Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From Japan; Final Results of the Expedited Sunset Review of Antidumping Duty Order

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of expedited sunset review of antidumping duty order on certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products from Japan; Final results.

SUMMARY:

On May 3, 2004, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order of certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products (“hot-rolled steel”) from Japan. On the basis of the notice of intent to participate, adequate substantive comments filed on behalf of the domestic interested parties, and inadequate response from respondent interested parties, (in this case, no response) the Department conducted an expedited sunset review of the antidumping duty order pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and section 351.218(c)(1)(ii)(B) of the Department's regulations. As a result of this sunset review, the Department determined that revocation of the antidumping duty order would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the levels listed below in the section entitled “Final Results of Review”.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 21, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Martha V. Douthit, Office of Policy, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 3, 2004, the Department initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order on hot-rolled steel products from Japan in accordance with section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”). See Notice of Initiation, 69 FR 24118 (May 3, 2004).

The Department received Notices of Intent to Participate within the applicable deadline specified in section 351.218(d)(1)(i) of the Department's regulations on behalf of Nucor Corporation (“Nucor”), United States Steel Corporation (“U.S. Steel”), International Steel Group, Inc. (“ISG”), Gallatin Steel Company (“Gallatin”), IPSCO Steel Inc. (“IPSCO”), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (“SDI”), and Ispat Inland Inc. (“Ispat”), a division of Ispat Inland Flat Products, (collectively “domestic interested parties”). The domestic interested parties claimed interested-party status as manufacturers of subject merchandise as defined by section 771(9)(C) of the Act.

The Department received complete substantive responses from the domestic interested parties within the 30-day deadline specified in the Department's regulations under section 351.218(d)(3)(i). However, the Department did not receive any responses from respondent interested parties to this proceeding. As a result, pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(c)(2), the Department conducted an expedited sunset review of this antidumping duty order.

Scope of the Antidumping Duty Order

See Appendix 1.

Analysis of Comments Received

All issues raised in this sunset review are addressed in the “Issues and Decision Memorandum” (”Decision Memo”) from Ronald K. Lorentzen, Acting Director, Office of Policy, Import Administration, to Jeffrey A. May, Acting Assistant Secretary, or Import Administration, dated October 15, 2004, which is hereby adopted by this notice. The issues discussed in the Decision Memo include the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and the magnitude of the margin likely to prevail if the antidumping duty order were revoked. Parties can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this sunset review and the corresponding recommendations in this public memo, which is on file in the Central Records Unit, room B-099 of the main Department Building.

In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memo can be accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn,, under the heading “October 2004.” The paper copy and electronic version of the Decision Memo are identical in content.

Final Results of Review

The Department determines that revocation of the antidumping duty investigation on hot-rolled steel from Japan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping at the following weighted-average margins:

This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to administrative protective orders (“APOs”) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction.

We are issuing and publishing these results and notice in accordance with sections 751 (c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

Appendix 1

Scope of the Antidumping Duty Order on Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon Quality Steel From Japan (A-588-846)

For purposes of this order, the products covered are certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel products of a rectangular shape, of a width of 0.5 inch or greater, neither clad, plated, nor coated with metal and whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances, in coils (whether or not in successively superimposed layers) regardless of thickness, and in straight lengths, of a thickness less than 4.75 mm and of a width measuring at least 10 times the thickness. Universal mill plate (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, not in coils and without patterns in relief) of a thickness not less than 4.0 mm is not included within the scope of these investigations.

Specifically included in this scope are vacuum degassed, fully stabilized (commonly referred to as interstitial-free (“IF”) steels, high strength low alloy (“HSLA”) steels, and the substrate for motor lamination steels. 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.

Steel products to be included in the scope of this order, regardless of Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) definitions, 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: 1.80 percent of manganese, or 1.50 percent of silicon, or 1.00 percent of copper, or 0.50 percent of aluminum, or 1.25 percent of chromium, or 0.30 percent of cobalt, or 0.40 percent of lead, or 1.25 percent of nickel, or 0.30 percent of tungsten, or 0.012 percent of boron, or 0.10 percent of molybdenum, or 0.10 percent of niobium, or 0.41 percent of titanium, or 0.15 percent of vanadium, or 0.15 percent of zirconium. All products that meet the physical and chemical description provided above are within the scope of this order unless otherwise excluded. The following products, by way of example, are outside and/or specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation:

Alloy hot-rolled steel products in which at least one of the chemical elements exceeds those listed above (including e.g., ASTM specifications A543, A387, A514, A517, and A506).

