Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From France: Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 79437-79441 [2016-27314]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices
review. The Department intends to issue
assessment instructions to CBP 15 days
after the publication date of the final
results of this review.
For any individually examined
respondent whose weighted-average
dumping margin is above the de
minimis threshold (i.e., 0.50 percent),
the Department will calculate importerspecific ad valorem assessment rates on
the basis of the ratio of the total amount
of dumping calculated for the importer’s
examined sales and the total entered
value of sales. Where either the
respondent’s weighted-average dumping
margin is zero or de minimis, or an
importer-specific ad valorem
assessment rate is zero or de minimis,
we will instruct CBP to liquidate the
appropriate entries without regard to
antidumping duties.
In these preliminary results, the
Department applied the assessment rate
calculation method adopted in Final
Modification for Reviews, i.e., on the
basis of monthly average-to-average
comparisons using only the transactions
associated with that importer with
offsets being provided for non-dumped
comparisons.23
Pursuant to a refinement in the
Department’s NME practice, for sales
that were not reported in the U.S. sales
data submitted by companies
individually examined during this
review, the Department will instruct
CBP to liquidate entries associated with
those sales at the rate for the PRC-wide
entity. In addition, if the Department
determines that an exporter under
review had no shipments of the subject
merchandise, any suspended entries
that entered under that exporter’s case
number (i.e., at that exporter’s cash
deposit rate) will be liquidated at the
rate for the PRC-wide entity.24
is zero or de minimis, then zero cash
deposit will be required); (2) for
previously investigated or reviewed PRC
and non-PRC exporters not listed above
that have separate rates, the cash
deposit rate will continue to be the
exporter-specific rate published for the
most recently completed segment of this
proceeding in which they were
reviewed; (3) for all PRC exporters of
subject merchandise that have not been
found to be entitled to a separate rate,
the cash deposit rate will be equal to the
weighted-average dumping margin for
the PRC-wide entity (i.e., 187.25
percent); and (4) for all non-PRC
exporters of subject merchandise which
have not received their own separate
rate, the cash deposit rate will be the
rate applicable to the PRC exporter(s)
that supplied that non-PRC exporter.
These cash deposit requirements, when
imposed, shall remain in effect until
further notice.
Cash Deposit Requirements
Dated: November 4, 2016
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective upon
publication of the final results of this
administrative review for all shipments
of the subject merchandise from the PRC
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the
publication date, as provided by section
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) For the
company listed above, the cash deposit
rate will be established in the final
results of this review (except, if the rate
23 See Antidumping Proceeding: Calculation of
the Weighted-Average Dumping Margin and
Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping
Proceedings; Final Modification, 77 FR 8101, 8103
(February 14, 2012) (‘‘Final Modification for
Reviews’’).
24 For a full discussion of this practice, see
Assessment Practice Refinement, 76 FR at 65694
(October 24, 2011).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Nov 10, 2016
Jkt 241001
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a
preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of
antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during this
review period. Failure to comply with
this requirement could result in the
Department’s presumption that
reimbursement of antidumping duties
occurred and the subsequent assessment
of double antidumping duties.
Notification to Interested Parties
This administrative review and notice
is issued and published in accordance
with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of
the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4) and
19 CFR 351.213.
Attachment—List of Topics Discussed
in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum
1. Summary
2. Background
3. Scope of the Order
4. Discussion of the Methodology
a. NME Country Status
b. Separate Rates
c. Separate Rates Recipients- Wholly
Foreign Owned
d. Surrogate Country and Surrogate
Value Data
e. Surrogate Country
f. Date of Sale
g. Comparisons to Normal Value
h. Results of Differential Pricing
Analysis
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
79437
i. U.S. Price
j. Value-Added Tax
k. Normal Value
l. Factor Valuation Methodology
m. Currency Conversion
5. Conclusion
[FR Doc. 2016–27345 Filed 11–10–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–427–828]
Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-ToLength Plate From France: Preliminary
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value and Postponement of Final
Determination
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(the Department) preliminarily
determines that certain carbon and alloy
steel cut-to-length plate (CTL plate)
from France is being, or is likely to be,
sold in the United States at less than fair
value (LTFV). The period of
investigation (POI) is April 1, 2015,
through March 31, 2016. The estimated
weighted-average dumping margins of
sales at LTFV are shown in the
‘‘Preliminary Determination’’ section of
this notice. Interested parties are invited
to comment on this preliminary
determination.
AGENCY:
DATES:
Effective November 14, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Terre Keaton Stefanova or Brandon
Custard, AD/CVD Operations, Office II,
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–1280 or
(202) 482–1823, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Department initiated this
investigation on April 28, 2016.1 We
selected two mandatory respondents in
this investigation, Dillinger France S.A.
(Dillinger) and Industeel France S.A.
(Industeel). For a complete description
of the events that followed the initiation
of this investigation, see the
memorandum that is dated concurrently
1 See Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-ToLength Plate From Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France,
the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China,
South Africa, Taiwan, and the Republic of Turkey:
Initiation of Less-Than-Fair Value Investigations, 81
FR 27089 (May 5, 2016) (Initiation Notice).
