MESSAGE NO: 8118111 DATE: 04 28 1998
CATEGORY: ADA TYPE: PRE
REFERENCE: REFERENCE DATE:
CASES: A - 401 - 806 - -
- - - -
- - - -

PERIOD COVERED: 03 05 1998 TO

LIQ SUSPENSION DATE:

TO: CMC DIRECTORS,
PORT DIRECTORS

FROM: DIRECTOR, IMPORT OPERATIONS

RE: NOTICE OF PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION IN THE ANTIDUMPING
DUTY INVESTIGATION OF STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD FROM
SWEDEN (A-401-806)

1. ON MARCH 5, 1998, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE WILL PUBLISH IN
THE FEDERAL REGISTER ITS PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF SALES AT
LESS THAN FAIR VALUE AND THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE FINAL
DETERMINATION IN THE ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF STAINLESS
STEEL WIRE ROD FROM SWEDEN.

2. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS INVESTIGATION, STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD
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. STAINLESS STEEL
WIRE ROD 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 STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD
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 STAINLESS
STEEL WIRE ROD SIZES NORMALLY SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES IS
BETWEEN 0.20 INCHES AND 1.312 INCHES DIAMETER. TWO STAINLESS
STEEL GRADES SF20T AND K-M35FL ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF THE
INVESTIGATION. THE CHEMICAL MAKEUP FOR THE EXCLUDED GRADES IS 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 UNDER INVESTIGATION 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 SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION IS DISPOSITIVE.

3. FOR FURTHER REPORTING PURPOSES THIS CASE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED
INVESTIGATION NUMBER A-401-806.

4. FOR IMPORTS OF STAINLESS STEEL WIRE ROD FROM SWEDEN, THE
CUSTOMS SERVICE SHALL SUSPEND LIQUIDATION OF SUCH SHIPMENTS THAT
ARE ENTERED OR WITHDRAWN FROM WAREHOUSE, FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR
AFTER MARCH 5, 1998. EFFECTIVE MARCH 5, 1998 CUSTOMS SHALL
REQUIRE, FOR SUCH ENTRY SUMMARIES, A CASH DEPOSIT OR THE POSTING
OF A BOND EQUAL TO THE MARGINS SHOWN BELOW:

MFR/PRODUCER CUSTOMS ID MARGIN
EXPORTER NUMBER PERCENTAGE

FAGERSTA
STAINLESS AB A-401-806-001 6.51

ALL OTHERS A-401-806-000 6.51

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 LIASON, USING ATTRIBUTE
"HQ OAB". THE IMPORTING PUBLIC AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD
CONTACT SUNKYU KIM AT (202-482-2613 OF THE IMPORT ADMINISTRATION,
INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
AD/CVD ENFORCEMENT, GROUP II, OFFICE 5, AT (202) 482-2613.
THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.


PAUL SCHWARTZ