U.S. Steel Group v. U.S.

• Citation: 96 F.3d 1352
• Decision Date: 29 August 1996
• Docket Number: 95-1257,Nos. 95-1245,GROUP--,95-1306 and 95-1307,KERN-LIEBERS,USS-P,s. 95-1245
• Parties: UNITED STATES STEELa Unit of USX Corporation; AK Steel Corporation; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Inland Steel Industries, Inc.; LTV Steel Company, Inc.; and National Steel Corporation Plaintiffs-Appellants, and Geneva Steel; Gulf States Steel, Inc. of Alabama; Laclede Steel Company; WCI Steel, Inc.; and Sharon Steel Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. The UNITED STATES, Defendant-Appellee, and Kawasaki Steel Corporation; NKK Corporation; Kobe Steel, Ltd.; Nippon Steel Corporation; Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd.; and Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Defendants-Appellees, and Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerias, S.A., Defendant-Appellee, and Companhia Siderurgica Nacional, Defendant-Appellee, and Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Defendant-Appellee, and Dofasco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee, andosco Industries, Defendant-Appellee, and Ipsco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee, and Preussag Stahl AG; Klockner Stahl GMBH; Krupp-Hoesch Stahl AG; Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp; and Thyssen Stahl AG; Defendants-Appellees, and Stelco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee, and Hoogovens Groep BV and N.V.W. (U.S.A.), Inc., Defendants-Appellees, and Usinor Sacilor and Sollac, Defendants-Appellees, and Algoma Steel Inc., Defendant-Appellee, and Sidmar N.V. and Tradearbed, Inc., Defendants-Appellees.USA, INC., Plaintiff, and Bethlehem Steel Corporation; AK Steel Corporation; Inland Steel Industries, Inc.; LTV Steel Company, Inc.; National Steel Corporation; and United States Steel Group--A Unit of USX Corporation, Plaintiffs-Appellants, and Gulf States Steel, Inc. of Alabama; WCI Steel, Inc.; and Sharon Steel Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. The UNITED STATES, Defendant-Appellee, and Kawasaki Steel Corporation; Kobe Steel, Ltd.; NKK Corporation; Nippon Steel Corporation; Nisshin Steel Co., Ltd.; and Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Defendants-Appellees, and Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerias, S.A., Defendant-Appellee, and Sidbec-Dosco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee, and Dongbu Steel Co., Ltd.; Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.; Pohan
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Federal Circuit

Page 1352

96 F.3d 1352

18 ITRD 1609

UNITED STATES STEEL GROUP--a Unit of USX Corporation; AK

Steel Corporation; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Inland

Steel Industries, Inc.; LTV Steel Company, Inc.; and

National Steel Corporation Plaintiffs-Appellants,

and

Geneva Steel; Gulf States Steel, Inc. of Alabama; Laclede

Steel Company; WCI Steel, Inc.; and Sharon Steel

Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. The UNITED STATES, Defendant-Appellee, and Kawasaki Steel Corporation; NKK Corporation; Kobe Steel,

Ltd.; Nippon Steel Corporation; Nisshin Steel

Co., Ltd.; and Sumitomo Metal

Industries, Ltd., Defendants-Appellees,

and

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerias, S.A., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional, Defendant-Appellee,

and

Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Dofasco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

USS-Posco Industries, Defendant-Appellee,

and

Ipsco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Preussag Stahl AG; Klockner Stahl GMBH; Krupp-Hoesch Stahl

AG; Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp; and Thyssen

Stahl AG; Defendants-Appellees,

and

Stelco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Hoogovens Groep BV and N.V.W. (U.S.A.), Inc., Defendants-Appellees,

and

Usinor Sacilor and Sollac, Defendants-Appellees,

and

Algoma Steel Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Sidmar N.V. and Tradearbed, Inc., Defendants-Appellees.

