Certain Steel Nails From the United Arab Emirates: Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 3945-3950 [E8-1109]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3945-3950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1109]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-520-802]


Certain Steel Nails From the United Arab Emirates: Notice of 
Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and 
Postponement of Final Determination

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: We preliminarily determine that certain steel nails (nails) 
from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being, or are likely to be, 
sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV), as provided 
in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). 
Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary 
determination. We will make our final determination within 135 days 
after the date of this preliminary determination.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 23, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Goldberger or Kate Johnson, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 2, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
4136 or (202) 482-4929, respectively.

Background

    Since the initiation of this investigation (see Certain Steel Nails 
from the People's Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates: 
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 72 FR 38816 (July 16, 
2007) (Initiation Notice)), the following events have occurred.
    On July 30, 2007, the United States International Trade Commission 
(ITC) preliminarily determined that there is a reasonable indication 
that imports of nails from the UAE are materially injuring the United 
States industry. See ITC Investigation Nos. 731-TA-1114-1115 
(Publication No. 3939).
    On August 24, 2007, we selected Dubai Wire FZE (DW), the largest 
producer/exporter of nails from the UAE, as the mandatory respondent in 
this proceeding. See Memorandum to James Maeder, Director Office 2, 
from David Goldberger and Kate Johnson, Senior International Trade 
Compliance Analysts, regarding ``Antidumping Duty Investigation of 
Certain Steel Nails from the United Arab Emirates--Selection of 
Respondents,'' dated August 24, 2007. We subsequently issued the 
antidumping questionnaire to DW and its affiliate Global Fasteners Ltd. 
(GFL) on August 27, 2007.
    DW submitted its Section A and C questionnaire responses on October 
9, 2007, and October 18, 2007, respectively. We received a response to 
Section D of the questionnaire on October 25, 2007. We issued and 
received responses to our supplemental questionnaires from December 
2007 through January 2008.
    On October 26, 2007, the petitioners \1\ filed a targeted dumping 
allegation against DW under section 777A(d)(1)(B) of the Act. The 
Department requested additional information from the petitioners with 
respect to their targeted dumping allegation on November 30, 2007. The 
petitioners responded to this request on December 10, 2007. DW 
submitted comments to dispute the allegation on December 20, 2007. See 
``Targeted Dumping'' section below for further discussion.
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    \1\ The petitioners are Mid Continent Nail Corporation, Davis 
Wire Corporation, Gerdau Ameristeel Corporation (Atlas Steel & Wire 
Division), Maze Nails (Division of W.H. Maze Company), and Treasure 
Coast Fasteners, Inc. and United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, 
Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers 
International Union.
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    On November 1, 2007, pursuant to sections 733(c)(1)(B) and (c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f), the petitioners requested that the 
Department postpone the preliminary determination due to the 
complexities

[[Page 3946]]

of the investigation and the required analysis for it, and because the 
Department was still involved in gathering initial data from the 
respondent at that time. See Certain Steel Nails from the People's 
Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determinations of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 72 FR 
63558 (November 9, 2007).
    On December 20, 2007, the petitioners submitted comments for the 
Department's consideration in the preliminary determination.

Postponement of Final Determination

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an 
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement 
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of 
exports of the subject merchandise, or, in the event of a negative 
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by 
the petitioner. The Department's regulations, at 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), 
require that requests by respondents for postponement of a final 
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional 
measures from a four-month period to not more than six months.
    Pursuant to section 735(a)(2) of the Act, on December 27, 2007, DW 
requested that, in the event of an affirmative preliminary 
determination in this investigation, the Department postpone its final 
determination until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register, 
and extend the provisional measures to not more than six months. In 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.210(b), because (1) our preliminary 
determination is affirmative, (2) the respondent accounts for a 
significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, and (3) 
no compelling reasons for denial exist, we are granting the 
respondent's request and are postponing the final determination until 
no later than 135 days after the publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register. Suspension of liquidation will be extended 
accordingly.

Period of Investigation

    The period of investigation (POI) is April 1, 2006, through March 
31, 2007. This period corresponds to the four most recent fiscal 
quarters prior to the month of the filing of the petition (i.e., May 
2007).

