Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From Brazil, the Republic of Korea, and Turkey: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 54267-54272 [2015-22556]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Notices
specifically excluded. The following
products are outside of and/or specifically
excluded from the scope of these
investigations:
• Universal mill plates (i.e., hot-rolled,
flat-rolled products not in coils that have
been rolled on four faces or in a closed box
pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm but not
exceeding 1250 mm, of a thickness not less
than 4.0 mm, and without patterns in relief);
• Products that have been cold-rolled
(cold-reduced) after hot-rolling; 63
• Ball bearing steels; 64
• Tool steels; 65 and
• Silico-manganese steels; 66
The products subject to these
investigations are currently classified in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) under item numbers:
7208.10.1500, 7208.10.3000, 7208.10.6000,
7208.25.3000, 7208.25.6000, 7208.26.0030,
7208.26.0060, 7208.27.0030, 7208.27.0060,
7208.36.0030, 7208.36.0060, 7208.37.0030,
7208.37.0060, 7208.38.0015, 7208.38.0030,
7208.38.0090, 7208.39.0015, 7208.39.0030,
7208.39.0090, 7208.40.6030, 7208.40.6060,
7208.53.0000, 7208.54.0000, 7208.90.0000,
7210.70.3000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0090,
7211.19.1500, 7211.19.2000, 7211.19.3000,
7211.19.4500, 7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7530,
7211.19.7560, 7211.19.7590, 7225.11.0000,
7225.19.0000, 7225.30.3050, 7225.30.7000,
7225.40.7000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.11.1000,
7226.11.9030, 7226.11.9060, 7226.19.1000,
7226.19.9000, 7226.91.5000, 7226.91.7000,
and 7226.91.8000. The products subject to
the investigations may also enter under the
following HTSUS numbers: 7210.90.9000,
7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000,
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63 For
purposes of this scope exclusion, rolling
operations such as a skin pass, levelling, temper
rolling or other minor rolling operations after the
hot-rolling process for purposes of surface finish,
flatness, shape control, or gauge control do not
constitute cold-rolling sufficient to meet this
exclusion.
64 Ball bearing steels are defined as steels which
contain, in addition to iron, each of the following
elements by weight in the amount specified: (i) Not
less than 0.95 nor more than 1.13 percent of carbon;
(ii) not less than 0.22 nor more than 0.48 percent
of manganese; (iii) none, or not more than 0.03
percent of sulfur; (iv) none, or not more than 0.03
percent of phosphorus; (v) not less than 0.18 nor
more than 0.37 percent of silicon; (vi) not less than
1.25 nor more than 1.65 percent of chromium; (vii)
none, or not more than 0.28 percent of nickel; (viii)
none, or not more than 0.38 percent of copper; and
(ix) none, or not more than 0.09 percent of
molybdenum.
65 Tool steels are defined as steels which contain
the following combinations of elements in the
quantity by weight respectively indicated: (i) More
than 1.2 percent carbon and more than 10.5 percent
chromium; or (ii) not less than 0.3 percent carbon
and 1.25 percent or more but less than 10.5 percent
chromium; or (iii) not less than 0.85 percent carbon
and 1 percent to 1.8 percent, inclusive, manganese;
or (iv) 0.9 percent to 1.2 percent, inclusive,
chromium and 0.9 percent to 1.4 percent, inclusive,
molybdenum; or (v) not less than 0.5 percent carbon
and not less than 3.5 percent molybdenum; or (vi)
not less than 0.5 percent carbon and not less than
5.5 percent tungsten.
66 Silico-manganese steel is defined as steels
containing by weight: (i) Not more than 0.7 percent
of carbon; (ii) 0.5 percent or more but not more than
1.9 percent of manganese, and (iii) 0.6 percent or
more but not more than 2.3 percent of silicon.
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7212.50.0000, 7214.91.0015, 7214.91.0060,
7214.91.0090, 7214.99.0060, 7214.99.0075,
7214.99.0090, 7215.90.5000, 7226.99.0180,
and 7228.60.6000.
The HTSUS subheadings above are
provided for convenience and U.S. Customs
purposes only. The written description of the
scope of the investigations is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2015–22557 Filed 9–8–15; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–351–846, C–580–884, C–489–827]
Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products
From Brazil, the Republic of Korea,
and Turkey: Initiation of Countervailing
Duty Investigations
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Effective date: September 9,
2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sergio Balbontin at (202) 482–6478
(Brazil); Katie Marksberry at (202) 482–
7906 (Republic of Korea); Emily Halle at
(202) 482–0176 (Turkey), AD/CVD
Operations, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
The Petitions
On August 11, 2015, the Department
of Commerce (Department) received
countervailing duty (CVD) petitions
concerning imports of certain hot-rolled
steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from
Brazil, the Republic of Korea (Korea),
and Turkey, filed in proper form on
behalf of AK Steel Corporation,
ArcelorMittal USA LLC, Nucor
Corporation, SSAB Enterprises, LLC,
Steel Dynamics, Inc., and United States
Steel Corporation, (collectively,
Petitioners). The CVD petitions were
accompanied by antidumping duty (AD)
petitions also concerning imports of hotrolled steel from Australia, Brazil,
Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey,
and the United Kingdom.1 Petitioners
are domestic producers of hot-rolled
steel.2
On August 14, 2015, the Department
requested information and clarification
1 See ‘‘Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products
from Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom:
Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duties,’’ dated August 11, 2015
(Petitions).
2 See Volume I of the Petitions, at 2 and Exhibit
I–1.
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54267
for certain areas of the Petitions.3
Petitioners filed responses to these
requests on August 21 and 26, 2015.4
On August 19, 2015, the Department
sought additional information with
regard to the Brazilian CVD Petition.5
Petitioners filed additional Brazilian
CVD responses on August 20 and 25,
2015.6
In accordance with section 702(b)(1)
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act), Petitioners allege that the
Governments of Brazil (GOB), Korea
(GOK), and Turkey (GOT) are providing
countervailable subsidies (within the
meaning of sections 701 and 771(5) of
the Act) to imports of hot-rolled steel
from the Brazil, Korea, and Turkey,
respectively, and that such imports are
materially injuring, or threatening
material injury to, an industry in the
United States. Also, consistent with
section 702(b)(1) of the Act, the
Petitions are accompanied by
information reasonably available to
Petitioners supporting their allegations.
The Department finds that Petitioners
filed the Petitions on behalf of the
domestic industry because Petitioners
are interested parties as defined in
section 771(9)(C) of the Act. The
Department also finds that Petitioners
demonstrated sufficient industry
support with respect to the initiation of
3 See Letter from the Department to Petitioners
entitled ‘‘Petitions for the Imposition of
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports
of Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from
Brazil, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of
Turkey and Antidumping Duties on Imports of
Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from
Australia, Japan, Netherlands, and the United
Kingdom: Supplemental Questions,’’ dated August
14, 2015 (General Issues Questionnaire); Letters
from the Department to Petitioners entitled ‘‘Re:
Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping Duties
on Imports of Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products
from {country}: Supplemental Questions’’ on each
of the country-specific records, dated August 14,
2015.
4 See Letter from Petitioners entitled ‘‘Certain
Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From Australia,
Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the
Netherlands. Turkey, and the United Kingdom—
Petitioners’ Amendment to Petition,’’ dated August
21, 2015 (General Issues Supplement); see also
Scope Supplement to the Petitions, dated August
26, 2015 (Scope Supplement).
5 See Letter from the Department to Petitioners
entitled ‘‘Petition for the Imposition of
Countervailing Duties on Imports of Certain HotRolled Steel Flat Products from Brazil:
Supplemental Questions,’’ dated August 19, 2015
(Brazil Second Questionnaire).
