Mattresses From Bosnia and Herzegovina: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, 15161-15164 [2024-04327]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 these interested parties, Commerce will change the entry of appearance status from ‘‘Active’’ to ‘‘Needs Amendment’’ for the annual inquiry service lists corresponding to the above-listed proceedings. This will allow those interested parties to make any necessary amendments and resubmit their entries of appearance. If no amendments need to be made, the interested party should indicate in the area on the ACCESS form requesting an explanation for the amendment that it is resubmitting its entry of appearance for inclusion in the annual inquiry service list for the following year. As mentioned in the Final Rule,13 once the petitioners and foreign governments have submitted an entry of appearance for the first time, they will automatically be added to the updated annual inquiry service list each year. Interested parties have 30 days after the date of this notice to submit new or amended entries of appearance. Commerce will then finalize the annual inquiry service lists five business days thereafter. For ease of administration, please note that Commerce requests that law firms with more than one attorney representing interested parties in a proceeding designate a lead attorney to be included on the annual inquiry service list. Commerce may update an annual inquiry service list at any time as needed based on interested parties’ amendments to their entries of appearance to remove or otherwise modify their list of members and representatives, or to update contact information. Any changes or announcements pertaining to these procedures will be posted to the ACCESS website at https:// access.trade.gov. Special Instructions for Petitioners and Foreign Governments In the Final Rule, Commerce stated that, ‘‘after an initial request and placement on the annual inquiry service list, both petitioners and foreign governments will automatically be placed on the annual inquiry service list in the years that follow.’’ 14 Accordingly, as stated above and pursuant to 19 CFR 351.225(n)(3), the petitioners and foreign governments will not need to resubmit their entries of appearance each year to continue to be included on the annual inquiry service list. However, the petitioners and foreign governments are responsible for making amendments to their entries of appearance during the annual update 13 See Final Rule, 86 FR at 52335. 14 Id. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Feb 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 to the annual inquiry service list in accordance with the procedures described above. This notice is not required by statute but is published as a service to the international trading community. Dated: February 22, 2024. James Maeder, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. [FR Doc. 2024–04390 Filed 2–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–893–002] Mattresses From Bosnia and Herzegovina: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination. DATES: Applicable March 1, 2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amaris Wade or Christopher Hargett, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–6334 or (202) 482–4161, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on August 23, 2023.1 On October 23, 2023, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation until February 23, 2024.2 1 See Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma., India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 88 FR 57433 (August 23, 2023) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, the PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15161 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.3 A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https:// access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/public/ FRNoticesListLayout.aspx. Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I. Scope Comments In accordance with the Preamble,4 we set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).5 Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this preliminary determination and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.6 Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the scope in Appendix I to this notice. In the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, Commerce established Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Taiwan: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 88 FR 72737 (October 23, 2023). 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). 4 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble). 5 See Initiation Notice, 88 FR at 57434. 6 See Memorandum, ‘‘Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Taiwan: Scope Comments Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination,’’ dated concurrently with this preliminary determination (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum). E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 15162 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices the deadline for parties to submit scope case and rebuttal briefs.7 Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied upon the facts otherwise available with adverse inferences for Noctis D.O.O., Mirisan D.O.O, and General Toys Co., Limited. For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances On January 24, 2024, the petitioners 8 timely filed a critical circumstances allegation, pursuant to section 733(e)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206(c)(1), alleging that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of the subject merchandise from Bosnia and Herzegovina.9 Section 733(e)(1) of the Act provides that Commerce will preliminarily determine that critical circumstances exist in an LTFV investigation if there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that: (A) there is a history of dumping and material injury by reason of dumped imports in the United States or elsewhere of the subject merchandise, or the person by whom, or for whose account, the merchandise was imported knew or should have known that the exporter was selling the subject merchandise at less than its fair value and that there was likely to be material injury by reason of such sales; and (B) there have been massive imports of the subject merchandise over a relatively short period. We preliminarily determine that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina. For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary critical circumstances determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 7 Id. 8 The petitioners are: Brooklyn Bedding LLC; Carpenter Co.; Corsicana Mattress Company; Future Foam, Inc.; FXI, Inc.; Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc.; Leggett & Platt, Incorporated; Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC; Southerland, Inc.; Tempur Sealy International; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters; and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL–CIO. 9 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Mattress Petitioners’ Allegation of Critical Circumstances,’’ dated January 24, 2024. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Feb 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 All-Others Rate Sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act, if the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for all exporters and producers individually examined are zero, de minimis or determined based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use any reasonable method to establish the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers and exporters. Commerce has preliminarily determined the estimated weightedaverage dumping margin for each of the individually examined respondents under section 776 of the Act. Although pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act, Commerce’s normal practice under these circumstances has been to calculate the all-others rate as a simple average of the alleged dumping margins from the petition,10 the petition in this case included only one alleged dumping margin, revised for the initiation of this investigation (i.e., 217.38).11 Accordingly, we are using the dumping margin on which we initiated as the basis for the all-others rate. Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weightedaverage dumping margins exist: 10 See, e.g., Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Nitrite from the Federal Republic of Germany, 73 FR 21909, 21912 (April 23, 2008), unchanged in Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Nitrite from the Federal Republic of Germany, 73 FR 38986, 38987 (July 8, 2008), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 2; see also Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Raw Flexible Magnets from Taiwan, 73 FR 39673, 39674 (July 10, 2008); Steel Threaded Rod from Thailand: Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances, 78 FR 79670, 79671 (December 31, 2013), unchanged in Steel Threaded Rod from Thailand: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Affirmative Final Determination of Critical Circumstances, 79 FR 14476, 14477 (March 14, 2014). 11 See Initiation Notice, 88 FR at 57436. PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Exporter or producer Weightedaverage dumping margin (percent) General Toys Co., Limited ... Mirisan D.O.O ....................... Noctis D.O.O ........................ All Others .............................. * 217.38 * 217.38 * 217.38 217.38 * Adverse Facts Available (AFA). Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, as discussed below. Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated allothers rate, as follows: (1) the cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above will be equal to the companyspecific estimated weighted-average dumping margins determined in this preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weightedaverage dumping margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin. Section 733(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given a preliminary affirmative determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of: (a) the date that is 90 days before the date on which the suspension of liquidation was first ordered; or (b) the date on which notice of initiation of the investigation was published. Commerce preliminarily finds that critical circumstances exist for imports of subject merchandise produced or exported by the mandatory respondents and all other producers and exporters of mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina.12 In accordance with section 733(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the suspension of liquidation shall apply to all unliquidated entries of subject merchandise from all producers and exporters of mattresses from Bosnia and 12 See E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 01MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices Herzegovina that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice. Disclosure Normally, Commerce discloses to interested parties the calculations performed in connection with a preliminary determination within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of the notice of preliminary determination in the Federal Register, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). However, because Commerce preliminarily applied AFA to each of the individually examined companies in this investigation, in accordance with section 776 of the Act, and the applied AFA rate is based solely on the petition, there are no calculations to disclose. Verification Because the individually examined respondents in this investigation did not provide the information requested by Commerce, and Commerce preliminarily determines each of the examined respondents to have been uncooperative, we will not conduct verification. Public Comment ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than 30 days after the date of publication of the preliminary determination.13 Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for filing case briefs.14 Interested parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.15 As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior proceedings we have encouraged interested parties to provide an executive summary of their brief that should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes. In this investigation, we instead request that 13 Commerce is exercising its discretion under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(i) to alter the time limit for the filing of case briefs. 14 See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023) (APO and Service Final Rule). 15 See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2). VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Feb 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs.16 Further, we request that interested parties limit their executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final determination in this investigation. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).17 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 will inform parties of the time and date for the hearing. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. Final Determination Section 735(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1) provide that Commerce will issue the final determination within 75 days after the date of its preliminary determination. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final determination no later than 75 days after the signature date of this preliminary determination. U.S. International Trade Commission Notification In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination whether these imports are materially 16 We use the term ‘‘issue’’ here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum. 17 See APO and Service Final Rule. PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15163 injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry. Notification to Interested Parties This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: February 23, 2024. Ryan Majerus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are all types of youth and adult mattresses. The term ‘‘mattress’’ denotes an assembly of materials that at a minimum includes a ‘‘core,’’ which provides the main support system of the mattress, and may consist of innersprings, foam, other resilient filling, or a combination of these materials. Mattresses also may contain: (1) ‘‘upholstery,’’ the material between the core and the top panel of the ticking on a single-sided mattress, or between the core and the top and bottom panel of the ticking on a double-sided mattress; and/or (2) ‘‘ticking,’’ the outermost layer of fabric or other material (e.g., vinyl) that encloses the core and any upholstery, also known as a cover. The scope of this investigation is restricted to only ‘‘adult mattresses’’ and ‘‘youth mattresses.’’ ‘‘Adult mattresses’’ are frequently described as ‘‘twin,’’ ‘‘extra-long twin,’’ ‘‘full,’’ ‘‘queen,’’ ‘‘king,’’ or ‘‘California king’’ mattresses. ‘‘Youth mattresses’’ are typically described as ‘‘crib,’’ ‘‘toddler,’’ or ‘‘youth’’ mattresses. All adult and youth mattresses are included regardless of size and size description or how they are described (e.g., frameless futon mattress and tri-fold mattress). The scope encompasses all types of ‘‘innerspring mattresses,’’ ‘‘non-innerspring mattresses,’’ and ‘‘hybrid mattresses.’’ ‘‘Innerspring mattresses’’ contain innersprings, a series of metal springs joined together in sizes that correspond to the dimensions of mattresses. Mattresses that contain innersprings are referred to as ‘‘innerspring mattresses’’ or ‘‘hybrid mattresses.’’ ‘‘Hybrid mattresses’’ contain two or more support systems as the core, such as layers of both memory foam and innerspring units. ‘‘Non-innerspring mattresses’’ are those that do not contain any innerspring units. They are generally produced from foams (e.g., polyurethane, memory (viscoelastic), latex foam, gel infused viscoelastic (gel foam), thermobonded polyester, polyethylene) or other resilient filling. Mattresses covered by the scope of this investigation may be imported independently, as part of furniture or furniture mechanisms (e.g., convertible sofa bed mattresses, sofa bed mattresses imported with sofa bed mechanisms, corner group mattresses, day-bed mattresses, roll-away bed mattresses, high risers, trundle bed E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 15164 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices mattresses, crib mattresses), or as part of a set (in combination with a ‘‘mattress foundation’’). ‘‘Mattress foundations’’ are any base or support for a mattress. Mattress foundations are commonly referred to as ‘‘foundations,’’ ‘‘boxsprings,’’ ‘‘platforms,’’ and/or ‘‘bases.’’ Bases can be static, foldable, or adjustable. Only the mattress is covered by the scope if imported as part of furniture, with furniture mechanisms, or as part of a set, in combination with a mattress foundation. Excluded from the scope of this investigation are ‘‘futon’’ mattresses. A ‘‘futon’’ is a bi-fold frame made of wood, metal, or plastic material, or any combination thereof, that functions as both seating furniture (such as a couch, love seat, or sofa) and a bed. A ‘‘futon mattress’’ is a tufted mattress, where the top covering is secured to the bottom with thread that goes completely through the mattress from the top through to the bottom, and it does not contain innersprings or foam. A futon mattress is both the bed and seating surface for the futon. Also excluded from the scope are airbeds (including inflatable mattresses) and waterbeds, which consist of air- or liquidfilled bladders as the core or main support system of the mattress. Also excluded is certain multifunctional furniture that is convertible from seating to sleeping, regardless of filler material or components, where such filler material or components are upholstered, integrated into the design and construction of, and inseparable from, the furniture framing, and the outermost layer of the multifunctional furniture converts into the sleeping surface. Such furniture may, and without limitation, be commonly referred to as ‘‘convertible sofas,’’ ‘‘sofabeds,’’ ‘‘sofa chaise sleepers,’’ ‘‘futons,’’ ‘‘ottoman sleepers,’’ or a like description. Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are any products covered by the existing antidumping duty orders on uncovered innerspring units from the People’s Republic of China, South Africa, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. See Uncovered Innerspring Units from the People’s Republic of China, South Africa, and Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders, 84 FR 55285 (October 16, 2019). Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are bassinet pads with a nominal length of less than 39 inches, a nominal width of less than 25 inches, and a nominal depth of less than 2 inches. Additionally, also excluded from the scope of this investigation are ‘‘mattress toppers.’’ A ‘‘mattress topper’’ is a removable bedding accessory that supplements a mattress by providing an additional layer that is placed on top of a mattress. Excluded mattress toppers have a height of four inches or less. The products subject to this investigation are currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 9404.21.0010, 9404.21.0013, 9404.21.0095, 9404.29.1005, 9404.29.1013, 9404.29.1095, 9404.29.9085, 9404.29.9087, and 9404.29.9095. Products subject to this investigation may also enter under HTSUS VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:28 Feb 29, 2024 Jkt 262001 subheadings: 9401.41.0000, 9401.49.0000, and 9401.99.9081. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise subject to this investigation is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Period of Investigation IV. Application of Facts Available with Adverse Inferences V. Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances VI. Recommendation [FR Doc. 2024–04327 Filed 2–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD742] Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meetings; Correction National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of correction of a public meeting. AGENCY: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its 151st Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC), Executive and Budget Standing Committee (SC) and its 198th Council meeting to take actions on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region. The Council will also hold a joint meeting of the Advisory Panel (AP), the Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC), and the Non-Commercial Fisheries Advisory Committee (NCFAC). The correction is for the Executive and Budget SC to be held on March 15, 2024. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. DATES: The meetings will be held between March 12 and March 20, 2024. ADDRESSES: The 151st SSC meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting for SSC members and the public, with a remote participation option available via WebEx. In-person attendance will be hosted at the Council office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. The Joint Meeting of the AP, FIAC, and NCFAC, and the 198th Council Meeting will be held as hybrid meetings for the advisory body members, Council members and the public, with a remote participation option available via SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Webex. In-person attendance will be hosted at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, HI 96814. Specific information on joining the meeting, connecting to the web conference and providing oral public comments will be posted on the Council website at www.wpcouncil.org. For assistance with the web conference connection, contact the Council office at (808) 522–8220. Council address: Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kitty M. Simonds, Executive Director, Western Pacific Fishery Management Council; phone: (808) 522–8220. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original meeting notice published in the Federal Register on February 27, 2024 (89 FR 14444). The original notice stated that the Executive and Budget SC meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting for members and the public, with a remote participation option available via WebEx. In-person attendance will be hosted at the Council office, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 1400, Honolulu, HI 96813. This notice corrects that meeting to read the Executive and Budget SC meeting will be held by web conference via Webex. All other previously-published information remains the same. Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Dated: February 27, 2024. Rey Israel Marquez, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2024–04342 Filed 2–29–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [RTID 0648–XD751] Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC); Public Meeting National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice; public meeting. AGENCY: The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council’s (Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold a public meeting. DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, from 10 a.m. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 42 (Friday, March 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15161-15164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04327]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-893-002]


