68 FR 13267, March 19, 2003
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-580-835]
Final Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review: Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip From the
Republic of Korea
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of final results of countervailing duty administrative
review.
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SUMMARY: On September 10, 2002, the Department of Commerce (the
Department) published in the Federal Register its preliminary results
and partial rescission of administrative review of the countervailing
duty order on stainless steel sheet and strip from the Republic of
Korea for the period January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000 (67 FR
57395) (Preliminary Results). The Department has now completed this
administrative review in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).
Based on information received since the Preliminary Results and our
analysis of the comments received, the Department has revised the net
subsidy rate for Inchon Iron and Steel Co. (Inchon) The final net
subsidy rate for the reviewed company is listed below in the section
entitled ``Final Results of Review.''
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 19, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tipten Troidl or Carrie Farley, Office
of AD/CVD Enforcement VI, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
2786.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(b), this review covers only those
producers or exporters of the subject merchandise for which a review
was specifically requested. Accordingly, this review covers Inchon.
This review covers the period January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000
and eighteen (18) programs.
On August 6, 1999, the Department published in the Federal Register
the countervailing duty order on stainless steel sheet and strip in
coils from the Republic of Korea. See Amended Final Determination:
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from the Republic of Korea;
and Notice of Countervailing Duty Orders: Stainless Steel Sheet and
Strip from France, Italy and the Republic of Korea, 64 FR 42923 (August
6, 1999). In addition, we published the Amended Final Results of
Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: Stainless Steel Sheet and
Strip in Coils from the Republic of Korea, 67 FR 8229 (February 22,
2002) and published the Final Results and Partial Rescission of
Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: Stainless Steel Sheet and
Strip in Coils from the Republic of Korea, 67 FR 1964 (January 15,
2002) and the accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (January 8,
2002).
Rescission of Sammi Steel Co., Ltd. (Sammi)
As noted in the Preliminary Results, Sammi did not export subject
merchandise to the U.S. during the POR, and the Department preliminary
found that Sammi and Inchon were not cross-owned. See 67 FR 57398.
Therefore, the Department intended to rescind the administrative review
for Sammi. As discussed in the Decision Memorandum, we affirm our
decision from the Preliminary Results and are rescinding the review for
Sammi.
We published the Preliminary Results of the instant administrative
review in the Federal Register on September 10, 2002 (67 FR 57395). We
invited interested parties to comment on the results. On January 10,
2003, we received case briefs from petitioners and respondents. On
January 17, 2003, we received rebuttal briefs from petitioners and
respondents.
Scope of the Review
For purposes of this review, the products covered are certain
stainless steel sheet and strip in coils. Stainless steel is an alloy
steel containing, by weight, 1.2 percent or less of carbon and 10.5
percent or more of chromium, with or without other elements. The
subject sheet and strip is a flat-rolled product in coils that is
greater than 9.5 mm in width and less than 4.75 mm in thickness, and
that is annealed or otherwise heat treated and pickled or otherwise
descaled. The subject sheet and strip may also be further processed
(e.g., cold-rolled, polished, aluminized, coated, etc.) provided that
it maintains the specific dimensions of sheet and strip following such
processing.
The merchandise subject to this review is classified in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheadings:
7219.13.00.30, 7219.13.00.50, 7219.13.00.70, 7219.13.00.80,
7219.14.00.30, 7219.14.00.65, 7219.14.00.90, 7219.32.00.05,
7219.32.00.20, 7219.32.00.25, 7219.32.00.35, 7219.32.00.36,
7219.32.00.38, 7219.32.00.42, 7219.32.00.44, 7219.33.00.05,
7219.33.00.20, 7219.33.00.25, 7219.33.00.35, 7219.33.00.36,
7219.33.00.38, 7219.33.00.42, 7219.33.00.44, 7219.34.00.05,
7219.34.00.20, 7219.34.00.25, 7219.34.00.30, 7219.34.00.35,
7219.35.00.05, 7219.35.00.15, 7219.35.00.30,
[[Page 13268]]
7219.35.00.35, 7219.90.00.10, 7219.90.00.20, 7219.90.00.25,
7219.90.00.60, 7219.90.00.80, 7220.12.10.00, 7220.12.50.00,
7220.20.10.10, 7220.20.10.15, 7220.20.10.60, 7220.20.10.80,
7220.20.60.05, 7220.20.60.10, 7220.20.60.15, 7220.20.60.60,
7220.20.60.80, 7220.20.70.05, 7220.20.70.10, 7220.20.70.15,
7220.20.70.60, 7220.20.70.80, 7220.20.80.00, 7220.20.90.30,
7220.20.90.60, 7220.90.00.10, 7220.90.00.15, 7220.90.00.60, and
7220.90.00.80. Although the HTS subheadings are provided for
convenience and Customs purposes, the Department's written description
of the merchandise is dispositive.
