Antidumping Duty: Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico
Federal Register: August 6, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 152)
Notices
Page 45708-45716
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr06au08-37
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
A-201-822
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils From Mexico; Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review.
SUMMARY: In response to requests from respondent ThyssenKrupp Mexinox
S.A. de C.V. (Mexinox S.A.) and Mexinox USA, Inc. (Mexinox USA)
(collectively, Mexinox) and petitioners,\1\ the Department of Commerce
(the Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel sheet and strip in coils (S4 in coils) from Mexico. This administrative review covers imports of subject merchandise from Mexinox S.A. during the period July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007.
\1\ Petitioners are Allegheny Ludlum Corporation, AK Steel
Corporation, North American Stainless, United Auto Workers Local 3303, Zanesville Armco Independent Organization, Inc. and the United
Steelworkers of America.
We preliminarily determine that sales of S4 in coils from Mexico have been made below normal value (NV). If these preliminary results are adopted in our final results of administrative review, we will instruct United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess antidumping duties based on the difference between the constructed export price (CEP) and NV. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results. Parties who submit argument in these proceedings are requested to submit with the argument: (1) A statement of the issues, (2) a brief summary of the argument, and (3) a table of authorities.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 6, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maryanne Burke or Robert James, AD/CVD
Operations, Office 7, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482- 5604 or (202) 482-0649, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 27, 1999, the Department published in the Federal Register the Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value and Antidumping Duty Order; Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in
Coils from Mexico, 64 FR 40560 (July 27, 1999). On July 3, 2007, the
Department published a notice entitled Antidumping or Countervailing
Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request
Administrative Review, 72 FR 36420 (July 3, 2007), covering, inter alia, S4 in coils from Mexico for the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(b)(1), Mexinox and petitioners requested that the Department conduct
Page 45709
an administrative review. On August 24, 2007, we published in the
Federal Register a notice of initiation of this antidumping duty administrative review covering the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews and Requests for Revocation in Part, 72 FR 48613
(August 24, 2007).
On September 11, 2007, the Department issued an antidumping duty questionnaire to Mexinox. Mexinox submitted its response to section A of the questionnaire on October 3, 2007, and its response to sections B through E of the questionnaire on October 29, 2007. On January 9, 2008, the Department issued its supplemental questionnaire for section A.
Mexinox responded to this supplemental questionnaire on February 1, 2008. On March 5, 2008, the Department issued another supplemental questionnaire which covered sections A through C. Mexinox filed its response to this questionnaire on April 7, 2008. The Department also issued a supplemental questionnaire for section D on April 11, 2008, to which Mexinox responded on May 19, 2008. On May 2, 2008, the Department issued another supplemental questionnaire for sections A through C, as well as for section E, the latter of which pertains to an affiliated
U.S. reseller, Ken-Mac Metals (Ken-Mac). Mexinox filed its response to this supplemental questionnaire also on May 19, 2008. Finally, the
Department issued separate supplemental questionnaires covering section
D and sections A through C on May 19, 2008 and May 30, 2008, respectively. Mexinox submitted its responses to both of these supplemental questionnaires on June 11, 2008.
Because it was not practicable to complete this review within the normal time frame, on February 22, 2008, we published in the Federal
Register our notice of the extension of time limits for this review.
See Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Extension of
Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 73 FR 9772 (February 22, 2008). This extension established the deadline for these preliminary results as July 30, 2008.
Cost Reporting Period
On December 19, 2007, Mexinox submitted information regarding its material input costs for the period of review (POR) and claimed the use of a single weighted-average cost for austenitic products for the entire POR would distort the dumping margin calculation due to sharply rising nickel costs throughout the period. Rather than using a single
POR-average cost for purposes of the sales-below-cost test, Mexinox urged the Department to consider employing monthly or quarterly costs for austenitic products (i.e. those products that contain nickel) in this segment of the proceeding. On June 27, 2008, petitioners submitted comments claiming the Department's standard practice of using POR- average costs is appropriate in the instant case. In rebuttal comments submitted July 2, 2008, Mexinox maintains record evidence shows a direct link between cost increases for austenitic hot-rolled stainless steel band (hot band), the principle material input for S4 in coils, and price increases for finished S4 in coils during the POR through alloy surcharges which Mexinox claims act as a pass-through pricing mechanism. In addition, on July 10, 2008, the Department met with representatives for Mexinox on this issue. See Ex Parte Memorandum to the File, from Maryanne Burke dated July 14, 2008, on file in CRU in room 1117 of the main Commerce building.
