Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe From the People's Republic of China; Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From the Republic of Korea; Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes From India; Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes From Taiwan; Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From Taiwan; Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the People's Republic of China; Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the Republic of Korea; Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing From Taiwan: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiries on the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 47711-47714 [2022-16715]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 149 / Thursday, August 4, 2022 / Notices
of nails constructed of two or more pieces
include, but are not limited to, anchors
comprised of an anchor body made of zinc
or nylon and a steel pin or a steel nail; crimp
drive anchors; split-drive anchors, and strike
pin anchors. Also included in the scope are
anchors of one piece construction.
Certain steel nails may be produced from
any type of steel, and may have any type of
surface finish, head type, shank, point type
and shaft diameter. Finishes include, but are
not limited to, coating in vinyl, zinc
(galvanized, including but not limited to
electroplating or hot dipping one or more
times), phosphate, cement, and paint. Certain
steel nails may have one or more surface
finishes. Head styles include, but are not
limited to, flat, projection, cupped, oval,
brad, headless, double, countersunk, and
sinker. Shank or shaft styles include, but are
not limited to, smooth, barbed, screw
threaded, ring shank and fluted.
Screw-threaded nails subject to this
proceeding are driven using direct force and
not by turning the nail using a tool that
engages with the head. Point styles include,
but are not limited to, diamond, needle,
chisel and blunt or no point. Certain steel
nails may be sold in bulk, or they may be
collated in any manner using any material.
Excluded from the scope are certain steel
nails packaged in combination with one or
more non-subject articles, if the total number
of nails of all types, in aggregate regardless
of size, is less than 25. If packaged in
combination with one or more non-subject
articles, certain steel nails remain subject
merchandise if the total number of nails of
all types, in aggregate regardless of size, is
equal to or greater than 25, unless otherwise
excluded based on the other exclusions
below.
Also excluded from the scope are certain
steel nails with a nominal shaft or shank
length of one inch or less that are a
component of an unassembled article, where
the total number of nails is sixty (60) or less,
and the imported unassembled article falls
into one of the following eight groupings: (1)
Builders’ joinery and carpentry of wood that
are classifiable as windows, Frenchwindows
and their frames; (2) builders’ joinery and
carpentry of wood that are classifiable as
doors and their frames and thresholds; (3)
swivel seats with variable height adjustment;
(4) seats that are convertible into beds (with
the exception of those classifiable as garden
seats or camping equipment); (5) seats of
cane, osier, bamboo or similar materials; (6)
other seats with wooden frames (with the
exception of seats of a kind used for aircraft
or motor vehicles); (7) furniture (other than
seats) of wood (with the exception of (i)
medical, surgical, dental or veterinary
furniture; and (ii) barbers’ chairs and similar
chairs, having rotating as well as both
reclining and elevating movements); or (8)
furniture (other than seats) of materials other
than wood, metal, or plastics (e.g., furniture
of cane, osier, bamboo or similar materials).
The aforementioned imported unassembled
articles are currently classified under the
following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 4418.10,
4418.20, 9401.30, 9401.40, 9401.51, 9401.59,
9401.61, 9401.69, 9403.30, 9403.40, 9403.50,
9403.60, 9403.81 or 9403.89.
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Also excluded from the scope of this
investigation are nails suitable for use in
powder-actuated hand tools, whether or not
threaded, which are currently classified
under HTSUS subheadings 7317.00.2000 and
7317.00.3000.
Also excluded from the scope of this
investigation are nails suitable for use in gasactuated hand tools. These nails have a case
hardness greater than or equal to 50 on the
Rockwell Hardness C scale (HRC), a carbon
content greater than or equal to 0.5 percent,
a round head, a secondary reduced-diameter
raised head section, a centered shank, and a
smooth symmetrical point.
Also excluded from the scope of this
investigation are corrugated nails. A
corrugated nail is made up of a small strip
of corrugated steel with sharp points on one
side.
Also excluded from the scope of this
investigation are thumb tacks, which are
currently classified under HTSUS
subheading 7317.00.1000.
Also excluded from the scope are
decorative or upholstery tacks.
Certain steel nails subject to this
investigation are currently classified under
HTSUS subheadings 7317.00.5501,
7317.00.5502, 7317.00.5503, 7317.00.5505,
7317.00.5507, 7317.00.5508, 7317.00.5511,
7317.00.5518, 7317.00.5519, 7317.00.5520,
7317.00.5530, 7317.00.5540, 7317.00.5550,
7317.00.5560, 7317.00.5570, 7317.00.5580,
7317.00.5590, 7317.00.6530, 7317.00.6560,
and 7317.00.7500. Certain steel nails subject
to this investigation also may be classified
under HTSUS subheadings 7318.15.5090,
7907.00.6000, 8206.00.0000, or other HTSUS
subheadings. While the HTSUS subheadings
are provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the
scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Appendix II—List of Topics Discussed
in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Affiliation
V. Use of Facts Available with Adverse
Inferences
VI. Discussion of the Methodology
VII. Currency Conversion
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2022–16720 Filed 8–3–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–910, C–570–911, A–580–809, A–583–
008, A–583–814, A–533–502, A–570–914, C–
570–915, A–580–859, A–583–803]
Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel
Pipe From the People’s Republic of
China; Certain Circular Welded NonAlloy Steel Pipe From the Republic of
Korea; Certain Welded Carbon Steel
Standard Pipes and Tubes From India;
Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel
Pipes and Tubes From Taiwan; Certain
Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe
From Taiwan; Light-Walled
Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the
People’s Republic of China; LightWalled Rectangular Pipe and Tube
From the Republic of Korea; LightWalled Welded Rectangular Carbon
Steel Tubing From Taiwan: Initiation of
Circumvention Inquiries on the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Orders
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: In response to requests from
Atlas Tube Inc., Bull Moose Tube
Company, Maruichi American
Corporation, Nucor Tubular Products
Inc., Searing Industries, Vest Inc.,
Wheatland Tube Company, and the
United Steel, Paper and Forestry,
Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied
Industrial and Service Workers
International Union, AFL–CIO, CLC
(collectively, the domestic interested
parties), the U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) is initiating
country-wide circumvention inquiries
to determine whether imports of
circular welded carbon quality steel
pipe from the People’s Republic of
China (China) (CWP China), certain
circular welded non-alloy steel pipe
from the Republic of Korea (Korea)
(CWP Korea), certain welded carbon
steel standard pipes and tubes from
India (pipe and tube India), certain
circular welded carbon steel pipes and
tubes from Taiwan (pipe and tube
Taiwan), certain circular welded nonalloy steel pipe from Taiwan (CWP
Taiwan), light-walled rectangular pipe
and tube from China (LWRPT China),
light-walled rectangular pipe and tube
from Korea (LWRPT Korea), and lightwalled welded rectangular carbon steel
tubing (LWR tubing Taiwan), which are
completed in the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam (Vietnam) from hot-rolled steel
(HRS) produced in China, Korea, India,
or Taiwan are circumventing the
respective antidumping duty (AD) and
countervailing duty (CVD) orders on
AGENCY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 149 / Thursday, August 4, 2022 / Notices
CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe and tube
India, pipe and tube Taiwan, CWP
Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT Korea,
and LWR tubing Taiwan.