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
79438
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices
with this determination, and hereby
adopted by, this notice.2 A list of topics
in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is included as Appendix
II to this notice.
The Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is a public document and
is made available to the public 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 is available to all
parties in the Department’s Central
Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main
Department of Commerce building. In
addition, a complete version of the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum can
be accessed directly on the Internet 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 CTL plate from France.
For a full description of the scope of this
investigation, see the ‘‘Scope of the
Investigation,’’ in Appendix I of this
notice.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Scope Comments
In accordance with the Preamble to
the Department’s regulations,3 the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of
time for parties to raise issues regarding
product coverage, i.e., scope.4 Certain
interested parties commented on the
scope of the concurrent CTL plate
investigations as it appeared in the
Initiation Notice. For a summary of the
product coverage comments and
rebuttal responses submitted to the
records of this and the concurrent CTL
plate investigations, and a discussion
and analysis of all comments timely
received, see the Department’s
Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum and the Department’s
Additional Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum.5 The Department has
2 See Memorandum from Christian Marsh, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Operations, to Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance, entitled, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for
the Preliminary Determination in the Antidumping
Duty Investigation of Certain Carbon and Alloy
Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From France’’
(Preliminary Decision Memorandum), dated
concurrently with this notice.
3 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties;
Final rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997)
(Preamble).
4 See Initiation Notice, 81 FR at 27090.
5 See Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Operations, entitled, ‘‘Certain
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Nov 10, 2016
Jkt 241001
preliminarily modified the scope
language as it appeared in the Initiation
Notice to clarify the exclusion for
stainless steel plate, corrected two tariff
numbers that were misidentified in the
Petitions and in the Initiation Notice,
and modified language pertaining to
existing steel plate and hot-rolled flatrolled steel orders.6
Methodology
The Department is conducting this
investigation in accordance with section
731 of the Act. Export price and, where
appropriate, constructed export price
are calculated in accordance with
section 772 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (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.
All-Others Rate
Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the People’s Republic of
China, France, the Federal Republic of Germany,
Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of
South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey: Scope
Comments Decision Memorandum for the
Preliminary Determinations,’’ dated September 6,
2016 (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum),
and Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Operations, entitled, ‘‘Certain
Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the People’s Republic of
China, France, the Federal Republic of Germany,
Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of
South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey: Additional
Scope Comments Preliminary Decision
Memorandum and Extension of Deadlines for Scope
Case Briefs and Scope Rebuttal Briefs,’’ dated
October 13, 2016 (Additional Preliminary Scope
Decision Memorandum), respectively.
6 See Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum
at 2 and 56, and Additional Preliminary Scope
Decision Memorandum at 10–11 and 20.
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Preliminary Determination
The Department preliminarily
determines that CTL plate from France
is being, or is likely to be, sold in the
United States at LTFV, pursuant to
section 733 of the Act, and that the
following estimated weighted-average
dumping margins exist:
Exporter/Manufacturer
Weighted-average
dumping margin
(percent)
Dillinger France S.A. ......
Industeel France S.A. .....
All Others ........................
12.97
4.26
8.62
Suspension of Liquidation
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)(A) 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.
In this investigation, we cannot apply
our normal methodology of calculating
a weighted-average margin due to
requests to protect business-proprietary
information. Therefore, we based our
calculation of the all-others rate on the
simple average of the margins calculated
for Dillinger and Industeel. For further
discussion of this calculation, see the
PO 00000
memorandum entitled ‘‘Certain Carbon
and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate
from France: Calculation of the
Preliminary Margin for All Other
Companies,’’ dated concurrently with
this notice.
Sfmt 4703
In accordance with section 733(d)(2)
of the Act, we will direct U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend
liquidation of all entries of subject
merchandise from France, as described
in Appendix I of this notice, which are
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) of the Act
and 19 CFR 351.205(d), we will instruct
CBP to require cash deposits 7 equal to
the weighted-average amount by which
the NV exceeds U.S. price, as indicated
in the chart above, as follows: (1) The
rate for the mandatory respondents
listed above will be the respondentspecific rates we determined in this
preliminary determination; (2) if the
exporter is not a mandatory respondent
identified above, but the producer is,
the rate will be the specific rate
established for the producer of the
subject merchandise; and (3) the rate for
all other producers or exporters will be
the all-others rate. These suspension of
liquidation instructions will remain in
effect until further notice.
Disclosure
We intend to disclose the calculations
performed to interested parties in this
proceeding within five days of the
public announcement of this
preliminary determination in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
7 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).
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the
Act, we intend to verify information
relied upon in making our final
determination.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD 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
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.8
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.
The Department established separate
deadlines for interested parties to
provide comments on scope issues.9
Specifically, case briefs on scope issues
were to be submitted no later than
October 21, 2016. Scope rebuttal briefs,
limited to issues raised in the scope case
briefs, were to be submitted no later
than November 1, 2016.10 The
Department explained that parties
should limit comments on scope issues
to their scope case brief and their scope
rebuttal brief.11 Thus, comments on
scope issues belong in parties’ scope
case briefs and scope rebuttal briefs only
and not in other case briefs and rebuttal
briefs submitted in this investigation.
The Department intends to address
parties’ scope comments in a final scope
memorandum.
