AD/CVD message 7352303 - Notice of preliminary determination of circumvention of countervailing duty order on certain corrosion-resistant steel products from the People s Republic of China (C-570-027) (C-552-995)

7352303
Dec 18, 2017
Active

Effective Date: Nov 04, 2016

Cite as: 82 FR 58170 • Cite date: Dec 11, 2017

Category: Countervailing • Type: Preliminary Determination • Sub type: AFF-Affirmative • Reference messages: 7275305 • Cases: C-552-995 C-570-027

1. On 12/11/2017, Commerce published in the Federal Register its notice of preliminary affirmative determination of circumvention of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on certain corrosion-resistant steel products (AD and CVD CORE Orders) from the People's Republic of China (“PRC”) (82 FR 58170) (“Preliminary Determination”).

2. Scope of the countervailing duty order

The products covered by this order are certain flat-rolled steel products, either clad, plated, or coated with corrosion-resistant metals such as zinc, aluminum, or zinc-, aluminum-, nickel- or iron-based alloys, whether or not corrugated or painted, varnished, laminated, or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances in addition to the metallic coating. The products covered include coils that have a width of 12.7 mm or greater, regardless of form of coil (e.g., in successively superimposed layers, spirally oscillating, etc.). The products covered also include products not in coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a thickness less than 4.75 mm and a width that is 12.7 mm or greater and that measures at least 10 times the thickness. The products covered also include products not in coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a thickness of 4.75 mm or more and a width exceeding 150 mm and measuring at least twice the thickness. The products described above may be rectangular, square, circular, or other shape and include products of either rectangular or non-rectangular cross-section where such cross-section is achieved subsequent to the rolling process, i.e., products which have been “worked after rolling” (e.g., products which have been beveled or rounded at the edges). For purposes of the width and thickness requirements referenced above:

(1) Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions set forth above, and

(2) where the width and thickness vary for a specific product (e.g., the thickness of certain products with non-rectangular cross-section, the width of certain products with non-rectangular shape, etc.), the measurement at its greatest width or thickness applies.

Steel products included in the scope of this order are products in which: (1) Iron predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by weight; and (3) none of the elements listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:

• 2.50 percent of manganese, or
• 3.30 percent of silicon, or
• 1.50 percent of copper, or
• 1.50 percent of aluminum, or
• 1.25 percent of chromium, or
• 0.30 percent of cobalt, or
• 0.40 percent of lead, or
• 2.00 percent of nickel, or
• 0.30 percent of tungsten (also called wolfram), or
• 0.80 percent of molybdenum, or
• 0.10 percent of niobium (also called columbium), or
• 0.30 percent of vanadium, or
• 0.30 percent of zirconium

Unless specifically excluded, products are included in this scope regardless of levels of boron and titanium.

For example, specifically included in this scope are vacuum degassed, fully stabilized (commonly referred to as interstitial-free (IF)) steels and high strength low alloy (HSLA) steels. IF steels are recognized as low carbon steels with micro-alloying levels of elements such as titanium and/or niobium added to stabilize carbon and nitrogen elements. HSLA steels are recognized as steels with micro-alloying levels of elements such as chromium, copper, niobium, titanium, vanadium, and molybdenum.

Furthermore, this scope also includes Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) and Ultra High Strength Steels (UHSS), both of which are considered high tensile strength and high elongation steels.

Subject merchandise also includes corrosion-resistant steel that has been further processed in a third country, including but not limited to annealing, tempering, painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching and/or slitting or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the order if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope corrosion resistant steel.

All products that meet the written physical description, and in which the chemistry quantities do not exceed any one of the noted element levels listed above, are within the scope of this order unless specifically excluded. The following products are outside of and/or specifically excluded from the scope of this order:

• Flat-rolled steel products either plated or coated with tin, lead, chromium, chromium oxides, both tin and lead (“terne plate”), or both chromium and chromium oxides (“tin free steel”), whether or not painted, varnished or coated with plastics or other non-metallic substances in addition to the metallic coating;

• Clad products in straight lengths of 4.7625 mm or more in composite thickness and of a width which exceeds 150 mm and measures at least twice the thickness; and

• Certain clad stainless flat-rolled products, which are three-layered corrosion-resistant flat-rolled steel products less than 4.75 mm in composite thickness that consist of a flat-rolled steel product clad on both sides with stainless steel in a 20%-60%-20% ratio.

