Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment, 24724-24725 [2013-09920]

Download as PDF 24724 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2013 / Notices PRC published in the Federal Register on September 15, 1997.1 On March 26, 2013, pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), we received a timely request for an NSR of the order from Hubei Nature Agriculture Industry Co., Ltd. (Hubei Nature).2 Hubei Nature certified that it is both the producer and exporter of the subject merchandise upon which the request was based.3 Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(B)(i)(I) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214(b)(2)(i), Hubei Nature certified that it did not export subject merchandise to the United States during the period of investigation (POI).4 In addition, pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(B)(i)(II) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214(b)(2)(iii)(A), Hubei Nature certified that, since the initiation of the investigation, it has never been affiliated with any exporter or producer who exported subject merchandise to the United States during the POI, including those respondents not individually examined during the POI.5 As required by 19 CFR 351.214(b)(2)(iii)(B), Hubei Nature also certified that its export activities were not controlled by the government of the PRC.6 In addition to the certifications described above, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.214(b)(2), Hubei Nature submitted documentation establishing the following: (1) The date on which Hubei Nature first shipped subject merchandise for export to the United States; (2) the volume of its first shipment; and (3) the date of its first sale to an unaffiliated customer in the United States.7 Initiation of New Shipper Review erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214(d)(1), the Department finds that Hubei Nature’s request meets the threshold requirements for initiation of an NSR for the shipment of freshwater crawfish tail meat from the PRC produced and exported by Hubei Nature.8 1 See Notice of Amendment to Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order: Freshwater Crawfish Tail Meat From the People’s Republic of China, 62 FR 48218 (September 15, 1997). 2 See Freshwater Crawfish Tail Meat from the People’s Republic of China: New Shipper Review Request, dated March 26, 2013. 3 See id., at 1 and Exhibit 2. 4 Id., at Exhibit 2. 5 Id. 6 Id. 7 Id., at Exhibit 1. 8 See Memorandum to the file entitled ‘‘Freshwater Crawfish Tail Meat from the People’s Republic of China: Initiation Checklist for Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review,’’ dated concurrently with this notice. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:46 Apr 25, 2013 Jkt 229001 The POR for this NSR is September 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013. See 19 CFR 351.214(g)(1)(i)(A). The Department intends to issue the preliminary determination of this review no later than 180 days from the date of initiation and final results of this review no later than 90 days after the date the preliminary determination is issued. See section 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) of the Act. It is the Department’s usual practice, in cases involving non-market economy countries, to require that a company seeking to establish eligibility for an antidumping duty rate separate from the country-wide rate provide evidence of de jure and de facto absence of government control over the company’s export activities. Accordingly, we will issue a questionnaire to Hubei Nature, which will include a section requesting information concerning Hubei Nature’s eligibility for a separate rate. The review will proceed if the response provides sufficient indication that Hubei Nature is not subject to either de jure or de facto government control with respect to its export of subject merchandise. We will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to allow, at the option of the importer, the posting, until the completion of the review, of a bond or security in lieu of a cash deposit for each entry of the subject merchandise from Hubei Nature in accordance with section 751(a)(2)(B)(iii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214(e). Because Hubei Nature certified that it produced and exported the subject merchandise, the sale of which is the basis for this NSR request, we will apply the bonding privilege to Hubei Nature only for subject merchandise which Hubei Nature both produced and exported. To assist in its analysis of the bona fides of Hubei Nature’s sales, upon initiation of this NSR, the Department will require Hubei Nature to submit on an ongoing basis complete transaction information concerning any sales of subject merchandise to the United States that were made subsequent to the POR. Interested parties requiring access to proprietary information in this NSR should submit applications for disclosure under administrative protective order in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305 and 351.306. This initiation and notice are published in accordance with section 751(a)(2)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.214 and 351.221(c)(1)(i). PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: April 18, 2013. Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. [FR Doc. 2013–09700 Filed 4–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Department) seeks public comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States during the period July 1 through December 31, 2012. DATES: Comments must be submitted within thirty days after publication of this notice. ADDRESSES: See the Submission of Comments section below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Terpstra, Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–3965. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: Background On June 18, 2008, section 805 of Title VIII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) was enacted into law. Under this provision, the Secretary of Commerce is mandated to submit to the appropriate Congressional committees a report every 180 days on any subsidy provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States, including stumpage subsidies. The Department submitted its last subsidy report on December 17, 2012. As part of its newest report, the Department intends to include a list of subsidy programs identified with sufficient clarity by the public in response to this notice. Request for Comments Given the large number of countries that export softwood lumber and softwood lumber products to the United States, we are soliciting public comment only on subsidies provided by countries whose exports accounted for at least one percent of total U.S. imports of softwood E:\FR\FM\26APN1.SGM 26APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2013 / Notices lumber by quantity, as classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule code 4407.1001 (which accounts for the vast majority of imports), during the period July 1 through December 31, 2012. Official U.S. import data published by the United States International Trade Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb indicate that only one country, Canada, exported