Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks From Germany: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Final Determination of Countervailing Duty Investigation; Notice of Amended Final Determination and Amended Countervailing Duty Order, 305-307 [2024-31587]
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 2 / Friday, January 3, 2025 / Notices
the appendix to this notice. The Issues
and Decision Memorandum is a public
document and is on file electronically
via Enforcement and Compliance’s
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System
(ACCESS). ACCESS is available to
registered users at https://access.
trade.gov. In addition, a complete
version of the Issues and Decision
Memorandum can be accessed directly
at https://access.trade.gov/public/
FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
Final Results of Expedited Sunset
Review
Pursuant to sections 751(c)(1) and
752(c)(1) and (3) of the Act, Commerce
determines that revocation of the Order
would likely lead to the continuation or
recurrence of dumping and that the
magnitude of the margins likely to
prevail if the Order was revoked is up
to 101.10 percent.
Administrative Protective Order (APO)
This notice serves as the only
reminder to parties subject to an APO of
their responsibility concerning the
return or destruction of proprietary
information disclosed under an APO in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a).
Timely notification of the return or
destruction of APO materials or
conversion to judicial protective order,
is hereby requested. Failure to comply
with the regulations and terms of an
APO is a violation which is subject to
sanction.
Notification to Interested Parties
We are issuing, and publishing notice
of, the results of this sunset review in
accordance with sections 751(c), 752(c),
and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2) and 19 CFR
351.221(c)(5)(ii).
Dated: December 27, 2024.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
and Compliance.
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Appendix
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. History of the Order
V. Legal Framework
VI. Discussion of the Issues
1. Likelihood of Continuation or
Recurrence of Dumping
2. Magnitude of the Margin of Dumping
Likely to Prevail
VII. Final Results of Sunset Review
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2024–31592 Filed 1–2–25; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–428–848]
Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks From
Germany: Notice of Court Decision Not
in Harmony With the Final
Determination of Countervailing Duty
Investigation; Notice of Amended Final
Determination and Amended
Countervailing Duty Order
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On December 26, 2024, the
U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT)
issued its final judgment in BGH
Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United
States, Court No. 21–00080, Slip Op.
24–148 (CIT December 26, 2024),
sustaining the U.S. Department of
Commerce’s (Commerce) fourth remand
redetermination pertaining to the
countervailing duty (CVD) investigation
of Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks (FEBs)
from the Germany covering the period
of investigation, January 1, 2018,
through December 31, 2018. Commerce
is notifying the public that the CIT’s
final judgment is not in harmony with
Commerce’s final determination in that
investigation, and that Commerce is
amending the final determination and
resulting CVD order with respect to the
countervailable subsidy rates assigned
to BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH (BGH
Siegen), Schmiedewerke Gröditz GmbH
(SWG), voestalpine Bohler Group
(voestalpine Bohler), and all others.
DATES: Applicable January 3, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Palmer or Shane Subler, AD/CVD
Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement
and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
(202) 482–9068 or (202) 482–6241,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
On December 11, 2020, Commerce
published its final determination in the
CVD investigation of FEBs from
Germany.1 Commerce calculated
countervailable subsidy rates of 5.86
percent for BGH Siegen, 6.71 percent for
SWG, 14.81 percent for voestalpine
Bohler, and 6.29 percent for all other
1 See Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks from the
Federal Republic of Germany: Final Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination, 85 FR 80011
(December 11, 2020) (Final Determination), and
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum
(IDM).
