Cast Iron Soil Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 6770-6772 [2019-03538]
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6770
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 40 / Thursday, February 28, 2019 / Notices
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
estimated weighted-average dumping
margin by the amount of domestic
subsidy pass-through and export
subsidies determined in a companion
countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding
when CVD provisional measures are in
effect. Accordingly, where Commerce
makes an affirmative determination for
domestic subsidy pass-through or export
subsidies, Commerce offsets the
calculated estimated weighted-average
dumping margin by the appropriate
rate(s). In this case, we have not made
a preliminary affirmative determination
for domestic subsidy pass-through or
export subsidies. Therefore, we are not
adjusting the estimated weightedaverage dumping margin for these
subsidies.
In addition, pursuant to section
735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act, Commerce
will instruct CBP to require a cash
deposit equal to the weighted-average
amount by which NV exceeds U.S. price
as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for
the exporter/producer combination
listed in the table above will be the rate
identified for that combination in the
table; (2) for all combinations of
exporters/producers of merchandise
under consideration that have not
received their own separate rate above,
the cash-deposit rate will be the cash
deposit rate established for the Chinawide entity; and (3) for all non-Chinese
exporters of the merchandise under
consideration which have not received
their own separate rate above, the cash
deposit rate will be the cash deposit rate
applicable to the Chinese exporter/
producer combination that supplied that
non-Chinese exporter. These suspension
of liquidation instructions will remain
in effect until further notice.
International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 735(d) of
the Act, we will notify the International
Trade Commission (ITC) of the final
affirmative determination of sales at
LTFV. As Commerce’s final
determination is affirmative, in
accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the
Act, the ITC will determine, within 45
days, whether the domestic industry in
the United States is materially injured,
or threatened with material injury, by
reason of imports of cast iron soil pipe
from China, or sales (or the likelihood
of sales) for importation, of cast iron soil
pipe from China. If the ITC determines
that such injury does not exist, this
proceeding will be terminated and all
securities posted will be refunded or
canceled. If the ITC determines that
such injury does exist, Commerce
intends to issue an antidumping duty
order directing CBP to assess, upon
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:52 Feb 27, 2019
Jkt 247001
further instruction by Commerce,
antidumping duties on all imports of the
subject merchandise entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the effective
date of the suspension of liquidation.
Notification Regarding 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 735(d)
and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(c).
Dated: February 22, 2019.
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, whether
finished or unfinished, regardless of industry
or proprietary specifications, and regardless
of wall thickness, length, diameter, surface
finish, end finish, or stenciling. The scope of
this investigation includes, but is not limited
to, both hubless and hub and spigot cast iron
soil pipe. Cast iron soil pipe is nonmalleable
iron pipe of various designs and sizes. Cast
iron soil pipe is generally distinguished from
other types of nonmalleable cast iron pipe by
the manner in which it is connected to cast
iron soil pipe fittings.
Cast iron soil pipe is classified into two
major types—hubless and hub and spigot.
Hubless cast iron soil pipe is 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, including any revisions
to those specifications. Hub and spigot pipe
has one or more hubs into which the spigot
(plain end) of a fitting is inserted. All pipe
meeting the physical description set forth
above is covered by the scope of this
investigation, whether or not produced
according to a particular standard.
The subject imports are currently classified
in subheading 7303.00.0030 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS): Cast iron soil pipe. The
HTSUS subheading and specifications are
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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. China-Wide Rate
IV. Separate Rates
V. Scope Comments
VI. Adjustments for Countervailable Export
Subsidies
VII. Changes Since the Preliminary
Determination
VIII. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Incorporation of Minor
Corrections
Comment 2: Surrogate Value for Pig Iron
Comment 3: Surrogate Value for Plastic
Strips
Comment 4: Surrogate Value for Plywood
Boards
Comment 5: Ocean Freight Adjustment
Comment 6: Surrogate Value for Asphalt
Paint
Comment 7: Aberrational Surrogate Values
Comment 8: Non-Refundable Value-Added
Tax (VAT)
IX. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2019–03531 Filed 2–27–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–570–080]
Cast Iron Soil Pipe From the People’s
Republic of China: Final Affirmative
Countervailing Duty 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
cast iron soil pipe (soil pipe) from the
People’s Republic of China (China). The
period of investigation is January 1,
2017, through December 31, 2017.