DATES: Applicable August 4, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Krisha Hill at (202) 482–4037 (CWP
China, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV);
Andre Gziryan at (202) 482–2201 (CWP
Korea, AD/CVD Operations, Office I);
Dmitry Vladimirov at (202) 482–0665
(Pipe and Tube India, AD/CVD
Operations, Office I); Nicolas Mayora at
(202) 482–3053 (Pipe and Tube Taiwan,
AD/CVD Operations, Office V); Preston
Cox and Scarlet Jaldin at (202) 482–5041
and (202) 482–4275, respectively (CWP
Taiwan, AD/CVD Operations, Office VI);
Reginald Anadio at (202) 482–3166,
(LWRPT China, AD/CVD Operations,
Office IV); Carolyn Adie at (202) 482–
6250 (LWRPT Korea, AD/CVD
Operations, Office VI); and Bryan
Hansen at (202) 482–3683 (LWR tubing
Taiwan, AD/CVD Operations, Office I);
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
Background
On May 17, 2022, pursuant to section
781(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act) and 19 CFR
351.226(i), domestic interested parties
filed circumvention inquiry requests
alleging that CWP, pipe and tube,
LWRPT, and LWR tubing completed in
Vietnam using HRS manufactured in
China, India, Korea, or Taiwan are
circumventing the Orders 1 on pipe
1 See Notice of Antidumping Duty Order: Circular
Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe from the People’s
Republic of China, 73 FR 42547 (July 22, 2008); see
also Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe
from the People’s Republic of China: Notice of
Amended Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty
Determination and Notice of Countervailing Duty
Order, 73 FR 42545 (July 22, 2008); Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value:
Certain Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe and Tube
from the Republic of Korea, 57 FR 42942
(September 17, 1992), as amended by Notice of
Antidumping Orders: Certain Circular Welded NonAlloy Steel Pipe from Brazil, the Republic of Korea
(Korea), Mexico, and Venezuela, and Amendment
to Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value: Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel
Pipe from Korea, 57 FR 49453 (November 2, 1992);
Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and
Tubes from Taiwan: Antidumping Duty Order, 49
FR 19369 (May 7, 1984); Notice of Antidumping
Duty Order: Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe
from Taiwan, 57 FR 49454 (November 2, 1992);
Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and
Tubes from India, 51 FR 17384 (May 12, 1986);
Antidumping Duty Order; Light-Walled Welded
Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan, 54
FR 12467 (March 27, 1989); Light-Walled
Rectangular Pipe and Tube from Mexico, the
People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of
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products from those countries and,
accordingly, should be included within
the scope of the Orders.2 On June 2,
2022, SeAH Steel VINA Corporation
(SeAH VINA) filed opposition
comments in response to the domestic
interested parties’ request regarding the
CWP and pipe and tube allegations; the
comments did not address the LWRPT
and LWR tubing allegations.3 On June
13, 2022, we extended the deadline to
initiate these circumvention inquiries
by 15 days, in accordance with 19 CFR
351.226(d)(1).4 On June 21, 2022, we
issued supplemental questionnaires to
the domestic interested parties.5 On
Korea: Antidumping Duty Orders; Light-Walled
Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the Republic of
Korea: Notice of Amended Final Determination of
Sales at Less than Fair Value, 73 FR 45403 (August
5, 2008); and Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and
Tube from the People’s Republic of China: Notice
of Countervailing Duty Order, 73 FR 45405 (August
5, 2008) (collectively, Orders).
2 See Domestic Interested Parties’ Letters,
‘‘Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe from
the People’s Republic of China—Request for
Circumvention Inquiry’’; ‘‘Certain Circular Welded
Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from the Republic of Korea—
Request for Circumvention Inquiry’’; ‘‘Certain
Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from
Taiwan (A–583–008) and Circular Welded NonAlloy Steel Pipe from Taiwan (A–583–814)—
Request for Circumvention Inquiries’’; ‘‘Certain
Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes
from India—Request for Circumvention Inquiry’’;
‘‘Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the
People’s Republic of China—Request for
Circumvention Inquiry’’; ‘‘Light-Walled Rectangular
Pipe and Tube from the Republic of Korea: Request
For Circumvention Inquiry’’; and ‘‘Light-Walled
Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from
Taiwan: Request for a Circumvention Inquiry,’’ all
dated May 17, 2022.
