Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 32075-32078 [2018-14827]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2018 / Notices AD order on tin mill products from Japan.1 On May 1, 2017, Commerce published the notice of initiation of the third sunset review of the AD order on tin mill products from Japan, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).2 Commerce conducted this sunset review on an expedited basis, pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2) because it received a complete, timely, and adequate response from a domestic interested party but no substantive responses from respondent interested parties. As a result of the review, Commerce determined, pursuant to sections 751(c)(1) and 752(c) of the Act, that revocation of the AD order would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping.3 Commerce, therefore, notified the ITC of the magnitude of the dumping margins likely to prevail should the AD order be revoked. On June 25, 2018, the ITC published notice of its determination, pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752(a) of the Act, that revocation of the AD order on tin mill products from Japan would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable time.4 Scope of the Order The products covered by the antidumping duty order are tin mill flatrolled products that are coated or plated with tin, chromium or chromium oxides. Flat-rolled steel products coated with tin are known as tin plate. Flatrolled steel products coated with chromium or chromium oxides are known as tin-free steel or electrolytic chromium-coated steel. The merchandise covered by the order is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), under HTSUS subheadings 7210.11.0000, 7210.12.0000, 7210.50.0000, 7212.10.0000, and 7212.50.0000 if of non-alloy steel and under HTSUS subheadings 7225.99.0090, and 7226.99.0180 if of alloy steel. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 1 See Certain Tin Mill Products from Japan: Notice of Antidumping Duty Order, 65 FR 52067 (August 28, 2000). 2 See Initiation of Five-Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Reviews, 82 FR 20314 (May 1, 2017). 3 See Certain Tin Mill Products from Japan: Final Results of the Expedited Third Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order, 82 FR 41933 (September 5, 2017) (Final Results). 4 See Tin- and Chromium-Coated Steel Sheet from Japan: Investigation No. 701–TA–860 (Third Review), USITC Publication 4795 (June 2018); see also Tin- and Chromium-Coated Steel Sheet from Japan; Determination, 83 FR 29568 (June 25, 2018). VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Jul 10, 2018 Jkt 244001 The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The written description of the scope of the order remains dispositive.5 Continuation of the Order As a result of the determinations by Commerce and the ITC that revocation of the AD order would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to section 751(d)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(a), Commerce hereby orders the continuation of the AD order on tin mill products from Japan. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to collect AD cash deposits at the rates in effect at the time of entry for all imports of subject merchandise. The effective date of the continuation of the order will be the date of publication in the Federal Register of this notice of continuation. Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act, Commerce intends to initiate the next five-year sunset review of the order not later than 30 days prior to the fifth anniversary of the effective date of continuation. This five-year sunset review and this notice are in accordance with section 751(c) and 751(d)(2) of the Act and published pursuant to section 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4). Dated: July 3, 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. [FR Doc. 2018–14826 Filed 7–10–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 5 A full description of the scope of the order is contained in the memorandum to 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, from James Maeder, Senior Director performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, ‘‘Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Expedited Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Tin Mill Products from Japan’’ (Issues and Decision Memorandum), dated August 29, 2017. PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32075 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–570–063] Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People’s Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings (soil pipe fittings) from the People’s Republic of China (China). The period of investigation is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. DATES: Applicable July 11, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis McClure or Jinny Ahn, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–5973 or (202) 482–0339, respectively. AGENCY: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The mandatory respondents in this investigation are Shanxi Xuanshi Industrial Group Co., Ltd. (Shanxi Xuanshi), Shijiazhuang Chengmei Import & Export Co., Ltd. (Shijiazhuang Chengmei), and Wor-Biz International Trading Co., Ltd. (Anhui) (Wor-Biz). On December 19, 2017, Commerce published in the Federal Register the Preliminary Determination of the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of cast iron soil pipes from China.1 In the Preliminary Determination, Commerce aligned the final CVD determination with the final determination in the companion antidumping duty (AD) investigation, in accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4). On January 23, 2018, Commerce exercised its discretion to toll all deadlines affected by the closure of the Federal Government from January 20 through 22, 2018. In accordance with Commerce’s practice, if the new deadline falls on a non-business day, the deadline will become the next 1 See Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 82 FR 60178 (December 19, 2017) (Preliminary Determination). E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM 11JYN1 32076 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2018 / Notices business day. Accordingly, the deadline for the final determination of this investigation was revised to July 5, 2018.2 On April 19, 2018, Commerce released its Post-Preliminary Analysis.3 A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination, as well as a full discussion of the issues raised by interested parties for this final determination, can be found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum issued concurrently with this notice.4 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 of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are cast iron soil pipe fittings from China. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the ‘‘Scope of the Investigation’’ in Appendix I of this notice. For this final determination, Commerce has issued a scope memorandum addressing interested parties’’ comments regarding scope issues presented in the case briefs and in subsequent scope comments.5 Commerce has determined to modify the scope of the investigation to include two additional subheadings of the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule under which subject merchandise may enter. Commerce has also provided a clarification in the Final Scope Memorandum. For further discussion, see Commerce’s Final Scope Memorandum. The scope in Appendix I reflects the final scope language. Analysis of Subsidy Programs and Comments Received The subsidy programs under investigation and the issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties in this investigation are discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues that parties raised, and to which we responded in the Issues and Decision Memorandum, is attached to this notice at Appendix II. Methodology Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section 701 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce determines that there is a subsidy, i.e. , a financial contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that confers a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.6 For a full description of the methodology underlying our final determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum. In making these findings, Commerce relied, in part, on facts otherwise 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, Commerce 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 Issues and Decision Memorandum. