CSMS Message: 16-000356

Announcement of Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations: Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, South Africa, Taiwan, and the Republic of Turkey.

Announcement of Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations: Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Brazil, the Republic of Korea, and the People's Republic of China

On April 28, 2016, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated its less-than-fair-value duty investigations on “Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the People's Republic of China, South Africa, Taiwan, and the Republic of Turkey” and countervailing duty investigations on “Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Brazil, the Republic of Korea, and the People's Republic of China” (Initiation Notices). These investigations have been assigned the following case numbers: C-351-848 (Brazil), C-570-048 (People's Republic of China), C-580-888 (Republic of Korea), A-433-812 (Austria), A-423-812 (Belgium), A-351-847 (Brazil), A-427-828 (France), A-428-844 (the Federal Republic of Germany), A-475-834 (Italy), A-588-875 (Japan), A-580-887 (the Republic of Korea), A-570-047 (the People's Republic of China), A-791-822 (South Africa), A-583-858 (Taiwan), A-489-828 (the Republic of Turkey).

The Scope of Merchandise covered by these investigations reads as follows:

The products covered by these investigations are certain carbon and alloy steel hot-rolled or forged flat plate products not in coils, whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances (cut-to-length plate). Subject merchandise includes plate that is produced by being cut-to-length from coils or from other discrete length plate and plate that is rolled or forged into a discrete length. The products covered include (1) Universal mill plates (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, which are not in coils and without patterns in relief), and (2) hot-rolled or forged flat steel products of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more and of a width which exceeds 150 mm and measures at least twice the thickness, and which are not in coils, whether or not with patterns in relief. The covered products described above may be rectangular, square, circular or other shapes and include products of either rectangular or non-rectangular cross-section where such non-rectangular cross-section is achieved subsequent to the rolling process, i.e., products which have been “worked after rolling” (e.g., products which have been beveled or rounded at the edges).

For purposes of the width and thickness requirements referenced above, the following rules apply:

(1) except where otherwise stated where the nominal and actual thickness or width measurements vary, a product from a given subject country is within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions set forth above unless the product is already covered by an order existing on that specific country (e.g., orders on hot-rolled flat-rolled steel); and
(2) where the width and thickness vary for a specific product (e.g., the thickness of certain products with non-rectangular cross-section, the width of certain products with non-rectangular shape, etc.), the measurement at its greatest width or thickness applies.

Steel products included in the scope of these investigations are products in which:

(1) iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; and
(2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less by weight.
Subject merchandise includes cut-to-length plate that has been further processed in the subject country or a third country, including but not limited to pickling, oiling, levelling, annealing, tempering, temper rolling, skin passing, painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, beveling, and/or slitting, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the cut-to-length plate.

All products that meet the written physical description, are within the scope of these investigations unless specifically excluded or covered by the scope of an existing order. The following products are outside of, and/or specifically excluded from, the scope of these investigations:

(1) products clad, plated, or coated with metal, whether or not painted, varnished or coated with plastic or other non-metallic substances;
(2) military grade armor plate certified to one of the following specifications or to a specification that references and incorporates one of the following specifications:
• MIL-A-12560,
• MIL-DTL-12560H,
• MIL-DTL-12560J,
• MIL-DTL-12560K,
• MIL-DTL-32332,
• MIL-A-46100D,
• MIL-DTL-46100-E,
• MIL-46177C,
• MIL-S-16216K Grade HY80,
• MIL-S-16216K Grade HY100,
• MIL-S-24645A HSLA-80;
• MIL-S-24645A HSLA-100,
• T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HY80,
• T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HY100,
• T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HSLA80,
• T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Grade HSLA100, and
• T9074-BD-GIB-010/0300 Mod. Grade HSLA115,
except that any cut-to-length plate certified to one of the above specifications, or to a military grade armor specification that references and incorporates one of the above specifications, will not be excluded from the scope if it is also dual- or multiple-certified to any other non-armor specification that otherwise would fall within the scope of this order;
(3) stainless steel plate, containing 10.5 percent or more of chromium by weight;
(4) CTL plate meeting the requirements of ASTM A-829, Grade E 4340 that are over 305 mm in actual thickness;
(5) Alloy forged and rolled CTL plate greater than or equal to 152.4 mm in actual thickness meeting each of the following requirements:
(a) Electric furnace melted, ladle refined & vacuum degassed and having a chemical composition (expressed in weight percentages):
• Carbon 0.23-0.28,
• Silicon 0.05-0.20,
• Manganese 1.20-1.60,
• Nickel not greater than 1.0,
• Sulfur not greater than 0.007,
• Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
• Chromium 1.0-2.5,
• Molybdenum 0.35-0.80,
• Boron 0.002-0.004,
• Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
• Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
• Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm;
(b) With a Brinell hardness measured in all parts of the product including mid thickness falling within one of the following ranges:
(i) 270-300 HBW,
(ii) 290-320 HBW, or
(iii) 320-350HBW;
(c) Having cleanliness in accordance with ASTM E45 method A (Thin and Heavy): A not exceeding 1.5, B not exceeding 1.0, C not exceeding 0.5, D not exceeding 1.5; and
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578-S9 ultrasonic testing requirements with acceptance criteria 2 mm flat bottom hole;
(6) Alloy forged and rolled steel CTL plate over 407 mm in actual thickness and meeting the following requirements:
(a) Made from Electric Arc Furnace melted, Ladle refined & vacuum degassed, alloy steel with the following chemical composition (expressed in weight percentages):
• Carbon 0.23-0.28,
• Silicon 0.05-0.15,
• Manganese 1.20-1.50,
• Nickel not greater than 0.4,
• Sulfur not greater than 0.010,
• Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
• Chromium 1.20-1.50,
• Molybdenum 0.35-0.55,
• Boron 0.002-0.004,
• Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
• Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
• Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm;
(b) Having cleanliness in accordance with ASTM E45 method A (Thin and Heavy): A not exceeding 1.5, B not exceeding 1.5, C not exceeding 1.0, D not exceeding 1.5;
(c) Having the following mechanical properties:
(i) With a Brinell hardness not more than 237 HBW measured in all parts of the product including mid thickness; and having a Yield Strength of 75ksi min and UTS 95ksi or more, Elongation of 18% or more and Reduction of area 35% or more; having charpy V at -75 degrees F in the longitudinal direction equal or greater than 15 ft. lbs (single value) and equal or greater than 20 ft. lbs (average of 3 specimens) and conforming to the requirements of NACE MR01-75; or
(ii) With a Brinell hardness not less than 240 HBW measured in all parts of the product including mid thickness; and having a Yield Strength of 90 ksi min and UTS 110 ksi or more, Elongation of 15% or more and Reduction of area 30% or more; having charpy V at -40 degrees F in the longitudinal direction equal or greater than 21 ft. lbs (single value) and equal or greater than 31 ft. lbs (average of 3 specimens);
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578-S9 ultrasonic testing requirements with acceptance criteria 3.2 mm flat bottom hole; and
(e) Conforming to magnetic particle inspection in accordance with AMS 2301;
(7)Alloy forged and rolled steel CTL plate over 407 mm in actual thickness and meeting the following requirements:
(a) Made from Electric Arc Furnace melted, ladle refined & vacuum degassed, alloy steel with the following chemical composition (expressed in weight percentages):
• Carbon 0.25-0.30,
• Silicon not greater than 0.25,
• Manganese not greater than 0.50,
• Nickel 3.0-3.5,
• Sulfur not greater than 0.010,
• Phosphorus not greater than 0.020,
• Chromium 1.0-1.5,
• Molybdenum 0.6-0.9,
• Vanadium 0.08 to 0.12
• Boron 0.002-0.004,
• Oxygen not greater than 20 ppm,
• Hydrogen not greater than 2 ppm, and
• Nitrogen not greater than 60 ppm.
(b) Having cleanliness in accordance with ASTM E45 method A (Thin and Heavy): A not exceeding 1.0(t) and 0.5(h), B not exceeding 1.5(t) and 1.0(h), C not exceeding 1.0(t) and 0.5(h), and D not exceeding 1.5(t) and 1.0(h);
(c) Having the following mechanical properties: A Brinell hardness not less than 350 HBW measured in all parts of the product including mid thickness; and having a Yield Strength of 145ksi or more and UTS 160ksi or more, Elongation of 15% or more and Reduction of area 35% or more; having charpy V at -40 degrees F in the transverse direction equal or greater than 20 ft. lbs (single value) and equal or greater than 25 ft. lbs (average of 3 specimens);
(d) Conforming to ASTM A578-S9 ultrasonic testing requirements with acceptance criteria 3.2 mm flat bottom hole; and
(e) Conforming to magnetic particle inspection in accordance with AMS 2301.
At the time of the filing of the petition, there was an existing antidumping duty order on certain cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate products from Korea. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cut-To-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products from Korea, 64 Fed. Reg. 73,196 (Dep’t Commerce Dec. 29, 1999), as amended, 65 Fed. Reg. 6,585 (Dep’t Commerce Feb 10, 2000) (1999 Korea AD Order). The scope of the antidumping duty investigation with regard to cut-to-length plate from Korea covers only (1) subject cut-to-length plate not within the physical description of cut-to-length carbon quality steel plate in the 1999 Korea AD Order, regardless of producer or exporter; and (2) cut-to-length plate produced and/or exported by those companies that were excluded or revoked from the 1999 Korea AD Order as of April 8, 2016. The only revoked or excluded company is Pohang Iron and Steel Company, also known as POSCO.