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Applicable February 28, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Omar Qureshi or Annathea Cook, 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) 482–5307 or (202) 482–0250,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 40 / Thursday, February 28, 2019 / Notices
Background
Commerce published the Preliminary
Determination on July 2, 2018.1 In the
Preliminary Determination, Commerce
aligned the final CVD determination
with the final determination in the
companion antidumping duty
investigation, in accordance with
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(b)(4).
For a complete description of the
events that followed the Preliminary
Determination, see the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.2 A list of topics
discussed in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum is included as Appendix
II to 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 Decisions Memorandum can
be accessed directly at https://
enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed
and electronic versions of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum are identical in
content.
Commerce exercised its discretion to
toll all deadlines affected by the partial
federal government closure from
December 22, 2018, through the
resumption of operations on January 29,
2019.3 If the new deadline falls on a
non-business day, in accordance with
Commerce’s practice, the deadline will
become the next business day. The
revised deadline for the final
determination is now February 22, 2019.
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this
investigation is cast iron soil pipe from
China. For a full description of the
scope of this investigation, see the
‘‘Scope of the Investigation’’ in
Appendix I of this notice. Commerce
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
1 See
Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People’s
Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment
of Final Determination with Final Antidumping
Duty Determination, 83 FR 30914 (July 2, 2018)
(Preliminary Determination).
2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision
Memorandum for the Final Affirmative
Determination of the Countervailing Duty
Investigation of Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the
People’s Republic of China,’’ dated concurrently
with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and
Decision Memorandum).
3 See Memorandum ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the
Partial Shutdown of the Federal Government,’’
dated January 28, 2019. All deadlines in this
segment of the proceeding have been extended by
40 days.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:52 Feb 27, 2019
Jkt 247001
issued a scope memorandum addressing
interested parties’ comments regarding
scope issues presented in the case briefs
and in subsequent scope comments with
the Preliminary Determination.4
Commerce’s scope is unchanged from
the Preliminary Determination. For
further discussion, see Commerce’s
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 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 is conducting this
investigation in accordance with section
701 of 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 gives rise to a
benefit to the recipient, and that the
subsidy is specific.5 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.6
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 our post-preliminary
analysis, we made certain changes to the
respondents’ subsidy rate calculations.
For a discussion of these changes, see
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
4 See Commerce Memorandum, ‘‘Cast Iron Soil
Pipe from People’s Republic of China: Preliminary
Scope Comment Decision Memorandum,’’ dated
August 24, 2018 (Scope Memorandum).
5 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.
6 See sections 776(a), (b), and 782(d) of the Act.
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
6771
Final Determination
In accordance with section
705(c)(l)(B)(i)(I) of the Act, we
calculated a rate for HengTong, a
producer/exporter of subject
merchandise selected for individual
examination in this investigation. With
regard to Kingway Pipe Co., Ltd.
(Kingway), 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 Kingway 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. HengTong is the only respondent
for which Commerce calculated an
estimated weighted-average dumping
margin that is not zero, de minimis, or
based entirely on facts otherwise
available. Therefore, for purposes of
determining the ‘‘all-others’’ rate, and
pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the
Act, we are using the subsidy rate
calculated for HengTong.
Commerce determines that the
following estimated countervailable
subsidy rates exist:
Company
Kingway Pipe Co., Ltd ..........
Yuncheng Jiangxian Economic Development Zone
HengTong Casting Co.,
Ltd 7 ...................................
All-Others ..............................
Subsidy rate
(percent)
109.27
14.69
14.69
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).
7 Commerce initiated this proceeding on two
respondents ‘‘Jiangxian Economic Development
Zone Heng (Jiangxian) and Kingway Pipe Co Ltd
(Kingway)’’ based on CBP data. We have accepted
HengTong’s request to reflect its name as ‘‘Yucheng
Jiangxian Economic Development Zone HengTong
Casting Co., Ltd. (HengTong)’’ which is the name
we have used in this proceeding.
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
6772
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 40 / Thursday, February 28, 2019 / Notices
Continuation of Suspension of
Liquidation
As a result of our Preliminary
Determination and pursuant to sections
703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, we
instructed U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation
of any entries of merchandise under
consideration from China that were
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after July 2, 2018,
which is the publication date in the
Federal Register of the Preliminary
Determination. 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 November 19, 2018, but to
continue the suspension of liquidation
of all entries from July 2, 2018, through
November 18, 2018.