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination Based on our review and analysis of the comments received from the interested parties, our findings at verification, and the minor corrections presented at verification, we made certain changes to the respondents’’ subsidy rate calculations. For a discussion of these changes, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum. Final Determination In accordance with section 705(c)(l)(B)(i) of the Act, we calculated rates for Shanxi Xuanshi and Wor-Biz, producers/exporters of subject merchandise selected for individual examination in this investigation. With regard to Shijiazhuang Chengmei, for the reasons described in the Preliminary Determination, Commerce assigned a rate based entirely on adverse facts available pursuant to section 776 of the Act. No interested party commented on our preliminary decision, and so for purposes of this final determination, we continue to assign Shijiazhuang Chengmei a rate based entirely on AFA. Section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that in the final 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, we calculated individual estimated countervailable subsidy rates for Shanxi Xuanshi and Wor-Biz that are not zero, de minimis , or based entirely on facts otherwise available. As a result, we calculated the all-others rate based on a weighted average of the individual estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents using each company’s publicly ranged values for the merchandise under consideration.8 Commerce determines that the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates exist: Subsidy rate (percent) Company daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Shanxi Xuanshi Industrial Group Co., Ltd ........................................................................................................................................... Wor-Biz International Trading Co., Ltd. (Anhui) .................................................................................................................................. Shijiazhuang Chengmei Import & Export Co., Ltd .............................................................................................................................. 2 See Memorandum for The Record from Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, performing the nonexclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the Federal Government’’ (Tolling Memorandum), dated January 23, 2018. All deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by 3 days. 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Post-Preliminary Analysis of Countervailing Duty Investigation: Cast Iron Soil VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Jul 10, 2018 Jkt 244001 Pipe Fittings from the People’s Republic of China,’’ dated April 19, 2018 (Post-Preliminary Analysis). 4 See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the People’s Republic of China’’ (Issues and Decision Memorandum), dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice. 5 See Memorandum, ‘‘Countervailing Duty and Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations of Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the People’s Republic of PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 34.87 7.37 133.94 China: Final Scope Memorandum’’ (Final Scope Memorandum), dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice. 6 See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding financial contribution; see section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding benefit; see section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity. 7 See sections 776(a), (b), and 782(d) of the Act. 8 See Memorandum regarding: Calculation of the All-Others Rate for the Final Determination, dated July 5, 2018. E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM 11JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2018 / Notices Subsidy rate (percent) Company All-Others ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Disclosure We intend to disclose the calculations performed to parties in this proceeding, for this final determination, within five days of the date of publication of our final determination, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation As a result of our Preliminary Determination and pursuant to section 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, Commerce instructed 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 the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register . In accordance with section 703(d) of the Act, we issued instructions to CBP to discontinue the suspension of liquidation for CVD purposes for subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, on or after April 18, 2018, but to continue the suspension of liquidation of all entries from December 19, 2017, through April 17, 2018. If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final affirmative injury determination, we will issue a CVD order, will reinstate the suspension of liquidation under section 706(a) of the Act, and will require a cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties for such entries of subject merchandise in the amounts indicated above. If the ITC determines that material injury, or threat of material injury, does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated and all estimated duties deposited or securities posted as a result of the suspension of liquidation will be refunded or canceled. daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES International Trade Commission Notification In accordance with section 705(d) of the Act, we will notify the ITC of our determination. In addition, we are making available to the ITC all nonprivileged and non-proprietary information related to this investigation. We will allow the ITC access to all privileged and business proprietary information in our files, provided the ITC confirms that it will not disclose such information, either publicly or under an administrative protective order VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Jul 10, 2018 Jkt 244001 32077 23.28 (APO), without the written consent of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Because the final determination in this proceeding is affirmative, in accordance with section 705(b) of the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports of soil pipe fittings from China no later than 45 days after our final determination. If the ITC determines that material injury or threat of material injury does not exist, the proceeding will be terminated and all cash deposits will be refunded. If the ITC determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will issue a CVD order directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by Commerce, countervailing duties on all imports of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of liquidation, as discussed above in the ‘‘Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation’’ section. regardless of size. Cast iron soil pipe fittings are nonmalleable iron castings of various designs and sizes, including, but not limited to, bends, tees, wyes, traps, drains, and other common or special fittings, with or without side inlets. Cast iron soil pipe fittings are classified into two major types—hubless and hub and spigot. Hubless cast iron soil pipe fittings are manufactured without a hub, generally in compliance with Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) specification 301 and/or American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification A888. Hub and spigot pipe fittings have hubs into which the spigot (plain end) of the pipe or fitting is inserted. Cast iron soil pipe fittings are generally distinguished from other types of nonmalleable cast iron fittings by the manner in which they are connected to cast iron soil pipe and other fittings. The subject imports are normally classified in subheading 7307.11.0045 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS): Cast fittings of nonmalleable cast iron for cast iron soil pipe. They may also be entered under HTSUS 7324.29.0000 and 7307.92.3010. The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive. Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders In the event that the ITC issues a final negative injury determination, this notice will serve as the only reminder to parties subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/ destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction. This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 705(d) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(c). Appendix II—List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum Dated: July 5, 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 merchandise covered by this investigation is cast iron soil pipe fittings, finished and unfinished, regardless of industry or proprietary specifications, and PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 I. Summary II. Background III. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences IV. Subsidies Valuation V. Analysis of Programs VI. Analysis of Comments Comment 1: Whether Commerce Should Use a Tier 1 Benchmark for Shanxi Xuanshi’s Metallurgical Coke Benefit Calculation Comment 2: Whether Commerce Should Use a Tier 1 Benchmark for Shanxi Xuanshi’s Iron Ore Benefit Calculation Comment 3: Whether Commerce Appropriately Averaged Tier 2 Iron Ore Benchmark Prices and Used the Appropriate Benchmark for Transportation Comment 4: Whether Commerce Overstated the Subsidy Rate for Policy Loans, Purchases of Electricity, Pig Iron, and Ferrous Scrap for LTAR Comment 5: Whether Commerce Improperly Applied AFA to the Calculation of the Benefits Attributable to Guangzhou Premier for the Purchase of Pig Iron and Ferrous Scrap for LTAR Comment 6: Whether Commerce Should Consider Shanxi Xuanshi’s Steel Scrap as a Subsidizable Input Comment 7: Whether Commerce Erred in its Policy Loan Benefits Calculation for Shanxi Xuanshi E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM 11JYN1 32078 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 11, 2018 / Notices Comment 8: Whether Commerce Erred in Its Electricity Benefits Calculation for Shanxi Xuanshi VII. Recommendation [FR Doc. 2018–14827 Filed 7–10–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–570–913] Certain New Pneumatic Off-The-Road Tires From the People’s Republic of China: Amended Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, 2015 Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is amending the final results of the countervailing duty administrative review of certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires from the People’s Republic of China (China) to correct certain ministerial errors. The period of review (POR) is January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015. DATES: Applicable July 11, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chien-Min Yang, AD/CVD Operations, Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202–482–5484. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Background In accordance with sections 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(5), on April 13, 2018, Commerce published its final results in the countervailing duty administrative review of certain new phenumatic off-the-road tires from China.1 Guizhou Tyre Co., Ltd. and its affiliate, Guizhou Tyre Import and Export Co., Ltd. (collectively, Guizhou Tyre) timely filed a ministerial error allegation on April 23, 2018, claiming Commerce had improperly failed to include revised land values accepted at verification as minor corrections in the final calculations.2 1 See Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from the People’s Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2015, 83 FR 16055 (April 13, 2018) (Final Results) and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (Final Results IDM). 2 See Guizhou Tyre’s letter to Commerce, ‘‘Ministerial Error Submission of Guizhou Tyre Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from China,’’ April 23, 2018 (Guizhou Tyre’s Ministerial Error Allegation). VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:26 Jul 10, 2018 Jkt 244001 On May 2, 2018, Guizhou Tyre filed its complaint with the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) challenging the Final Results. On June 19, 2018, the United States sought leave from the CIT to address the ministerial error allegation and a related issue concerning a separate minor correction accepted at verification. On June 20, 2018, the court granted the United States’ request. Scope of the Order The products covered by the scope are new pneumatic tires designed for offthe-road (OTR) and off-highway use. The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 4011.20.10.25, 4011.20.10.35, 4011.20.50.30, 4011.20.50.50, 4011.70.0010, 4011.62.00.00, 4011.80.1020, 4011.90.10, 4011.70.0050, 4011.80.1010, 4011.80.1020, 4011.80.2010, 4011.80.2020, 4011.80.8010, and 4011.80.8020. While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope, which is contained in the Issues and Decision Memorandum accompanying the Final Results, is dispositive.3 Ministerial Errors Section 751(h) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.224(f) defines a ‘‘ministerial error’’ as an error ‘‘in addition, subtraction, or other arithmetic function, clerical error resulting from inaccurate copying, duplication, or the like, and any other similar type of unintentional error which the Secretary considers ministerial.’’ Commerce has now determined that Guizhou Tyre’s alleged error is a ministerial error under section 751(h) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.224(f). Specifically, we find that not incorporating revised values regarding the total price paid for certain parcels of land, which were accepted as minor corrections and verified at verification, in our final calculations is an inadvertent omission within the meaning of ‘‘ministerial error.’’ We have also determined that we made an additional ministerial error by inadvertently omitting revised loan interest payment data submitted by Guizhou Tyre as a minor correction at verification. To correct these errors, we are amending Guizhou Tyre’s subsidy rate for its land-use rights program rate and its subsidy rate for its government policy lending program. See the Response to Ministerial Error 3 For a full description of the scope of the order, see Final Results IDM. PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Allegations for the revised program rates.4 These changes result in a change to the net subsidy rate for Guizhou Tyre. Similarly, because the subsidy rate for the non-selected companies in Final Results 5 was based on Guizhou Tyre’s net subsidy rate, these changes also result in a change to the subsidy rate for the non-selected companies. For a complete discussion of the errors at issue, see the Response to Ministerial Error Allegations. The revised net subsidy rates are provided below. Amended Final Results As a result of correcting the ministerial errors, we determine that Guizhou Tyre’s, Xuzhou Xugong’s and the non-selected companies’ total net countervailable subsidy rates for the period January 1, 2015, through December 31 2015, are as follows: Manufacturer/exporter Guizhou Tyre Co., Ltd. and/ or Guizhou Tyre Import and Export Co., Ltd ........... Non Selected Companies 6 .. Subsidy rate (percent ad valorem) 31.48 31.48 Assessment Rates/Cash Deposits Normally Commerce would issue appropriate assessment instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 15 days after the date of publication of the amended final results of review. However, as noted above, Guizhou Tyre has filed its complaint with the CIT challenging the Final Results on May 8, 2018, and on May 8, and June 1, 2018, the U.S. Court of International Trade preliminarily enjoined liquidation of certain entries that are subject to the Final Results.7 Accordingly, Commerce will not instruct CBP to assess countervailing duties on those enjoined entries pending resolution of the associated litigation. Commerce also intends to instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties, in the amount shown above for the companies listed above, on shipments of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after April 13, 2017, the date of publication of the Final Results. For all non-reviewed firms, we will instruct 4 See Memorandum to the file, ‘‘Response to Ministerial Error Allegations in the Final Results,’’ dated concurrently with this notice. 5 See Final Results, 83 FR at 16055. 6 The appendix provides a list of the non-selected companies that are assigned this rate. 7 The U.S. Court of International Trade issued the preliminary injunctions in case numbers 18–00100 and 18–00108. E:\FR\FM\11JYN1.SGM 11JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 133 (Wednesday, July 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32075-32078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14827]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-063]


Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic of China: 
Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that 
countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters 
of Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings (soil pipe fittings) from the People's 
Republic of China (China). The period of investigation is January 1, 
2016, through December 31, 2016.

DATES: Applicable July 11, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis McClure or Jinny Ahn, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5973 or (202) 
482-0339, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The mandatory respondents in this investigation are Shanxi Xuanshi 
Industrial Group Co., Ltd. (Shanxi Xuanshi), Shijiazhuang Chengmei 
Import & Export Co., Ltd. (Shijiazhuang Chengmei), and Wor-Biz 
International Trading Co., Ltd. (Anhui) (Wor-Biz). On December 19, 
2017, Commerce published in the Federal Register the Preliminary 
Determination of the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of cast 
iron soil pipes from China.\1\ In the Preliminary Determination, 
Commerce aligned the final CVD determination with the final 
determination in the companion antidumping duty (AD) investigation, in 
accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic 
of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination 
and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty 
Determination, 82 FR 60178 (December 19, 2017) (Preliminary 
Determination).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On January 23, 2018, Commerce exercised its discretion to toll all 
deadlines affected by the closure of the Federal Government from 
January 20 through 22, 2018. In accordance with Commerce's practice, if 
the new deadline falls on a non-business day, the deadline will become 
the next

