Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping Duty Order

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Notice of Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, and Revocation in Part of Antidumping Duty Order.

SUMMARY:

On July 12, 2000, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) published a notice of initiation of a changed circumstances review and preliminary results of review with intent to revoke, in part, the antidumping duty order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Japan. See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Carbon Steel Flat Products From Japan: Notice of Initiation of Changed Circumstances Review of the Antidumping Order and Intent To Revoke Order in Part (“Preliminary Results”), 65 FR 42986 (July 12, 2000). In our Preliminary Results, we gave interested parties an opportunity to comment; however, we did not receive any comments. Therefore, we are now revoking this order in part, with respect to doctor blades, which are described below, based on the fact that domestic parties have expressed no interest in the continuation of the order with respect to doctor blades.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

September 6, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brandon Farlander or Laurel LaCivita, Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Enforcement Group III, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, at (202) 482-0182, or (202) 482-4243, respectively.

Applicable Statute and Regulations: Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“Act”), are to the provisions effective January 1, 1995, the effective date of the amendments made to the Tariff Act by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (“URAA”). In addition, unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the Department of Commerce's (“Department”) regulations are to the regulations codified at 19 CFR Part 351 (April 1, 1999).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 23, 2000, Toyo Ink America, Inc. (“TIA”) requested that the Department revoke in part the antidumping duty order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Japan. Specifically, TIA requested that the Department revoke the order with respect to 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. TIA is an importer of the products in question. Also, on May 23, 2000, domestic producers of the like product, Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Ispat Inland Steel; LTV Steel Company, Inc.; National Steel Corporation; and U.S. Steel Group, a unit of USX Corporation, stated that they have no interest in the importation or sale of steel from Japan with these specialized characteristics. As noted above, we gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the Preliminary Results. We received no comments from interested parties.

Scope of Changed Circumstances Review

The merchandise covered by this changed circumstances review is certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Japan. This changed circumstances administrative review covers all manufacturers/exporters 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.

Final Results of Review; Partial Revocation of Antidumping Duty Order

The affirmative statement of no interest by petitioners concerning doctor blades, as described herein, constitutes changed circumstances sufficient to warrant partial revocation of this order. Also, petitioners did not comment on the Preliminary Results. Therefore, the Department is partially revoking the order on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Japan with regard to products which meet the specifications detailed above, in accordance with sections 751(b) and (d) and 782(h) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216(d)(1). This partial revocation applies to all entries of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of this publication of final results.

This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to administrative protective orders (APOs) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.306. 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 sanctionable violation.

This changed circumstances administrative review, partial revocation of the antidumping duty order and notice are in accordance with sections 751(b) and (d) and 782(h) of the Act and sections 351.216 and 351.222(g) of the Department's regulations.