2015-24760. Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom: Determinations

On the basis of the record ^[1] developed in the subject investigations, the United States International Trade Commission (“Commission”) determines,^[2] pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (“the Act”), that there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports of certain hot-rolled steel flat products (“hot-rolled steel”) from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, provided for in subheadings 7208.10.15, 7208.10.30, 7208.10.60, 7208.25.30, 7208.25.60, 7208.26.00, 7208.27.00, 7208.36.00, 7208.37.00, 7208.38.00, 7208.39.00, 7208.40.60, 7208.53.00, 7208.54.00, 7208.90.00, 7210.70.30, 7210.90.90, 7211.14.00, 7211.19.15, 7211.19.20, 7211.19.30, 7211.19.45, 7211.19.60, 7211.19.75, 7211.90.00, 7212.40.10, 7212.40.50, 7212.50.00, 7214.91.00, 7214.99.00, 7215.90.50, 7225.11.00, 7225.19.00, 7225.30.30, 7225.30.70, 7225.40.70, 7225.99.00, 7226.11.10, 7226.11.90, 7226.19.10, 7226.19.90, 7226.91.50, 7226.91.70, 7226.91.80, 7226.99.01, and 7228.60.60 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value (“LTFV”), and by imports of hot-rolled steel that are allegedly subsidized by the governments of Brazil, Korea, and Turkey.

Commencement of Final Phase Investigations

Pursuant to section 207.18 of the Commission's rules, the Commission also gives notice of the commencement of the final phase of its investigations. The Commission will issue a final phase notice of scheduling, which will be published in the Federal Register as provided in section 207.21 of the Commission's rules, upon notice from the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) of affirmative preliminary determinations in the investigations under sections 703(b) or 733(b) of the Act, or, if the preliminary determinations are negative, upon notice of affirmative final determinations in those investigations under sections 705(a) or 735(a) of the Act. Parties that filed entries of appearance in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not enter a separate appearance for the final phase of the investigations. Industrial users, and, if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level, representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as parties in Commission antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the investigations.

Background

On August 11, 2015, AK Steel Corporation (West Chester, Ohio), ArcelorMittal USA, LLC (Chicago, Illinois), Nucor Corporation (Charlotte, North Carolina), SSAB Enterprises, LLC (Lisle, Illinois), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (Fort Wayne, Indiana), and United States Steel Corporation (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) filed a petition with the Commission and Commerce, alleging that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of subsidized imports of hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Korea, and Turkey and LTFV imports of hot-rolled steel from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. Accordingly, effective August 11, 2015, the Commission, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a) and 1673b(a)), instituted countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-545-547 and antidumping duty investigation Nos. 731-TA-1291-1297 (Preliminary).

Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigations and of a public conference to be held in connection therewith was given by posting copies of the notice in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by publishing the notice in the Federal Register of August 18, 2015 (80 FR 50028). The conference was held in Washington, DC, on September 1, 2015 and all persons who requested the opportunity were permitted to appear in person or by counsel.

The Commission made these determinations pursuant to sections 703(a) and 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a) and 1673b(a)). It completed and filed its determinations in these investigations on September 25, 2015. The views of the Commission are contained in USITC Publication 4570 (October 2015), entitled Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom: Investigation Nos. 701-TA-545-547 and 731-TA-1291-1297 (Preliminary).

By order of the Commission.

Issued: September 25, 2015.

Lisa R. Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.

Footnotes

1.  The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 207.2(f)).

2.  Commissioner F. Scott Kieff not participating.