Forged Steel Fittings From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 17536-17538 [2020-06548]

Download as PDF 17536 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 61 / Monday, March 30, 2020 / Notices Appendix II—List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Changes from the Preliminary Determination Comment 1: Impairment Losses Comment 2: Packing Expenses Comment 3: Freight Variance Comment 4: Programming Errors IV. Discussion of the Issues V. Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances VI. Recommendation [FR Doc. 2020–06547 Filed 3–27–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C–533–892] Forged Steel Fittings From India: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of forged steel fittings from India for the period of investigation January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. DATES: Applicable March 30, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Caserta, 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) 482–4737. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on November 21, 2020.1 On January 10, 2020, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is 1 See Forged Steel Fittings from India and the Republic of Korea: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 84 FR 64270 (November 21, 2019) (Initiation Notice). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Mar 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 now March 23, 2020.2 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.3 A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https:// access.trade.gov, and is available to all parties in the Central Records Unit, room B8024 of the main Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content. Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are forged steel fittings from India. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I. Scope Comments In accordance with the Preamble to Commerce’s regulations,4 the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).5 Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments submitted to the record for this preliminary determination, and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Commerce is preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See revised scope in Appendix I. Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 2 See Forged Steel Fittings from India: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation, 85 FR 1300 (January 10, 2020). 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Forged Steel Fittings from India,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). 4 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble). 5 See Initiation Notice. PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that gives rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.6 Alignment As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, in accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is aligning the final CVD determination in this investigation with the final determination in the companion AD investigation of forged steel fittings from India based on a request made by the petitioner.7 Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same date as the final AD determination, which is currently scheduled no later than August 3, 2020, unless postponed.8 All-Others Rate Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others rate for companies not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates established for those companies individually examined, excluding any zero and de minimis rates and any rates based entirely under section 776 of the Act. In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily calculated a rate for Shakti, the only participating respondent. The only rate that is not zero, de minimis or based entirely on facts otherwise available is the rate calculated for Shakti. Consequently, the rate calculated for Shakti is also assigned as the rate for all other producers and exporters. Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates exist: 6 See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity. 7 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Forged Steel Fittings from India: Request for Alignment,’’ dated March 5, 2020. 8 See Forged Steel Fittings from India and the Republic of Korea: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 85 FR 11965 (February 28, 2020). E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 61 / Monday, March 30, 2020 / Notices (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a Shakti Forge Industries Pvt. hearing, limited to issues raised in the Ltd. and Shakti Forge (collectively, Shakti) ................ 2.65% case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Nikoo Forge Pvt. Ltd., Pan International, Patton InterSecretary for Enforcement and national Limited, Sage Compliance, U.S. Department of Metals Limited, Kirtanlal Commerce within 30 days after the date Steel Private Limited, of publication of this notice. Requests Disha Auto Components should contain the party’s name, Private Limited, Dynamic address, and telephone number, the Flow Products, Sara Sae number of participants, whether any Private Limited, and participant is a foreign national, and a Parveen Industries Private Limited ............................... 284.91% list of the issues to be discussed. If a All Others .............................. 2.65% request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Suspension of Liquidation Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, In accordance with section DC 20230, at a time and date to be 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of Border Protection (CBP) to suspend the hearing two days before the liquidation of entries of subject scheduled date. merchandise as described in the scope of the investigation section entered, or International Trade Commission withdrawn from warehouse, for Notification consumption on or after the date of In accordance with section 703(f) of publication of this notice in the Federal the Act, Commerce will notify the Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If the final to require a cash deposit equal to the determination is affirmative, the ITC rates indicated above. will determine before the later of 120 Disclosure days after the date of this preliminary Commerce intends to disclose its determination or 45 days after the final calculations and analysis performed to determination whether these imports interested parties in this preliminary are materially injuring, or threaten determination within five days of its material injury to, the U.S. industry. public announcement, or if there is no Notification to Interested Parties public announcement, within five days of the date of this notice in accordance This determination is issued and with 19 CFR 351.224(b). published pursuant to sections 703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR Verification 351.205(c). As provided in section 782(i)(l) of the Dated: March 23, 2020. Act, Commerce intends to verify the Jeffrey I. Kessler, information relied upon in making its final determination. Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES Company Subsidy rate Ad Valorem Public Comment Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.9 Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; 9 See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Mar 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 Compliance. Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by this investigation is carbon and alloy forged steel fittings, whether unfinished (commonly known as blanks or rough forgings) or finished. Such fittings are made in a variety of shapes including, but not limited to, elbows, tees, crosses, laterals, couplings, reducers, caps, plugs, bushings, unions (including hammer unions), and outlets. Forged steel fittings are covered regardless of end finish, whether threaded, socket-weld or other end connections. The scope includes integrally reinforced forged branch outlet fittings, regardless of whether they have one or more ends that is a socket welding, threaded, butt welding end, or other end connections. PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17537 While these fittings are generally manufactured to specifications ASME B16.11, MSS SP–79, MSS SP–83, MSS–SP– 97, ASTM A105, ASTM A350 and ASTM A182, the scope is not limited to fittings made to these specifications. The term forged is an industry term used to describe a class of products included in applicable standards, and it does not reference an exclusive manufacturing process. Forged steel fittings are not manufactured from casings. Pursuant to the applicable standards, fittings may also be machined from bar stock or machined from seamless pipe and tube. All types of forged steel fittings are