[[Page 32076]]

business day. Accordingly, the deadline for the final determination of 
this investigation was revised to July 5, 2018.\2\ On April 19, 2018, 
Commerce released its Post-Preliminary Analysis.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See Memorandum for The Record from Christian Marsh, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of 
the Federal Government'' (Tolling Memorandum), dated January 23, 
2018. All deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been 
extended by 3 days.
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Post-Preliminary Analysis of 
Countervailing Duty Investigation: Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from 
the People's Republic of China,'' dated April 19, 2018 (Post-
Preliminary Analysis).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A summary of the events that occurred since Commerce published the 
Preliminary Determination, as well as a full discussion of the issues 
raised by interested parties for this final determination, can be found 
in the Issues and Decision Memorandum issued concurrently with this 
notice.\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 
Final Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Cast 
Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China'' 
(Issues and Decision Memorandum), dated concurrently with, and 
hereby adopted by, this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are cast iron soil pipe 
fittings from China. For a full description of the scope of this 
investigation, see the ``Scope of the Investigation'' in Appendix I of 
this notice. For this final determination, Commerce has issued a scope 
memorandum addressing interested parties'' comments regarding scope 
issues presented in the case briefs and in subsequent scope 
comments.\5\ Commerce has determined to modify the scope of the 
investigation to include two additional subheadings of the U.S. 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule under which subject merchandise may enter. 
Commerce has also provided a clarification in the Final Scope 
Memorandum. For further discussion, see Commerce's Final Scope 
Memorandum. The scope in Appendix I reflects the final scope language.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Memorandum, ``Countervailing Duty and Less-Than-Fair-
Value Investigations of Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the 
People's Republic of China: Final Scope Memorandum'' (Final Scope 
Memorandum), dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this 
notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis of Subsidy Programs and Comments Received