The products subject to the order are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers: 7210.30.0030, 7210.30.0060, 7210.41.0000, 7210.49.0030, 7210.49.0091, 7210.49.0095, 7210.61.0000, 7210.69.0000, 7210.70.6030, 7210.70.6060, 7210.70.6090, 7210.90.6000, 7210.90.9000, 7212.20.0000, 7212.30.1030, 7212.30.1090, 7212.30.3000, 7212.30.5000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, 7212.50.0000, and 7212.60.0000.

The products subject to the order may also enter under the following HTSUS item numbers: 7210.90.1000, 7215.90.1000, 7215.90.3000, 7215.90.5000, 7217.20.1500, 7217.30.1530, 7217.30.1560, 7217.90.1000, 7217.90.5030, 7217.90.5060, 7217.90.5090, 7225.91.0000, 7225.92.0000, 7225.99.0090, 7226.99.0110, 7226.99.0130, 7226.99.0180, 7228.60.6000, 7228.60.8000, and 7229.90.1000.

The HTSUS subheadings above are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of the scope of the order is dispositive.

3. Scope of the anti-circumvention inquiry

Corrosion-resistant steel products produced in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) from hot-rolled and/or cold-rolled steel substrate produced in the PRC.

Corrosion-resistant steel products produced in Vietnam using: (1) hot-rolled steel manufactured in Vietnam or third countries; (2) cold-rolled steel manufactured in Vietnam using hot-rolled steel produced in Vietnam or third countries, and (3) cold-rolled steel manufactured in third countries are not covered by the scope of these anti-circumvention inquiries.

4. Suspension of Liquidation

4a. CBP shall suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) of corrosion-resistant steel products produced in Vietnam using PRC-origin hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel substrate, that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 11/04/2016 and shall require for such entries a CVD cash deposit equal to 39.05 percent of the entered value. Separate cash deposit instructions will be issued for the companion AD CORE Order.

4b. The C-552-995 case number has been created to accommodate entries of corrosion-resistant steel products produced in Vietnam from PRC-origin hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel substrate that are subject to the CVD CORE Order from the PRC. For unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) of such merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period 11/04/2016 (the date of initiation of this anticircumvention inquiry) through 12/10/2017, importers should file a Post Summary Correction with CBP, in accordance with CBP's regulations, regarding conversion of such entries from type 1 to type 3 entries and report those type 3 entries using the third-country case number C-552-995.

4c. CBP shall suspend liquidation of unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) of merchandise entered under the third country case number C-552-995, until liquidation instructions are issued for such entries. Such entries should not be liquidated pursuant to the automatic liquidation instructions previously issued as message 7275305. Any such entries that are set for liquidation should be unset immediately.
4d. Further, if CBP determines that the certification and/or documentation requirements identified have not been met for any unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) of corrosion-resistant steel products entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 11/04/2016 and produced in Vietnam for which the importer claims that the corrosion-resistant steel product was not produced from PRC-origin hot-rolled and/or cold-rolled steel substrate, CBP shall suspend liquidation of all such unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) as products of the PRC for CVD purposes, and shall require the importer to post applicable CVD cash deposits. Entries suspended under either C-570-027 or C-552-995 will be liquidated pursuant to applicable administrative reviews of the PRC CVD CORE Order or through the automatic liquidation process.

5. Certification Requirements

5a. For entries of corrosion-resistant steel products exported from Vietnam and entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 11/04/2016 (the date of initiation of these anticircumvention inquiries) for which the importer claims that the corrosion-resistant steel products were not produced from PRC-origin hot-rolled and/or cold-rolled steel substrate, the importer and exporter are required to meet the certification and documentation requirements detailed in the certifications below in order for no cash deposit to be required on such entries.

