Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders, 21985-21989 [2023-07712]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 12, 2023 / Notices claims made herein, or not allowing CBP and/or Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de facto determination that all sales to which this certification applies are within the scope of the antidumping duty order on LWR tubing from Taiwan. I understand that such a finding will result in: (i) suspension of all unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements were not met; (ii) the importer being required to post the cash deposits determined by Commerce; and (iii) the seller/exporter no longer being allowed to participate in the certification process. K. I understand that agents of the seller/ exporter, such as freight forwarding companies or brokers, are not permitted to make this certification. L. This certification was completed and signed, and a copy of the certification was provided to the importer, on, or prior to, the date of shipment if the shipment date is more than 14 days after the date of publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register. If the shipment date is on or before the 14th day after the date of publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register, this certification was completed and signed, and a copy of the certification was provided to the importer, by no later than 45 days after publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register; and M. I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government. Signature {NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} {TITLE OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} {DATE} [FR Doc. 2023–07711 Filed 4–11–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–570–914, C–570–915] ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that imports of light-walled rectangular pipe and tube (LWRPT), completed in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) using hot-rolled AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:25 Apr 11, 2023 Jkt 259001 21985 steel (HRS) produced in the People’s Republic of China (China), are circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on LWRPT from China. DATES: Applicable April 12, 2023. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reginald Anadio, 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) 482–3166. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Commerce rejected Hoa Phat’s response as untimely filed.5 On December 9, 2022, Commerce extended the time limit for issuing the preliminary determination in this circumvention inquiry from January 3 to March 31, 2023.6 On March 31, 2023, Commerce extended the time limit for issuing the preliminary determination in this circumvention inquiry from March 31 to April 6, 2023.7 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this circumvention inquiry, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.8 Background Scope of the Orders 9 On August 5, 2008, Commerce published in the Federal Register the AD and CVD orders on LWRPT from China.1 On August 4, 2022, Commerce initiated a country-wide circumvention inquiry to determine whether certain imports of LWRPT completed in Vietnam using HRS produced in China are circumventing the Orders.2 On August 30, 2022, Commerce selected, in alphabetical order, Hoa Phat Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. (Hoa Phat) and Vina One Steel Manufacturing Corp (Vina One) as the mandatory respondents in this circumvention inquiry.3 Between September 2022 and February 2023, Commerce issued questionnaires to Vina One and received timely responses.4 On November 17, 2022, The products covered by the Orders include certain quality light-walled steel pipe and tube, of rectangular (including square) cross section, having a wall thickness of less than 4 millimeters. For a full description of the scope of the Orders, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.10 1 See 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 or China Orders). 2 See 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, 87 FR 47711 (August 4, 2022). 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Respondent Selection,’’ dated August 30, 2022. 4 See Commerce’s Letters, ‘‘Circumvention Inquiry Initial Questionnaire,’’ dated September 6, 2022; ‘‘Supplemental Questionnaire,’’ dated November 29, 2022; ‘‘Second Supplemental Questionnaire,’’ dated February 3, 2023; ‘‘Third Supplemental Questionnaire,’’ dated February 24, 2023. See also Vina One’s Letter, ‘‘Questionnaire Response,’’ dated October 7, 2022; ‘‘Supplemental Questionnaire Response,’’ dated December 16, 2022; ‘‘2nd Supplemental Questionnaire Response,’’ dated February 17, 2023; ‘‘3rd PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Merchandise Subject to the Circumvention Inquiry This circumvention inquiry covers LWRPT completed in Vietnam using China-origin HRS and subsequently exported from Vietnam to the United States (inquiry merchandise). Methodology Commerce is conducting this circumvention inquiry in accordance with section 781(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act) and 19 CFR 351.226. For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this circumvention inquiry, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as an Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Supplemental Questionnaire Response,’’ dated March 3, 2023. 5 See Memorandum, ‘‘Rejection of Hoa Phat Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. Response to Initial Questionnaire,’’ dated November 17, 2022; see also Memorandum, ‘‘Take Action on Certain Barcodes,’’ dated November 17, 2022. 6 See Memorandum, ‘‘Extension of Preliminary Determinations in Circumvention Inquiries,’’ dated December 9, 2022. 7 See Memorandum, ‘‘Second Extension of Preliminary Determinations in Circumvention Inquiries,’’ dated March 31, 2023. 8 See Memorandum, ‘‘Preliminary Decision Memorandum for the Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). 9 See Orders. 10 See Preliminary Decision Memorandum. E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 21986 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 12, 2023 / Notices 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 Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/ public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Preliminary Circumvention Determination As detailed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce preliminarily determines that LWRPT completed in Vietnam, using Chinaorigin HRS, and subsequently exported from Vietnam to the United States is circumventing the Orders on a countrywide basis. As a result, in accordance with section 781(b) of the Act, we preliminarily determine that this merchandise should be included within the scope of the Orders. See the ‘‘Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposit Requirements’’ section below for details regarding suspension of liquidation and cash deposit requirements. See the ‘‘Certifications’’ and ‘‘Certification Requirements for Vietnam’’ sections below for details regarding the use of certifications. Use of Adverse Facts Available Pursuant to section 776(a) of the Act, if the necessary information is not available on the record, or an interested party withholds requested information, fails to provide requested information by the deadline or in the form and manner requested, or significantly impeded a proceeding, Commerce shall use the facts otherwise available in reaching the applicable determination. Moreover, pursuant to section 776(b) of the Act, Commerce may use inferences adverse to the interests of an interested party in selecting from among the facts otherwise available if the party fails to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to provide requested information. Commerce requested information from the two producers that account for the largest volume of the LWRPT from the exporting country during the inquiry period that Commerce determined can be reasonably examined for purposes of respondent selection. In these initial questionnaires, Commerce explained that, if the company to which Commerce issued the questionnaire fails to respond to the questionnaire, or fails to provide the requested information, Commerce may find that the company failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to comply with the request for information, and may use an inference that is adverse to the company’s interests in selecting from the facts otherwise available. One of the VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:25 Apr 11, 2023 Jkt 259001 mandatory respondents to which Commerce issued the initial questionnaire in this inquiry, i.e., Hoa Phat, received, but failed to timely respond to, Commerce’s questionnaire.11 Therefore, we preliminarily find that Hoa Phat failed to provide requested information by the deadline or in the form and manner requested and significantly impeded this inquiry. Moreover, we find that this company failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to provide the requested information because it did not provide a timely response to Commerce’s initial questionnaire. Consequently, we used adverse inferences with respect to Hoa Phat in selecting from among the facts otherwise available on the record, pursuant to sections 776(a)(2)(B)–(C) and (b) of the Act. For details regarding the adverse facts available used in this preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. As detailed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, based on AFA, we preliminarily determine that Hoa Phat exported inquiry merchandise and that U.S. entries of that merchandise are circumventing the Orders. Additionally, we are preliminarily precluding Hoa Phat from participating in the certification program that we are establishing for exports of LWRPT from Vietnam. U.S. entries of inquiry merchandise made on or after August 4, 2022, that are ineligible for certification based on the failure of Hoa Phat to cooperate, or for other reasons, shall remain subject to suspension of liquidation until final assessment instructions on those entries are issued, whether by automatic liquidation instructions, or by instructions pursuant to the final results of an administrative review.12 Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposit Requirements Based on the preliminary affirmative country-wide determination of circumvention for China, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(l)(2), we will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation and require a cash deposit of estimated duties on unliquidated entries of LWRPT, assembled or completed in Vietnam using Chinese-origin HRS, that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after August 4, 2022, the date of publication 11 Id. at 6. 