Certain Steel Nails From India: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 51333-51335 [2022-18045]
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 161 / Monday, August 22, 2022 / Notices
Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth
Council, authorizing the establishment
of Foreign-Trade Zone 263 (Board Order
1354);
Whereas, the Lewiston-Auburn
Economic Growth Council has made a
request (FTZ Docket B–13–2022) to the
Board for voluntary relinquishment of
the grant of authority for FTZ 263, and;
Whereas, the Board, noting the
concurrence of U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, adopts the findings of the
FTZ staff report and concludes that
approval of the request is in the public
interest;
Now, therefore, the Foreign-Trade
Zones Board terminates the FTZ status
of Foreign-Trade Zone No. 263, effective
this date.
description of the events that followed
the Preliminary Determination, see the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.2 The
Issues and Decision Memorandum is a
public document and is on file
electronically via Enforcement and
Compliance’s Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Centralized
Electronic Service System (ACCESS).
ACCESS is available to registered users
at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a
complete version of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum can be accessed
directly at https://access.trade.gov/
public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
and that the subsidy is specific.4 For a
full description of the methodology
underlying our final determination, see
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is April 1,
2020, through March 31, 2021.
Dated: August 16, 2022.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance, Alternate Chairperson, ForeignTrade Zones Board.
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this
investigation are steel nails from India.
For a complete description of the scope
of this investigation, see Appendix I.
Changes Since the Preliminary
Determination
Based on our review and analysis of
the information received in lieu of onsite verification and comments received
from parties, we made certain changes
to the Preliminary Determination.6
However, these changes did not alter the
subsidy rates calculated in the
Preliminary Determination for the
mandatory respondents, or the rate for
all other producers/exporters. For a
discussion of these changes, see the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.
[FR Doc. 2022–18044 Filed 8–19–22; 8:45 am]
Scope Comments
On July 5, 2022, Commerce issued the
Preliminary Scope Memorandum.3
Commerce received no comments from
interested parties on the Preliminary
Scope Memorandum. Thus, Commerce
made no changes to the scope of this
investigation since the Preliminary
Determination.
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–533–905]
Certain Steel Nails From India: Final
Affirmative Countervailing Duty
Determination
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) determines that
countervailable subsidies are being
provided to producers and exporters of
certain steel nails (steel nails) from
India.
Analysis of Subsidy Programs and
Comments Received
The subsidy programs under
investigation, and the issues raised in
the case and rebuttal briefs by parties in
this investigation, are discussed in the
Issues and Decision Memorandum. For
a list of the issues raised by parties, and
to which we responded in the Issues
and Decision Memorandum, see
Appendix II of this notice.
Applicable August 22, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Genevieve Coen or Eric Hawkins, AD/
CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement
and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
(202) 482–3251 or (202) 482–1988,
respectively.
Methodology
Commerce conducted this
investigation in accordance with section
701 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act). For each of the
subsidy programs found
countervailable, Commerce determines
that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial
contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that
gives rise to a benefit to the recipient,
AGENCY:
DATES:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
51333
On June 7, 2022, Commerce published
the Preliminary Determination in the
Federal Register.1 For a complete
1 See Certain Steel Nails from India: Preliminary
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 87
FR 34654 (June 7, 2022) (Preliminary
Determination), and accompanying Preliminary
Decision Memorandum.
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18:17 Aug 19, 2022
Jkt 256001
2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision
Memorandum for the Final Determination of the
Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain Steel
Nails from India,’’ dated concurrently with, and
hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision
Memorandum).
3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Antidumping Duty
Investigations of Certain Steel Nails from India, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey and Countervailing
Duty Investigations of Certain Steel Nails from
India, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey:
Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum,’’ dated
July 5, 2022 (Preliminary Scope Memorandum).
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Verification
Commerce was unable to conduct onsite verification of the information
relied upon in making its final
determination in this investigation.
However, we took additional steps in
lieu of on-site verification to verify the
information relied upon in making this
final determination, in accordance with
section 782(i) of the Act.5
All-Others Rate
In accordance with section
705(c)(1)(B)(i)(I) of the Act, we
calculated countervailable subsidy rates
for the individually investigated
exporters and producers (i.e., Astrotech
Steels Pvt. Ltd. (Astrotech) and Geekay).