Scope of Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation includes certain 
steel nails having a shaft length up to 12 inches. Certain steel nails 
include, but are not limited to, nails made of round wire and nails 
that are cut. Certain steel nails may be of one piece construction or 
constructed of two or more pieces. Certain steel nails may be produced 
from any type of steel, and have a variety of finishes, heads, shanks, 
point types, shaft lengths and shaft diameters. Finishes include, but 
are not limited to, coating in vinyl, zinc (galvanized, whether by 
electroplating or hot-dipping one or more times), phosphate cement, and 
paint. Head styles include, but are not limited to, flat, projection, 
cupped, oval, brad, headless, double, countersunk, and sinker. Shank 
styles include, but are not limited to, smooth, barbed, screw threaded, 
ring shank and fluted shank styles. Screw-threaded nails subject to 
this proceeding are driven using direct force and not by turning the 
fastener using a tool that engages with the head. Point styles include, 
but are not limited to, diamond, blunt, needle, chisel and no point. 
Finished nails may be sold in bulk, or they may be collated into strips 
or coils using materials such as plastic, paper, or wire. Certain steel 
nails subject to this proceeding are currently classified under the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 
7317.00.55, 7317.00.65 and 7317.00.75.
    Excluded from the scope of this proceeding are roofing nails of all 
lengths and diameter, whether collated or in bulk, and whether or not 
galvanized. Steel roofing nails are specifically enumerated and 
identified in ASTM Standard F 1667 (2005 revision) as Type I, Style 20 
nails. Also excluded from the scope of this proceeding are corrugated 
nails. A corrugated nail is made of a small strip of corrugated steel 
with sharp points on one side. Also excluded from the scope of this 
proceeding are fasteners suitable for use in powder-actuated hand 
tools, not threaded and threaded, which are currently classified under 
HTSUS 7317.00.20 and 7317.00.30. Also excluded from the scope of this 
proceeding are thumb tacks, which are currently classified under HTSUS 
7317.00.10.00. Also excluded from the scope of this proceeding are 
certain brads and finish nails that are equal to or less than 0.0720 
inches in shank diameter, round or rectangular in cross section, 
between 0.375 inches and 2.5 inches in length, and that are collated 
with adhesive or polyester film tape backed with a heat seal 
adhesive.\2\
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    \2\ See ``Scope Comments'' section below for further discussion.
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    While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this 
investigation is dispositive.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the preamble to our regulations, we set aside a 
period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage 
and encouraged all parties to submit comments within 20 calendar days 
of publication of the Initiation Notice. See Antidumping Duties; 
Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) 
and Initiation Notice at 72 FR 38817.
    In this investigation, and the concurrent investigation of nails 
from the People's Republic of China (PRC), we received three scope 
exclusion requests during the period July 2007 through January 2008.
    On July 30, 2007,\3\ Stanley Fastening Systems, LP (Stanley), an 
interested party in this proceeding, requested that banded brads and 
finish nails imported with a ``nailer kit'' or ``combo kit'' \4\ as a 
single package be excluded from this investigation as being outside the 
``class or kind'' of merchandise. Stanley conducted a Diversified 
Products \5\ analysis in support of its position claiming that banded 
products imported in the same package as a pneumatic nailer and sold as 
a ``nailer kit'' or ``combo kit'' are not within the class or kind of 
merchandise covered in the scope of the instant investigation. In 
addition, Stanley states that, to the best of its information and 
belief, none of the petitioning companies in this investigation 
manufacture banded brads or finish nails.
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    \3\ This submission was filed on the record of the PRC 
investigation on July 30, 2007, and on the record of the instant 
investigation on January 7, 2008.
    \4\ A ``nailer kit'' consists of a pneumatic nailer, a ``starter 
box'' of branded products and a carrying case. A ``combo kit'' 
consists of an air compressor, a pneumatic nailer, and a ``starter 
box'' of banded products and related accessories, such as an air 
hose.
    \5\ Prior to being codified in the regulations, these factors 
were identified by the Court of International Trade in Diversified 
Products Corp. v. United States, 572 F. Supp. 883 (CIT 1983), and 
therefore, they are also referred to as the ``Diversified Products 
factors.''
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    On August 9, 2007,\6\ the petitioners objected to this exclusion 
request, arguing that the scope of this proceeding is comprehensive 
and, while the scope

