    To determine whether there is a sufficient volume of sales in the 
home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating NV (i.e., the 
aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like product is 
greater than five percent of the aggregate volume of U.S. sales), we 
compared Mexinox's volume of home market sales of the foreign like 
product to the volume of its U.S. sales of the subject merchandise, in 
accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act. Because Mexinox's 
aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like product was 
greater than five percent of its aggregate volume of U.S. sales for 
subject merchandise, we determined the home market was viable. See, 
e.g., Mexinox's SSQR at Attachment B-34 (home market sales database) 
and at Attachment C-33 (U.S. sales database).

C. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm's Length Test

    Sales to affiliated customers in the home market not made at arm's 
length prices are excluded from our analysis because we consider them 
to be outside the ordinary course of trade. See section 773(f)(2) of 
the Act; see also 19 CFR 351.102(b). Consistent with 19 CFR 351.403(c) 
and (d) and agency practice, ``the Department may calculate NV based on 
sales to affiliates if satisfied that the transactions were made at 
arm's length.'' See China Steel Corp. v. United States, 264 F. Supp. 2d 
1339, 1365 (CIT 2003). To test whether the sales to affiliates were 
made at arm's length prices, we compared, on a model-specific basis, 
the starting prices of sales to affiliated and unaffiliated customers, 
net of all direct selling expenses, billing adjustments, discounts, 
rebates, movement charges, and packing. Where prices to the affiliated 
party are, on average, within a range of 98 to 102 percent of the price 
of identical or comparable merchandise to the unaffiliated parties, we 
determine that the sales made to the affiliated party are at arm's 
length. See Antidumping Proceedings: Affiliated Party Sales in the 
Ordinary Course of Trade, 67 FR 69186, 69194 (November 15, 2002). In 
this review, however, we found that prices to affiliated parties were, 
on average, outside of the 98 to 102 percent of the price of identical 
or comparable subject merchandise sold to unaffiliated parties. 
Accordingly, we found both affiliated home market customers failed the 
arm's length test and, in accordance with the Department's practice, we 
excluded sales to these affiliates from our analysis.

D. Cost of Production Analysis

    Because we disregarded sales of certain products made at prices 
below the COP in the most recently completed review of S4 in coils from 
Mexico (see 2006-2007 Preliminary Results, 73 FR 45714, unchanged in 
2006-2007 Final Results), we had reasonable grounds to believe or 
suspect that sales of the foreign like product under consideration for 
the determination of NV in this review for Mexinox may have been made 
at prices below the COP, as provided by section 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the 
Act. Pursuant to section 773(b)(1) of the Act, we initiated a COP 
investigation of sales by Mexinox.
    In accordance with section 773(b)(3)(A) of the Act, we calculated 
COP based on the sum of Mexinox's cost of materials, fabrication or 
other processing employed in producing the foreign like product. In 
accordance with section 773(b)(3)(B) and (C) of the Act, we included 
amounts for SG&A expenses and packing costs. We relied on home market 
sales and COP information provided by Mexinox in its questionnaire 
responses, except as noted below:
    For these preliminary results, we evaluated the transfer prices 
between Mexinox and its affiliated hot band coil suppliers on a grade-
specific basis. For certain grades of hot band, all three elements of 
the major input analysis were available, for others only the affiliated 
supplier's cost of production was available. These grades of hot-rolled 
stainless steel coil (in which all three elements of the major input 
analysis were available) account for the majority of volume of hot-
rolled stainless steel coil that Mexinox purchased from its foreign 
affiliates, ThyssenKrupp Nirosta North America, Inc. (TKNNA) and 
ThyssenKrupp Acciai Speciali Terni USA, Inc. (TKAST USA) during the 
POR. As necessary, we adjusted the reported costs to reflect the higher 
of transfer prices, COP, or market prices (where available) of hot-
rolled stainless steel coil. See Cost Calculation Memorandum.
    Additionally, we increased the G&A denominator for the major input 
adjustments noted above because we applied the revised G&A expense 
ratio to the revised total cost of manufacturing. See Cost Calculation 
Memorandum.
    We revised TKAG's cost of goods sold (COGS), the denominator of the 
financial expense ratio, to exclude packing expenses. We estimated the 
packing costs by calculating the