Consistent with sections
705(c)(1)(B)(i)(I) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the
Act, we also calculated an estimated allothers rate for exporters and producers
not individually investigated. Section
705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act states that ‘‘the
all-others rate shall be equal to the
weighted-average countervailable
subsidy rates established for exporters
and producers individually
investigated, excluding any zero and de
minimis countervailable subsidy rates,
and any rates determined entirely under
section 776 {of the Act}.’’ Therefore,
Commerce calculated the all-others rate
using a weighted average of the
individual estimated subsidy rates
4 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.
5 See Commerce’s Letters, In Lieu of On-site
Verification Questionnaire, dated June 2, 2022, and
June 9, 2022, respectively; see also ‘‘Astrotech’s In
Lieu of Verification Questionnaire Response,’’ dated
June 10, 2022; and Geekay’s Letter, ‘‘In Lieu of OnSite Verification Questionnaire Response,’’ dated
June 17, 2022 (Geekay’s ILOV Response).
6 For example, due to minor corrections, we
modified Geekay Wires Limited’s (Geekay) subsidy
calculations; these corrections, however, did not
change Geekay’s final subsidy rate. See Geekay’s
ILOV Response at 1–2.
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
51334
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 161 / Monday, August 22, 2022 / Notices
calculated for the examined respondents
using each company’s publicly ranged
sales value for the merchandise under
consideration.7
Final Determination
Commerce determines that the
following estimated net countervailable
subsidy rates exist:
this proceeding will be terminated, and
all estimated duties deposited or
securities posted as a result of the
suspension of liquidation will be
refunded or canceled.
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
ITC Notification
In accordance with section 705(d) of
the Act, Commerce will notify the ITC
of its final affirmative determination
Subsidy rate
that countervailable subsidies are being
Company
(percent
provided to producers and exporters of
ad valorem)
steel nails from India. As Commerce’s
Astrotech Steels Pvt. Ltd ......
2.93 final determination is affirmative, in
Geekay Wires Limited ..........
2.73 accordance with section 705(b) of the
All Others ..............................
2.85 Act, the ITC will determine, within 45
days, whether the domestic industry in
Disclosure
the United States is materially injured,
or threatened with material injury, by
Commerce intends to disclose its
reason of imports of steel nails from
calculations performed to interested
India. In addition, we are making
parties in this final determination
available to the ITC all non-privileged
within five days of any public
and non-proprietary information related
announcement, or if there is no public
to this investigation. We will allow the
announcement, within five days of the
publication of this notice in accordance ITC access to all privileged and business
proprietary information in our files,
with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
provided the ITC confirms that it will
Continuation of Suspension of
not disclose such information, either
Liquidation
publicly or under an administrative
As a result of our Preliminary
protective order (APO), without the
Determination, and pursuant to sections written consent of the Assistant
703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act,
Secretary for Enforcement and
Commerce instructed U.S. Customs and Compliance.
Border Protection (CBP) to suspend
Administrative Protective Order
liquidation of entries of subject
In the event that the ITC issues a final
merchandise as described in the scope
negative injury determination, this
of the investigation section entered, or
notice will serve as the only reminder
withdrawn from warehouse, for
to parties subject to the APO of their
consumption on or after June 7, 2022,
responsibility concerning the
the date of publication of the
destruction of proprietary information
Preliminary Determination in the
disclosed under APO in accordance
Federal Register.
with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely
If the U.S. International Trade
written notification of the return/
Commission (ITC) issues a final
destruction of APO materials or
affirmative injury determination, we
conversion to judicial protective order is
will issue a countervailing duty order
hereby requested. Failure to comply
and require a cash deposit of estimated
countervailing duties for such entries of with the regulations and terms of an
APO is a violation which is subject to
subject merchandise in the amounts
sanction.
indicated above, in accordance with
section 706(a) of the Act. If the ITC
Notification to Interested Parties
determines that material injury, or
This determination is issued and
threat of material injury, does not exist,
published pursuant to sections 705(d)
and 771(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR
7 With two respondents under examination,
Commerce normally calculates: (A) a weighted
351.210(c).