KERN-LIEBERS USA, INC., Plaintiff,

and

Bethlehem Steel Corporation; AK Steel Corporation; Inland

Steel Industries, Inc.; LTV Steel Company, Inc.; National

Steel Corporation; and United States Steel Group--A Unit of

USX Corporation, Plaintiffs-Appellants, and Gulf States Steel, Inc. of Alabama; WCI Steel, Inc.; and Sharon Steel Corporation, Plaintiffs, v. The UNITED STATES, Defendant-Appellee, and Kawasaki Steel Corporation; Kobe Steel, Ltd.; NKK

Corporation; Nippon Steel Corporation; Nisshin

Steel Co., Ltd.; and Sumitomo Metal

Industries, Ltd., Defendants-Appellees,

and

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerias, S.A., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Sidbec-Dosco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Dongbu Steel Co., Ltd.; Pohang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.;

Pohang Coated Steel Co., Ltd.; Pohang Steel

Industries Co., Ltd.; and Union Steel

Manufacturing Co., Ltd.,

Defendants-Appellees,

and

Companhia Siderurgica Nacional, Defendant-Appellee,

and

Voest Alpine Stahl AG, Defendant-Appellee,

and

Ilva, S.p.A., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Siderar S.A.I.C., the successor of Propulsora Siderurgica

S.A.I.C. and Aceros Parana, S.A.I.C., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Stelco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Dofasco, Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Sidmar N.V. and Tradearbed, Inc., Defendants-Appellees,

and

Usinor Sacilor and Sollac, Defendants-Appellees,

and

Empresa Nacional Siderurgica, S.A. Defendant-Appellee,

and

Algoma Steel Inc., Defendant-Appellee,

and

Worthington Industries, Inc.; Ilva USA, Inc.; and Krupp

Steel Products, Inc., Defendants, v. THYSSEN STAHL AG; Thyssen Steel Detroit Co.; Thyssen Inc.;

Preussag Stahl AG; Klockner Stahl GMBH;

Friedrich Krupp AG Hoesch-Krupp; and

Krupp-Hoesch Stahl AG,

Defendants/Cross-Appellants,

and

Hoogovens Groep BV and N.V.W. (U.S.A.), Inc.,

Defendants/Cross-Appellants.

Nos. 95-1245, 95-1257, 95-1306 and 95-1307.

United States Court of Appeals Federal Circuit.

Aug. 29, 1996.

Rehearing Denied Nov. 21, 1996.

Michael H. Stein, Dewey Ballantine, and Stephen J. Narkin, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, of Washington, D.C., argued for plaintiffs-appellants, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, et al. (95-1257). With them on the brief were Alan Wm. Wolff, Dewey Ballantine, and Robert E. Lighthizer and John J. Mangan, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Of counsel were Joseph A. Black, Linda C. Menghetti, Kristen M. Neller, Elizabeth A.B. McMorrow, and Jennifer Danner Riccardi, Dewey Ballantine, and M.J. Mace, Barry J. Gilman, James C. Hecht, and Faryar Shirzad, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

James A. Toupin, Deputy General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, of Washington, D.C., argued for defendant-appellee, The United States (95-1257). With him on the brief were Lyn M. Schlitt, General Counsel, and Cynthia P. Johnson and James M. Lyons, Attorneys.

Donald B. Cameron, Morrison & Foerster, of Washington, D.C., argued for private defendants-appellees (95-1257). With him on the brief were Alan K. Palmer and Julia C. Mendoza. Also with him on the brief were A. Paul Victor, Scott Maberry, and Martin S. Applebaum, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, of New York City; Peggy A. Clarke, Gary N. Horlick, and Bruce R. Hirsh, O'Melveny & Myers, of Washington, D.C.; Douglas J. Heffner, Ryan T. Trainer, William Silverman, and Stephen J. Claeys, Rogers & Wells, of Washington, D.C.; Gail T. Cumins, Ned H. Marshak, and Beatrice A. Brickell, Sharretts, Paley, Carter & Blauvelt, P.C., of New York, New York; Gunter Von Conrad, Peter A. Martin, and Mark T. Wasden, Barnes Richardson & Colburn, of Washington, D.C.; Mark S. McConnell, Richard L.A. Weiner, and Paul A. Minorini, Hogan & Hartson, of Washington, D.C.; Peter O. Suchman, Neil R. Ellis, Niall P. Meagher, and Elizabeth C. Hafner, Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy, of Washington, D.C.; Christopher A. Dunn, James P. Durling, William H. Barringer, Matthew Nicely, Christopher S. Stokes, and Nancy A. Fischer, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, of Washington, D.C.; Arthur J. Lafave III and Douglas N. Jacobson, Dickstein Shapiro & Morin, L.L.P., of Washington, D.C.; William K. Ince, Gregory J. Bendlin, Michele C. Sherman, and Rachel F. Herold, Cameron & Hornbostel, of Washington, D.C.; George V. Egge, Jr., George V. Egge, Jr., P.C., of Washington, D.C.; David P. Houlihan and Richard G. King, White & Case, of Washington, D.C.; George Kleinfeld, Fontheim & Hammonds, of Washington, D.C., for defendant-appellee IPSCO, Inc. Of counsel was Sue-Lynn Koo, G. Brian Busey, Panagiotis C. Bayz, Craig A. Lewis, M. Diana Helweg, Morrison & Foerster.