included in the scope regardless of nominal pipe size (which may or may not be expressed in inches of nominal pipe size), pressure class rating (expressed in pounds of pressure, e.g., 2,000 or 2M; 3,000 or 3M; 6,000 or 6M; 9,000 or 9M), wall thickness, and whether or not heat treated. Excluded from this scope are all fittings entirely made of stainless steel. Also excluded are flanges, nipples, and all fittings that have a maximum pressure rating of 300 pounds per square inch/PSI or less. Also excluded from the scope are fittings certified or made to the following standards, so long as the fittings are not also manufactured to the specifications of ASME B16.11, MSS SP–79, MSS SP–83, MSS SP– 97, ASTM A105, ASTM A350 and ASTM A182: • American Petroleum Institute (API) 5CT, API 5L, or API 11B; • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B16.9; • Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) SP–75; • Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) J476, SAE J514, SAE J516, SAE J517, SAE J518, SAE J1026, SAE J1231, SAE J1453, SAE J1926, J2044 or SAE AS 35411; • Hydraulic hose fittings (e.g., fittings used in high pressure water cleaning applications, in the manufacture of hydraulic engines, to connect rubber dispensing hoses to a dispensing nozzle or grease fitting) made to ISO 12151–1, 12151–2, 12151–3, 12151–4, 12151–5, or 12151–6; • Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) certified electrical conduit fittings; • ASTM A153, A536, A576, or A865; • Casing conductor connectors made to proprietary specifications; • Machined steel parts (e.g., couplers) that are not certified to any specifications in this scope description and that are not for connecting steel pipes for distributing gas and liquids; • Oil country tubular goods (OCTG) connectors (e.g., forged steel tubular connectors for API 5L pipes or OCTG for offshore oil and gas drilling and extraction); • Military Specification (MIL) MIL–C– 4109F and MIL–F–3541; and • International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO6150–B. To be excluded from the scope, products must have the appropriate standard or pressure markings and/or be accompanied by documentation showing product compliance to the applicable standard or pressure, e.g., ‘‘API 5CT’’ mark and/or a mill certification report. E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1 17538 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 61 / Monday, March 30, 2020 / Notices Subject carbon and alloy forged steel fittings are normally entered under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 7307.92.3010, 7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, 7307.99.1000, 7307.99.3000, 7307.99.5045, and 7307.99.5060. They may also be entered under HTSUS 7307.93.3010, 7307.93.3040, 7307.93.6000, 7307.93.9010, 7307.93.9040, 7307.93.9060, and 7326.19.0010. The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the scope is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Scope Comments IV. Scope of the Investigation V. Injury Test VI. Alignment VII. Subsidies Valuation VIII. Benchmarks and Interest Rates IX. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences X. Analysis of Programs XI. Calculation of the All-Others Rate XII. ITC Notification XIII. Verification XIV. Disclosure and Public Comment XV. Conclusion [FR Doc. 2020–06548 Filed 3–27–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Federal Consistency Appeal by WesternGeco of South Carolina Objection National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of stay—closure of administrative appeal decision record. AGENCY: This announcement provides notice that the Department of Commerce (Department) has stayed, for a period of 14 days, closure of the decision record in an administrative appeal filed by WesternGeco (Appellant) under the Coastal Zone Management Act, requesting that the Secretary override an objection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean. DATES: The decision record for WesternGeco’s Federal Consistency Appeal of South Carolina’s objection will now close on April 13, 2020. lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Mar 27, 2020 Jkt 250001 NOAA has provided access to publicly available materials and related documents comprising the appeal record on the following website: https://www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-HQ-2019-0118. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this Notice, contact Jonelle Dilley, NOAA Office of General Counsel, Oceans and Coasts Section, 1305 East-West Highway, Room 6111, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 713– 7383, jonelle.dilley@noaa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 20, 2019, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) received a ‘‘Notice of Appeal’’ filed by WesternGeco pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA), 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq., and implementing regulations found at 15 CFR part 930, subpart H. The ‘‘Notice of Appeal’’ is taken from an objection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean. This matter constitutes an appeal of an ‘‘energy project’’ within the meaning of the CZMA regulations, see 15 CFR 930.123(c). Under the CZMA, the Secretary may override South Carolina’s objection on grounds that the project is consistent with the objectives or purposes of the CZMA, or is necessary in the interest of national security. To make the determination that the proposed activity is ‘‘consistent with the objectives or purposes of the CZMA,’’ the Department must find that: (1) The proposed activity furthers the national interest as articulated in sections 302 or 303 of the CZMA, in a significant or substantial manner; (2) the national interest furthered by the proposed activity outweighs the activity’s adverse coastal effects, when those effects are considered separately or cumulatively; and (3) no reasonable alternative is available that would permit the proposed activity to be conducted in a manner consistent with the enforceable policies of the applicable coastal management program. 15 CFR 930.121. To make the determination that the proposed activity is ‘‘necessary in the interest of national security,’’ the Secretary must find that a national defense or other national security interest would be significantly impaired if the proposed activity is not permitted to go forward as proposed. 15 CFR 930.122. The Secretary must close the decision record in a Federal consistency appeal 160 days after the Notice of Appeal is ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 published in the Federal Register. 15 CFR 930.130(a)(1). However, the CZMA authorizes the Secretary to stay closing the decision record for up to 60 days when the Secretary determines it necessary to receive, on an expedited basis, any supplemental information specifically requested by the Secretary to complete a consistency review or any clarifying information submitted by a party to the proceeding related to information in the consolidated record compiled by the lead Federal permitting agency. 15 CFR 930.130(a)(2), (3). After reviewing the decision record developed to date, the Secretary has decided to solicit supplemental and clarifying information from the parties pertaining to the withholding of certain information as proprietary. In order to allow receipt of this information, the Secretary hereby stays closure of the decision record, currently scheduled to occur on March 30, 2020, until April 13, 2020. NOAA has provided access to publicly available materials and related documents comprising the appeal record on the following website: https:// www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D =NOAA-HQ-2019-0118. Authority Citation: 15 CFR 930.130(a)(2), (3). Adam Dilts, Chief, Oceans and Coasts Section, NOAA Office of General Counsel. [FR Doc. 2020–06422 Filed 3–27–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–JE–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration RTID 0648–XA082 New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of cancellation of a public meeting. AGENCY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has cancelled a public meeting of its Groundfish Advisory Panel that was scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas A. Nies, Executive Director, New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465–0492. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original meeting notice published in the Federal Register on March 17, 2020 (85 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30MRN1.SGM 30MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 61 (Monday, March 30, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17536-17538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06548]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-892]