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 within 30 days after the date
of publication of this notice. Requests
should contain the party’s name,
address, and telephone number, the
8 See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303
(for general filing requirements).
9 See Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum;
Additional Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum; Memorandum to the File, entitled,
‘‘Deadlines for Submitting Scope Case Briefs and
Scope Rebuttal Briefs,’’ dated October 18, 2016
(Deadline Memo for Scope Briefs); and
Memorandum to the File ‘‘Extension of Deadline for
Submitting Scope Rebuttal Briefs,’’ dated October
28, 2016 (Extension Memo for Scope Rebuttal
Briefs).
10 See Deadline Memo for Scope Briefs and
Extension Memo for Scope Rebuttal Briefs.
11 See, e.g., Deadline Memo for Scope Briefs.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Nov 10, 2016
Jkt 241001
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, 1401
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.
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 Standard
Time.
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 the petitioner.
19 CFR 351.210(e)(2) requires that
requests by respondents for
postponement of a final 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.
Respondents Dillinger and Industeel
have requested that, in the event of an
affirmative preliminary determination
in this investigation, the Department
postpone its final determination by 60
days, i.e., to 135 days after publication
of the preliminary determination.12
Further, Industeel agreed to extend the
application of the provisional measures
prescribed under section 733(d) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), from a
four-month period to a period not to
exceed six months.
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) Industeel accounts for a
significant proportion of exports of the
subject merchandise; and (3) no
compelling reasons for denial exist, we
12 See letter from Dillinger entitled, ‘‘Certain
Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From
France: Request for Extension of Final
Determination,’’ dated October 17, 2016; and Letter
from Industeel entitled, ‘‘Certain Carbon and Alloy
Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From France: Request for
Postponement of Final Determination,’’ dated
October 13, 2016.
PO 00000
Frm 00029
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
79439
are postponing the final determination
until no later than 135 days after the
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register and extending the provisional
measures from a four-month period to a
period not greater than six months.
Accordingly, we will issue 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.13
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: November 4, 2016.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
Appendix I—Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation
are certain carbon and alloy steel hot-rolled
or forged flat plate products not in coils,
whether or not painted, varnished, or coated
with plastics or other non-metallic
substances (cut-to-length plate). Subject
merchandise includes plate that is produced
by being cut-to-length from coils or from
other discrete length plate and plate that is
rolled or forged into a discrete length. The
products covered include (1) Universal mill
plates (i.e., flat-rolled products rolled on four
faces or in a closed box pass, of a width
exceeding 150 mm but not exceeding 1250
mm, and of a thickness of not less than 4
mm, which are not in coils and without
patterns in relief), and (2) hot-rolled or forged
flat steel products of a thickness of 4.75 mm
or more and of a width which exceeds 150
mm and measures at least twice the
thickness, and which are not in coils,
whether or not with patterns in relief. The
covered products described above may be
rectangular, square, circular or other shapes
and include products of either rectangular or
non-rectangular cross-section where such
non-rectangular cross-section is achieved
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, the following
rules apply:
13 See
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
19 CFR 351.210(b)(2) and (e).
14NON1
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
79440
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices
(1) Except where otherwise stated where
the nominal and actual thickness or width
measurements vary, a product from a given
subject country 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; 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; and (2) the carbon
content is 2 percent or less by weight.
Subject merchandise includes cut-to-length
plate that has been further processed in the
subject country or a third country, including
but not limited to pickling, oiling, levelling,
annealing, tempering, temper rolling, skin
passing, painting, varnishing, trimming,
cutting, punching, beveling, 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 cut-to-length
plate.
All products that meet the written physical
description, are within the scope of this
investigation unless specifically excluded or
covered by the scope of an existing order.