average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for
the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of
the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the
examined respondents; and (C) a weighted average
of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the
examined respondents using each company’s
publicly-ranged U.S. sale values for the
merchandise under consideration. Commerce then
compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate
closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all
other producers and exporters. As complete
publicly ranged sales data were available,
Commerce based the all-others rate on the publicly
ranged sales data of the mandatory respondents. See
Memorandum, ‘‘Preliminary Determination of
Subsidy Rate for All Others,’’ dated May 31, 2022.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:17 Aug 19, 2022
Jkt 256001
Dated: August 15, 2022.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this
investigation is certain steel nails having a
nominal shaft or shank length not exceeding
12 inches. Certain steel nails include, but are
not limited to, nails made from round wire
and nails that are cut from flat-rolled steel or
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
long-rolled flat steel bars. Certain steel nails
may be of one piece construction or
constructed of two or more pieces. Examples
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, French-windows
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
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 161 / Monday, August 22, 2022 / Notices
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.
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 these investigations 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.
jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Subsidies Valuation Information
IV. Analysis of Programs
V. Analysis of Comments
Comment 1: Whether Commerce Should
Apply Adverse Facts Available (AFA) to
Reported Benefits Based on the
Government of India’s (GOI) Incomplete
Questionnaire Responses
Comment 2: Whether Commerce Properly
Initiated the Investigation and Met its
Obligations Subject to the Agreement on
Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
(ASCM)
Comment 3: Whether the GOI’s System for
Measuring Input Consumption for Duty
Drawback (DDB) is Reasonable and
Effective
Comment 4: Whether the Export Promotion
of Capital Goods Scheme (EPCGS)
Confers a Countervailable Subsidy
Comment 5: Whether the Merchandise
Export from India Scheme (MEIS) Can Be
Considered a ‘‘Measure at Issue’’ When
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18:17 Aug 19, 2022
Jkt 256001
It Was Discontinued Prior to the
Initiation of This Investigation
Comment 6: Whether the Special Economic
Zone (SEZ) Programs are Countervailable
VI. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2022–18045 Filed 8–19–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
International Trade Administration
[C–523–817]
Certain Steel Nails From the Sultanate
of Oman: Final Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) determines that
countervailable subsidies are being
provided to producers and exporters of
certain steel nails (steel nails) from the
Sultanate of Oman (Oman).
DATES: Applicable August 22, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Martin, AD/CVD Operations,
Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–3936.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
On June 7, 2022, Commerce published
the Preliminary Determination in the
Federal Register.1 For a complete
description of the events that followed
the Preliminary Determination, see the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.2 The
Issues and Decision Memorandum is a
public document and is on file
electronically via Enforcement and
Compliance’s Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Centralized
Electronic Service System (ACCESS).
ACCESS is available to registered users
at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a
complete version of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum can be accessed
directly at https://access.trade.gov/
public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is January
1, 2020, through December 31, 2020.
1 See Certain Steel Nails from the Sultanate of
Oman: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty
Determination, 87 FR 34639 (June 7, 2022)
(Preliminary Determination), and accompanying
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for
the Final Determination of the Countervailing Duty
Investigation of Certain Steel Nails from the
Sultanate of Oman,’’ dated concurrently with this
determination (Issues and Decision Memorandum).
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this
investigation are steel nails from Oman.
For a complete description of the scope
of this investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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51335
Sfmt 4703
On July 5, 2022, Commerce issued the
Preliminary Scope Memorandum.3
Commerce made no changes to the
scope of this investigation since the
Preliminary Determination.
Analysis of Subsidy Programs and
Comments Received
The subsidy programs under
investigation, and the issues raised in
the case and rebuttal briefs by parties in
this investigation, are discussed in the
Issues and Decision Memorandum. For
a list of the issues raised by parties, and
to which we responded in the Issues
and Decision Memorandum, see
Appendix II of this notice.
Methodology
Commerce conducted this
investigation in accordance with section
701 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act). For each of the
subsidy programs found to be
countervailable, Commerce determines
that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial
contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that
gives rise to a benefit to the recipient
and that the subsidy is specific.4 For a
full description of the methodology
underlying our final determination, see
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
Verification
Commerce was unable to conduct onsite verification of the information
relied upon in making its final
determination in this investigation.
