MESSAGE NO: 8265116 DATE: 09 22 1998
CATEGORY: CVD TYPE: ORD
REFERENCE: REFERENCE DATE:
CASES: C - 475 - 821 - -
- - - -
- - - -

PERIOD COVERED: 09 15 1998 TO

LIQ SUSPENSION DATE:

TO: CMC DIRECTORS,
PORT DIRECTORS

FROM: DIRECTOR, IMPORT OPERATIONS

RE: NOTICE OF COUNTERVAILING DUTY ORDER IN THE
INVESTIGATION OF STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD FROM
ITALY (C-475-821)

1. ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1998, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WILL
PUBLISH IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ITS COUNTERVAILING DUTY ORDER IN
THE INVESTIGATION OF STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD FROM ITALY.

2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ORDER, STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD (SSWR),
COMPRISES PRODUCTS THAT ARE HOT-ROLLED OR HOT-ROLLED ANNEALED
AND/OR PICKLED AND/OR DESCALED ROUNDS, SQUARES, OCTAGONS,
HEXAGONS OR OTHER SHAPES, IN COILS, THAT MAY ALSO BE COATED WITH
A LUBRICANT CONTAINING COPPER, LIME OR OXALATE. SSWR IS MADE OF
ALLOY STEELS CONTAINING, BY WEIGHT, 1.2 PERCENT OR LESS OF CARBON
AND 10.5 PERCENT OR MORE OF CHROMIUM, WITH OR WITHOUT OTHER
ELEMENTS. THESE PRODUCTS ARE MANUFACTURED ONLY BY HOT-ROLLING OR
HOT-ROLLING, ANNEALING, AND/OR PICKLING AND/OR DESCALING, AND ARE
NORMALLY SOLD IN COILED FORM, AND ARE OF SOLID CROSS-SECTION.
THE MAJORITY OF SSWR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES IS ROUND IN
CROSS-SECTIONAL SHAPE, ANNEALED AND PICKLED, AND LATER
COLD-FINISHED INTO STAINLESS STEEL WIRE OR SMALL-DIAMETER BAR.


THE MOST COMMON SIZE FOR SUCH PRODUCTS IS 5.5 MILLIMETERS OR
0.217 INCHES IN DIAMETER, WHICH REPRESENTS THE SMALLEST SIZE THAT
NORMALLY IS PRODUCED ON A ROLLING MILL AND IS THE SIZE THAT MOST
WIRE DRAWING MACHINES ARE SET UP TO DRAW. THE RANGE OF SSWR
SIZES NORMALLY SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES IS BETWEEN 0.20 INCHES
AND 1.312 INCHES IN DIAMETER. TWO STAINLESS STEEL GRADES SF20T
AND K-M35FL ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF THE ORDER. THE
PERCENTAGES OF CHEMICAL MAKEUP FOR THE EXCLUDED GRADES ARE AS
FOLLOWS:

SF20T

CARBON 0.05 MAX CHROMIUM 19.00/21.00
MANGANESE 2.00 MAX MOLYBDENUM 1.50/2.50
PHOSPHOROUS 0.05 MAX LEAD ADDED (0.10/0.30)
SULFUR 0.15 MAX TELLURIUM ADDED (0.03 MIN)
SILICON 1.00 MAX

K-M35FL

CARBON 0.015 MAX NICKEL 0.30 MAX
SILICON 0.70/1.00 CHROMIUM 12.50/14.00
MANGANESE 0.40 MAX LEAD 0.10/0.30
PHOSPHOROUS 0.04 MAX ALUMINUM 0.20/0.35
SULFUR 0.03 MAX


THE PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO THIS ORDER ARE CURRENTLY CLASSIFIABLE
UNDER SUBHEADINGS 7221.00.0005, 7221.00.0015, 7221.00.0030,
7221.00.0045, AND 7221.00.0075 OF THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE
OF THE UNITED STATES (HTSUS). ALTHOUGH THE HTSUS SUBHEADINGS ARE
PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE AND CUSTOMS PURPOSES, THE WRITTEN
DESCRIPTION OF THE MERCHANDISE IS DISPOSITIVE.

3. FOR FURTHER REPORTING PURPOSES THIS CASE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED
INVESTIGATION NUMBER C-475-821.

4. FOR IMPORTS OF STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD, THE CUSTOMS SERVICE
SHALL CONTINUE TO SUSPEND LIQUIDATION OF SUCH SHIPMENTS THAT WERE
ENTERED OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR AFTER
JANUARY 7, 1998 THROUGH MAY 7, 1998. FOR ALL ENTRIES OF THE
SUBJECT MERCHANDISE MADE ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 15, 1998, CUSTOMS
SHALL REQUIRE A CASH DEPOSIT EQUAL TO THE SUBSIDY RATES SHOWN
BELOW AND SHALL SUSPEND LIQUIDATION ON THESE ENTRIES PENDING
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ACTUAL ASSESSMENT OF COUNTERVAILING DUTIES.


MFR/PRODUCER/ CUSTOMS ID PERCENTAGE/
EXPORTER NUMBER SUBSIDY RATE

ACCIAIERIE VALBRUNA S.R.L. C-475-821-001 1.28 %
COGNE ACCIAI SPECIALI S.R.L. (CAS) C-475-821-002 22.22 %
ACCIAIERIE DI BOLZANO C-475-821-003 1.28 %
ALL OTHERS C-475-821-000 13.85 %


5. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER BY CUSTOMS
OFFICERS, PLEASE CONTACT VIA E-MAIL, THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE
SUPERVISORY CHANNELS, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY LIAISON, USING THE
ATTRIBUTE "HQ OAB". THE IMPORTING PUBLIC AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
SHOULD CONTACT KATHLEEN LOCKARD OR ERIC B. GREYNOLDS, OFFICE OF
AD/CVD ENFORCEMENT VI, IMPORT ADMINISTRATION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AT (202) 482-1168 OR
(202) 482-6071, RESPECTIVELY.

6. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.

PAUL SCHWARTZ