Mattresses From Bosnia and Herzegovina: Preliminary Affirmative 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily 
determines that mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina are being, or 
are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value 
(LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2022, through June 
30, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary 
determination.

DATES: Applicable March 1, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amaris Wade or Christopher Hargett, 
AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6334 or (202) 
482-4161, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce 
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on August 23, 
2023.\1\ On October 23, 2023, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation until February 23, 2024.\2\
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    \1\ See Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, 
Burma., India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, 
Slovenia, Spain, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value 
Investigations, 88 FR 57433 (August 23, 2023) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, 
India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, 
Spain, and Taiwan: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations of 
Antidumping Duty Investigations, 88 FR 72737 (October 23, 2023).
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    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically 
via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to 
registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete 
version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly 
at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
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    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation 
of Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina,'' dated concurrently 
with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are mattresses from 
Bosnia and Herzegovina. For a complete description of the scope of this 
investigation, see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the Preamble,\4\ we set aside a period of time 
for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., 
scope).\5\ Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the 
investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For a summary of 
the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the 
record for this preliminary determination and accompanying discussion 
and analysis of all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Scope 
Decision Memorandum.\6\ Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the 
scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the scope 
in Appendix I to this notice.
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    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice, 88 FR at 57434.
    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, Burma, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, 
Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Taiwan: Scope Comments 
Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination,'' dated 
concurrently with this preliminary determination (Preliminary Scope 
Decision Memorandum).
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    In the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, Commerce established

