Ferrosilicon From Malaysia: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination, in Part, and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 73364-73366 [2024-20364]
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73364
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
7304.29.61.45, 7304.29.61.60, 7304.29.61.75,
7305.20.20.00, 7305.20.40.00, 7305.20.60.00,
7305.20.80.00, 7306.29.10.30, 7306.29.10.90,
7306.29.20.00, 7306.29.31.00, 7306.29.41.00,
7306.29.60.10, 7306.29.60.50, 7306.29.81.10,
and 7306.29.81.50.
The merchandise subject to the order may
also enter under the following HTSUS item
numbers: 7304.39.00.24, 7304.39.00.28,
7304.39.00.32, 7304.39.00.36, 7304.39.00.40,
7304.39.00.44, 7304.39.00.48, 7304.39.00.52,
7304.39.00.56, 7304.39.00.62, 7304.39.00.68,
7304.39.00.72, 7304.39.00.76, 7304.39.00.80,
7304.59.60.00, 7304.59.80.15, 7304.59.80.20,
7304.59.80.25, 7304.59.80.30, 7304.59.80.35,
7304.59.80.40, 7304.59.80.45, 7304.59.80.50,
7304.59.80.55, 7304.59.80.60, 7304.59.80.65,
7304.59.80.70, 7304.59.80.80, 7305.31.40.00,
7305.31.60.90, 7306.30.50.55, 7306.30.50.90,
7306.50.50.50, and 7306.50.50.70.
The HTSUS subheadings above are
provided for convenience and customs
purposes only. The written description of the
scope of the order is dispositive.
The Scope of the CVD Order on Large
Diameter Welded Pipe From the Republic of
Türkiye
The merchandise covered by this order is
welded carbon and alloy steel structural pipe
(other than stainless steel pipe), more than
406.4 mm (16 inches) in nominal outside
diameter (large diameter welded structural
pipe), regardless of wall thickness, length,
surface finish, grade, end finish, or
stenciling. Large diameter welded structural
pipe may be used for structural purposes,
including, but not limited to, piling.
Specifically, not included is large diameter
welded pipe produced only to specifications
of the American Water Works Association
(AWWA) for water and sewage pipe.
Large diameter welded structural pipe may
be produced to American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM) standards A500, A252,
or A53, or other relevant domestic
specifications, grades and/or standards. Large
diameter welded structural pipe can be
produced to comparable foreign
specifications, grades and/or standards or to
proprietary specifications, grades and/or
standards, or can be non-graded material. All
structural pipe meeting the physical
description set forth above, including any
dual- or multiple-certified/stenciled pipe
with an ASTM (or comparable) welded
structural pipe certification/stencil, is
covered by the scope of this order.
Subject merchandise also includes large
diameter welded structural pipe that has
been further processed in a third country,
including but not limited to coating,
painting, notching, beveling, cutting,
punching, welding, or any other processing
that would not otherwise remove the
merchandise from the scope of the order if
performed in the country of manufacture of
the in-scope large diameter welded structural
pipe.
Excluded from the scope of this order is
line pipe which is suitable for transporting
oil, gas, slurry, steam, or other fluids, liquids,
or gases, and is normally produced to
American Petroleum Institute (API)
specification 5L or equivalent foreign
specifications grades and/or standards or to
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proprietary specifications, grades and/or
standards. Also excluded from the scope are
any products covered by the existing
countervailing duty order on welded line
pipe from the Republic of Turkey. See
Welded Line Pipe from the Republic of
Turkey: Countervailing Duty Order, 80 FR
75054 (December 1, 2015).
The large diameter welded structural pipe
that is subject to this order is currently
classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under
subheadings 7305.31.4000, 7305.31.6090,
7305.39.1000 and 7305.39.5000. Merchandise
currently classifiable under subheadings
7305.11.1030, 7305.11.1060, 7305.11.5000,
7305.12.1030, 7305.12.1060, 7305.12.5000,
7305.19.1030, 7305.19.1060, and
7305.19.5000 and that otherwise meets the
above scope language is also covered. While
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of this order
is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2024–20397 Filed 9–9–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–557–829]
Ferrosilicon From Malaysia:
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing
Duty Determination, Preliminary
Affirmative Critical Circumstances
Determination, in Part, and Alignment
of Final Determination With Final
Antidumping Duty Determination
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily
determines that countervailable
subsidies are being provided to
producers and exporters of ferrosilicon
from Malaysia. The period of
investigation (POI) is January 1, 2023,
through December 31, 2023. Interested
parties are invited to comment on this
preliminary determination.