[[Page 3947]]

contains specific exclusions, it does not exclude any nails based on 
their importation in combination with one or more other articles. The 
petitioners claimed that it is their intention that the scope of this 
proceeding include all certain steel nails exhibiting the physical 
characteristics identified in the written scope description, regardless 
of how imported. Furthermore, according to the petitioners, a 
Diversified Products analysis requires a determination that collated 
steel finish nails remain scope merchandise, whether imported on their 
own or with a nail gun. Finally, the petitioners cite several cases \7\ 
in support of their contention that Department precedent supports their 
argument that these finish nails are merchandise covered by the scope 
of investigation. According to the petitioners, these rulings address 
fundamentally different types of kits or sets of merchandise, in which 
the subject merchandise at issue is subsumed with a set of goods whose 
essential character is defined as something other than the merchandise 
itself.
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    \6\ This submission was filed on the record of the PRC 
investigation on August 9, 2007, and on the record of the instant 
investigation on January 7, 2008.
    \7\ See, e.g., Memorandum from Wendy J. Frankel, Director, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 8, to Barbara E. Tillman, Acting Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Final Scope Ruling--
Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Cased Pencils from the People's 
Republic of China--Request by Fiskars Brands, Inc. (June 3, 2005); 
Memorandum from Laurie Parkhill, Director, Office 8, AD/CVD 
Enforcement, To Jeffrey A. May, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Import Administration, Final Scope Ruling--Antidumping Duty Order on 
Certain Cased Pencils from the People's Republic of China--Request 
by Target Corporation Regarding ``Hello Kitty Fashion Totes'' 
(September 29, 2004).
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    On August 15, 2007,\8\ Stanley responded to the petitioners' August 
9, 2007, submission claiming that none of the petitioners' arguments 
supports a conclusion that banded products imported in nailer kits are 
within the subject class of kind of merchandise.
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    \8\ This submission was filed on the record of the PRC 
investigation on August 15, 2007, and on the record of the instant 
investigation on January 7, 2008.
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    On December 12, 2007, Stanley revised its July 30, 2007, scope 
exclusion request arguing that its new request reflects a broader 
exclusion and is easily administered by U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) because the description of the excluded brads and 
finish nails is framed solely in terms of their physical 
characteristics. On December 18, 2007, the petitioners filed a letter 
stating that they agree with Stanley's December 12, 2007, scope 
exclusion request.
    Therefore, based on the scope exclusion request from Stanley, the 
fact that the petitioners are in agreement with this request, and there 
appears to be no impediment to enforceability by CBP,\9\ we 
preliminarily determine that the above-described products are not 
subject to the scope of this investigation.\10\
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    \9\ See Memorandum to the File from Kate Johnson, Senior Case 
Analyst, to The File entitled ``Proposed Scope Exclusion,'' dated 
January 15, 2008.
    \10\ On January 8, 2008, Illinois Tool Works Inc., an interested 
party, opposed the exclusion request filed by Stanley, arguing that 
it is the only U.S. producer of the products at issue. While the 
Department notes ITW's objection, it strives to craft a scope that 
both includes the specific products for which the petitioners have 
requested relief, and excludes those products which may fall within 
the general scope definition, but for which the petitioners do not 
seek relief. (This submission was filed on the record of the PRC 
investigation on January 8, 2008, and on the record of the instant 
investigation on January 11, 2008.)
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    In addition, the petitioners requested that the Department modify 
the scope of these investigations to exclude certain trademarked 
products in submissions dated October 5, 2007, October 12, 2007, 
October 24, 2007, and November 1, 2007.\11\ However, we found that the 
proposed scope modification language, which would exclude only 
specifically registered trademarked products, would provide an improper 
scope for this investigation because its effect would be to exclude 
only products of the parties controlling those trademarks, while the 
same products without the specified trademarks would be included, 
creating a scope that is neither impartial nor reasonable. Furthermore, 
the trademark requirement may cause significant administrability 
problems for CBP should an antidumping duty order be issued. Therefore, 
on November 15, 2007, we determined it inappropriate to modify the 
scope of this investigation in accordance with the petitioners' 
request. See Memorandum To David M. Spooner, Assistant Secretary for 
Import Administration, from Stephen J. Claeys, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Import Administration, AD/CVD Operations regarding 
``Certain Steel Nails from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') and 
the United Arab Emirates (``UAE''): Scope Modification Request'' dated 
November 15, 2007.
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    \11\ Each submission contained a revised version of the proposed 
scope modification.
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    On January 3, 2008,\12\ Hilti, Inc., an interested party in this 
investigation, requested that fasteners having a case hardness greater 
than or equal to 50 HRC, a carbon content greater than or equal to 0.5 
percent, a round head, a secondary reduced-diameter raised head 
section, a centered shank, and a smooth symmetrical point, suitable for 
use in gas-actuated hand tools be excluded from the scope of this 
investigation.\13\ We received this request too late to consider for 
purposes of the preliminary determination, but will consider it for the 
final determination.
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    \12\ This submission was filed on the record of the PRC 
investigation on January 3, 2008, and on the record of the instant 
investigation on January 8, 2008.
    \13\ On January 8, 2008, Illinois Tool Works Inc., an interested 
party, opposed the exclusion request filed by Hilti, Inc., arguing 
that it is the only U.S. producer of the products at issue. On 
January 9, 2008, the petitioners filed a letter stating that they 
agree with Hilti's January 3, 2008, scope exclusion request.
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Targeted Dumping