6 See Letter from Petitioners entitled ‘‘Certain
Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From Australia,
Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the
Netherlands, Turkey, and the United KingdomPetitioners’ Amendment to Petition,’’ dated August
20, 2015 (Brazil Second Supplement); see also
Letter from Petitioners entitled ‘‘Certain Hot-Rolled
Steel Flat products from Australia, Brazil Japan, the
Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the
United Kingdom-Petitioners’ Amendment to
Petition,’’ dated August 25, 2015 (Brazil Third
Supplement).
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Notices
the CVD investigations that Petitioners
are requesting.7
Period of Investigations
The period of investigations is
January 1, 2014, through December 31,
2014.8
Scope of the Investigations
The product covered by these
investigations is hot-rolled steel from
the Brazil, Korea, and Turkey. For a full
description of the scope of these
investigations, see the ‘‘Scope of the
Investigations’’ in Appendix I of this
notice.
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Comments on Scope of the
Investigations
During our review of the Petitions, the
Department discussed with Petitioners
the proposed scope to ensure that the
scope language in the Petitions would
be an accurate reflection of the products
for which the domestic industry is
seeking relief.9
As discussed in the preamble to the
Department’s regulations,10 we are
setting aside a period for interested
parties to raise issues regarding product
coverage (scope). The Department will
consider all comments received from
parties and, if necessary, will consult
with parties prior to the issuance of the
preliminary determinations. If scope
comments include factual information
(see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)), all such
factual information should be limited to
public information. In order to facilitate
preparation of its questionnaires, the
Department requests all interested
parties to submit such comments by 5
p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Monday,
September 21, 2015, which is the first
business day after 20 calendar days from
the signature date of this notice.11 Any
rebuttal comments, which may include
factual information, must be filed by 5
p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 1, 2015,
which is 10 calendar days after the
initial comments deadline.
The Department requests that any
factual information the parties consider
relevant to the scope of the
investigations be submitted during this
time period. However, if a party
subsequently finds that additional
factual information pertaining to the
scope of the investigations may be
7 See the ‘‘Determination of Industry Support for
the Petitions’’ section below.
8 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
9 See Memorandum from Vicki Flynn to The File,
dated August 7, 2015. See also Letter from
Petitioners entitled ‘‘Revised Scope, Amendment to
Petitions,’’ dated August 10, 2015.
10 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing
Duties; Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19,
1997).
11 See 19 CFR 351.303(b).
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relevant, the party may contact the
Department and request permission to
submit the additional information. All
such comments must be filed on the
records of each of the concurrent AD
and CVD investigations.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to the Department
must be filed electronically using
Enforcement and Compliance’s
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System
(ACCESS). An electronically-filed
document must be received successfully
in its entirety by the time and date it is
due. Documents excepted from the
electronic submission requirements
must be filed manually (i.e., in paper
form) with Enforcement and
Compliance’s APO/Dockets Unit, Room
18022, U.S. Department of Commerce,
14th Street and Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20230, and
stamped with the date and time of
receipt by the applicable deadlines.
Consultations
Pursuant to section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of
the Act, the Department notified
representatives of the GOB, GOK, and
GOT of the receipt of the Petitions. Also,
in accordance with section
702(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act, the
Department provided representatives of
the GOB, GOK, and GOT the
opportunity for consultations with
respect to the CVD Petitions. On August
25, 2015, consultations were held with
the GOB, on August 27, 2015,
consultations were held with the GOK,
and on August 28, 2015, consultations
were held with the GOT. All invitation
letters and memoranda regarding these
consultations are on file electronically
via ACCESS.
Determination of Industry Support for
the Petitions
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires
that a petition be filed on behalf of the
domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A)
of the Act provides that a petition meets
this requirement if the domestic
producers or workers who support the
petition account for: (i) At least 25
percent of the total production of the
domestic like product; and (ii) more
than 50 percent of the production of the
domestic like product produced by that
portion of the industry expressing
support for, or opposition to, the
petition. Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D)
of the Act provides that, if the petition
does not establish support of domestic
producers or workers accounting for
more than 50 percent of the total
production of the domestic like product,
the Department shall: (i) Poll the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
industry or rely on other information in
order to determine if there is support for
the petition, as required by
subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine
industry support using a statistically
valid sampling method to poll the
‘‘industry.’’
Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines
the ‘‘industry’’ as the producers as a
whole of a domestic like product. Thus,
to determine whether a petition has the
requisite industry support, the statute
directs the Department to look to
producers and workers who produce the
domestic like product. The International
Trade Commission (ITC), which is
responsible for determining whether
‘‘the domestic industry’’ has been
injured, must also determine what
constitutes a domestic like product in
order to define the industry. While both
the Department and the ITC must apply
the same statutory definition regarding
the domestic like product,12 they do so
for different purposes and pursuant to a
separate and distinct authority. In
addition, the Department’s
determination is subject to limitations of
time and information. Although this
may result in different definitions of the
like product, such differences do not
render the decision of either agency
contrary to law.13
Section 771(10) of the Act defines the
domestic like product as ‘‘a product
which is like, or in the absence of like,
most similar in characteristics and uses
with, the article subject to an
investigation under this title.’’ Thus, the
reference point from which the
domestic like product analysis begins is
‘‘the article subject to an investigation’’
(i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to
be investigated, which normally will be
the scope as defined in the Petitions).
With regard to the domestic like
product, Petitioners do not offer a
definition of the domestic like product
distinct from the scope of the
investigations. Based on our analysis of
the information submitted on the
record, we have determined that hotrolled steel constitutes a single domestic
like product and we have analyzed
industry support in terms of that
domestic like product.14
12 See
section 771(10) of the Act.
USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp.
2d 1, 8 (CIT 2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd.
v. United States, 688 F. Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988),
aff’d 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
14 For a discussion of the domestic like product
analysis in this case, see Countervailing Duty
Investigation Initiation Checklist: Certain HotRolled Steel Flat Products from Brazil (Brazil CVD
Checklist), at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry
Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Petitions Covering Certain Hot-Rolled Steel
Flat Products from Australia, Brazil, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, the Republic of
13 See
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In determining whether Petitioners
have standing under section
702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered
the industry support data contained in
the Petitions with reference to the
domestic like product as defined in the
‘‘Scope of the Investigations,’’ in
Appendix I of this notice. Petitioners
provided their production volume of the
domestic like product in 2014, as well
as an estimate of total production of the
domestic like product for the entire
domestic industry.15 To establish
industry support, Petitioners compared
their own production to total estimated
production of the domestic like product
for the entire domestic industry.16
Our review of the data provided in the
Petitions, General Issues Supplement,
and other information readily available
to the Department indicates that
Petitioners have established industry
support.17 First, the Petitions
established support from domestic
producers (or workers) accounting for
more than 50 percent of the total
production of the domestic like product
and, as such, the Department is not
required to take further action in order
to evaluate industry support (e.g.,
polling).18 Second, the domestic
producers (or workers) have met the
statutory criteria for industry support
under section 702(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act
because the domestic producers (or
workers) who support the Petitions
account for at least 25 percent of the
total production of the domestic like
product.19 Finally, the domestic
producers (or workers) have met the
statutory criteria for industry support
under section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act
because the domestic producers (or
Turkey, and the United Kingdom (Attachment II);
Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation
Checklist: Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products
from the Republic of Korea (Korea CVD Initiation
Checklist), at Attachment II; and Countervailing
Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Certain HotRolled Steel Flat Products from the Republic of
Turkey (Turkey CVD Initiation Checklist). These
checklists are dated concurrently with this notice
and on file electronically via ACCESS. Access to
documents filed via ACCESS is also available in the
Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main
Department of Commerce building.
15 See Volume I of the Petitions, at 2–4 and
Exhibits I–3 and I–4; see also General Issues
Supplement, at 8–9.
16 Id. For further discussion, see Brazil CVD
Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD Initiation Checklist,
and Turkey CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment
II.
17 See Brazil CVD Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD
Initiation Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation
Checklist, at Attachment II.