softwood lumber to the United States during that time period in amounts sufficient to account for at least one percent of U.S. imports of softwood lumber products. We intend to rely on similar previous six-month periods to identify the countries subject to future reports on softwood lumber subsidies. For example, we will rely on U.S. imports of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products during the period January 1 through June 30, 2013, to select the countries subject to the next report. Under U.S. trade law, a subsidy exists where a government authority: (i) Provides a financial contribution; (ii) provides any form of income or price support within the meaning of Article XVI of the GATT 1994; or (iii) makes a payment to a funding mechanism to provide a financial contribution to a person, or entrusts or directs a private entity to make a financial contribution, if providing the contribution would normally be vested in the government and the practice does not differ in substance from practices normally followed by governments, and a benefit is thereby conferred. See section 771(5)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. Parties should include in their comments: (1) The country which provided the subsidy; (2) the name of the subsidy program; (3) a brief description (at least 3–4 sentences) of the subsidy program; and (4) the government body or authority that provided the subsidy. erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Submission of Comments Persons wishing to comment should file comments by the date specified above. Comments should only include publicly available information. The Department will not accept comments accompanied by a request that a part or all of the material be treated confidentially due to business proprietary concerns or for any other reason. The Department will return such comments or materials to the persons submitting the comments and will not include them in its report on softwood lumber subsidies. The Department requests submission of comments filed in electronic Portable Document Format (PDF) submitted on CD–ROM or by VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:46 Apr 25, 2013 Jkt 229001 email to the email address of the IA Webmaster, below. The comments received will be made available to the public in PDF on the Import Administration Web site at the following address: https://ia.ita.doc.gov/ public-comments.html. Any questions concerning file formatting, access on the Internet, or other electronic filing issues should be addressed to Laura Merchant, Import Administration Webmaster, at (202) 482–0367, email address: mailto:webmaster_support@trade.gov. All comments and submissions in response to this Request for Comment should be received by the Department no later than 5 p.m., on the abovereferenced deadline date. Dated: April 18, 2013. Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary or Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. [FR Doc. 2013–09920 Filed 4–25–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology National Fire Codes: Request for Public Input for Revision of Codes and Standards National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This notice contains the list of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) documents opening for Public Input, and it also contains information on the NFPA Revision Process. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is publishing this notice on behalf of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to announce the NFPA’s proposal to revise some of its fire safety codes and standards and requests Public Input to amend existing or begin the process of developing new NFPA fire safety codes and standards. The purpose of this request is to increase public participation in the system used by NFPA to develop its codes and standards. SUMMARY: Interested persons may submit Public Input by 5:00 p.m. EST/EDST on or before the date listed with the code or standard. ADDRESSES: Amy Beasley Cronin, Secretary, Standards Council, NFPA, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169–7471. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Beasley Cronin, NFPA, Secretary, DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 24725 Standards Council, at above address, (617) 770–3000. David F. Alderman, NIST, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 2100, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, email: david.alderman@nist.gov or by phone at 301–975–4019. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) proposes to revise some of its fire safety codes and standards and requests Public Input to amend existing or begin the process of developing new NFPA fire safety codes and standards. The purpose of this request is to increase public participation in the system used by NFPA to develop its codes and standards. The publication of this notice of request for Public Input by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on behalf of NFPA is being undertaken as a public service; NIST does not necessarily endorse, approve, or recommend any of the standards referenced in the notice. The NFPA process provides ample opportunity for public participation in the development of its codes and standards. All NFPA codes and standards are revised and updated every three to five years in Revision Cycles that begin twice each year and take approximately two years to complete. Each Revision Cycle proceeds according to a published schedule that includes final dates for all major events in the process. The Revision Process contains four basic steps that are followed for developing new documents as well as revising existing documents. Step 1: Public Input Stage, which results in the First Draft Report (formerly ROP); Step 2: Comment Stage, which results in the Second Draft Report (formerly ROC); Step 3: the Association Technical Meeting at the NFPA Conference & Expo; and Step 4: Standards Council consideration and issuance of documents. Note: NFPA rules state that, anyone wishing to make Amending Motions on the Public Comments, Second Revisions, or Committee Comments must signal his or her intention by submitting a Notice of Intent to Make a Motion by 5:00 p.m. EST/EDST of the Deadline stated in the Second Draft Report. Certified motions will then be posted on the NFPA Web site. Documents that receive notice of proper Amending Motions (Certified Amending Motions) will be presented for action at the Association Technical Meeting at the NFPA Conference & Expo. Documents that receive no motions will be forwarded directly to the Standards Council for action on issuance. For more information on these rules and for up-to-date information on schedules and deadlines for processing NFPA Codes and Standards, check the E:\FR\FM\26APN1.SGM 26APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24724-24725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09920]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber 
and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Department) seeks public comment 
on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain 
countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the 
United States during the period July 1 through December 31, 2012.