However, we took additional steps in
lieu of on-site verification to verify the
information relied upon in making this
final determination, in accordance with
section 782(i) of the Act.5
3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Antidumping Duty
Investigations of Certain Steel Nails from India, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, and Oman and Countervailing
Duty Investigations of Certain Steel Nails from
India, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Oman:
Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum,’’ dated
July 5, 2022 (Preliminary Scope Memorandum).
4 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.
5 See Commerce’s Letters, ‘‘Revised In Lieu of
Verification Questionnaire for Oman Fasteners LLC
in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain
Steel Nails from the Sultanate of Oman,’’ dated June
17, 2022; and ‘‘Revised In Lieu of Verification
Questionnaire for the Government of the Sultanate
of Oman in the Countervailing Duty Investigation
of Certain Steel Nails from the Sultanate of Oman’’
dated June 17, 2022.
E:\FR\FM\22AUN1.SGM
22AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 161 (Monday, August 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51333-51335]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18045]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-533-905]
Certain Steel Nails From India: Final Affirmative Countervailing
Duty Determination
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that
countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters
of certain steel nails (steel nails) from India.
DATES: Applicable August 22, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Genevieve Coen or Eric Hawkins, AD/CVD
Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3251 or (202) 482-1988,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 7, 2022, Commerce published the Preliminary Determination
in the Federal Register.\1\ For a complete description of the events
that followed the Preliminary Determination, see the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.\2\ The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public
document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service
System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Certain Steel Nails from India: Preliminary Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination, 87 FR 34654 (June 7, 2022)
(Preliminary Determination), and accompanying Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.
\2\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the
Final Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of
Certain Steel Nails from India,'' dated concurrently with, and
hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is April 1, 2020, through March 31,
2021.
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are steel nails from
India. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation,
see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
On July 5, 2022, Commerce issued the Preliminary Scope
Memorandum.\3\ Commerce received no comments from interested parties on
the Preliminary Scope Memorandum. Thus, Commerce made no changes to the
scope of this investigation since the Preliminary Determination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Antidumping Duty Investigations of Certain
Steel Nails from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey and
Countervailing Duty Investigations of Certain Steel Nails from
India, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Turkey: Preliminary Scope
Decision Memorandum,'' dated July 5, 2022 (Preliminary Scope
Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis of Subsidy Programs and Comments Received
The subsidy programs under investigation, and the issues raised in
the case and rebuttal briefs by parties in this investigation, are
discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. For a list of the
issues raised by parties, and to which we responded in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum, see Appendix II of this notice.
Methodology
Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section
701 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each of the
subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce determines that there
is a subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an ``authority'' that
gives rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is
specific.\4\ For a full description of the methodology underlying our
final determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verification
Commerce was unable to conduct on-site verification of the
information relied upon in making its final determination in this
investigation. However, we took additional steps in lieu of on-site
verification to verify the information relied upon in making this final
determination, in accordance with section 782(i) of the Act.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Commerce's Letters, In Lieu of On-site Verification
Questionnaire, dated June 2, 2022, and June 9, 2022, respectively;
see also ``Astrotech's In Lieu of Verification Questionnaire
Response,'' dated June 10, 2022; and Geekay's Letter, ``In Lieu of
On-Site Verification Questionnaire Response,'' dated June 17, 2022
(Geekay's ILOV Response).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
Based on our review and analysis of the information received in
lieu of on-site verification and comments received from parties, we
made certain changes to the Preliminary Determination.\6\ However,
these changes did not alter the subsidy rates calculated in the
Preliminary Determination for the mandatory respondents, or the rate
for all other producers/exporters. For a discussion of these changes,
see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ For example, due to minor corrections, we modified Geekay
Wires Limited's (Geekay) subsidy calculations; these corrections,
however, did not change Geekay's final subsidy rate. See Geekay's
ILOV Response at 1-2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All-Others Rate
In accordance with section 705(c)(1)(B)(i)(I) of the Act, we
calculated countervailable subsidy rates for the individually
investigated exporters and producers (i.e., Astrotech Steels Pvt. Ltd.
