China, South Korea, and Taiwan NOES: New CV Duty Investigations Deadlines & Scope

The period of investigation for all three countries is Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2012.

CV Respondent Selection

Commerce said it will pick respondents to these investigations based on CBP import data. The decisions will come within 20 days of the publication date of this initiation notice, by Nov. 21.

Scope of the CV Investigation

"The merchandise subject to these investigations consists of non-oriented electrical steel (NOES), which includes cold-rolled, flat-rolled, alloy steel products, whether or not in coils, regardless of width, having an actual thickness of 0.20 mm or more, in which the core loss is substantially equal in any direction of magnetization in the plane of the material. The term 'substantially equal' in the prior sentence means that the cross grain direction of core loss is no more than 1.5 times the straight grain direction (i.e., the rolling direction) of core loss. NOES has a magnetic permeability that does not exceed 1.65 Tesla when tested at a field of 800 A/m (equivalent to 10 Oesteds) along (i.e., parallel to) the rolling direction of the sheet (i.e., B800 value). NOES contains by weight at least 1.25 percent of silicon but less than 3.5 percent of silicon, not more than 0.08 percent of carbon, and not more than 1.5 percent of aluminum.

"NOES is subject to these investigations whether it is fully processed (fully annealed to develop final magnetic properties) or semi-processed (finished to final thickness and physical form but not fully annealed to develop final magnetic properties); whether or not it is coated (e.g., with enamel, varnish, natural oxide surface, chemically treated or phosphate surface, or other non-metallic materials). Fully processed NOES is typically made to the requirements of ASTM specification A 677, Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) specification C 2552, and/or International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) specification 60404-8-4. Semi-processed NOES is typically made to the requirements of ASTM specification A683. However, the scope of these investigations is not limited to merchandise meeting the specifications noted above.

"NOES is sometimes referred to as cold-rolled non-oriented electrical steel (CRNO), non-grain oriented (NGO), non-oriented (NO), or cold-rolled non-grain oriented (CRNGO). These terms are interchangeable. "The subject merchandise is provided for in subheadings 7225.19.0000, 7226.19.1000, and 7226.19.9000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Subject merchandise may also be entered under subheadings 7225.50.8085, 7225.99.0090, 7226.92.5000, 7226.92.7050, 7226.92.8050, 7226.99.0180 of the HTSUS. Although HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive."

Comments on Scope Due by Nov. 26

Commerce said that it discussed the scope with petitioners to ensure that it is an accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking relief. Comments on the scope of both investigations are due by Nov. 26.

Investigations Timetable

¹If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.

²These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.

³This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.

⁴This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.

(See 13101707 for summary of the Commerce Department's receipt of the petition underlying the initiation of this investigation.)

Commerce Department fact sheet available (here).