18 See section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also
Brazil CVD Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD
Initiation Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation
Checklist, at Attachment II.
19 See Brazil CVD Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD
Initiation Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation
Checklist, at Attachment II.
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workers) who support the Petitions
account for more than 50 percent of the
production of the domestic like product
produced by that portion of the industry
expressing support for, or opposition to,
the Petitions.20 Accordingly, the
Department determines that the
Petitions were filed on behalf of the
domestic industry within the meaning
of section 702(b)(1) of the Act.
The Department finds that Petitioners
filed the Petitions on behalf of the
domestic industry because they are
interested parties as defined in section
771(9)(C) of the Act and they have
demonstrated sufficient industry
support with respect to the CVD
investigations that they are requesting
the Department initiate.21
Injury Test
Because Brazil, Korea, and Turkey are
‘‘Subsidies Agreement Countries’’
within the meaning of section 701(b) of
the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act
applies to these investigations.
Accordingly, the ITC must determine
whether imports of the subject
merchandise from Brazil, Korea, and/or
Turkey materially injure, or threaten
material injury to, a U.S. industry.
Allegations and Evidence of Material
Injury and Causation
Petitioners allege that imports of the
subject merchandise are benefitting
from countervailable subsidies and that
such imports are causing, or threaten to
cause, material injury to the U.S.
industry producing the domestic like
product. Petitioners allege that subject
imports exceed the negligibility
threshold of three percent provided for
under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.22 In
CVD petitions, section 771(24)(B) of the
Act provides that imports of subject
merchandise from developing countries
must exceed the negligibility threshold
of four percent. Petitioners also
demonstrate that subject imports from
Brazil, which has been designated as a
developing country under section
771(36)(A) of the Act, exceed the
negligibility threshold provided for
under section 771(24)(B) of the Act.23
Petitioners contend that the industry’s
injured condition is illustrated by
reduced market share; underselling and
price suppression or depression; lost
sales and revenues; decline in
production, shipments, and capacity
utilization; and decline in financial
20 Id.
21 Id.
22 See Volume I of the Petitions, at 21–22 and
Exhibit I–11.
23 Id.
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performance.24 We have assessed the
allegations and supporting evidence
regarding material injury, threat of
material injury, and causation, and we
have determined that these allegations
are properly supported by adequate
evidence and meet the statutory
requirements for initiation.25
Initiation of Countervailing Duty
Investigations
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires
the Department to initiate a CVD
investigation whenever an interested
party files a CVD petition on behalf of
an industry that: (1) Alleges the
elements necessary for an imposition of
a duty under section 701(a) of the Act;
and (2) is accompanied by information
reasonably available to Petitioners
supporting the allegations.
Petitioners allege that producers/
exporters of hot-rolled steel in Brazil,
Korea, and Turkey benefited from
countervailable subsidies bestowed by
the governments/authorities of these
countries, respectively. The Department
examined the Petitions and finds that
they comply with the requirements of
section 702(b)(1) of the Act. Therefore,
in accordance with section 702(b)(1) of
the Act, we are initiating CVD
investigations to determine whether
manufacturers, producers, or exporters
of hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Korea,
and Turkey receive countervailable
subsidies from the governments/
authorities of these countries,
respectively.
On June 29, 2015, the President of the
United States signed into law the Trade
Preferences Extension Act of 2015,
which made numerous amendments to
the AD and CVD law.26 The 2015 law
does not specify dates of application for
those amendments. On August 6, 2015,
the Department published an
interpretative rule, in which it
announced the applicability dates for
each amendment to the Act, except for
amendments contained in section 771(7)
of the Act, which relate to
determinations of material injury by the
ITC.27 The amendments to sections 776
24 See Volume I of the Petitions, at 15–19, 21–42
and Exhibits I–4, I–6, I–9 and I–11 through I–17; see
also General Issues Supplement, at 9–10.
25 See Brazil CVD Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD
Initiation Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation
Checklist at Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations
and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation for
the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions
Covering Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products
from Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
the Netherlands, the Republic of Turkey, and the
United Kingdom.
26 See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015,
Pub. L. 114–27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
27 See Dates of Application of Amendments to the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws Made
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and 782 of the Act are applicable to all
determinations made on or after August
6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to these
CVD investigations.28
Brazil
Based on our review of the petition,
we find that there is sufficient
information to initiate a CVD
investigation on 33 of the 35 alleged
programs. For a full discussion of the
basis for our decision to initiate or not
initiate on each program, see the Brazil
CVD Initiation Checklist.
Korea
Based on our review of the petition,
we find that there is sufficient
information to initiate a CVD
investigation on 39 of the 41 alleged
programs. For a full discussion of the
basis for our decision to initiate or not
initiate on each program, see the Korea
CVD Initiation Checklist.
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Turkey
Based on our review of the Petition,
we find that there is sufficient
information to initiate a CVD
investigation on all 18 of the alleged
programs. For a full discussion of the
basis for our decision to initiate on each
program, see the Turkey CVD Initiation
Checklist.
A public version of the initiation
checklist for each investigation is
available on ACCESS.
In accordance with section 703(b)(1)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1),
unless postponed, we will make our
preliminary determinations no later
than 65 days after the date of this
initiation.
Respondent Selection
Petitioners named six companies as
producers/exporters of hot-rolled steel
in Brazil, four in Korea, and six in
Turkey.29 Following standard practice
in CVD investigations, the Department
will, where appropriate, select
respondents based on U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S.
imports of hot-rolled steel during the
periods of investigation. We intend to
release CBP data under Administrative
Protective Order (APO) to all parties
with access to information protected by
APO within five business days of
publication of this Federal Register
notice. The Department invites
comments regarding respondent
by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, 80
FR 46793 (August 6, 2015) (Applicability Notice).
The 2015 amendments may be found at https://
www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/
1295/text/pl.
28 Id. at 46794–95.
29 See Volume I of the Petitions, at Exhibits I–8.
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selection within seven business days of
publication of this Federal Register
notice.
Comments must be filed
electronically using ACCESS. An
electronically-filed document must be
received successfully in its entirety by
ACCESS, by 5 p.m. ET by the date noted
above. We intend to make our decision
regarding respondent selection within
20 days of publication of this notice.
Interested parties must submit
applications for disclosure under APO
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b).
Instructions for filing such applications
may be found on the Department’s Web
site at https://enforcement.trade.gov/apo.
which subsection of 19 CFR
351.102(b)(21) the information is being
submitted and, if the information is
submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct
factual information already on the
record, to provide an explanation
identifying the information already on
the record that the factual information
seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct. Time
limits for the submission of factual
information are addressed in 19 CFR
351.301, which provides specific time
limits based on the type of factual
information being submitted. Parties
should review the regulations prior to
submitting factual information in these
investigations.
Distribution of Copies of the Petitions
In accordance with section
702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.202(f), copies of the public version
of the Petitions have been provided to
the GOB, GOK, and GOT via ACCESS.
To the extent practicable, we will
attempt to provide a copy of the public
version of the Petitions to each known
exporter (as named in the Petitions),
consistent with 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).
Extension of Time Limits Regulation
Parties may request an extension of
time limits before the expiration of a
time limit established under 19 CFR
351.301, or as otherwise specified by the
Secretary. In general, an extension
request will be considered untimely if it
is filed after the expiration of the time
limit established under 19 CFR 351.301
expires. For submissions that are due
from multiple parties simultaneously,
an extension request will be considered
untimely if it is filed after 10 a.m. on the
due date. Under certain circumstances,
we may elect to specify a different time
limit by which extension requests will
be considered untimely for submissions
which are due from multiple parties
simultaneously. In such a case, we will
inform parties in the letter or
memorandum setting forth the deadline
(including a specified time) by which
extension requests must be filed to be
considered timely. An extension request
must be made in a separate, stand-alone
submission; under limited
circumstances we will grant untimelyfiled requests for the extension of time
limits. Review Extension of Time Limits;
Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 (September 20,
2013), available at https://www.gpo.gov/
fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/201322853.htm, prior to submitting factual
information in these investigations.
