Federal Register, Volume 75 Issue 150 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47263-47265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19285]

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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-821-809]

Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From
the Russian Federation; Final Results of the Expedited Sunset Review of
Antidumping Duty Suspended Investigation

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

ACTION: Notice of expedited sunset review of the antidumping duty
suspended investigation on certain hot-rolled flat-rolled carbon-
quality steel products from the Russian Federation; final results.

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

SUMMARY: On April 1, 2010, the Department of Commerce (``the
Department'') initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty
suspended antidumping duty investigation of certain hot-rolled flat-
rolled carbon-quality steel products (``hot-rolled steel'') from the
Russian Federation (``Russia'').\1\ On the basis of the notice of
intent to participate, an adequate substantive response submitted on
behalf of the domestic interested parties, and no participation from
respondent interested parties, the Department conducted an expedited
sunset review of the suspended antidumping duty investigation pursuant
to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and section 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C) of
the Department's regulations. As a result of this sunset review, the
Department determined that termination of the antidumping duty
suspended investigation would likely lead to continuation or recurrence
of dumping at the levels listed below in the section entitled ``Final
Results of Review.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ See Initiation of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Review, 75 FR 16437
(April 1, 2010) (Notice of Initiation).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DATES: Effective Date: August 5, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne D'Alauro or Sally C. Gannon,
Office of Policy, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington DC 20230; telephone: 202-482-4830 or 202-482-
0162, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On April 1, 2010, the Department initiated a sunset review of the
suspended antidumping duty investigation on hot-rolled steel from
Russia in accordance with section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (``the Act''). See Notice of Initiation, 75 FR 16437 (2010).
Section 351.218(d)(1)(i) of the Department's regulations provides
domestic interested parties opportunity to file a Notice of Intent to
Participate in a Sunset Review within 15 days of initiation of review.
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, United States
Steel Corporation, Gallatin Steel, SSAB North America Division,
ArcelorMittal USA, Inc., and Steel Dynamics, Inc. (collectively
``domestic interested parties''). The domestic interested parties
claimed interested-party status as producers of subject merchandise in
the United States as defined by section 771(9)(C) of the Act. In
addition, domestic interested parties assert that they are not related
to a foreign producer/exporter and are not importers, or related to
importers, of the subject merchandise.
The Department's regulations at section 351.218(d)(3)(i) state that
all interested parties participating in a sunset review must submit a
complete substantive response to a Notice of Initiation within 30 days
of initiation of the sunset review. On May 3, 2010, the Department
received a complete substantive response from the domestic interested
parties within the 30-day deadline specified in the Department's
regulations under section 351.218(d)(3)(i). After examining the
substantive response from the domestic interested parties, on May 21,
2010, the Department determined that the response was adequate,
consistent with the requirements of 19 CFR 351.218(e). See Memorandum
from Anne D'Alauro, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Policy, Import
Administration, to Sally C. Gannon, Director for Bilateral Agreements,
Office of Policy, Import Administration, regarding ``Sunset Review of
the Agreement Suspending the Antidumping Investigation of Certain Hot-
Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products from the Russian
Federation: Adequacy Determination'' (May 14, 2010). See also Letter
from Barbara E. Tillman, Director, Office 6, AD/CVD Operations, Import
Administration, to Ms. Catherine DeFilippo, Director, Office of
Investigations, International Trade Commission (May 21, 2010). Although
the Department received a letter of appearance on behalf of the Russian
Ministry of Economic Development, the Department did not receive any
notices of intent to participate or substantive responses from
respondent interested parties to this proceeding. As a result, pursuant
to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and section 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2)
of the Department's regulations, the Department conducted an expedited
(120-day), sunset review of this antidumping duty suspended
investigation.

Scope of the Suspended Investigation

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 Paul
Piquado, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, Import
Administration, to Ronald Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Import Administration, dated July 30, 2010, which is hereby adopted by
this notice. The issues

[[Page 47264]]

discussed in the Decision Memo include both the likely effects of
termination of the suspension agreement and underlying investigation
and the magnitude of the margin likely to prevail if the suspended
investigation were terminated. 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 room 1117 of
the main Commerce 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 ``August 2010''. The paper copy and electronic version of the
Decision Memo are identical in content.

Final Results of Review

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-
average
Manufacturers/producers/ exporters margin
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JSC Severstal................................................ 73.59
Russia-Wide Rate............................................. 184.56
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective orders (``APO'') of their responsibility
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information
disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305 of the
Department's regulations. 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 the results and notice in accordance
with sections 751(c), 752(c), and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

Dated: July 30, 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

Appendix I

For the purposes of this Suspension Agreement, ``hot-rolled
steel'' means 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 this agreement.
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 agreement,
regardless of 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 agreement unless
otherwise excluded. The following products, by way of example, are
outside and/or specifically excluded from the scope of this
agreement:

--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:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Mn P S Si Cr Cu Ni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.10-0.16%................... 0.70-0.90%...... 0.025% Max...... 0.006% Max...... 0.30-0.50%...... 0.50-0.70%..... 0.25% Max...... 0.20% Max
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.21% Max....................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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:

[[Page 47265]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Mn P S Si Cr Cu Ni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.10-0.14%................... 1.30-1.80%...... 0.025% Max...... 0.005% Max...... 0.30-0.50%...... 0.50-0.70%..... 0.20-0.40%..... 0.20% Max
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
V(wt.) Cb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.10 Max..................... 0.08% Max.......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Mn P S Si Cr Cu Ni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.15% Max.................... 1.40% Max....... 0.025% Max...... 0.010% Max...... 0.50% Max....... 1.00% Max...... 0.50% Max...... 0.20% Max
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nb Ca Al
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.005% Min................... Treated......... 0.01-0.07%......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Width = 39.37 inches; Thickness = 0.181 inches maximum; Yield
Strength = 70,000 psi minimum for thicknesses <= 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/mm[sup2] and 640 N/
mm[sup2] and an elongation percentage >=26 percent for thicknesses
of 2 mm and above, or (ii) a tensile strength between 590 N/mm[sup2]
and 690 N/mm[sup2] and an elongation percentage >=25 percent for
thicknesses of 2 mm 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 inches nominal), mill edge and skin
passed, with a minimum copper content of 0.20 percent.
The covered merchandise is classified in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (``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 include: 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 covered merchandise is dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2010-19285 Filed 8-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P