69 FR 70633, December 7, 2004

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-824]

Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: 
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review

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

ACTION: Notice of initiation of antidumping duty changed circumstances 
review.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(b), Metal One Corporation 
(Metal One), filed a request for a changed circumstances review of the 
antidumping duty order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat 
products from Japan. In response to this request, the Department of 
Commerce is initiating a changed circumstances review on certain 
corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Japan with respect 
to diffusion annealed nickel-plate.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 7, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George McMahon, Christopher Hargett, 
or James Terpstra, AD[bs]CVD Operations, Office 3, 
Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.,

[[Page 70634]]

Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-1167, (202) 482-4161, or 
(202) 482-3965, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 19, 1993, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
published an antidumping duty order on certain corrosion-resistant 
carbon steel flat products from Japan. See Antidumping Duty Orders: 
Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan, 58 
FR 44163 (August 19, 1993). On October 13, 2004, Metal One requested 
that the Department revoke the antidumping duty order on diffusion 
annealed nickel-plate featuring totally unalloyed nickel plated coating 
measuring less than or equal to 8 microns, with both sides of the sheet 
having a coating of at least 0.2 microns through the initiation of a 
changed circumstances review.
    According to Metal One, revocation with respect to diffusion 
annealed nickel-plate is warranted because there is minimal alteration 
to the specifications of the products with respect to the decision by 
the Department in July 2002 with the following specifications: (1) 
Widths ranging from 10 millimeters (0.394 inches) through 100 
millimeters (3.94 inches); (2) thicknesses, including coatings, ranging 
from 0.11 millimeters (0.004 inches) through 0.60 millimeters (0.024 
inches); and (3) a coating that is from 0.003 millimeters (0.00012 
inches) through 0.005 millimeters (0.000196 inches) in thickness and 
that is comprised of either two evenly applied layers, the first layer 
consisting of 99% zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum, followed by a 
layer consisting of phosphate, or three evenly applied layers, the 
first layer consisting of 99% zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum 
followed by a layer consisting of phosphate, and finally a layer 
consisting of silicate.
    In response to Metal One's request, the Department is initiating a 
changed circumstances review with respect to the antidumping duty order 
on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Japan.

Scope of the Order

    The products subject to this order include flat-rolled carbon steel 
products, of rectangular shape, either clad, plated, or coated with 
corrosion-resistant metals such as zinc, aluminum, or zinc-, aluminum-, 
nickel- or iron-based alloys, whether or not corrugated or painted, 
varnished or coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances in 
addition to the metallic coating, in coils (whether or not in 
successively superimposed layers) and of a width of 0.5 inch or 
greater, or in straight lengths which, if of a thickness less than 4.75 
millimeters, are of a width of 0.5 inch or greater and which measures 
at least 10 times the thickness or if of a thickness of 4.75 
millimeters or more are of a width which exceeds 150 millimeters and 
measures at least twice the thickness, as currently classifiable in the 
HTS under item numbers:

7210.30.0030, 7210.30.0060, 7210.41.0000, 7210.49.0030, 7210.49.0090, 
7210.61.0000, 7210.69.0000, 7210.70.6030, 7210.70.6060, 7210.70.6090, 
7210.90.1000, 7210.90.6000, 7210.90.9000, 7212.20.0000, 7212.30.1030, 
7212.30.1090, 7212.30.3000, 7212.30.5000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 
7212.50.0000, 7212.60.0000, 7215.90.1000, 7215.90.3000, 7215.90.5000, 
7217.20.1500, 7217.30.1530, 7217.30.1560, 7217.90.1000, 7217.90.5030, 
7217.90.5060, and 7217.90.5090.