    The subsidy programs under investigation and the issues raised in 
the case and rebuttal briefs by parties in this investigation are 
discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues 
that parties raised, and to which we responded in the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum, is attached to this notice at Appendix II.

Methodology

    Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section 
701 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each of the 
subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce determines that there 
is a subsidy, i.e. , a financial contribution by an ``authority'' that 
confers a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is 
specific.\6\ For a full description of the methodology underlying our 
final determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    In making these findings, Commerce relied, in part, on facts 
otherwise 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, Commerce 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 Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See sections 776(a), (b), and 782(d) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Changes Since the Preliminary Determination

    Based on our review and analysis of the comments received from the 
interested parties, our findings at verification, and the minor 
corrections presented at verification, we made certain changes to the 
respondents'' subsidy rate calculations. For a discussion of these 
changes, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Final Determination

    In accordance with section 705(c)(l)(B)(i) of the Act, we 
calculated rates for Shanxi Xuanshi and Wor-Biz, producers/exporters of 
subject merchandise selected for individual examination in this 
investigation. With regard to Shijiazhuang Chengmei, for the reasons 
described in the Preliminary Determination, Commerce assigned a rate 
based entirely on adverse facts available pursuant to section 776 of 
the Act. No interested party commented on our preliminary decision, and 
so for purposes of this final determination, we continue to assign 
Shijiazhuang Chengmei a rate based entirely on AFA.
    Section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that in the final 
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, we calculated individual 
estimated countervailable subsidy rates for Shanxi Xuanshi and Wor-Biz 
that are not zero, de minimis , or based entirely on facts otherwise 
available. As a result, we calculated the all-others rate based on a 
weighted average of the individual estimated subsidy rates calculated 
for the examined respondents using each company's publicly ranged 
values for the merchandise under consideration.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Memorandum regarding: Calculation of the All-Others Rate 
for the Final Determination, dated July 5, 2018.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Commerce determines that the following estimated countervailable 
subsidy rates exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy rate
                         Company                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shanxi Xuanshi Industrial Group Co., Ltd................           34.87
Wor-Biz International Trading Co., Ltd. (Anhui).........            7.37
Shijiazhuang Chengmei Import & Export Co., Ltd..........          133.94

[[Page 32077]]

 
All-Others..............................................           23.28
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclosure

    We intend to disclose the calculations performed to parties in this 
proceeding, for this final determination, within five days of the date 
of publication of our final determination, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.224(b).

Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation

    As a result of our Preliminary Determination and pursuant to 
section 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, Commerce instructed 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 the Preliminary Determination in the 
Federal Register . In accordance with section 703(d) of the Act, we 
issued instructions to CBP to discontinue the suspension of liquidation 
for CVD purposes for subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, on or after April 18, 2018, but to continue the suspension 
of liquidation of all entries from December 19, 2017, through April 17, 
2018.
    If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final 
affirmative injury determination, we will issue a CVD order, will 
reinstate the suspension of liquidation under section 706(a) of the 
Act, and will require a cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties 
for such entries of subject merchandise in the amounts indicated above. 
If the ITC determines that material injury, or threat of material 
injury, does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated and all 
estimated duties deposited or securities posted as a result of the 
suspension of liquidation will be refunded or canceled.