Excluded from the scope of this order are the following: (1) Sheet
and strip that is not annealed or otherwise heat treated and pickled or
otherwise descaled, (2) sheet and strip that is cut to length, (3)
plate (i.e., flat-rolled stainless steel products of a thickness of
4.75 mm or more), (4) flat wire (i.e., cold-rolled sections, with a
prepared edge, rectangular in shape, of a width of not more than 9.5
mm), and (5) razor blade steel. Razor blade steel is a flat rolled
product of stainless steel, not further worked than cold-rolled (cold-
reduced), in coils, of a width of not more than 23 mm and a thickness
of 0.266 mm or less, containing, by weight, 12.5 to 14.5 percent
chromium, and certified at the time of entry to be used in the
manufacture of razor blades. See Chapter 72 of the HTSUS, ``Additional
U.S. Note'' 1(d).
The Department has determined that certain specialty stainless
steel products are also excluded from the scope of this order. These
excluded products are described below:
Flapper valve steel is defined as stainless steel strip in coils
containing, by weight, between 0.37 and 0.43 percent carbon, between
1.15 and 1.35 percent molybdenum, and between 0.20 and 0.80 percent
manganese. This steel also contains, by weight, phosphorus of 0.025
percent or less, silicon of between 0.20 and 0.50 percent, and sulfur
of 0.020 percent or less. The product is manufactured by means of
vacuum arc remelting, with inclusion controls for sulphide of no more
than 0.04 percent and for oxide of no more than 0.05 percent. Flapper
valve steel has a tensile strength of between 210 and 300 ksi, yield
strength of between 170 and 270 ksi, plus or minus 8 ksi, and a
hardness (Hv) of between 460 and 590. Flapper valve steel is most
commonly used to produce specialty flapper valves in compressors.
Also excluded is a product referred to as suspension foil, a
specialty steel product used in the manufacture of suspension
assemblies for computer disk drives. Suspension foil is described as
302/304 grade or 202 grade stainless steel of a thickness between 14
and 127 microns, with a thickness tolerance of plus-or-minus 2.01
microns, and surface glossiness of 200 to 700 percent Gs. Suspension
foil must be supplied in coil widths of not more than 407 mm, and with
a mass of 225 kg or less. Roll marks may only be visible on one side,
with no scratches of measurable depth. The material must exhibit
residual stresses of 2 mm maximum deflection, and flatness of 1.6 mm
over 685 mm length.
Certain stainless steel foil for automotive catalytic converters is
also excluded from the scope of this order. This stainless steel strip
in coils is a specialty foil with a thickness of between 20 and 110
microns used to produce a metallic substrate with a honeycomb structure
for use in automotive catalytic converters. The steel contains, by
weight, carbon of no more than 0.030 percent, silicon of no more than
1.0 percent, manganese of no more than 1.0 percent, chromium of between
19 and 22 percent, aluminum of no less than 5.0 percent, phosphorus of
no more than 0.045 percent, sulfur of no more than 0.03 percent,
lanthanum of between 0.002 and 0.05 percent, and total rare earth
elements of more than 0.06 percent, with the balance iron.
Permanent magnet iron-chromium-cobalt alloy stainless strip is also
excluded from the scope of this order. This ductile stainless steel
strip contains, by weight, 26 to 30 percent chromium, and 7 to 10
percent cobalt, with the remainder of iron, in widths 228.6 mm or less,
and a thickness between 0.127 and 1.270 mm. It exhibits magnetic
remanence between 9,000 and 12,000 gauss, and a coercivity of between
50 and 300 oersteds. This product is most commonly used in electronic
sensors and is currently available under proprietary trade names such
as ``Arnokrome III.'' \1\
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\1\ ``Arnokrome III'' is a trademark of the Arnold Engineering
Company.
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Certain electrical resistance alloy steel is also excluded from the
scope of this order. This product is defined as a non-magnetic
stainless steel manufactured to American Society of Testing and
Materials (ASTM) specification B344 and containing, by weight, 36
percent nickel, 18 percent chromium, and 46 percent iron, and is most
notable for its resistance to high temperature corrosion. It has a
melting point of 1390 degrees Celsius and displays a creep rupture
limit of 4 kilograms per square millimeter at 1000 degrees Celsius.