[[Page 47787]]

percentage that Mexinox's packing costs represents of its COGS and 
applying the result to TKAG's COGS. Further, we increased this 
denominator for the major input adjustment. See Cost Calculation 
Memorandum.
    Finally, we note that because we found that costs changed 
significantly, even after applying the major input adjustment during 
the POR, we have relied on Mexinox's quarterly cost and have applied 
the Department's alternative cost methodology of calculating quarterly 
average cost for the POR for the preliminary results. See Cost 
Calculation Memorandum at pages 2-3. In determining whether to 
disregard home market sales made at prices below the COP, we examine, 
in accordance with sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act, whether 
such sales were made within an extended period of time and in 
substantial quantities, and whether such sales were made at prices 
which permitted the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of 
time in the normal course of trade. As noted in section 773(b)(1)(D) of 
the Act, prices are considered to provide for recovery of costs if such 
prices are above the weighted average per-unit COP for the period of 
investigation or review. In the instant case, we have relied on a 
quarterly costing approach for these preliminary results. Similar to 
that used by the Department in cases of high-inflation (see, e.g., 
Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain 
Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products from Indonesia, 64 FR 
73164 (December 29, 1999) at Comment 1), this methodology restates the 
quarterly costs on a year-end equivalent basis, calculates an annual 
weighted-average cost for the POR and then restates it to each 
respective quarter. We find that this quarterly costing method meets 
the requirements of section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act.
    Where less than 20 percent of the respondent's home market sales of 
a given model are at prices below the COP, we do not disregard any 
below-cost sales of that model because we determine that the below-cost 
sales are not made within an extended period of time and in 
``substantial quantities.'' Where 20 percent or more of the 
respondent's home market sales of a given model are at prices less than 
the COP, we disregarded the below-cost sales; because: (1) They were 
made within an extended period of time in ``substantial quantities,'' 
in accordance with sections 773(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the Act; and (2) 
based on our comparison of prices to the weighted-average COPs for the 
POR, they were at prices which would not permit the recovery of all 
costs within a reasonable period of time, in accordance with section 
773(b)(2)(D) of the Act.
    Our cost test for Mexinox revealed that, for home market sales of 
certain models, less than 20 percent of the sales of those models were 
at prices below the COP. We therefore retained all such sales in our 
analysis and used them as the basis for determining NV. Our cost test 
also indicated that for home market sales of other models, more than 20 
percent were sold at prices below the COP within an extended period of 
time and at prices which would not permit the recovery of all costs 
within a reasonable period of time. Thus, in accordance with section 
773(b)(1) of the Act, we excluded these below-cost sales from our 
analysis and used the remaining above-cost sales as the basis for 
determining NV.

D. Constructed Value

    In accordance with section 773(e) of the Act, we calculated CV 
based on the sum of Mexinox's material and fabrication costs, SG&A 
expenses, profit, and U.S. packing costs. We calculated the COP 
component of CV as described above in the ``Cost of Production 
Analysis'' section of this notice. In accordance with section 
773(e)(2)(A) of the Tariff Act, we based SG&A expenses and profit on 
the amounts incurred and realized by the respondent in connection with 
the production and sale of the foreign like product in the ordinary 
course of trade, for consumption in the foreign country.

E. Price-to-Price Comparisons

    We calculated NV based on prices to unaffiliated customers. Mexinox 
S.A. reported home market sales in Mexican pesos, but noted certain 
home market sales were invoiced in U.S. dollars during the POR. See 
Mexinox's BQR at pages B-27 and B-28. In our margin calculations, we 
used the currency of the sale invoice at issue and applied the relevant 
adjustments in the actual currency invoiced or incurred by Mexinox. We 
accounted for billing adjustments, discounts, and rebates, where 
appropriate. We also made deductions, where appropriate, for foreign 
inland freight, insurance, handling, and warehousing, pursuant to 
section 773(a)(6)(B) of the Act. In addition, we made adjustments for 
differences in cost attributable to differences in physical 
characteristics of the merchandise compared pursuant to section 
773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.411. We also made 
adjustments for differences in circumstances of sale (COS) in 
accordance with section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.410. In particular, we made COS adjustments for imputed credit 
expenses and warranty expenses. As noted above in the ``Level of 
Trade'' section of this notice, we also made an adjustment for the CEP 
offset in accordance with section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Act. Finally, we 
deducted home market packing costs and added U.S. packing costs in 
accordance with sections 773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the Act.
    We used Mexinox's home market adjustments and deductions as 
reported, except for certain handling expenses and imputed credit 
expenses. We have recalculated the handling expenses incurred by 
Mexinox's home market affiliate, Mexinox Trading, and applied the 
revised ratio to those home market sales for which Mexinox reported a 
handling expense. We calculated imputed credit expenses based on the 
short-term borrowing rate associated with the currency of each home 
market sale transaction. See Preliminary Analysis Memorandum. Our 
methodology for calculating handling charges and imputed credit 
expenses is consistent with past administrative reviews of this case. 
See, e.g., 2007-2008 Final Results at 6629-6630, unchanged in 2007-2008 
Amended Final Results; see also 2006-2007 Final Results and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 1; see also 
2005-2006 Preliminary Results, 72 FR 43605, 2005-2006 Final Results, 
and 2005-2006 Amended Final Results; see also 2004-2005 Preliminary 
Results, 71 FR 35623 (unchanged in 2004-2005 Final Results).