3 See SeAH VINA’s Letter, ‘‘Certain Circular
Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe and Certain
Circular Welded Non Alloy Steel Pipe from China,
Korea, Taiwan, and India—Comments in
Opposition to Initiation of Anticircumvention
Inquiries,’’ dated June 2, 2022 (SeAH VINA’s
Comments).
4 See Memorandum, ‘‘Circular Welded Carbon
Quality Steel Pipe from the People’s Republic of
China (A–570–910 and C–570–911): Extension of
Time to Determine Whether to Initiate
Circumvention Inquiry,’’ dated June 13, 2022.
5 See Commerce’s Letters, ‘‘Circumvention
Inquiry of Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel
Pipe from the People’s Republic of China (A–570–
910, C–570–911): Supplemental Questionnaire’’;
‘‘Circumvention Inquiry of Certain Circular Welded
Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from the Republic of Korea
(A–580–809): Supplemental Questionnaire’’;
‘‘Circumvention Inquiry of Certain Circular Welded
Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Taiwan (A–583–
008) and Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe
from Taiwan (A–583–814): Supplemental
Questionnaire’’; ‘‘Circumvention Inquiry of Certain
Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes
from India (A–533–502): Supplemental
Questionnaire’’; ‘‘Circumvention Inquiry of LightWalled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the
People’s Republic of China (A–570–914, C–570–
915): Supplemental Questionnaire,’’ (LWRPT China
Supplemental); ‘‘Circumvention Inquiry of LightWalled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from Korea (A–
580–859): Supplemental Questionnaire’’; and
‘‘Circumvention Inquiry of Light-Walled Welded
Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan (A–
583–803): Supplemental Questionnaire,’’ all dated
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June 28, 2022, the domestic interested
parties filed their responses to our
supplemental questionnaires.6 On July
1, 2022, Commerce clarified that we
issued the supplemental questionnaires
because we had found that the requests
to conduct circumvention inquiries
were insufficient for purposes of
initiation, in accordance with 19 CFR
351.226(d)(1)(i). Additionally, we
clarified that we consider the initial
requests and supplementary information
together to constitute the applications
for circumvention inquires, and that
based on the date that the domestic
parties filed the supplemental
information, we consider the inquiry
requests to have been filed on June 28,
2022.7 On July 20, 2022, Vietnam
Haiphong Hongyuan Machinery
Manufactory Co., Ltd. (Vietnam
Haiphong) filed opposition comments in
response to the domestic interested
parties’ request regarding CWP from
China.8
Scope of the Orders
Please see each respective
Circumvention Initiation Memorandum
for a complete description of the scope
of Orders.9
June 21, 2022. Please note, LWRPT China
Supplemental was uploaded on June 22, 2022.
6 See Domestic Interested Parties’ Letters,
‘‘Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe
from the Republic of Korea—Response to
Supplemental Questionnaire’’; ‘‘Certain Circular
Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Taiwan
(A–583–008) and Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel
Pipe from Taiwan (A–583–814)—Response to
Supplemental Questionnaire’’; ‘‘Certain Welded
Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes from
India—Response to Supplemental Questionnaire’’;
‘‘Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the
People’s Republic of China—Circumvention Inquiry
Supplemental Questionnaire Response’’; ‘‘LightWalled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the
Republic of Korea—Response to Supplemental
Questionnaire’’; and ‘‘Light-Walled Welded
Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan—
Response to Supplemental Questionnaire,’’ all
dated June 28, 2022 (Supplemental Responses).
7 See Commerce’s Letter, ‘‘Circumvention
Inquiries on Circular and Rectangular Pipe and
Tube Products from China, India, Korea, and
Taiwan,’’ dated July 1, 2022.
8 See Vietnam Haiphong’s Letter, ‘‘Circular
Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe from People
Republic of China: Vietnam Haiphong Hongyuan
Machinery Manufactory Co., Ltd.’s Comments on
the Request for Circumvention Inquiry,’’ dated July
20, 2022.
9 For a complete description of the scope of the
Orders, see Memoranda, ‘‘Circular Welded Carbon
Quality Steel Pipe from the People’s Republic of
China: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the
Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty
Orders’’; see also ‘‘Certain Circular Welded NonAlloy Steel Pipe from the Republic of Korea:
Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the
Antidumping Duty Order’’; ‘‘Certain Welded
Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes from India:
Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the
Antidumping Duty Order’’; ‘‘Certain Circular
Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Taiwan:
Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 149 / Thursday, August 4, 2022 / Notices
Merchandise Subject to the
Circumvention Inquiries
These circumvention inquiries cover
CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe and tube
India, pipe and tube Taiwan, CWP
Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT Korea,
and LWR tubing Taiwan, completed in
Vietnam using Chinese, Indian, Korean,
or Taiwan-produced HRS and
subsequently exported from Vietnam to
the United States.
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
Initiation of Circumvention Inquiries
Section 351.226(d) of Commerce’s
regulations states that if Commerce
determines that a request for a
circumvention inquiry satisfies the
requirements of 19 CFR 351.226(c), then
Commerce ‘‘will accept the request and
initiate a circumvention inquiry.’’
Section 351.226(c)(1) of Commerce’s
regulations, in turn, requires that each
circumvention inquiry request alleges
‘‘that the elements necessary for a
circumvention determination under
section 781 of the Act exist’’ and be
‘‘accompanied by information
reasonably available to the interested
party supporting these allegations.’’ The
domestic interested parties alleged
circumvention pursuant to section
781(b) of the Act, which pertains to
merchandise completed or assembled in
other foreign countries.
