81_FR_25457 81 FR 25375 - Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment

81 FR 25375 - Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 82 (April 28, 2016)

Page Range25375-25376
FR Document2016-09887

The Department of Commerce (Department) seeks public comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States during the period July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25375-25376]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09887]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber 
and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Department) seeks public comment 
on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain 
countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the 
United States during the period July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

DATES: Comments must be submitted within 30 days after publication of 
this notice.

ADDRESSES: See the Submission of Comments section below.

[[Page 25376]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Terpstra, Office III, 
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 18, 2008, section 805 of Title VIII of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (the Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) was enacted into law. Under this 
provision, the Secretary of Commerce is mandated to submit to the 
appropriate Congressional committees a report every 180 days on any 
subsidy provided by countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood 
lumber products to the United States, including stumpage subsidies.
    The Department submitted its last subsidy report on December 16, 
2015. As part of its newest report, the Department intends to include a 
list of subsidy programs identified with sufficient clarity by the 
public in response to this notice.

Request for Comments

    Given the large number of countries that export softwood lumber and 
softwood lumber products to the United States, we are soliciting public 
comment only on subsidies provided by countries whose exports accounted 
for at least one percent of total U.S. imports of softwood lumber by 
quantity, as classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule code 4407.1001 
(which accounts for the vast majority of imports), during the period 
July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Official U.S. import data 
published by the United States International Trade Commission Tariff 
and Trade DataWeb indicate that only two countries, Canada and Chile, 
exported softwood lumber to the United States during that time period 
in amounts sufficient to account for at least one percent of U.S. 
imports of softwood lumber products. We intend to rely on similar 
previous six-month periods to identify the countries subject to future 
reports on softwood lumber subsidies. For example, we will rely on U.S. 
imports of softwood lumber and softwood lumber products during the 
period January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016, to select the countries 
subject to the next report.
    Under U.S. trade law, a subsidy exists where an authority: (i) 
Provides a financial contribution; (ii) provides any form of income or 
price support within the meaning of Article XVI of the GATT 1994; or 
(iii) makes a payment to a funding mechanism to provide a financial 
contribution to a person, or entrusts or directs a private entity to 
make a financial contribution, if providing the contribution would 
normally be vested in the government and the practice does not differ 
in substance from practices normally followed by governments, and a 
benefit is thereby conferred.\1\
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    \1\ See section 771(5)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.
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    Parties should include in their comments: (1) The country which 
provided the subsidy; (2) the name of the subsidy program; (3) a brief 
description (at least 3-4 sentences) of the subsidy program; and (4) 
the government body or authority that provided the subsidy.

Submission of Comments

    Persons wishing to comment should file comments by the date 
specified above. Comments should only include publicly available 
information. The Department will not accept comments accompanied by a 
request that a part or all of the material be treated confidentially 
due to business proprietary concerns or for any other reason. The 
Department will return such comments or materials to the persons 
submitting the comments and will not include them in its report on 
softwood lumber subsidies. The Department requests submission of 
comments filed in electronic Portable Document Format (PDF) submitted 
on CD-ROM or by email to the email address of the EC Webmaster, below.
    The comments received will be made available to the public in PDF 
on the Enforcement and Compliance Web site at the following address: 
http://enforcement.trade.gov/sla2008/sla-index.html. Any questions 
concerning file formatting, access on the Internet, or other electronic 
filing issues should be addressed to Laura Merchant, Enforcement and 
Compliance Webmaster, at (202) 482-0367, email address: 
[email protected].
    All comments and submissions in response to this Request for 
Comment should be received by the Department no later than 5 p.m. 
Eastern Standard Time on the above-referenced deadline date.

