Stainless Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Affirmative and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 3118-3120 [2018-01146]

Download as PDF sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES 3118 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices the entire span between the longitudinal edges of the ribbon for the entire length of the ribbon; (4) ribbon formed into a bow without a tab or other means for attaching the bow to an object using adhesives, where the bow has: (a) An outer layer that is either flocked or made of fabric, and (b) a flexible metal wire at the base that is suitable for attaching the bow to a Christmas tree or other object by twist-tying; (5) elastic ribbons, meaning ribbons that elongate when stretched and return to their original dimension when the stretching load is removed; (6) ribbons affixed as a decorative detail to non-subject merchandise, such as a gift bag, gift box, gift tin, greeting card or plush toy, or affixed (including by tying) as a decorative detail to packaging containing non subject merchandise; (7) ribbons that are (a) affixed to non-subject merchandise as a working component of such non-subject merchandise, such as where the ribbon comprises a book marker, bag cinch, or part of an identity card holder, or (b) affixed (including by tying) to non-subject merchandise as a working component that holds or packages such non-subject merchandise or attaches packaging or labeling to such non-subject merchandise, such as a ‘‘belly band’’ around a pair of pajamas, a pair of socks or a blanket; (8) imitation raffia made of plastics having a thickness not more than one (1) mil when measured in an unfolded/untwisted state; and (9) ribbons in the form of bows having a diameter of less than seven-eighths (7⁄8) of an inch, or having a diameter of more than 16 inches, based on actual measurement. For purposes of this exclusion, the diameter of a bow is equal to the diameter of the smallest circular ring through which the bow will pass without compressing the bow. Further, excluded from the scope of the antidumping duty order are any products covered by the existing antidumping duty order on polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip (PET Film) from the People’s Republic of China (China). See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from Brazil, the People’s Republic of China and the United Arab Emirates: Antidumping Duty Orders and Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value for the United Arab Emirates, 73 FR 66595 (November 10, 2008). Merchandise covered by this investigation is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheadings 3920.20.0015 and 3926.40.0010. Merchandise covered by this investigation also may enter under subheadings 3920.10.0000; 3920.20.0055; 3920.30.0000; 3920.43.5000; 3920.49.0000; 3920.62.0050; 3920.62.0090; 3920.69.0000; 3921.90.1100; 3921.90.1500; 3921.90.1910; 3921.90.1950; 3921.90.4010; 3921.90.4090; 3926.90.9996; 5404.90.0000; 9505.90.4000; 4601.99.9000; 4602.90.0000; 5609.00.3000; 5609.00.4000; and 6307.90.9889. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive. [FR Doc. 2018–01147 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–533–878] Stainless Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Affirmative and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of stainless steel flanges from India. The period of investigation is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. DATES: Applicable January 23, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Mullen or Chelsey Simonovich, AD/CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–5260 or (202) 482–2000, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on September 11, 2017.1 On October 27, 2017, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now January 16, 2018.2 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.3 A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 1 See Stainless Steel Flanges from India and the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 82 FR 42654 (September 11, 2017) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Stainless Steel Flanges from India and the People’s Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 82 FR 49786 (October 27, 2017). 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Stainless Steel Flanges from India,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https:// access.trade.gov, and is available to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/ frn/. The signed and electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content. Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are stainless steel flanges from India. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I. Scope Comments In accordance with the preamble to Commerce’s regulations,4 the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage, (i.e. , scope).5 No interested party commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a subsidy, i.e. , a financial contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that gives rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.6 In making these findings, we relied, in part, on facts available and, because it finds that one or more respondents did not act to the best of their ability to respond to Commerce’s requests for information, it drew an adverse inference where appropriate in selecting from among the facts otherwise available.7 For further information, see ‘‘Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences’’ in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances In accordance with section 703(e)(1) of the Act, Commerce preliminarily determines that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of stainless steel flanges from India for Bebitz 4 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997). 5 See Initiation Notice. 6 See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity. 7 See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices Flanges Works, Echjay Forgings Private Limited, and all other exporters or producers not individually examined. For a full description of the methodology and results of Commerce’s analysis, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Alignment As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, in accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is aligning the final countervailing duty (CVD) determination in this investigation with the final determination in the companion antidumping duty (AD) investigation of stainless steel flanges from India based on a request made by the petitioners.8 Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same date as the final AD determination, which is currently scheduled to be issued no later than May 28, 2018, unless postponed. All-Others Rate Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others rate for companies not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates established for those companies individually examined, excluding any zero and de minimis rates and any rates based entirely under section 776 of the Act. In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily assigned a rate based entirely on facts available to Bebitz Flanges Works. Therefore, the only rate that is not zero, de minimis or based entirely on facts otherwise available is the rate calculated for Echjay Forgings Private Limited. Consequently, the rate calculated for Echjay Forgings Private Limited is also assigned as the rate for all-other producers and exporters. Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates exist: sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Company Bebitz Flanges Works 9 ........ Echjay Forgings Private Limited 10 ................................. All-Others .............................. 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Public Comment In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise as described in the scope of the investigation section entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the rates indicated above. Section 703(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given an affirmative determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of (a) the date which is 90 days before the date on which the suspension of liquidation was first ordered, or (b) the date on which notice of initiation of the investigation was published. Commerce preliminarily finds that critical circumstances exist for imports of subject merchandise produced and/or exported by Bebitz Flanges Works, Echjay Forgings Private Limited, and all-other producers and exporters. In accordance with section 703(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise from the exporters/ producers identified in this paragraph that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the publication of this notice. Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.11 Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain the party’s name, address, and telephone number, the number of participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. Disclosure Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination within five days of its public announcement, or if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Verification As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to verify the information relied upon in making its 239.61 final determination. 8 See Letter to the Secretary from the Petitioners, re: Petitioners’’’ Request to Align the Countervailing Duty Final Determination with the Antidumping Duty Final Determination, dated December 18, 2017. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Suspension of Liquidation Subsidy rate (percent) 5.00 5.00 Jkt 244001 3119 9 As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce has found the following companies to be cross-owned with Bebitz Flanges Works: Viraj Profiles Limited. 10 As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce has found the following companies to be cross-owned with Echjay Forgings Private Limited: Echjay Forging Industries Private Limited. PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 International Trade Commission Notification In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If the 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 the final determination. Notification to Interested Parties This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). 11 See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1 3120 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 23, 2018 / Notices convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive. Appendix I—Scope of the Investigation sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Dated: January 16, 2018. Gary Taverman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. I. Summary II. Background III. Alignment IV. Scope Comments V. Scope of the Investigation VI. Injury Test VII. Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances VIII. Subsidies Valuation IX. Benchmarks and Discount Rates X. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences XI. Analysis of Programs XII. Calculation of the All-Others Rate XIII. ITC Notification XIV. Disclosure and Public Comment XV. Verification XVI. Conclusion The products covered by this investigation are certain forged stainless steel flanges, whether unfinished, semi-finished, or finished (certain forged stainless steel flanges). Certain forged stainless steel flanges are generally manufactured to, but not limited to, the material specification of ASTM/ASME A/SA182 or comparable domestic or foreign specifications. Certain forged stainless steel flanges are made in various grades such as, but not limited to, 304, 304L, 316, and 316L (or combinations thereof). The term ‘‘stainless steel’’ used in this scope refers to an alloy steel containing, by actual weight, 1.2 percent or less of carbon and 10.5 percent or more of chromium, with or without other elements. Unfinished stainless steel flanges possess the approximate shape of finished stainless steel flanges and have not yet been machined to final specification after the initial forging or like operations. These machining processes may include, but are not limited to, boring, facing, spot facing, drilling, tapering, threading, beveling, heating, or compressing. Semi-finished stainless steel flanges are unfinished stainless steel flanges that have undergone some machining processes. The scope includes six general types of flanges. They are: (1) Weld neck, generally used in butt-weld line connection; (2) threaded, generally used for threaded line connections; (3) slip-on, generally used to slide over pipe; (4) lap joint, generally used with stub-ends/butt-weld line connections; (5) socket weld, generally used to fit pipe into a machine recession; and (6) blind, generally used to seal off a line. The sizes and descriptions of the flanges within the scope include all pressure classes of ASME B16.5 and range from one-half inch to twenty-four inches nominal pipe size. Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are cast stainless steel flanges. Cast stainless steel flanges generally are manufactured to specification ASTM A351. The country of origin for certain forged stainless steel flanges, whether unfinished, semi-finished, or finished is the country where the flange was forged. Subject merchandise includes stainless steel flanges as defined above that have been further processed in a third country. The processing includes, but is not limited to, boring, facing, spot facing, drilling, tapering, threading, beveling, heating, or compressing, and/or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the stainless steel flanges. Merchandise subject to the investigation is typically imported under headings 7307.21.1000 and 7307.21.5000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). While HTS subheadings and ASTM specifications are provided for VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:59 Jan 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 Appendix II—List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum [FR Doc. 2018–01146 Filed 1–22–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–570–061] Countervailing Duty Investigation of Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber From the People’s Republic of China: Final Affirmative Determination Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. AGENCY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of fine denier polyester staple fiber (fine denier PSF) from the People’s Republic of China (China). The period of investigation is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. For information on the estimated subsidy rates, see the ‘‘Final Determination and Suspension of Liquidation’’ section of this notice. SUMMARY: DATES: Applicable January 23, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yasmin Bordas or Davina Friedmann, AD/CVD Operations, Office VI, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482–3813 or (202) 482–0698, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Background Commerce published the Preliminary Determination on November 6, 2017.1 A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination, as well as a full discussion of the issues raised by parties for this final determination, may be found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum 2 issued concurrently with this notice. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https:// access.trade.gov, and is available to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/ frn/. The signed Issues and Decision Memorandum and the electronic version are identical in content. Scope Comments In accordance with the Preliminary Scope Memorandum, Commerce provided parties an opportunity to provide comments on all issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).3 Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice.4 As a result, the scope of this investigation was modified for the preliminary determination. No further changes to the scope of the investigation were made to this final determination. For a summary of the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the 1 See Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 82 FR 51396 (November 6, 2017) (Preliminary Determination) and accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). 2 See Commerce Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from the People’s Republic of China,’’ dated concurrently with this determination and hereby adopted by this notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum). 3 See Commerce Memorandum, ‘‘Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from the People’s Republic of China, India, Republic of Korea, and Taiwan: Scope Comments Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determinations,’’ dated December 8 31, 2017 (Preliminary Scope Memorandum); see also See Commerce Memorandum, ‘‘Due Dates for Case and Rebuttal Briefs Regarding the Scope,’’ dated December 11, 2017. 4 See Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from India and the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 82 FR 29029 (June 27, 2017) (Initiation Notice). E:\FR\FM\23JAN1.SGM 23JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3118-3120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01146]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-878]