Section 781(b)(1) of the Act provides
that Commerce may find circumvention
of an AD order when merchandise of the
same class or kind subject to the order
is completed or assembled in a foreign
country other than the country to which
the order applies. In conducting a
circumvention inquiry, under section
781(b)(1) of the Act, Commerce relies on
the following criteria: (A) merchandise
imported into the United States is of the
same class or kind as any merchandise
produced in a foreign country that is the
subject of an AD or CVD order or
finding; (B) before importation into the
United States, such imported
merchandise is completed or assembled
in another foreign country from
merchandise which is subject to the
order or merchandise which is
produced in the foreign country that is
subject to the order; (C) the process of
Antidumping Duty Order’’; ‘‘Circular Welded NonAlloy Steel Pipe from Taiwan: Initiation of
Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty
Order’’; ‘‘Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube
from the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of
Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty
and Countervailing Duty Orders’’; ‘‘Light-Walled
Rectangular Pipe and Tube from Korea: Initiation of
Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty
Order’’; and ‘‘Light-Walled Welded Rectangular
Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan: Initiation of
Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty
Order,’’ (collectively, Circumvention Initiation
Memoranda).
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assembly or completion in the foreign
country referred to in section (B) is
minor or insignificant; (D) the value of
the merchandise produced in the
foreign country to which the AD or CVD
order applies is a significant portion of
the total value of the merchandise
exported to the United States; and (E)
the administering authority determines
that action is appropriate to prevent
evasion of such order or finding.
In determining whether the process of
assembly or completion in a third
country is minor or insignificant under
section 781(b)(1)(C) of the Act, section
781(b)(2) of the Act directs Commerce to
consider: (A) the level of investment in
the foreign country; (B) the level of
research and development in the foreign
country; (C) the nature of the production
process in the foreign country; (D) the
extent of production facilities in the
foreign country; and (E) whether or not
the value of processing performed in the
foreign country represents a small
proportion of the value of the
merchandise imported into the United
States. However, no single factor, by
itself, controls Commerce’s
determination of whether the process of
assembly or completion in a third
country is minor or insignificant.10
Accordingly, it is Commerce’s practice
to evaluate each of these five factors,
depending on the totality of the
circumstances of the particular
circumvention inquiry.11
In addition, section 781(b)(3) of the
Act sets forth additional factors to
consider in determining whether to
include merchandise assembled or
completed in a third country within the
scope of an AD or CVD order.
Specifically, Commerce shall take into
account such factors as: (A) the pattern
of trade, including sourcing patterns; (B)
whether the manufacturer or exporter of
the merchandise is affiliated with the
person who, in the third country, uses
the merchandise to complete or
assemble the merchandise which is
subsequently imported into the United
States; and (C) whether imports of the
merchandise into the third country have
increased after the initiation of the
investigation that resulted in the
issuance of such order or finding.
Based on our analysis of the domestic
interested parties’ circumvention
10 See Statement of Administrative Action
Accompanying the Uruguay Round Agreements
Act, H.R. Doc. No. 103–316, Vol. 1 (1994) (SAA),
at 893.
11 See Uncovered Innerspring Units from the
People’s Republic of China: Final Affirmative
Determination of Circumvention of the
Antidumping Duty Order, 83 FR 65626 (December
21, 2018), and accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum, at 4.
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47713
requests, Commerce determines that the
domestic interested parties have
satisfied the criteria under 19 CFR
351.226(c) to warrant the initiations of
circumvention inquiries of these Orders.
Therefore, pursuant to 19 CFR
351.226(d)(1)(ii), we are initiating the
requested circumvention inquiries. For
a full discussion of the basis for our
decisions to initiate these
circumvention inquiries, see each
respective Circumvention Initiation
Memorandum.12 As explained in the
Circumvention Initiation Memoranda,
the information provided by domestic
interested parties in this instance
warrants initiating these circumvention
inquiries on a country-wide basis.
Commerce has taken this approach in
prior circumvention inquiries, where
the facts warranted initiation on a
country-wide basis.13
Consistent with the approach in the
prior circumvention inquiries that were
initiated on a country-wide basis,
Commerce intends to issue
questionnaires to solicit information
from producers and exporters in
Vietnam concerning their shipments of
CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe and tube
India, pipe and tube Taiwan, CWP
Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT Korea,
and LWR tubing Taiwan, made
respectively from Chinese, Indian,
Korean, or Taiwan-origin HRS to the
United States. A company’s failure to
respond completely to Commerce’s
requests for information may result in
the application of partial or total facts
available, pursuant to section 776(a) of
the Act, which may include adverse
inferences, pursuant to section 776(b) of
the Act.
Suspension of Liquidation
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.226(l)(1),
Commerce will notify U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) of the initiation
12 See Circumvention Initiation Memoranda.
These memoranda are public documents and
available electronically online via Enforcement and
Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Centralized Electronic Service System
(ACCESS).
13 See, e.g., Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel
Products from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan:
Initiation of Anti-Circumvention Inquiries on the
Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders,
83 FR 37785 (August 2, 2018); Carbon Steel ButtWeld Pipe Fittings from the People’s Republic of
China: Initiation of Anti-Circumvention Inquiry on
the Antidumping Duty Order, 82 FR 40556, 40560
(August 25, 2017) (stating at initiation that
Commerce would evaluate the extent to which a
country-wide finding applicable to all exports
might be warranted); and Certain CorrosionResistant Steel Products from the People’s Republic
of China: Initiation of Anti-Circumvention Inquiries
on the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty
Orders, 81 FR 79454, 79458 (November 14, 2016)
(stating at initiation that Commerce would evaluate
the extent to which a country-wide finding
applicable to all exports might be warranted).
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and direct CBP to continue the
suspension of liquidation of entries of
products subject to the circumvention
inquiries that were already subject to
the suspension of liquidation under the
Orders. Should Commerce issue
preliminary or final circumvention
determinations, Commerce will follow
the suspension of liquidation rules
under 19 CFR 351.226(l)(2)–(4).