This steel is most commonly used in the production of heating ribbons
for circuit breakers and industrial furnaces, and in rheostats for
railway locomotives. The product is currently available under
proprietary trade names such as ``Gilphy 36.'' \2\
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\2\ ``Gilphy 36'' is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
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Certain martensitic precipitation-hardenable stainless steel is
also excluded from the scope of this order. This high-strength, ductile
stainless steel product is designated under the Unified Numbering
System (UNS) as S45500-grade steel, and contains, by weight, 11 to 13
percent chromium, and 7 to 10 percent nickel. Carbon, manganese,
silicon and molybdenum each comprise, by weight, 0.05 percent or less,
with phosphorus and sulfur each comprising, by weight, 0.03 percent or
less. This steel has copper, niobium, and titanium added to achieve
aging, and will exhibit yield strengths as high as 1700 Mpa and
ultimate tensile strengths as high as 1750 Mpa after aging, with
elongation percentages of 3 percent or less in 50 mm. It is generally
provided in thicknesses between 0.635 and 0.787 mm, and in widths of
25.4 mm. This product is most commonly used in the manufacture of
television tubes and is currently available under proprietary trade
names such as ``Durphynox 17.'' \3\
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\3\ ``Durphynox 17'' is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
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Finally, three specialty stainless steels typically used in certain
industrial blades and surgical and medical instruments are also
excluded from the scope of this order. These include stainless steel
strip in coils used in the production of textile cutting tools (e.g.,
carpet knives).\4\ This steel is similar to ASTM grade 440F, but
containing, by weight, 0.5 to 0.7 percent of molybdenum. The steel also
contains, by weight, carbon of between 1.0 and 1.1 percent, sulfur of
0.020 percent or less, and includes between 0.20 and 0.30 percent
copper and between 0.20 and 0.50 percent cobalt. This steel is sold
under proprietary names such as ``GIN4 HI-C.'' The second excluded
stainless steel strip in coils is similar to AISI 420-J2 and contains,
by weight, carbon of between 0.62 and 0.70 percent, silicon of between
0.20 and 0.50 percent, manganese of between 0.45 and 0.80 percent,
phosphorus of no more than 0.025 percent and sulfur of no more than
0.020 percent. This steel has a carbide density on average of 100
carbide particles per square micron. An
[[Page 13269]]
example of this product is ``GIN5'' steel. The third specialty steel
has a chemical composition similar to AISI 420 F, with carbon of
between 0.37 and 0.43 percent, molybdenum of between 1.15 and 1.35
percent, but lower manganese of between 0.20 and 0.80 percent,
phosphorus of no more than 0.025 percent, silicon of between 0.20 and
0.50 percent, and sulfur of no more than 0.020 percent. This product is
supplied with a hardness of more than Hv 500 guaranteed after customer
processing, and is supplied as, for example, ``GIN6.''
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\4\ This list of uses is illustrative and provided for
descriptive purposes only.
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Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties to
this review are addressed in the ``Issues and Decision Memorandum:
Final Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review: Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the
Republic of Korea'' (Decision Memorandum) dated March 10, 2003, which
is hereby adopted by this notice. A list of issues which parties have
raised and to which we have responded, all of which are in the Decision
Memorandum, is attached to this notice as Appendix I. Parties can find
a complete discussion of all issues raised in this review and the
corresponding recommendations in this public memorandum, which is on
file in room B-099 of the Main Commerce Building. In addition, a
complete version of the Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly on
the World Wide Web at https://enforcement.trade.gov, under the heading
``Federal Registe Notices.'' The paper copy and electronic version of
the Decision Memorandum are identical in content.
Final Results of Review
In accordance with section 705(c)(1)(B)(i) of the Act, we
calculated an ad valorem subsidy rate for Inchon. For the period
January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000, we determine the net subsidy
for Inchon to be 3.79 percent ad valorem.
We will instruct the Customs Service (``Customs'') to assess
countervailing duties as indicated above. The Department will instruct
Customs to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties in
the percentage detailed above of the f.o.b. invoice prices on all
shipments of the subject merchandise from the producers/exporters under
review, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or
after the date of publication of the final results of this
administrative review. As of April 1, 2001, Inchon, changed its name to
INI. Thus, for all of Inchon's shipments of the subject merchandise
from the producers/exporters under review, entered, or withdrawn from
warehouse, for consumption on or after April 1, 2001, we will instruct
customs to assign Inchon's cash deposit to INI.
Because the URAA replaced the general rule in favor of a country-
wide rate with a general rule in favor of individual rates for
investigated and reviewed companies, the procedures for establishing
countervailing duty rates, including those for non-reviewed companies,
are now essentially the same as those in antidumping cases, except as
provided for in section 777A(e)(2) of the Act. The requested review
will normally cover only those companies specifically named. See 19 CFR
351.213(b). Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(c), for all companies for which
a review was not requested, duties must be assessed at the cash deposit
rate, and cash deposits must continue to be collected, at the rate
previously ordered. As such, the countervailing duty cash deposit rate
applicable to a company can no longer change, except pursuant to a
request for a review of that company. See Federal-Mogul Corporation and
The Torrington Company v. United States, 822 F. Supp. 782 (CIT 1993)
and Floral Trade Council v. United States, 822 F. Supp. 766 (CIT 1993).