If the U.S. International Trade
Commission (ITC) issues a final
affirmative injury determination, we
will issue a countervailing duty order
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.
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 705(d) of
the Act, we will notify the International
Trade Commission (ITC) of the final
affirmative determination of
countervailable subsidies are being
provided to producers and exporters of
soil pipe from China. Because
Commerce’s final determination 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, or
sales (or the likelihood of sales) for
importation of soil pipe from China no
later than 45 days after this final
determination. If the ITC determines
that such injury does not exist, this
proceeding will be terminated and all
cash deposits will be refunded or
canceled. If the ITC determines that
such injury does exist, Commerce will
issue a countervailing duty order
directing CBP to assess, upon further
instruction by Commerce,
countervailing duties on all imports of
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:52 Feb 27, 2019
Jkt 247001
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
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.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and
published pursuant to sections 705(d)
and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(c).
Dated: February 22, 2019.
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, whether
finished or unfinished, regardless of industry
or proprietary specifications, and regardless
of wall thickness, length, diameter, surface
finish, end finish, or stenciling. The scope of
this investigation includes, but is not limited
to, both hubless and hub and spigot cast iron
soil pipe. Cast iron soil pipe is nonmalleable
iron pipe of various designs and sizes. Cast
iron soil pipe is generally distinguished from
other types of nonmalleable cast iron pipe by
the manner in which it is connected to cast
iron soil pipe fittings.
Cast iron soil pipe is classified into two
major types—hubless and hub and spigot.
Hubless cast iron soil pipe is 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, including any revisions
to those specifications. Hub and spigot pipe
has one or more hubs into which the spigot
(plain end) of a fitting is inserted. All pipe
meeting the physical description set forth
above is covered by the scope of this
investigation, whether or not produced
according to a particular standard.
The subject imports are currently classified
in subheading 7303.00.0030 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS): Cast iron soil pipe. The
HTSUS subheading and specifications are
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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. Scope Comments
IV. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Adverse Inferences
V. Subsidies Valuation
VI. Analysis of Programs
VII. Analysis of Comments
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2019–03538 Filed 2–27–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Certification of Admissibility for
Fishery Products.
OMB Control Number: 0648–0651.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular submission
(extension of a current information
collection).
Number of Respondents: 90
respondents annually filing 10
responses each.
Average Hours per Response: 0.17
hours (10 minutes).
Burden Hours: 150 hours annually.
Needs and Uses: This information is
needed to confirm admissibility of
certain seafood products when a nation
is subject to trade restrictions imposed
by the United States under the authority
of the High Seas Driftnet Fishing
Moratorium Protection Act or the
Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Affected Public: Businesses or other
for-profit organizations; foreign officials;
Federal government.
Frequency: On each occasion of an
export shipment of fish and fish
products subject to the certification
requirement.
Respondent’s Obligation: The
information is collected electronically at
the time of entry filing in the Automated
Commercial Environment (ACE) of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 40 (Thursday, February 28, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6770-6772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03538]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-570-080]
Cast Iron Soil Pipe 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 (soil pipe) from the People's Republic of China
(China). The period of investigation is January 1, 2017, through
December 31, 2017.
DATES: Applicable February 28, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Omar Qureshi or Annathea Cook, 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) 482-5307 or (202) 482-0250,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 6771]]
Background
Commerce published the Preliminary Determination on July 2,
2018.\1\ In the Preliminary Determination, Commerce aligned the final
CVD determination with the final determination in the companion
antidumping duty investigation, in accordance with section 705(a)(1) of
the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China:
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and
Alignment of Final Determination with Final Antidumping Duty
Determination, 83 FR 30914 (July 2, 2018) (Preliminary
Determination).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a complete description of the events that followed the
Preliminary Determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.\2\ A
list of topics discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is
included as Appendix II to 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
Decisions Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and electronic versions of the
Issues and Decision Memorandum are identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the
Final Affirmative Determination of the Countervailing Duty
Investigation of Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of
China,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice
(Issues and Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce exercised its discretion to toll all deadlines affected by
the partial federal government closure from December 22, 2018, through
the resumption of operations on January 29, 2019.\3\ If the new
deadline falls on a non-business day, in accordance with Commerce's
practice, the deadline will become the next business day. The revised
deadline for the final determination is now February 22, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Memorandum ``Deadlines Affected by the Partial Shutdown
of the Federal Government,'' dated January 28, 2019. All deadlines
in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by 40 days.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation is cast iron soil pipe
from China. For a full description of the scope of this investigation,
see the ``Scope of the Investigation'' in Appendix I of this notice.