    Dated: April 21, 2016.
Christian Marsh,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations.
[FR Doc. 2016-09887 Filed 4-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices 25375 during the subsequent 15-day period to published in the Federal Register a Notifications June 22, 2016. notice of initiation of an administrative This notice serves as a final reminder A copy of the application will be review of the antidumping duty order to importers of their responsibility available for public inspection at the on steel wire garment hangers from under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a Office of the Executive Secretary, Vietnam covering the period February 1, certificate regarding the reimbursement Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2015, through January 31, 2016.2 The of antidumping duties prior to 21013, U.S. Department of Commerce, review covers 67 companies.3 On April liquidation of the relevant entries 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., 15, 2016, Petitioners withdrew their during this review period. Failure to Washington, DC 20230–0002, and in the request for an administrative review on comply with this requirement could ‘‘Reading Room’’ section of the Board’s all 67 companies listed in the Initiation result in the Department’s presumption Web site, which is accessible via Notice.4 No other party requested a that reimbursement of the antidumping www.trade.gov/ftz. review of these exporter or any other For further information, contact duties occurred and the subsequent exporters of subject merchandise. assessment of doubled antidumping Kathleen Boyce at Kathleen.Boyce@ trade.gov or 202–482–1346. Rescission of Review duties. This notice also serves as a final Dated: April 21, 2016. reminder to parties subject to Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), the Andrew McGilvray, Department will rescind an administrative protective order (‘‘APO’’) Executive Secretary. administrative review, in whole or in of their responsibility concerning the [FR Doc. 2016–09964 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am] part, if the party that requested the return or destruction of proprietary BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P review withdraws its request within 90 information disclosed under APO in days of the publication of the notice of accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3), initiation of the requested review. In which continues to govern business DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE this case, Petitioners timely withdrew proprietary information in this segment their request by the 90-day deadline, of the proceeding. Timely written International Trade Administration notification of the return or destruction and no other party requested an [A–552–812] administrative review of the of APO materials, or conversion to antidumping duty order. As a result, judicial protective order, is hereby Steel Wire Garment Hangers From the pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), we requested. Failure to comply with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: are rescinding the administrative review regulations and terms of an APO is a Rescission of Antidumping Duty of the antidumping duty order on steel violation which is subject to sanction. Administrative Review; 2015–2016 wire garment hangers from Vietnam for This notice is issued and published in AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, the period February 1, 2015, through accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and International Trade Administration, January 31, 2016, in its entirety. 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as Department of Commerce. amended, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4). Assessment Dated: April 20, 2016. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (‘‘the Department’’) is rescinding the The Department will instruct U.S. Christian Marsh, administrative review of the Customs and Border Protection (‘‘CBP’’) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping antidumping duty order on steel wire to assess antidumping duties on all and Countervailing Duty Operations. garment hangers from the Socialist appropriate entries. Because the [FR Doc. 2016–09880 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am] Republic of Vietnam (‘‘Vietnam’’) for the Department is rescinding this BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P period February 1, 2015 through January administrative review in its entirety, the 31, 2016. entries to which this administrative DATES: Effective Date: April 28, 2016. review pertained shall be assessed DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: antidumping duties at rates equal to the International Trade Administration Irene Gorelik, AD/CVD Operations, cash deposit of estimated antidumping Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, duties required at the time of entry, or Subsidy Programs Provided by International Trade Administration, withdrawal from warehouse, for Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber Department of Commerce, 14th Street consumption, in accordance with 19 and Softwood Lumber Products to the and Constitution Avenue NW., CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). The Department United States; Request for Comment Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) intends to issue appropriate assessment 482–6905. instructions to CBP 15 days after the AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: publication of this notice in the Federal International Trade Administration, Register, if appropriate. Department of Commerce. Background SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce On April 7, 2016, based on a timely name to be initiated for review in the Federal (Department) seeks public comment on request for review by M&B Metal Register. See Memorandum to the File, through any subsidies, including stumpage Products Company, Inc.; Innovative Catherine Bertrand, Program Manager, Office V, subsidies, provided by certain countries from Irene Gorelik, Analyst, Office V, re; Fabrication LLC/Indy Hanger; and US ‘‘Clarification of Company Names Within exporting softwood lumber or softwood Hanger Company, LLC (collectively, Petitioners’ Review Request,’’ dated March 21, lumber products to the United States mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES ‘‘Petitioners’’),1 the Department 2016. during the period July 1, 2015 through 2 See Initiation of Antidumping and December 31, 2015. 1 See Petitioners’ submission, ‘‘Steel Wire Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 81 FR Garment Hangers from Vietnam: Request for Third 20324 (April 7, 2015) (‘‘Initiation Notice’’). DATES: Comments must be submitted Administrative Review,’’ dated February 10, 2016. 3 Id. within 30 days after publication of this Additionally, prior to initiation, the Department 4 See Petitioners’ Submission re; ‘‘Third notice. and counsel for Petitioners discussed duplication of Administrative Review of Steel Wire Garment names in their review request. Based on Petitioners’ Hangers from Vietnam—Petitioners’ Withdrawal of ADDRESSES: See the Submission of agreement, the Department removed a duplicate Review Request,’’ dated April 15, 2016. Comments section below. VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1