Therefore, the cash deposit rates for all companies except those
covered by this review will be unchanged by the results of this review.
We will instruct Customs to continue to collect cash deposits for
non-reviewed companies at the most recent company-specific or country-
wide rate applicable to the company. As of April 1, 2002, Sammi changed
its name to BNG. Thus, for all of Sammi's shipments of the subject
merchandise from the producers/exporters under review, entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after April 1, 2002, we
will instruct customs to assign Sammi's cash deposit rate to BNG.
Accordingly, the cash deposit rates that will be applied to non-
reviewed companies covered by this order will be the rate for that
company established in the most recently completed administrative
proceeding conducted under the URAA. If such a review has not been
conducted, the rate established in the most recently completed
administrative proceeding pursuant to the statutory provisions that
were in effect prior to the URAA amendments is applicable. See
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from the Republic of Korea:
Amended Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, 67
FR 8229 (February 22, 2002). This rate shall apply to all non-reviewed
companies until a review of a company assigned this rate is requested.
In addition, for the period January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000,
the assessment rates applicable to all non-reviewed companies covered
by this order are the cash deposit rates in effect at the time of
entry.
This notice also serves as a final reminder to importers of their
responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding
the reimbursement of duties prior to liquidation of the relevant
entries during this review period.
This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written
notification of return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to
judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with
the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.
This administrative review and notice are issued and published in
accordance with section 751(a)(1) of the Act.
Dated: March 10, 2003.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
Appendix I--Issues and Decision Memorandum
I. Methodology and Background Information
A. Rescission of Samm Steel Co., Ltd. (Sammi)
B. Program-wide Change
C. Name Changes
1. Inchon Iron and Steel Co. (Inchon) to INI
2. Sammi to BNG
II. Subsidies Valuation Information
A. Allocation Period
B. Benchmarks for Loans and Discount Rates
C. Attribution
1. Cross-ownership of Inchon and Sammi
2. Treatment of Subsidies Received by Trading Companies
D. Untimely Subsidy Allegation
III. Analysis of Programs
A. Programs Determined to Confer Subsidies
1. The GOK's Direction of Credit
2. Article 16 of the Tax Exemption and Reduction Control Act
(TERCL): Reserve for Export Loss
3. Article 17 of TERCL: Reserve for Overseas Market Development
4. Technical Development Fund Under Restriction of Special
Taxation (RSTA) Article 9, formerly TERCL 8
5. Asset Revaluation TERCL Article 56(2)
6. Electricity Discounts under the Requested Loan Adjustment
Program (RLA)
7. POSCO's Provision of Steel Inputs for Less than Adequate
Remuneration
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8. Tax Credit for Investments on Productivity Improvement
Facilities under RSTA Article 24
9. Inchon's Local Tax Exemption
B. Programs Determined to Be Not Used
1. Investment Tax Credits under RSTA Articles 10, 18, 26, 27 and
71 of TERCL
2. Loans from the National Agricultural Cooperation Federation
3. Tax Incentives for Highly-Advanced Technology Businesses
under the Foreign Investment and Foreign Capital Inducement Act
4. Reserve for Investment under Article 43-5 of TERCL
5. Export Insurance Rates Provided by the Korean Export
Insurance Corporation
6. Special Depreciation of Assets on Foreign Exchange Earnings
7. Excessive Duty Drawback
8. Short-Term Export Financing
9. Export Industry Facility Loans
IV. Total AD Valorem Rate
V. Analysis of Comments
Comment 1: Rescission of Sammi from the Final Results
Comment 2: Sammi's name change to BNG
Comment 3: Cross-ownership between Inchon and Sammi
Comment 4: Debt-for-equity swap received by Kangwon
Comment 5: Tax Subsidies received by Inchon
Comment 6: Calculation Revision for Inchon's Long-term Loans
Comment 7: Sammi's debt forgiveness from KAMCO
Comment 8: Loan Benchmark Rates
Comment 9: GOK's control of POSCO
Comment 10: Program-wide change: POSCO's privatization
Comment 11: POSCO's Provision of Hot-Rolled Coil (HRC) for Less
than Adequate Remuneration
Comment 12: POSCO's purchase of Sammi's Changwon Facility for
More than Adequate Remuneration
Comment 13: Adjustments to Import Prices
[FR Doc. 03-6480 Filed 3-18-03; 8:45 am]