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305
producers/exporters of FEBs in
Germany.2 Commerce subsequently
published the CVD order on FEBs from
Germany.3
BGH Siegen appealed Commerce’s
Final Determination. On October 12,
2022, the CIT remanded the Final
Determination to Commerce, directing
Commerce to: (1) consider in the first
instance whether to account for the
compliance costs in its calculation of
the CVD rates for subsidy programs
under the Electricity Tax Act and
Energy Tax Act; and (2) explain or
reconsider its determination that the
Konzessionsabgabenverordnung (KAV)
Program is a specific subsidy.4
In the First Remand Results, issued in
January 2023, Commerce explained its
determination not to account for
compliance costs in its calculation of
the CVD rates for programs under the
Electricity Tax Act and Energy Tax Act.5
Commerce also further explained its
determination that the KAV Program is
specific.6 However, Commerce made no
changes to the final subsidy rates
calculated during the investigation.7
In its Second Remand Order, the CIT
sustained Commerce’s First Remand
Results with respect to the Electricity
Tax Act and Energy Tax Act.8 However,
with respect to the KAV Program, the
CIT held that Commerce’s First Remand
Results failed to explain: (1) how the
amount of electricity consumed or the
electricity prices paid by companies are
not economic in nature; and (2) how
criteria based solely on electricity
consumption and pricing are not
horizontal in application.9 Regarding
the latter, the CIT explained that for the
KAV Program’s criteria to be vertical in
application, the criteria would need to
expressly limit the program’s
application to specifically named
enterprises or industries or a group of
2 Id.,
85 FR at 80012.
Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks from the
People’s Republic of China, the Federal Republic of
Germany, India, and Italy: Countervailing Duty
Orders, and Amended Final Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination for the People’s
Republic of China, 86 FR 7535 (January 29, 2021)
(Order).
4 See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GMBH v. United
States, 600 F.Supp.3d 1241 (CIT 2022) (First
Remand Order).
5 See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant
to the First Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen
GmbH v. United States, Consol. Court No. 21–
00080; Slip. Op. 22–117 (CIT October 12, 2022),
dated January 9, 2023 (First Remand Results) at 18,
available at https://access.trade.gov/public/
FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
6 Id.
7 Id.
8 See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United
States, 639 F.Supp.3d 1237, 1242 (CIT 2023)
(Second Remand Order).
9 Id., 639 F.Supp.3d at 1243–44.
3 See
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 2 / Friday, January 3, 2025 / Notices
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enterprises or industries.10 The CIT
elaborated that the Government of
Germany’s (GOG) eligibility criteria for
the KAV Program did not expressly
limit the program’s application to
specific enterprises or industries or
groups of enterprises or industries.11
Accordingly, the CIT, again, remanded
for Commerce to further explain or
reconsider its determination.12
In the Second Remand Results,
Commerce found that the GOG’s
eligibility criteria for the KAV Program
were not horizontal in application, and
thus, not neutral, pursuant to section
771(5A)(D)(ii) of the Act.13 Commerce
explained that ‘‘where an authority, by
law, limits eligibility to a group of
enterprises or industries (e.g., those that
operate specific types of ‘stationary
equipment’), it cannot {emphasis
added} do so uniformly.’’ 14 Further,
Commerce explained that ‘‘by expressly
limiting eligibility to certain groups that
the authority, itself, defines, the
authority has, in effect, established
criteria that are vertical in nature.’’ 15 On
this basis, Commerce found the
eligibility criteria for the KAV Program
to be vertical in application.16
In its Third Remand Order, the CIT
held that Commerce’s position that a
subsidy is de jure specific where
‘‘implementing legislation expressly
limit{s} access to the ‘group’ that the
legislation itself created’’ was contrary
to law.17 The CIT elaborated that ‘‘{t}he
statute allows a subsidy to be limited to
fewer than all enterprises or industries
in an economy, so long as that criteria
creating that legislation is objective.’’ 18
On this basis, the CIT remanded for
Commerce to further explain or
reconsider its determination that the
KAV Program is de jure specific.19
10 Id., 639 F.Supp.3d at 1244 (citing section
771(5A)(D)(i) the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act)).
11 Id.
12 Id.
13 See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant
to the Second Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen
GmbH v. United States, Consol. Court No. 21–
00080; Slip. Op. 23–71 (CIT May 9, 2023), dated
August 7, 2023 (Second Remand Results) at 11,
available at https://access.trade.gov/public/
FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
14 Id. (citing Certain Softwood Lumber Products
from Canada: Final Results and Final Rescission, in
Part, of the Countervailing Duty Administrative
Review, 2020, 87 FR 48455 (August 9, 2022), and
accompanying IDM at Comment 103).