12 Commerce encourages interested parties to provide comments on this topic in their case briefs. PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 of the initiation of this circumvention inquiry in the Federal Register. LWRPT produced in Vietnam from HRS that is not of China origin is not subject to this inquiry. Therefore, cash deposits are not required for such merchandise under the China Orders. However, Commerce preliminarily finds that light-walled welded rectangular carbon steel tubing (LWR tubing) completed in Vietnam using Taiwanorigin HRS is circumventing the AD order on LWR tubing from Taiwan, and LWRPT from the Republic of Korea (Korea) completed in Vietnam using Korea-origin HRS is circumventing the AD order on LWRPT from Korea.13 Imports of such merchandise are subject to certification requirements, and cash deposits may be required. If an importer imports LWRPT from Vietnam and claims that the LWRPT was not produced from China-origin HRS, in order to not be subject to the Order cash deposit requirements, the importer and exporter are required to meet the certification and documentation requirements described in the ‘‘Certifications’’ and ‘‘Certification Requirements for Vietnam’’ sections, below. Where no certification is provided for an entry, and AD/CVD orders from three countries (China, Korea, or Taiwan) potentially apply to that entry, Commerce intends to instruct CBP to suspend the entry and collect cash deposits at the rates applicable to the AD and CVD orders on LWRPT from China (i.e., the AD rate established for the China-wide entity (255.07 percent) and the CVD rate established for allothers (15.28 percent)) under the following third-country case numbers: A–552–914–000 and C–552–915–000.14 This is to prevent evasion, given that the AD/CVD rates established for LWRPT from China are higher than the AD rates established for LWRPT from Korea and LWR tubing from Taiwan. Where a certification is provided for the AD/CVD orders on LWRPT from China (stating that the merchandise was not produced using China-origin HRS), but no other certification is provided, then Commerce intends to instruct CBP to suspend the entry and collect cash deposits at the rate applicable to the AD order on LWR tubing from Taiwan (i.e., 13 See the unpublished Federal Register notices, ‘‘Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order,’’ and ‘‘Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Korea: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order,’’ dated concurrently with this notice. 14 See Orders. E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 12, 2023 / Notices the AD rate established for all-others (18.05 percent)) under the following third-country case number: A–552–863– 000.15 This is to prevent evasion, given that the AD rate established for LWR tubing from Taiwan is higher than the AD rate established for LWRPT from Korea. Commerce established the following third-country case numbers in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for entries of LWRPT produced in Vietnam using China-origin HRS: A– 552–914–000 and C–552–915–000 with cash deposit rates of 255.07 percent and 15.28 percent, respectively. Commerce also established the following companyspecific third-country case numbers for Vina One, for which Commerce made an affirmative determination of circumvention, for entries of LWRPT produced in Vietnam using China-origin HRS: A–552–914–002 and C–552–915– 002. With regard to Vina One’s company-specific third-country case numbers, the cash deposit rates will be the China-wide entity AD rate (i.e., 255.07 percent) and the China CVD allothers rate (i.e., 15.28 percent), respectively.16 For Hoa Phat, which will not be permitted to certify that its merchandise was not produced from China-origin HRS, Commerce will direct CBP to suspend liquidation and require a cash deposit at the AD/CVD rates established for LWRPT from China. Commerce established the following companyspecific third-country case numbers for Hoa Phat: A–552–914–001 and C–552– 915–001. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Certified Entries Entries for which the importer and exporter have met the certification requirements described below and in Appendix II to this notice will not be subject to suspension of liquidation, or the cash deposit requirements described above. Failure to comply with the applicable requisite certification requirements may result in the merchandise being subject to duties. Certifications To administer the preliminary affirmative country-wide determination of circumvention for Vietnam, Commerce established importer and exporter certifications, which allow companies to certify that specific entries 15 See Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 57 FR 24464, 24466 (June 9, 1992). 16 See Orders. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:25 Apr 11, 2023 Jkt 259001 of LWRPT from Vietnam are not subject to suspension of liquidation or the collection of cash deposits pursuant to this preliminary affirmative countrywide determination of circumvention because the merchandise is not made with Chinese-origin HRS (see Appendix II to this notice). Because Hoa Phat was non-cooperative, it is not eligible to use the certification described above.17 Importers and exporters that claim that the entry of LWRPT is not subject to suspension of liquidation or the collection of cash deposits because the merchandise is not made with Chinaorigin HRS must complete the applicable certification and meet the certification and documentation requirements described below, as well as the requirements identified in the applicable certification. Certification Requirements for Vietnam Importers are required to complete and maintain the applicable importer certification, and maintain a copy of the applicable exporter certification, and retain all supporting documentation for both certifications. With the exception of the entries described below, the importer certification must be completed, signed, and dated by the time the entry summary is filed for the relevant entry. The importer, or the importer’s agent, must submit both the importer’s certification and the exporter’s certification to CBP as part of the entry process by uploading them into the document imaging system (DIS) in ACE. Where the importer uses a broker to facilitate the entry process, the importer should obtain the entry summary number from the broker. Agents of the importer, such as brokers, however, are not permitted to certify on behalf of the importer. Exporters are required to complete and maintain the applicable exporter certification and provide the importer with a copy of that certification and all supporting documentation (e.g., invoice, purchase order, production records, etc.). With the exception of the entries described below, the exporter certification must be completed, signed, and dated by the time of shipment of the relevant entries. The exporter certification should be completed by the 17 See Preliminary Decision Memorandum at ‘‘Use of Facts Available with Adverse Inferences;’’ see also Anti-circumvention Inquiry of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Pasta from Italy: Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order, 63 FR 18364, 18366 (April 15, 1998), unchanged in Anti-Circumvention Inquiry of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Pasta from Italy: Affirmative Final Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order, 63 FR 54672, 54675–76 (October 13, 1998). PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21987 party selling the LWRPT that was manufactured in Vietnam to the United States. Additionally, the claims made in the certifications and any supporting documentation are subject to verification by Commerce and/or CBP. Importers and exporters are required to maintain the certifications and supporting documentation until the later of: (1) the date that is five years after the latest entry date of the entries covered by the certification; or (2) the date that is three years after the conclusion of any litigation in United States courts regarding such entries. For all LWRPT from Vietnam that was entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period August 4, 2022 (the date of initiation of these circumvention inquiries), through the date of publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register, where the entry has not been liquidated (and entries for which liquidation has not become final), the relevant certification should be completed and signed as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the date of publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal Register. For such entries, importers, and exporters each have the option to complete a blanket certification covering multiple entries, individual certifications for each entry, or a combination thereof. The exporter must provide the importer with a copy of the exporter certification within 45 days of the date of publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal Register. For unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) of LWRPT that were declared as non-AD or non-CVD type entries (e.g., type 01) and entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption in the United States during the period August 4, 2022 (the date of initiation of these circumvention inquiries) through the date of publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register, for which none of the above certifications may be made, importers must file a Post Summary Correction with CBP, in accordance with CBP’s regulations, regarding conversion of such entries from non-AD or non-CVD type entries to AD or CVD type entries (e.g., type 01 to type 03). Importers should report those AD or CVD type entries using the third-country case numbers identified in the ‘‘Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposit Requirements’’ section, above. The importer should pay cash deposits on those entries consistent with the regulations governing post summary E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 21988 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 12, 2023 / Notices corrections that require payment of additional duties. If it is determined that an importer and/or exporter has not met the certification and/or related documentation requirements for certain entries, Commerce intends to instruct CBP to suspend, pursuant to this preliminary affirmative country-wide determination of circumvention and the Orders,18 all unliquidated entries for which these requirements were not met and require the importer to post applicable cash deposits equal to the rates noted above. Interested parties may comment on these certification requirements, and on the certification language contained in Appendix II to this notice in their case briefs. Verification As provided in 19 CFR 351.307, Commerce may verify information relied upon in making its final determination. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 U.S. International Trade Commission Notification Commerce, consistent with section 781(e) of the Act, will notify the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of this preliminary determination to include the merchandise subject to this circumvention inquiry within the Orders. Pursuant to section 781(e) of the Act, the ITC may request consultations concerning Commerce’s proposed inclusion of the inquiry merchandise. If, after consultations, the ITC believes that a significant injury issue is presented by the proposed inclusion, it will have 60 days from the date of notification by Commerce to provide written advice. Notification to Interested Parties Public Comment Case briefs or other written comments should be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the last verification report is issued. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than seven days after the deadline for case briefs.19 Parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) a statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities.20 Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain the party’s name, address, and telephone number, the number of participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be determined. All submissions should be filed electronically via ACCESS.21 Alternative arrangements for manual filings must be made by contacting the 18 See official in charge at least 72 hours before the deadline. Note that Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for serving documents containing business proprietary information, until further notice.22 Orders. 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). 20 See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(d)(2). 