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(d)
and section 781(b) of the Act, Commerce
determines that the domestic interested
parties’ requests for these circumvention
inquiries satisfy the requirements of 19
CFR 351.226(c). Accordingly, Commerce
is notifying all interested parties of the
initiation of these circumvention
inquiries to determine whether certain
imports of CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe
and tube India, pipe and tube Taiwan,
CWP Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT
Korea, and LWR tubing Taiwan,
completed in and exported from
Vietnam using HRS inputs
manufactured respectively in China,
Korea, India, or Taiwan, are
circumventing the Orders. In addition,
we have included a description of the
products that are the subject of these
inquiries, and an explanation of the
reasons for Commerce’s decision to
initiate these inquiries as provided
above and in the accompanying
Circumvention Initiation Memoranda.14
In accordance with 19 CFR
351.226(e)(2), Commerce intends to
issue its final circumvention
determination within 300 days from the
date of publication of the notice of
initiation of a circumvention inquiry in
the Federal Register.
This notice is published in
accordance with section 781(b) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.226(d)(1)(ii).
Dated: July 28, 2022.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
Appendix—List of Topics Discussed in
the Circumvention Initiation
Memoranda
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Merchandise Subject to the
Circumvention Inquiry
V. Statutory and Regulatory Framework for
Circumvention Inquiry
VI. Statutory Analysis for the Circumvention
Inquiry
VII. Comments Opposing the Initiation of
Circumvention Initiation Memoranda.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:25 Aug 03, 2022
Jkt 256001
[FR Doc. 2022–16715 Filed 8–3–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–026]
Notification to Interested Parties
14 See
Circumvention Inquiry 15
VIII. Country-Wide Circumvention Inquiry
IX. Recommendation
Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products
From the People’s Republic of China:
Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review; 2020–
2021
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily
determines that Metalco S.A. (Metalco),
the sole company subject to this
administrative review of the
antidumping duty (AD) order on
corrosion-resistant steel products
(CORE) from the People’s Republic of
China (China), is part of the China-wide
entity because it did not file a separate
rate application (SRA). The period of
review (POR) is July 1, 2020, through
June 30, 2021. We invite interested
parties to comment on these preliminary
results.
DATES: Applicable August 4, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gene H. Calvert, 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) 482–3586.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
On July 25, 2016, Commerce
published the AD order on CORE from
China in the Federal Register.1 On July
1, 2021, Commerce published a notice
of opportunity to request an
15 As Commerce did not receive comments with
regard to the LWRPT allegations, this section is not
present in those initiation memoranda.
1 See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products
from India, Italy, the People’s Republic of China,
the Republic of Korea and Taiwan: Amended Final
Affirmative Antidumping Determination for India
and Taiwan, and Antidumping Duty Orders, 81 FR
48390 (July 25, 2016) (Order). The Order was
subsequently modified to correct unintended errors
regarding the estimated weighted-average dumping
margins for China and the date that the extended
period of provisional measures expired. See Certain
Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India, Italy,
the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of
Korea, and Taiwan; Notice of Correction to the
Antidumping Duty Orders, 81 FR 58475 (August 25,
2016) (Corrected Order).
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
administrative review of the Order
covering the POR.2 On September 7,
2021, in response to a timely request
from California Steel Industries,
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Nucor
Corporation, Steel Dynamics, Inc., and
United States Steel Corporation
(collectively, Domestic Interested
Parties),3 Commerce initiated an
administrative review of the Order with
respect to Metalco.4
On September 24, 2021, we placed on
the record U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) entry data under
administrative protective order (APO)
for all interested parties having APO
access.5 The deadline for Metalco to
submit a no-shipment certification or
SRA 6 was October 7, 2021.7 Metalco did
not submit a no-shipment certification
or an SRA.
Scope of the Order
The products covered by this order
are certain flat-rolled steel products,
either clad, plated, or coated with
corrosion-resistant metals such as zinc,
aluminum, or zinc-, aluminum-, nickelor iron-based alloys, whether or not
corrugated or painted, varnished,
laminated, or coated with plastics or
other non-metallic substances in
addition to the metallic coating. The
products covered include coils that have
a width of 12.7 mm or greater,
regardless of form of coil (e.g., in
successively superimposed layers,
spirally oscillating, etc.). The products
covered also include products not in
coils (e.g., in straight lengths) of a
thickness less than 4.75 mm and a
width that is 12.7 mm or greater and
2 See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order,
Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity
to Request Administrative Review, 86 FR 35065
(July 1, 2021).
3 See Domestic Interested Parties’ Letter,
‘‘Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from the
People’s Republic of China: Request for
Administrative Review of Antidumping Duty
Order,’’ dated July 30, 2021.
4 See Initiation of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 86 FR
50034 (September 7, 2021) (Initiation Notice).
5 See Memorandum, ‘‘Administrative Review of
the Antidumping Duty Order on CorrosionResistant Steel Products from the People’s Republic
of China, 2020–2021: Release of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) Data,’’ dated September 24,
2021.
6 Metalco currently does not have a separate rate
with respect to this AD order, and, therefore, was
not eligible to file a separate rate certification.
7 See Initiation Notice, 86 FR at 50034 (‘‘If a
producer or exporter named in this notice of
initiation had no exports, sales, or entries during
the period of review (POR), it must notify
Commerce within 30 days of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. . . . Separate Rate
Applications are due to Commerce no later than 30
calendar days after publication of this Federal
Register notice.’’). Thirty calendar days after the
Initiation Notice published in the Federal Register
was October 7, 2021.
