[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51440-51443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20403]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

(A-351-828)


Certain Hot-Rolled, Flat-Rolled Carbon Quality Steel Products 
from Brazil: Preliminary Notice of Intent to Rescind Administrative 
Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: In response to a request from Nucor Corporation, a domestic

[[Page 51441]]

interested party (``Nucor''), the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated an administrative review of the antidumping 
duty order on certain hot-rolled, flat-rolled carbon quality steel 
products (``hot rolled steel'') from Brazil. This review covers two 
manufacturer/exporters of the subject merchandise, Companhia 
Siderurgica Nacional (``CSN'') and Companhia Siderurgica de Tubarao 
(``CST''), and covers the period March 1, 2007, through February 29, 
2008. The Department intends to rescind this review after determining 
that the parties subject to this review did not have entries during the 
period of review (``POR'') upon which to assess antidumping duties.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 3, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Drury or Angelica Mendoza, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office 7, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-0195 
or (202) 482-3019, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department published an antidumping duty 
order on hot rolled steel from Brazil on March 12, 2002. See 
Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon Quality 
Steel Products from Brazil, 67 FR 11093 (March 12, 2002). The 
Department published a notice of ``Opportunity to Request an 
Administrative Review'' of the antidumping duty order for the period 
March 1, 2007, through February 29, 2008, on March 3, 2008. See 
Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended 
Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review, 73 FR 
11389 (March 3, 2008). Nucor requested that the Department conduct an 
administrative review of sales of merchandise covered by the order by 
CSN and CST on March 31, 2008. In response to the request from Nucor, 
the Department published the initiation of the antidumping duty 
administrative review on hot rolled steel from Brazil on April 25, 
2008, pursuant to section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(``the Act''). See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 73 FR 22337 
(April 25, 2008).
    On April 29, 2008, CSN submitted a letter to the Department stating 
that it had no shipments of hot rolled steel to the United States 
during the POR. On May 12, 2008, CST submitted a letter to the 
Department stating that it had no shipments of hot rolled steel to the 
United States during the POR. The Department issued a ``No Shipment 
Inquiry'' to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') on June 3, 
2008, to confirm that there were no shipments or entries of hot rolled 
steel from Brazil exported by CSN and CST during the POR of the instant 
administrative review. CBP only responds to the Department's inquiry 
when CBP finds that there have been shipments. CBP did not respond to 
the Department's inquiry, and no party submitted comments. Based on 
this information, on June 24, 2008, the Department determined that 
neither CSN nor CST had any shipments or entries of hot rolled steel 
from Brazil during the review period. See Memorandum to the File, 
through Angelica Mendoza, Program Manager, from John Drury, Senior Case 
Analyst: Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) and Companhia Siderurgica 
de Tubarao (CST) - No Shipments of Hot-Rolled, Flat-Rolled Carbon 
Quality Steel Products from Brazil Pursuant to U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection Inquiry, dated June 24, 2008.

Scope of the Order

    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 this 
order.
    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 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 order:
<bullet> 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).
<bullet> SAE/AISI grades of series 2300 and higher.
<bullet> Ball bearing steels, as defined in the HTSUS.
<bullet> Tool steels, as defined in the HTSUS.
<bullet> Silico-manganese (as defined in the HTSUS) or silicon 
electrical steel with a silicon level exceeding 1.50 percent.
<bullet> ASTM specifications A710 and A736.
<bullet> USS Abrasion-resistant steels (USS AR 400, USS AR 500).
<bullet> Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    C                           Mn               P               S              Si              Cr              Cu              Ni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.10-...................................            0.90           0.025           0.005            0.30             0.3             0.2            0.20
0.14[percnt]............................        [percnt]    [percnt] Max        [percnt]               -             0 -             0 -        [percnt]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 51442]]