ITC Notification
We will notify the ITC of our
initiation, as required by section 702(d)
of the Act.
Preliminary Determinations by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine,
within 45 days after the date on which
the Petitions were filed, whether there
is a reasonable indication that imports
of hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Korea,
and Taiwan are materially injuring, or
threatening material injury to, a U.S.
industry.30 A negative ITC
determination for any country will
result in the investigation being
terminated with respect to that
country; 31 otherwise, these
investigations will proceed according to
statutory and regulatory time limits.
Submission of Factual Information
Factual information is defined in 19
CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) Evidence
submitted in response to questionnaires;
(ii) evidence submitted in support of
allegations; (iii) publicly available
information to value factors under 19
CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR
351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence placed on
the record by the Department; and (v)
evidence other than factual information
described in (i)–(iv). The regulation
requires any party, when submitting
factual information, to specify under
30 See
section 703(a) of the Act.
31 Id.
PO 00000
Certification Requirements
Any party submitting factual
information in an AD or CVD
proceeding must certify to the accuracy
and completeness of that information.32
Parties are hereby reminded that revised
certification requirements are in effect
for company/government officials, as
well as their representatives.
Investigations initiated on the basis of
petitions filed on or after August 16,
2013, and other segments of any AD or
CVD proceedings initiated on or after
August 16, 2013, should use the formats
Frm 00012
32 See
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
section 782(b) of the Act.
09SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Notices
for the revised certifications provided at
the end of the Final Rule.33 The
Department intends to reject factual
submissions if the submitting party does
not comply with the applicable revised
certification requirements.
Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit
applications for disclosure under APO
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On
January 22, 2008, the Department
published Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Documents Submission Procedures;
APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January
22, 2008). Parties wishing to participate
in these investigations should ensure
that they meet the requirements of these
procedures (e.g., the filing of letters of
appearance as discussed at 19 CFR
351.103(d)).
This notice is issued and published
pursuant to sections 702 and 777(i) of
the Act.
Dated: August 31, 2015.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Attachment I
Scope of the Investigations
The products covered by these
investigations are certain hot-rolled,
flat-rolled steel products, with or
without patterns in relief, and whether
or not annealed, painted, varnished, or
coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances. The products
covered do not include those that are
clad, plated, or coated with metal. The
products covered include coils that have
a width or other lateral measurement
(‘‘width’’) of 12.7 mm or greater,
regardless of thickness, and regardless
of form of coil (e.g., in successively
superimposed layers, spirally
oscillating, etc.). The products covered
also include products not in coils (e.g.,
in straight lengths) of a thickness of less
than 4.75 mm and a width that is 12.7
mm or greater and that measures at least
10 times the thickness. The products
described above may be rectangular,
square, circular, or other shape and
include products of either rectangular or
non-rectangular cross-section where
such cross-section is achieve subsequent
to the rolling process, i.e., products
which have been ‘‘worked after rolling’’
(e.g., products which have been beveled
33 See Certification of Factual Information To
Import Administration During Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July
17, 2013) (Final Rule); see also frequently asked
questions regarding the Final Rule, available at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_
info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:19 Sep 08, 2015
Jkt 235001
or rounded at the edges). For purposes
of the width and thickness requirements
referenced above:
(1) Where the nominal and actual
measurements vary, a product is within
the scope if application of either the
nominal or actual measurement would
place it within the scope based on the
definitions set forth above unless the
resulting measurement makes the
product covered by the existing
antidumping 34 or countervailing duty 35
orders on Certain Cut-To-Length
Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products
From the Republic of Korea (A–580–
836; C–580–837), and
(2) where the width and thickness
vary for a specific product (e.g., the
thickness of certain products with nonrectangular cross-section, the width of
certain products with non-rectangular
shape, etc.), the measurement at its
greatest width or thickness applies.
Steel products included in the scope
of these investigations are products in
which: (1) Iron predominates, by
weight, over each of the other contained
elements; (2) the carbon content is 2
percent or less, by weight; and (3) none
of the elements listed below exceeds the
quantity, by weight, respectively
indicated:
• 2.50 percent of manganese, or
• 3.30 percent of silicon, or
• 1.50 percent of copper, or
• 1.50 percent of aluminum, or
• 1.25 percent of chromium, or
• 0.30 percent of cobalt, or
• 0.40 percent of lead, or
• 2.00 percent of nickel, or
• 0.30 percent of tungsten, or
• 0.80 percent of molybdenum, or
• 0.10 percent of niobium, or
• 0.30 percent of vanadium, or
• 0.30 percent of zirconium.
Unless specifically excluded,
products are included in this scope
regardless of levels of boron and
titanium.
For example, specifically included in
this scope are vacuum degassed, fully
stabilized (commonly referred to as
interstitial-free (IF)) steels, high strength
low alloy (HSLA) steels, the substrate
for motor lamination steels, Advanced
High Strength Steels (AHSS), and Ultra
High Strength Steels (UHSS). IF steels
34 Notice of Amendment of Final Determinations
of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping
Duty Orders: Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality
Steel Plate Products From France, India, Indonesia,
Italy, Japan and the Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6585
(February 10, 2000).
35 Notice of Amended Final Determinations:
Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate
From India and the Republic of Korea; and Notice
of Countervailing Duty Orders: Certain Cut-ToLength Carbon-Quality Steel Plate From France,
India, Indonesia, Italy, and the Republic of Korea,
65 FR 6587 (February 10, 2000).
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
54271
are recognized as low carbon steels with
micro-alloying levels of elements such
as titanium and/or niobium added to
stabilize carbon and nitrogen elements.
HSLA steels are recognized as steels
with micro-alloying levels of elements
such as chromium, copper, niobium,
titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum.
The substrate for motor lamination
steels contains micro-alloying levels of
elements such as silicon and aluminum.
AHSS and UHSS are considered high
tensile strength and high elongation
steels, although AHSS and UHSS are
covered whether or not they are high
tensile strength or high elongation
steels.
Subject merchandise includes hotrolled steel that has been further
processed in a third country, including
but not limited to pickling, oiling,
levelling, annealing, tempering, temper
rolling, skin passing, painting,
varnishing, trimming, cutting,
punching, and/or slitting, or any other
processing that would not otherwise
remove the merchandise from the scope
of the investigations if performed in the
country of manufacture of the hot-rolled
steel.
All products that meet the written
physical description, and in which the
chemistry quantities do not exceed any
one of the noted element levels listed
above, are within the scope of these
investigations unless specifically
excluded. The following products are
outside of and/or specifically excluded
from the scope of these investigations:
• Universal mill plates (i.e., hotrolled, flat-rolled products not in coils
that have been rolled on four faces or in
a closed box pass, of a width exceeding
150 mm but not exceeding 1250 mm, of
a thickness not less than 4.0 mm, and
without patterns in relief);
• Products that have been cold-rolled
(cold-reduced) after hot-rolling; 36
• Ball bearing steels; 37
36 For purposes of this scope exclusion, rolling
operations such as a skin pass, levelling, temper
rolling or other minor rolling operations after the
hot-rolling process for purposes of surface finish,
flatness, shape control, or gauge control do not
constitute cold-rolling sufficient to meet this
exclusion.
37 Ball bearing steels are defined as steels which
contain, in addition to iron, each of the following
elements by weight in the amount specified: (i) Not
less than 0.95 nor more than 1.13 percent of carbon;
(ii) not less than 0.22 nor more than 0.48 percent
of manganese; (iii) none, or not more than 0.03
percent of sulfur; (iv) none, or not more than 0.03
percent of phosphorus; (v) not less than 0.18 nor
more than 0.37 percent of silicon; (vi) not less than
1.25 nor more than 1.65 percent of chromium; (vii)
none, or not more than 0.28 percent of nickel; (viii)
none, or not more than 0.38 percent of copper; and
(ix) none, or not more than 0.09 percent of
molybdenum.