DATES: Applicable September 10, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Suresh Maniam or Stefan Smith, AD/
CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement
and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
(202) 482–1603 or (202) 482–4342,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
This preliminary determination is
made in accordance with section 703(b)
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act). Commerce published the
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
notice of initiation of this investigation
on April 24, 2024.1 On May 30, 2024,
Commerce postponed the preliminary
determination of this investigation until
August 26, 2024.2 On July 22, 2024,
Commerce tolled certain deadlines in
this administrative proceeding by seven
days.3 The deadline for this preliminary
determination is now September 3,
2024.4
For a complete description of the
events that followed the initiation of
this investigation, see the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum.5 A list of topics
discussed in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is included as Appendix
II to this notice. The Preliminary
Decision Memorandum is a public
document and is on file electronically
via Enforcement and Compliance’s
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System
(ACCESS). ACCESS is available to
registered users at https://
access.trade.gov. 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 product covered by this
investigation is ferrosilicon from
Malaysia. For a complete description of
the scope of this investigation, see
Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to
Commerce’s regulations,6 the Initiation
Notice set aside a period of time for
parties to raise issues regarding product
coverage, (i.e., scope).7 As noted in the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum,
Commerce corrected a minor clerical
error in the language of the scope.8
1 See Ferrosilicon from Brazil, Kazakhstan,
Malaysia, and the Russian Federation: Initiation of
Countervailing Duty Investigations, 89 FR 31133
(April 24, 2024) (Initiation Notice).
2 See Ferrosilicon from Brazil, Kazakhstan, and
Malaysia: Postponement of Preliminary
Determinations in theCountervailing Duty
Investigations, 89 FR 46860 (May 30, 2024).
3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Tolling of Deadlines for
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings,’’ dated July 22, 2024.
4 Because seven days from August 26, 2024 (i.e.,
September 2, 2024) falls on a federal holiday, the
actual deadline for the preliminary determination is
September 3, 2024.
5 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for
the Preliminary Determination of the
Countervailing Duty Investigation of Ferrosilicon
from Malaysia,’’ dated concurrently with, and
hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary
Decision Memorandum).
6 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties,
Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
7 See Initiation Notice.
8 See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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All-Others Rate
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this
investigation in accordance with section
701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy
programs found countervailable,
Commerce preliminarily determines
that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial
contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that
gives rise to a benefit to the recipient,
and that the subsidy is specific.9
Commerce notes that, in making these
findings, it relied, in part, on facts
available and, because it finds that one
or more respondents did not act to the
best of their ability to respond to
Commerce’s requests for information, it
drew an adverse inference where
appropriate in selecting from among the
facts otherwise available.10 For further
information, see the ‘‘Use of Facts
Otherwise Available and Adverse
Inferences’’ section in the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum.
Preliminary Affirmative Determination
of Critical Circumstances, in Part
In accordance with section 703(e)(1)
of the Act, Commerce preliminarily
determines that critical circumstances
exist with respect to imports of
ferrosilicon from Malaysia for Pertama
Ferroalloys Sdn. Bhd (Pertama), but do
not exist with respect to OM Materials
(Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd (OM Materials) and
all other exporters or producers not
individually examined. For a full
description of the methodology and
results of Commerce’s analysis, see the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section
Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of
703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act,
the Act provide that in the preliminary
Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and
determination, Commerce shall
Border Protection (CBP) to suspend
determine an estimated all-others rate
liquidation of entries of subject
for companies not individually
merchandise as described in the scope
examined. This rate shall be an amount
of the investigation section entered, or
equal to the weighted average of the
withdrawn from warehouse, for
estimated subsidy rates established for
consumption on or after the date of
those companies individually
publication of this notice in the Federal
examined, excluding any zero and de
Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR
minimis rates and any rates based
351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP
entirely under section 776 of the Act.
to require a cash deposit equal to the
rates indicated above.