21 See 19 CFR 351.303. This determination is issued and published in accordance with section 781(b) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.226(g)(1). Dated: April 6, 2023. Abdelali Elouaradia, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix I List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Scope of the Orders IV. Merchandise Subject to the Circumvention Inquiry V. Period of Circumvention Inquiry VI. Application of Facts Available and Use Of Adverse Inference VII. Affiliation and Collapsing VIII. Surrogate Country and Methodology for Valuing Factors of Production from NonMarket Economy Sources and Processing in Vietnam IX. Surrogate Country and Methodology for Valuing Factors of Production from NonMarket Economy Sources and Processing in China X. Statutory and Regulatory Framework for the Circumvention Inquiry XI. Analysis of Statutory Criteria for the Circumvention Inquiry XII. Summary of Statutory Analysis XIII. Verification XIV. Country-Wide Affirmative Determination of Circumvention XV. Recommendation 19 See VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:25 Apr 11, 2023 Jkt 259001 22 See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due to COVID–19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 10, 2020). PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Appendix II 1. Certifications Importer Certification I hereby certify that: A. My name is {IMPORTING COMPANY OFFICIAL’S NAME} and I am an official of {IMPORTING COMPANY}, located at {ADDRESS OF IMPORTING COMPANY}; B. I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the importation into the Customs territory of the United States of the light-walled rectangular pipe and tube (LWRPT) produced in Vietnam that entered under entry summary number(s), identified below, and are covered by this certification. ‘‘Direct personal knowledge’’ refers to facts the certifying party is expected to have in its own records. For example, the importer should have direct personal knowledge of the importation of LWRPT, including the exporter’s and/or foreign seller’s identity and location; C. If the importer is acting on behalf of the first U.S. customer, include the following sentence as paragraph C of this certification: The LWRPT covered by this certification was imported by {IMPORTING COMPANY} on behalf of {U.S. CUSTOMER}, located at {ADDRESS OF U.S. CUSTOMER}; If the importer is not acting on behalf of the first U.S. customer, include the following sentence as paragraph C of this certification: {NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY} is not acting on behalf of the first U.S. customer. D. The LWRPT covered by this certification was shipped to {NAME OF PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES TO WHOM THE MERCHANDISE WAS FIRST SHIPPED}, located at {U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED}. E. I have personal knowledge of the facts regarding the production of the imported products covered by this certification. ‘‘Personal knowledge’’ includes facts obtained from another party, (e.g., correspondence received by the importer (or exporter) from the producer regarding the source of hot-rolled steel (HRS) used to produce the imported LWRPT); F. This certification applies to the following entries (repeat this block as many times as necessary): Entry Summary #: Entry Summary Line Item #: Foreign Seller: Foreign Seller’s Address: Foreign Seller’s Invoice #: Foreign Seller’s Invoice Line Item #: Country of Origin of HRS: Producer: Producer’s Address: G. The LWRPT covered by this certification does not contain HRS produced in China; H. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation supporting this certification (i.e., documents maintained in the normal course of business, or documents obtained by the certifying party, for example, certificates of origin, product data sheets, mill test reports, productions records, invoices, etc.) until the later of: (1) the date that is five years after the date of the latest entry covered by E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 70 / Wednesday, April 12, 2023 / Notices the certification; or (2) the date that is three years after the conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding such entries; I. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of the exporter’s certification (attesting to the production and/or exportation of the imported merchandise identified above), and any supporting documentation provided to the importer by the exporter, until the later of: (1) the date that is five years after the date of the latest entry covered by the certification; or (2) the date that is three years after the conclusion of any litigation in United States courts regarding such entries; J. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) with the importer certification, and any supporting documentation, and a copy of the exporter’s certification, and any supporting documentation provided to the importer by the exporter, upon request of either agency; K. I understand that the claims made herein, and the substantiating documentation, are subject to verification by CBP and/or Commerce; L. I understand that failure to maintain the required certification and supporting documentation, or failure to substantiate the claims made herein, or not allowing CBP and/or Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de facto determination that all entries to which this certification applies are within the scope of the antidumping duty (AD) order and countervailing duty (CVD) order on LWRPT from China. I understand that such finding will result in: (i) suspension of liquidation of all unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements were not met; (ii) the importer being required to post the antidumping duty and countervailing duty cash deposits determined by Commerce; and (iii) the importer no longer being allowed to participate in the certification process. M. I understand that agents of the importer, such as brokers, are not permitted to make this certification; This certification was completed and signed on, or prior to, the date of the entry summary if the entry date is more than 14 days after the date of publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register. If the entry date is on or before the 14th day after the date of publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register, this certification was completed and signed by no later than 45 days after publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register. N. I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government. Signature {NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:49 Apr 11, 2023 Jkt 259001 {TITLE OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} {DATE} Exporter Certification The party that made the sale to the United States should fill out the exporter certification. I hereby certify that: A. My name is {COMPANY OFFICIAL’S NAME} and I am an official of {NAME OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE SALE TO THE UNITED STATES); located at {ADDRESS OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE SALE TO THE UNITED STATES}; B. I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the production and exportation of the LWRPT for which sales are identified below. ‘‘Direct personal knowledge’’ refers to facts the certifying party is expected to have in its own records. For example, an exporter should have direct personal knowledge of the producer’s identity and location; C. The LWRPT covered by this certification was shipped to {NAME OF PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES TO WHOM MERCHANDISE WAS FIRST SHIPPED}, located at {U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED}; D. The LWRPT covered by this certification does not contain HRS produced in China; E. This certification applies to the following sales to {NAME OF U.S. CUSTOMER}, located at {ADDRESS OF U.S. CUSTOMER} (repeat this block as many times as necessary): Foreign Seller’s Invoice # to U.S. Customer: Foreign Seller’s Invoice to U.S. Customer Line item #: Producer Name: Producer’s Address: Producer’s Invoice # to Foreign Seller: (If the foreign seller and the producer are the same party, put NA here.) Name of Producer of HRS: Location (Country) of Producer of HRS: F. The LWRPT covered by this certification was shipped to {NAME OF U.S. PARTY TO WHOM MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED}, located at {U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED}; G. I understand that {NAME OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE SALE TO THE UNITED STATES} is required to maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation supporting this certification (i.e., documents maintained in the normal course of business, or documents obtained by the certifying party, for example, product data sheets, mill test reports, productions records, invoices, etc.) until the later of: (1) the date that is five years after the latest date of the entries covered by the certification; or (2) the date that is three years after the conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding such entries; H. I understand that {NAME OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE SALE TO THE UNITED STATES} is required to provide the U.S. importer with a copy of this certification and is required to provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) with this certification, and any supporting documents, upon request of either agency; PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 21989 I. I understand that the claims made herein, and the substantiating documentation, are subject to verification by CBP and/or Commerce; J. I understand that failure to maintain the required certification and supporting documentation, or failure to substantiate the claims made herein, or not allowing CBP and/or Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de facto determination that all sales to which this certification applies are within the scope of the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on LWRPT from China. I understand that such a finding will result in: (i) suspension of all unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements were not met; (ii) the importer being required to post the antidumping duty and countervailing duty cash deposits determined by Commerce; and (iii) the seller/exporter no longer being allowed to participate in the certification process. K. I understand that agents of the seller/ exporter, such as freight forwarding companies or brokers, are not permitted to make this certification. L. This certification was completed and signed, and a copy of the certification was provided to the importer, on, or prior to, the date of shipment if the shipment date is more than 14 days after the date of publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register. If the shipment date is on or before the 14th day after the date of publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register, this certification was completed and signed, and a copy of the certification was provided to the importer, by no later than 45 days after publication of the notice of Commerce’s preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register; and M. I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. 1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government. Signature {NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} {TITLE OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} {DATE} [FR Doc. 2023–07712 Filed 4–11–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–580–809] Certain Circular Welded Non-Alloy Steel Pipe From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\12APN1.SGM 12APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21985-21989]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07712]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-914, C-570-915]


Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and Tube From the People's Republic 
of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the 
Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily 
determines that imports of light-walled rectangular pipe and tube 
(LWRPT), completed in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) using 
hot-rolled steel (HRS) produced in the People's Republic of China 
(China), are circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing 
duty (CVD) orders on LWRPT from China.

DATES: Applicable April 12, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reginald Anadio, 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) 482-3166.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 5, 2008, Commerce published in the Federal Register the 
AD and CVD orders on LWRPT from China.\1\ On August 4, 2022, Commerce 
initiated a country-wide circumvention inquiry to determine whether 
certain imports of LWRPT completed in Vietnam using HRS produced in 
China are circumventing the Orders.\2\ On August 30, 2022, Commerce 
selected, in alphabetical order, Hoa Phat Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. (Hoa 
Phat) and Vina One Steel Manufacturing Corp (Vina One) as the mandatory 
respondents in this circumvention inquiry.\3\ Between September 2022 
and February 2023, Commerce issued questionnaires to Vina One and 
received timely responses.\4\ On November 17, 2022, Commerce rejected 
Hoa Phat's response as untimely filed.\5\
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    \1\ See 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 or China Orders).
    \2\ See 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, 87 FR 
47711 (August 4, 2022).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Respondent Selection,'' dated August 30, 
2022.
    \4\ See Commerce's Letters, ``Circumvention Inquiry Initial 
Questionnaire,'' dated September 6, 2022; ``Supplemental 
Questionnaire,'' dated November 29, 2022; ``Second Supplemental 
Questionnaire,'' dated February 3, 2023; ``Third Supplemental 
Questionnaire,'' dated February 24, 2023. See also Vina One's 
Letter, ``Questionnaire Response,'' dated October 7, 2022; 
``Supplemental Questionnaire Response,'' dated December 16, 2022; 
``2nd Supplemental Questionnaire Response,'' dated February 17, 
2023; ``3rd Supplemental Questionnaire Response,'' dated March 3, 
2023.
    \5\ See Memorandum, ``Rejection of Hoa Phat Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. 
Response to Initial Questionnaire,'' dated November 17, 2022; see 
also Memorandum, ``Take Action on Certain Barcodes,'' dated November 
17, 2022.
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    On December 9, 2022, Commerce extended the time limit for issuing 
the preliminary determination in this circumvention inquiry from 
January 3 to March 31, 2023.\6\ On March 31, 2023, Commerce extended 
the time limit for issuing the preliminary determination in this 
circumvention inquiry from March 31 to April 6, 2023.\7\ For a complete 
description of the events that followed the initiation of this 
circumvention inquiry, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.\8\
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    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Extension of Preliminary Determinations in 
Circumvention Inquiries,'' dated December 9, 2022.
    \7\ See Memorandum, ``Second Extension of Preliminary 
Determinations in Circumvention Inquiries,'' dated March 31, 2023.
    \8\ See Memorandum, ``Preliminary Decision Memorandum for the 
Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing 
Duty Orders,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this 
notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Orders 9
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    \9\ See Orders.
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    The products covered by the Orders include certain quality light-
walled steel pipe and tube, of rectangular (including square) cross 
section, having a wall thickness of less than 4 millimeters. For a full 
description of the scope of the Orders, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\10\
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    \10\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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Merchandise Subject to the Circumvention Inquiry