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
54272
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 174 / Wednesday, September 9, 2015 / Notices
• Tool steels; 38 and
• Silico-manganese steels; 39
The products subject to these
investigations are currently classified in
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) under item
numbers: 7208.10.1500, 7208.10.3000,
7208.10.6000, 7208.25.3000,
7208.25.6000, 7208.26.0030,
7208.26.0060, 7208.27.0030,
7208.27.0060, 7208.36.0030,
7208.36.0060, 7208.37.0030,
7208.37.0060, 7208.38.0015,
7208.38.0030, 7208.38.0090,
7208.39.0015, 7208.39.0030,
7208.39.0090, 7208.40.6030,
7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000,
7208.54.0000, 7208.90.0000,
7210.70.3000, 7211.14.0030,
7211.14.0090, 7211.19.1500,
7211.19.2000, 7211.19.3000,
7211.19.4500, 7211.19.6000,
7211.19.7530, 7211.19.7560,
7211.19.7590, 7225.11.0000,
7225.19.0000, 7225.30.3050,
7225.30.7000, 7225.40.7000,
7225.99.0090, 7226.11.1000,
7226.11.9030, 7226.11.9060,
7226.19.1000, 7226.19.9000,
7226.91.5000, 7226.91.7000, and
7226.91.8000. The products subject to
the investigations may also enter under
the following HTSUS numbers:
7210.90.9000, 7211.90.0000,
7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000,
7212.50.0000, 7214.91.0015,
7214.91.0060, 7214.91.0090,
7214.99.0060, 7214.99.0075,
7214.99.0090, 7215.90.5000,
7226.99.0180, and 7228.60.6000.
The HTSUS subheadings above are
provided for convenience and U.S.
Customs purposes only. The written
description of the scope of the
investigations is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2015–22556 Filed 9–8–15; 8:45 am]
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
38 Tool steels are defined as steels which contain
the following combinations of elements in the
quantity by weight respectively indicated: (i) More
than 1.2 percent carbon and more than 10.5 percent
chromium; or (ii) not less than 0.3 percent carbon
and 1.25 percent or more but less than 10.5 percent
chromium; or (iii) not less than 0.85 percent carbon
and 1 percent to 1.8 percent, inclusive, manganese;
or (iv) 0.9 percent to 1.2 percent, inclusive,
chromium and 0.9 percent to 1.4 percent, inclusive,
molybdenum; or (v) not less than 0.5 percent carbon
and not less than 3.5 percent molybdenum; or (vi)
not less than 0.5 percent carbon and not less than
5.5 percent tungsten.
39 Silico-manganese steel is defined as steels
containing by weight: (i) Not more than 0.7 percent
of carbon; (ii) 0.5 percent or more but not more than
1.9 percent of manganese, and (iii) 0.6 percent or
more but not more than 2.3 percent of silicon.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
14:19 Sep 08, 2015
Jkt 235001
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
Corporation for Travel Promotion (dba
Brand USA)
International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Seeking applications from travel
and tourism leaders from the restaurant
industry for membership on the Board
of Directors (Board) of the Corporation
for Travel Promotion (dba Brand USA).
AGENCY:
The Department of Commerce
is currently seeking additional
applications from travel and tourism
leaders from the restaurant sector for
membership on the Board of Directors
(Board) of the Corporation for Travel
Promotion (dba Brand USA). The
purpose of the Board is to guide the
Corporation for Travel Promotion on
matters relating to the promotion of the
United States and communication of
travel facilitation issues, among other
tasks. On June 22, 2015, we published
in the Federal Register a ‘‘Notice of an
opportunity seeking applications from
travel and tourism industry leaders from
specific industries for membership on
the Board of Directors of the
Corporation for Travel Promotion (dba
Brand USA)’’ (80 FR 35627), and on
June 26, 2015, we published ‘‘The
Department of Commerce is currently
seeking applications from travel and
tourism leaders from specific industries
for membership on the Board of
Directors (Board) of the Corporation for
Travel Promotion (dba Brand USA) (80
FR 36767), announcing membership
opportunities from four specific
industry sectors on the Board of
Directors of the Corporation for Travel
Promotion. The application period
closed on August 7, 2015. We are now
reopening the application period to
solicit additional applications
specifically from the restaurant sector.
This notice supplements the notices of
June 22, 2015, and June 26, 2015.
There were insufficient applicants
from the restaurant sector, and the open
period for making application in this
sector and this sector only is now
reopened to solicit additional
applicants.
Interested parties who have already
applied for this position in response to
those Federal Register notices do not
need to re-apply.
DATES: All applications must be
received by the National Travel and
Tourism Office by close of business on
September 18, 2015.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Electronic applications may
be sent to: CTPBoard@trade.gov.
Written applications can be submitted
to Isabel Hill, Director, National Travel
and Tourism Office, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Mail Stop 10007, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20230. Telephone: 202.482.0140.
Email: Isabel.Hill@trade.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
Heizer, Deputy Director, Industry
Relations, National Travel and Tourism
Office, Mail Stop 10003, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20230. Telephone: 202.482.4904.
Email: julie.heizer@trade.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: The Travel Promotion
Act of 2009 (TPA) was signed into law
by President Obama on March 4, 2010.
The TPA established the Corporation for
Travel Promotion (the Corporation), as a
non-profit corporation charged with the
development and execution of a plan to
(A) provide useful information to those
interested in traveling to the United
States; (B) identify and address
perceptions regarding U.S. entry
policies; (C) maximize economic and
diplomatic benefits of travel to the
United States through the use of various
promotional tools; (D) ensure that
international travel benefits all States
and the District of Columbia, and (E)
identify opportunities to promote
tourism to rural and urban areas
equally, including areas not
traditionally visited by international
travelers.
The Corporation is governed by a
Board of Directors, consisting of 11
members with knowledge of
international travel promotion or
marketing, broadly representing various
regions of the United States. The TPA
directs the Secretary of Commerce (after
consultation with the Secretary of
Homeland Security and the Secretary of
State) to appoint the Board of Directors
for the Corporation.
At this time, the Department will be
selecting four individuals with the
appropriate expertise and experience
from specific sectors of the travel and
tourism industry to serve on the Board
as follows:
(A) 1 shall have appropriate expertise
and experience in a city convention and
visitors’ bureau;
(B) 1 shall have appropriate expertise
and experience in the restaurant
industry;
(C) 1 shall have appropriate expertise
and experience as an official in a State
tourism office; and
(D) 1 shall have appropriate expertise
and experience as an official in the hotel
accommodations sector.
ADDRESSES:
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
09SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54267-54272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22556]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-351-846, C-580-884, C-489-827]
Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From Brazil, the Republic
of Korea, and Turkey: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Effective date: September 9, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sergio Balbontin at (202) 482-6478
(Brazil); Katie Marksberry at (202) 482-7906 (Republic of Korea); Emily
Halle at (202) 482-0176 (Turkey), AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC
20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Petitions
On August 11, 2015, the Department of Commerce (Department)
received countervailing duty (CVD) petitions concerning imports of
certain hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from Brazil,
the Republic of Korea (Korea), and Turkey, filed in proper form on
behalf of AK Steel Corporation, ArcelorMittal USA LLC, Nucor
Corporation, SSAB Enterprises, LLC, Steel Dynamics, Inc., and United
States Steel Corporation, (collectively, Petitioners). The CVD
petitions were accompanied by antidumping duty (AD) petitions also
concerning imports of hot-rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan,
Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.\1\ Petitioners
are domestic producers of hot-rolled steel.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See ``Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia,
Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and
the United Kingdom: Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duties,'' dated August 11, 2015 (Petitions).