    Included in the order are flat-rolled products of nonrectangular 
cross-section where such cross-section is achieved subsequent to the 
rolling process (i.e., products which have been ``worked after 
rolling'')-- for example, products which have been beveled or rounded 
at the edges.
    Excluded from the scope of the order are flat-rolled steel products 
either plated or coated with tin, lead, chromium, chromium oxides, both 
tin and lead (``terne plate''), or both chromium and chromium oxides 
(``tin-free steel''), whether or not painted, varnished or coated with 
plastics or other nonmetallic substances in addition to the metallic 
coating. Also excluded from the scope of the order are clad products in 
straight lengths of 0.1875 inch or more in composite thickness and of a 
width which exceeds 150 millimeters and measures at least twice the 
thickness. Also excluded from the scope of the order are certain clad 
stainless flat-rolled products, which are three-layered corrosion-
resistant carbon steel flat-rolled products less than 4.75 millimeters 
in composite thickness that consist of a carbon steel flat-rolled 
product clad on both sides with stainless steel in a 20%-60%-20% ratio. 
See Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel 
Flat Products From Japan, 58 FR 44163 (August 19, 1993).
    Also excluded from the scope of this order are imports of certain 
corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products meeting the following 
specifications: widths ranging from 10 millimeters (0.394 inches) 
through 100 millimeters (3.94 inches); thicknesses, including coatings, 
ranging from 0.11 millimeters (0.004 inches) through 0.60 millimeters 
(0.024 inches); and a coating that is from 0.003 millimeters (0.00012 
inches) through 0.005 millimeters (0.000196 inches) in thickness and 
that is comprised of three evenly applied layers, the first layer 
consisting of 99% zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum, followed by a 
layer consisting of chromate, and finally a layer consisting of 
silicate. See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products 
From Japan: Final Results of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping Duty 
Order, 62 FR 66848 (December 22, 1997).
    Also excluded from the scope of this order are imports of subject 
merchandise meeting all of the following criteria: (1) Widths ranging 
from 10 millimeters (0.394 inches) through 100 millimeters (3.94 
inches); (2) thicknesses, including coatings, ranging from 0.11 
millimeters (0.004 inches) through 0.60 millimeters (0.024 inches); and 
(3) a coating that is from 0.003 millimeters (0.00012 inches) through 
0.005 millimeters (0.000196 inches) in thickness and that is comprised 
of either two evenly applied layers, the first layer consisting of 99% 
zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum, followed by a layer consisting 
of chromate, or three evenly applied layers, the first layer consisting 
of 99% zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum followed by a layer 
consisting of chromate, and finally a layer consisting of silicate. See 
Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: 
Final Results of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping Duty Order, 64 FR 14861 
(March 29, 1999).
    Also excluded from the scope of this order are: (1) Carbon steel 
flat products measuring 1.84 mm in thickness and 43.6 mm or 16.1 mm in 
width consisting of carbon steel coil (SAE 1008) clad with an aluminum 
alloy that is balance aluminum, 20% tin, 1% copper, 0.3% silicon, 0.15% 
nickel, less than 1% other materials and meeting the requirements of 
SAE standard 783 for Bearing and Bushing Alloys; and (2) carbon steel 
flat products measuring 0.97 mm in thickness and 20 mm in width 
consisting of carbon steel coil (SAE 1008) with a two-layer lining, the 
first layer consisting of a copper-lead alloy powder that is balance 
copper, 9% to 11% tin, 9% to 11% lead, less than

[[Page 70635]]

