Rubber Bands From Thailand, the People's Republic of China, and Sri Lanka: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 8429-8433 [2018-03922]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8429-8433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03922]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-549-836, C-570-070, C-542-803]


Rubber Bands From Thailand, the People's Republic of China, and 
Sri Lanka: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations

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

DATES: Applicable February 20, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frances Veith at (202) 482-4295 or 
Shana Lee at (202) 482-6386 (Thailand), Kristen Johnson at (202) 482-
4793 (China), and Patricia Tran at (202) 482-1503 (Sri Lanka), AD/CVD 
Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Petitions

    On January 30, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
received countervailing duty (CVD) petitions concerning imports of 
rubber bands from Thailand, the People's Republic of China (China), and 
Sri Lanka, filed in proper form on behalf of Alliance Rubber Co. (the 
petitioner).\1\ The CVD Petitions were accompanied by antidumping duty 
(AD) petitions concerning imports of rubber bands from Thailand, China, 
and Sri Lanka. The petitioner is a domestic producer of rubber 
bands.\2\
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    \1\ See Letter from the petitioner ``Petition for the Imposition 
of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Rubber Bands from 
Thailand, China and Sri Lanka,'' dated January 30, 2018 (Petitions).
    \2\ Id. at Volume I of the Petitions at 1.
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    On February 2, 2018, Commerce requested supplemental information 
pertaining to certain areas of the Petitions.\3\ The petitioner filed 
responses to these requests on February 8, 2018, which included revised 
scope language.\4\ On February 12, 2018, Commerce held a conference 
call with the petitioner to discuss the scope of the investigation, 
industry support, and injury.\5\ The petitioner filed a response

[[Page 8430]]

to address issues discussed on the conference call on February 13, 
2018.\6\ On February 16, 2018, based on a telephone conversation 
between Commerce and counsel to the petitioner, the petitioner made 
certain clarifications to the scope.\7\
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    \3\ See Letter from Commerce to the petitioner, ``Petition for 
the Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of Rubber Bands 
from Sri Lanka: Supplemental Questions,'' (Sri Lanka CVD Petition 
Supplemental Questionnaire); ``Petition for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Rubber Bands 
from the People's Republic of China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand: 
Supplemental Questions,'' (General Issues Petition Supplemental 
Questionnaire); ``Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing 
Duties on Imports of Rubber Bands from the People's Republic of 
China (China): Supplemental Questions,'' (China CVD Petition 
Supplemental Questionnaire); ``Petition for the Imposition of 
Countervailing Duties on Imports of Rubber Bands from Thailand: 
Supplemental Questions,'' (Thailand CVD Petition Supplemental 
Questionnaire) dated February 2, 2018.
    \4\ See Letter from petitioner to Commerce, ``Petition for the 
Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Rubber Bands 
from Thailand, China and Sri Lanka--Responses to Supplemental 
Questionnaires,'' dated February 8, 2018 (General Issues 
Supplemental Response, Thailand CVD Petition Supplemental Response, 
China CVD Petition Supplemental Response, and Sri Lanka CVD Petition 
Supplemental Response).
    \5\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Petition for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Rubber Bands from the 
People's Republic of China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand,'' dated 
February 12, 2018 (Phone Memorandum).
    \6\ See Letter from petitioner to Commerce, ``Petition for the 
Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Rubber Bands 
from Thailand, China and Sri Lanka--Supplemental Responses to 
Supplemental Questionnaires,'' dated February 13, 2018 (Second 
General Issues Supplemental Response).
    \7\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Phone Call with Counsel to the 
Petitioner Regarding Scope Clarification,'' dated February 16, 2018 
(Second Phone Memorandum).
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    In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), the petitioner alleges that the Royal Thai 
Government (RTG), the Government of China (GOC), and the Government of 
Sri Lanka (GOSL) are providing countervailable subsidies, within the 
meaning of sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, to producers of rubber 
bands in Thailand, China, and Sri Lanka, respectively, and imports of 
such products are materially injuring, or threatening material injury 
to, the domestic rubber bands industry in the United States. Consistent 
with section 702(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(b), for those 
alleged programs on which we are initiating a CVD investigation, the 
Petitions are accompanied by information reasonably available to the 
petitioner supporting its allegations.
    Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petitions on behalf of 
the domestic industry because the petitioner is an interested party as 
defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. Commerce also finds that the 
petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support necessary for the 
initiation of the requested CVD investigation.\8\
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    \8\ See ``Determination of Industry Support for the Petitions'' 
section, below.
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Periods of Investigation

    Because the Petitions were filed on January 30, 2018, the periods 
of investigation are January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.