    This circumvention inquiry covers LWRPT completed in Vietnam using 
China-origin HRS and subsequently exported from Vietnam to the United 
States (inquiry merchandise).

Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this circumvention inquiry in accordance 
with section 781(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act) and 
19 CFR 351.226. For a complete description of the events that followed 
the initiation of this circumvention inquiry, see the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum. A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is included as an Appendix I to this notice. The 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file 
electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and

[[Page 21986]]

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 Preliminary Decision Memorandum can 
be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.

Preliminary Circumvention Determination

    As detailed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce 
preliminarily determines that LWRPT completed in Vietnam, using China-
origin HRS, and subsequently exported from Vietnam to the United States 
is circumventing the Orders on a country-wide basis. As a result, in 
accordance with section 781(b) of the Act, we preliminarily determine 
that this merchandise should be included within the scope of the 
Orders. See the ``Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposit 
Requirements'' section below for details regarding suspension of 
liquidation and cash deposit requirements. See the ``Certifications'' 
and ``Certification Requirements for Vietnam'' sections below for 
details regarding the use of certifications.

Use of Adverse Facts Available

    Pursuant to section 776(a) of the Act, if the necessary information 
is not available on the record, or an interested party withholds 
requested information, fails to provide requested information by the 
deadline or in the form and manner requested, or significantly impeded 
a proceeding, Commerce shall use the facts otherwise available in 
reaching the applicable determination. Moreover, pursuant to section 
776(b) of the Act, Commerce may use inferences adverse to the interests 
of an interested party in selecting from among the facts otherwise 
available if the party fails to cooperate by not acting to the best of 
its ability to provide requested information.
    Commerce requested information from the two producers that account 
for the largest volume of the LWRPT from the exporting country during 
the inquiry period that Commerce determined can be reasonably examined 
for purposes of respondent selection. In these initial questionnaires, 
Commerce explained that, if the company to which Commerce issued the 
questionnaire fails to respond to the questionnaire, or fails to 
provide the requested information, Commerce may find that the company 
failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to comply 
with the request for information, and may use an inference that is 
adverse to the company's interests in selecting from the facts 
otherwise available. One of the mandatory respondents to which Commerce 
issued the initial questionnaire in this inquiry, i.e., Hoa Phat, 
received, but failed to timely respond to, Commerce's 
questionnaire.\11\
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    \11\ Id. at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, we preliminarily find that Hoa Phat failed to provide 
requested information by the deadline or in the form and manner 
requested and significantly impeded this inquiry. Moreover, we find 
that this company failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its 
ability to provide the requested information because it did not provide 
a timely response to Commerce's initial questionnaire. Consequently, we 
used adverse inferences with respect to Hoa Phat in selecting from 
among the facts otherwise available on the record, pursuant to sections 
776(a)(2)(B)-(C) and (b) of the Act. For details regarding the adverse 
facts available used in this preliminary determination, see the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
    As detailed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, based on AFA, 
we preliminarily determine that Hoa Phat exported inquiry merchandise 
and that U.S. entries of that merchandise are circumventing the Orders. 
Additionally, we are preliminarily precluding Hoa Phat from 
participating in the certification program that we are establishing for 
exports of LWRPT from Vietnam.
    U.S. entries of inquiry merchandise made on or after August 4, 
2022, that are ineligible for certification based on the failure of Hoa 
Phat to cooperate, or for other reasons, shall remain subject to 
suspension of liquidation until final assessment instructions on those 
entries are issued, whether by automatic liquidation instructions, or 
by instructions pursuant to the final results of an administrative 
review.\12\
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    \12\ Commerce encourages interested parties to provide comments 
on this topic in their case briefs.
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Suspension of Liquidation and Cash Deposit Requirements