1% zinc, less than 1% other materials and meeting the requirements of 
SAE standard 792 for Bearing and Bushing Alloys, the second layer 
consisting of 45% to 55% lead, 38% to 50% PTFE, 3% to 5% molybdenum 
disulfide and less than 2% other materials. See Certain Corrosion-
Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Final Results of 
Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping 
Duty Order, 64 FR 57032 (October 22, 1999).
    Also excluded from the scope of the order are imports of doctor 
blades meeting the following specifications: carbon steel coil or 
strip, plated with nickel phosphorous, having a thickness of 0.1524 
millimeters (0.006 inches), a width between 31.75 millimeters (1.25 
inches) and 50.80 millimeters (2.00 inches), a core hardness between 
580 to 630 HV, a surface hardness between 900-990 HV; the carbon steel 
coil or strip consists of the following elements identified in 
percentage by weight: 0.90% to 1.05% carbon; 0.15% to 0.35% silicon; 
0.30% to 0.50% manganese; less than or equal to 0.03% of phosphorous; 
less than or equal to 0.006% of sulfur; other elements representing 
0.24%; and the remainder of iron. See Certain Corrosion-Resistant 
Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Final Results of Changed 
Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping Duty Order, 
65 FR 53983 (September 6, 2000).
    Also excluded from the scope of the order are imports of carbon 
steel flat products meeting the following specifications: carbon steel 
flat products measuring 1.64 millimeters in thickness and 19.5 
millimeters in width consisting of carbon steel coil (SAE 1008) with a 
lining clad with an aluminum alloy that is balance aluminum; 10 to 15% 
tin; 1 to 3% lead; 0.7 to 1.3% copper; 1.8 to 3.5% silicon; 0.1 to 0.7% 
chromium; less than 1% other materials and meeting the requirements of 
SAE standard 783 for Bearing and Bushing Alloys. See Certain Corrosion-
Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Final Results of 
Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping 
Duty Order, 66 FR 8778 (February 2, 2001).
    Also excluded from the scope of the order are carbon steel flat 
products meeting the following specifications: (1) Carbon steel flat 
products measuring 0.975 millimeters in thickness and 8.8 millimeters 
in width consisting of carbon steel coil (SAE 1012) clad with a two-
layer lining, the first layer consisting of a copper-lead alloy powder 
that is balance copper, 9%-11% tin, 9%-11% lead, maximum 1% other 
materials and meeting the requirements of SAE standard 792 for Bearing 
and Bushing Alloys, the second layer consisting of 13%-17% carbon, 13%-
17% aromatic polyester, with a balance (approx. 66%-74%) of 
polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE); and (2) carbon steel flat products 
measuring 1.02 millimeters in thickness and 10.7 millimeters in width 
consisting of carbon steel coil (SAE 1008) with a two-layer lining, the 
first layer consisting of a copper-lead alloy powder that is balance 
copper, 9%-11% tin, 9%-11% lead, less than 0.35% iron, and meeting the 
requirements of SAE standard 792 for Bearing and Bushing Alloys, the 
second layer consisting of 45%-55% lead, 3%-5% molybdenum disulfide, 
with a balance (approx. 40%-52%) of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). See 
Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: 
Notice of Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation 
in Part of Antidumping Duty Order, 66 FR 15075 (March 15, 2001)
    Also excluded from this order are products meeting the following 
specifications: carbon steel coil or strip, measuring 1.93 millimeters 
or 2.75 millimeters (0.076 inches or 0.108 inches) in thickness, 87.3 
millimeters or 99 millimeters (3.437 inches or 3.900 inches) in width, 