Commerce issued a scope memorandum addressing interested parties'
comments regarding scope issues presented in the case briefs and in
subsequent scope comments with the Preliminary Determination.\4\
Commerce's scope is unchanged from the Preliminary Determination. For
further discussion, see Commerce's Scope Memorandum. The scope in
Appendix I reflects the final scope language.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Commerce Memorandum, ``Cast Iron Soil Pipe from People's
Republic of China: Preliminary Scope Comment Decision Memorandum,''
dated August 24, 2018 (Scope Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis of Subsidy Programs and Comments Received
The subsidy programs under investigation and the issues raised in
the case 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 is conducting this investigation in accordance with
section 701 of 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 gives rise to a benefit
to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.\5\ For a full
description of the methodology underlying our final determination, see
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ 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, 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.\6\
For further information, see ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Adverse Inferences'' in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ 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 our post-
preliminary analysis, 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)(I) of the Act, we
calculated a rate for HengTong, a producer/exporter of subject
merchandise selected for individual examination in this investigation.
With regard to Kingway Pipe Co., Ltd. (Kingway), 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
Kingway 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. HengTong is the only respondent for which Commerce
calculated an estimated weighted-average dumping margin that is not
zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available.
Therefore, for purposes of determining the ``all-others'' rate, and
pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, we are using the subsidy
rate calculated for HengTong.
Commerce determines that the following estimated countervailable
subsidy rates exist:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Commerce initiated this proceeding on two respondents
``Jiangxian Economic Development Zone Heng (Jiangxian) and Kingway
Pipe Co Ltd (Kingway)'' based on CBP data. We have accepted
HengTong's request to reflect its name as ``Yucheng Jiangxian
Economic Development Zone HengTong Casting Co., Ltd. (HengTong)''
which is the name we have used in this proceeding.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subsidy rate
Company (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kingway Pipe Co., Ltd................................... 109.27
Yuncheng Jiangxian Economic Development Zone HengTong 14.69
Casting Co., Ltd \7\...................................
All-Others.............................................. 14.69
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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).
[[Page 6772]]
Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation
As a result of our Preliminary Determination and pursuant to
sections 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, we instructed U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of any entries of
merchandise under consideration from China that were entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 2, 2018,
which is the publication date in the Federal Register of the
Preliminary Determination. 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 November 19, 2018, but to
continue the suspension of liquidation of all entries from July 2,
2018, through November 18, 2018.
If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final
affirmative injury determination, we will issue a countervailing duty
order 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
International Trade Commission (ITC) of the final affirmative
determination of countervailable subsidies are being provided to
producers and exporters of soil pipe from China. Because Commerce's
final determination 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, or sales (or the
likelihood of sales) for importation of soil pipe from China no later
than 45 days after this final determination. If the ITC determines that
such injury does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated and all
cash deposits will be refunded or canceled. If the ITC determines that
such injury does exist, Commerce will issue a countervailing duty 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
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.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections
705(d) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(c).
Dated: February 22, 2019.
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, whether finished or unfinished, regardless of industry or
proprietary specifications, and regardless of wall thickness,
length, diameter, surface finish, end finish, or stenciling. The
scope of this investigation includes, but is not limited to, both
hubless and hub and spigot cast iron soil pipe. Cast iron soil pipe
is nonmalleable iron pipe of various designs and sizes. Cast iron
soil pipe is generally distinguished from other types of
nonmalleable cast iron pipe by the manner in which it is connected
to cast iron soil pipe fittings.
Cast iron soil pipe is classified into two major types--hubless
and hub and spigot. Hubless cast iron soil pipe is 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, including any
revisions to those specifications. Hub and spigot pipe has one or
more hubs into which the spigot (plain end) of a fitting is
inserted. All pipe meeting the physical description set forth above
is covered by the scope of this investigation, whether or not
produced according to a particular standard.
The subject imports are currently classified in subheading
7303.00.0030 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS): Cast iron soil pipe. The HTSUS subheading 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. Scope Comments
IV. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences
V. Subsidies Valuation
VI. Analysis of Programs
VII. Analysis of Comments
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2019-03538 Filed 2-27-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P