Russia CTL Plate: Details of AD Duty Order

The Commerce Department recently issued an antidumping duty order on cut-to-length carbon steel plate from Russia (A-821-808), following the termination of a suspension agreement that had been in place since 2003, and in an earlier form since 1997. The order sets permanent antidumping duties, which will remain in place unless revoked by Commerce in a sunset or changed circumstances review. Commerce will now begin conducting annual administrative reviews, if requested, to determine final assessments of AD duties on importers and make changes to cash deposit rates.

Nucor, Cleveland-Cliffs and SSAB Enterprises requested the end of the suspension agreement (see 2304210062). It had first come into effect amid the original antidumping duty investigation. Despite the suspension, Commerce and the International Trade Commission issued final determinations setting final dumping rates and finding injury to U.S. industry. Cash deposit requirements now take effect Aug. 14, 2023, at those rates.

Due to Commerce's finding in 2022 that Russia is now a non-market economy (see 2211140001), all Russian companies that don't demonstrate independence from Russian government control will be considered part of the Russia-wide entity.

Scope of AD Duties

The scope of the AD order will be that set during the original AD investigation of CTL carbon steel plate from Russia in 2007, as follows:

"The scope of the order includes hot-rolled iron and non-alloy steel universal mill plates ( i.e., flat-rolled products rolled on four faces or in a closed box pass, of a width exceeding 150 mm but not exceeding 1250 mm and of a thickness of not less than 4 mm, not in coils and without patterns in relief), of rectangular shape, neither clad, plated nor coated with metal, whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances; and certain iron and non-alloy steel flat-rolled products not in coils, of rectangular shape, hot-rolled, neither clad, plated, nor coated with metal, whether or not painted, varnished, or coated with plastics or other nonmetallic substances, 4.75 mm or more in thickness and of a width which exceeds 150 mm and measures at least twice the thickness.

"Included as subject merchandise in the order are flat-rolled products of nonrectangular cross-section where such cross-section is achieved subsequent to the rolling process ( i.e., products which have been “worked after rolling”) for example, products which have been beveled or rounded at the edges.

"This merchandise is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under item numbers 7208.40.3030, 7208.40.3060, 7208.51.0030, 7208.51.0045, 7208.51.0060, 7208.52.0000, 7208.53.0000, 7208.90.0000, 7210.70.3000, 7210.90.9000, 7211.13.0000, 7211.14.0030, 7211.14.0045, 7211.90.0000, 7212.40.1000, 7212.40.5000, and 7212.50.0000.

"Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the order is dispositive. Specifically excluded from subject merchandise within the scope of this order is grade X–70 steel plate."

AD Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposit Requirements

Commerce will direct CBP to suspend liquidation for entries of subject merchandise on or after Aug. 14, and require AD cash deposits, as follows:

(See the notice for additional details, including suspension of liquidation and cash deposit requirements, etc.)