83_FR_14321 83 FR 14257 - Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

83 FR 14257 - Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 64 (April 3, 2018)

Page Range14257-14262
FR Document2018-06727

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14257-14262]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06727]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-552-823]


Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: 
Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

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

DATES: Effective March 27, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Drew Jackson or Celeste Chen, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4406 or (202) 482-0890, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Petition

    On March 7, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
received an antidumping duty (AD) Petition concerning imports of 
laminated woven sacks (LWS) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
(Vietnam), filed in proper form on behalf of the Laminated Woven Sacks 
Fair Trade Coalition and its individual members, Polytex Fibers 
Corporation and ProAmpac Holdings Inc. (collectively, the 
petitioners).\1\ The AD Petition was accompanied by a countervailing 
duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of LWS from Vietnam. The 
petitioners are domestic producers of LWS.\2\
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    \1\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Petitions for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks From 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,'' (March 7, 2018) (the Petition); 
see also Petitioners' Letter ``Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Investigations of Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam: Correction to Petitioner's Name,'' dated March 16, 2018 
(clarifying the name of ProAmpac Holdings Inc.).
    \2\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 2 and Exhibit I-1.
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    On March 12, 16, and 26, 2018, Commerce requested supplemental 
information pertaining to certain areas of the Petition.\3\ The 
petitioners filed

[[Page 14258]]

responses to these requests on March 14, 2018,\4\ March 19, 2018,\5\ 
and March 27, 2018.\6\
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    \3\ See Commerce Letter re: ``Petitions for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Laminated Woven 
Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated March 12, 2018; see also Commerce Letter re: 
``Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping Duties on Imports of 
Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: 
Supplemental Questions,'' dated March 12, 2018. See also Memorandum, 
``Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam, Phone Call with Counsel to the Petitioners,'' dated March 
16, 2018. See also Memorandum, ``Petitions for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks from 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Phone Call with Counsel to the 
Petitioners,'' dated March 26, 2018.
    \4\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Investigation of Laminated Woven 
Sacks From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners' Responses 
to Supplemental Questions Relating to Volume I: General Issues'' 
dated March 14, 2018 (General Issues Supplement); see also 
Petitioners' Letter, ``Investigation of Laminated Woven Sacks From 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners' Responses to 
Supplemental Questions Relating to Volume II: Antidumping Duties,'' 
dated March 14, 2018 (AD Supplement).
    \5\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Investigation of Laminated Woven 
Sacks From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners' Responses 
to Second Supplemental Questions Relating to Volume I: General 
Issues,'' dated March 19, 2018 (Second General Issues Supplement).
    \6\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Investigation of Laminated Woven 
Sacks From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners' Responses 
to Second Supplemental Questions Relating to Volume I: General 
Issues,'' dated March 27, 2018 (Third General Issues Supplement).
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    In accordance with section 732(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), the petitioners allege that imports of LWS from 
Vietnam are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at 
less than fair value within the meaning of section 731 of the Act, and 
that such imports are materially injuring, or threatening material 
injury to, the domestic industry producing LWS in the United States. 
Consistent with section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the Petition is 
accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioners 
supporting their allegations.
    Commerce finds that the petitioners filed this Petition on behalf 
of the domestic industry because the petitioners are interested parties 
as defined in section 771(9)(C), (E) and (F) of the Act. Commerce also 
finds that the petitioners demonstrated sufficient industry support 
with respect to the initiation of the AD investigation that the 
petitioners are requesting.\7\
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    \7\ See the ``Determination of Industry Support for the 
Petition'' section, below.
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Period of Investigation

    Because the Petition was filed on March 7, 2018, and Vietnam is a 
non-market economy (NME) country, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(b)(1), the 
period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2017, through December 31, 
2017.

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are LWS from Vietnam. 
For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the 
``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the Appendix to this notice.