E:\FR\FM\04AUN1.SGM
04AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 149 (Thursday, August 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47711-47714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-16715]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-910, C-570-911, A-580-809, A-583-008, A-583-814, A-533-502, A-
570-914, C-570-915, A-580-859, A-583-803]
Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe From the People's
Republic of China; Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From
the Republic of Korea; Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and
Tubes From India; Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes
From Taiwan; Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From Taiwan;
Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the People's Republic of
China; Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the Republic of
Korea; Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing From Taiwan:
Initiation of Circumvention Inquiries on the Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Orders
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: In response to requests from Atlas Tube Inc., Bull Moose Tube
Company, Maruichi American Corporation, Nucor Tubular Products Inc.,
Searing Industries, Vest Inc., Wheatland Tube Company, and the United
Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied
Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC
(collectively, the domestic interested parties), the U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) is initiating country-wide circumvention inquiries
to determine whether imports of circular welded carbon quality steel
pipe from the People's Republic of China (China) (CWP China), certain
circular welded non-alloy steel pipe from the Republic of Korea (Korea)
(CWP Korea), certain welded carbon steel standard pipes and tubes from
India (pipe and tube India), certain circular welded carbon steel pipes
and tubes from Taiwan (pipe and tube Taiwan), certain circular welded
non-alloy steel pipe from Taiwan (CWP Taiwan), light-walled rectangular
pipe and tube from China (LWRPT China), light-walled rectangular pipe
and tube from Korea (LWRPT Korea), and light-walled welded rectangular
carbon steel tubing (LWR tubing Taiwan), which are completed in the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) from hot-rolled steel (HRS)
produced in China, Korea, India, or Taiwan are circumventing the
respective antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders
on
[[Page 47712]]
CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe and tube India, pipe and tube Taiwan, CWP
Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT Korea, and LWR tubing Taiwan.
DATES: Applicable August 4, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krisha Hill at (202) 482-4037 (CWP
China, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV); Andre Gziryan at (202) 482-2201
(CWP Korea, AD/CVD Operations, Office I); Dmitry Vladimirov at (202)
482-0665 (Pipe and Tube India, AD/CVD Operations, Office I); Nicolas
Mayora at (202) 482-3053 (Pipe and Tube Taiwan, AD/CVD Operations,
Office V); Preston Cox and Scarlet Jaldin at (202) 482-5041 and (202)
482-4275, respectively (CWP Taiwan, AD/CVD Operations, Office VI);
Reginald Anadio at (202) 482-3166, (LWRPT China, AD/CVD Operations,
Office IV); Carolyn Adie at (202) 482-6250 (LWRPT Korea, AD/CVD
Operations, Office VI); and Bryan Hansen at (202) 482-3683 (LWR tubing
Taiwan, AD/CVD Operations, Office I); Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On May 17, 2022, pursuant to section 781(b) of the Tariff Act of
1930, as amended (the Act) and 19 CFR 351.226(i), domestic interested
parties filed circumvention inquiry requests alleging that CWP, pipe
and tube, LWRPT, and LWR tubing completed in Vietnam using HRS
manufactured in China, India, Korea, or Taiwan are circumventing the
Orders \1\ on pipe products from those countries and, accordingly,
should be included within the scope of the Orders.\2\ On June 2, 2022,
SeAH Steel VINA Corporation (SeAH VINA) filed opposition comments in
response to the domestic interested parties' request regarding the CWP
and pipe and tube allegations; the comments did not address the LWRPT
and LWR tubing allegations.\3\ On June 13, 2022, we extended the
deadline to initiate these circumvention inquiries by 15 days, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(d)(1).\4\ On June 21, 2022, we issued
supplemental questionnaires to the domestic interested parties.\5\ On
June 28, 2022, the domestic interested parties filed their responses to
our supplemental questionnaires.\6\ On July 1, 2022, Commerce clarified
that we issued the supplemental questionnaires because we had found
that the requests to conduct circumvention inquiries were insufficient
for purposes of initiation, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(d)(1)(i).
Additionally, we clarified that we consider the initial requests and
supplementary information together to constitute the applications for
circumvention inquires, and that based on the date that the domestic
parties filed the supplemental information, we consider the inquiry
requests to have been filed on June 28, 2022.\7\ On July 20, 2022,
Vietnam Haiphong Hongyuan Machinery Manufactory Co., Ltd. (Vietnam
Haiphong) filed opposition comments in response to the domestic
interested parties' request regarding CWP from China.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Notice of Antidumping Duty Order: Circular Welded Carbon
Quality Steel Pipe from the People's Republic of China, 73 FR 42547
(July 22, 2008); see also Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe
from the People's Republic of China: Notice of Amended Final
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Notice of
Countervailing Duty Order, 73 FR 42545 (July 22, 2008); Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Welded Non-
Alloy Steel Pipe and Tube from the Republic of Korea, 57 FR 42942
(September 17, 1992), as amended by Notice of Antidumping Orders:
Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Brazil, the
Republic of Korea (Korea), Mexico, and Venezuela, and Amendment to
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain
Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Korea, 57 FR 49453
(November 2, 1992); Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and
Tubes from Taiwan: Antidumping Duty Order, 49 FR 19369 (May 7,
1984); Notice of Antidumping Duty Order: Circular Welded Non-Alloy
Steel Pipe from Taiwan, 57 FR 49454 (November 2, 1992); Certain
Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes from India, 51 FR 17384
(May 12, 1986); Antidumping Duty Order; Light-Walled Welded
Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan, 54 FR 12467 (March 27,
1989); Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from Mexico, the
People's Republic of China, and the Republic of Korea: Antidumping
Duty Orders; Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the
Republic of Korea: Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at
Less than Fair Value, 73 FR 45403 (August 5, 2008); and Light-Walled
Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the People's Republic of China:
Notice of Countervailing Duty Order, 73 FR 45405 (August 5, 2008)
(collectively, Orders).
\2\ See Domestic Interested Parties' Letters, ``Circular Welded
Carbon Quality Steel Pipe from the People's Republic of China--
Request for Circumvention Inquiry''; ``Certain Circular Welded Non-
Alloy Steel Pipe from the Republic of Korea--Request for
Circumvention Inquiry''; ``Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel
Pipes and Tubes from Taiwan (A-583-008) and Circular Welded Non-
Alloy Steel Pipe from Taiwan (A-583-814)--Request for Circumvention
Inquiries''; ``Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes
from India--Request for Circumvention Inquiry''; ``Light-Walled
Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the People's Republic of China--
Request for Circumvention Inquiry''; ``Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe
and Tube from the Republic of Korea: Request For Circumvention
Inquiry''; and ``Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing
from Taiwan: Request for a Circumvention Inquiry,'' all dated May
17, 2022.