DATES: Comments must be submitted within thirty days after publication 
of this notice.

ADDRESSES: See the Submission of Comments section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Terpstra, Import Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 18, 2008, section 805 of Title VIII of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) was enacted into law. Under this 
provision, the Secretary of Commerce is mandated to submit to the 
appropriate Congressional committees a report every 180 days on any 
subsidy provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood 
lumber products to the United States, including stumpage subsidies.
    The Department submitted its last subsidy report on December 17, 
2012. As part of its newest report, the Department intends to include a 
list of subsidy programs identified with sufficient clarity by the 
public in response to this notice.

Request for Comments

    Given the large number of countries that export softwood lumber and 
softwood lumber products to the United States, we are soliciting public 
comment only on subsidies provided by countries whose exports accounted 
for at least one percent of total U.S. imports of softwood

[[Page 24725]]

lumber by quantity, as classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule code 
4407.1001 (which accounts for the vast majority of imports), during the 
period July 1 through December 31, 2012. Official U.S. import data 
published by the United States International Trade Commission Tariff 
and Trade DataWeb indicate that only one country, Canada, exported 
softwood lumber to the United States during that time period in amounts 
sufficient to account for at least one percent of U.S. imports of 
softwood lumber products. We intend to rely on similar previous six-
month periods to identify the countries subject to future reports on 
softwood lumber subsidies. For example, we will rely on U.S. imports of 
softwood lumber and softwood lumber products during the period January 
1 through June 30, 2013, to select the countries subject to the next 
report.
    Under U.S. trade law, a subsidy exists where a government 
authority: (i) Provides a financial contribution; (ii) provides any 
form of income or price support within the meaning of Article XVI of 
the GATT 1994; or (iii) makes a payment to a funding mechanism to 
provide a financial contribution to a person, or entrusts or directs a 
private entity to make a financial contribution, if providing the 
contribution would normally be vested in the government and the 
practice does not differ in substance from practices normally followed 
by governments, and a benefit is thereby conferred. See section 
771(5)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.
    Parties should include in their comments: (1) The country which 
provided the subsidy; (2) the name of the subsidy program; (3) a brief 
description (at least 3-4 sentences) of the subsidy program; and (4) 
the government body or authority that provided the subsidy.

Submission of Comments

    Persons wishing to comment should file comments by the date 
specified above. Comments should only include publicly available 
information. The Department will not accept comments accompanied by a 
request that a part or all of the material be treated confidentially 
due to business proprietary concerns or for any other reason. The 
Department will return such comments or materials to the persons 
submitting the comments and will not include them in its report on 
softwood lumber subsidies. The Department requests submission of 
comments filed in electronic Portable Document Format (PDF) submitted 
on CD-ROM or by email to the email address of the IA Webmaster, below.
    The comments received will be made available to the public in PDF 
on the Import Administration Web site at the following address: https://ia.ita.doc.gov/public-comments.html. Any questions concerning file 
formatting, access on the Internet, or other electronic filing issues 
should be addressed to Laura Merchant, Import Administration Webmaster, 
at (202) 482-0367, email address: mailto:webmaster_support@trade.gov.
    All comments and submissions in response to this Request for 
Comment should be received by the Department no later than 5 p.m., on 
the above-referenced deadline date.

    Dated: April 18, 2013.
Christian Marsh,
Deputy Assistant Secretary or Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2013-09920 Filed 4-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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