\2\ See Volume I of the Petitions, at 2 and Exhibit I-1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On August 14, 2015, the Department requested information and
clarification for certain areas of the Petitions.\3\ Petitioners filed
responses to these requests on August 21 and 26, 2015.\4\ On August 19,
2015, the Department sought additional information with regard to the
Brazilian CVD Petition.\5\ Petitioners filed additional Brazilian CVD
responses on August 20 and 25, 2015.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Letter from the Department to Petitioners entitled
``Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing
Duties on Imports of Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from
Brazil, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Turkey and
Antidumping Duties on Imports of Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat
Products from Australia, Japan, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom:
Supplemental Questions,'' dated August 14, 2015 (General Issues
Questionnaire); Letters from the Department to Petitioners entitled
``Re: Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping Duties on Imports
of Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from {country{time} :
Supplemental Questions'' on each of the country-specific records,
dated August 14, 2015.
\4\ See Letter from Petitioners entitled ``Certain Hot-Rolled
Steel Flat Products From Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, the Netherlands. Turkey, and the United Kingdom--Petitioners'
Amendment to Petition,'' dated August 21, 2015 (General Issues
Supplement); see also Scope Supplement to the Petitions, dated
August 26, 2015 (Scope Supplement).
\5\ See Letter from the Department to Petitioners entitled
``Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of
Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Brazil: Supplemental
Questions,'' dated August 19, 2015 (Brazil Second Questionnaire).
\6\ See Letter from Petitioners entitled ``Certain Hot-Rolled
Steel Flat Products From Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom-Petitioners'
Amendment to Petition,'' dated August 20, 2015 (Brazil Second
Supplement); see also Letter from Petitioners entitled ``Certain
Hot-Rolled Steel Flat products from Australia, Brazil Japan, the
Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom-
Petitioners' Amendment to Petition,'' dated August 25, 2015 (Brazil
Third Supplement).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act), Petitioners allege that the Governments of Brazil
(GOB), Korea (GOK), and Turkey (GOT) are providing countervailable
subsidies (within the meaning of sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act) to
imports of hot-rolled steel from the Brazil, Korea, and Turkey,
respectively, and that such imports are materially injuring, or
threatening material injury to, an industry in the United States. Also,
consistent with section 702(b)(1) of the Act, the Petitions are
accompanied by information reasonably available to Petitioners
supporting their allegations.
The Department finds that Petitioners filed the Petitions on behalf
of the domestic industry because Petitioners are interested parties as
defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. The Department also finds that
Petitioners demonstrated sufficient industry support with respect to
the initiation of
[[Page 54268]]
the CVD investigations that Petitioners are requesting.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See the ``Determination of Industry Support for the
Petitions'' section below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Period of Investigations
The period of investigations is January 1, 2014, through December
31, 2014.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigations
The product covered by these investigations is hot-rolled steel
from the Brazil, Korea, and Turkey. For a full description of the scope
of these investigations, see the ``Scope of the Investigations'' in
Appendix I of this notice.
Comments on Scope of the Investigations
During our review of the Petitions, the Department discussed with
Petitioners the proposed scope to ensure that the scope language in the
Petitions would be an accurate reflection of the products for which the
domestic industry is seeking relief.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See Memorandum from Vicki Flynn to The File, dated August 7,
2015. See also Letter from Petitioners entitled ``Revised Scope,
Amendment to Petitions,'' dated August 10, 2015.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the preamble to the Department's regulations,\10\
we are setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues
regarding product coverage (scope). The Department will consider all
comments received from parties and, if necessary, will consult with
parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determinations. If
scope comments include factual information (see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)),
all such factual information should be limited to public information.
In order to facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, the
Department requests all interested parties to submit such comments by 5
p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, September 21, 2015, which is the
first business day after 20 calendar days from the signature date of
this notice.\11\ Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual
information, must be filed by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, October 1, 2015,
which is 10 calendar days after the initial comments deadline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
\11\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department requests that any factual information the parties
consider relevant to the scope of the investigations be submitted
during this time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that
additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the
investigations may be relevant, the party may contact the Department
and request permission to submit the additional information. All such
comments must be filed on the records of each of the concurrent AD and
CVD investigations.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to the Department must be filed electronically
using Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). An electronically-filed
document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time and
date it is due. Documents excepted from the electronic submission
requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) with
Enforcement and Compliance's APO/Dockets Unit, Room 18022, U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230, and stamped with the date and time of receipt by
the applicable deadlines.
Consultations
Pursuant to section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act, the Department
notified representatives of the GOB, GOK, and GOT of the receipt of the
Petitions. Also, in accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the
Act, the Department provided representatives of the GOB, GOK, and GOT
the opportunity for consultations with respect to the CVD Petitions. On
August 25, 2015, consultations were held with the GOB, on August 27,
2015, consultations were held with the GOK, and on August 28, 2015,
consultations were held with the GOT. All invitation letters and
memoranda regarding these consultations are on file electronically via
ACCESS.
Determination of Industry Support for the Petitions
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) At least
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D) of
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product, the Department
shall: (i) Poll the industry or rely on other information in order to
determine if there is support for the petition, as required by
subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine industry support using a
statistically valid sampling method to poll the ``industry.''
Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute
directs the Department to look to producers and workers who produce the
domestic like product. The International Trade Commission (ITC), which
is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' has
been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like
product in order to define the industry. While both the Department and
the ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic
like product,\12\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a
separate and distinct authority. In addition, the Department's
determination is subject to limitations of time and information.
Although this may result in different definitions of the like product,
such differences do not render the decision of either agency contrary
to law.\13\
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\12\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
\13\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F.
Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the
Petitions).
With regard to the domestic like product, Petitioners do not offer
a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope of
the investigations. Based on our analysis of the information submitted
on the record, we have determined that hot-rolled steel constitutes a
single domestic like product and we have analyzed industry support in
terms of that domestic like product.\14\
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\14\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis in
this case, see Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation
Checklist: Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Brazil
(Brazil CVD Checklist), at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry
Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions
Covering Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia,
Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, the Republic
of Turkey, and the United Kingdom (Attachment II); Countervailing
Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Certain Hot-Rolled Steel
Flat Products from the Republic of Korea (Korea CVD Initiation
Checklist), at Attachment II; and Countervailing Duty Investigation
Initiation Checklist: Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from
the Republic of Turkey (Turkey CVD Initiation Checklist). These
checklists are dated concurrently with this notice and on file
electronically via ACCESS. Access to documents filed via ACCESS is
also available in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main
Department of Commerce building.
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[[Page 54269]]
In determining whether Petitioners have standing under section
702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data
contained in the Petitions with reference to the domestic like product
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigations,'' in Appendix I of
this notice. Petitioners provided their production volume of the
domestic like product in 2014, as well as an estimate of total
production of the domestic like product for the entire domestic
industry.\15\ To establish industry support, Petitioners compared their
own production to total estimated production of the domestic like
product for the entire domestic industry.\16\
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\15\ See Volume I of the Petitions, at 2-4 and Exhibits I-3 and
I-4; see also General Issues Supplement, at 8-9.
\16\ Id. For further discussion, see Brazil CVD Initiation
Checklist, Korea CVD Initiation Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation
Checklist, at Attachment II.
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Our review of the data provided in the Petitions, General Issues
Supplement, and other information readily available to the Department
indicates that Petitioners have established industry support.\17\
First, the Petitions established support from domestic producers (or
workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of the total production of
the domestic like product and, as such, the Department is not required
to take further action in order to evaluate industry support (e.g.,
polling).\18\ Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the
statutory criteria for industry support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(i)
of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the
Petitions account for at least 25 percent of the total production of
the domestic like product.\19\ Finally, the domestic producers (or
workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry support under
section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the domestic producers (or
workers) who support the Petitions account for more than 50 percent of
the production of the domestic like product produced by that portion of
the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the
Petitions.\20\ Accordingly, the Department determines that the
Petitions were filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the
meaning of section 702(b)(1) of the Act.