The following products are outside of,
and/or specifically excluded from, the scope
of this investigation:
(1) Products clad, plated, or coated with
metal, whether or not painted, varnished or
coated with plastic or other non-metallic
substances;
(2) military grade armor plate certified to
one of the following specifications or to a
specification that references and incorporates
one of the following specifications:
• MIL–A–12560,
• MIL–DTL–12560H,
• MIL–DTL–12560J,
• MIL–DTL–12560K,
• MIL–DTL–32332,
• MIL–A–46100D,
• MIL–DTL–46100–E,
• MIL–46177C,
• MIL–S–16216K Grade HY80,
• MIL–S–16216K Grade HY100,
• MIL–S–24645A HSLA–80;
• MIL–S–24645A HSLA–100,
• T9074–BD–GIB–010/0300 Grade HY80,
• T9074–BD–GIB–010/0300 Grade HY100,
• T9074–BD–GIB–010/0300 Grade
HSLA80,
• T9074–BD–GIB–010/0300 Grade
HSLA100, and
• T9074–BD–GIB–010/0300 Mod. Grade
HSLA115,
except that any cut-to-length plate certified
to one of the above specifications, or to a
military grade armor specification that
references and incorporates one of the above
specifications, will not be excluded from the
scope if it is also dual- or multiple-certified
to any other non-armor specification that
otherwise would fall within the scope of this
order;
(3) stainless steel plate, containing 10.5
percent or more of chromium by weight and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Nov 10, 2016
Jkt 241001
not more than 1.2 percent of carbon by
weight;
(4) CTL plate meeting the requirements of
ASTM A–829, Grade E 4340 that are over 305
mm in actual thickness;
(5) Alloy forged and rolled CTL plate
greater than or equal to 152.4 mm in actual
thickness meeting each of the following
requirements:
(a) Electric furnace melted, ladle refined &
vacuum degassed and having a chemical
composition (expressed in weight
percentages):
• Carbon 0.23–0.28,
• Silicon 0.05–0.20,
• Manganese 1.20–1.60,
• Nickel not greater than 1.0,
• Sulfur not greater than 0.007,
• Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
• Chromium 1.0–2.5,
• Molybdenum 0.35–0.80,
• Boron 0.002–0.004,
• Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
• Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
• Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm;
(b) With a Brinell hardness measured in all
parts of the product including mid thickness
falling within one of the following ranges:
(i) 270–300 HBW,
(ii) 290–320 HBW, or (iii) 320–350HBW;
(c) Having cleanliness in accordance with
ASTM E45 method A (Thin and Heavy): A
not exceeding 1.5, B not exceeding 1.0, C not
exceeding 0.5, D not exceeding 1.5; and
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578–S9
ultrasonic testing requirements with
acceptance criteria 2 mm flat bottom hole;
(6) Alloy forged and rolled steel CTL plate
over 407 mm in actual thickness and meeting
the following requirements:
(a) Made from Electric Arc Furnace melted,
Ladle refined & vacuum degassed, alloy steel
with the following chemical composition
(expressed in weight percentages):
• Carbon 0.23–0.28,
• Silicon 0.05–0.15,
• Manganese 1.20–1.50,
• Nickel not greater than 0.4,
• Sulfur not greater than 0.010,
• Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
• Chromium 1.20–1.50,
• Molybdenum 0.35–0.55,
• Boron 0.002–0.004,
• Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
• Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
• Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm;
(b) Having cleanliness in accordance with
ASTM E45 method A (Thin and Heavy): A
not exceeding 1.5, B not exceeding 1.5, C not
exceeding 1.0, D not exceeding 1.5;
(c) Having the following mechanical
properties:
(i) With a Brinell hardness not more than
237 HBW measured in all parts of the
product including mid thickness; and having
a Yield Strength of 75ksi min and UTS 95ksi
or more, Elongation of 18% or more and
Reduction of area 35% or more; having
charpy V at ¥75 degrees F in the
longitudinal direction equal or greater than
15 ft. lbs (single value) and equal or greater
than 20 ft. lbs (average of 3 specimens) and
conforming to the requirements of NACE
MR01–75; or
(ii) With a Brinell hardness not less than
240 HBW measured in all parts of the
PO 00000
Frm 00030
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
product including mid thickness; and having
a Yield Strength of 90 ksi min and UTS 110
ksi or more, Elongation of 15% or more and
Reduction of area 30% or more; having
charpy V at ¥40 degrees F in the
longitudinal direction equal or greater than
21 ft. lbs (single value) and equal or greater
than 31 ft. lbs (average of 3 specimens);
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578–S9
ultrasonic testing requirements with
acceptance criteria 3.2 mm flat bottom hole;
and
(e) Conforming to magnetic particle
inspection in accordance with AMS 2301;
(7) Alloy forged and rolled steel CTL plate
over 407 mm in actual thickness and meeting
the following requirements:
(a) Made from Electric Arc Furnace melted,
ladle refined & vacuum degassed, alloy steel
with the following chemical composition
(expressed in weight percentages):
• Carbon 0.25–0.30,
• Silicon not greater than 0.25,
• Manganese not greater than 0.50,
• Nickel 3.0–3.5,
• Sulfur not greater than 0.010,
• Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
• Chromium 1.0–1.5,
• Molybdenum 0.6–0.9,
• Vanadium 0.08 to 0.12
• Boron 0.002–0.004,
• Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
• Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
• Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm.
(b) Having cleanliness in accordance with
ASTM E45 method A (Thin and Heavy): A
not exceeding 1.0(t) and 0.5(h), B not
exceeding 1.5(t) and 1.0(h), C not exceeding
1.0(t) and 0.5(h), and D not exceeding 1.5(t)
and 1.0(h);
(c) Having the following mechanical
properties: A Brinell hardness not less than
350 HBW measured in all parts of the
product including mid thickness; and having
a Yield Strength of 145ksi or more and UTS
160ksi or more, Elongation of 15% or more
and Reduction of area 35% or more; having
charpy V at ¥40 degrees F in the transverse
direction equal or greater than 20 ft. lbs
(single value) and equal or greater than 25 ft.
lbs (average of 3 specimens);
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578–S9
ultrasonic testing requirements with
acceptance criteria 3.2 mm flat bottom hole;
and
(e) Conforming to magnetic particle
inspection in accordance with AMS 2301.
The products subject to the investigation
are currently classified in the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
under item numbers: 7208.40.3030,
7208.40.3060, 7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045,
7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 7211.13.0000,
7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7225.40.1110,
7225.40.1180, 7225.40.3005, 7225.40.3050,
7226.20.0000, and 7226.91.5000.