\3\ See SeAH VINA's Letter, ``Certain Circular Welded Carbon
Quality Steel Pipe and Certain Circular Welded Non Alloy Steel Pipe
from China, Korea, Taiwan, and India--Comments in Opposition to
Initiation of Anticircumvention Inquiries,'' dated June 2, 2022
(SeAH VINA's Comments).
\4\ See Memorandum, ``Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe
from the People's Republic of China (A-570-910 and C-570-911):
Extension of Time to Determine Whether to Initiate Circumvention
Inquiry,'' dated June 13, 2022.
\5\ See Commerce's Letters, ``Circumvention Inquiry of Circular
Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe from the People's Republic of China
(A-570-910, C-570-911): Supplemental Questionnaire'';
``Circumvention Inquiry of Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel
Pipe from the Republic of Korea (A-580-809): Supplemental
Questionnaire''; ``Circumvention Inquiry of Certain Circular Welded
Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Taiwan (A-583-008) and Circular
Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Taiwan (A-583-814): Supplemental
Questionnaire''; ``Circumvention Inquiry of Certain Welded Carbon
Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes from India (A-533-502): Supplemental
Questionnaire''; ``Circumvention Inquiry of Light-Walled Rectangular
Pipe and Tube from the People's Republic of China (A-570-914, C-570-
915): Supplemental Questionnaire,'' (LWRPT China Supplemental);
``Circumvention Inquiry of Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube
from Korea (A-580-859): Supplemental Questionnaire''; and
``Circumvention Inquiry of Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon
Steel Tubing from Taiwan (A-583-803): Supplemental Questionnaire,''
all dated June 21, 2022. Please note, LWRPT China Supplemental was
uploaded on June 22, 2022.
\6\ See Domestic Interested Parties' Letters, ``Certain Circular
Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from the Republic of Korea--Response to
Supplemental Questionnaire''; ``Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel
Pipes and Tubes from Taiwan (A-583-008) and Circular Welded Non-
Alloy Steel Pipe from Taiwan (A-583-814)--Response to Supplemental
Questionnaire''; ``Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and
Tubes from India--Response to Supplemental Questionnaire''; ``Light-
Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the People's Republic of
China--Circumvention Inquiry Supplemental Questionnaire Response'';
``Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the Republic of
Korea--Response to Supplemental Questionnaire''; and ``Light-Walled
Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan--Response to
Supplemental Questionnaire,'' all dated June 28, 2022 (Supplemental
Responses).
\7\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Circumvention Inquiries on Circular
and Rectangular Pipe and Tube Products from China, India, Korea, and
Taiwan,'' dated July 1, 2022.
\8\ See Vietnam Haiphong's Letter, ``Circular Welded Carbon
Quality Steel Pipe from People Republic of China: Vietnam Haiphong
Hongyuan Machinery Manufactory Co., Ltd.'s Comments on the Request
for Circumvention Inquiry,'' dated July 20, 2022.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Orders
Please see each respective Circumvention Initiation Memorandum for
a complete description of the scope of Orders.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ For a complete description of the scope of the Orders, see
Memoranda, ``Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe from the
People's Republic of China: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on
the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders''; see also
``Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from the Republic of
Korea: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty
Order''; ``Certain Welded Carbon Steel Standard Pipes and Tubes from
India: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty
Order''; ``Certain Circular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from
Taiwan: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty
Order''; ``Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe from Taiwan:
Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty Order'';
``Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube from the People's Republic
of China: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping
Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders''; ``Light-Walled Rectangular
Pipe and Tube from Korea: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry on the
Antidumping Duty Order''; and ``Light-Walled Welded Rectangular
Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan: Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry
on the Antidumping Duty Order,'' (collectively, Circumvention
Initiation Memoranda).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 47713]]
Merchandise Subject to the Circumvention Inquiries
These circumvention inquiries cover CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe and
tube India, pipe and tube Taiwan, CWP Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT Korea,
and LWR tubing Taiwan, completed in Vietnam using Chinese, Indian,
Korean, or Taiwan-produced HRS and subsequently exported from Vietnam
to the United States.
Initiation of Circumvention Inquiries
Section 351.226(d) of Commerce's regulations states that if
Commerce determines that a request for a circumvention inquiry
satisfies the requirements of 19 CFR 351.226(c), then Commerce ``will
accept the request and initiate a circumvention inquiry.'' Section
351.226(c)(1) of Commerce's regulations, in turn, requires that each
circumvention inquiry request alleges ``that the elements necessary for
a circumvention determination under section 781 of the Act exist'' and
be ``accompanied by information reasonably available to the interested
party supporting these allegations.'' The domestic interested parties
alleged circumvention pursuant to section 781(b) of the Act, which
pertains to merchandise completed or assembled in other foreign
countries.
Section 781(b)(1) of the Act provides that Commerce may find
circumvention of an AD order when merchandise of the same class or kind
subject to the order is completed or assembled in a foreign country
other than the country to which the order applies. In conducting a
circumvention inquiry, under section 781(b)(1) of the Act, Commerce
relies on the following criteria: (A) merchandise imported into the
United States is of the same class or kind as any merchandise produced
in a foreign country that is the subject of an AD or CVD order or
finding; (B) before importation into the United States, such imported
merchandise is completed or assembled in another foreign country from
merchandise which is subject to the order or merchandise which is
produced in the foreign country that is subject to the order; (C) the
process of assembly or completion in the foreign country referred to in
section (B) is minor or insignificant; (D) the value of the merchandise
produced in the foreign country to which the AD or CVD order applies is
a significant portion of the total value of the merchandise exported to
the United States; and (E) the administering authority determines that
action is appropriate to prevent evasion of such order or finding.