    Based on the preliminary affirmative country-wide determination of 
circumvention for China, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(l)(2), we 
will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend 
liquidation and require a cash deposit of estimated duties on 
unliquidated entries of LWRPT, assembled or completed in Vietnam using 
Chinese-origin HRS, that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after August 4, 2022, the date of publication of the 
initiation of this circumvention inquiry in the Federal Register.
    LWRPT produced in Vietnam from HRS that is not of China origin is 
not subject to this inquiry. Therefore, cash deposits are not required 
for such merchandise under the China Orders. However, Commerce 
preliminarily finds that light-walled welded rectangular carbon steel 
tubing (LWR tubing) completed in Vietnam using Taiwan-origin HRS is 
circumventing the AD order on LWR tubing from Taiwan, and LWRPT from 
the Republic of Korea (Korea) completed in Vietnam using Korea-origin 
HRS is circumventing the AD order on LWRPT from Korea.\13\ Imports of 
such merchandise are subject to certification requirements, and cash 
deposits may be required.
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    \13\ See the unpublished Federal Register notices, ``Light-
Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing from Taiwan: 
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Circumvention of the 
Antidumping Duty Order,'' and ``Light-Walled Welded Rectangular 
Carbon Steel Tubing from Korea: Preliminary Affirmative 
Determination of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order,'' 
dated concurrently with this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If an importer imports LWRPT from Vietnam and claims that the LWRPT 
was not produced from China-origin HRS, in order to not be subject to 
the Order cash deposit requirements, the importer and exporter are 
required to meet the certification and documentation requirements 
described in the ``Certifications'' and ``Certification Requirements 
for Vietnam'' sections, below.
    Where no certification is provided for an entry, and AD/CVD orders 
from three countries (China, Korea, or Taiwan) potentially apply to 
that entry, Commerce intends to instruct CBP to suspend the entry and 
collect cash deposits at the rates applicable to the AD and CVD orders 
on LWRPT from China (i.e., the AD rate established for the China-wide 
entity (255.07 percent) and the CVD rate established for all-others 
(15.28 percent)) under the following third-country case numbers: A-552-
914-000 and C-552-915-000.\14\ This is to prevent evasion, given that 
the AD/CVD rates established for LWRPT from China are higher than the 
AD rates established for LWRPT from Korea and LWR tubing from Taiwan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See Orders.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Where a certification is provided for the AD/CVD orders on LWRPT 
from China (stating that the merchandise was not produced using China-
origin HRS), but no other certification is provided, then Commerce 
intends to instruct CBP to suspend the entry and collect cash deposits 
at the rate applicable to the AD order on LWR tubing from Taiwan (i.e.,

[[Page 21987]]

the AD rate established for all-others (18.05 percent)) under the 
following third-country case number: A-552-863-000.\15\ This is to 
prevent evasion, given that the AD rate established for LWR tubing from 
Taiwan is higher than the AD rate established for LWRPT from Korea.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ See Light-Walled Welded Rectangular Carbon Steel Tubing 
from Taiwan; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Review, 57 FR 24464, 24466 (June 9, 1992).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Commerce established the following third-country case numbers in 
the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for entries of LWRPT 
produced in Vietnam using China-origin HRS: A-552-914-000 and C-552-
915-000 with cash deposit rates of 255.07 percent and 15.28 percent, 
respectively. Commerce also established the following company-specific 
third-country case numbers for Vina One, for which Commerce made an 
affirmative determination of circumvention, for entries of LWRPT 
produced in Vietnam using China-origin HRS: A-552-914-002 and C-552-
915-002. With regard to Vina One's company-specific third-country case 
numbers, the cash deposit rates will be the China-wide entity AD rate 
(i.e., 255.07 percent) and the China CVD all-others rate (i.e., 15.28 
percent), respectively.\16\
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    \16\ See Orders.
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    For Hoa Phat, which will not be permitted to certify that its 
merchandise was not produced from China-origin HRS, Commerce will 
direct CBP to suspend liquidation and require a cash deposit at the AD/
CVD rates established for LWRPT from China. Commerce established the 
following company-specific third-country case numbers for Hoa Phat: A-
552-914-001 and C-552-915-001.
    These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect 
until further notice.

Certified Entries

    Entries for which the importer and exporter have met the 
certification requirements described below and in Appendix II to this 
notice will not be subject to suspension of liquidation, or the cash 
deposit requirements described above. Failure to comply with the 
applicable requisite certification requirements may result in the 
merchandise being subject to duties.

Certifications

    To administer the preliminary affirmative country-wide 
determination of circumvention for Vietnam, Commerce established 
importer and exporter certifications, which allow companies to certify 
that specific entries of LWRPT from Vietnam are not subject to 
suspension of liquidation or the collection of cash deposits pursuant 
to this preliminary affirmative country-wide determination of 
circumvention because the merchandise is not made with Chinese-origin 
HRS (see Appendix II to this notice). Because Hoa Phat was non-
cooperative, it is not eligible to use the certification described 
above.\17\
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    \17\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum at ``Use of Facts 
Available with Adverse Inferences;'' see also Anti-circumvention 
Inquiry of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Pasta from Italy: 
Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Circumvention of the 
Antidumping Duty Order, 63 FR 18364, 18366 (April 15, 1998), 
unchanged in Anti-Circumvention Inquiry of the Antidumping Duty 
Order on Certain Pasta from Italy: Affirmative Final Determination 
of Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order, 63 FR 54672, 54675-
76 (October 13, 1998).
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    Importers and exporters that claim that the entry of LWRPT is not 
subject to suspension of liquidation or the collection of cash deposits 
because the merchandise is not made with China-origin HRS must complete 
the applicable certification and meet the certification and 
documentation requirements described below, as well as the requirements 
identified in the applicable certification.