The Department has considered the sales and cost information reported by Mexinox, in addition to the comments submitted by petitioners and Mexinox. Based on our analysis, we preliminarily find it appropriate to use Mexinox's reported quarterly costs of austenitic products for this review. With the exception of cases where high inflation exists in which the Department restates an annual weighted- average cost to an equivalent basis, the Department's normal practice is to calculate a weighted-average cost for the entire POR unless this methodology results in inappropriate comparisons or skewed data. See, e.g., Certain Pasta from Italy; Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 65 FR 77852 (December 13, 2000) and accompanying
Issues and Decision Memorandum at comment 18; see also Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Determination not to Revoke the Antidumping Order: Brass Sheet and Strip from the Netherlands, 65
FR 742, 746 (January 5, 2000). In determining whether distortions result from significant cost fluctuations in the context of our antidumping duty calculations, the Department has historically evaluated the case specific record evidence using two primary factors:
(1) Whether the cost changes throughout the POI/POR were significant; and (2) whether sales during the shorter averaging periods could be accurately linked with the COP/CV during the same shorter averaging periods. See Certain Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars From Turkey; Final
Results, Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review in Part, and Determination To Revoke in Part (Rebar from Turkey), 70 FR 67665
(November 8, 2005) and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 1. See also Habas Sinai ve Tibbi Gazlar Istihsal Endustrisi
A.S., Plantiff, v. United States, Court No. 05-00613, Slip Op. 07-167
(CIT November 15, 2007).
With regard to the first factor, record evidence provided by
Mexinox demonstrates significant changes in the total cost of manufacture (COM) throughout the POR for austenitic stainless steel sheet and strip products produced during the POR. Based upon the record of this review, the significant change throughout the POR in the total
COM is due to the price volatility of nickel which is used in the production of the austenitic hot band purchased by Mexinox. Austenitic hot band is Mexinox's raw material input for certain merchandise under consideration. Thus, unlike Rebar from Turkey, we preliminary conclude that the differences in COM are significant enough to warrant a departure from our standard annual costing approach based upon record evidence indicating our annual cost approach would lead to distortions in our sales-below-cost test and inconsistencies in our overall margin calculation.
To address the second factor, Mexinox demonstrated that, through its alloy surcharge levied on all sales during the POR, there is a linkage between the increasing direct material costs and final sale prices. Specifically, Mexinox illustrated that nickel acquisition and consumption costs are related to the market prices promulgated by the
London Metal Exchange. We note the alloy surcharge regime is a common business practice in the stainless steel industry, whereby the changes in material costs realized by producers during the months preceding the date of sale are measured and ultimately transferred to its final customers. While we acknowledge that the alloy surcharge figure does not directly correspond to changes in the price of the applicable raw material used in the production to which the surcharge applies, as found in Brass from the Netherlands, the surcharge amount is, by design, a pass-through mechanism developed to account for raw material price changes. The objective of this pass-through mechanism satisfies the basic theory behind our second criterion--it demonstrates a direct link between production costs and sales prices. We have examined the data submitted by
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Mexinox and have concluded that a quarterly costing approach would lead to more appropriate comparisons in our antidumping duty calculations for austenitic products. For those products reported that do not contain nickel, we have continued to use a single weighted-average cost for the POR.
Additionally, we note the Department solicited comments from outside parties on shorter cost averaging periods in a Federal Register notice. See Antidumping Methodologies for Proceedings that Involve
Significant Cost Changes Throughout the Period of Investigation (POI)/
Period of Review (POR) that May Require Using Shorter Cost Averaging
Periods; Request for Comment, 73 FR 26364 (May 9, 2008) (Antidumping
Methodologies; Request for Comment ). On June 9, 2008, the Department extended the time limit for parties to submit written comments concerning this issue to June 23, 2008. See Antidumping Methodologies for Proceedings that Involve Significant Cost Changes Throughout the
Period of Investigation (POI)/Period of Review (POR) that May Require
Using Shorter Cost Averaging Periods; Request for Comment and Proposed
Methodology for Identifying and Analyzing Targeted Dumping in
Antidumping Investigations; Request for Comment, 73 FR 32557 (June 9, 2008). We are currently analyzing the comments received which could lead the Department to formulate a different methodological framework on this matter. Thus, we will further examine the facts of this case for the final results of this review in light of both the comments received from the interested parties in this administrative review and the general comments received with respect to Antidumping
Methodologies; Request for Comment.
Period of Review
The POR is July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
Scope of the Order
For purposes of this order, 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 order is currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheadings: 7219.13.00.31, 7219.13.00.51, 7219.13.00.71, 7219.13.00.81, 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, 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 HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the Department's written description of the merchandise under review 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).