with a low carbon steel back comprised of: carbon under 8%, manganese 
under 0.4%, phosphorous under 0.04%, and sulfur under 0.05%; clad with 
aluminum alloy comprised of: 0.7% copper, 12% tin, 1.7% lead, 0.3% 
antimony, 2.5% silicon, 1% maximum total other (including iron), and 
remainder aluminum. Also excluded from this order are products meeting 
the following specifications: carbon steel coil or strip, clad with 
aluminum, measuring 1.75 millimeters (0.069 inches) in thickness, 89 
millimeters or 94 millimeters (3.500 inches or 3.700 inches) in width, 
with a low carbon steel back comprised of: carbon under 8%, manganese 
under 0.4%, phosphorous under 0.04%, and sulfur under 0.05%; clad with 
aluminum alloy comprised of: 0.7% copper, 12% tin, 1.7% lead, 2.5% 
silicon, 0.3% antimony, 1% maximum total other (including iron), and 
remainder aluminum. See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat 
Products From Japan: Notice of Final Results of Changed Circumstances 
Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping Duty Order, 66 FR 20967 
(April 26, 2001).
    Also excluded from this order are products meeting the following 
specifications: carbon steel coil or strip, measuring a minimum of and 
including 1.10mm to a maximum of and including 4.90mm in overall 
thickness, a minimum of and including 76.00mm to a maximum of and 
including 250.00mm in overall width, with a low carbon steel back 
comprised of: carbon under 0.10%, manganese under 0.40%, phosphorous 
under 0.04%, sulfur under 0.05%, and silicon under 0.05%; clad with 
aluminum alloy comprised of: under 2.51% copper, under 15.10% tin, and 
remainder aluminum as listed on the mill specification sheet. See 
Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: 
Notice of Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation 
in Part of Antidumping Duty Order, 67 FR 7356 (February 19, 2002).
    Also excluded from this order are products meeting the following 
specifications: (1) Diffusion annealed, non-alloy nickel-plated carbon 
products, with a substrate of cold-rolled battery grade sheet 
(``CRBG'') with both sides of the CRBG initially electrolytically 
plated with pure, unalloyed nickel and subsequently annealed to create 
a diffusion between the nickel and iron substrate, with the nickel 
plated coating having a thickness of 0-5 microns per side with one side 
equaling at least 2 microns; and with the nickel carbon sheet having a 
thickness of from 0.004'' (0.10mm) to 0.030'' (0.762mm) and conforming 
to the following chemical specifications (%): C < = 0.08; Mn < = 0.45; P 
< = 0.02; S < = 0.02; Al < = 0.15; and Si < = 0.10; and the following 
physical specifications: Tensile = 65 KSI maximum; Yield = 32-55 KSI; 
Elongation = 18% minimum (aim 34%); Hardness = 85-150 Vickers; Grain 
Type = Equiaxed or Pancake; Grain Size (ASTM) = 7-12; Delta r value = 
aim less than +/-0.2; Lankford value = < == 1.2.; and (2) next 
generation diffusion-annealed nickel plate meeting the following 
specifications: (a) nickel-graphite plated, diffusion annealed, tin-
nickel plated carbon products, with a natural composition mixture of 
nickel and graphite electrolytically plated to the top side of 
diffusion annealed tin-nickel plated carbon steel strip with a cold 
rolled or tin mill black plate base metal conforming to chemical 
requirements based on AISI 1006; having both sides of the cold rolled 
substrate electrolytically plated with natural nickel, with the top 
side of the nickel plated strip electrolytically plated with tin and 
then annealed to create a diffusion between the nickel and tin layers 
in which a nickel-tin alloy is created, and an additional layer of 
mixture of natural nickel and graphite then electrolytically plated on 
the top side of the strip of the nickel-tin alloy;