Certification Requirements for Vietnam

    Importers are required to complete and maintain the applicable 
importer certification, and maintain a copy of the applicable exporter 
certification, and retain all supporting documentation for both 
certifications. With the exception of the entries described below, the 
importer certification must be completed, signed, and dated by the time 
the entry summary is filed for the relevant entry. The importer, or the 
importer's agent, must submit both the importer's certification and the 
exporter's certification to CBP as part of the entry process by 
uploading them into the document imaging system (DIS) in ACE. Where the 
importer uses a broker to facilitate the entry process, the importer 
should obtain the entry summary number from the broker. Agents of the 
importer, such as brokers, however, are not permitted to certify on 
behalf of the importer.
    Exporters are required to complete and maintain the applicable 
exporter certification and provide the importer with a copy of that 
certification and all supporting documentation (e.g., invoice, purchase 
order, production records, etc.). With the exception of the entries 
described below, the exporter certification must be completed, signed, 
and dated by the time of shipment of the relevant entries. The exporter 
certification should be completed by the party selling the LWRPT that 
was manufactured in Vietnam to the United States.
    Additionally, the claims made in the certifications and any 
supporting documentation are subject to verification by Commerce and/or 
CBP. Importers and exporters are required to maintain the 
certifications and supporting documentation until the later of: (1) the 
date that is five years after the latest entry date of the entries 
covered by the certification; or (2) the date that is three years after 
the conclusion of any litigation in United States courts regarding such 
entries.
    For all LWRPT from Vietnam that was entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption during the period August 4, 2022 (the date 
of initiation of these circumvention inquiries), through the date of 
publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register, 
where the entry has not been liquidated (and entries for which 
liquidation has not become final), the relevant certification should be 
completed and signed as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days 
after the date of publication of this preliminary determination in the 
Federal Register. For such entries, importers, and exporters each have 
the option to complete a blanket certification covering multiple 
entries, individual certifications for each entry, or a combination 
thereof. The exporter must provide the importer with a copy of the 
exporter certification within 45 days of the date of publication of 
this preliminary determination in the Federal Register.
    For unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not 
become final) of LWRPT that were declared as non-AD or non-CVD type 
entries (e.g., type 01) and entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption in the United States during the period August 4, 2022 (the 
date of initiation of these circumvention inquiries) through the date 
of publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal 
Register, for which none of the above certifications may be made, 
importers must file a Post Summary Correction with CBP, in accordance 
with CBP's regulations, regarding conversion of such entries from non-
AD or non-CVD type entries to AD or CVD type entries (e.g., type 01 to 
type 03). Importers should report those AD or CVD type entries using 
the third-country case numbers identified in the ``Suspension of 
Liquidation and Cash Deposit Requirements'' section, above. The 
importer should pay cash deposits on those entries consistent with the 
regulations governing post summary

[[Page 21988]]

corrections that require payment of additional duties.
    If it is determined that an importer and/or exporter has not met 
the certification and/or related documentation requirements for certain 
entries, Commerce intends to instruct CBP to suspend, pursuant to this 
preliminary affirmative country-wide determination of circumvention and 
the Orders,\18\ all unliquidated entries for which these requirements 
were not met and require the importer to post applicable cash deposits 
equal to the rates noted above.
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    \18\ See Orders.
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    Interested parties may comment on these certification requirements, 
and on the certification language contained in Appendix II to this 
notice in their case briefs.

Verification

    As provided in 19 CFR 351.307, Commerce may verify information 
relied upon in making its final determination.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments should be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven 
days after the date on which the last verification report is issued. 
Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be 
submitted no later than seven days after the deadline for case 
briefs.\19\ Parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this 
proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) a statement 
of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of 
authorities.\20\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who 
wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and 
rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant 
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests 
should contain the party's name, address, and telephone number, the 
number of participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, 
and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is 
made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be 
determined.
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    \19\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
    \20\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(d)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All submissions should be filed electronically via ACCESS.\21\ 
Alternative arrangements for manual filings must be made by contacting 
the official in charge at least 72 hours before the deadline. Note that 
Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for 
serving documents containing business proprietary information, until 
further notice.\22\
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    \21\ See 19 CFR 351.303.
    \22\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements 
Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 
10, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. International Trade Commission Notification

    Commerce, consistent with section 781(e) of the Act, will notify 
the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of this preliminary 
determination to include the merchandise subject to this circumvention 
inquiry within the Orders. Pursuant to section 781(e) of the Act, the 
ITC may request consultations concerning Commerce's proposed inclusion 
of the inquiry merchandise. If, after consultations, the ITC believes 
that a significant injury issue is presented by the proposed inclusion, 
it will have 60 days from the date of notification by Commerce to 
provide written advice.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
section 781(b) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.226(g)(1).

    Dated: April 6, 2023.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Orders
IV. Merchandise Subject to the Circumvention Inquiry
V. Period of Circumvention Inquiry
VI. Application of Facts Available and Use Of Adverse Inference
VII. Affiliation and Collapsing
VIII. Surrogate Country and Methodology for Valuing Factors of 
Production from Non-Market Economy Sources and Processing in Vietnam
IX. Surrogate Country and Methodology for Valuing Factors of 
Production from Non-Market Economy Sources and Processing in China
X. Statutory and Regulatory Framework for the Circumvention Inquiry
XI. Analysis of Statutory Criteria for the Circumvention Inquiry
XII. Summary of Statutory Analysis
XIII. Verification
XIV. Country-Wide Affirmative Determination of Circumvention
XV. Recommendation

Appendix II

1. Certifications

Importer Certification

    I hereby certify that:
    A. My name is {IMPORTING COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME{time}  and I am 
an official of {IMPORTING COMPANY{time} , located at {ADDRESS OF 
IMPORTING COMPANY{time} ;
    B. I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the 
importation into the Customs territory of the United States of the 
light-walled rectangular pipe and tube (LWRPT) produced in Vietnam 
that entered under entry summary number(s), identified below, and 
are covered by this certification. ``Direct personal knowledge'' 
refers to facts the certifying party is expected to have in its own 
records. For example, the importer should have direct personal 
knowledge of the importation of LWRPT, including the exporter's and/
or foreign seller's identity and location;
    C. If the importer is acting on behalf of the first U.S. 
customer, include the following sentence as paragraph C of this 
certification:
    The LWRPT covered by this certification was imported by 
{IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  on behalf of {U.S. CUSTOMER{time} , 
located at {ADDRESS OF U.S. CUSTOMER{time} ;
    If the importer is not acting on behalf of the first U.S. 
customer, include the following sentence as paragraph C of this 
certification:
    {NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  is not acting on behalf of the 
first U.S. customer.
    D. The LWRPT covered by this certification was shipped to {NAME 
OF PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES TO WHOM THE MERCHANDISE WAS FIRST 
SHIPPED{time} , located at {U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS 
SHIPPED{time} .
    E. I have personal knowledge of the facts regarding the 
production of the imported products covered by this certification. 
``Personal knowledge'' includes facts obtained from another party, 
(e.g., correspondence received by the importer (or exporter) from 
the producer regarding the source of hot-rolled steel (HRS) used to 
produce the imported LWRPT);
    F. This certification applies to the following entries (repeat 
this block as many times as necessary):
    Entry Summary #:
    Entry Summary Line Item #:
    Foreign Seller:
    Foreign Seller's Address:
    Foreign Seller's Invoice #:
    Foreign Seller's Invoice Line Item #:
    Country of Origin of HRS:
    Producer:
    Producer's Address:
    G. The LWRPT covered by this certification does not contain HRS 
produced in China;
    H. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  is required to 
maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation 
supporting this certification (i.e., documents maintained in the 
normal course of business, or documents obtained by the certifying 
party, for example, certificates of origin, product data sheets, 
mill test reports, productions records, invoices, etc.) until the 
later of: (1) the date that is five years after the date of the 
latest entry covered by

