Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 8907-8911 [E9-4248]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 38 (Friday, February 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8907-8911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4248]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

(A-570-932)


Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China: 
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 27, 2009.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (``Department'') has determined 
that certain steel threaded rod (``STR'') from the People's Republic of 
China (``PRC'') is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States 
at less than fair value (``LTFV'') as provided in section 735 of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``Act''). The final dumping margins for 
this investigation are listed in the ``Final Determination Margins'' 
section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bobby Wong or Toni Dach, Import 
Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20230; telephone (202) 482-0409 or (202) 482-1655, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Case History

    On October 8, 2008, the Department published in the Federal 
Register its preliminary determination. See Certain Steel Threaded Rod 
from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Sales 
at Less Than Fair Value, 73 FR 58931 (October 8, 2008) (``Preliminary 
Determination''). On October 27, 2008, the Department published in the 
Federal Register its amended preliminary determination that STR from 
the PRC are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at 
LTFV. See Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of 
China: Amended Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 73 FR 63693 (October 27, 
2008) (``Amended Preliminary Determination'').\1\ As provided in 
section 782(i) of the Act, we verified the information submitted by: 1) 
RMB Fasteners Ltd. and IFI & Morgan Ltd.\2\ (the ``RMB/IFI Group'') 
from November 3-4, 2008, and Jiaxing Brother Standard Part Co.\3\ 
(``Jiaxing Brother''), its affiliated producer from November 6-7, 2008; 
2) Ningbo Yinzhou Foreign Trade Co., Ltd.\4\ (``Ningbo Yinzhou'') from 
November 13-14, 2008, and Haiyan Zhonghuan Fastener Factory 
(``Zhonghuan''), one of Ningbo Yingzhou's manufacturers, and Zhejiang 
Guorui Industry Co., Ltd.\5\ (``Guorui''), one of Ningbo Yinzhou's 
suppliers from November 10-12, 2008; and 3) Shanghai Prime Machinery 
Co., Ltd.\6\ (``Shanghai Prime''), a separate rate respondent, on 
November 17, 2008. On December 12, 2008, Vulcan Threaded Products 
(``Petitioner'') and the RMB/IFI Group placed new factual information 
on the record regarding surrogate valuation, and submitted rebuttal 
comments on December 22, 2008. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.309(c)(i), 
we invited parties to comment on our Preliminary Determination. On 
January 16, 2009, the Department received case briefs from the RMB/IFI 
Group, Ningbo Yinzhou, and Petitioner. On January 23, 2009, we received 
rebuttal briefs from Petitioner and the RMB/IFI Group. On November 6 
and 7, 2008, Petitioner and the RMB/IFI Group submitted requests for a 
hearing, respectively. On January 22, 2009, Petitioner and the RMB/IFI 
Group withdrew their requests for a hearing.
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    \1\ In the Amended Preliminary Determination, the Department 
amended the Preliminary Determination to correct certain ministerial 
errors with respect to the antidumping duty margin calculation for 
RMB Fasteners Ltd. and IFI and Morgan Ltd.
    \2\ See Memorandum to the File from Scot T. Fullerton, Program 
Manager, and Toni Dach, International Trade Compliance Analyst, 
regarding: ``Verification of the Sales Response of RMB Fasteners 
Ltd. and IFI & Morgan Ltd. in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of 
Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China,'' 
dated January 6, 2009 (``RMB & IFI Verification Report'').
    \3\ See Memorandum to the File from Scot T. Fullerton, Program 
Manager, and Toni Dach, International Trade Compliance Analyst, 
regarding: ``Verification of the Factors of Production Response of 
Jiaxing Brother Standard Part Co. in the Antidumping Duty 
Investigation of Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's 
Republic of China,'' dated January 6, 2009 (``Brother Fastener 
Verification Report'').
    \4\ See Memorandum to the File from Scot T. Fullerton, Program 
Manager, and Toni Dach, International Trade Compliance Analyst, 
regarding: ``Verification of the Sales Response of Ningbo Yinzhou 
Foreign Trade Co., Ltd. in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of 
Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China,'' 
dated January 6, 2009 (``Ningbo Yinzhou Verification Report'').
    \5\ See Memorandum to the File from Scot T. Fullerton, Program 
Manager, and Toni Dach, International Trade Compliance Analyst, 
regarding: ``Verification of the Factors of Production Response of 
Haiyan Zhonguan Fastener Factory and Zhejiang Guorui Industry Co., 
Ltd. in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Steel Threaded 
Rod from the People's Republic of China,'' dated January 6, 2009 
(``Zhonghuan & Guorui Verification Report'').
    \6\ See Memorandum to the File from Scot T. Fullerton, Program 
Manager, and Toni Dach, International Trade Compliance Analyst, 
regarding: ``Verification of the Separate Rate Response of Shanghai 
Prime Machinery Co., Ltd. in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of 
Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China,'' 
dated January 6, 2009 (``Shanghai Prime Separate Rate Verification 
Report'').
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Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by the parties to 
this investigation are addressed in the ``Certain Steel Threaded Rod 
from the People's Republic of China: Issues and Decision Memorandum for 
the Final Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value,'' dated 
concurrently with this notice, which is hereby adopted by this notice 
in its entirety (``Issues and Decision Memorandum''). A list of the 
issues which parties raised and to which we respond in the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum is attached to this notice as an Appendix. The 
Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file in 
the Central Records Unit in the main Commerce building, Room 1117, and 
is accessible on the Web at https://www.trade.gov/ia. The paper copy and 
electronic version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum are identical 
in content.