In response to comments by interested parties, 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 for 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
Page 45711
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.'' \2\
\2\ ``Arnokrome III'' is a trademark of the Arnold Engineering
Company.
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.'' \3\
\3\ ``Gilphy 36'' is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
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.'' \4\
\4\ ``Durphynox 17'' is a trademark of Imphy, S.A.
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).\5\ 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 Mo.'' 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 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.'' \6\
\5\ This list of uses is illustrative and provided for descriptive purposes only.
\6\ ``GIN4 Mo,'' ``GIN5'' and ``GIN6'' are the proprietary grades of Hitachi Metals America, Ltd.
Sales Made Through Affiliated Resellers
-
U.S. Market
Mexinox USA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mexinox S.A., which in turn is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp AG, sold subject merchandise in the United States during the POR to unaffiliated customers. Mexinox USA also made sales of subject merchandise to U.S. affiliate Ken-Mac which is an operating division of ThyssenKrupp Materials Inc., which is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp USA, Inc., the primary holding company for
ThyssenKrupp AG in the U.S. market. Ken-Mac purchased subject merchandise from Mexinox USA and further manufactured and/or resold the subject merchandise to unaffiliated customers in the United States during the POR. See Mexinox's October 3, 2007, section A questionnaire response at 13, 22 and 29. For purposes of this review, we have included both Mexinox USA's and Ken-Mac's sales of subject merchandise to unaffiliated customers in the United States in our margin calculation.
-
Home Market
Mexinox Trading, S.A. de C.V. (Mexinox Trading), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mexinox S.A., resold the foreign like product as well as other merchandise in the home market. Mexinox S.A.'s sales to Mexinox
Trading represented a small portion of Mexinox S.A.'s total sales of the foreign like product in the home market and constituted less than five percent of all home market sales. See, e.g., Mexinox's October 3, 2007, section A questionnaire response at 3, and its April 7, 2008, supplemental questionnaire response covering sections A through C at
Attachment A-26 (quantity and value chart). Because sales to Mexinox
Trading of the foreign like product were below the five percent threshold established under 19 CFR 351.403(d), we did not require
Mexinox S.A. to report Mexinox Trading's downstream sales to its first unaffiliated customer. This is consistent with our practice to date and the methodology we have employed in past administrative reviews of S4 in coils from Mexico. See, e.g., Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in
Coils from Mexico; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 73 FR 7710 (February 11, 2008) (2005-2006 Final Results), as amended, Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico: Amended
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR 14215
(March 17, 2008) (2005-2006 Amended Final Results. See also Stainless
Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 70 FR 73444 (December 12, 2005) and accompanying Issues and Decisions Memorandum at Comment 2.
Fair Value Comparisons
To determine whether sales of S4 in coils from Mexico to the United
States were made at less than fair value, we compared CEP sales made in the United States by both Mexinox USA and Ken-Mac to unaffiliated purchasers to NV as described in the ``Constructed Export Price'' and
``Normal Value'' sections of this notice, below. In accordance with section 777A(d)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Tariff
Act), we compared individual CEPs to monthly weighted-average NVs.
Product Comparisons
In accordance with section 771(16) of the Tariff Act we considered all products produced by Mexinox S.A. covered by the description in the
``Scope of the Order'' section above, and
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sold in the home market during the POR, to be foreign like product for purposes of determining appropriate product comparisons to U.S. sales.
We relied on nine characteristics to match U.S. sales of subject merchandise to comparison sales of the foreign like product (listed in order of priority): (1) Grade; (2) cold/hot rolled; (3) gauge; (4) surface finish; (5) metallic coating; (6) non-metallic coating; (7) width; (8) temper; and (9) edge trim. Where there were no sales of identical merchandise in the home market to compare to U.S. sales, we compared U.S. sales to the next most similar foreign like product on the basis of the characteristics and reporting instructions listed in the Department's original September 11, 2007, questionnaire.
Level of Trade
In accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act, to the extent practicable, we base NV on sales made in the comparison market at the same level of trade (LOT) as the export transaction. The NV LOT is based on the starting price of sales in the home market or, when NV is based on constructed value (CV), that of the sales from which selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses and profit are derived. With respect to CEP transactions in the U.S. market, the CEP
LOT is defined as the level of the constructed sale from the exporter to the importer. See section 773(a)(7)(A) of the Tariff Act.
To determine whether NV sales are at a different LOT than CEP sales, we examine stages in the marketing process and selling functions along the chain of distribution between the producer and the customer.