Scope of the Investigations

    The products covered by these investigations are rubber bands from 
Thailand, China, and Sri Lanka. For a full description of the scope of 
these investigations, see the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the 
Appendix to this notice.

Comments on Scope of the Investigations

    During our review of the Petitions, Commerce issued questions to, 
and received responses from, the petitioner pertaining to the proposed 
scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petitions is an accurate 
reflection of the product for which the domestic industry is seeking 
relief.\9\ Commerce also held a conference call with the petitioner 
regarding the scope language.\10\ As a result of these exchanges, the 
scope of the Petitions was modified to clarify the description of 
merchandise covered by the Petitions.\11\ The description of the 
merchandise covered by this initiation, as described in the Appendix to 
this notice, reflects these clarifications.
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    \9\ See General Issues Supplemental Response.
    \10\ See Phone Memorandum.
    \11\ See General Issues Supplemental Response at 6.
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    As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are 
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding 
product coverage (scope).\12\ Commerce will consider all comments 
received from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with 
interested parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary 
determination. If scope comments include factual information, all such 
factual information should be limited to public information.\13\ To 
facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests all 
interested parties submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) 
on March 12, 2018 (20 calendar days from the signature date of this 
notice). Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, 
must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on March 22, 2018 (10 calendar days from 
the initial comments deadline).\14\
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    \12\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
    \13\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual 
information'').
    \14\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b).
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    Commerce requests that any factual information parties consider 
relevant to the scope of the investigations be submitted during this 
period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual 
information pertaining to the scope of the investigations may be 
relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to 
submit the additional information. All such submissions must be filed 
on the records of each of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using 
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS).\15\ An electronically 
filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the 
time and date it is due. Documents exempted from the electronic 
submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) 
with Enforcement and Compliance's APO/Dockets Unit, Room 18022, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230, and stamped with the date and time of receipt by the applicable 
deadlines.
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    \15\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order 
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011). See also Enforcement and 
Compliance: Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 
(November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing 
requirements, which went into effect on August 5, 2011. Information 
on help using ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx, and a handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf.
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Consultations

    Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Act, Commerce 
notified representatives of the RTG, GOC, and GOSL of the receipt of 
the CVD Petitions, and provided them the opportunity for consultations 
with respect to the Petitions.\16\ Commerce held consultations with the 
GOC on February 7, 2018,\17\ the GOSL on February 14, 2018,\18\ and the 
RTG on February 14, 2018.\19\
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    \16\ See Letter from Erin Begnal, Director, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office III, to the Royal Thai Embassy, ``Countervailing Duty 
Petition on Rubber Bands from Thailand: Invitation for Consultations 
to Discuss the Countervailing Duty Petition,'' dated January 31, 
2018; Letter from Erin Begnal, Director, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
III, to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, 
``Countervailing Duty Petition on Rubber Bands from the People's 
Republic of China: Invitation for Consultations to Discuss the 
Countervailing Duty Petition,'' dated January 30, 2018; and Letter 
from Erin Begnal, Director, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, to the 
Embassy of Sri Lanka, ``Countervailing Duty Petition on Rubber Bands 
from Sri Lanka: Invitation for Consultations to Discuss the 
Countervailing Duty Petition,'' dated January 30, 2018.
    \17\ See Memorandum, ``Countervailing Duty Petitions on Cast 
Iron Soil Pipe and Rubber Bands from the People's Republic of China: 
Consultations with Officials of the Government of China,'' dated 
February 8, 2018.
    \18\ See Memorandum, ``Countervailing Duty Petition on Rubber 
Bands from Sri Lanka: Consultations with Officials of the Government 
of Sri Lanka,'' dated February 14, 2018.
    \19\ See Memorandum, ``Consultations with Government Officials 
from the Royal Thai Embassy,'' dated February 14, 2018.
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petitions

    Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the

[[Page 8431]]

domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act provides that a 
petition meets this requirement if the domestic producers or workers 
who support the petition account for: (i) At least 25 percent of the 
total production of the domestic like product; and (ii) more than 50 
percent of the production of the domestic like product produced by that 
portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the 
petition. Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act provides that, if 
the petition does not establish support of domestic producers or 
workers accounting for more than 50 percent of the total production of 
the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i) Poll the industry or 
rely on other information in order to determine if there is support for 
the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine 
industry support using a statistically valid sampling method to poll 
the ``industry.''
    Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the 
producers, as a whole, of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine 
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute 
directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the 
domestic like product. The International Trade Commission (ITC), which 
is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' has 
been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like 
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the 
ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic 
like product,\20\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a 
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination 
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may 
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences 
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\21\
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    \20\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
    \21\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT 
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F. 
Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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    Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a 
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in 
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation 
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic 
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an 
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be 
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the 
Petition).
    With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioner does not 
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope 
of the investigations. Based on our analysis of the information 
submitted on the record, we have determined that rubber bands, as 
defined in the scope, constitute a single domestic like product and we 
have analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like 
product.\22\
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    \22\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis, see 
Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Rubber Bands 
from China (China CVD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II, 
Analysis of Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Petition Covering Rubber Bands from the People's Republic of 
China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand (Attachment II); Countervailing Duty 
Investigation Initiation Checklist: Rubber Bands from Sri Lanka (Sri 
Lanka CVD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II; and 
Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Rubber Bands 
from Thailand (Thailand CVD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II. 
These checklists are dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, 
this notice and on file electronically via ACCESS. Access to 
documents filed via ACCESS is also available in the Central Records 
Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building.
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    In determining whether the petitioner has standing under section 
702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data 
contained in the Petitions with reference to the domestic like product 
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigations,'' in the Appendix to 
this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioner provided its 
own net sales values of the domestic like product in 2017, and compared 
this to the estimated total sales value of the domestic like product 
for the entire domestic industry.\23\ Because total industry production 
data for the domestic like product for 2017 are not reasonably 
available to the petitioner, and the petitioner has established that 
sales values and shipments are a reasonably proxy for production 
data,\24\ we have relied on the data the petitioner provided for 
purposes of measuring industry support.\25\
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    \23\ See General Issues Supplemental Response, at 8 and GEN-10S; 
see also Second General Issues Supplemental Response, at 2-3.
    \24\ See Second General Issues Supplemental Response, at 2-3.
    \25\ Id. For further discussion, see China CVD Initiation 
Checklist, at Attachment II; Sri Lanka CVD Initiation Checklist, at 
Attachment II; and Thailand CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment 
II.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petitions, the General 
Issues Supplemental Response, the Second General Issues Supplemental 
Response, and other information readily available to Commerce indicates 
that the petitioner has established industry support for the 
Petitions.\26\ First, the Petitions established support from domestic 
producers (or workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of the total 
production of the domestic like product and, as such, Commerce is not 
required to take further action in order to evaluate industry support 
(e.g., polling).\27\ Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have 
met the statutory criteria for industry support under section 
702(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) 
who support the Petitions account for at least 25 percent of the total 
production of the domestic like product.\28\ Finally, the domestic 
producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry 
support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the domestic 
producers (or workers) who support the Petitions account for more than 
50 percent of the production of the domestic like product produced by 
that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, 
the Petitions.\29\ Accordingly, Commerce determines that the Petitions 
were filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of 
section 702(b)(1) of the Act.
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    \26\ See China CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II; Sri 
Lanka CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II; and Thailand CVD 
Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
    \27\ See section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also China CVD 
Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II; Sri Lanka CVD Initiation 
Checklist, at Attachment II; and Thailand CVD Initiation Checklist, 
at Attachment II.
    \28\ See China CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II; Sri 
Lanka CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II; and Thailand CVD 
Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
    \29\ Id.
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    Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petitions on behalf of 
the domestic industry because it is an interested party as defined in 
section 771(9)(C) of the Act, and it has demonstrated sufficient 
industry support with respect to the CVD investigations that it is 
requesting that Commerce initiate.\30\
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    \30\ Id.
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Injury Test

    Because China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand are ``Subsidies Agreement 
Countries'' within the meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 
701(a)(2) of the Act applies to these investigations. Accordingly, the 
ITC must determine whether imports of the subject merchandise from 
China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand materially injure, or threaten material 
injury to, a U.S. industry.

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioner alleges that imports of the subject merchandise are 
benefitting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are 
causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S.