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

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and 
exporters of forged steel fittings from India for the period of 
investigation January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Interested 
parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

DATES: Applicable March 30, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Caserta, 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) 482-4737.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce 
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on November 
21, 2020.\1\ On January 10, 2020, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now 
March 23, 2020.\2\ For a complete description of the events that 
followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file 
electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). 
ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov, 
and is available to all parties in the Central Records Unit, room B8024 
of the main Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and electronic versions of the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Forged Steel Fittings from India and the Republic of 
Korea: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 84 FR 64270 
(November 21, 2019) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Forged Steel Fittings from India: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation, 
85 FR 1300 (January 10, 2020).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Forged 
Steel Fittings from India,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby 
adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

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

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the Preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\5\ Certain interested 
parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in 
the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments 
submitted to the record for this preliminary determination, and 
accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely received, 
see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Commerce is preliminarily 
modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. 
See revised scope in Appendix I.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Methodology

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

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

Alignment

    As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, in accordance with 
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is 
aligning the final CVD determination in this investigation with the 
final determination in the companion AD investigation of forged steel 
fittings from India based on a request made by the petitioner.\7\ 
Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same 
date as the final AD determination, which is currently scheduled no 
later than August 3, 2020, unless postponed.\8\
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    \7\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Forged Steel Fittings from India: 
Request for Alignment,'' dated March 5, 2020.
    \8\ See Forged Steel Fittings from India and the Republic of 
Korea: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-
Fair-Value Investigations, 85 FR 11965 (February 28, 2020).
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All-Others Rate

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

Preliminary Determination

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

[[Page 17537]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy  rate
                         Company                            Ad Valorem
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shakti Forge Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Shakti Forge                 2.65%
 (collectively, Shakti).................................
Nikoo Forge Pvt. Ltd., Pan International, Patton                 284.91%
 International Limited, Sage Metals Limited, Kirtanlal
 Steel Private Limited, Disha Auto Components Private
 Limited, Dynamic Flow Products, Sara Sae Private
 Limited, and Parveen Industries Private Limited........
All Others..............................................           2.65%
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suspension of Liquidation

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

Disclosure

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

Verification

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

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven 
days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in 
this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case 
briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline 
date for case briefs.\9\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), 
parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation 
are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the 
issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of 
authorities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If the 
final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the 
later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 
45 days after the final determination whether these imports are 
materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.