Period of Investigation

    The period of investigation (``POI'') is July 1, 2007, through 
December 31, 2007.

Scope of Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is steel threaded 
rod. Steel threaded rod is certain threaded rod, bar, or studs, of 
carbon quality steel, having a solid, circular cross section, of any 
diameter, in any straight length, that have been forged, turned, cold 
drawn, cold rolled, machine straightened, or otherwise cold finished, 
and into which threaded grooves have been applied. In addition, the 
steel threaded rod, bar, or studs subject to this investigation are non 
headed and threaded along greater than 25 percent of their total 
length. A variety of finishes or coatings, such as plain oil finish as 
a temporary rust protectant, zinc coating (i.e., galvanized, whether by 
electroplating or hot-dipping), paint, and other similar finishes and 
coatings, may be applied to the merchandise.
    Included in the scope of this investigation are steel threaded rod, 
bar, or studs, in which: (1) iron predominates, by weight, over each of 
the other contained elements; (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or 
less, by weight; and (3) none of the elements

[[Page 8908]]

listed below exceeds the quantity, by weight, respectively indicated:
 1.80 percent of manganese, or
 1.50 percent of silicon, or
 1.00 percent of copper, or
 0.50 percent of aluminum, or
 1.25 percent of chromium, or
 0.30 percent of cobalt, or
 0.40 percent of lead, or
 1.25 percent of nickel, or
 0.30 percent of tungsten, or
 0.012 percent of boron, or
 0.10 percent of molybdenum, or
 0.10 percent of niobium, or
 0.41 percent of titanium, or
 0.15 percent of vanadium, or
 0.15 percent of zirconium.
    Steel threaded rod is currently classifiable under subheading 
7318.15.5050 and 7318.15.5090 of the HTSUS. Although the HTSUS 
subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise is dispositive.
    Excluded from the scope of the investigation are: (a) threaded rod, 
bar, or studs which are threaded only on one or both ends and the 
threading covers 25 percent or less of the total length; and (b) 
threaded rod, bar, or studs made to American Society for Testing and 
Materials (``ASTM'') A193 Grade B7, ASTM A193 Grade B7M, ASTM A193 
Grade B16, or ASTM A320 Grade L7.

Scope-HTSUS Modification

    On September 22, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') 
informed the Department that on July 1, 2008, it amended the United 
States Harmonized Tariff Schedule (``HTSUS'') category 7318.15.5060, 
and replaced the category with two new HTSUS categories: 7318.15.5050 
and 7318.15.5090. Therefore, the Department has modified the scope to 
reflect the new HTSUS categories.