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\17\ See Brazil CVD Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD Initiation
Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
\18\ See section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also Brazil CVD
Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD Initiation Checklist, and Turkey CVD
Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
\19\ See Brazil CVD Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD Initiation
Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
\20\ Id.
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The Department finds that Petitioners filed the Petitions on behalf
of the domestic industry because they are interested parties as defined
in section 771(9)(C) of the Act and they have demonstrated sufficient
industry support with respect to the CVD investigations that they are
requesting the Department initiate.\21\
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\21\ Id.
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Injury Test
Because Brazil, Korea, and Turkey are ``Subsidies Agreement
Countries'' within the meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section
701(a)(2) of the Act applies to these investigations. Accordingly, the
ITC must determine whether imports of the subject merchandise from
Brazil, Korea, and/or Turkey materially injure, or threaten material
injury to, a U.S. industry.
Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation
Petitioners allege that imports of the subject merchandise are
benefitting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are
causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry
producing the domestic like product. Petitioners allege that subject
imports exceed the negligibility threshold of three percent provided
for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\22\ In CVD petitions, section
771(24)(B) of the Act provides that imports of subject merchandise from
developing countries must exceed the negligibility threshold of four
percent. Petitioners also demonstrate that subject imports from Brazil,
which has been designated as a developing country under section
771(36)(A) of the Act, exceed the negligibility threshold provided for
under section 771(24)(B) of the Act.\23\
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\22\ See Volume I of the Petitions, at 21-22 and Exhibit I-11.
\23\ Id.
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Petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is
illustrated by reduced market share; underselling and price suppression
or depression; lost sales and revenues; decline in production,
shipments, and capacity utilization; and decline in financial
performance.\24\ We have assessed the allegations and supporting
evidence regarding material injury, threat of material injury, and
causation, and we have determined that these allegations are properly
supported by adequate evidence and meet the statutory requirements for
initiation.\25\
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\24\ See Volume I of the Petitions, at 15-19, 21-42 and Exhibits
I-4, I-6, I-9 and I-11 through I-17; see also General Issues
Supplement, at 9-10.
\25\ See Brazil CVD Initiation Checklist, Korea CVD Initiation
Checklist, and Turkey CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment III,
Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and
Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions
Covering Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia,
Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, the Republic
of Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
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Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires the Department to initiate a
CVD investigation whenever an interested party files a CVD petition on
behalf of an industry that: (1) Alleges the elements necessary for an
imposition of a duty under section 701(a) of the Act; and (2) is
accompanied by information reasonably available to Petitioners
supporting the allegations.
Petitioners allege that producers/exporters of hot-rolled steel in
Brazil, Korea, and Turkey benefited from countervailable subsidies
bestowed by the governments/authorities of these countries,
respectively. The Department examined the Petitions and finds that they
comply with the requirements of section 702(b)(1) of the Act.
Therefore, in accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Act, we are
initiating CVD investigations to determine whether manufacturers,
producers, or exporters of hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Korea, and
Turkey receive countervailable subsidies from the governments/
authorities of these countries, respectively.
On June 29, 2015, the President of the United States signed into
law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, which made numerous
amendments to the AD and CVD law.\26\ The 2015 law does not specify
dates of application for those amendments. On August 6, 2015, the
Department published an interpretative rule, in which it announced the
applicability dates for each amendment to the Act, except for
amendments contained in section 771(7) of the Act, which relate to
determinations of material injury by the ITC.\27\ The amendments to
sections 776
[[Page 54270]]
and 782 of the Act are applicable to all determinations made on or
after August 6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to these CVD
investigations.\28\
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\26\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-
27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
\27\ See Dates of Application of Amendments to the Antidumping
and Countervailing Duty Laws Made by the Trade Preferences Extension
Act of 2015, 80 FR 46793 (August 6, 2015) (Applicability Notice).
The 2015 amendments may be found at https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1295/text/pl.
\28\ Id. at 46794-95.
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Brazil
Based on our review of the petition, we find that there is
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on 33 of the 35
alleged programs. For a full discussion of the basis for our decision
to initiate or not initiate on each program, see the Brazil CVD
Initiation Checklist.
Korea
Based on our review of the petition, we find that there is
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on 39 of the 41
alleged programs. For a full discussion of the basis for our decision
to initiate or not initiate on each program, see the Korea CVD
Initiation Checklist.
Turkey
Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on all 18 of the
alleged programs. For a full discussion of the basis for our decision
to initiate on each program, see the Turkey CVD Initiation Checklist.
A public version of the initiation checklist for each investigation
is available on ACCESS.
In accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary
determinations no later than 65 days after the date of this initiation.
Respondent Selection
Petitioners named six companies as producers/exporters of hot-
rolled steel in Brazil, four in Korea, and six in Turkey.\29\ Following
standard practice in CVD investigations, the Department will, where
appropriate, select respondents based on U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports of hot-rolled steel during the
periods of investigation. We intend to release CBP data under
Administrative Protective Order (APO) to all parties with access to
information protected by APO within five business days of publication
of this Federal Register notice. The Department invites comments
regarding respondent selection within seven business days of
publication of this Federal Register notice.
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\29\ See Volume I of the Petitions, at Exhibits I-8.
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Comments must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An
electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its
entirety by ACCESS, by 5 p.m. ET by the date noted above. We intend to
make our decision regarding respondent selection within 20 days of
publication of this notice. Interested parties must submit applications
for disclosure under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b).
Instructions for filing such applications may be found on the
Department's Web site at https://enforcement.trade.gov/apo.
Distribution of Copies of the Petitions
In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.202(f), copies of the public version of the Petitions have been
provided to the GOB, GOK, and GOT via ACCESS. To the extent
practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of
the Petitions to each known exporter (as named in the Petitions),
consistent with 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).
ITC Notification
We will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section
702(d) of the Act.
Preliminary Determinations by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date
on which the Petitions were filed, whether there is a reasonable
indication that imports of hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Korea, and
Taiwan are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a
U.S. industry.\30\ A negative ITC determination for any country will
result in the investigation being terminated with respect to that
country; \31\ otherwise, these investigations will proceed according to
statutory and regulatory time limits.
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\30\ See section 703(a) of the Act.
\31\ Id.
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Submission of Factual Information
Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i)
Evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence
placed on the record by the Department; and (v) evidence other than
factual information described in (i)-(iv). The regulation requires any
party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which
subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted
and, if the information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct
factual information already on the record, to provide an explanation
identifying the information already on the record that the factual
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct. Time limits for the
submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301,
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual
information being submitted. Parties should review the regulations
prior to submitting factual information in these investigations.
Extension of Time Limits Regulation
Parties may request an extension of time limits before the
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as
otherwise specified by the Secretary. In general, an extension request
will be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the
time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301 expires. For submissions
that are due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request
will be considered untimely if it is filed after 10 a.m. on the due
date. Under certain circumstances, we may elect to specify a different
time limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for
submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such
a case, we will inform parties in the letter or memorandum setting
forth the deadline (including a specified time) by which extension
requests must be filed to be considered timely. An extension request
must be made in a separate, stand-alone submission; under limited
circumstances we will grant untimely-filed requests for the extension
of time limits. Review Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR
57790 (September 20, 2013), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to submitting factual
information in these investigations.
Certification Requirements
Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\32\
Parties are hereby reminded that revised certification requirements are
in effect for company/government officials, as well as their
representatives. Investigations initiated on the basis of petitions
filed on or after August 16, 2013, and other segments of any AD or CVD
proceedings initiated on or after August 16, 2013, should use the
formats
[[Page 54271]]
for the revised certifications provided at the end of the Final
Rule.\33\ The Department intends to reject factual submissions if the
submitting party does not comply with the applicable revised
certification requirements.