See 19 CFR 351.412(c)(2). If the comparison-market sales are at a different LOT, and the difference affects price comparability, as manifested in a pattern of consistent price differences between the sales on which NV is based and comparison-market sales at the LOT of the export transaction, we make a LOT adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of the Tariff Act. For CEP sales, if the NV level is more remote from the factory than the CEP level and there is no basis for determining whether the difference in the levels between NV and CEP affects price comparability, we adjust NV under section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Tariff Act (the CEP offset provision). See, e.g., Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Greenhouse Tomatoes
From Canada, 67 FR 8781 (February 26, 2002) and accompanying Issues and
Decisions Memorandum at Comment 8; see also Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-
Rolled Carbon Quality Steel Products from Brazil; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 70 FR 17406, 17410 (April 6, 2005), unchanged in Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review of Certain Hot-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon Quality
Steel Products from Brazil, 70 FR 58683 (October 7, 2005). For CEP sales, we consider only the selling activities reflected in the price after the deduction of expenses and CEP profit under section 772(d) of the Tariff Act. See Micron Technology, Inc. v. United States, 243 F.3d 1301, 1314-1315 (Fed. Cir. 2001). We expect that if the claimed LOTs are the same, the functions and activities of the seller should be similar. Conversely, if a party claims the LOTs are different for different groups of sales, the functions and activities of the seller should be dissimilar. See Porcelain-on-Steel Cookware from Mexico:
Final Results of Administrative Review, 65 FR 30068 (May 10, 2000) and accompanying Issues and Decisions Memorandum at Comment 6.
We obtained information from Mexinox regarding the marketing stages involved in making its reported home market and U.S. sales to both affiliated and unaffiliated customers. Mexinox provided a description of all selling activities performed, along with a flowchart and tables comparing the levels of trade among each channel of distribution and customer category for both markets. See Mexinox's October 3, 2007, section A questionnaire response at 33 through 39 and Attachments A-4-A through A-4-C; see also Mexinox's February 1, 2008, supplemental section A questionnaire response at 21 through 24 and Attachments A-20-
A and A-20-B.
Mexinox sold S4 in coils to end-users and retailers/distributors in the home market and to end-users and distributors/service centers in the United States. For the home market, Mexinox identified two channels of distribution described as follows: (1) direct shipments (i.e., products produced to order) and (2) sales from inventory. Within each of these two channels of distribution, Mexinox S.A. made sales to affiliated and unaffiliated distributors/retailers and end-users. See
Mexinox's October 3, 2007, section A questionnaire response at 3 and 26 through 27. We reviewed the intensity of all selling functions Mexinox claimed to perform for each channel of distribution and customer category. For certain functions, such as pre-sale technical assistance, processing of customer orders, sample analysis, prototypes and trial lots, freight and delivery, price negotiation/customer communications, sales calls and visits, and warranty services, the level of performance for both direct shipments and sales through inventory was identical across all types of customers. Only a few functions exhibited differences, including inventory maintenance/just-in-time performance, further processing, credit and collection, low volume orders and shipment of small packages. See Mexinox's February 1, 2008, supplemental section A questionnaire response at Attachment A-20. While we find differences in the levels of intensity performed for some of these functions, such differences are minor and do not establish distinct levels of trade in Mexico. Based on our analysis of all of
Mexinox S.A.'s home market selling functions, we find all home market sales were made at the same LOT, the NV LOT.
We then compared the NV LOT, based on the selling functions associated with the transactions between Mexinox S.A. and its customers in the home market, to the CEP LOT, which is based on the selling functions associated with the transaction between Mexinox S.A. and its affiliated importer, Mexinox USA. Our analysis indicates the selling functions performed for home market customers are either performed at a higher degree of intensity or are greater in number than the selling functions performed for Mexinox USA. See Mexinox's October 3, 2007 section A questionnaire response at 33 through 39 and Attachments A-4-A through A-4-C; see also Mexinox's February 1, 2008, supplemental section A questionnaire response at 21 through 24 and Attachment A-20.
For example, in comparing Mexinox's selling functions, we find there are more functions performed in the home market which are not a part of
CEP transactions (e.g., pre-sale technical assistance, sample analysis, prototypes and trial lots, price negotiation/customer communications, sales calls and visits, credit and collection, and warranty services).
For selling functions performed for both home market sales and CEP sales (e.g., processing customer orders, freight and delivery arrangements), we find Mexinox S.A. actually performed each activity at a higher level of intensity in the home market. Based on Mexinox's responses, we note that CEP sales from Mexinox S.A. to Mexinox USA generally occur at the beginning of the distribution chain, representing essentially a logistical transfer of inventory that resembles ex-factory sales. In contrast, all sales in the home market occur closer to the end of the distribution chain and involve smaller
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volumes and more customer interaction which, in turn, require the performance of more selling functions. See Mexinox's October 3, 2007, section A questionnaire response at 33 through 39 and Attachments A-4-A through A-4-C; see also Mexinox's February 1, 2008, supplemental section A questionnaire response at Attachment A-20. Based on the foregoing, we conclude the NV LOT is at a more advanced stage than the
CEP LOT.
