Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From the Republic of Turkey: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 15231-15234 [2016-06440]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices • • • • • • • • • • • • • asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 investigation 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 this investigation unless specifically excluded. The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation: • 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; 18 • Ball bearing steels; 19 18 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. 19 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 15231 • Tool steels; 20 and • Silico-manganese steels; 21 The products subject to this investigation 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 investigation 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 investigation is dispositive. A. Determination of the Comparison Method B. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis X. Date of Sale XI. Product Comparisons XII. Export Price and Constructed Export Price XIII. Normal Value A. Comparison Market Viability B. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm’sLength Test C. Level of Trade D. Cost of Production Analysis 1. Calculation of COP 2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices 3. Results of the COP Test E. Calculation of NV Based on ComparisonMarket Prices XIV. Currency Conversion XV. Adjustments to Cash Deposit Rates for Export Subsidies in Companion Countervailing Duty Investigation XVI. Conclusion Appendix II Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From the Republic of Turkey: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum: I. Summary II. Background III. Period of Investigation IV. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures V. Scope of the Investigation VI. Scope Comments VII. All-Others Rate VIII. Affiliation and Collapsing IX. Discussion of the Methodology 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. 20 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. 21 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. PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [FR Doc. 2016–06488 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–489–826] Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) preliminarily determines that certain hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled steel) from the Republic of Turkey (Turkey) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV), as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015. The estimated weighted-average dumping margins are shown in the ‘‘Preliminary Determination’’ section of this notice. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. DATES: Effective: March 22, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexander Cipolla or Toni Page, AD/ CVD Operations, Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–4956 or (202) 482–1398, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM 22MRN1 15232 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices Background The Department published the notice of initiation of this investigation on September 9, 2015.1 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the memorandum that is dated concurrently with this determination and hereby adopted by this notice.2 A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov, and to all parties in the Central Records Unit, room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be found at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed Preliminary Decision Memorandum and the electronic version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content. Scope of the Investigation The product covered by this investigation is hot-rolled steel from Turkey. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the ‘‘Scope of the Investigation,’’ in Appendix I. Scope Comments Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For discussion of those comments, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Postponement of Deadline for Preliminary Determination The Department published the notice of postponement of preliminary determination of this investigation on November 25, 2015.3 Pursuant to 1 See Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, the Republic of Turkey, and the United Kingdom: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair Value Investigations, 80 FR 54261 (September 9, 2015) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Memorandum from Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain HotRolled Steel Flat Products from the Republic of Turkey’’ (Preliminary Decision Memorandum), dated concurrently with this notice. 3 See Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia, Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, the Republic of Turkey, and the United Kingdom: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 80 FR 73702 (November 25, 2015). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 sections 733(c)(1)(B)(i) and (ii) of the Act, we postponed the preliminary determination by 50 days.4 As a result of the postponement, the revised deadline for the preliminary determination of this investigation is March 8, 2016. However, as explained in the memorandum from the Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, the Department has exercised its discretion to toll all administrative deadlines due to the recent closure of the Federal Government.5 All deadlines in this investigation have been extended by four business days.6 The revised deadline for the preliminary determination of this investigation is now March 14, 2016. Methodology The Department is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Export prices (EP) have been calculated in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Constructed export prices (CEP) have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Normal value (NV) is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying our preliminary conclusions, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Single Entity Treatment For the reasons set forth in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum and in accordance with 19 CFR 351.401(f) and the Department’s practice, we are treating Colakoglu Metalurji A.S. (Colakoglu) and Colakoglu Dis Ticaret A.S. (COTAS) (collectively, Colakoglu), as well as Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S. (Erdemir) and Iskenderun Demir Ve Celik (Iskenderun) (collectively, Erdemir), as single entities, for the purposes of this preliminary determination.7 All-Others Rate Consistent with sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5) of the Act, the Department also calculated an estimated all-others rate. Section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act provides that the estimated all-others rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for 4 Id. 5 See Memorandum to the Record from Ron Lorentzen, Acting A/S for Enforcement and Compliance, regarding ‘‘Tolling of Administrative Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure During Snowstorm Jonas,’’ (January 27, 2016). 6 Id. 7 See ‘‘Affiliation And Collapsing’’ section of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. Where the rates for investigated companies are zero or de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available, section 705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act instructs the Department to establish an ‘‘all-others’’ rate using ‘‘any reasonable method.’’ In this investigation, we calculated weighted-average dumping margins for Colakoglu and Erdemir that are above de minimis and are not based on total facts available. We calculated the all-others rate using a weighted-average of the dumping margins calculated for the mandatory respondents using each company’s publicly-ranged values for the merchandise under consideration.8 Preliminary Determination The Department preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margins exist: Exporter/manufacturer Colakoglu Metalurji A.S./ Colakoglu Dis Ticaret A.S.9 .................................. Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S./ Iskenderun Demir Ve Celik 10 .............................. All-Others .............................. Dumping margins (percent) 7.07 5.24 6.82 Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, we will direct U.S. Customs 8 With two respondents, we normally calculate (A) a weighted-average of the dumping margins calculated for the mandatory respondents; (B) a simple average of the dumping margins calculated for the mandatory respondents; and (C) a weightedaverage of the dumping margins calculated for the mandatory respondents using each company’s publicly-ranged values for the merchandise under consideration. We would compare (B) and (C) to (A) and select the rate closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all other companies. See Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof From France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, Final Results of Changed-Circumstances Review, and Revocation of an Order in Part, 75 FR 53661, 53663 (September 1, 2010). As complete publicly ranged sales data was available, we based the all-others rate on the publically ranged sales data of the mandatory respondents. For a complete BPI explanation, please see the All-Others Calculation Memorandum. 9 In this investigation, the Department found that Colakoglu Metalurji A.S. and Colakoglu Dis Ticaret A.S. are a single entity. See ‘‘Single Entity Treatment’’ section above; see also the ‘‘Affiliation and Collapsing’’ section of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 10 In this investigation, the Department found that Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S. and E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM 22MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of all entries of hot-rolled steel from Turkey as described in the scope of the investigation section entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), the Department will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the weightedaverage amount by which the NV exceeds U.S. price as indicated in the chart above,11 adjusted where appropriate for export subsidies.12 However, the preliminary determination in the concurrent countervailing duty investigation was negative.13 Therefore, no adjustments for export subsidies will be applied to the estimated weightedaverage dumping margins calculated for each respondent, and for the all-others rate. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice. Disclosure We will disclose the calculations performed to interested parties in this proceeding within five days of the date of announcement of this preliminary determination in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Verification As provided in section 782(i) of the Act, we intend to verify information relied upon in making our final determination. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Public Comment Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement Iskenderun Demir Ve Celik are a single entity. See ‘‘Single Entity Treatment’’ section above; see also the ‘‘Affiliation and Collapsing’’ section of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 11 See Modification of Regulations Regarding the Practice of Accepting Bonds During the Provisional Measures Period in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations, 76 FR 61042 (October 3, 2011). 12 See section 772(c)(1)(C) of the Act. Unlike in administrative reviews, the Department calculates the adjustment for export subsidies in investigations not in the margin calculation program, but in the cash deposit instructions issued to CBP. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances: Certain Lined Paper Products from India, 71 FR 45012 (August 8, 2006), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 1. 13 See Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From the Republic of Turkey: Preliminary Negative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 81 FR 2166 (January 15, 2016). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the final verification report is issued in this proceeding, and rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.14 Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce. All documents must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An electronically-filed request must be received successfully in its entirety by ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice.15 Requests should contain the party’s name, address, and telephone number, the number of participants, and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, the Department intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, at a time and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by Petitioners. 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2) requires that requests by respondents for postponement of a final antidumping determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional measures from a fourmonth period to a period not more than six months in duration. On March 8, 2016, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(b) and (e), Colakoglu and Erdemir requested that, contingent upon an affirmative preliminary 14 See 15 See PO 00000 19 CFR 351.309. 19 CFR 351.310(c). Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15233 determination of sales at LTFV for the respondents, the Department postpone the final determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months.16 In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because (1) our preliminary determination is affirmative; (2) the requesting exporters account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, we are postponing the final determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, we will make our final determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of this preliminary determination, pursuant to section 735(a)(2) of the Act.17 International Trade Commission (ITC) Notification In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, we are notifying the ITC of our affirmative preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. If our final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after our final determination whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry. This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: March 14, 2016. Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation 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 16 See Letter from Colakoglu, ‘‘Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Turkey: Colakoglu’s Request to Extend the Final Determination’’ (March 8, 2016); and Letter from Erdemir, ‘‘Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Turkey; Request to Extend Final Determination,’’ (March 8, 2016). 17 See also 19 CFR 351.210(e). E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM 22MRN1 15234 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 18 or countervailing duty 19 orders on Certain Cut-To-Length CarbonQuality 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 non-rectangular crosssection, 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 this investigation 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 18 See Notice of Amendment of Final Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Cut-ToLength Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products From France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan and the Republic of Korea, 65 FR 6585 (February 10, 2000). 19 See 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). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:34 Mar 21, 2016 Jkt 238001 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 investigation 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 this investigation unless specifically excluded. The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation: • 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; 20 • Ball bearing steels; 21 • Tool steels; 22 and 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 • Silico-manganese steels; 23 The products subject to this investigation 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 investigation 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 and Border Protection purposes only. The written description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Period of Investigation IV. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures V. Scope of the Investigation VI. Scope Comments VII. Affiliation and Collapsing VIII. Discussion of the Methodology IX. Date of Sale X. Product Comparisons XI. Export Price and Constructed Export Price XII. Normal Value XIII. Currency Conversions XIV. Adjustments to Cash Deposit Rates for Export Subsidies in Companion Countervailing Duty Investigation XV. Conclusion [FR Doc. 2016–06440 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 23 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. E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM 22MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15231-15234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06440]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-489-826]


Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From the Republic of 
Turkey: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than 
Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) preliminarily 
determines that certain hot-rolled steel flat products (hot-rolled 
steel) from the Republic of Turkey (Turkey) are being, or are likely to 
be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV), as 
provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the 
Act). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2014, through June 
30, 2015. The estimated weighted-average dumping margins are shown in 
the ``Preliminary Determination'' section of this notice. Interested 
parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

DATES: Effective: March 22, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alexander Cipolla or Toni Page, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
4956 or (202) 482-1398, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 15232]]

Background

    The Department published the notice of initiation of this 
investigation on September 9, 2015.\1\ For a complete description of 
the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the 
memorandum that is dated concurrently with this determination and 
hereby adopted by this notice.\2\ A list of topics included in the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this 
notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is 
on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). 
ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov, 
and to all parties in the Central Records Unit, room B8024 of the main 
Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be found at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed Preliminary Decision Memorandum 
and the electronic version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are 
identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia, 
Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, the Republic 
of Turkey, and the United Kingdom: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair 
Value Investigations, 80 FR 54261 (September 9, 2015) (Initiation 
Notice).
    \2\ See Memorandum from Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, 
``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the 
Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat 
Products from the Republic of Turkey'' (Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum), dated concurrently with this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

    The product covered by this investigation is hot-rolled steel from 
Turkey. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see 
the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the 
investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For discussion 
of those comments, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Postponement of Deadline for Preliminary Determination

    The Department published the notice of postponement of preliminary 
determination of this investigation on November 25, 2015.\3\ Pursuant 
to sections 733(c)(1)(B)(i) and (ii) of the Act, we postponed the 
preliminary determination by 50 days.\4\ As a result of the 
postponement, the revised deadline for the preliminary determination of 
this investigation is March 8, 2016. However, as explained in the 
memorandum from the Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and 
Compliance, the Department has exercised its discretion to toll all 
administrative deadlines due to the recent closure of the Federal 
Government.\5\ All deadlines in this investigation have been extended 
by four business days.\6\ The revised deadline for the preliminary 
determination of this investigation is now March 14, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia, 
Brazil, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, the Republic 
of Turkey, and the United Kingdom: Postponement of Preliminary 
Determinations of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 80 FR 73702 
(November 25, 2015).
    \4\ Id.
    \5\ See Memorandum to the Record from Ron Lorentzen, Acting A/S 
for Enforcement and Compliance, regarding ``Tolling of 
Administrative Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure 
During Snowstorm Jonas,'' (January 27, 2016).
    \6\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Methodology