SAE/AISI grades of series 2300 and higher.

Ball bearing steels, as defined in the HTSUS.

Tool steels, as defined in the HTSUS.

Silico-manganese (as defined in the HTSUS) or silicon electrical steel with a silicon level exceeding 1.50 percent.

ASTM specifications A710 and A736.

USS abrasion-resistant steels (USS AR 400, USS AR 500).

Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, physical and mechanical specifications:

Width = 44.80 inches maximum;

Thickness = 0.063-0.198 inches;

Yield Strength = 50,000 ksi minimum;

Tensile Strength = 70,000-88,000 psi.

Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, physical and mechanical specifications:

Width = 44.80 inches maximum;

Thickness = 0.350 inches maximum;

Yield Strength = 80,000 ksi minimum;

Tensile Strength = 105,000 psi.

Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, physical and mechanical specifications:

Width = 44.80 inches maximum;

Thickness = 0.350 inches maximum;

Yield Strength = 80,000 ksi minimum;

Tensile Strength = 105,000 psi Aim.

Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, physical and mechanical specifications:

Width = 39.37 inches;

Thickness = 0.181 inches maximum;

Yield Strength = 70,000 psi minimum for thicknesses less than or equal to 0.148 inches and 65,000 psi minimum for thicknesses > 0.148 inches;

Tensile Strength = 80,000 psi minimum.

Hot-rolled dual phase steel, phase-hardened, primarily with a ferritic-martensitic microstructure, contains 0.9 percent up to and including 1.5 percent silicon by weight, further characterized by either (i) tensile strength between 540 N/mm² and 640 N/mm² and an elongation percentage greater than or equal to 26 percent for thicknesses of 2 mm and above, or (ii) a tensile strength between 590 N/mm² and 690 N/mm² and an elongation percentage greater than or equal to 25 percent for thicknesses of 2mm and above.

Hot-rolled bearing quality steel, SAE grade 1050, in coils, with an inclusion rating of 1.0 maximum per ASTM E 45, Method A, with excellent surface quality and chemistry restrictions as follows: 0.012 percent maximum phosphorus, 0.015 percent maximum sulfur, and 0.20 percent maximum residuals including 0.15 percent maximum chromium.

Grade ASTM A570-50 hot-rolled steel sheet in coils or cut lengths, width of 74 inches (nominal, within ASTM tolerances), thickness of 11 gauge (0.119 inch nominal), mill edge and skin passed, with a minimum copper content of 0.20 percent.

The merchandise subject to this order is classified in the HTSUS at subheadings: 7208.10.15.00, 7208.10.30.00, 7208.10.60.00, 7208.25.30.00, 7208.25.60.00, 7208.26.00.30, 7208.26.00.60, 7208.27.00.30, 7208.27.00.60, 7208.36.00.30, 7208.36.00.60, 7208.37.00.30, 7208.37.00.60, 7208.38.00.15, 7208.38.00.30, 7208.38.00.90, 7208.39.00.15, 7208.39.00.30, 7208.39.00.90, 7208.40.60.30, 7208.40.60.60, 7208.53.00.00, 7208.54.00.00, 7208.90.00.00, 7210.70.30.00, 7210.90.90.00, 7211.14.00.30, 7211.14.00.90, 7211.19.15.00, 7211.19.20.00, 7211.19.30.00, 7211.19.45.00, 7211.19.60.00, 7211.19.75.30, 7211.19.75.60, 7211.19.75.90, 7212.40.10.00, 7212.40.50.00, 7212.50.00.00. Certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-quality steel covered by this order, including: vacuum degassed, fully stabilized; high strength low alloy; and the substrate for motor lamination steel may also enter under the following tariff numbers: 7225.11.00.00, 7225.19.00.00, 7225.30.30.50, 7225.30.70.00, 7225.40.70.00, 7225.99.00.90, 7226.11.10.00, 7226.11.90.30, 7226.11.90.60, 7226.19.10.00, 7226.19.90.00, 7226.91.50.00, 7226.91.70.00, 7226.91.80.00, and 7226.99.00.00.

Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise under order is dispositive.