25376 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: make a financial contribution, if DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE James Terpstra, Office III, Enforcement providing the contribution would and Compliance, International Trade normally be vested in the government International Trade Administration Administration, U.S. Department of and the practice does not differ in Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Submission for OMB Review; substance from practices normally Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; Comment Request followed by governments, and a benefit telephone: (202) 482–3965. is thereby conferred.1 AGENCY: Committee for the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Implementation of Textile Agreements, Parties should include in their Background comments: (1) The country which International Trade Administration, provided the subsidy; (2) the name of Commerce. On June 18, 2008, section 805 of Title On behalf of the Committee for the VIII of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the the subsidy program; (3) a brief description (at least 3–4 sentences) of Implementation of Textile Agreements Softwood Lumber Act of 2008) was (CITA), the Department of Commerce enacted into law. Under this provision, the subsidy program; and (4) the will submit to the Office of Management the Secretary of Commerce is mandated government body or authority that and Budget (OMB) for clearance the to submit to the appropriate provided the subsidy. following proposal for collection of Congressional committees a report every Submission of Comments information under the provisions of the 180 days on any subsidy provided by Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. countries exporting softwood lumber or Persons wishing to comment should Chapter 35). softwood lumber products to the United file comments by the date specified Title: Interim Procedures for States, including stumpage subsidies. above. Comments should only include Considering Requests from the Public The Department submitted its last subsidy report on December 16, 2015. publicly available information. The for Textile and Apparel Safeguard As part of its newest report, the Department will not accept comments Actions on Imports from Panama. Department intends to include a list of accompanied by a request that a part or Form Number(s): N/A. subsidy programs identified with all of the material be treated OMB Control Number: 0625–0274. sufficient clarity by the public in confidentially due to business Type of Request: Regular submission. response to this notice. proprietary concerns or for any other Burden Hours: 24. reason. The Department will return such Number of Respondents: 6 (1 for Request for Comments comments or materials to the persons Request; 5 for Comments). Given the large number of countries submitting the comments and will not Average Hours per Response: 4 hours that export softwood lumber and include them in its report on softwood for a Request; and 4 hours for each softwood lumber products to the United Comment. lumber subsidies. The Department States, we are soliciting public comment Average Annual Cost to Public: $960. requests submission of comments filed only on subsidies provided by countries Needs and Uses: Title III, Subtitle B, in electronic Portable Document Format Section 321 through Section 328 of the whose exports accounted for at least one (PDF) submitted on CD–ROM or by percent of total U.S. imports of softwood United States-Panama Trade Promotion email to the email address of the EC Agreement Implementation Act (the lumber by quantity, as classified under Webmaster, below. ‘‘Act’’) [Pub. L. 112–43] implements the Harmonized Tariff Schedule code 4407.1001 (which accounts for the vast The comments received will be made textile and apparel safeguard provisions, majority of imports), during the period available to the public in PDF on the provided for in Article 3.24 of the July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Enforcement and Compliance Web site United States-Panama Trade Promotion Official U.S. import data published by at the following address: http:// Agreement (the ‘‘Agreement’’). This the United States International Trade enforcement.trade.gov/sla2008/sla- safeguard mechanism applies when, as Commission Tariff and Trade DataWeb index.html. Any questions concerning a result of the elimination of a customs indicate that only two countries, Canada file formatting, access on the Internet, or duty under the Agreement, a and Chile, exported softwood lumber to other electronic filing issues should be Panamanian textile or apparel article is the United States during that time addressed to Laura Merchant, being imported into the United States in period in amounts sufficient to account Enforcement and Compliance such increased quantities, in absolute for at least one percent of U.S. imports Webmaster, at (202) 482–0367, email terms or relative to the domestic market of softwood lumber products. We intend address: webmaster_support@trade.gov. for that article, and under such to rely on similar previous six-month conditions as to cause serious damage or periods to identify the countries subject All comments and submissions in actual threat thereof to a U.S. industry to future reports on softwood lumber response to this Request for Comment producing a like or directly competitive subsidies. For example, we will rely on should be received by the Department article. In these circumstances, Article U.S. imports of softwood lumber and no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Standard 3.24 permits the United States to softwood lumber products during the Time on the above-referenced deadline increase duties on the imported article period January 1, 2016 through June 30, date. from Panama to a level that does not 2016, to select the countries subject to Dated: April 21, 2016. exceed the lesser of the prevailing U.S. the next report. normal trade relations (NTR)/most- Christian Marsh, Under U.S. trade law, a subsidy exists favored-nation (MFN) duty rate for the where an authority: (i) Provides a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping article or the U.S. NTR/MFN duty rate mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES financial contribution; (ii) provides any and Countervailing Duty Operations. in effect on the day the Agreement form of income or price support within [FR Doc. 2016–09887 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am] entered into force. the meaning of Article XVI of the GATT BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P The Statement of Administrative 1994; or (iii) makes a payment to a Action accompanying the Act provides funding mechanism to provide a that the Committee for the financial contribution to a person, or 1 See section 771(5)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, Implementation of Textile Agreements entrusts or directs a private entity to as amended. (CITA) will issue procedures for VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:09 Apr 27, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1


Document Created: 2016-04-28 01:05:38
Document Modified: 2016-04-28 01:05:38
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
DatesComments must be submitted within 30 days after publication of this notice.
ContactJames Terpstra, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3965.
FR Citation81 FR 25375 
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