[[Page 70636]]

having a coating thickness: top side: nickel-graphite, tin-nickel layer 
< == 1.0 micrometers; tin layer only < == 0.05 micrometers, nickel-
graphite layer only < = 0.2 micrometers, and bottom side: nickel layer 
< == 1.0 micrometers; (b) nickel-graphite, diffusion annealed, nickel 
plated carbon products, having a natural composition mixture of nickel 
and graphite electrolytically plated to the top side of diffusion 
annealed nickel plated steel strip with a cold rolled or tin mill black 
plate base metal conforming to chemical requirements based on AISI 
1006; with both sides of the cold rolled base metal initially 
electrolytically plated with natural nickel, and the material then 
annealed to create a diffusion between the nickel and the iron 
substrate; with an additional layer of natural nickel-graphite then 
electrolytically plated on the top side of the strip of the nickel 
plated steel strip; with the nickel-graphite, nickel plated material 
sufficiently ductile and adherent to the substrate to permit forming 
without cracking, flaking, peeling, or any other evidence of 
separation; having a coating thickness: top side: nickel-graphite, tin-
nickel layer < == 1.0 micrometers; nickel-graphite layer < == 0.5 
micrometers; bottom side: nickel layer < == 1.0 micrometers; (c) 
diffusion annealed nickel-graphite plated products, which are cold-
rolled or tin mill black plate base metal conforming to the chemical 
requirements based on AISI 1006; having the bottom side of the base 
metal first electrolytically plated with natural nickel, and the top 
side of the strip then plated with a nickel-graphite composition; with 
the strip then annealed to create a diffusion of the nickel-graphite 
and the iron substrate on the bottom side; with the nickel-graphite and 
nickel plated material sufficiently ductile and adherent to the 
substrate to permit forming without cracking, flaking, peeling, or any 
other evidence of separation; having coating thickness: top side: 
nickel-graphite layer < == 1.0 micrometers; bottom side: nickel layer 
< == 1.0 micrometers; (d) nickel-phosphorous plated diffusion annealed 
nickel plated carbon product, having a natural composition mixture of 
nickel and phosphorus electrolytically plated to the top side of a 
diffusion annealed nickel plated steel strip with a cold rolled or tin 
mill black plate base metal conforming to the chemical requirements 
based on AISI 1006; with both sides of the base metal initially 
electrolytically plated with natural nickel, and the material then 
annealed to create a diffusion of the nickel and iron substrate; 
another layer of the natural nickel-phosphorous then electrolytically 
plated on the top side of the nickel plated steel strip; with the 
nickel-phosphorous, nickel plated material sufficiently ductile and 
adherent to the substrate to permit forming without cracking, flaking, 
peeling or any other evidence of separation; having a coating 
thickness: top side: nickel-phosphorous, nickel layer < == 1.0 
micrometers; nickel-phosphorous layer < == 0.1 micrometers; bottom side 
: nickel layer < == 1.0 micrometers; (e) diffusion annealed, tin-nickel 
plated products, electrolytically plated with natural nickel to the top 
side of a diffusion annealed tin-nickel plated cold rolled or tin mill 
black plate base metal conforming to the chemical requirements based on 
AISI 1006; with both sides of the cold rolled strip initially 
electrolytically plated with natural nickel, with the top side of the 
nickel plated strip electrolytically plated with tin and then annealed 
to create a diffusion between the nickel and tin layers in which a 
nickel-tin alloy is created, and an additional layer of natural nickel 
then electrolytically plated on the top side of the strip of the 
nickel-tin alloy; sufficiently ductile and adherent to the substrate to 
permit forming without cracking, flaking, peeling or any other evidence 
of separation; having coating thickness: top side: nickel-tin-nickel 
combination layer < == 1.0 micrometers; tin layer only < == 0.05 
micrometers; bottom side: nickel layer < == 1.0 micrometers; and (f) tin 
mill products for battery containers, tin and nickel plated on a cold 
rolled or tin mill black plate base metal conforming to chemical 
requirements based on AISI 1006; having both sides of the cold rolled 
substrate electrolytically plated with natural nickel; then annealed to 
create a diffusion of the nickel and iron substrate; then an additional 
layer of natural tin electrolytically plated on the top side; and again 
annealed to create a diffusion of the tin and nickel alloys; with the 
tin-nickel, nickel plated material sufficiently ductile and adherent to 
the substrate to permit forming without cracking, flaking, peeling or 
any other evidence of separation; having a coating thickness: top side: 
nickel-tin layer < == 1 micrometer; tin layer alone < == 0.05 
micrometers; bottom side: nickel layer < == 1.0 micrometer. See Certain 
Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Notice of 
Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part 
of Antidumping Duty Order, 67 FR 47768 (July 22, 2002).
    Also excluded from this order are products meeting the following 
specifications: (1) Widths ranging from 10 millimeters (0.394 inches) 
through 100 millimeters (3.94 inches); (2) thicknesses, including 
coatings, ranging from 0.11 millimeters (0.004 inches) through 0.60 
millimeters (0.024 inches); and (3) a coating that is from 0.003 
millimeters (0.00012 inches) through 0.005 millimeters (0.000196 
inches) in thickness and that is comprised of either two evenly applied 
layers, the first layer consisting of 99% zinc, 0.5% cobalt, and 0.5% 
molybdenum, followed by a layer consisting of phosphate, or three 
evenly applied layers, the first layer consisting of 99% zinc, 0.5% 
cobalt, and 0.5% molybdenum followed by a layer consisting of 
phosphate, and finally a layer consisting of silicate. See Certain 
Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Notice of 
Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part 
of Antidumping Duty Order, 67 FR 57208 (September 9, 2002).
    Also excluded from this order are products meeting the following 
specifications: (1) Flat-rolled products (provided for in HTSUS 
subheading 7210.49.00), other than of high-strength steel, known as 
``ASE Iron Flash'' and either: (A) having a base layer of zinc-based 
zinc-iron alloy applied by hot-dipping and a surface layer of iron-zinc 
alloy applied by electrolytic process, the weight of the coating and 
plating not over 40 percent by weight of zinc; or (B) two-layer-coated 
corrosion-resistant steel with a coating composed of (a) a base coating 
layer of zinc-based zinc-iron alloy by hot-dip galvanizing process, and 
(b) a surface coating layer of iron-zinc alloy by electro-galvanizing 
process, having an effective amount of zinc up to 40 percent by weight, 
and (2) corrosion resistant continuously annealed flat-rolled products, 
continuous cast, the foregoing with chemical composition (percent by 
weight): carbon not over 0.06 percent by weight, manganese 0.20 or more 
but not over 0.40, phosphorus not over 0.02, sulfur not over 0.023, 
silicon not over 0.03, aluminum 0.03 or more but not over 0.08, arsenic 
not over 0.02, copper not over 0.08 and nitrogen 0.003 or more but not 
over 0.008; and meeting the characteristics described below: (A) 
Products with one side coated with a nickel-iron-diffused layer which 
is less than 1 micrometer in thickness and the other side coated with a 
two-layer coating composed of a base nickel-iron-diffused coating layer 
and a surface coating layer of annealed and softened