[[Page 8432]]

industry producing the domestic like product. In addition, the 
petitioner alleges that subject imports exceed the negligibility 
threshold provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\31\ In CVD 
petitions, section 771(24)(B) of the Act provides that imports of 
subject merchandise from developing and least developed countries must 
exceed the negligibility threshold of four percent. The petitioner 
demonstrates that imports from Thailand and Sri Lanka, which have been 
designated as developing and least developed countries under sections 
771(36)(A) and 771(36)(B) of the Act, respectively, exceed the 
negligibility threshold of four percent.\32\
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    \31\ See General Issues Supplemental Response, at 9 and Exhibit 
B.
    \32\ Id.
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    The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by a significant and increasing volume of subject imports; 
reduced market share; underselling and price depression or suppression; 
lost sales and revenues; and a negative impact on the domestic 
industry's financial performance.\33\ We have assessed the allegations 
and supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat of material 
injury, and causation, and we have determined that these allegations 
are properly supported by adequate evidence, and meet the statutory 
requirements for initiation.\34\
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    \33\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 16-19, 25-47 and Exhibits 
GEN-3 through GEN-8, GEN-10 and GEN-12; see also General Issues 
Supplemental Response, at 8-16 and Exhibits A, B, and GEN-10S; and 
Second General Issues Supplemental Response, at 3 and Exhibit A.
    \34\ See China CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment III, 
Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and 
Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petition 
Covering Rubber Bands from the People's Republic of China, Sri 
Lanka, and Thailand (Attachment III); Sri Lanka CVD Initiation 
Checklist, at Attachment III; and Thailand CVD Initiation Checklist, 
at Attachment III.
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Initiation of CVD Investigations

    Based on the examination of the Petitions, we find that they meet 
the requirements of section 702 of the Act. Therefore, we are 
initiating CVD investigations to determine whether imports of rubber 
bands from Thailand, China, and Sri Lanka benefit from countervailable 
subsidies conferred by the RTG, GOC, and GOSL, respectively. In 
accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), 
unless postponed, we will make our preliminary determinations no later 
than 65 days after the date of this initiation.
    Numerous amendments to the AD and CVD laws were made pursuant to 
the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015.\35\ The amendments to 
sections 776 and 782 of the Act are applicable to all determinations 
made on or after August 6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to these CVD 
investigations.\36\
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    \35\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Public Law 
114-27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015). See also Dates of Application of 
Amendments to the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws Made by 
the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, 80 FR 46793 (August 6, 
2015) (Applicability Notice). The 2015 amendments may be found at 
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1295/text/pl.
    \36\ See Applicability Notice, 80 FR at 46794-95.
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Thailand

    Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is 
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on all of the 10 
alleged programs. For a full discussion of the basis for our decision 
to initiate on each program, see the Thai CVD Initiation Checklist. A 
public version of the initiation checklist for the Thai CVD 
investigation is available on ACCESS.

China

    Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is 
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on some or all 
aspects of the 16 alleged subsidy programs. For three of these 16 
programs, we are partially initiating. Furthermore, we have determined 
that two of the alleged programs should be initiated as one program 
providing export loans from state-owned banks, reducing the 16 alleged 
programs into an initiation of 15 programs. For a full discussion of 
the basis for our decision to initiate on each program, see China CVD 
Initiation Checklist. A public version of the initiation checklist for 
this investigation is available on ACCESS.

Sri Lanka

    Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is 
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on all of the 20 
alleged programs. For a full discussion of the basis for our decision 
to initiate on each program, see the Sri Lanka CVD Initiation 
Checklist. A public version of the initiation checklist for this 
investigation is available on ACCESS.

Respondent Selection

    The petitioner named 22 companies in Thailand,\37\ 12 companies in 
China,\38\ and four companies in Sri Lanka,\39\ as producers/exporters 
of rubber bands. Commerce intends to follow its standard practice in 
CVD investigations and calculate company-specific subsidy rates in 
these investigations. In the event Commerce determines that the number 
of companies is large and it cannot individually examine each company 
based upon Commerce's resources, where appropriate, Commerce intends to 
select mandatory respondents based on U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports of rubber bands from Thailand, 
China, and Sri Lanka during the POI under the appropriate Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States numbers listed in the ``Scope of 
the Investigation,'' in the Appendix.
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    \37\ See Volume I of the Petition, at Exhibit GEN-2.
    \38\ Id.
    \39\ Id.
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    On February 14, 2018, Commerce released CBP data under 
Administrative Protective Order (APO) to all parties with access to 
information protected by APO and indicated that interested parties 
wishing to comment regarding the CBP data and respondent selection must 
do so within three business days of the publication date of the notice 
of initiation of these CVD investigations.\40\ Commerce will not accept 
rebuttal comments regarding the CBP data or respondent selection.
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    \40\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Countervailing Duty Petition 
on Rubber Bands from the People's Republic of China: U.S. Customs 
Data for Respondent Selection,'' dated February 14, 2018; and 
``Countervailing Duty Petition on Rubber Bands from Sri Lanka: U.S. 
Customs Data for Respondent Selection,'' dated February 14, 2018; 
and ``Rubber Bands from the Kingdom of Thailand Countervailing Duty 
Petition: Release of Customs Data from U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection,'' dated February 14, 2018.
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    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such 
applications may be found on the Commerce's website at https://enforcement.trade.gov/apo.
    Comments must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An 
electronically filed document must be received successfully, in its 
entirety, by ACCESS no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the date noted above. 
We intend to finalize our decisions regarding respondent selection 
within 20 days of publication of this notice.