International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 705(d) of the Act, we will notify the 
ITC of our determination. In addition, we are making available to the 
ITC all non-privileged and non-proprietary information related to this 
investigation. We will allow the ITC access to all privileged and 
business proprietary information in our files, provided the ITC 
confirms that it will not disclose such information, either publicly or 
under an administrative protective order (APO), without the written 
consent of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
    Because the final determination in this proceeding is affirmative, 
in accordance with section 705(b) of the Act, the ITC will make its 
final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United 
States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by 
reason of imports of soil pipe fittings from China no later than 45 
days after our final determination. If the ITC determines that material 
injury or threat of material injury does not exist, the proceeding will 
be terminated and all cash deposits will be refunded. If the ITC 
determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will issue a CVD order 
directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by Commerce, 
countervailing duties on all imports of the subject merchandise 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the 
effective date of the suspension of liquidation, as discussed above in 
the ``Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation'' section.

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders

    In the event that the ITC issues a final negative injury 
determination, this notice will serve as the only reminder to parties 
subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the destruction of 
proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/destruction of 
APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby 
requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO 
is a violation which is subject to sanction.
    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
705(d) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

    Dated: July 5, 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 merchandise covered by this investigation is cast iron soil 
pipe fittings, finished and unfinished, regardless of industry or 
proprietary specifications, and regardless of size. Cast iron soil 
pipe fittings are nonmalleable iron castings of various designs and 
sizes, including, but not limited to, bends, tees, wyes, traps, 
drains, and other common or special fittings, with or without side 
inlets.
    Cast iron soil pipe fittings are classified into two major 
types--hubless and hub and spigot. Hubless cast iron soil pipe 
fittings are manufactured without a hub, generally in compliance 
with Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) specification 301 and/or 
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification 
A888. Hub and spigot pipe fittings have hubs into which the spigot 
(plain end) of the pipe or fitting is inserted. Cast iron soil pipe 
fittings are generally distinguished from other types of 
nonmalleable cast iron fittings by the manner in which they are 
connected to cast iron soil pipe and other fittings.
    The subject imports are normally classified in subheading 
7307.11.0045 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS): Cast fittings of nonmalleable cast iron for cast iron soil 
pipe. They may also be entered under HTSUS 7324.29.0000 and 
7307.92.3010. The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided 
for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description 
of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Appendix II--List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision 
Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences
IV. Subsidies Valuation
V. Analysis of Programs
VI. Analysis of Comments
    Comment 1: Whether Commerce Should Use a Tier 1 Benchmark for 
Shanxi Xuanshi's Metallurgical Coke Benefit Calculation
    Comment 2: Whether Commerce Should Use a Tier 1 Benchmark for 
Shanxi Xuanshi's Iron Ore Benefit Calculation
    Comment 3: Whether Commerce Appropriately Averaged Tier 2 Iron 
Ore Benchmark Prices and Used the Appropriate Benchmark for 
Transportation
    Comment 4: Whether Commerce Overstated the Subsidy Rate for 
Policy Loans, Purchases of Electricity, Pig Iron, and Ferrous Scrap 
for LTAR
    Comment 5: Whether Commerce Improperly Applied AFA to the 
Calculation of the Benefits Attributable to Guangzhou Premier for 
the Purchase of Pig Iron and Ferrous Scrap for LTAR
    Comment 6: Whether Commerce Should Consider Shanxi Xuanshi's 
Steel Scrap as a Subsidizable Input
    Comment 7: Whether Commerce Erred in its Policy Loan Benefits 
Calculation for Shanxi Xuanshi

[[Page 32078]]

    Comment 8: Whether Commerce Erred in Its Electricity Benefits 
Calculation for Shanxi Xuanshi
VII. Recommendation

 [FR Doc. 2018-14827 Filed 7-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.