[[Page 15162]]

the deadline for parties to submit scope case and rebuttal briefs.\7\
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    \7\ Id.
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, 
Commerce has preliminarily relied upon the facts otherwise available 
with adverse inferences for Noctis D.O.O., Mirisan D.O.O, and General 
Toys Co., Limited. For a full description of the methodology underlying 
the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

    On January 24, 2024, the petitioners \8\ timely filed a critical 
circumstances allegation, pursuant to section 733(e)(1) of the Act and 
19 CFR 351.206(c)(1), alleging that critical circumstances exist with 
respect to imports of the subject merchandise from Bosnia and 
Herzegovina.\9\
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    \8\ The petitioners are: Brooklyn Bedding LLC; Carpenter Co.; 
Corsicana Mattress Company; Future Foam, Inc.; FXI, Inc.; Kolcraft 
Enterprises, Inc.; Leggett & Platt, Incorporated; Serta Simmons 
Bedding, LLC; Southerland, Inc.; Tempur Sealy International; the 
International Brotherhood of Teamsters; and the United Steel, Paper 
and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and 
Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO.
    \9\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Mattress Petitioners' Allegation 
of Critical Circumstances,'' dated January 24, 2024.
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    Section 733(e)(1) of the Act provides that Commerce will 
preliminarily determine that critical circumstances exist in an LTFV 
investigation if there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect 
that: (A) there is a history of dumping and material injury by reason 
of dumped imports in the United States or elsewhere of the subject 
merchandise, or the person by whom, or for whose account, the 
merchandise was imported knew or should have known that the exporter 
was selling the subject merchandise at less than its fair value and 
that there was likely to be material injury by reason of such sales; 
and (B) there have been massive imports of the subject merchandise over 
a relatively short period. We preliminarily determine that critical 
circumstances exist with respect to imports of mattresses from Bosnia 
and Herzegovina. For a full description of the methodology underlying 
the preliminary critical circumstances determination, see the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that 
in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated 
all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually 
examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for 
exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero 
and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under 
section 776 of the Act.
    Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act, if the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins established for all exporters and 
producers individually examined are zero, de minimis or determined 
based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use any 
reasonable method to establish the estimated weighted-average dumping 
margin for all other producers and exporters. Commerce has 
preliminarily determined the estimated weighted-average dumping margin 
for each of the individually examined respondents under section 776 of 
the Act. Although pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act, 
Commerce's normal practice under these circumstances has been to 
calculate the all-others rate as a simple average of the alleged 
dumping margins from the petition,\10\ the petition in this case 
included only one alleged dumping margin, revised for the initiation of 
this investigation (i.e., 217.38).\11\ Accordingly, we are using the 
dumping margin on which we initiated as the basis for the all-others 
rate.
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    \10\ See, e.g., Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Nitrite from the Federal Republic of 
Germany, 73 FR 21909, 21912 (April 23, 2008), unchanged in Notice of 
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Nitrite 
from the Federal Republic of Germany, 73 FR 38986, 38987 (July 8, 
2008), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 2; 
see also Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value: Raw Flexible Magnets from Taiwan, 73 FR 39673, 39674 (July 
10, 2008); Steel Threaded Rod from Thailand: Preliminary 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Affirmative 
Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances, 78 FR 79670, 
79671 (December 31, 2013), unchanged in Steel Threaded Rod from 
Thailand: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and 
Affirmative Final Determination of Critical Circumstances, 79 FR 
14476, 14477 (March 14, 2014).
    \11\ See Initiation Notice, 88 FR at 57436.
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Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Weighted-
                                                              average
                  Exporter or producer                    dumping margin
                                                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Toys Co., Limited...............................        * 217.38
Mirisan D.O.O...........................................        * 217.38
Noctis D.O.O............................................        * 217.38
All Others..............................................          217.38
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Adverse Facts Available (AFA).