Changes Since the Preliminary Determination

    Based on our findings at verification, and additional information 
placed on the record of this investigation, we have made changes since 
the Amended Preliminary Determination. As discussed further below, we 
have applied total adverse facts available (``AFA'') to Ningbo Yinzhou 
for purposes of this final determination. See Issues and Decision 
Memorandum at Comment 5.
    Based on our analysis of information on the record of this 
investigation, and comments received from the interested parties, we 
have made changes to the margin calculations for the RMB/IFI Group. We 
have revalued certain surrogate values used in the Amended Preliminary 
Determination. The values that were modified for this final 
determination are those for surrogate financial ratios, packing strips, 
buckles, and coal. For further details see I&D Memo at Comment 6, and 
Memorandum to the File from Bobby Wong, through Scot T. Fullerton, 
Program Manager, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, and James C. Doyle, 
Director, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9; Certain Steel Threaded Rod from 
the People's Republic of China: Surrogate Values for the Final 
Determination, dated February 20, 2009 (``Final Surrogate Value 
Memo'').
    In addition, we have made certain company-specific changes since 
the Amended Preliminary Determination. Specifically, we have 
incorporated, where applicable, post-preliminary clarifications based 
on a post-preliminary supplemental questionnaire and verification for 
the RMB/IFI Group. For further details on these company-specific 
changes, see Memorandum to the File, through Scot T. Fullerton, Program 
Manager, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, from Bobby Wong, Senior 
International Trade Analyst, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, regarding 
``Program Analysis for the Final Determination of Antidumping Duty 
Investigation of Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic 
of China,'' dated February 20, 2009 (``The RMB/IFI Group Analysis 
Memorandum'').

Adverse Facts Available

    Section 776(a)(2) of the Act provides that the Department shall 
apply ``facts otherwise available'' if, inter alia, an interested party 
or any other person (A) withholds information that has been requested, 
(B) fails to provide information within the deadlines established, or 
in the form or manner requested by the Department, subject to 
subsections (c)(1) and (e) of section 782 of the Act, (C) significantly 
impedes a proceeding, or (D) provides information that cannot be 
verified as provided by section 782(i) of the Act. Section 776(b) of 
the Act provides further that the Department may use an adverse 
inference when a party has failed to cooperate by not acting to the 
best of its ability to comply with a request for information.
    Pursuant to sections 776(a)(2)(A), (B), (C), and (D) of the Act, we 
are applying facts otherwise available to Ningbo Yinzhou because it 
withheld certain information that had been requested by the Department 
which significantly impeded the Department's investigation. Ningbo 
Yinzhou failed to provide information regarding certain factors of 
production (``FOP'') in the form and manner requested by the 
Department. Ningbo Yinzhou withheld certain information that was 
specifically requested by the Department and significantly impeded the 
proceeding by not providing accurate or complete responses to the 
Department's questions regarding certain FOPs and the sales 
reconciliation. See Verification of the Sales Response of Ningbo 
Yinzhou Foreign Trade Co., Ltd. in the Antidumping Duty Investigation 
of Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China, 
dated January 6, 2009 at 2, 6-8, and 10-11; and Ningbo Yinzhou's 
response to the Department's First Supplemental Sections C and D 
Questionnaire, dated September 8, 2008, at 19. Additionally, 
information discovered at verification directly contradicted 
information contained in Ningbo Yinzhou's questionnaire responses.\7\ 
Significant delays were experienced by the Department in completing 
verification procedures, which prevented the completion of some 
verification procedures. Due to the insufficiency of the respondent's 
record keeping, numerous verification procedures could not be 
completed. For these reasons, the Department was unable to verify 
certain statements in Ningbo Yinzhou's questionnaire responses for 
which the Department sought verification. See Ningbo Yinzhou 
Verification Report and Zhonghuan/Guorui Verification Report.
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    \7\ For example, the Department specifically asked Ningbo 
Yinzhou in its August 21, 2008, supplemental questionnaire whether 
any FOPs other than those reported were consumed by Zhonghuan in 
production of the subject merchandise. Ningbo Yinzhou reported in 
its September 8, 2008, response that all factors consumed by 
Zhonghuan in the production of the subject merchandise were 
reported. We discovered at verification that this statement was not 
correct, and unreported factors were consumed in the production of 
the subject merchandise. Additionally, Ningbo Yinzhou provided a 
sales reconciliation to the Department on August 8, 2008, that they 
claimed reconciled its U.S. sales database to its financial 
statements. At verification, we discovered that the sales 
reconciliation did not tie the U.S. sales database to Ningbo 
Yinzhou's financial statements. For additional information and 
examples of situations where verification findings contradicted 
Ningbo Yinzhou's questionnaire responses, see Issues and Decision 
Memorandum at Comment 5.
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    Furthermore, based on the record evidence and pursuant to section 
776(b) of the Act, the Department has determined that Ningbo Yinzhou 
did not cooperate to the best of its ability to comply with the 
Department's requests for information. In particular, the Department 
gave specific instructions in our questionnaires and the verification 
outline as to the purpose of and directions for submission and