15 Id.
16 Id.
17 See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United
States, 663 F.Supp.3d 1378, 1384 (CIT 2023) (Third
Remand Order).
18 Id. (citing Statement of Administrative Action
Accompanying the Uruguay Round Agreements
Act, H.R. Doc. 103–316, Vol. 1 (1994), at 4242).
19 Id.
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18:01 Jan 02, 2025
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In the Third Remand Results,
Commerce reconsidered its
determination that the KAV Program is
de jure specific.20 Commerce found,
under respectful protest, that the KAV
Program is not de jure specific pursuant
to section 771(5A)(D)(i) of the Act.21
Consequently, Commerce determined
that the KAV Program did not constitute
a countervailable subsidy.22 Commerce
removed the KAV Program from the
overall subsidy rates for BGH Siegen,
SWG, and voestalpine Bohler, and
recalculated the all-others rate.23
In the Fourth Remand Order, the CIT
remanded for Commerce to further
explain or reconsider its determination
in the Third Remand Results.24
Specifically, the CIT held that
Commerce ‘‘failed to conduct a de facto
specificity analysis despite there being
reasons to believe the KAV Program is
specific as a matter of fact.’’ 25
In the Fourth Remand Results,
Commerce further explained its
determination that the KAV Program
does not constitute a countervailable
subsidy because it is neither de jure nor
de facto specific.26 Commerce
continued to find, based on facts
otherwise available in accordance with
776(a)(1) of the Act, that the KAV
Program does not constitute a
countervailable subsidy.27 Commerce
made no changes to the final subsidy
rates calculated in the Third Remand
Results.28
On December 26, 2024, the CIT
sustained Commerce’s Fourth Remand
Results.29
20 See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant
to the Third Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen
GmbH v. United States, 663 F. Supp. 3d 1378 (CIT
2023), dated February 12, 2024 (Third Remand
Results) at 9, available at https://access.trade.gov/
public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
21 Id.; see also Viraj Grp., Ltd. v. United States,
343 F.3d 1371, 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
22 See Third Remand Results at 9.
23 Id. at 9–10; see also Memorandum,
‘‘Calculation of the Non-Selected Rate,’’ dated
January 16, 2024 (All-Others Rate Memorandum).
24 See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United
States, 704 F.Supp.3d 1372 (CIT 2024) (Fourth
Remand Order).
25 Id., 704 F. Supp.3d at 1380.
26 See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant
to the Fourth Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen
GmbH v. United States, 704 F. Supp. 3d 1372 (CIT
2024), dated September 16, 2024 (Fourth Remand
Results), available at https://access.trade.gov/
public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
27 Id. at 13.
28 Id. at 19.
29 See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United
States, Consol. Court No. 21–00080, Slip Op. 24–
148 (CIT December 26, 2024).
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Timken Notice
In its decision in Timken,30 as
clarified by Diamond Sawblades,31 the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
Circuit held that, pursuant to sections
516A(c) and (e) of the Act, Commerce
must publish a notice of court decision
that is not ‘‘in harmony’’ with a
Commerce determination and must
suspend liquidation of entries pending
a ‘‘conclusive’’ court decision. The CIT’s
December 26, 2024, judgment
constitutes a final decision of the CIT
that is not in harmony with Commerce’s
Final Determination. Thus, this notice is
published in fulfillment of the
publication requirements of Timken.
Amended Final Determination
Because there is now a final court
judgment, Commerce is amending its
Final Determination with respect BGH
Siegen, SWG, and voestalpine Bohler,
and all others as follows:
Company
BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH .............
Schmiedewerke Gröditz GmbH ...........
voestalpine Bohler Group ...................
All Others ............................................
Subsidy rate
(percent
ad valorem)
5.81
6.64
14.74
6.18
Amended CVD Order
Because there is now a final court
decision, Commerce is amending its
Final Determination and Order. As a
result of this amended final
determination, Commerce is hereby
revising the subsidy rates for BGH
Siegen, SWG, and voestalpine Bohler.