The products subject to the investigation
may also enter under the following HTSUS
item numbers: 7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000,
7208.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000,
7211.19.1500, 7211.19.2000, 7211.19.4500,
7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7590, 7211.90.0000,
7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000,
7214.10.0000, 7214.30.0010, 7214.30.0080,
7214.91.0015, 7214.91.0060, 7214.91.0090,
7225.11.0000, 7225.19.0000, 7225.40.5110,
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 219 / Monday, November 14, 2016 / Notices
7225.40.5130, 7225.40.5160, 7225.40.7000,
7225.99.0010, 7225.99.0090, 7226.11.1000,
7226.11.9060, 7226.19.1000, 7226.19.9000,
7226.91.0500, 7226.91.1530, 7226.91.1560,
7226.91.2530, 7226.91.2560, 7226.91.7000,
7226.91.8000, and 7226.99.0180.
The HTSUS subheadings above are
provided for convenience and customs
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. Scope Comments
V. Discussion of the Methodology
a. Determination of Comparison Method
b. Results of the Differential Pricing
Analysis
VI. Date of Sale
VII. Product Comparisons
VIII. Export Price/Constructed Export Price
IX. Normal Value
a. Home Market Viability
b. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm’s
Length 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
f. Price-to-Constructed Value Comparison
X. Currency Conversion
XI. Conclusion
[FR Doc. 2016–27314 Filed 11–10–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–580–887]
Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-ToLength Plate From the Republic of
Korea: Affirmative Preliminary
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value and Postponement of Final
Determination
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(the Department) preliminarily
determines that certain carbon and alloy
steel cut-to-length plate (CTL plate)
from the Republic of Korea (Korea) is
being, or is likely to be, sold in the
United States at less than fair value
(LTFV). The period of investigation
(POI) is April 1, 2015, through March
31, 2016. The estimated weightedaverage dumping margins of sales at
LTFV are shown in the ‘‘Preliminary
Determination’’ section of this notice.
Interested parties are invited to
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Nov 10, 2016
Jkt 241001
comment on this preliminary
determination.
DATES: Effective November 14, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael J. Heaney or Erin Kearney, AD/
CVD Operations, Office VI, Enforcement
and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
(202) 482–4475 or (202) 482–0167,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Department initiated this
investigation on April 28, 2016.1 We
selected POSCO and POSCO Daewoo
International Corp. as mandatory
respondents in this investigation. 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 in the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum is
included as Appendix II to this notice.
The Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is a public document and
is made available to the public 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 is available to all
parties in the Department’s Central
Records Unit, room B8024 of the main
Department of Commerce building. In
addition, a complete version of the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum can
be accessed directly on the Internet at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The
signed Preliminary Decisiom
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 CTL plate from the
Republic of Korea. For a full description
1 See Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-ToLength Plate From Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France,
the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the
Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China,
South Africa, Taiwan, and the Republic of Turkey:
Initiation of Less-Than-Fair Value Investigations, 81
FR 27089 (May 5, 2016) (Initiation Notice).
2 See Memorandum from Christian Marsh, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Operations, to Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance, entitled ‘‘Decision Memorandum for
the Preliminary Determination in the Antidumping
Duty Investigation of Certain Carbon and Alloy
Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From the Republic of
Korea’’ (Preliminary Decision Memorandum), dated
concurrently with this notice.
PO 00000
Frm 00031
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
79441
of the scope of this investigation, see the
‘‘Scope of the Investigation,’’ in
Appendix I of this notice.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the Preamble to
the Department’s regulations,3 the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of
time for parties to raise issues regarding
product coverage, i.e., scope.4 Certain
interested parties commented on the
scope of the concurrent CTL plate
investigations as it appeared in the
Initiation Notice. For a summary of the
product coverage comments and
rebuttal responses submitted to the
records of this and the concurrent CTL
plate investigations, and a discussion
and analysis of all comments timely
received, see the Department’s
Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum and the Department’s
Additional Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum.5 The Department has
preliminarily modified the scope
language as it appeared in the Initiation
Notice to clarify the exclusion for
stainless steel plate, corrected two tariff
numbers that were misidentified in the
Petitions and in the Initiation Notice,
and modified language pertaining to
existing steel plate and hot-rolled flatrolled steel orders.6
Methodology
The Department is conducting this
investigation in accordance with section
731 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act). Export price and,
where appropriate, constructed export
price are calculated in accordance with
section 772 of the the Act. Normal value
(NV) is calculated in accordance with
3 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties;
Final rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997)
(Preamble).
4 See Initiation Notice, 81 FR at 27090.
5 See Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Operations, ‘‘Certain Carbon
and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From Austria,
Belgium, Brazil, the People’s Republic of China,
France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy,
Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of South
Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey: Scope Comments
Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Determinations,’’ dated September 6, 2016
(Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum), and
Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Operations, Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-toLength Plate From Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the
People’s Republic of China, France, the Federal
Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, the Republic of South Africa, Taiwan, and
Turkey: Additional Scope Comments Preliminary
Decision Memorandum and Extension of Deadlines
for Scope Case Briefs and Scope Rebuttal Briefs,’’
dated October 13, 2016 (Additional Preliminary
Scope Decision Memorandum), respectively.
6 See Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum
at 2 and 56, and Additional Preliminary Scope
Decision Memorandum at 10–11 and 20.