F. Price-to-CV Comparisons

    Where we were unable to find a home market match of such or similar 
merchandise, in accordance with section 773(a)(4) of the Act, we based 
NV on CV. Where appropriate, we made adjustments to CV in accordance 
with section 773(a)(8) of the Act.
Currency Conversion
    We made currency conversions into U.S. dollars based on the 
exchange rates in effect on the dates of the U.S. sales, as certified 
by Dow Jones Reuters Business Interactive, LLC (trading as Factiva), in 
accordance with section 773A(a) of the Act.
Preliminary Results of Review
    As a result of our review, we preliminarily find that the following 
weighted-average dumping margin exists for the period July 1, 2008, 
through June 30, 2009:

[[Page 47788]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Weighted average  margin
         Manufacturer/Exporter                    (percentage)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ThyssenKrupp Mexinox S.A. de C.V......  14.38 percent.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Comment
    The Department intends to disclose calculations performed within 
five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 
19 CFR 351.224(b). 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, will be held 37 days after the 
date of publication or, if that date falls on a holiday or weekend, the 
first business day thereafter, unless the Department alters the date 
per 19 CFR 351.310(d). Interested parties may submit case briefs no 
later than 30 days after the date of publication of these preliminary 
results of review. See 19 CFR 351.309(c). Rebuttal briefs limited to 
issues raised in the case briefs may be filed no later than five days 
after the time limit for submitting the case briefs. See 19 CFR 
351.309(d). Parties who submit argument in these proceedings are 
requested to submit with the argument: (1) A statement of the issue; 
(2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. 
Further, parties submitting case briefs and/or rebuttal briefs are 
requested to provide the Department with an additional copy of the 
public version of any such argument on diskette. The Department intends 
to issue final results of this administrative review, including the 
results of our analysis of the issues in any such argument or at a 
hearing, within 120 days of publication of these preliminary results, 
unless extended. See section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.213(h).
Duty Assessment
    Upon completion of this administrative review, the Department shall 
determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate 
entries. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), we will calculate 
importer-specific ad valorem assessment rates for the merchandise based 
on the ratio of the total amount of antidumping duties calculated for 
the examined sales made during the POR to the total customs value of 
the sales used to calculate those duties. The total customs value is 
based on the entered value reported by Mexinox for all U.S. entries of 
subject merchandise initially entered for consumption to the United 
States made during the POR. See Preliminary Analysis Memorandum. In 
accordance with 19 CFR 356.8(a), the Department intends to issue 
assessment instructions to CBP on or after 41 days following the 
publication of the final results of review.
    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). This 
clarification will apply to entries of subject merchandise during the 
POR produced by the company included in these preliminary results for 
which the reviewed company did not know its merchandise 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 intermediate company or companies involved in the transaction.
Cash Deposit Requirements
    Furthermore, the following cash deposit requirements will be 
effective for all shipments of S4 in coils from Mexico 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 the 
reviewed company will be the rate established in the final results of 
this review, except if the rate is less than 0.50 percent (de minimis 
within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1)), the cash deposit will be 
zero; (2) for previously investigated companies not listed above, the 
cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate 
published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm 
covered in this review, or the original 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 the all-others rate of 30.85 percent, which is the all-
others rate established in the LTFV investigation. See Order. These 
deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until 
further notice.
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.
    We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with 
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i) of the Act.

    Dated: August 2, 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-19579 Filed 8-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P