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will 
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation 
of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption, as discussed below. 
Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal 
to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-
others rate, as follows: (1) the cash deposit rate for the respondents 
listed above will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-
average dumping margins determined in this preliminary determination; 
(2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the 
producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-
specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that 
producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for 
all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others 
estimated weighted-average dumping margin.
    Section 733(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given a preliminary 
affirmative determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of 
liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of subject merchandise 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the 
later of: (a) the date that is 90 days before the date on which the 
suspension of liquidation was first ordered; or (b) the date on which 
notice of initiation of the investigation was published. Commerce 
preliminarily finds that critical circumstances exist for imports of 
subject merchandise produced or exported by the mandatory respondents 
and all other producers and exporters of mattresses from Bosnia and 
Herzegovina.\12\ In accordance with section 733(e)(2)(A) of the Act, 
the suspension of liquidation shall apply to all unliquidated entries 
of subject merchandise from all producers and exporters of mattresses 
from Bosnia and

[[Page 15163]]

Herzegovina that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. These suspension of 
liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.
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    \12\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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Disclosure

    Normally, Commerce discloses to interested parties the calculations 
performed in connection with a preliminary determination within five 
days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, 
within five days of the date of publication of the notice of 
preliminary determination in the Federal Register, in accordance with 
19 CFR 351.224(b). However, because Commerce preliminarily applied AFA 
to each of the individually examined companies in this investigation, 
in accordance with section 776 of the Act, and the applied AFA rate is 
based solely on the petition, there are no calculations to disclose.

Verification

    Because the individually examined respondents in this investigation 
did not provide the information requested by Commerce, and Commerce 
preliminarily determines each of the examined respondents to have been 
uncooperative, we will not conduct verification.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than 30 
days after the date of publication of the preliminary 
determination.\13\ Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the 
case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for 
filing case briefs.\14\ Interested parties who submit case briefs or 
rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents 
listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.\15\
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    \13\ Commerce is exercising its discretion under 19 CFR 
351.309(c)(1)(i) to alter the time limit for the filing of case 
briefs.
    \14\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative Protective 
Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 
2023) (APO and Service Final Rule).
    \15\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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    As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior 
proceedings we have encouraged interested parties to provide an 
executive summary of their brief that should be limited to five pages 
total, including footnotes. In this investigation, we instead request 
that interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a 
public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs.\16\ 
Further, we request that interested parties limit their executive 
summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including 
citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the basis of the 
comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that 
will accompany the final determination in this investigation. We 
request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant 
citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce 
has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of 
documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\17\
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    \16\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that 
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum.
    \17\ See APO and Service Final Rule.
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    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 will inform parties of the time and date for the hearing. 
Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the 
hearing two days before the scheduled date.

Final Determination

    Section 735(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1) provide that 
Commerce will issue the final determination within 75 days after the 
date of its preliminary determination. Accordingly, Commerce will make 
its final determination no later than 75 days after the signature date 
of this preliminary determination.

U.S. International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary 
determination of sales at LTFV. If the final determination is 
affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after 
the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final 
determination whether these imports are materially injuring, or 
threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

    Dated: February 23, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are all types of 
youth and adult mattresses. The term ``mattress'' denotes an 
assembly of materials that at a minimum includes a ``core,'' which 
provides the main support system of the mattress, and may consist of 
innersprings, foam, other resilient filling, or a combination of 
these materials. Mattresses also may contain: (1) ``upholstery,'' 
the material between the core and the top panel of the ticking on a 
single-sided mattress, or between the core and the top and bottom 
panel of the ticking on a double-sided mattress; and/or (2) 
``ticking,'' the outermost layer of fabric or other material (e.g., 
vinyl) that encloses the core and any upholstery, also known as a 
cover.
    The scope of this investigation is restricted to only ``adult 
mattresses'' and ``youth mattresses.'' ``Adult mattresses'' are 
frequently described as ``twin,'' ``extra-long twin,'' ``full,'' 
``queen,'' ``king,'' or ``California king'' mattresses. ``Youth 
mattresses'' are typically described as ``crib,'' ``toddler,'' or 
``youth'' mattresses. All adult and youth mattresses are included 
regardless of size and size description or how they are described 
(e.g., frameless futon mattress and tri-fold mattress).
    The scope encompasses all types of ``innerspring mattresses,'' 
``non-innerspring mattresses,'' and ``hybrid mattresses.'' 
``Innerspring mattresses'' contain innersprings, a series of metal 
springs joined together in sizes that correspond to the dimensions 
of mattresses. Mattresses that contain innersprings are referred to 
as ``innerspring mattresses'' or ``hybrid mattresses.'' ``Hybrid 
mattresses'' contain two or more support systems as the core, such 
as layers of both memory foam and innerspring units.
    ``Non-innerspring mattresses'' are those that do not contain any 
innerspring units. They are generally produced from foams (e.g., 
polyurethane, memory (viscoelastic), latex foam, gel infused 
viscoelastic (gel foam), thermobonded polyester, polyethylene) or 
other resilient filling.
    Mattresses covered by the scope of this investigation may be 
imported independently, as part of furniture or furniture mechanisms 
(e.g., convertible sofa bed mattresses, sofa bed mattresses imported 
with sofa bed mechanisms, corner group mattresses, day-bed 
mattresses, roll-away bed mattresses, high risers, trundle bed