Notification to Interested Parties

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

    Dated: March 23, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is carbon and 
alloy forged steel fittings, whether unfinished (commonly known as 
blanks or rough forgings) or finished. Such fittings are made in a 
variety of shapes including, but not limited to, elbows, tees, 
crosses, laterals, couplings, reducers, caps, plugs, bushings, 
unions (including hammer unions), and outlets. Forged steel fittings 
are covered regardless of end finish, whether threaded, socket-weld 
or other end connections. The scope includes integrally reinforced 
forged branch outlet fittings, regardless of whether they have one 
or more ends that is a socket welding, threaded, butt welding end, 
or other end connections.
    While these fittings are generally manufactured to 
specifications ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, MSS SP-83, MSS-SP-97, ASTM 
A105, ASTM A350 and ASTM A182, the scope is not limited to fittings 
made to these specifications.
    The term forged is an industry term used to describe a class of 
products included in applicable standards, and it does not reference 
an exclusive manufacturing process. Forged steel fittings are not 
manufactured from casings. Pursuant to the applicable standards, 
fittings may also be machined from bar stock or machined from 
seamless pipe and tube.
    All types of forged steel fittings are included in the scope 
regardless of nominal pipe size (which may or may not be expressed 
in inches of nominal pipe size), pressure class rating (expressed in 
pounds of pressure, e.g., 2,000 or 2M; 3,000 or 3M; 6,000 or 6M; 
9,000 or 9M), wall thickness, and whether or not heat treated.
    Excluded from this scope are all fittings entirely made of 
stainless steel. Also excluded are flanges, nipples, and all 
fittings that have a maximum pressure rating of 300 pounds per 
square inch/PSI or less.
    Also excluded from the scope are fittings certified or made to 
the following standards, so long as the fittings are not also 
manufactured to the specifications of ASME B16.11, MSS SP-79, MSS 
SP-83, MSS SP-97, ASTM A105, ASTM A350 and ASTM A182:
     American Petroleum Institute (API) 5CT, API 5L, or API 
11B;
     American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B16.9;
     Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS) SP-75;
     Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) J476, SAE J514, 
SAE J516, SAE J517, SAE J518, SAE J1026, SAE J1231, SAE J1453, SAE 
J1926, J2044 or SAE AS 35411;
     Hydraulic hose fittings (e.g., fittings used in high 
pressure water cleaning applications, in the manufacture of 
hydraulic engines, to connect rubber dispensing hoses to a 
dispensing nozzle or grease fitting) made to ISO 12151-1, 12151-2, 
12151-3, 12151-4, 12151-5, or 12151-6;
     Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) certified electrical 
conduit fittings;
     ASTM A153, A536, A576, or A865;
     Casing conductor connectors made to proprietary 
specifications;
     Machined steel parts (e.g., couplers) that are not 
certified to any specifications in this scope description and that 
are not for connecting steel pipes for distributing gas and liquids;
     Oil country tubular goods (OCTG) connectors (e.g., 
forged steel tubular connectors for API 5L pipes or OCTG for 
offshore oil and gas drilling and extraction);
     Military Specification (MIL) MIL-C-4109F and MIL-F-
3541; and
     International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 
ISO6150-B.
    To be excluded from the scope, products must have the 
appropriate standard or pressure markings and/or be accompanied by 
documentation showing product compliance to the applicable standard 
or pressure, e.g., ``API 5CT'' mark and/or a mill certification 
report.

[[Page 17538]]

    Subject carbon and alloy forged steel fittings are normally 
entered under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) 7307.92.3010, 7307.92.3030, 7307.92.9000, 7307.99.1000, 
7307.99.3000, 7307.99.5045, and 7307.99.5060. They may also be 
entered under HTSUS 7307.93.3010, 7307.93.3040, 7307.93.6000, 
7307.93.9010, 7307.93.9040, 7307.93.9060, and 7326.19.0010.
    The HTSUS subheadings and specifications are provided for 
convenience and customs purposes; the written description of the 
scope is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

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

[FR Doc. 2020-06548 Filed 3-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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