Additionally, because the all-others rate
was based on BGH Siegen’s and SWG’s
rates, Commerce is also revising the allothers rate.32
Cash Deposit Requirements
Because BGH Siegen has a
superseding cash deposit rate, this
notice will not affect the current cash
deposit rate for BGH Siegen.33 For all
companies that do not have a
superseding cash deposit rate,
Commerce will issue revised cash
deposit instructions to U.S. Customs
and Border Protection.
30 See Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337
(Fed. Cir. 1990) (Timken).
31 See Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers
Coalition v. United States, 626 F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir.
2010) (Diamond Sawblades).
32 See All-Others Rate Memorandum.
33 See Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks from
Germany: Final Results of the Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review; 2022, 89 FR 64875 (August
8, 2024).
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 2 / Friday, January 3, 2025 / Notices
Notification to Interested Parties
This notice is issued and published in
accordance with sections 516A(c) and
(e) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: December 30, 2024.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024–31587 Filed 12–30–24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
NPALB U.S. Stakeholder Meeting
Topics
[RTID 0648–XE570]
North Pacific Albacore United States
Stakeholder Meeting; Meeting
Announcement
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
NMFS announces a U.S.
stakeholder meeting to discuss North
Pacific albacore (NPALB) management.
This meeting is intended to prepare for
potential discussions at the 2025 annual
meetings of the Inter-American Tropical
Tuna Commission (IATTC) and Western
and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission Northern Committee
(WCPFC NC) related to the results of the
Management Strategy Evaluation (MSE)
for NPALB fisheries. The meeting topics
are described under the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this notice.
DATES: The virtual meeting will be held
on February 20, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4
p.m. PST (11 a.m.–2 p.m. HST). You
must complete the registration process
by February 13, 2025, if you plan to
attend the meeting (see ADDRESSES).
ADDRESSES: If you plan to attend the
meeting, which will be held by webinar,
please register at https://forms.gle/
7hDuYGSCtJbnHedS9. Instructions for
attending the meeting will be emailed to
meeting participants before the meeting
occurs.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Emily Reynolds, Pacific Islands
Regional Office, tel. 808–725–5039 or
emily.reynolds@noaa.gov or Tyler
Lawson, West Coast Region Office, tel.
503–230–5421 at tyler.lawson@
noaa.gov.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
In 2024,
the WCPFC NC and IATTC requested
the International Scientific Committee
on Tuna and Tuna-like Species in the
North Pacific Ocean (ISC) provide
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:01 Jan 02, 2025
recommendations to relate fishing
intensity to catch and/or effort.
Additionally, the ISC’s Albacore
Working Group developed criteria for
identifying exceptional circumstances
for the NPALB MSE. This stakeholder
meeting is intended to discuss these
items as well as to prepare for
anticipated discussions at the IATTC
and WCPFC NC in 2025. For more
information on fishing intensity
recommendations and identifying
exceptional circumstances, please see
the ISC24 Plenary Report: https://
isc.fra.go.jp/pdf/ISC24/ISC24_Plenary_
Report_r1.pdf.
Jkt 265001
The meeting agenda will be
distributed to participants in advance of
the meeting. The meeting agenda will
include a discussion on translating
fishing intensity into catch and/or effort
limits for NPALB, identifying
exceptional circumstances for the
NPALB MSE, and logbook updates.
Special Accommodations
Requests for sign language
interpretation or other auxiliary aids
should be indicated when registering for
the meeting (see ADDRESSES) by
February 13, 2025.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 951 et seq., 16
U.S.C. 1801 et seq., and 16 U.S.C. 6901
et seq.
Dated: December 30, 2024.
Kelly Denit,
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries,
National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–31557 Filed 1–2–25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XE576]
New England Fishery Management
Council; Public Meeting
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
The New England Fishery
Management Council (Council) is
scheduling a public webinar of its Joint
Herring Committee and Advisory Panel
to consider actions affecting New
England fisheries in the exclusive
economic zone (EEZ).
Recommendations from this group will
SUMMARY:
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be brought to the full Council for formal
consideration and action, if appropriate.