In this investigation, Commerce
Section 703(e)(2) of the Act provides
calculated individual estimated
that, given an affirmative determination
countervailable subsidy rates for OM
of critical circumstances, any
Materials and Pertama that are not zero,
suspension of liquidation shall apply to
de minimis, or based entirely on facts
unliquidated entries of merchandise
otherwise available. Commerce
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
calculated the all-others rate using a
for consumption on or after the later of:
weighted average of the individual
(a) the date which is 90 days before the
estimated subsidy rates calculated for
date on which the suspension of
the examined respondents using each
liquidation was first ordered; or (b) the
company’s publicly-ranged values for
date on which notice of initiation of the
the merchandise under consideration.12 investigation was published. As noted
above, Commerce preliminarily finds
Preliminary Determination
that critical circumstances exist for
imports of subject merchandise
Commerce preliminarily determines
produced and/or exported by Pertama.
that the following estimated
In accordance with section 703(e)(2)(A)
countervailable subsidy rates exist:
of the Act, the suspension of liquidation
shall apply to unliquidated entries of
Subsidy rate
merchandise produced and/or exported
Company
(percent ad
valorem)
by Pertama that were entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for
OM Materials (Sarawak)
consumption on or after the date which
2.81 is 90 days before the publication of this
Sdn. Bhd 13 .......................
Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn.
notice.
Bhd ....................................
All Others ..............................
3.48
3.02
Alignment
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As noted in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum, in accordance with
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(b)(4), Commerce is aligning the
final countervailing duty (CVD)
determination in this investigation with
the final determination in the
companion antidumping duty (AD)
investigation of ferrosilicon from
Malaysia based on a request made by
the petitioners.11 Consequently, the
final CVD determination will be issued
on the same date as the final AD
determination, which is currently
scheduled to be issued no later than
January 14, 2025, unless postponed.
9 See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act
regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E)
of the Act regarding benefit; and section 771(5A) of
the Act regarding specificity.
10 See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
11 See Ferrosilicon from Brazil; Kazakhstan, and
Malaysia: Postponement of Preliminary
Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value
Investigations, 89 FR 66678 (August 16, 2024).
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12 With two respondents under examination,
Commerce normally calculates: (A) a weightedaverage of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for
the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of
the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the
examined respondents; and (C) a weighted-average
of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the
examined respondents using each company’s
publicly-ranged U.S. sale values for the
merchandise under consideration. Commerce then
compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate
closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all
other producers and exporters. See, e.g., Ball
Bearings and Parts Thereof from France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, Final
Results of Changed-Circumstances Review, and
Revocation of an Order in Part, 75 FR 53661, 53662
(September 1, 2010), and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 1. As complete
publicly ranged sales data were available,
Commerce based the all-others rate on the publicly
ranged sales data of the mandatory respondents. For
a complete analysis of the data, see the All-Others
Rate Calculation Memorandum.
13 As discussed in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum, Commerce has found the following
companies to be cross-owned with OM Materials:
OM Materials & Logistics (M) Sdn. Bhd; OM
Materials (Samalaju) Sdn. Bhd; and OM
Engineering Tech (M) Sdn. Bhd.
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its
calculations and analysis performed to
interested parties in this preliminary
determination within five days of its
public announcement, or if there is no
public announcement, within five days
of the date of this notice in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(e),
Commerce will analyze and, if
appropriate, correct any timely
allegations of significant ministerial
errors by amending the preliminary
determination. However, consistent
with 19 CFR 351.224(d), Commerce will
not consider incomplete allegations that
do not address the significance standard
under 19 CFR 351.224(g) following the
preliminary determination. Instead,
Commerce will address such allegations
in the final determination together with
issues raised in the case briefs or other
written comments.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the
Act, Commerce intends to verify the
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Notices
information relied upon in making its
final determination.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments
may be submitted to the Assistant
Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance. A timeline for the
submission of case briefs and written
comments will be notified to interested
parties at a later date. 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
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 public 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 public
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
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 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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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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. Parties should
confirm by telephone the date, time, and
location of the hearing two days before
the scheduled date.
II. Background
III. Injury Test
IV. Preliminary Affirmative Determination of
Critical Circumstances, In Part
V. Use of Facts Available and Adverse
Inferences
VI. Subsidies Valuation Information
VII. Analysis of Programs
VIII. Recommendation
U.S. International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 703(f) of
the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S.
International Trade Commission (ITC) of
its determination. If the final
determination is affirmative, the ITC
will determine, before the later of 120
days after the date of this preliminary
determination or 45 days after the final
determination, whether imports of
ferrosilicon from Malaysia are
materially injuring the U.S. industry.
[FR Doc. 2024–20364 Filed 9–9–24; 8:45 am]
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and
published pursuant to sections 703(f)
and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.205(c).
Dated: September 3, 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 scope of this investigation covers all
forms and sizes of ferrosilicon, regardless of
grade, including ferrosilicon briquettes.
Ferrosilicon is a ferroalloy containing by
weight four percent or more iron, more than
eight percent but not more than 96 percent
silicon, three percent or less phosphorus, 30
percent or less manganese, less than three
percent magnesium, and 10 percent or less of
any other element. The merchandise covered
also includes product described as slag, if the
product meets these specifications.