[[Page 15164]]

mattresses, crib mattresses), or as part of a set (in combination 
with a ``mattress foundation''). ``Mattress foundations'' are any 
base or support for a mattress. Mattress foundations are commonly 
referred to as ``foundations,'' ``boxsprings,'' ``platforms,'' and/
or ``bases.'' Bases can be static, foldable, or adjustable. Only the 
mattress is covered by the scope if imported as part of furniture, 
with furniture mechanisms, or as part of a set, in combination with 
a mattress foundation.
    Excluded from the scope of this investigation are ``futon'' 
mattresses. A ``futon'' is a bi-fold frame made of wood, metal, or 
plastic material, or any combination thereof, that functions as both 
seating furniture (such as a couch, love seat, or sofa) and a bed. A 
``futon mattress'' is a tufted mattress, where the top covering is 
secured to the bottom with thread that goes completely through the 
mattress from the top through to the bottom, and it does not contain 
innersprings or foam. A futon mattress is both the bed and seating 
surface for the futon.
    Also excluded from the scope are airbeds (including inflatable 
mattresses) and waterbeds, which consist of air- or liquid-filled 
bladders as the core or main support system of the mattress.
    Also excluded is certain multifunctional furniture that is 
convertible from seating to sleeping, regardless of filler material 
or components, where such filler material or components are 
upholstered, integrated into the design and construction of, and 
inseparable from, the furniture framing, and the outermost layer of 
the multifunctional furniture converts into the sleeping surface. 
Such furniture may, and without limitation, be commonly referred to 
as ``convertible sofas,'' ``sofabeds,'' ``sofa chaise sleepers,'' 
``futons,'' ``ottoman sleepers,'' or a like description.
    Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are any 
products covered by the existing antidumping duty orders on 
uncovered innerspring units from the People's Republic of China, 
South Africa, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. See Uncovered 
Innerspring Units from the People's Republic of China, South Africa, 
and Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Continuation of Antidumping Duty 
Orders, 84 FR 55285 (October 16, 2019).
    Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are bassinet 
pads with a nominal length of less than 39 inches, a nominal width 
of less than 25 inches, and a nominal depth of less than 2 inches.
    Additionally, also excluded from the scope of this investigation 
are ``mattress toppers.'' A ``mattress topper'' is a removable 
bedding accessory that supplements a mattress by providing an 
additional layer that is placed on top of a mattress. Excluded 
mattress toppers have a height of four inches or less.
    The products subject to this investigation are currently 
classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) subheadings: 9404.21.0010, 9404.21.0013, 9404.21.0095, 
9404.29.1005, 9404.29.1013, 9404.29.1095, 9404.29.9085, 
9404.29.9087, and 9404.29.9095. Products subject to this 
investigation may also enter under HTSUS subheadings: 9401.41.0000, 
9401.49.0000, and 9401.99.9081. Although the HTSUS subheadings are 
provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written 
description of the merchandise subject to this investigation is 
dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Application of Facts Available with Adverse Inferences
V. Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances
VI. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2024-04327 Filed 2-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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