At the time of the filing of the petition, there was an existing countervailing duty order on certain cut-to-length carbon-quality steel plate from Korea. See Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate From the Republic of Korea, 64 Fed. Reg. 73,176 (Dep’t Commerce Dec. 29, 1999), as amended, 65 Fed. Reg. 6,587 (Dep’t Commerce Feb. 10, 2000) (1999 Korea CVD Order). The scope of the countervailing duty investigation with regard to cut-to-length plate from Korea covers only (1) subject cut-to-length plate not within the physical description of cut-to-length carbon quality steel plate in the 1999 Korea CVD Order regardless of producer or exporter, and (2) cut-to-length plate produced and/or exported by those companies that were excluded or revoked from the 1999 Korea CVD Order as of April 8, 2016. The only revoked or excluded company is Pohang Iron and Steel Company, also known as POSCO.

Excluded from the scope of the antidumping duty investigation on cut-to-length plate from China are any products covered by the existing antidumping duty order on certain cut-to-length carbon steel plate from the People's Republic of China. See Suspension Agreement on Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate From the People's Republic of China; Termination of Suspension Agreement and Notice of Antidumping Duty Order, 68 Fed. Reg. 60,081 (Dep’t Commerce Oct. 21, 2003), as amended, Affirmative Final Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate From the People's Republic of China, 76 Fed. Reg. 50,996, 50,996-97 (Dep’t of Commerce Aug. 17, 2011). On August 17, 2011, the U.S. Department of Commerce found that the order covered all imports of certain cut-to-length carbon steel plate products with 0.0008 percent or more boron, by weight, from China not meeting all of the following requirements: aluminum level of 0.02 percent or greater, by weight; a ratio of 3.4 to 1 or greater, by weight, of titanium to nitrogen; and a hardenability test (i.e., Jominy test) result indicating a boron factor of 1.8 or greater.

The products subject to the investigations are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers: 7208.40.3030, 7208.40.3060, 7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045, 7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 7211.13.0000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7225.40.1110, 7225.40.1180, 7225.40.3005, 7225.40.3050, 7226.20.0000, and 7226.91.5000.

The products subject to the investigations may also enter under the following HTSUS item numbers: 7208.40.6060, 7208.53.0000, 7208.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000, 7211.19.1500, 7211.19.2000, 7211.19.4500, 7211.19.6000, 7211.19.7590, 7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, 7214.10.000, 7214.30.0010, 7214.30.0080, 7214.91.0015, 7214.91.0060, 7214.91.0090, 7225.11.0000, 7225.19.0000, 7225.40.5110, 7225.40.5130, 7225.40.5160, 7225.40.7000, 7225.99.0010, 7225.99.0090, 7206.11.1000, 7226.11.9060, 7229.19.1000, 7226.19.9000, 7226.91.0500, 7226.91.1530, 7226.91.1560, 7226.91.2530, 7226.91.2560, 7226.91.7000, 7226.91.8000, and 7226.99.0180.