Subject merchandise includes material
matching the above description that has been
finished, packaged, or otherwise processed in
a third country, including by performing any
grinding or any other finishing, packaging, or
processing that would not otherwise remove
the merchandise from the scope of the
investigation if performed in the country of
manufacture of the ferrosilicon.
Ferrosilicon is currently classifiable under
subheadings 7202.21.1000, 7202.21.5000,
7202.21.7500, 7202.21.9000, 7202.29.0010,
and 7202.29.0050 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
While the HTSUS numbers are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope remains
dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
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BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–533–930]
Certain High Chrome Cast Iron
Grinding Media From India:
Postponement of Preliminary
Determination in the Less-Than-FairValue Investigation
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Applicable September 10, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charles DeFilippo, AD/CVD Operations,
Office VII, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
(202) 482–3797.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
On May 16, 2024, the U.S.
Department of Commerce (Commerce)
initiated a less-than-fair-value (LTFV)
investigation of imports of Certain High
Chrome Cast Iron Grinding Media
(Grinding Media) from India.1 On July
22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain
deadlines in this investigation by seven
days.2 Currently, the preliminary
determination is due no later than
October 10, 2024.
Postponement of Preliminary
Determinations
Section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act
of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires
Commerce to issue the preliminary
determination in an LTFV investigation
within 140 days after the date on which
Commerce initiated the investigation.
However, section 733(c)(1)(A)(b)(1) of
the Act permits Commerce to postpone
the preliminary determination until no
later than 190 days after the date on
1 See Certain High Chrome Cast Iron Grinding
Media from India: Initiation of Less-Than-FairValue Investigation, 89 FR 45630 (May 23, 2024).
2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Tolling of Deadlines for
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings,’’ dated July 22, 2024.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73364-73366]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20364]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-557-829]
Ferrosilicon From Malaysia: Preliminary Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Affirmative Critical
Circumstances Determination, in Part, and Alignment of Final
Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily
determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to
producers and exporters of ferrosilicon from Malaysia. The period of
investigation (POI) is January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.
Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary
determination.
DATES: Applicable September 10, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suresh Maniam or Stefan Smith, AD/CVD
Operations, Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1603 or (202) 482-4342,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section
703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on April 24,
2024.\1\ On May 30, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary
determination of this investigation until August 26, 2024.\2\ On July
22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in this administrative
proceeding by seven days.\3\ The deadline for this preliminary
determination is now September 3, 2024.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Ferrosilicon from Brazil, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and the
Russian Federation: Initiation of Countervailing Duty
Investigations, 89 FR 31133 (April 24, 2024) (Initiation Notice).
\2\ See Ferrosilicon from Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia:
Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in theCountervailing Duty
Investigations, 89 FR 46860 (May 30, 2024).
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings,'' dated July 22, 2024.
\4\ Because seven days from August 26, 2024 (i.e., September 2,
2024) falls on a federal holiday, the actual deadline for the
preliminary determination is September 3, 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For a complete description of the events that followed the
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.\5\ A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary
Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically
via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to
registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete
version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly
at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of
Ferrosilicon from Malaysia,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby
adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is ferrosilicon from
Malaysia. For a complete description of the scope of this
investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\6\ the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise
issues regarding product coverage, (i.e., scope).\7\ As noted in the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce corrected a minor clerical
error in the language of the scope.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
\7\ See Initiation Notice.
\8\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 73365]]
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with
section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found
countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a
subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an ``authority'' that gives
rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is
specific.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
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Commerce notes that, in making these findings, it relied, in part,
on facts available and, because it finds that one or more respondents
did not act to the best of their ability to respond to Commerce's
requests for information, it drew an adverse inference where
appropriate in selecting from among the facts otherwise available.\10\
For further information, see the ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Adverse Inferences'' section in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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\10\ See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
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Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in
Part
In accordance with section 703(e)(1) of the Act, Commerce
preliminarily determines that critical circumstances exist with respect
to imports of ferrosilicon from Malaysia for Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn.
Bhd (Pertama), but do not exist with respect to OM Materials (Sarawak)
Sdn. Bhd (OM Materials) and all other exporters or producers not
individually examined. For a full description of the methodology and
results of Commerce's analysis, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.
Alignment
As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, in accordance with
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is
aligning the final countervailing duty (CVD) determination in this
investigation with the final determination in the companion antidumping
duty (AD) investigation of ferrosilicon from Malaysia based on a
request made by the petitioners.\11\ Consequently, the final CVD
determination will be issued on the same date as the final AD
determination, which is currently scheduled to be issued no later than
January 14, 2025, unless postponed.