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\32\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
\33\ See Certification of Factual Information To Import
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule); see also
frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule, available at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
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Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On January 22, 2008, the
Department published Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Documents Submission Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January
22, 2008). Parties wishing to participate in these investigations
should ensure that they meet the requirements of these procedures
(e.g., the filing of letters of appearance as discussed at 19 CFR
351.103(d)).
This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and
777(i) of the Act.
Dated: August 31, 2015.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Attachment I
Scope of the Investigations
The products covered by these investigations are certain hot-
rolled, flat-rolled steel products, with or without patterns in relief,
and whether or not annealed, painted, varnished, or coated with
plastics or other non-metallic substances. The products covered do not
include those that are clad, plated, or coated with metal. The products
covered include coils that have a width or other lateral measurement
(``width'') of 12.7 mm or greater, regardless of thickness, and
regardless of form of coil (e.g., in successively superimposed layers,
spirally oscillating, etc.). The products covered also include products
not in coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a thickness of less than
4.75 mm and a width that is 12.7 mm or greater and that measures at
least 10 times the thickness. The products described above may be
rectangular, square, circular, or other shape and include products of
either rectangular or non-rectangular cross-section where such cross-
section is achieve subsequent to the rolling process, i.e., products
which have been ``worked after rolling'' (e.g., products which have
been beveled or rounded at the edges). For purposes of the width and
thickness requirements referenced above:
(1) Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is
within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual
measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions
set forth above unless the resulting measurement makes the product
covered by the existing antidumping \34\ or countervailing duty \35\
orders on Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products
From the Republic of Korea (A-580-836; C-580-837), and
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\34\ Notice of Amendment of Final Determinations of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Cut-To-
Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products From France, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan and the Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6585
(February 10, 2000).
\35\ Notice of Amended Final Determinations: Certain Cut-to-
Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate From India and the Republic of
Korea; and Notice of Countervailing Duty Orders: Certain Cut-To-
Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate From France, India, Indonesia,
Italy, and the Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6587 (February 10, 2000).
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(2) where the width and thickness vary for a specific product
(e.g., the thickness of certain products with non-rectangular cross-
section, the width of certain products with non-rectangular shape,
etc.), the measurement at its greatest width or thickness applies.
Steel products included in the scope of these investigations are
products in which: (1) Iron predominates, by weight, over each of the
other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less,
by weight; and (3) none of the elements listed below exceeds the
quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:
2.50 percent of manganese, or
3.30 percent of silicon, or
1.50 percent of copper, or
1.50 percent of aluminum, or
1.25 percent of chromium, or
0.30 percent of cobalt, or
0.40 percent of lead, or
2.00 percent of nickel, or
0.30 percent of tungsten, or
0.80 percent of molybdenum, or
0.10 percent of niobium, or
0.30 percent of vanadium, or
0.30 percent of zirconium.
Unless specifically excluded, products are included in this scope
regardless of levels of boron and titanium.
For example, specifically included in this scope are vacuum
degassed, fully stabilized (commonly referred to as interstitial-free
(IF)) steels, high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels, the substrate for
motor lamination steels, Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS), and
Ultra High Strength Steels (UHSS). IF steels are recognized as low
carbon steels with micro-alloying levels of elements such as titanium
and/or niobium added to stabilize carbon and nitrogen elements. HSLA
steels are recognized as steels with micro-alloying levels of elements
such as chromium, copper, niobium, titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum.
The substrate for motor lamination steels contains micro-alloying
levels of elements such as silicon and aluminum. AHSS and UHSS are
considered high tensile strength and high elongation steels, although
AHSS and UHSS are covered whether or not they are high tensile strength
or high elongation steels.
Subject merchandise includes hot-rolled steel that has been further
processed in a third country, including but not limited to pickling,
oiling, levelling, annealing, tempering, temper rolling, skin passing,
painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or slitting, or
any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise
from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of
manufacture of the hot-rolled steel.
All products that meet the written physical description, and in
which the chemistry quantities do not exceed any one of the noted
element levels listed above, are within the scope of these
investigations unless specifically excluded. The following products are
outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope of these
investigations:
Universal mill plates (i.e., hot-rolled, flat-rolled
products not in coils that have been rolled on four faces or in a
closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm but not exceeding 1250 mm,
of a thickness not less than 4.0 mm, and without patterns in relief);
Products that have been cold-rolled (cold-reduced) after
hot-rolling; \36\
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\36\ For purposes of this scope exclusion, rolling operations
such as a skin pass, levelling, temper rolling or other minor
rolling operations after the hot-rolling process for purposes of
surface finish, flatness, shape control, or gauge control do not
constitute cold-rolling sufficient to meet this exclusion.
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Ball bearing steels; \37\
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\37\ Ball bearing steels are defined as steels which contain, in
addition to iron, each of the following elements by weight in the
amount specified: (i) Not less than 0.95 nor more than 1.13 percent
of carbon; (ii) not less than 0.22 nor more than 0.48 percent of
manganese; (iii) none, or not more than 0.03 percent of sulfur; (iv)
none, or not more than 0.03 percent of phosphorus; (v) not less than
0.18 nor more than 0.37 percent of silicon; (vi) not less than 1.25
nor more than 1.65 percent of chromium; (vii) none, or not more than
0.28 percent of nickel; (viii) none, or not more than 0.38 percent
of copper; and (ix) none, or not more than 0.09 percent of
molybdenum.
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[[Page 54272]]
Tool steels; \38\ and
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\38\ Tool steels are defined as steels which contain the
following combinations of elements in the quantity by weight
respectively indicated: (i) More than 1.2 percent carbon and more
than 10.5 percent chromium; or (ii) not less than 0.3 percent carbon
and 1.25 percent or more but less than 10.5 percent chromium; or
(iii) not less than 0.85 percent carbon and 1 percent to 1.8
percent, inclusive, manganese; or (iv) 0.9 percent to 1.2 percent,
inclusive, chromium and 0.9 percent to 1.4 percent, inclusive,
molybdenum; or (v) not less than 0.5 percent carbon and not less
than 3.5 percent molybdenum; or (vi) not less than 0.5 percent
carbon and not less than 5.5 percent tungsten.
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Silico-manganese steels; \39\
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\39\ Silico-manganese steel is defined as steels containing by
weight: (i) Not more than 0.7 percent of carbon; (ii) 0.5 percent or
more but not more than 1.9 percent of manganese, and (iii) 0.6
percent or more but not more than 2.3 percent of silicon.
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The products subject to these investigations are currently
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) under item numbers: 7208.10.1500, 7208.10.3000, 7208.10.6000,
7208.25.3000, 7208.25.6000, 7208.26.0030, 7208.26.0060, 7208.27.0030,
7208.27.0060, 7208.36.0030, 7208.36.0060, 7208.37.0030, 7208.37.0060,
7208.38.0015, 7208.38.0030, 7208.38.0090, 7208.39.0015, 7208.39.0030,
7208.39.0090, 7208.40.6030, 7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000, 7208.54.0000,
7208.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0090, 7211.19.1500,
7211.19.2000, 7211.19.3000, 7211.19.4500, 7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7530,
7211.19.7560, 7211.19.7590, 7225.11.0000, 7225.19.0000, 7225.30.3050,
7225.30.7000, 7225.40.7000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.11.1000, 7226.11.9030,
7226.11.9060, 7226.19.1000, 7226.19.9000, 7226.91.5000, 7226.91.7000,
and 7226.91.8000. The products subject to the investigations may also
enter under the following HTSUS numbers: 7210.90.9000, 7211.90.0000,
7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, 7214.91.0015, 7214.91.0060,
7214.91.0090, 7214.99.0060, 7214.99.0075, 7214.99.0090, 7215.90.5000,
7226.99.0180, and 7228.60.6000.
The HTSUS subheadings above are provided for convenience and U.S.
Customs purposes only. The written description of the scope of the
investigations is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2015-22556 Filed 9-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P