[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 111 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27775-27777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13623]



[[Page 27775]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-846]


Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From 
Japan: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

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

SUMMARY: On March 9, 2009, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
published in the Federal Register the preliminary results of the 
administrative review of the antidumping duty order on Certain Hot-
Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products (hot-rolled steel) 
from Japan. See Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel 
Products from Japan: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty, 74 FR 
10019 (March 9, 2009) (Preliminary Results). The administrative review 
covered JFE Steel Corporation (JFE), Nippon Steel Corporation (Nippon), 
and Kobe Steel, Ltd. (Kobe) for the period of review (POR) June 1, 2007 
through May 31, 2008. We provided interested parties the opportunity to 
comment on the preliminary results of the review. Because no interested 
parties provided comments on the preliminary results, we have made no 
changes to the dumping margins set forth in the preliminary results of 
this administrative review. For the margins applicable to each 
respondent, see the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

DATES: Effective Date: June 11, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Douthit, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office 6, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 9, 2009, the Department published in the Federal Register 
the preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping 
duty order on hot-rolled steel from Japan. See Preliminary Results. No 
interested parties filed comments in response to the Department's 
invitation to comment in the preliminary results.

Scope of the Order

    The merchandise covered by this order consists of 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 investigation, 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 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.10-0.14%...................  0.90% Max.......  0.025% Max......  0.005% Max......  0.30-0.50%......  0.50-0.70%......  0.20-0.40%......  0.20% Max
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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                 Mo
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.........  0.21% Max
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    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:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                C                          Mn                   P                    S                    Si                  Cr                  Cu                  Ni                V (wt.)               Cb
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.........  0.10% Max.........  0.08% 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:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                C                          Mn                   P                    S                  Si                  Cr                  Cu                  Ni                  Nb                  Ca                 Al
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.15% Max.......................  1.40% Max..........  0.025% Max.........  0.010% Max........  0.50% Max.........  1.00% Max.........  0.50% Max.........  0.20% Max.........  0.005% Min........  Treated...........  0.01-0.07%
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    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<SUP>2</SUP> and 640 N/
mm<SUP>2</SUP> and an elongation percentage 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 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 
inch nominal), mill edge and skin passed, with a minimum copper content 
of 0.20%.
    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, and 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 is 
dispositive.

Final Results of Review

    In the Preliminary Results, the Department applied adverse facts 
available to JFE, Nippon, and Kobe. See Preliminary Results, 74 FR 
10019. Neither petitioners nor respondents filed any comments on the 
Department's Preliminary Results. There is no new information on the 
record or evidence of a change in circumstances to warrant any changes 
to the antidumping margins determined in this Preliminary Results. As 
such, we have made no changes to the dumping margins applied to JFE, 
Nippon, and Kobe.
    The following dumping margins exist for the period June 1, 2007 
through May 31, 2008:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Margin
                    Manufacturer/exporter                      (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JFE Steel Corporation.......................................       40.26
Nippon Steel Corporation....................................       40.26
Kobe Steel Ltd..............................................       40.26
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Duty Assessment

    The Department will determine, and U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate 
entries, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b). We will direct CBP to assess 
the dumping rates listed above against all subject merchandise 
manufactured or exported by JFE, Nippon, and Kobe, that was entered or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the POR. The 
Department intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions 
directly to CBP 15 days after the date of publication of these final 
results of review.

Cash Deposit Requirement

    The following cash deposit rates will be effective with respect to 
all shipments of hot-rolled steel from Japan entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of these 
final results, as provided for by section 751(a)(1) of the Act: (1) For 
JFE, Nippon, and Kobe, the cash deposit rate shall be 40.26 percent; 
(2) for previously reviewed or investigated companies not listed above, 
the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate 
established for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a 
firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the LTFV investigation, 
but the manufacturer is, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the 
rate established for the most recent period for the manufacturer of the 
subject merchandise; and (4) if neither the exporter nor the 
manufacturer is a firm covered by this review, a prior review, or the 
LTFV investigation, the cash deposit rate shall be the all others rate 
established in the section 129 redetermination of the LTFV 
investigation, which is 22.92 percent. See Notice of Determination 
Under Section 129 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act: Antidumping 
Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel 
Products From

[[Page 27777]]

Japan, 67 FR 71936 (December 3, 2002). These deposit rates, when 
imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

Notification to Importers

    This notice serves as a final reminder to importers of their 
responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) 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 Secretary's presumption that 
reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent 
assessment of double antidumping duties.

Administrative Protective Orders

    This notice also serves as a 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 written 
notification of the return/destruction of APO materials or conversion 
to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply 
with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation that is subject 
to sanction.
    These final results of administrative review and this notice are 
issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 
777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: June 2, 2009.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-13623 Filed 6-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P