    Based on our examination of the targeted dumping allegation filed 
on October 26, 2007, we have preliminarily determined that the 
petitioners' allegation indicates that there is a pattern of export 
prices for comparable merchandise that differs significantly, 
consistent with that accepted by the Department in Coated Free Sheet 
Paper from South Korea. (See Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 
Final Determination of the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Coated 
Free Sheet Paper from the Republic of Korea, dated October 17, 2007.) 
Therefore, based on the petitioners' allegation, for purposes of this 
preliminary determination, we have conducted an analysis to determine 
whether targeted dumping has occurred. For further discussion of the 
Department's preliminary targeted dumping analysis, see Memorandum to 
James Maeder, Director, AD/CVD Operations, Office 2, from Irene 
Darzenta Tzafolias, regarding ``Antidumping Duty Investigation of 
Certain Steel Nails from the United Arab Emirates--Preliminary Analysis 
on Targeting,'' dated January 15, 2008.
    We note, however, that the Department is in the process of re-
assessing the framework and standards for both targeted dumping 
allegations and targeted dumping analyses. Accordingly, we intend to 
develop a new framework in the context of this proceeding and to apply 
it in time for parties to have an opportunity to comment before the 
final determination.
    In formulating this new methodology the Department requests 
comments by February 15, 2008, regarding certain principles: (1) 
Whether it is appropriate to collapse into one test the assessment of 
patterns of low prices and of significant price differentials; (2) if 
so, whether the test for a pattern of low prices ought to be 
established on the basis of a simple comparison of the average price to 
the alleged target with an average non-targeted price; and (3) whether 
any test for a significant price difference ought to simply be based on 
an absolute, bright-line threshold or

[[Page 3948]]

whether it should account for other aspects of the non-targeted group's 
data.
    In preliminarily accepting the allegation of targeted dumping, we 
find that the price differences cannot be taken into account using the 
average-to-average comparison methodology for targeted sales because 
that methodology, by averaging the high prices with the low prices, has 
the effect of masking the extent of sales at LTFV. See section 
777A(d)(1)(B) of the Act. Accordingly, we used the average-to-
transaction methodology for these sales in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.414(f)(1).
    When calculating DW's weighted-average margin, we combined the 
margin calculated for the targeted sales using the average-to-
transaction methodology with the margin calculated for the non-targeted 
sales using the average-to-average methodology. In combining the 
margins for the targeted and non-targeted U.S. sales databases, we have 
not offset any margins found among the targeted U.S. sales.