[[Page 8909]]

verification of the reconciliation of Ningbo Yinzhou's U.S. sales 
database to Ningbo Yinzhou's accounting records, and proper reporting 
of all FOPs for all models. Despite these extensive instructions, 
provided numerous times over the course of the investigation, Ningbo 
Yinzhou failed to provide the Department with adequate information and 
supporting documentation to fully verify its responses to the 
Department's questionnaires. In addition, despite multiple 
opportunities presented by the Department, Ningbo Yinzhou failed to 
report certain FOPs and failed to report FOPs for each model in the 
U.S. sales database. For a detailed description of each of the 
deficiencies, see Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 5.

Surrogate Country

    In the Preliminary Determination and unchanged in the Amended 
Preliminary Determination, we stated that we had selected India as the 
appropriate surrogate country to use in this investigation for the 
following reasons: (1) it is a significant producer of comparable 
merchandise; (2) it is at a level of economic development comparable to 
that of the PRC; and (3) we have reliable data from India that we can 
use to value FOPs. See Preliminary Determination. We received no 
comments on our surrogate country selection. Accordingly, for the final 
determination, we made no changes to our finding with respect to the 
selection of India as a surrogate country.

Separate Rates

    In proceedings involving non-market economy (``NME'') countries, 
the Department begins with a rebuttable presumption that all companies 
within the country are subject to government control and, thus, should 
be assigned a single antidumping duty deposit rate. It is the 
Department's policy to assign all exporters of merchandise subject to 
an investigation in an NME country this single rate unless an exporter 
can demonstrate that it is sufficiently independent so as to be 
entitled to a separate rate. See Final Determination of Sales at Less 
Than Fair Value: Sparklers from the People's Republic of China, 56 FR 
20588, 20589 (May 6, 1991), as amplified by Notice of Final 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Silicon Carbide from 
the People's Republic of China, 59 FR at 22585, 22587 (May 2, 1994), 
and 19 CFR 351.107(d).
    In the Preliminary Determination and unchanged in the Amended 
Preliminary Determination, we found that Shanghai Recky, Suntec 
Industries, Hangzhou Grand, Shanghai Prime, Jianxing Xinyue, CPII, 
Jiashan Zhongsheng, Haiyan Dayu, and New Oriental (hereinafter referred 
to as ``Separate Rate Companies''), and Ningbo Yinzhou, a mandatory 
respondent, have provided company-specific information to demonstrate 
that they operate independently of de jure and de facto government 
control, and therefore satisfy the standards for the assignment of a 
separate rate.
    No party has commented on the eligibility of these companies for 
separate rate status. For the final determination, we continue to find 
that the evidence placed on the record of this investigation by these 
companies demonstrates both a de jure and de facto absence of 
government control with respect to their exports of the merchandise 
under investigation. Thus, we continue to find that they are eligible 
for separate rate status. Normally, the separate rate is determined 
based on the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for 
exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding de minimis 
margins or margins based entirely on AFA. See section 735(c)(5)(A) of 
the Act.
    In the Preliminary Determination and unchanged in the Amended 
Preliminary Determination, the Department stated that it could not deny 
the RMB/IFI Group separate rate status because the Department did not 
ask specifically for information relating to the RMB/IFI Group's 
separate rate eligibility. However, subsequent to the Preliminary 
Determination, on October 22, 2008, in response to the Department's 
inquiry, the RMB/IFI Group reported that it is a wholly foreign-owned 
company, and at verification the Department found no discrepancies in 
the RMB/IFI Group's responses to the Department's separate rate 
questions. As the RMB/IFI Group is wholly foreign-owned, a separate 
rate analysis is not necessary to determine whether it is independent 