E:\FR\FM\14NON1.SGM
14NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79437-79441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27314]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-427-828]
Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From France:
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 carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate (CTL
plate) from France is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United
States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation
(POI) is April 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016. The estimated weighted-
average dumping margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Preliminary
Determination'' section of this notice. Interested parties are invited
to comment on this preliminary determination.
DATES: Effective November 14, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terre Keaton Stefanova or Brandon
Custard, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
1280 or (202) 482-1823, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Department initiated this investigation on April 28, 2016.\1\
We selected two mandatory respondents in this investigation, Dillinger
France S.A. (Dillinger) and Industeel France S.A. (Industeel). For a
complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this
investigation, see the memorandum that is dated concurrently
[[Page 79438]]
with this determination, and hereby adopted by, this notice.\2\ A list
of topics in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as
Appendix II to this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, the Federal Republic of Germany,
Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China,
South Africa, Taiwan, and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of
Less-Than-Fair Value Investigations, 81 FR 27089 (May 5, 2016)
(Initiation Notice).
\2\ See Memorandum from Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, to
Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance,
entitled, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in
the Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel
Cut-To-Length Plate From France'' (Preliminary Decision Memorandum),
dated concurrently with this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is
made available to the public 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 is available to all parties in the Department's
Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce
building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum can be accessed directly on the Internet 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 CTL plate from France.
For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the
``Scope of the Investigation,'' in Appendix I of this notice.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the Preamble to the Department's regulations,\3\
the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise
issues regarding product coverage, i.e., scope.\4\ Certain interested
parties commented on the scope of the concurrent CTL plate
investigations as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For a summary
of the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to
the records of this and the concurrent CTL plate investigations, and a
discussion and analysis of all comments timely received, see the
Department's Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum and the Department's
Additional Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\5\ The Department has
preliminarily modified the scope language as it appeared in the
Initiation Notice to clarify the exclusion for stainless steel plate,
corrected two tariff numbers that were misidentified in the Petitions
and in the Initiation Notice, and modified language pertaining to
existing steel plate and hot-rolled flat-rolled steel orders.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
\4\ See Initiation Notice, 81 FR at 27090.
\5\ See Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations,
entitled, ``Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, the People's Republic of China, France,
the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, the Republic of South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey: Scope
Comments Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determinations,''
dated September 6, 2016 (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum), and
Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, entitled, ``Certain
Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate From Austria, Belgium,
Brazil, the People's Republic of China, France, the Federal Republic
of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of
South Africa, Taiwan, and Turkey: Additional Scope Comments
Preliminary Decision Memorandum and Extension of Deadlines for Scope
Case Briefs and Scope Rebuttal Briefs,'' dated October 13, 2016
(Additional Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum), respectively.
\6\ See Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum at 2 and 56, and
Additional Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum at 10-11 and 20.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methodology
The Department is conducting this investigation in accordance with
section 731 of the Act. Export price and, where appropriate,
constructed export price are calculated in accordance with section 772
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (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.
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)(A) 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.
In this investigation, we cannot apply our normal methodology of
calculating a weighted-average margin due to requests to protect
business-proprietary information. Therefore, we based our calculation
of the all-others rate on the simple average of the margins calculated
for Dillinger and Industeel. For further discussion of this
calculation, see the memorandum entitled ``Certain Carbon and Alloy
Steel Cut-to-Length Plate from France: Calculation of the Preliminary
Margin for All Other Companies,'' dated concurrently with this notice.
Preliminary Determination
The Department preliminarily determines that CTL plate from France
is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV,
pursuant to section 733 of the Act, and that the following estimated
weighted-average dumping margins exist:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-average
Exporter/Manufacturer dumping margin
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dillinger France S.A................................. 12.97
Industeel France S.A................................. 4.26
All Others........................................... 8.62
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, we will direct
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of all
entries of subject merchandise from France, as described in Appendix I
of this notice, which are 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) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), we
will instruct CBP to require cash deposits \7\ equal to the weighted-
average amount by which the NV exceeds U.S. price, as indicated in the
chart above, as follows: (1) The rate for the mandatory respondents
listed above will be the respondent-specific rates we determined in
this preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is not a mandatory
respondent identified above, but the producer is, the rate will be the
specific rate established for the producer of the subject merchandise;
and (3) the rate for all other producers or exporters will be the all-
others rate. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain
in effect until further notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ 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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure
We intend to disclose the calculations performed to interested
parties in this proceeding within five days of the public announcement
of this preliminary determination in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
[[Page 79439]]
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.\8\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general
filing requirements).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department established separate deadlines for interested
parties to provide comments on scope issues.\9\ Specifically, case
briefs on scope issues were to be submitted no later than October 21,
2016. Scope rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the scope case
briefs, were to be submitted no later than November 1, 2016.\10\ The
Department explained that parties should limit comments on scope issues
to their scope case brief and their scope rebuttal brief.\11\ Thus,
comments on scope issues belong in parties' scope case briefs and scope
rebuttal briefs only and not in other case briefs and rebuttal briefs
submitted in this investigation. The Department intends to address
parties' scope comments in a final scope memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum; Additional
Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum; Memorandum to the File,
entitled, ``Deadlines for Submitting Scope Case Briefs and Scope
Rebuttal Briefs,'' dated October 18, 2016 (Deadline Memo for Scope
Briefs); and Memorandum to the File ``Extension of Deadline for
Submitting Scope Rebuttal Briefs,'' dated October 28, 2016
(Extension Memo for Scope Rebuttal Briefs).