Stainless Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Affirmative 
Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Affirmative and 
Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty 
Determination

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and 
exporters of stainless steel flanges from India. The period of 
investigation is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

DATES: Applicable January 23, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Mullen or Chelsey Simonovich, AD/
CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5260 or (202) 
482-2000, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce 
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on September 
11, 2017.\1\ On October 27, 2017, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now 
January 16, 2018.\2\ For a complete description of the events that 
followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file 
electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). 
ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov, and 
is available to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of 
the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete 
version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly 
at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and electronic 
versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in 
content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Stainless Steel Flanges from India and the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 
82 FR 42654 (September 11, 2017) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Stainless Steel Flanges from India and the People's 
Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination of 
Countervailing Duty Investigations, 82 FR 49786 (October 27, 2017).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Stainless 
Steel Flanges from India,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby 
adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are stainless steel 
flanges from India. For a complete description of the scope of this 
investigation, see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product coverage, (i.e. , scope).\5\ No interested 
party commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the 
Initiation Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found 
countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a 
subsidy, i.e. , a financial contribution by an ``authority'' that gives 
rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is 
specific.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding 
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding 
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In making these findings, we relied, in part, on facts available 
and, because it finds that one or more respondents did not act to the 
best of their ability to respond to Commerce's requests for 
information, it drew an adverse inference where appropriate in 
selecting from among the facts otherwise available.\7\ For further 
information, see ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse 
Inferences'' in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

    In accordance with section 703(e)(1) of the Act, Commerce 
preliminarily determines that critical circumstances exist with respect 
to imports of stainless steel flanges from India for Bebitz

[[Page 3119]]

Flanges Works, Echjay Forgings Private Limited, and all other exporters 
or producers not individually examined. For a full description of the 
methodology and results of Commerce's analysis, see the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum.

Alignment

    As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, in accordance with 
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is 
aligning the final countervailing duty (CVD) determination in this 
investigation with the final determination in the companion antidumping 
duty (AD) investigation of stainless steel flanges from India based on 
a request made by the petitioners.\8\ Consequently, the final CVD 
determination will be issued on the same date as the final AD 
determination, which is currently scheduled to be issued no later than 
May 28, 2018, unless postponed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Letter to the Secretary from the Petitioners, re: 
Petitioners''' Request to Align the Countervailing Duty Final 
Determination with the Antidumping Duty Final Determination, dated 
December 18, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

All-Others Rate

    Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the 
preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-
others rate for companies not individually examined. This rate shall be 
an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates 
established for those companies individually examined, excluding any 
zero and de minimis rates and any rates based entirely under section 
776 of the Act. In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily assigned 
a rate based entirely on facts available to Bebitz Flanges Works. 
Therefore, the only rate that is not zero, de minimis or based entirely 
on facts otherwise available is the rate calculated for Echjay Forgings 
Private Limited. Consequently, the rate calculated for Echjay Forgings 
Private Limited is also assigned as the rate for all-other producers 
and exporters.