The HTSUS subheadings above are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of the scope of the investigations is dispositive.

Requirements For Submitting Comments On The Scope Of The Investigations: Please be sure to comply with all three requirements established below.

Deadline for Submitting Comments:

As announced in the Initiation Notices, Commerce is setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (scope). The period for scope comments is intended to provide Commerce with ample opportunity to consider all comments and to consult with parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determination, as appropriate. If scope comments include factual information (see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)), all such factual information should be limited to public information. Commerce requests that all such comments be filed by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on May 18, 2016, which is 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on May 31, 2016, which is 10 calendar days after the initial comments deadline. Commerce requests that any factual information the parties consider relevant to the scope of the investigations be submitted during this time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigations may be relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to submit the additional information. All such comments must be filed on the records of each of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations identified above.

Required Entry of Appearance:

Parties wishing to participate in this segment and be included on the public service list must file a letter of appearance. Section 351.103(d)(1) of Commerce's regulations states that “with the exception of a petitioner filing a petition in an investigation, to be included on the public service list for a particular segment, each interested party must file a letter of appearance.” The letter of appearance must be filed separately from any other document (with the exception of an application for APO access). Note, the letter of appearance must state how the party qualifies as an interested party (e.g., an exporter, producer, importer of the subject merchandise) and must include a point of contact, including address, telephone/fax number and email address.

All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time, typically 5 p.m., and date when it is due. Documents excepted from the electronic submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) with Enforcement and Compliance's APO/Dockets Unit, Room 18022, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, and stamped with the date and time of receipt by the applicable deadlines.

For your convenience, Commerce has the following resources available online to assist you in complying with these electronic filing procedures:

ACCESS: Help Link
https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx

ACCESS: External User Guide https://access.trade.gov/help/ACCESS%20User%20Guide.pdf

ACCESS: Handbook on Electronic Filing Procedures
https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf

Federal Register notice: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011)
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-06/pdf/2011-16352.pdf

Enforcement and Compliance: Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 (November 20, 2014)
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-11-20/pdf/2014-27530.pdf

Enforcement and Compliance: General Filing Requirements http://enforcement.trade.gov/filing/index.html

Required Certifications:
Please note that the following certification requirements are in effect for company / government officials as well as their representatives. In all segments of antidumping duty or countervailing duty proceedings initiated on or after August 16, 2013, parties submitting factual information must use the formats for the certifications provided at the end of the Final Rule. See Certification of Factual Information to Import Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule). See also the frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule, available at:

http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.

For Further Information Contact AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230:

Edythe Artman at (202) 482-3931 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from Austria);
Elizabeth Eastwood at (202) 482-3874 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from Belgium);
Elizabeth Eastwood at (202) 482-3874 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from Italy);
Mark Kennedy at (202) 482-7883 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from Brazil);
Brandon Custard at (202) 482-1823 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from the Federal Republic of Germany);
Terre Keaton Stefanova at (202) 482-1280 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from France);
Kabir Archuletta at (202) 482-2593 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from Japan);
Steve Bezirganian at (202) 482-1131 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from the Republic of Korea);
Ryan Mullen at (202) 482-5260 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from the People's Republic of China);
Julia Hancock at (202) 482-1394 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from South Africa);
Tyler Weinhold at (202) 482-1121 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from Taiwan);
Dmitry Vladimirov at (202) 482-0665 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from the Republic of Turkey);
Nicholas Czajkowski at (202) 482-1395 (Countervailing Duty Investigation from Brazil);
Katie Marksberry at (202) 482-7906 (Countervailing Duty Investigation from the People's Republic of China);
John Drury at (202) 482-0195 (Countervailing Duty Investigation from the Republic of Korea).