(Astrotech) and Geekay). Consistent with sections 705(c)(1)(B)(i)(I)
and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act, we also calculated an estimated all-others
rate for exporters and producers not individually investigated. Section
705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act states that ``the all-others rate shall be
equal to the weighted-average countervailable subsidy rates established
for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any
zero and de minimis countervailable subsidy rates, and any rates
determined entirely under section 776 {of the Act{time} .'' Therefore,
Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted average of the
individual estimated subsidy rates
[[Page 51334]]
calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly
ranged sales value for the merchandise under consideration.\7\
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\7\ With two respondents under examination, Commerce normally
calculates: (A) a weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates
calculated for the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of the
estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents; and
(C) a weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for
the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged U.S.
sale values for the merchandise under consideration. Commerce then
compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate closest to (A) as
the most appropriate rate for all other producers and exporters. As
complete publicly ranged sales data were available, Commerce based
the all-others rate on the publicly ranged sales data of the
mandatory respondents. See Memorandum, ``Preliminary Determination
of Subsidy Rate for All Others,'' dated May 31, 2022.
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Final Determination
Commerce determines that the following estimated net
countervailable subsidy rates exist:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subsidy rate
Company (percent ad
valorem)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Astrotech Steels Pvt. Ltd............................... 2.93
Geekay Wires Limited.................................... 2.73
All Others.............................................. 2.85
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations performed to
interested parties in this final determination within five days of any
public announcement, or if there is no public announcement, within five
days of the publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR
351.224(b).
Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation
As a result of our Preliminary Determination, and pursuant to
sections 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, Commerce instructed U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries
of subject merchandise as described in the scope of the investigation
section entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or
after June 7, 2022, the date of publication of the Preliminary
Determination in the Federal Register.
If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final
affirmative injury determination, we will issue a countervailing duty
order and require a cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties for
such entries of subject merchandise in the amounts indicated above, in
accordance with section 706(a) of the Act. If the ITC determines that
material injury, or threat of material injury, does not exist, this
proceeding will be terminated, and all estimated duties deposited or
securities posted as a result of the suspension of liquidation will be
refunded or canceled.
ITC Notification
In accordance with section 705(d) of the Act, Commerce will notify
the ITC of its final affirmative determination that countervailable
subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of steel nails
from India. As Commerce's final determination is affirmative, in
accordance with section 705(b) of the Act, the ITC will determine,
within 45 days, whether the domestic industry in the United States is
materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of
imports of steel nails from India. In addition, we are making available
to the ITC all non-privileged and non-proprietary information related
to this investigation. We will allow the ITC access to all privileged
and business proprietary information in our files, provided the ITC
confirms that it will not disclose such information, either publicly or
under an administrative protective order (APO), without the written
consent of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Administrative Protective Order
In the event that the ITC issues a final negative injury
determination, this notice will serve as the only reminder to parties
subject to the APO of their responsibility concerning the destruction
of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19
CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/
destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order
is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms
of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections
705(d) and 771(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).
Dated: August 15, 2022.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain steel
nails having a nominal shaft or shank length not exceeding 12
inches. Certain steel nails include, but are not limited to, nails
made from round wire and nails that are cut from flat-rolled steel
or long-rolled flat steel bars. Certain steel nails may be of one
piece construction or constructed of two or more pieces. Examples 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, French-windows
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
[[Page 51335]]
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.
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 gas-actuated 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 these
investigations 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 Issues and Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Subsidies Valuation Information
IV. Analysis of Programs
V. Analysis of Comments
Comment 1: Whether Commerce Should Apply Adverse Facts Available
(AFA) to Reported Benefits Based on the Government of India's (GOI)
Incomplete Questionnaire Responses
Comment 2: Whether Commerce Properly Initiated the Investigation
and Met its Obligations Subject to the Agreement on Subsidies and
Countervailing Measures (ASCM)
Comment 3: Whether the GOI's System for Measuring Input
Consumption for Duty Drawback (DDB) is Reasonable and Effective
Comment 4: Whether the Export Promotion of Capital Goods Scheme
(EPCGS) Confers a Countervailable Subsidy
Comment 5: Whether the Merchandise Export from India Scheme
(MEIS) Can Be Considered a ``Measure at Issue'' When It Was
Discontinued Prior to the Initiation of This Investigation
Comment 6: Whether the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Programs are
Countervailable
VI. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2022-18045 Filed 8-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P