\10\ See Deadline Memo for Scope Briefs and Extension Memo for
Scope Rebuttal Briefs.
\11\ See, e.g., Deadline Memo for Scope Briefs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. 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, 1401 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.
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 Standard Time.
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
the petitioner. 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2) requires that requests by
respondents for postponement of a final 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.
Respondents Dillinger and Industeel have requested that, in the
event of an affirmative preliminary determination in this
investigation, the Department postpone its final determination by 60
days, i.e., to 135 days after publication of the preliminary
determination.\12\ Further, Industeel agreed to extend the application
of the provisional measures prescribed under section 733(d) of the Act
and 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), from a four-month period to a period not to
exceed six months.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ See letter from Dillinger entitled, ``Certain Carbon and
Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From France: Request for Extension
of Final Determination,'' dated October 17, 2016; and Letter from
Industeel entitled, ``Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length
Plate From France: Request for Postponement of Final
Determination,'' dated October 13, 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) Industeel accounts for a significant proportion of
exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for
denial exist, we are postponing the final determination until no later
than 135 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register and extending the provisional measures from a four-month
period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, we will
issue 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.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ See 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2) and (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: November 4, 2016.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are certain carbon
and alloy steel hot-rolled or forged flat plate products not in
coils, whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or
other non-metallic substances (cut-to-length plate). Subject
merchandise includes plate that is produced by being cut-to-length
from coils or from other discrete length plate and plate that is
rolled or forged into a discrete length. The products covered
include (1) Universal mill plates (i.e., flat-rolled products rolled
on four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm
but not exceeding 1250 mm, and of a thickness of not less than 4 mm,
which are not in coils and without patterns in relief), and (2) hot-
rolled or forged flat steel products of a thickness of 4.75 mm or
more and of a width which exceeds 150 mm and measures at least twice
the thickness, and which are not in coils, whether or not with
patterns in relief. The covered products described above may be
rectangular, square, circular or other shapes and include products
of either rectangular or non-rectangular cross-section where such
non-rectangular cross-section is achieved 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, the following rules apply:
[[Page 79440]]
(1) Except where otherwise stated where the nominal and actual
thickness or width measurements vary, a product from a given subject
country 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; and
(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; and (2) the carbon content is 2
percent or less by weight.
Subject merchandise includes cut-to-length plate that has been
further processed in the subject country or a third country,
including but not limited to pickling, oiling, levelling, annealing,
tempering, temper rolling, skin passing, painting, varnishing,
trimming, cutting, punching, beveling, 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 cut-to-length plate.
All products that meet the written physical description, are
within the scope of this investigation unless specifically excluded
or covered by the scope of an existing order. The following products
are outside of, and/or specifically excluded from, the scope of this
investigation:
(1) Products clad, plated, or coated with metal, whether or not
painted, varnished or coated with plastic or other non-metallic
substances;
(2) military grade armor plate certified to one of the following
specifications or to a specification that references and
incorporates one of the following specifications:
MIL-A-12560,
MIL-DTL-12560H,
MIL-DTL-12560J,
MIL-DTL-12560K,
MIL-DTL-32332,
MIL-A-46100D,
MIL-DTL-46100-E,
MIL-46177C,
MIL-S-16216K Grade HY80,
MIL-S-16216K Grade HY100,
MIL-S-24645A HSLA-80;
MIL-S-24645A HSLA-100,
T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HY80,
T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HY100,
T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HSLA80,
T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HSLA100, and
T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Mod. Grade HSLA115,
except that any cut-to-length plate certified to one of the
above specifications, or to a military grade armor specification
that references and incorporates one of the above specifications,
will not be excluded from the scope if it is also dual- or multiple-
certified to any other non-armor specification that otherwise would
fall within the scope of this order;
(3) stainless steel plate, containing 10.5 percent or more of
chromium by weight and not more than 1.2 percent of carbon by
weight;
(4) CTL plate meeting the requirements of ASTM A-829, Grade E
4340 that are over 305 mm in actual thickness;
(5) Alloy forged and rolled CTL plate greater than or equal to
152.4 mm in actual thickness meeting each of the following
requirements:
(a) Electric furnace melted, ladle refined & vacuum degassed and
having a chemical composition (expressed in weight percentages):
Carbon 0.23-0.28,
Silicon 0.05-0.20,
Manganese 1.20-1.60,
Nickel not greater than 1.0,
Sulfur not greater than 0.007,
Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
Chromium 1.0-2.5,
Molybdenum 0.35-0.80,
Boron 0.002-0.004,
Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm;
(b) With a Brinell hardness measured in all parts of the product
including mid thickness falling within one of the following ranges:
(i) 270-300 HBW,
(ii) 290-320 HBW, or (iii) 320-350HBW;
(c) Having cleanliness in accordance with ASTM E45 method A
(Thin and Heavy): A not exceeding 1.5, B not exceeding 1.0, C not
exceeding 0.5, D not exceeding 1.5; and
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578-S9 ultrasonic testing requirements
with acceptance criteria 2 mm flat bottom hole;
(6) Alloy forged and rolled steel CTL plate over 407 mm in
actual thickness and meeting the following requirements:
(a) Made from Electric Arc Furnace melted, Ladle refined &
vacuum degassed, alloy steel with the following chemical composition
(expressed in weight percentages):
Carbon 0.23-0.28,
Silicon 0.05-0.15,
Manganese 1.20-1.50,
Nickel not greater than 0.4,
Sulfur not greater than 0.010,
Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
Chromium 1.20-1.50,
Molybdenum 0.35-0.55,
Boron 0.002-0.004,
Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm;
(b) Having cleanliness in accordance with ASTM E45 method A
(Thin and Heavy): A not exceeding 1.5, B not exceeding 1.5, C not
exceeding 1.0, D not exceeding 1.5;
(c) Having the following mechanical properties:
(i) With a Brinell hardness not more than 237 HBW measured in
all parts of the product including mid thickness; and having a Yield
Strength of 75ksi min and UTS 95ksi or more, Elongation of 18% or
more and Reduction of area 35% or more; having charpy V at -75
degrees F in the longitudinal direction equal or greater than 15 ft.