Because we found the home market and U.S. sales were made at different LOTs, we examined whether a LOT adjustment or a CEP offset may be appropriate in this review. As we found only one LOT in the home market, it was not possible to make a LOT adjustment to home market sales, because such an adjustment is dependent on our ability to identify a pattern of consistent price differences between the home market sales on which NV is based and home market sales at the LOT of the export transaction. See 19 CFR 351.412(d)(1)(ii). Furthermore, we have no other information that provides an appropriate basis for determining a LOT adjustment. Because the data available do not form an appropriate basis for making a LOT adjustment, and because the NV LOT is at a more advanced stage of distribution than the CEP LOT, we have made a CEP offset to NV in accordance with section 773(a)(7)(B) of the
Tariff Act.
Constructed Export Price
Mexinox indicated it made CEP sales through its U.S. affiliate,
Mexinox USA, in the following four channels of distribution: (1) Direct shipments to unaffiliated customers; (2) stock sales from the San Luis
Potosi (SLP) factory; (3) sales to unaffiliated customers through
Mexinox USA's warehouse inventory; and (4) sales through Ken-Mac. See
Mexinox's October 3, 2007, section A questionnaire response at 27 through 31. Ken-Mac is an affiliated service center located in the
United States which purchases S4 in coils produced by Mexinox S.A. and then resells the merchandise (after, in some instances, further manufacturing) to unaffiliated U.S. customers.
In accordance with section 772(b) of the Tariff Act, CEP is the price at which the subject merchandise is first sold (or agreed to be sold) in the United States before or after the date of importation by or for the account of the producer or exporter of such merchandise, or by a seller affiliated with the producer or exporter, to a purchaser not affiliated with the producer or exporter. We find Mexinox properly classified all of its U.S. sales of subject merchandise as CEP transactions because such sales were made in the United States through
Mexinox USA or Ken-Mac to unaffiliated purchasers. We based CEP on packed prices to unaffiliated purchasers in the United States sold by
Mexinox USA or its affiliated reseller, Ken-Mac. We made adjustments for billing adjustments, discounts and rebates where applicable. We also made deductions for movement expenses in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Tariff Act. These expenses included, where appropriate: foreign inland freight, foreign brokerage and handling, inland insurance, U.S. customs duties, U.S. inland freight, U.S. brokerage, and U.S. warehousing expenses. As directed by section 772(d)(1) of the Tariff Act, we deducted those selling expenses associated with economic activities occurring in the United States, including direct selling expenses (i.e., credit costs, warranty expenses, and a certain expense of proprietary nature), commissions, inventory carrying costs, and other indirect selling expenses. We also made an adjustment for profit in accordance with section 772(d)(3) of the Tariff Act. We used the expenses as reported by Mexinox made in connection with its U.S. sales, with the exception of the U.S. indirect selling expense ratio which we recalculated. See ``Analysis of Data
Submitted by ThyssenKrupp Mexinox S.A. de C.V. for the Preliminary
Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review of S4 in Coils from Mexico'' (Preliminary Analysis Memorandum) from Maryanne Burke,
Trade Analyst, to the File, dated July 30, 2008.
For sales in which the material was sent to an unaffiliated U.S. processor, we made an adjustment based on the transaction-specific further-processing expenses incurred by Mexinox USA. In addition, the
U.S. affiliated reseller Ken-Mac performed some further manufacturing for its sales to unaffiliated U.S. customers. For these sales, we deducted the cost of further processing in accordance with section 772(d)(2) of the Tariff Act. In calculating the cost of further manufacturing for Ken-Mac, we relied upon Ken-Mac's reported cost of further manufacturing materials, labor and overhead. We also included amounts for further manufacturing general and administrative expenses
(G&A), as reported in Mexinox's May 19, 2008, supplemental section D questionnaire response.
Normal Value
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Selection of Comparison Market
To determine whether there is a sufficient volume of sales in the home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating NV (i.e., the aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like product is greater than five percent of the aggregate volume of U.S. sales), we compared Mexinox's volume of home market sales of the foreign like product to the volume of its U.S. sales of the subject merchandise, in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act. Because
Mexinox's aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like product was greater than five percent of its aggregate volume of U.S. sales for subject merchandise, we determined the home market was viable. See, e.g., Mexinox's April 7, 2008, supplemental questionnaire response covering sections A through C and E at Attachment A-26.
