Import investigations: rolled steel products from— Various countries,

[Federal Register: June 9, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 110)]

[Notices]

[Page 31018-31019]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09jn99-97]

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigations Nos. 701-TA-393-396 (Preliminary) and 731-TA-829-840 (Preliminary)]

Certain Cold-Rolled Steel Products From Argentina, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Venezuela

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of countervailing duty and antidumping investigations and scheduling of preliminary phase investigations.

SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of investigations and commencement of preliminary phase countervailing duty investigations Nos. 701-TA-393-396 (Preliminary) and antidumping investigations Nos. 731-TA-829-840 under section 703(a) and 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a)) and 19 U.S.C. 1673b(a) (the Act) to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports from Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, and Venezuela of certain cold-rolled steel products,‹SUP›1‹/SUP› that are alleged to be subsidized by the Governments of Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand, and Venezuela and imports from Argentina, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Venezuela of certain cold- rolled steel products that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value. Unless the Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation pursuant to section 702(c)(1)(B) or 732(c)(1)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671a(c)(1)(B) or 19 U.S.C. 1673a(c)(1)(B)), the Commission must reach preliminary determinations in these investigations in 45 days, or in this case by July 19, 1999. The Commission's views are due at the Department of Commerce within five business days thereafter, or by July 26.

\1\ For purposes of these investigations, the subject product includes all cold-rolled (cold-reduced) carbon steel flat products, including sheet and strip (whether or not in coils), the foregoing not clad, plated or coated with metal, and however provided for in the Harmonized Tariff System; interstitial free steels, motor lamination steels, and high strength low alloy steels are included in the scope.

For further information concerning the conduct of these investigations and rules of general application, consult the Commission's rules of practice and procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 207).

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 2, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Olympia Hand (202-205-3182), Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205- 1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

These investigations are being instituted in response to a petition filedon June 2, 1999, by Bethlehem Steel Corp., Bethlehem, PA; Gulf States Steel, Inc., Gadsden, AL; Ispat Inland, Inc., East Chicago, IN; LTV Steel Co., Inc., Cleveland, OH; National Steel Corp., Mishawaka, IN; Steel Dynamics, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN; U.S. Steel Corp.; a unit of USX Corp., Pittsburgh, PA; Weirton Steel Corp., Weirton, WV; and United Steel Workers of America, Pittsburgh, PA.

Participation in These Investigations and Public Service List

Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in these investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Secs. 201.11 and 207.10 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 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 these investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to these investigations upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.

Limited Disclosure of Business Proprietary Information (BPI) Under an Administrative Protective Order (APO) and BPI Service list

Pursuant to Sec. 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary will make BPI gathered in these investigations available to authorized applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 1677(9)) who are parties to these investigations under the APO issued in these investigations, provided that the application is made not later than seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.

Conference

The Commission's Director of Operations has scheduled a conference in connection with these investigations for 9:30 a.m. on June 23, 1999, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. Parties wishing to participate in the conference should contact Olympia Hand (202-205-3182) not later than June 16, 1999, to arrange for their appearance. Parties in support of the imposition of countervailing and/or antidumping duties in these investigations and parties in opposition to the imposition of such duties will each be collectively allocated one hour

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within which to make an oral presentation at the conference. A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to present a short statement at the conference.

Written Submissions

As provided in Secs. 201.8 and 207.15 of the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or before June 28, 1999, a written brief containing information and arguments pertinent to the subject matter of these investigations. Parties may file written testimony in connection with their presentation at the conference no later than three days before the conference. If briefs or written testimony contain BPI, they must conform with the requirements of Secs. 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's rules. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means.

In accordance with Secs. 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, each document filedby a party to these investigations must be served on all other parties to these investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.

Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published pursuant to Sec. 207.12 of the Commission's rules.

Issued: June 3, 1999.

By order of the Commission. Donna R. Koehnke, Secretary.

[FR Doc. 99-14600Filed6-8-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7020-02-P