    The Department is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Export prices (EP) have been calculated in 
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Constructed export prices 
(CEP) have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the 
Act. Normal value (NV) is calculated in accordance with section 773 of 
the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying our 
preliminary conclusions, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Single Entity Treatment

    For the reasons set forth in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum 
and in accordance with 19 CFR 351.401(f) and the Department's practice, 
we are treating Colakoglu Metalurji A.S. (Colakoglu) and Colakoglu Dis 
Ticaret A.S. (COTAS) (collectively, Colakoglu), as well as Eregli Demir 
ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S. (Erdemir) and Iskenderun Demir Ve Celik 
(Iskenderun) (collectively, Erdemir), as single entities, for the 
purposes of this preliminary determination.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See ``Affiliation And Collapsing'' section of the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

All-Others Rate

    Consistent with sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5) of the Act, 
the Department also calculated an estimated all-others rate. Section 
735(c)(5)(B) of the Act provides that the estimated all-others rate 
shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and 
producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis 
margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the 
Act. Where the rates for investigated companies are zero or de minimis, 
or based entirely on facts otherwise available, section 
705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act instructs the Department to establish an 
``all-others'' rate using ``any reasonable method.''
    In this investigation, we calculated weighted-average dumping 
margins for Colakoglu and Erdemir that are above de minimis and are not 
based on total facts available. We calculated the all-others rate using 
a weighted-average of the dumping margins calculated for the mandatory 
respondents using each company's publicly-ranged values for the 
merchandise under consideration.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ With two respondents, we normally calculate (A) a weighted-
average of the dumping margins calculated for the mandatory 
respondents; (B) a simple average of the dumping margins calculated 
for the mandatory respondents; and (C) a weighted-average of the 
dumping margins calculated for the mandatory respondents using each 
company's publicly-ranged values for the merchandise under 
consideration. We would compare (B) and (C) to (A) and select the 
rate closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all other 
companies. See Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof From France, Germany, 
Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping 
Duty Administrative Reviews, Final Results of Changed-Circumstances 
Review, and Revocation of an Order in Part, 75 FR 53661, 53663 
(September 1, 2010). As complete publicly ranged sales data was 
available, we based the all-others rate on the publically ranged 
sales data of the mandatory respondents. For a complete BPI 
explanation, please see the All-Others Calculation Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preliminary Determination

    The Department preliminarily determines that the following 
estimated weighted-average dumping margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Dumping
                  Exporter/manufacturer                       margins
                                                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Colakoglu Metalurji A.S./Colakoglu Dis Ticaret A.S.\9\..            7.07
Eregli Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S./Iskenderun                 5.24
 Demir Ve Celik \10\....................................
All-Others..............................................            6.82
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, we will direct 
U.S. Customs

[[Page 15233]]

and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of all entries of 
hot-rolled steel from Turkey as described in the scope of the 
investigation section entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ In this investigation, the Department found that Colakoglu 
Metalurji A.S. and Colakoglu Dis Ticaret A.S. are a single entity. 
See ``Single Entity Treatment'' section above; see also the 
``Affiliation and Collapsing'' section of the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.
    \10\ In this investigation, the Department found that Eregli 
Demir ve Celik Fabrikalari T.A.S. and Iskenderun Demir Ve Celik are 
a single entity. See ``Single Entity Treatment'' section above; see 
also the ``Affiliation and Collapsing'' section of the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), 
the Department will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the 
weighted-average amount by which the NV exceeds U.S. price as indicated 
in the chart above,\11\ adjusted where appropriate for export 
subsidies.\12\ However, the preliminary determination in the concurrent 
countervailing duty investigation was negative.\13\ Therefore, no 
adjustments for export subsidies will be applied to the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins calculated for each respondent, and 
for the all-others rate. These suspension of liquidation instructions 
will remain in effect until further notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See Modification of Regulations Regarding the Practice of 
Accepting Bonds During the Provisional Measures Period in 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations, 76 FR 61042 
(October 3, 2011).
    \12\ See section 772(c)(1)(C) of the Act. Unlike in 
administrative reviews, the Department calculates the adjustment for 
export subsidies in investigations not in the margin calculation 
program, but in the cash deposit instructions issued to CBP. See 
Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and 
Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances: Certain Lined 
Paper Products from India, 71 FR 45012 (August 8, 2006), and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 1.
    \13\ See Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain Hot-Rolled 
Steel Flat Products From the Republic of Turkey: Preliminary 
Negative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final 
Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 81 FR 2166 
(January 15, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclosure

    We will disclose the calculations performed to interested parties 
in this proceeding within five days of the date of announcement of this 
preliminary determination in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i) of the Act, we intend to verify 
information relied upon in making our final determination.

Public Comment

    Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary 
determination. Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted 
to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than 
seven days after the date on which the final verification report is 
issued in this proceeding, and rebuttal briefs, limited to issues 
raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after 
the deadline date for case briefs.\14\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) 
and (d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this 
proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement 
of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of 
authorities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See 19 CFR 351.309.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant 
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce. 
All documents must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An 
electronically-filed request must be received successfully in its 
entirety by ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, within 30 days after the 
date of publication of this notice.\15\ Requests should contain the 
party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of 
participants, and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request 
for a hearing is made, the Department intends to hold the hearing at 
the U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20230, at a time and date to be determined. Parties 
should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing 
two days before the scheduled date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See 19 CFR 351.310(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an 
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement 
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of 
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative 
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by 
Petitioners. 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2) requires that requests by respondents 
for postponement of a final antidumping determination be accompanied by 
a request for extension of provisional measures from a four-month 
period to a period not more than six months in duration.
    On March 8, 2016, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(b) and (e), Colakoglu 
and Erdemir requested that, contingent upon an affirmative preliminary 
determination of sales at LTFV for the respondents, the Department 
postpone the final determination and that provisional measures be 
extended to a period not to exceed six months.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See Letter from Colakoglu, ``Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat 
Products from Turkey: Colakoglu's Request to Extend the Final 
Determination'' (March 8, 2016); and Letter from Erdemir, ``Hot-
Rolled Steel Flat Products from Turkey; Request to Extend Final 
Determination,'' (March 8, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.210(b)(2)(ii), because (1) our preliminary determination is 
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporters account for a significant 
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling 
reasons for denial exist, we are postponing the final determination and 
extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period 
not greater than six months. Accordingly, we will make our final 
determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of 
this preliminary determination, pursuant to section 735(a)(2) of the 
Act.\17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See also 19 CFR 351.210(e).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

International Trade Commission (ITC) Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, we are notifying the 
ITC of our affirmative preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. If 
our final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before 
the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination 
or 45 days after our final determination whether these imports are 
materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.
    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

    Dated: March 14, 2016.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation 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

[[Page 15234]]

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 \18\ or countervailing duty \19\ 
orders on Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products 
From the Republic of Korea (A-580-836; C-580-837), and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ See 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).
    \19\ See 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (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 this investigation 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 investigation 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 this 
investigation unless specifically excluded. The following products 
are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope of this 
investigation:
     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; \20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Ball bearing steels; \21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Tool steels; \22\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Silico-manganese steels; \23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The products subject to this investigation 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 investigation 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 and Border Protection purposes only. The written 
description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive.

Appendix II

    List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures
V. Scope of the Investigation
VI. Scope Comments
VII. Affiliation and Collapsing
VIII. Discussion of the Methodology
IX. Date of Sale
X. Product Comparisons
XI. Export Price and Constructed Export Price
XII. Normal Value
XIII. Currency Conversions
XIV. Adjustments to Cash Deposit Rates for Export Subsidies in 
Companion Countervailing Duty Investigation
XV. Conclusion

[FR Doc. 2016-06440 Filed 3-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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