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Affiliated-Party Transactions and Arm's-Length Test
Sales to affiliated customers in the home market not made at arm's- length prices are excluded from our analysis because we consider them to be outside the ordinary course of trade. See section 773(f)(2) of the Tariff Act; see also 19 CFR 351.102(b). Consistent with 19 CFR 351.403(c) and (d) and agency practice, ``the Department may calculate
NV based on sales to affiliates if satisfied that the transactions were made at arm's length.'' See China Steel Corp. v. United States, 264 F.
Supp. 2d 1339, 1365 (CIT 2003). To test whether the sales to affiliates were made at arm's-length prices, we compared, on a model-specific basis, the starting prices of sales to affiliated and unaffiliated customers, net of all direct selling expenses, billing adjustments, discounts and rebates, movement charges and packing. Where prices to the affiliated party were, on average, within a range of 98 to 102 percent of the price of identical or comparable merchandise to the unaffiliated parties, we determined that the sales made to the affiliated party were at arm's length. See Antidumping Proceedings:
Affiliated Party Sales in the Ordinary Course of Trade, 67 FR 69186, 69194 (November 15, 2002). We found both affiliated home market customers failed the arm's length test and, in accordance with the
Department's practice, we excluded sales to these affiliates from our analysis.
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Cost of Production Analysis
Because we disregarded sales of certain products made at prices below
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the cost of production (COP) in the most recently completed review of
S4 in coils from Mexico (see Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 71 FR 35618, 35623 (June 21, 2006), unchanged in Stainless
Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 71 FR 76978 (December 22, 2006)
(2004-2005 Final Results) we had reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that sales of the foreign like product under consideration for the determination of NV in this review for Mexinox may have been made at prices below the COP, as provided by section 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the
Tariff Act. Pursuant to section 773(b)(1) of the Tariff Act, we initiated a COP investigation of sales by Mexinox. We relied on home market sales and COP information provided by Mexinox in its questionnaire responses, except where noted below:
ThyssenKrupp Nirosta GmbH (TKN) and ThyssenKrupp AST, S.p.A.
(TKAST), hot band producers affiliated with Mexinox, sold hot band to
Mexinox USA, which in turn sold hot band to Mexinox S.A. Hot band is considered a major input to the production of S4 in coils. Section 773(f)(3) of the Tariff Act, (the major input rule) states:
``in the case of a transaction between affiliated persons involving the production by one of such persons of a major input to the merchandise, the administering authority has reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that an amount represented as the value of such input is less than the cost of production of such input, then the administering authority may determine the value of the major input on the basis of the information available regarding such cost of production, if such cost is greater than the amount that would be determined for such input under paragraph (2).''
Paragraph 2 of section 773(f) (transactions disregarded) states:
``a transaction directly or indirectly between affiliated persons may be disregarded if, in the case of any element of value required to be considered, the amount representing that element does not fairly reflect the amount usually reflected in sales of merchandise under consideration in the market under consideration. If a transaction is disregarded under the preceding sentence and no other transactions are available for consideration, the determination of the amount shall be based on the information available as to what the amount would have been if the transaction had occurred between persons who are not affiliated.''
In accordance with the major input rule, and as stated in 2005-2006
Final Results, it is the Department's normal practice to use all three elements of the major input rule (i.e., transfer price, COP and market price) where available.
For these preliminary results, we evaluated the transfer prices between Mexinox and its affiliated hot band suppliers on a grade- specific basis. For certain grades of hot band, all three elements of the major input analysis were available. These grades of hot band account for the majority of volume of hot band that Mexinox purchased from TKN and TKAST during the POR. As such, we find these purchases provide a reasonable basis for the Department to measure the preferential treatment, if any, given to Mexinox for purchases of hot band from TKN and TKAST during the POR. Therefore, we adjusted the reported costs to reflect the higher of transfer prices, COP, or market prices of hot band, where available. Additionally, we relied on these results to adjust the reported cost for grades where all three elements of the major input were not available. See the Department's Cost of
Production and Constructed Value Calculation Adjustments for the
Preliminary Results--ThyssenKrupp Mexinox S.A. de C.V. from LaVonne
Clark, Senior Accountant, to Neal M. Halper, Director, Office of
Accounting, dated July 30, 2008 (Cost Calculation Memorandum).