Width = 44.80 inches maximum; Thickness = 0.063-0.198 inches; Yield 
Strength = 50,000 ksi minimum; Tensile Strength = 70,000-88,000 psi.
<bullet> Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    C                           Mn               P               S              Si              Cr              Cu              Ni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.10-...................................          0.70 -   0.025[percnt]           0.006          0.30 -             0.3            0.25            0.20
0.16....................................            0.90             Max        [percnt]            0.50             0 -        [percnt]        [percnt]
[percnt]................................        [percnt]  ..............             Max        [percnt]             0.5             Max             Max
Mo......................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............       0[percnt]  ..............  ..............
0.21....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
[percnt]................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
Max.....................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Width = 44.80 inches maximum; Thickness = 0.350 inches maximum; Yield 
Strength = 80,000 ksi minimum; Tensile Strength = 105,000 psi Aim.
<bullet> Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    C                           Mn               P               S              Si              Cr              Cu              Ni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.10-...................................          1.30 -   0.025[percnt]           0.005          0.30 -             0.5            0.20            0.20
0.14....................................            1.80             Max        [percnt]            0.50             0 -               -        [percnt]
[percnt]................................        [percnt]  ..............             Max        [percnt]             0.7            0.40             Max
V(wt)...................................              Cb  ..............  ..............  ..............       0[percnt]        [percnt]  ..............
0.10....................................            0.08  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
[percnt]................................        [percnt]  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
Max.....................................             Max  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Width = 44.80 inches maximum; Thickness = 0.350 inches maximum; Yield 
Strength = 80,000 ksi minimum; Tensile Strength = 105,000 psi Aim.
<bullet> Hot-rolled steel coil which meets the following chemical, 
physical and mechanical specifications.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    C                           Mn               P               S              Si              Cr              Cu              Ni
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.15[percnt]............................             1.4           0.025           0.010            0.50             1.0             0.5            0.20
Max.....................................       0[percnt]    [percnt] Max     [percnt]Max        [percnt]       0[percnt]       0[percnt]        [percnt]
Nb......................................             Max              Al  ..............             Max              Ma             Max             Max
0.005...................................              Ca          0.01 -  ..............  ..............               x  ..............  ..............
[percnt] Min............................         Treated    0.70[percnt]  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Width = 39.37 inches; Thickness = 0.181 inches maximum; Yield Strength 
= 70,000 psi minimum for thickness 0.148 inches and 65,000 psi minimum 
for ``thicknesses'' > 0.148 inches; account for 64 FR 38650; Tensile 
Strength = 80,000 psi minimum.
<bullet> 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<SUP>2</SUP> and 640 N/
mm<SUP>2</SUP> and an elongation percentage [gteqt] 26 percent for 
thicknesses of 2 mm and above, or (ii) a tensile strength between 590 
N/mm<SUP>2</SUP> and 690 N/mm<SUP>2</SUP> and an elongation percentage 
[gteqt] 25 percent for thicknesses of 2 mm and above.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> 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[percnt].
    The merchandise subject to this order is currently 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 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 this order 
is dispositive.

[[Page 51443]]

Intent To Rescind Administrative Review

    Pursuant to 19 CFR Sec.  351.213(d)(3), the Department may rescind 
an administrative review if it concludes that during the POR there were 
no entries, exports, or sales of the subject merchandise. The 
Department's practice, supported by substantial precedent, requires 
that there be entries during the POR upon which to assess antidumping 
duties. See, e.g., Stainless Steel Bar from Italy: Preliminary Results 
and Partial Rescission of Administrative Review, 70 FR 17656 (April 7, 
2005) affirmed in Stainless Steel Bar from Italy: Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Rescission of Review, 70 FR 
46480 (August 10, 2005).
    Both CSN and CST certified that they had no entries of subject 
merchandise during the 2007-2008 POR, which the Department confirmed on 
the basis of official data from CBP. Therefore, we have preliminarily 
determined to rescind the 2007-2008 administrative review.

Public Comment

    Interested parties may submit case briefs not later than 20 days 
after the date of publication of this notice. See 19 CFR Sec.  
351.309(c). Rebuttal briefs, which must be limited to issues raised in 
such briefs, must be filed not later than 7 days from the case brief 
after the date of publication of this notice. See 19 CFR Sec.  
351.309(d). Parties who submit arguments are requested to submit with 
the argument (1) a statement of the issue, (2) a brief summary of the 
argument, and (3) a table of authorities. Further, parties submitting 
written comments should provide the Department with an additional copy 
of the public version of any such comments on diskette. An interested 
party may request a hearing within 20 days of publication of this 
notice. Any hearing, if requested, will be held 34 days after the date 
of publication of this notice, or the first working day thereafter. See 
19 CFR Sec.  351.310. We will issue our final decision concerning the 
conduct of the review no later than 120 days from the date of 
publication of this notice.
    This notice is published in accordance with section 777(i)(1) of 
the Act and 19 CFR Sec.  351.213(d)(4).

    Dated: August 25, 2008.
Stephen J. Claeys,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E8-20403 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S