from government control. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value: Creatine Monohydrate From the People's Republic 
of China, 64 FR 71104, 71105 (December 20, 1999) (the respondent was 
wholly foreign-owned, and thus, qualified for a separate rate). 
Consequently, for the final determination we find that the evidence 
placed on the record of this investigation by the RMB/IFI Group 
demonstrates that it is eligible for a separate rate.
    In the Preliminary Determination and unchanged in the Amended 
Preliminary Determination, the Department assigned to nine exporter/
producer combinations that qualified for a separate rate a weighted-
average margin based on the experience of the mandatory respondents, 
excluding any de minimis or zero rates or rates based on total AFA. See 
Preliminary Determination. For the final determination, because the 
Department based the rate for Ningbo Yinzhou on total AFA, the 
Department has applied the RMB/IFI Group's calculated rate for purposes 
of establishing a separate rate. See section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act. 
Therefore, the Department will assign the RMB/IFI Group's calculated 
rate as the separate rate for the nine exporter/producer combinations. 
This rate is corroborated, to the extent practicable, for the reasons 
stated below. See ``Corroboration'' section below.

The PRC-Wide Rate

    In the Preliminary Determination and unchanged in the Amended 
Preliminary Determination, the Department found that certain companies 
did not respond to our requests for information. See Preliminary 
Determination, 73 FR at 58936. In the Preliminary Determination we 
treated these PRC producers/exporters as part of the PRC-wide entity 
because they did not demonstrate that they operate free of government 
control over their export activities. Because these producers/exporters 
did not provide information regarding their export activities, the 
Department has determined that application of facts available (``FA'') 
is warranted. No additional information was placed on the record with 
respect to these companies after the Preliminary Determination. 
Therefore, pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(A) of the Act, the Department 
continues to find that the use of FA is appropriate to determine the 
PRC-wide rate.
    Section 776(b) of the Act provides that, in selecting from among 
the facts otherwise available, the Department may employ an adverse 
inference if an interested party fails to cooperate by not acting to 
the best of its ability to comply with requests for information. See 
Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain 
Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From the Russian 
Federation, 65 FR 5510, 5518 (February 4, 2000). See also Statement of 
Administrative Action accompanying the URAA, H.R. Rep. No. 103-316, 
vol. 1, at 870 (1994) (``SAA''). We determined that, because the PRC-
wide entity did not respond to our request for information, it has 
failed to cooperate to the best of its ability. Therefore, the 
Department finds that, in selecting from among the facts otherwise 
available, an adverse inference is appropriate for the PRC-wide entity.

[[Page 8910]]

    Because we begin with the presumption that all companies within an 
NME country are subject to government control and because only the 
companies listed under the ``Final Determination Margins'' section 
below have overcome that presumption, we are applying a single 
antidumping rate (i.e., the PRC-wide entity rate) to all other 
exporters of subject merchandise from the PRC. Such companies did not 
demonstrate entitlement to a separate rate. See, e.g., Synthetic Indigo 
From the People's Republic of China; Notice of Final Determination of 
Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 65 FR 25706 (May 3, 2000). The PRC-wide 
entity rate applies to all entries of subject merchandise except for 
entries from the respondents which are listed in the ``Final 
Determination Margins'' section below.
    In the Preliminary Determination and unchanged in the Amended 
Preliminary Determination, we assigned to the PRC-wide entity the 
highest rate calculated from the petition, 206.00 percent. See 
Preliminary Determination, 73 FR at 58936. We received no comments on 
this rate. Therefore, for the final determination, we have continued to 
assign to the PRC-wide entity the rate of 206.00 percent.