In certain cases, where market prices have not been available, the
Department has constructed market prices in order to perform the major input analysis. See Certain Polyester Staple Fiber from Korea: Final
Results of the 2005-2006 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 72 FR 69663 (December 10, 2007) (PSF from Korea) and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 5 and Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel
Flat Product from Thailand: Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 72 FR 27802 (May 17, 2007) (Carbon Steel Flat
Products from Thailand) and accompany Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 3. In the instant case we have applied the results of our analysis of those grades where market prices were available to those grades where market prices were not available. We find this approach to be reasonable because the grades where market prices are available constitute the majority of hot band purchased by Mexinox from the affiliated parties. As such, these purchases provide reasonable grounds to determine the arm's length nature of purchases between Mexinox and its affiliates during the POR. For further details, see Cost
Calculation Memorandum.
Because we have determined that shorter cost periods are appropriate for the COP analysis of austenitic grades, we have performed the cost-based part of the major input analysis by quarter for all grades of austenitic hot band. For all other grades of hot band, we have performed the cost-based part of the major input analysis on a POR basis.
We also revised Mexinox's reported COP to include depreciation expenses related to a newly installed production line. We recalculated
Mexinox's G&A expense rate to include employee profit sharing in the numerator, and adjusted for a certain provision accounted for during a prior period. We revised Mexinox's financial expense ratio to exclude certain interest income from accounts receivable and adjusted
ThyssenKrupp AG's cost of goods sold to exclude packing expenses. See
Cost Calculation Memorandum.
In determining whether to disregard home market sales made at prices below the COP, we examined, in accordance with sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Tariff Act, whether, within an extended period of time, such sales were made in substantial quantities, and whether such sales were made at prices which permitted the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time in the normal course of trade. As noted in section 773(b)(1)(D) of the Tariff Act, prices are considered to provide for recovery of costs if such prices are above the weighted average per-unit COP for the period of investigation or review. In the instant case, we have relied on Mexinox's reported quarterly costs of austenitic grades of merchandise. Mexinox calculated the reported quarterly costs using a methodology that is similar to that used by the Department in cases of high-inflation (see e.g. Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cut- to-Length Carbon-Quality Steel Plate Products from Indonesia, 64 FR 73164 (December 29, 1999) at Comment 1). Because this methodology restates the quarterly costs on an equivalent basis, by calculating an annual weighted-average COP for the POR and then restating it to each respective quarter, we find Mexinox's reported quarterly costs meet the requirements of section 773(b)(1)(D) of the Tariff Act.
Where less than 20 percent of the respondent's home market sales of a given model were at prices below the COP, we did not disregard any below-cost sales of that model because we determined that the below- cost sales were not made within an extended period of time and in
``substantial quantities.'' Where 20 percent or more
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of the respondent's home market sales of a given model were at prices less than the COP, we disregarded the below-cost sales because: (1) they were made within an extended period of time in ``substantial quantities,'' in accordance with sections 773(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the
Tariff Act; and (2) based on our comparison of prices to the weighted- average COPs for the POR, they were at prices which would not permit the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time, in accordance with section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Tariff Act.
Our cost test for Mexinox revealed that, for home market sales of certain models, less than 20 percent of the sales of those models were at prices below the COP. We therefore retained all such sales in our analysis and used them as the basis for determining NV. Our cost test also indicated that for home market sales of other models, more than 20 percent were sold at prices below the COP within an extended period of time and were at prices which would not permit the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time. Thus, in accordance with section 773(b)(1) of the Tariff Act, we excluded these below-cost sales from our analysis and used the remaining above-cost sales as the basis for determining NV.
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Constructed Value
In accordance with section 773(e) of the Tariff Act, we calculated
CV based on the sum of Mexinox's material and fabrication costs, SG&A expenses, profit, and U.S. packing costs. We calculated the COP component of CV as described above in the ``Cost of Production
Analysis'' section of this notice. In accordance with section 773(e)(2)(A) of the Tariff Act, we based SG&A expenses and profit on the amounts incurred and realized by the respondent in connection with the production and sale of the foreign like product in the ordinary course of trade, for consumption in the foreign country.
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Price-to-Price Comparisons
We calculated NV based on prices to unaffiliated customers or prices to affiliated customers we determined to be at arm's length.
Mexinox S.A. reported home market sales in Mexican pesos, but noted certain home market sales were invoiced in U.S. dollars during the POR.
See Mexinox's October 29, 2007, section B questionnaire response at B- 26 and B-27. In our margin calculation we used the currency of the sale invoice at issue and applied the relevant adjustments in the actual currency invoiced or incurred by Mexinox. We accounted for billing adjustments, discounts, and rebates, where appropriate. We also made deductions, where appropriate, for foreign inland freight, insurance, handling, and warehousing, pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(B) of the
Tariff Act. In addition, we made adjustments for differences in cost attributable to differences in physical characteristics of the merchandise compared pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Tariff
Act and 19 CFR 351.411. We also made adjustments for differences in circumstances of sale (COS) in accordance with section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii) of the Tariff Act and 19 CFR 351.410. We made COS adjustments for imputed credit expenses and warranty expenses. As noted above in the ``Level of Trade'' section of this notice, we also made an adjustment for the CEP offset in accordance with section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Tariff Act. Finally, we deducted home market packing costs and added U.S. packing costs in accordance with sections 773(a)(6)(A) and
(B) of the Tariff Act.