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
countervailable subsidy rates exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy rate
                         Company                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bebitz Flanges Works \9\................................          239.61
Echjay Forgings Private Limited \10\....................            5.00
All-Others..............................................            5.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, 
Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to 
suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise as described in 
the scope of the investigation section entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d), 
Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the rates 
indicated above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, 
Commerce has found the following companies to be cross-owned with 
Bebitz Flanges Works: Viraj Profiles Limited.
    \10\ As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, 
Commerce has found the following companies to be cross-owned with 
Echjay Forgings Private Limited: Echjay Forging Industries Private 
Limited.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 703(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given an affirmative 
determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation 
shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of (a) 
the date which is 90 days before the date on which the suspension of 
liquidation was first ordered, or (b) the date on which notice of 
initiation of the investigation was published. Commerce preliminarily 
finds that critical circumstances exist for imports of subject 
merchandise produced and/or exported by Bebitz Flanges Works, Echjay 
Forgings Private Limited, and all-other producers and exporters. In 
accordance with section 703(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the suspension of 
liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise from the 
exporters/producers identified in this paragraph that were entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date which is 
90 days before the publication of this notice.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis 
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination 
within five days of its public announcement, or if there is no public 
announcement, within five days of the date of this notice in accordance 
with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to 
verify the information relied upon in making its final determination.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven 
days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in 
this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case 
briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline 
date for case briefs.\11\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), 
parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation 
are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the 
issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of 
authorities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal 
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce within 30 days 
after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain 
the party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of 
participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list 
of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, 
Commerce intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time 
and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the 
date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled 
date.

International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If the 
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 the final determination.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).


[[Page 3120]]


    Dated: January 16, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are certain forged 
stainless steel flanges, whether unfinished, semi-finished, or 
finished (certain forged stainless steel flanges). Certain forged 
stainless steel flanges are generally manufactured to, but not 
limited to, the material specification of ASTM/ASME A/SA182 or 
comparable domestic or foreign specifications. Certain forged 
stainless steel flanges are made in various grades such as, but not 
limited to, 304, 304L, 316, and 316L (or combinations thereof). The 
term ``stainless steel'' used in this scope refers to an alloy steel 
containing, by actual weight, 1.2 percent or less of carbon and 10.5 
percent or more of chromium, with or without other elements.
    Unfinished stainless steel flanges possess the approximate shape 
of finished stainless steel flanges and have not yet been machined 
to final specification after the initial forging or like operations. 
These machining processes may include, but are not limited to, 
boring, facing, spot facing, drilling, tapering, threading, 
beveling, heating, or compressing. Semi-finished stainless steel 
flanges are unfinished stainless steel flanges that have undergone 
some machining processes.
    The scope includes six general types of flanges. They are: (1) 
Weld neck, generally used in butt-weld line connection; (2) 
threaded, generally used for threaded line connections; (3) slip-on, 
generally used to slide over pipe; (4) lap joint, generally used 
with stub-ends/butt-weld line connections; (5) socket weld, 
generally used to fit pipe into a machine recession; and (6) blind, 
generally used to seal off a line. The sizes and descriptions of the 
flanges within the scope include all pressure classes of ASME B16.5 
and range from one-half inch to twenty-four inches nominal pipe 
size. Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are 
cast stainless steel flanges. Cast stainless steel flanges generally 
are manufactured to specification ASTM A351.
    The country of origin for certain forged stainless steel 
flanges, whether unfinished, semi-finished, or finished is the 
country where the flange was forged. Subject merchandise includes 
stainless steel flanges as defined above that have been further 
processed in a third country. The processing includes, but is not 
limited to, boring, facing, spot facing, drilling, tapering, 
threading, beveling, heating, or compressing, and/or any other 
processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the 
scope of the investigation if performed in the country of 
manufacture of the stainless steel flanges.
    Merchandise subject to the investigation is typically imported 
under headings 7307.21.1000 and 7307.21.5000 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). While HTS subheadings 
and ASTM specifications are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.

Appendix II--List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Alignment
IV. Scope Comments
V. Scope of the Investigation
VI. Injury Test
VII. Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances
VIII. Subsidies Valuation
IX. Benchmarks and Discount Rates
X. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences
XI. Analysis of Programs
XII. Calculation of the All-Others Rate
XIII. ITC Notification
XIV. Disclosure and Public Comment
XV. Verification
XVI. Conclusion

 [FR Doc. 2018-01146 Filed 1-22-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.