Corroboration

    Section 776(c) of the Act provides that, when the Department relies 
on secondary information in using the facts otherwise available, it 
must, to the extent practicable, corroborate that information from 
independent sources that are reasonably at its disposal. We have 
interpreted ``corroborate'' to mean that we will, to the extent 
practicable, examine the reliability and relevance of the information 
submitted. See Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof, Finished and 
Unfinished, From Japan, and Tapered Roller Bearings, Four Inches or 
Less in Outside Diameter, and Components Thereof, From Japan; 
Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews and 
Partial Termination of Administrative Reviews, 61 FR 57391, 57392 
(November 6, 1996), unchanged in Notice of Final Determination of Sales 
at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality 
Steel Products From Brazil, 65 FR 5554, 5568 (February 4, 2000); see, 
e.g., Tapered Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof, Finished and 
Unfinished, From Japan, and Tapered Roller Bearings, Four Inches or 
Less in Outside Diameter, and Components Thereof, From Japan; Final 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews and Termination in 
Part, 62 FR 11825 (March 13, 1997).
    To corroborate the AFA margin we have selected, we compared that 
margin to the margins calculated for the RMB/IFI Group. We found that 
the margin of 206.00 percent has probative value because it is in the 
range of margins calculated for the RMB/IFI Group. See October 1, 2008, 
Memorandum to the File, From Bobby Wong, Through Scot T. Fullerton, 
regarding: Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Steel Threaded Rod 
from the People's Republic of China: RMB/IFI Program Analysis for the 
Preliminary Determination, at 1. Accordingly, we find that the rate of 
206.00 percent is corroborated within the meaning of section 776(c) of 
the Act.

Combination Rates

    In the Preliminary Determination, the Department stated that it 
would calculate combination rates for the respondents that are eligible 
for a separate rate in this investigation. See Preliminary 
Determination, 73 FR at 58931. This change in practice is described in 
Policy Bulletin 05.1, available at https://ia.ita.doc.gov/. Policy 
Bulletin 05.1, states:
    {w{time} hile continuing the practice of assigning separate rates 
only to exporters, all separate rates that the Department will now 
assign in its NME investigations will be specific to those producers 
that supplied the exporter during the period of investigation. Note, 
however, that one rate is calculated for the exporter and all of the 
producers which supplied subject merchandise to it during the period of 
investigation. This practice applies both to mandatory respondents 
receiving an individually calculated separate rate as well as the pool 
of non-investigated firms receiving the weighted-average of the 
individually calculated rates. This practice is referred to as the 
application of ``combination rates'' because such rates apply to 
specific combinations of exporters and one or more producers. The cash-
deposit rate assigned to an exporter will apply only to merchandise 
both exported by the firm in question and produced by a firm that 
supplied the exporter during the period of investigation.
    See Policy Bulletin 05.1, ``Separate Rates Practice and Application 
of Combination Rates in Antidumping Investigations Involving Non-Market 
Economy Countries.''

Final Determination Margins

    We determine that the following percentage weighted-average margins 
exist for the POI:

                                     Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the PRC
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                                                                                               Weighted-Average
               Exporter                                       Producer                              Margin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RMB Fasteners Ltd., and IFI & Morgan         Jiaxing Brother Fastener Co., Ltd. (aka Jiaxing               55.16
 Ltd. (``RMB/IFI Group'').............                     Brother Standard Parts Co., Ltd.)
Ningbo Yinzhou Foreign Trade Co. Ltd..   Zhejiang Guorui Industry Co., Ltd.; or Ningbo Daxie      206.00[percnt]
                                                    Chuofeng Industrial Development Co. Ltd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Separate Rates Entities: Exporter                          Producer                              Margin
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shanghai Recky International Trading     Shanghai Xiangrong International Trading Co., Ltd.;               55.16
 Co., Ltd.............................   Shanghai Xianglong International Trading Co., Ltd.;
                                              Pighu City Zhapu Screw Cap Factory; or Jiaxing
                                                              Xinyue Standard Part Co., Ltd.
Suntec Industries Co., Ltd............     Jiaxing Xinyue Standard Part Co., Ltd.; or Haiyan               55.16
                                                              County No. 1 Fasteners Factory
Hangzhou Grand Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd...      Zhapu Creative Standard Parts Material Co., Ltd.               55.16
Shanghai Prime Machinery Co. Ltd......    Haiyan Yida Fasteners Co., Ltd.; or Jiaxing Xinyue               55.16
                                                                     Standard Part Co., Ltd.
Jiaxing Xinyue Standard Part Co., Ltd.                Jiaxing Xinyue Standard Part Co., Ltd.               55.16

[[Page 8911]]

 
Certified Products International Inc..       Jiashan Zhongsheng Metal Products Co., Ltd.; or               55.16
                                                      Jiaxing Xinyue Standard Part Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang New Oriental Fastener Co.,                 Zhejiang New Oriental Fastener Co., Ltd.               55.16
 Ltd..................................
Jiashan Zhongsheng Metal Products Co.,           Jiashan Zhongsheng Metal Products Co., Ltd.               55.16
 Ltd..................................
Haiyan Dayu Fasteners Co., Ltd........                       Haiyan Dayu Fasteners Co., Ltd.               55.16
PRC-wide Entity.......................  ....................................................      206.00[percnt]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclosure

    We will disclose the calculations performed within five days of the 
date of publication of this notice to parties in this proceeding in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation

    We will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') to 
continue the suspension of liquidation required by section 735(c)(1)(B) 
of the Act, of all entries of subject merchandise from the RMB/IFI 
Group, Ningbo Yinzhou, the Separate Rate Companies, and the PRC-wide 
entity entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or 
after October 8, 2008, the date of publication of the Preliminary 
Determination. CBP shall continue to require a cash deposit or the 
posting of a bond equal to the estimated amount by which the NV exceeds 
the U.S. price as shown above. See section 735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act. 
The suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until 
further notice.

International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we have notified the 
International Trade Commission (``ITC'') of our final determination of 
sales at LTFV. As our final determination is affirmative, in accordance 
with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, within 45 days the ITC will 
determine whether the domestic industry in the United States is 
materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of 
imports or sales (or the likelihood of sales) for importation of the 
subject merchandise. If the ITC determines that material injury or 
threat of material injury does not exist, the proceeding will be 
terminated and all securities posted will be refunded or canceled. If 
the ITC determines that such injury does exist, the Department will 
issue an antidumping duty order directing CBP to assess, upon further 
instruction by the Department, antidumping duties on all imports of the 
subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of 
liquidation.

Notification Regarding APO

    This notice also serves as a reminder to the parties subject to 
administrative protective order (``APO'') of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of return or 
destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order 
is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the 
terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.
    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: February 20, 2009.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

Appendix

I. General Issues:
Comment 1: Surrogate Financial Ratios
Comment 2: Treatment of Drawing Power as a Direct Material Input
Comment 3: Wire Rod & Round Bar
Comment 4: Hydrochloric Acid and Trisodium Phosphate
II. Ningbo Yinzhou Issues
Comment 5: Application of Facts Available for Ningbo Yinzhou
Comment 6: Ningbo Yinzhou and Zhonghuan/Guorui Verification Report
Comment 7: Surrogate Value Selection Galvanizing Surrogate Value
III. RMB/IFI Issues
Comment 8: Surrogate Values Packing Strips, Buckles, and Coal
Comment 9: Limits to By-Product Offset
Comment 10: Minor Corrections for the RMB/IFI Group
[FR Doc. E9-4248 Filed 2-26-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S