[[Page 70637]]

pure nickel, with total coating thickness for both layers of more than 
2 micrometers; surface roughness (RA-microns) 0.18 or less; with 
scanning electron microscope (SEM) not revealing oxides greater than 1 
micron; and inclusion groups or clusters shall not exceed 5 microns in 
length; (B) products having one side coated with a nickel-iron-diffused 
layer which is less than 1 micrometer in thickness and the other side 
coated with a four-layer coating composed of a base nickel-iron-
diffused coating layer; with an inner middle coating layer of annealed 
and softened pure nickel, an outer middle surface coating layer of hard 
nickel and a topmost nickel-phosphorus-plated layer; with combined 
coating thickness for the four layers of more than 2 micrometers; 
surface roughness (RA-microns) 0.18 or less; with SEM not revealing 
oxides greater than 1 micron; and inclusion groups or clusters shall 
not exceed 5 microns in length; (C) products having one side coated 
with a nickel-iron-diffused layer which is less than 1 micrometer in 
thickness and the other side coated with a three-layer coating composed 
of a base nickel-iron-diffused coating layer, with a middle coating 
layer of annealed and softened pure nickel and a surface coating layer 
of hard, luster-agent-added nickel which is not heat-treated; with 
combined coating thickness for all three layers of more than 2 
micrometers; surface roughness (RA-microns) 0.18 or less; with SEM not 
revealing oxides greater than 1 micron; and inclusion groups or 
clusters shall not exceed 5 microns in length; or (D) products having 
one side coated with a nickel-iron-diffused layer which is less than 1 
micrometer in thickness and the other side coated with a three-layer 
coating composed of a base nickel-iron-diffused coating layer, with a 
middle coating layer of annealed and softened pure nickel and a surface 
coating layer of hard, pure nickel which is not heat-treated; with 
combined coating thickness for all three layers of more than 2 
micrometers; surface roughness (RA-microns) 0.18 or less; SEM not 
revealing oxides greater than 1 micron; and inclusion groups or 
clusters shall not exceed 5 microns in length. See Certain Corrosion-
Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Notice of Final 
Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part of 
Antidumping Duty Order, 68 FR 19970 (April 23, 2003).