Although the importer will not be required to submit the certifications or supporting documentation to CBP as part of the entry process, the importer and the exporter will be required to present the certifications and supporting documentation, to Commerce and/or CBP, as applicable, upon request by the respective agency.
The claims made in the certifications and any supporting documentation are subject to verification by Commerce and/or CBP.
5b. Note to importers: For merchandise (1) shipped and/or (2) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period 11/04/2016 through 12/10/2017 (the day preceding publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register), for which certifications are required, the certification should be completed within 30 days of the publication of the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register and the relevant bullet in the certification should be edited to reflect that the certification was completed within this time frame. For such entries importers have the option to complete a blanket certification covering multiple entries, individual certifications for each entry, or a combination thereof. The importer certifications, and copies of the exporter certifications, should be maintained by the importer and provided to CBP or Commerce only upon request.
5c. Note to exporters: For merchandise (1) shipped and/or (2) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period 11/04/2016 through 12/10/2017, for which certifications are required, the certification should be completed within 30 days of the publication of the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register and the relevant bullet in the certification should be edited to reflect that the certification was completed within this time frame. For such entries exporters have the option to complete a blanket certification covering multiple entries, individual certifications for each entry, or a combination thereof. The exporter should provide the importer with a copy of these certifications once completed. Additionally, the certifications should be maintained by the exporter and provided to CBP or Commerce only upon request.
6. Certifications

6a. IMPORTER CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that:
• My name is {INSERT COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME HERE} and I am an official of {INSERT NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY};
• I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the importation of the corrosion-resistant steel products produced in Vietnam that entered under entry number(s) {INSERT ENTRY NUMBER(S)} and are covered by this certification;
• I have personal knowledge of the facts regarding the production of the imported products covered by this certification;
• These corrosion-resistant steel products produced in Vietnam do not contain hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel substrate produced in the People's Republic of China (PRC);
• I understand that {INSERT NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation supporting this certification for the later of (1) a period of five years from the date of entry or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding such entries;
• I understand that {INSERT NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY}is required to provide this certification and supporting records, upon request, to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the Department of Commerce (the Department);
• I understand that {INSERT NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of the exporter's certification for the later of (1) a period of five years from the date of entry or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in United States courts regarding such entries;
• I understand that {INSERT NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY}is required to maintain and provide a copy of the exporter's certification and supporting records, upon request, to CBP and/or the Department;
• I understand that the claims made herein, and the substantiating documentation, are subject to verification by CBP and/or the Department;
• I understand that failure to maintain the required certification and/or failure to substantiate the claims made herein will result in:
o suspension of liquidation of all unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements were not met and
o the requirement that the importer post applicable antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) cash deposits equal to the rates as determined by the Department;
• I understand that agents of the importer, such as brokers, are not permitted to make this certification;
• This certification was completed at the time of entry;
• I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. §1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government.

Signature
NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL

TITLE

DATE

6b. EXPORTER CERTIFICATION

I hereby certify that:
• My name is {INSERT COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME HERE} and I am an official of {INSERT NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY};
• I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the production and exportation of the corrosion-resistant steel products identified below;
• These corrosion-resistant steel products produced in Vietnam do not contain hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel substrate produced in the People's Republic of China (PRC);
• I understand that {INSERT NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation supporting this certification for the later of (1) a period of five years from the date of entry or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding such entries;
• I understand that {INSERT NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY} must provide this Exporter Certification to the U.S. importer at the time of shipment;
• I understand that {INSERT NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY} is required to provide a copy of this certification and supporting records, upon request, to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the Department of Commerce (the Department);
• I understand that the claims made herein, and the substantiating documentation are subject to verification by CBP and/or the Department;
• I understand that failure to maintain the required certification and/or failure to substantiate the claims made herein will result in:
o suspension of all unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements were not met and
o the requirement that the importer post applicable antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) cash deposits equal to the rates as determined by the Department;
• This certification was completed at or prior to the time of shipment.
• I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. §1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government;

Signature
NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL

TITLE

DATE

7. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OVII:ND.)

8. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.

Alexander Amdur