lbs (single value) and equal or greater than 20 ft. lbs (average of
3 specimens) and conforming to the requirements of NACE MR01-75; or
(ii) With a Brinell hardness not less than 240 HBW measured in
all parts of the product including mid thickness; and having a Yield
Strength of 90 ksi min and UTS 110 ksi or more, Elongation of 15% or
more and Reduction of area 30% or more; having charpy V at -40
degrees F in the longitudinal direction equal or greater than 21 ft.
lbs (single value) and equal or greater than 31 ft. lbs (average of
3 specimens);
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578-S9 ultrasonic testing requirements
with acceptance criteria 3.2 mm flat bottom hole; and
(e) Conforming to magnetic particle inspection in accordance
with AMS 2301;
(7) Alloy forged and rolled steel CTL plate over 407 mm in
actual thickness and meeting the following requirements:
(a) Made from Electric Arc Furnace melted, ladle refined &
vacuum degassed, alloy steel with the following chemical composition
(expressed in weight percentages):
Carbon 0.25-0.30,
Silicon not greater than 0.25,
Manganese not greater than 0.50,
Nickel 3.0-3.5,
Sulfur not greater than 0.010,
Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
Chromium 1.0-1.5,
Molybdenum 0.6-0.9,
Vanadium 0.08 to 0.12
Boron 0.002-0.004,
Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm.
(b) Having cleanliness in accordance with ASTM E45 method A
(Thin and Heavy): A not exceeding 1.0(t) and 0.5(h), B not exceeding
1.5(t) and 1.0(h), C not exceeding 1.0(t) and 0.5(h), and D not
exceeding 1.5(t) and 1.0(h);
(c) Having the following mechanical properties: A Brinell
hardness not less than 350 HBW measured in all parts of the product
including mid thickness; and having a Yield Strength of 145ksi or
more and UTS 160ksi or more, Elongation of 15% or more and Reduction
of area 35% or more; having charpy V at -40 degrees F in the
transverse direction equal or greater than 20 ft. lbs (single value)
and equal or greater than 25 ft. lbs (average of 3 specimens);
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578-S9 ultrasonic testing requirements
with acceptance criteria 3.2 mm flat bottom hole; and
(e) Conforming to magnetic particle inspection in accordance
with AMS 2301.
The products subject to the investigation are currently
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) under item numbers: 7208.40.3030, 7208.40.3060,
7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045, 7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000,
7211.13.0000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7225.40.1110,
7225.40.1180, 7225.40.3005, 7225.40.3050, 7226.20.0000, and
7226.91.5000.
The products subject to the investigation may also enter under
the following HTSUS item numbers: 7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000,
7208.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000, 7211.19.1500,
7211.19.2000, 7211.19.4500, 7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7590,
7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000,
7214.10.0000, 7214.30.0010, 7214.30.0080, 7214.91.0015,
7214.91.0060, 7214.91.0090, 7225.11.0000, 7225.19.0000,
7225.40.5110,
[[Page 79441]]
7225.40.5130, 7225.40.5160, 7225.40.7000, 7225.99.0010,
7225.99.0090, 7226.11.1000, 7226.11.9060, 7226.19.1000,
7226.19.9000, 7226.91.0500, 7226.91.1530, 7226.91.1560,
7226.91.2530, 7226.91.2560, 7226.91.7000, 7226.91.8000, and
7226.99.0180.
The HTSUS subheadings above are provided for convenience and
customs 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. Scope Comments
V. Discussion of the Methodology
a. Determination of Comparison Method
b. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis
VI. Date of Sale
VII. Product Comparisons
VIII. Export Price/Constructed Export Price
IX. Normal Value
a. Home Market Viability
b. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm's Length 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 Comparison-Market Prices
f. Price-to-Constructed Value Comparison
X. Currency Conversion
XI. Conclusion
[FR Doc. 2016-27314 Filed 11-10-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P