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\11\ See Ferrosilicon from Brazil; Kazakhstan, and Malaysia:
Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-
Value Investigations, 89 FR 66678 (August 16, 2024).
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All-Others Rate
Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the
preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-
others rate for companies not individually examined. This rate shall be
an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates
established for those companies individually examined, excluding any
zero and de minimis rates and any rates based entirely under section
776 of the Act.
In this investigation, Commerce calculated individual estimated
countervailable subsidy rates for OM Materials and Pertama that are not
zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available.
Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted average of the
individual estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined
respondents using each company's publicly-ranged values for the
merchandise under consideration.\12\
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\12\ With two respondents under examination, Commerce normally
calculates: (A) a weighted-average of the estimated subsidy rates
calculated for the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of the
estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents; and
(C) a weighted-average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for
the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged U.S.
sale values for the merchandise under consideration. Commerce then
compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate closest to (A) as
the most appropriate rate for all other producers and exporters.
See, e.g., Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from France, Germany,
Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Reviews, Final Results of Changed-Circumstances
Review, and Revocation of an Order in Part, 75 FR 53661, 53662
(September 1, 2010), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum
at Comment 1. As complete publicly ranged sales data were available,
Commerce based the all-others rate on the publicly ranged sales data
of the mandatory respondents. For a complete analysis of the data,
see the All-Others Rate Calculation Memorandum.
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Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated
countervailable subsidy rates exist:
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\13\ As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum,
Commerce has found the following companies to be cross-owned with OM
Materials: OM Materials & Logistics (M) Sdn. Bhd; OM Materials
(Samalaju) Sdn. Bhd; and OM Engineering Tech (M) Sdn. Bhd.
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Subsidy rate
Company (percent ad
valorem)
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OM Materials (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd \13\.................... 2.81
Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn. Bhd............................ 3.48
All Others.............................................. 3.02
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Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act,
Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to
suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise as described in
the scope of the investigation section entered, or withdrawn from
warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d),
Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the rates
indicated above.
Section 703(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given an affirmative
determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation
shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of: (a)
the date which 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. As noted above, Commerce
preliminarily finds that critical circumstances exist for imports of
subject merchandise produced and/or exported by Pertama. In accordance
with section 703(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the suspension of liquidation
shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise produced and/or
exported by Pertama that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the
publication of this notice.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination
within five days of its public announcement, or if there is no public
announcement, within five days of the date of this notice in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(e), Commerce will analyze and, if
appropriate, correct any timely allegations of significant ministerial
errors by amending the preliminary determination. However, consistent
with 19 CFR 351.224(d), Commerce will not consider incomplete
allegations that do not address the significance standard under 19 CFR
351.224(g) following the preliminary determination. Instead, Commerce
will address such allegations in the final determination together with
issues raised in the case briefs or other written comments.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to
verify the
[[Page 73366]]
information relied upon in making its final determination.
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. A timeline for the
submission of case briefs and written comments will be notified to
interested parties at a later date. 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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\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 19 351.309(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 public 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 public 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 intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be
determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and
location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
U.S. International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify
the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If
the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine, before
the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination
or 45 days after the final determination, whether imports of
ferrosilicon from Malaysia are materially injuring the U.S. industry.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections
703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).
Dated: September 3, 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 scope of this investigation covers all forms and sizes of
ferrosilicon, regardless of grade, including ferrosilicon
briquettes. Ferrosilicon is a ferroalloy containing by weight four
percent or more iron, more than eight percent but not more than 96
percent silicon, three percent or less phosphorus, 30 percent or
less manganese, less than three percent magnesium, and 10 percent or
less of any other element. The merchandise covered also includes
product described as slag, if the product meets these
specifications.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above
description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed
in a third country, including by performing any grinding or any
other finishing, packaging, or processing that would not otherwise
remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if
performed in the country of manufacture of the ferrosilicon.
Ferrosilicon is currently classifiable under subheadings
7202.21.1000, 7202.21.5000, 7202.21.7500, 7202.21.9000,
7202.29.0010, and 7202.29.0050 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTSUS). While the HTSUS numbers are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the
scope remains dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Injury Test
IV. Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances,
In Part
V. Use of Facts Available and Adverse Inferences
VI. Subsidies Valuation Information
VII. Analysis of Programs
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2024-20364 Filed 9-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P