Collapsing of GFL With DW

    For purposes of the preliminary determination, we have treated DW 
and GFL, an affiliate of DW that is involved in the production and sale 
of nails,\14\ as one entity for dumping margin calculation purposes, 
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.401(f). DW and GFL are affiliated under section 
771(33)(F) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.102 because both companies are 
under the common control of one individual, share identical board 
members, and the common company officers have the ability to exercise 
control over the companies (19 CFR 351.401(f)(1)). Furthermore, 
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.401(f)(1) and (2), DW and GFL have production 
facilities for substantially similar products at the same location that 
would not require substantial retooling of either facility to 
restructure manufacturing priorities, and there is significant 
potential for the manipulation of price or production if the two 
companies do not receive the same antidumping duty rate based on the 
level of common ownership and management, and intertwined operations. 
See Memorandum For Stephen J. Claeys, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Import Administration, From The Team, regarding ``Whether or Not to 
Collapse Dubai Wire FZE and Global Fasteners Ltd. in the Antidumping 
Duty Investigation of Certain Steel Nails from the United Arab 
Emirates,'' dated January 15, 2008.
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    \14\ GFL manufactures screws (non-subject merchandise) at the 
same location where DW is located and performs wire drawing (one of 
the manufacturing processes in nail making) and heat treatment (for 
heat treated nails) for DW. The equipment used by GFL for wire 
drawing and heat treatment is owned by DW and located at GFL's 
facility. During the POI, DW produced a very small quantity of nails 
for GFL. GFL then heat treated and phosphate coated these nails, 
packed the nails and sold them to home market and third-country 
customers.
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Fair Value Comparisons

    To determine whether sales of nails from the UAE were made at LTFV, 
we compared the export price (EP) to the normal value (NV), as 
described in the ``Export Price'' and ``Normal Value'' sections of this 
notice, below. In accordance with section 777A(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, 
for the non-targeted sales, we compared POI weighted-average EPs to 
NVs. For targeted sales, we used the average-to-transaction methodology 
in accordance with section 777A(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.414(f)(1). See ``Targeted Dumping'' section above for further 
discussion.
    As discussed below under the ``Home Market Viability and Comparison 
Market Selection'' section, we determined that DW/GFL did not have a 
viable home or third country market during the POI. Therefore, as the 
basis for NV, we used constructed value (CV) when making comparisons in 
accordance with section 773(a)(4) of the Act.

Export Price

    For DW's sales to the United States we used EP price methodology, 
in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act, because the subject 
merchandise was sold directly to the first unaffiliated purchaser in 
the United States prior to importation by the exporter or producer 
outside the United States. We based EP on the packed C&F (cost and 
freight), CIF (cost, insurance and freight) or DDP (delivered, duty 
paid) prices to unaffiliated purchasers in the United States.
    Where appropriate, we made adjustments to the starting price for 
billing adjustments and rebates. We made deductions for movement 
expenses in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act; these 
included, where appropriate, foreign inland freight, foreign brokerage 
and handling, international freight, marine insurance, U.S. brokerage 
and handling, and U.S. customs duties.
    DW reported invoice as the date of sale. However, our review of the 
sales data indicates that, in some cases, the reported shipment date 
precedes the reported invoice date. In such circumstances, the 
Department normally uses the earlier of invoice date or shipment date 
as the date of sale. See, e.g., Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in 
Coils from the Republic of Korea; Preliminary Results and Partial 
Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 71 FR 18074, 
18079-80 (April 10, 2006), remaining unchanged in Stainless Steel Sheet 
and Strip in Coils from the Republic of Korea; Final Results and 
Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review in Part, 72 FR 
4486 (January 31, 2007). Accordingly, we used the earlier of the 
reported shipment date or reported sale date (i.e., invoice date) for 
determining the date of sale.

Normal Value

A. Home Market Viability and Comparison Market Selection

    In order to determine whether there is a sufficient volume of sales 
in the home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating NV (i.e., 
the aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like product 
is equal to or greater than five percent of the aggregate volume of 
U.S. sales), we compared DW's/GFL's volume of home market sales of the 
foreign like product to the volume of U.S. sales of the subject 
merchandise, in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(C) of the Act.
    We determined that DW's/GFL's aggregate volume of home market and 
third country sales of the foreign like product were insufficient to 
permit a proper comparison with U.S. sales of the subject merchandise. 
Therefore, we used CV as the basis for calculating NV, in accordance 
with section 773(a)(4) of the Act.