Elizabeth C. Hafner, Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy, of Washington, D.C., argued for defendants/cross-appellants Hoogovens Groep BV and N.V.W. (U.S.A.), Inc. and Gail T. Cumins, Sharretts Paley Carter & Blauvelt, of New York City, argued for defendants/cross-appellants Thyssen Stahl AG; et al. (95-1306). With them on the briefs were Peter O. Suchman and Neil R. Ellis, Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy, of Washington, D.C.; and Ned H. Marshak and Beatrice A. Brickell, Sharretts, Paley, Carter & Blauvelt, P.C., of New York City.

Michael H. Stein, Dewey Ballantine, of Washington, D.C., argued for Bethlehem Steel Corporation, et al. Stephen Narkin, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, of Washington, D.C., argued for U.S. Steel Group, et al. With them on the briefs were Alan Wm. Wolff of Dewey Ballantine and Robert E. Lighthizer and John J. Mangan of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. James M. Lyons, Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, of Washington, D.C., argued for The United States (95-1306). With him on the briefs were Lyn M. Schlitt, General Counsel, James A. Toupin, Deputy General Counsel, and Cynthia P. Johnson, Attorney.

Before ARCHER, Chief Judge, and LOURIE and CLEVENGER, Circuit Judges.

CLEVENGER, Circuit Judge.

Bethlehem Steel Corporation, et al. (Bethlehem), Thyssen Stahl AG, et al. (Thyssen), and Hoogovens Groep BV (Hoogovens), respectively, appeal from two decisions of the Court of International Trade, United States Steel Group v. United States, 873 F.Supp. 673 (Ct. Int'l Trade 1994); Kern-Liebers USA, Inc. v. United States, 17 I.T.R.D. (BNA) 1082, 1995 WL 33066 (Ct. Int'l Trade 1995), which affirmed the determinations of the International Trade Commission (Commission) that an industry in the United States (1) is not materially injured nor threatened with material injury by imports of hot- and cold-rolled steel from numerous countries; (2) is threatened with material injury by imports of cold-rolled steel from Germany; and (3) is threatened with material injury by imports of cold-rolled steel from the Netherlands. We affirm all aspects of the appealed decisions.

I

On June 30, 1992, a group of United States steel companies filed a petition with the International Trade Commission alleging that their industry had been harmed by subsidized and "Less Than Fair Value" (LTFV) ¹ imports of certain flat-rolled carbon steel products from numerous countries, ² and seeking the imposition of countervailing and antidumping duties against the subject imports. 57 Fed.Reg. 60,247 (1992); 58 Fed.Reg. 8974 (1993). After affirmative preliminary findings by the Department of Commerce on December 7, 1992 and February 4, 1993 that the imports in question were indeed subsidized or being sold at LTFV, the Commission commenced an investigation to determine whether the imports had caused, or threatened to cause, a material injury to an industry in the United States. See id. In conducting its investigation, the Commission divided the broad category of flat-rolled carbon steel products into four "like products:" ³ (1) hot-rolled products; ⁴ (2) cold-rolled products; (3) corrosion-resistant products; ⁵ and (4) cut-to-length plate products. See 1 ITC Final Determination, supra, at 7, 163. The appeals in this case do not question the Commission's categorization of products, but instead concern only the Commission's determinations with respect to the hot-rolled and cold-rolled categories.

The Commission conducted its investigation over a three-year period, 1990-1992. During that period, the Commission collected large amounts of data concerning the subject imports including detailed information regarding the imports' value, prices, and volume of shipments. In addition, it collected extensive data on the production, capacity utilization, and inventory levels of foreign producers, and carefully examined the patterns of domestic consumption of the subject imports. On the basis of this data, the Commission made its determinations, the majority of which are not contested on this appeal. Of those that are, the Commission determined that most of the...