Distribution of Copies of the Petition

    In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), copies of the public version of the Petitions have been 
provided to the RTG, GOC, and GOSL via ACCESS. To the extent 
practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of 
the Petitions to each exporter named in the Petitions, as provided 
under 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).

[[Page 8433]]

ITC Notification

    We will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section 
702(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determinations by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date 
on which the Petitions were filed, whether there is a reasonable 
indication that imports of rubber bands from Thailand, China, and Sri 
Lanka are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a 
U.S. industry.\41\ A negative ITC determination for any country will 
result in the investigation being terminated with respect to that 
country.\42\ Otherwise, these investigations will proceed according to 
statutory and regulatory time limits.
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    \41\ See section 703(a)(2) of the Act.
    \42\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
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Submission of Factual Information

    Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) 
Evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence 
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available 
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the 
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence 
placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual 
information described in (i)-(iv). 19 CFR 351.301(b) requires any 
party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which 
subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted 
\43\ and, if the information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct 
factual information already on the record, to provide an explanation 
identifying the information already on the record that the factual 
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct.\44\ Time limits for 
the submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, 
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual 
information being submitted. Interested parties should review the 
regulations prior to submitting factual information in these 
investigations.
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    \43\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \44\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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Extensions of Time Limits

    Parties may request an extension of time limits before the 
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as 
otherwise specified by the Secretary. In general, an extension request 
will be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the 
time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301. For submissions that are 
due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request will be 
considered untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. 
Under certain circumstances, we may elect to specify a different time 
limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for 
submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such 
a case, we will inform parties in the letter or memorandum setting 
forth the deadline (including a specified time) by which extension 
requests must be filed to be considered timely. An extension request 
must be made in a separate, stand-alone submission; under limited 
circumstances we will grant untimely-filed requests for the extension 
of time limits. Parties should review Extension of Time Limits; Final 
Rule, 78 FR 57790 (September 20, 2013), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to 
submitting factual information in these investigations.

Certification Requirements

    Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding 
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\45\ 
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 
351.303(g).\46\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the 
submitting party does not comply with the applicable revised 
certification requirements.
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    \45\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \46\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import 
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (``Final Rule''); see also 
frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule, available at 
https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
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Notification to Interested Parties

    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On January 22, 2008, Commerce 
published Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Documents 
Submission Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 22, 2008). 
Parties wishing to participate in these investigations should ensure 
that they meet the requirements of these procedures (e.g., the filing 
of letters of appearance as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)).
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and 
777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

    Dated: February 20, 2018.
Christian Marsh,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix

Scope of the Investigations

    The products subject to these investigations are bands made of 
vulcanized rubber, with a flat length, as actually measured end-to-
end by the band lying flat, no less than \1/2\ inch and no greater 
than 10 inches; with a width, which measures the dimension 
perpendicular to the length, actually of at least 3/64 inch and no 
greater than 2 inches; and a wall thickness actually from 0.020 inch 
to 0.125 inch. Vulcanized rubber has been chemically processed into 
a more durable material by the addition of sulfur or other 
equivalent curatives or accelerators. Subject products are included 
regardless of color or inclusion of printed material on the rubber 
band's surface, including but not limited to, rubber bands with 
printing on them, such as a product name, advertising, or slogan, 
and printed material (e.g., a tag) fastened to the rubber band by an 
adhesive or another temporary type of connection. The scope includes 
vulcanized rubber bands which are contained or otherwise exist in 
various forms and packages, such as, without limitation, vulcanized 
rubber bands included within a desk accessory set or other type of 
set or package, and vulcanized rubber band balls. The scope excludes 
products that consist of an elastomer loop and durable tag all-in-
one, and bands that are being used at the time of import to fasten 
an imported product. Merchandise covered by these investigations is 
currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (HTSUS) under subheading 4016.99.3510. Merchandise covered by 
the scope may also enter under HTSUS subheading 4016.99.6050. While 
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the scope of the investigations 
is dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2018-03922 Filed 2-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P