B. Level of Trade

    In accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act, to the extent 
practicable, we determine NV based on sales in the comparison market at 
the same level of trade (LOT) as the EP or CEP. The NV LOT is that of 
the starting-price sales in the comparison market or, when NV is based 
on CV, that of the sales from which we derive selling, general and 
administrative expenses (SG&A) and profit. For EP, the U.S. LOT is also 
the level of the starting-price sale, which is usually from exporter to 
importer. For CEP, it is the level of the constructed sale from the 
exporter to the importer.
    To determine whether NV sales are at a different LOT than EP or CEP 
sales, we examine stages in the marketing process and selling functions 
along the chain of distribution between the producer and the 
unaffiliated customer. If the comparison-market sales are at a 
different LOT, and the difference affects price comparability, as 
manifested in a

[[Page 3949]]

pattern of consistent price differences between the sales on which NV 
is based and comparison market sales at the LOT of the export 
transaction, we make an LOT adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of 
the Act. Finally, for CEP sales, if the NV level is more remote from 
the factory than the CEP level and there is no basis for determining 
whether the difference in levels between NV and CEP affects price 
comparability, we adjust NV under section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Act (the 
CEP-offset provision). See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from 
South Africa, 62 FR 61731 (Nov. 19, 1997).
    In the United States, DW made EP sales to original equipment 
manufacturers and other distributors through the same channel of 
distribution, performing the identical selling functions. Therefore, we 
determine that there is only one LOT for EP sales.
    DW/GFL had no viable home or third country market during the POI. 
Therefore, we based NV on CV. When NV is based on CV, the NV LOT is 
that of the sales from which we derive SG&A expenses and profit. See 
Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value 
and Postponement of Final Determination: Fresh Atlantic Salmon from 
Chile, 63 FR 2664 (January 16, 1998). In accordance with 19 CFR 
351.412(d), the Department will make its LOT determination under 
paragraph (d)(1) of this section on the basis of sales of the foreign 
like product by the producer or exporter. Because we based the selling 
expenses and profit for DW/GFL on GFL's home market sales of nails and 
screws, we could not determine the LOT of the sales from which we 
derived selling expenses and profit for CV, nor is there sufficient 
information on the record to determine whether an LOT adjustment is 
warranted. (See ``Calculation of Normal Value Based on Constructed 
Value'' section below for further discussion on the derivation of CV 
selling expenses and profit.). Therefore, we made no LOT adjustment to 
NV.

C. Calculation of Normal Value Based on Constructed Value

    In accordance with section 773(e) of the Act, we calculated CV 
based on the sum of the respondent's cost of materials and fabrication 
for the foreign like product, plus amounts for SG&A, profit, and U.S. 
packing costs. We relied on the respondent's submitted materials and 
fabrication costs, G&A expenses and U.S. packing costs. We made the 
following adjustments to the reported CV information:
    1. We revised the scrap offset to the total cost of manufacturing 
to reflect the value of the scrap quantities generated rather than the 
scrap quantities sold.
    2. Because we collapsed DW and GFL for purposes of this 
investigation, we revised the total cost of manufacturing to reflect 
the actual cost of services provided by GFL, rather than using the 
transfer price paid by DW to GFL.
    3. Because DW's 2007 fiscal year more closely correlates to the 
POI, we revised the company's reported G&A and financial expense rates 
by using the company's 2007 audited financial statements, rather than 
the 2006 financial statements.
    4. We revised DW's financial expense rate to exclude the long-term 
interest income reported as an offset to financial expenses.
    We calculated selling expenses and profit, in accordance with 
section 773(e)(2)(B)(i) of the Act, as detailed in the Memorandum to 
Neal Halper from Heidi Schriefer, regarding ``Cost of Production and 
Constructed Value Calculation Adjustments for the Preliminary 
Determination,'' dated January 15, 2008 (Preliminary Determination Cost 
Calculation Memo).
    Because the Department has determined for purposes of this 
preliminary determination that DW/GFL does not have a viable comparison 
market, we could not determine selling expenses and profit under 
section 773(e)(2)(A) of the Act. Therefore, we relied on section 
773(d)(2)(B) of the Act to determine these selling expenses and profit. 
Specifically, we used the selling expense and profit rates derived from 
GFL's home market sales of nails and screws, merchandise that is within 
the same general category of products as the subject merchandise. See 
Preliminary Determination Cost Calculation Memo. The statute does not 
establish a hierarchy for selecting among the alternative methodologies 
provided in section 773(e)(2)(B) of the Act for determining selling 
expenses and profit. See Statement of Administrative Action 
Accompanying the URAA, H.R. Rep. No. 103-316, vol. 1, at 840 (1994). 
Alternative (i) of section 773(e)(2)(B) of the Act specifies that 
selling expenses and profit may be calculated based on ``actual amounts 
incurred by the specific exporter or producer * * * on merchandise in 
the same general category'' as the subject merchandise. DW and GFL, an 
affiliated screw producer, were collapsed into a single entity for 
purposes of this investigation. Therefore, we calculated DW's/GFL's 
selling expenses and profit based on alternative (i) of section 
773(e)(2)(B) of the Act, which is to use the respondent's expenses on 
sales of merchandise in the same general category, i.e., GFL's home 
market sales of nails and screws.
    We computed the selling expense and profit ratios based on GFL's 
home market sales of nails and screws, and applied the selling expense 
ratio to the sum of the cost of materials and fabrication to determine 
CV selling expenses, and applied the profit ratio to the sum of the 
cost of materials, fabrication, and general expenses to calculate an 
amount for profit.