DATES: This webinar will be held on
Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
ADDRESSES: Webinar registration URL
information: https://nefmc-org.zoom.us/
meeting/register/tJwpduyopz4uGtSP_
pFIKrgZkz5BehDTaWUCouncil address: New England
Fishery Management Council, 50 Water
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cate
O’Keefe, Executive Director, New
England Fishery Management Council;
telephone: (978) 465–0492.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Agenda
The Atlantic Herring Committee and
Advisory Panel will meet to discuss
Amendment 10 and the timeline for the
action and an update from the Plan
Development Team (PDT) on draft
analysis to date. They also plan to
discuss Specifications for 2025—a
summary of fishing year 2024
preliminary catch information and
updated catch projections from the PDT,
and recommendations for next steps,
make recommendation to the
Committee/Council as appropriate.
Other business will be discussed, if
necessary.
Although non-emergency issues not
contained on the agenda may come
before this Council for discussion, those
issues may not be the subject of formal
action during this meeting. Council
action will be restricted to those issues
specifically listed in this notice and any
issues arising after publication of this
notice that require emergency action
under section 305(c) of the MagnusonStevens Act, provided the public has
been notified of the Council’s intent to
take final action to address the
emergency. The public also should be
aware that the meeting will be recorded.
Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1852, a copy
of the recording is available upon
request.
Special Accommodations
This meeting is physically accessible
to people with disabilities. Requests for
sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Cate
O’Keefe, Executive Director, at (978)
465–0492, at least 5 days prior to the
meeting date.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.
Dated: December 30, 2024.
Rey Israel Marquez,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Sustainable
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024–31572 Filed 1–2–25; 8:45 am]
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 2 (Friday, January 3, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 305-307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-31587]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-428-848]
Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks From Germany: Notice of Court
Decision Not in Harmony With the Final Determination of Countervailing
Duty Investigation; Notice of Amended Final Determination and Amended
Countervailing Duty Order
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On December 26, 2024, the U.S. Court of International Trade
(CIT) issued its final judgment in BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United
States, Court No. 21-00080, Slip Op. 24-148 (CIT December 26, 2024),
sustaining the U.S. Department of Commerce's (Commerce) fourth remand
redetermination pertaining to the countervailing duty (CVD)
investigation of Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks (FEBs) from the Germany
covering the period of investigation, January 1, 2018, through December
31, 2018. Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's final
judgment is not in harmony with Commerce's final determination in that
investigation, and that Commerce is amending the final determination
and resulting CVD order with respect to the countervailable subsidy
rates assigned to BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH (BGH Siegen), Schmiedewerke
Gr[ouml]ditz GmbH (SWG), voestalpine Bohler Group (voestalpine Bohler),
and all others.
DATES: Applicable January 3, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Palmer or Shane Subler, AD/CVD
Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-9068 or (202)
482-6241, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 11, 2020, Commerce published its final determination in
the CVD investigation of FEBs from Germany.\1\ Commerce calculated
countervailable subsidy rates of 5.86 percent for BGH Siegen, 6.71
percent for SWG, 14.81 percent for voestalpine Bohler, and 6.29 percent
for all other producers/exporters of FEBs in Germany.\2\ Commerce
subsequently published the CVD order on FEBs from Germany.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks from the Federal Republic
of Germany: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 85
FR 80011 (December 11, 2020) (Final Determination), and accompanying
Issues and Decision Memorandum (IDM).
\2\ Id., 85 FR at 80012.
\3\ See Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks from the People's Republic
of China, the Federal Republic of Germany, India, and Italy:
Countervailing Duty Orders, and Amended Final Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination for the People's Republic of
China, 86 FR 7535 (January 29, 2021) (Order).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
BGH Siegen appealed Commerce's Final Determination. On October 12,
2022, the CIT remanded the Final Determination to Commerce, directing
Commerce to: (1) consider in the first instance whether to account for
the compliance costs in its calculation of the CVD rates for subsidy
programs under the Electricity Tax Act and Energy Tax Act; and (2)
explain or reconsider its determination that the
Konzessionsabgabenverordnung (KAV) Program is a specific subsidy.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GMBH v. United States, 600
F.Supp.3d 1241 (CIT 2022) (First Remand Order).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the First Remand Results, issued in January 2023, Commerce
explained its determination not to account for compliance costs in its
calculation of the CVD rates for programs under the Electricity Tax Act
and Energy Tax Act.\5\ Commerce also further explained its
determination that the KAV Program is specific.\6\ However, Commerce
made no changes to the final subsidy rates calculated during the
investigation.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to the First
Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, Consol.