Merchandise Subject to This Review

    Metal One defines certain diffusion annealed nickel-plate as 
meeting the following specifications:

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short description.........................  Diffusion annealed, non-
                                             alloy nickel-plated steel
                                             sheet (``cold rolled
                                             battery grade sheet'' or
                                             ``CRBG'') with an unalloyed
                                             nickel plated coating.
Thickness of nickel-plated coating........  0-8 microns with both sides
                                             having a coating of at
                                             least 0.2 microns.
Thickness of CRBG.........................  0.035 mm to 0.762 mm.
Chemical Specifications:
  Carbon (C)..............................  < =0.03
  Manganese (Mn)..........................  < =0.60
  Phosphorus (P)..........................  < =0.04
  Sulfur (S)..............................  < =0.04
  Aluminum (Al)...........................  < =0.15
  Silicon (Si)............................  < =0.10
Mechanical Specifications:
  Tensile strength........................  < =70 KSI Maximum
  Yield...................................  22-55 KSI
  Elongation..............................  18% Minimum
  Hardness................................  85-150 Vickers
  Grain Type..............................  Equiaxed or Pancake
  Grain Size (ASTM).......................  7-12
  Delta r value...........................  0.3
  Lankford value..........................  >=0.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Initiation of Changed Circumstances Review

    Pursuant to sections 751(d)(1) and 782(h)(2) of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended (the Act), the Department may revoke an antidumping or 
countervailing duty order based on a review under section 751(b) of the 
Act (i.e., a changed circumstances review). Section 751(b)(1) of the 
Act requires a changed circumstances review to be conducted upon 
receipt of a request which shows changed circumstances sufficient to 
warrant a review.
    Section 351.222(g) of the Department's regulations provides that 
the Department may revoke an order (in whole or in part), if it 
determines that producers accounting for substantially all of the 
production of the domestic like product to which the order (or the part 
of the order to be revoked) pertains have expressed a lack of interest 
in the relief provided by the order, in whole or in part, or if changed 
circumstances exist sufficient to warrant revocation. Section 
351.222(g)(2) of the Department's regulations require the Secretary to 
conduct a changed circumstance review under section 351.216 of the 
Department's regulations if at any time the Secretary concludes from 
the available information that changed circumstances sufficient to 
warrant revocation may exist.
    Citing the Department's July 22, 2002, final results of changed 
circumstances review, Metal One states that producers of the domestic 
like product to which the part of the order to be revoked pertains 
previously have expressed a lack of interest in the application of the 
order to virtually identical products. See Certain Corrosion-Resistant 
Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Notice of Final Results of 
Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping 
Duty Order, 67 FR 47768 (July 22, 2002). In this case, the Department 
finds that the information submitted provides sufficient evidence of 
changed circumstances to warrant review, therefore, the Department is 
initiating this changed circumstances review. Given Metal One's 
assertion, we will consider whether there is interest in continuing the 
order with respect to the product identified by this review on the part 
of the U.S. industry.

Public Comment

    Interested parties may submit comments which the Department will 
take into account in the preliminary results of this review. The due 
date for filing any such comments is no later than 20 days after 
publication of this notice. Responses to those comments may be 
submitted not later than 10 days following submission of the comments. 
All written comments must be submitted in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.303.
    The Department will publish in the Federal Register a notice of 
preliminary results of antidumping duty changed circumstances review, 
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4) and 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(i). 
This notice will set forth the factual and legal conclusions upon which 
our preliminary results are based and a description of any action 
proposed based on those results. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(ii), 
interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on the 
preliminary results of review. In accordance with section 751(b)(4)(B) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216(e), the Department will issue the final 
results of its antidumping duty changed circumstances review not later 
than 270 days after the date on which the review is initiated. We are 
issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with sections 
751(b)(1) and 777(I)(1) of the Act and section 351.216 of the 
Department's regulations.

    Dated: November 30, 2004.
James J. Jochum,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E4-3527 Filed 12-6-04; 8:45 am]