D. Price-to-CV Comparisons

    GFL's selling expenses related to its sales of nails and screws do 
not include direct selling expenses.\15\ Accordingly, for comparisons 
to EP, we added DW's U.S. direct selling expenses without also 
deducting direct selling expenses derived from GFL's home market sales 
of nails and screws.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ The direct selling expenses reported by the respondent in 
its January 3, 2008, submission are, in fact, movement and packing 
expenses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currency Conversion

    The Department's preferred source for daily exchange rates is the 
Federal Reserve Bank. See Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review: Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from 
France, 68 FR 47049, 47055 (August 7, 2003), remaining unchanged in 
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Stainless 
Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from France, 68 FR 69379 (December 12, 
2003). However, the Federal Reserve Bank does not track or publish 
exchange rates for the UAE dirham. Therefore, we made currency 
conversions from UAE dirhams to U.S. dollars based on the daily 
exchange rates from Factiva, a Dow Jones & Reuters Retrieval Service. 
Factiva publishes exchange rates for Monday through Friday only. We 
used the rate of exchange on the most recent Friday for conversion 
dates involving Saturday through Sunday, where necessary.

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i) of the Act, we will verify all 
information relied upon in making our final determination.

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, we are directing 
CBP to suspend liquidation of all entries of nails from the UAE that 
are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 
the date of publication of this notice in the Federal

[[Page 3950]]

Register. We are also instructing CBP to require a cash deposit or the 
posting of a bond equal to the weighted-average dumping margins, as 
indicated in the chart below. These suspension-of-liquidation 
instructions will remain in effect until further notice.
    The weighted-average dumping margins are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Weighted-
                                                      average     Margin
               Exporter/manufacturer                  margin    percentage
                                                    percentage
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Dubai Wire FZE/Global Fasteners Ltd...............        4.47
All Others........................................        4.47
------------------------------------------------------------------------

ITC Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, we have notified the 
ITC of our determination. If our final determination is affirmative, 
the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of 
this preliminary determination or 45 days after our final determination 
whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material 
injury to, the U.S. industry.

Disclosure

    We will disclose the calculations used in our analysis to parties 
in this proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Public Comment

    Interested parties are invited to comment on the preliminary 
determination. Interested parties may submit case briefs to the 
Department no later than seven days after the date of the issuance of 
the final verification report in this proceeding. Rebuttal briefs, the 
content of which is limited to the issues raised in the case briefs, 
must be filed within five days from the deadline date for the 
submission of case briefs. A list of authorities used, a table of 
contents, and an executive summary of issues should accompany any 
briefs submitted to the Department. Executive summaries should be 
limited to five pages total, including footnotes. Further, we request 
that parties submitting briefs and rebuttal briefs provide the 
Department with a copy of the public version of such briefs on 
diskette. In accordance with section 774 of the Act, the Department 
will hold a public hearing, if timely requested, to afford interested 
parties an opportunity to comment on arguments raised in case or 
rebuttal briefs, provided that such a hearing is requested by an 
interested party. If a request for a hearing is made in this 
investigation, the hearing will tentatively be held two days after the 
rebuttal brief deadline date at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230, at a time 
and in a room to be determined.
    Interested parties who wish to request a hearing, or to participate 
in a hearing if one is requested, must submit a written request to the 
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Room 1870, within 30 days of the publication of this notice. 
Requests should contain: (1) The party's name, address, and telephone 
number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of the issues to 
be discussed. At the hearing, oral presentations will be limited to 
issues raised in the briefs.
    We will make our final determination no later than 135 days after 
the publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

     Dated: January 15, 2008.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-1109 Filed 1-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P