Court No. 21-00080; Slip. Op. 22-117 (CIT October 12, 2022), dated
January 9, 2023 (First Remand Results) at 18, available at https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
\6\ Id.
\7\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In its Second Remand Order, the CIT sustained Commerce's First
Remand Results with respect to the Electricity Tax Act and Energy Tax
Act.\8\ However, with respect to the KAV Program, the CIT held that
Commerce's First Remand Results failed to explain: (1) how the amount
of electricity consumed or the electricity prices paid by companies are
not economic in nature; and (2) how criteria based solely on
electricity consumption and pricing are not horizontal in
application.\9\ Regarding the latter, the CIT explained that for the
KAV Program's criteria to be vertical in application, the criteria
would need to expressly limit the program's application to specifically
named enterprises or industries or a group of
[[Page 306]]
enterprises or industries.\10\ The CIT elaborated that the Government
of Germany's (GOG) eligibility criteria for the KAV Program did not
expressly limit the program's application to specific enterprises or
industries or groups of enterprises or industries.\11\ Accordingly, the
CIT, again, remanded for Commerce to further explain or reconsider its
determination.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, 639
F.Supp.3d 1237, 1242 (CIT 2023) (Second Remand Order).
\9\ Id., 639 F.Supp.3d at 1243-44.
\10\ Id., 639 F.Supp.3d at 1244 (citing section 771(5A)(D)(i)
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act)).
\11\ Id.
\12\ Id.
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In the Second Remand Results, Commerce found that the GOG's
eligibility criteria for the KAV Program were not horizontal in
application, and thus, not neutral, pursuant to section 771(5A)(D)(ii)
of the Act.\13\ Commerce explained that ``where an authority, by law,
limits eligibility to a group of enterprises or industries (e.g., those
that operate specific types of `stationary equipment'), it cannot
{emphasis added{time} do so uniformly.'' \14\ Further, Commerce
explained that ``by expressly limiting eligibility to certain groups
that the authority, itself, defines, the authority has, in effect,
established criteria that are vertical in nature.'' \15\ On this basis,
Commerce found the eligibility criteria for the KAV Program to be
vertical in application.\16\
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\13\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to the Second
Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, Consol.
Court No. 21-00080; Slip. Op. 23-71 (CIT May 9, 2023), dated August
7, 2023 (Second Remand Results) at 11, available at https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
\14\ Id. (citing Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada:
Final Results and Final Rescission, in Part, of the Countervailing
Duty Administrative Review, 2020, 87 FR 48455 (August 9, 2022), and
accompanying IDM at Comment 103).
\15\ Id.
\16\ Id.
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In its Third Remand Order, the CIT held that Commerce's position
that a subsidy is de jure specific where ``implementing legislation
expressly limit{s{time} access to the `group' that the legislation
itself created'' was contrary to law.\17\ The CIT elaborated that
``{t{time} he statute allows a subsidy to be limited to fewer than all
enterprises or industries in an economy, so long as that criteria
creating that legislation is objective.'' \18\ On this basis, the CIT
remanded for Commerce to further explain or reconsider its
determination that the KAV Program is de jure specific.\19\
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\17\ See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, 663
F.Supp.3d 1378, 1384 (CIT 2023) (Third Remand Order).
\18\ Id. (citing Statement of Administrative Action Accompanying
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, H.R. Doc. 103-316, Vol. 1 (1994),
at 4242).
\19\ Id.
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In the Third Remand Results, Commerce reconsidered its
determination that the KAV Program is de jure specific.\20\ Commerce
found, under respectful protest, that the KAV Program is not de jure
specific pursuant to section 771(5A)(D)(i) of the Act.\21\
Consequently, Commerce determined that the KAV Program did not
constitute a countervailable subsidy.\22\ Commerce removed the KAV
Program from the overall subsidy rates for BGH Siegen, SWG, and
voestalpine Bohler, and recalculated the all-others rate.\23\
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\20\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to the Third
Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, 663 F.