In determining whether the process of assembly or completion in a
third country is minor or insignificant under section 781(b)(1)(C) of
the Act, section 781(b)(2) of the Act directs Commerce to consider: (A)
the level of investment in the foreign country; (B) the level of
research and development in the foreign country; (C) the nature of the
production process in the foreign country; (D) the extent of production
facilities in the foreign country; and (E) whether or not the value of
processing performed in the foreign country represents a small
proportion of the value of the merchandise imported into the United
States. However, no single factor, by itself, controls Commerce's
determination of whether the process of assembly or completion in a
third country is minor or insignificant.\10\ Accordingly, it is
Commerce's practice to evaluate each of these five factors, depending
on the totality of the circumstances of the particular circumvention
inquiry.\11\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ See Statement of Administrative Action Accompanying the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act, H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, Vol. 1 (1994)
(SAA), at 893.
\11\ See Uncovered Innerspring Units from the People's Republic
of China: Final Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the
Antidumping Duty Order, 83 FR 65626 (December 21, 2018), and
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum, at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, section 781(b)(3) of the Act sets forth additional
factors to consider in determining whether to include merchandise
assembled or completed in a third country within the scope of an AD or
CVD order. Specifically, Commerce shall take into account such factors
as: (A) the pattern of trade, including sourcing patterns; (B) whether
the manufacturer or exporter of the merchandise is affiliated with the
person who, in the third country, uses the merchandise to complete or
assemble the merchandise which is subsequently imported into the United
States; and (C) whether imports of the merchandise into the third
country have increased after the initiation of the investigation that
resulted in the issuance of such order or finding.
Based on our analysis of the domestic interested parties'
circumvention requests, Commerce determines that the domestic
interested parties have satisfied the criteria under 19 CFR 351.226(c)
to warrant the initiations of circumvention inquiries of these Orders.
Therefore, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.226(d)(1)(ii), we are initiating the
requested circumvention inquiries. For a full discussion of the basis
for our decisions to initiate these circumvention inquiries, see each
respective Circumvention Initiation Memorandum.\12\ As explained in the
Circumvention Initiation Memoranda, the information provided by
domestic interested parties in this instance warrants initiating these
circumvention inquiries on a country-wide basis. Commerce has taken
this approach in prior circumvention inquiries, where the facts
warranted initiation on a country-wide basis.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ See Circumvention Initiation Memoranda. These memoranda are
public documents and available electronically online via Enforcement
and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized
Electronic Service System (ACCESS).
\13\ See, e.g., Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from
the Republic of Korea and Taiwan: Initiation of Anti-Circumvention
Inquiries on the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders, 83
FR 37785 (August 2, 2018); Carbon Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings from
the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Anti-Circumvention
Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty Order, 82 FR 40556, 40560 (August
25, 2017) (stating at initiation that Commerce would evaluate the
extent to which a country-wide finding applicable to all exports
might be warranted); and Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products
from the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Anti-
Circumvention Inquiries on the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing
Duty Orders, 81 FR 79454, 79458 (November 14, 2016) (stating at
initiation that Commerce would evaluate the extent to which a
country-wide finding applicable to all exports might be warranted).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistent with the approach in the prior circumvention inquiries
that were initiated on a country-wide basis, Commerce intends to issue
questionnaires to solicit information from producers and exporters in
Vietnam concerning their shipments of CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe and
tube India, pipe and tube Taiwan, CWP Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT Korea,
and LWR tubing Taiwan, made respectively from Chinese, Indian, Korean,
or Taiwan-origin HRS to the United States. A company's failure to
respond completely to Commerce's requests for information may result in
the application of partial or total facts available, pursuant to
section 776(a) of the Act, which may include adverse inferences,
pursuant to section 776(b) of the Act.
Suspension of Liquidation
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.226(l)(1), Commerce will notify U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) of the initiation
[[Page 47714]]
and direct CBP to continue the suspension of liquidation of entries of
products subject to the circumvention inquiries that were already
subject to the suspension of liquidation under the Orders. Should
Commerce issue preliminary or final circumvention determinations,
Commerce will follow the suspension of liquidation rules under 19 CFR
351.226(l)(2)-(4).
Notification to Interested Parties
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(d) and section 781(b) of the Act,
Commerce determines that the domestic interested parties' requests for
these circumvention inquiries satisfy the requirements of 19 CFR
351.226(c). Accordingly, Commerce is notifying all interested parties
of the initiation of these circumvention inquiries to determine whether
certain imports of CWP China, CWP Korea, pipe and tube India, pipe and
tube Taiwan, CWP Taiwan, LWRPT China, LWRPT Korea, and LWR tubing
Taiwan, completed in and exported from Vietnam using HRS inputs
manufactured respectively in China, Korea, India, or Taiwan, are
circumventing the Orders. In addition, we have included a description
of the products that are the subject of these inquiries, and an
explanation of the reasons for Commerce's decision to initiate these
inquiries as provided above and in the accompanying Circumvention
Initiation Memoranda.\14\ In accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(e)(2),
Commerce intends to issue its final circumvention determination within
300 days from the date of publication of the notice of initiation of a
circumvention inquiry in the Federal Register.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ See Circumvention Initiation Memoranda.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This notice is published in accordance with section 781(b) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.226(d)(1)(ii).
Dated: July 28, 2022.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix--List of Topics Discussed in the Circumvention Initiation
Memoranda
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Merchandise Subject to the Circumvention Inquiry
V. Statutory and Regulatory Framework for Circumvention Inquiry
VI. Statutory Analysis for the Circumvention Inquiry
VII. Comments Opposing the Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry \15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ As Commerce did not receive comments with regard to the
LWRPT allegations, this section is not present in those initiation
memoranda.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIII. Country-Wide Circumvention Inquiry
IX. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2022-16715 Filed 8-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P