[[Page 21989]]

the certification; or (2) the date that is three years after the 
conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding 
such entries;
    I. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  is required to 
maintain a copy of the exporter's certification (attesting to the 
production and/or exportation of the imported merchandise identified 
above), and any supporting documentation provided to the importer by 
the exporter, until the later of: (1) the date that is five years 
after the date of the latest entry covered by the certification; or 
(2) the date that is three years after the conclusion of any 
litigation in United States courts regarding such entries;
    J. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  is required to 
provide U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the U.S. 
Department of Commerce (Commerce) with the importer certification, 
and any supporting documentation, and a copy of the exporter's 
certification, and any supporting documentation provided to the 
importer by the exporter, upon request of either agency;
    K. I understand that the claims made herein, and the 
substantiating documentation, are subject to verification by CBP 
and/or Commerce;
    L. I understand that failure to maintain the required 
certification and supporting documentation, or failure to 
substantiate the claims made herein, or not allowing CBP and/or 
Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de facto 
determination that all entries to which this certification applies 
are within the scope of the antidumping duty (AD) order and 
countervailing duty (CVD) order on LWRPT from China. I understand 
that such finding will result in:
    (i) suspension of liquidation of all unliquidated entries (and 
entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these 
requirements were not met;
    (ii) the importer being required to post the antidumping duty 
and countervailing duty cash deposits determined by Commerce; and
    (iii) the importer no longer being allowed to participate in the 
certification process.
    M. I understand that agents of the importer, such as brokers, 
are not permitted to make this certification;
    This certification was completed and signed on, or prior to, the 
date of the entry summary if the entry date is more than 14 days 
after the date of publication of the notice of Commerce's 
preliminary determination of circumvention in the Federal Register. 
If the entry date is on or before the 14th day after the date of 
publication of the notice of Commerce's preliminary determination of 
circumvention in the Federal Register, this certification was 
completed and signed by no later than 45 days after publication of 
the notice of Commerce's preliminary determination of circumvention 
in the Federal Register.
    N. I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 
U.S.C. 1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly 
and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government.

Signature
{NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL{time} 
{TITLE OF COMPANY OFFICIAL{time} 
{DATE{time} 

Exporter Certification

    The party that made the sale to the United States should fill 
out the exporter certification.
    I hereby certify that:
    A. My name is {COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME{time}  and I am an 
official of {NAME OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE SALE TO THE 
UNITED STATES); located at {ADDRESS OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE 
SALE TO THE UNITED STATES{time} ;
    B. I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the 
production and exportation of the LWRPT for which sales are 
identified below. ``Direct personal knowledge'' refers to facts the 
certifying party is expected to have in its own records. For 
example, an exporter should have direct personal knowledge of the 
producer's identity and location;
    C. The LWRPT covered by this certification was shipped to {NAME 
OF PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES TO WHOM MERCHANDISE WAS FIRST 
SHIPPED{time} , located at {U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS 
SHIPPED{time} ;
    D. The LWRPT covered by this certification does not contain HRS 
produced in China;
    E. This certification applies to the following sales to {NAME OF 
U.S. CUSTOMER{time} , located at {ADDRESS OF U.S. CUSTOMER{time}  
(repeat this block as many times as necessary):
    Foreign Seller's Invoice # to U.S. Customer:
    Foreign Seller's Invoice to U.S. Customer Line item #:
    Producer Name:
    Producer's Address:
    Producer's Invoice # to Foreign Seller: (If the foreign seller 
and the producer are the same party, put NA here.)
    Name of Producer of HRS:
    Location (Country) of Producer of HRS:
    F. The LWRPT covered by this certification was shipped to {NAME 
OF U.S. PARTY TO WHOM MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED{time} , located at 
{U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED{time} ;
    G. I understand that {NAME OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE SALE 
TO THE UNITED STATES{time}  is required to maintain a copy of this 
certification and sufficient documentation supporting this 
certification (i.e., documents maintained in the normal course of 
business, or documents obtained by the certifying party, for 
example, product data sheets, mill test reports, productions 
records, invoices, etc.) until the later of: (1) the date that is 
five years after the latest date of the entries covered by the 
certification; or (2) the date that is three years after the 
conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding 
such entries;
    H. I understand that {NAME OF FOREIGN COMPANY THAT MADE THE SALE 
TO THE UNITED STATES{time}  is required to provide the U.S. importer 
with a copy of this certification and is required to provide U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the U.S. Department of 
Commerce (Commerce) with this certification, and any supporting 
documents, upon request of either agency;
    I. I understand that the claims made herein, and the 
substantiating documentation, are subject to verification by CBP 
and/or Commerce;
    J. I understand that failure to maintain the required 
certification and supporting documentation, or failure to 
substantiate the claims made herein, or not allowing CBP and/or 
Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de facto 
determination that all sales to which this certification applies are 
within the scope of the antidumping duty and countervailing duty 
orders on LWRPT from China. I understand that such a finding will 
result in:
    (i) suspension of all unliquidated entries (and entries for 
which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements 
were not met;
    (ii) the importer being required to post the antidumping duty 
and countervailing duty cash deposits determined by Commerce; and
    (iii) the seller/exporter no longer being allowed to participate 
in the certification process.
    K. I understand that agents of the seller/exporter, such as 
freight forwarding companies or brokers, are not permitted to make 
this certification.
    L. This certification was completed and signed, and a copy of 
the certification was provided to the importer, on, or prior to, the 
date of shipment if the shipment date is more than 14 days after the 
date of publication of the notice of Commerce's preliminary 
determination of circumvention in the Federal Register. If the 
shipment date is on or before the 14th day after the date of 
publication of the notice of Commerce's preliminary determination of 
circumvention in the Federal Register, this certification was 
completed and signed, and a copy of the certification was provided 
to the importer, by no later than 45 days after publication of the 
notice of Commerce's preliminary determination of circumvention in 
the Federal Register; and
    M. I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 
U.S.C. 1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly 
and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government.

Signature
{NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL{time} 
{TITLE OF COMPANY OFFICIAL{time} 
{DATE{time} 

[FR Doc. 2023-07712 Filed 4-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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