Supp. 3d 1378 (CIT 2023), dated February 12, 2024 (Third Remand
Results) at 9, available at https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
\21\ Id.; see also Viraj Grp., Ltd. v. United States, 343 F.3d
1371, 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
\22\ See Third Remand Results at 9.
\23\ Id. at 9-10; see also Memorandum, ``Calculation of the Non-
Selected Rate,'' dated January 16, 2024 (All-Others Rate
Memorandum).
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In the Fourth Remand Order, the CIT remanded for Commerce to
further explain or reconsider its determination in the Third Remand
Results.\24\ Specifically, the CIT held that Commerce ``failed to
conduct a de facto specificity analysis despite there being reasons to
believe the KAV Program is specific as a matter of fact.'' \25\
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\24\ See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, 704
F.Supp.3d 1372 (CIT 2024) (Fourth Remand Order).
\25\ Id., 704 F. Supp.3d at 1380.
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In the Fourth Remand Results, Commerce further explained its
determination that the KAV Program does not constitute a
countervailable subsidy because it is neither de jure nor de facto
specific.\26\ Commerce continued to find, based on facts otherwise
available in accordance with 776(a)(1) of the Act, that the KAV Program
does not constitute a countervailable subsidy.\27\ Commerce made no
changes to the final subsidy rates calculated in the Third Remand
Results.\28\
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\26\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to the Fourth
Remand Order, BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, 704 F.
Supp. 3d 1372 (CIT 2024), dated September 16, 2024 (Fourth Remand
Results), available at https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx.
\27\ Id. at 13.
\28\ Id. at 19.
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On December 26, 2024, the CIT sustained Commerce's Fourth Remand
Results.\29\
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\29\ See BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH v. United States, Consol.
Court No. 21-00080, Slip Op. 24-148 (CIT December 26, 2024).
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Timken Notice
In its decision in Timken,\30\ as clarified by Diamond
Sawblades,\31\ the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held
that, pursuant to sections 516A(c) and (e) of the Act, Commerce must
publish a notice of court decision that is not ``in harmony'' with a
Commerce determination and must suspend liquidation of entries pending
a ``conclusive'' court decision. The CIT's December 26, 2024, judgment
constitutes a final decision of the CIT that is not in harmony with
Commerce's Final Determination. Thus, this notice is published in
fulfillment of the publication requirements of Timken.
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\30\ See Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir.
1990) (Timken).
\31\ See Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers Coalition v. United
States, 626 F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (Diamond Sawblades).
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Amended Final Determination
Because there is now a final court judgment, Commerce is amending
its Final Determination with respect BGH Siegen, SWG, and voestalpine
Bohler, and all others as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subsidy
rate
Company (percent
ad valorem)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH.................................. 5.81
Schmiedewerke Gr[ouml]ditz GmbH............................ 6.64
voestalpine Bohler Group................................... 14.74
All Others................................................. 6.18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amended CVD Order
Because there is now a final court decision, Commerce is amending
its Final Determination and Order. As a result of this amended final
determination, Commerce is hereby revising the subsidy rates for BGH
Siegen, SWG, and voestalpine Bohler. Additionally, because the all-
others rate was based on BGH Siegen's and SWG's rates, Commerce is also
revising the all-others rate.\32\
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\32\ See All-Others Rate Memorandum.
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Cash Deposit Requirements
Because BGH Siegen has a superseding cash deposit rate, this notice
will not affect the current cash deposit rate for BGH Siegen.\33\ For
all companies that do not have a superseding cash deposit rate,
Commerce will issue revised cash deposit instructions to U.S. Customs
and Border Protection.
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\33\ See Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks from Germany: Final
Results of the Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2022, 89
FR 64875 (August 8, 2024).
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[[Page 307]]
Notification to Interested Parties
This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections
516A(c) and (e) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: December 30, 2024.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024-31587 Filed 12-30-24; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P