We used Mexinox's home market adjustments and deductions as reported, except for certain handling expenses and imputed credit expenses. We have recalculated the handling expenses incurred by
Mexinox's home market affiliate, Mexinox Trading, and applied the revised ratio to those home market sales for which Mexinox reported a handling expense. We calculated imputed credit expenses based on the short-term borrowing rate associated with the currency of each home market sale transaction. See Preliminary Analysis Memorandum. Our methodology for calculating handling charges and imputed credit expenses is consistent with past administrative reviews of this case.
See, e.g., 2005-2006 Final Results, as amended, and 2004-2005 Final
Results.
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Price-to-CV Comparisons
Where we were unable to find a home market match of such or similar merchandise, in accordance with section 773(a)(4) of the Tariff Act, we based NV on CV. Where appropriate, we made adjustments to CV in accordance with section 773(a)(8) of the Tariff Act.
Currency Conversion
We made currency conversions into U.S. dollars based on the exchange rates in effect on the dates of the U.S. sales, as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank, in accordance with section 773A(a) of the
Tariff Act.
Preliminary Results of Review
As a result of our review we preliminarily determine the following weighted-average dumping margin exists for the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007:
Weighted average
Manufacturer exporter
margin
(percentage)
ThyssenKrupp Mexinox S.A. de C.V........................
2.87
The Department will disclose calculations performed within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19
CFR 351.224(b). An interested party may request a hearing within thirty days of publication of these preliminary results. See 19 CFR 351.310(c). Any hearing, if requested, will be held 37 days after the date of publication, or the first business day thereafter, unless the
Department alters the date per 19 CFR 351.310(d). Interested parties may submit case briefs no later than 30 days after the date of publication of these preliminary results of review. See 19 CFR 351.309(c). Rebuttal briefs limited to issues raised in the case briefs may be filed no later than five days after the time limit for submitting the case briefs. See 19 CFR 351.309(d). Parties who submit argument in these proceedings are requested to submit with the argument: (1) A statement of the issue, (2) a brief summary of the argument and (3) a table of authorities. Further, parties submitting case briefs and/or rebuttal briefs are requested to provide the
Department with an additional copy of the public version of any such argument on diskette. The Department will issue final results of this administrative review, including the results of our analysis of the issues in any such argument or at a hearing, within 120 days of publication of these preliminary results.
Duty Assessment
Upon completion of this administrative review, the Department shall determine, and United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), we will calculate importer-specific ad valorem assessment rates for the merchandise based on the ratio of the total amount of antidumping duties calculated for the examined sales made during the POR to the total customs value of the sales used to calculate those duties. The total customs value is based on the entered value reported by Mexinox for all U.S. entries of subject merchandise initially purchased for consumption to the United States made during the POR. See Preliminary Analysis Memorandum. In
Page 45716
accordance with 19 CFR 356.8(a), the Department intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP on or after 41 days following the publication of the final results of review.
The Department clarified its ``automatic assessment'' regulation on
May 6, 2003. See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003). This clarification will apply to entries of subject merchandise during the
POR produced by the company included in these preliminary results for which the reviewed company did not know their merchandise was destined for the United States. In such instances, we will instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed entries at the all-others rate if there is no rate for the intermediate company or companies involved in the transaction.
Cash Deposit Requirements
Furthermore, the following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all shipments of S4 in coils from Mexico entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the final results of this administrative review, as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Tariff Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for the reviewed company will be the rate established in the final results of this review, except if the rate is less than 0.50 percent (de minimis within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1)), the cash deposit will be zero; (2) for previously investigated companies not listed above, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, or the original less than fair value
(LTFV) investigation, but the manufacturer is, the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for the most recent period for the manufacturer of the merchandise; and (4) the cash deposit rate for all other manufacturers or exporters will continue to be the all-others rate of 30.85 percent, which is the all-others rate established in the
LTFV investigation. See Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order; Stainless Steel
Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico, 64 FR 40560 (July 27, 1999).
These deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until publication of the final results of the next administrative review.
Notification to Importers
This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) 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.
We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i) of the Tariff Act.
Dated: July 30, 2008.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
FR Doc. E8-17987 Filed 8-5-08; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