Comments on Scope of the Investigation

    During our review of the Petition, Commerce issued questions to, 
and received responses from, the petitioners pertaining to the proposed 
scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petition would be an 
accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is 
seeking relief.\8\ Commerce also held two conference calls with the 
petitioners regarding the scope language.\9\ As a result of these 
exchanges, the scope of the Petition was modified to clarify the 
description of the merchandise covered by the Petition.\10\ The 
description of the merchandise covered by this initiation, as described 
by the Appendix to this notice, reflects these clarifications.
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    \8\ See General Issues Supplement; see also Second General 
Issues Supplement.
    \9\ See Memorandum, ``Petitions for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks from 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Phone Call with Counsel to the 
Petitioners,'' dated March 16, 2018; see also Memorandum, 
``Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam, Phone Call with Counsel to the Petitioners,'' dated March 
26, 2018.
    \10\ See Second General Issues Supplement; see also Third 
General Issues Supplement.
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    As discussed in the preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are 
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding 
product coverage (scope).\11\ Commerce will consider all comments 
received from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with 
interested parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary 
determination. If scope comments include factual information,\12\ all 
such factual information should be limited to public information. To 
facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests all 
interested parties to submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time 
(ET) on Monday, April 16, 2018, which is 20 calendar days from the 
signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include 
factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 
26, 2018, which is 10 calendar days from the initial comments 
deadline.\13\
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    \11\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \12\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual 
information'').
    \13\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b).
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    Commerce requests that any factual information the parties consider 
relevant to the scope of the investigation be submitted during this 
time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional 
factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigation may be 
relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to 
submit the additional information. All such comments must be filed on 
the records of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations of LWS from 
Vietnam.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using 
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS).\14\ An electronically 
filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the 
time and date it is due. Documents exempted from the electronic 
submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) 
with Enforcement and Compliance's APO/Dockets Unit, Room 18022, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230, and stamped with the date and time of receipt by the applicable 
deadlines.
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    \14\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order 
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and 
Compliance; Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 
(November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing 
requirements, which went into effect on August 5, 2011. Information 
on help using ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx and a handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf.
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Comments on Product Characteristics for AD Questionnaires

    Commerce will provide interested parties an opportunity to comment 
on the appropriate physical characteristics of LWS to be reported in 
response to Commerce's AD questionnaires. This information will be used 
to identify the key physical characteristics of the merchandise under 
consideration in order to report the relevant production information 
accurately as well as to develop appropriate product-comparison 
criteria.
    Interested parties may provide any information or comments that 
they believe are relevant to the development of an accurate list of 
physical characteristics. Specifically, they may provide comments as to 
which characteristics are appropriate to use as: (1) General product 
characteristics and

[[Page 14259]]

(2) product-comparison criteria. We note that it is not always 
appropriate to use all product characteristics as product-comparison 
criteria. We base product-comparison criteria on meaningful commercial 
differences among products. In other words, although there may be some 
physical product characteristics utilized by manufacturers to describe 
LWS, it may be that only a select few product characteristics take into 
account commercially meaningful physical characteristics. In addition, 
interested parties may comment on the order in which the physical 
characteristics should be used in matching products. Generally, 
Commerce attempts to list the most important physical characteristics 
first and the least important characteristics last.
    In order to consider the suggestions of interested parties in 
developing and issuing the AD questionnaire, all product 
characteristics comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 16, 
2018. Any rebuttal comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 26, 
2018. All comments and submissions to Commerce must be filed 
electronically, using ACCESS as explained above, on the record of the 
less-than-fair-value investigation.

Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act 
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic 
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) At least 
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and 
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like 
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support 
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 732(c)(4)(D) of 
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of 
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of 
the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i) 
Poll the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if 
there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or 
(ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling 
method to poll the ``industry.''
    Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the 
producers, as a whole, of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine 
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute 
directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the 
domestic like product. The International Trade Commission (ITC), which 
is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' has 
been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like 
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the 
ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic 
like product,\15\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a 
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination 
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may 
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences 
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\16\
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    \15\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
    \16\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT 
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F. 
Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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    Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a 
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in 
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation 
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic 
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an 
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be 
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the 
Petition).
    With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioners do not 
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope 
of the Petition. Based on our analysis of the information submitted on 
the record, we have determined that LWS, as defined in the scope, 
constitute a single domestic like product, and we have analyzed 
industry support in terms of that domestic like product.\17\
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    \17\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis, see 
Enforcement and Compliance Office of AD/CVD Operations Antidumping 
Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Laminated Woven Sacks from 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist), 
at Attachment II, Industry Support (Attachment II). This checklist 
is dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice and 
on file electronically via ACCESS. Access to documents filed via 
ACCESS is also available in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of 
the main Commerce building.
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    In determining whether the petitioners have standing under section 
732(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data 
contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like product 
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the Appendix to 
this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioners provided 
their shipments of the domestic like product in 2017 and compared these 
shipments to the estimated total shipments of the domestic like product 
for the entire domestic industry.\18\ Because total industry production 
data for the domestic like product for 2017 are not reasonably 
available to the petitioners, and the petitioners have established that 
shipments are a reasonable proxy for production data,\19\ we have 
relied on the data the petitioners provided for purposes of measuring 
industry support.\20\
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    \18\ See Second General Issues Supplement, at 1 and Exhibit I-
2S1.
    \19\ See General Issues Supplement, at 7 and Exhibit I-S3.
    \20\ Id; see also Second General Issues Supplement, at 1 and 
Exhibit I-2S1. For further discussion, see Vietnam AD Initiation 
Checklist, at Attachment II.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, the General Issues 
Supplement, the Second General Issues Supplement, and other information 
readily available to Commerce indicates that the petitioners have 
established industry support for the Petition.\21\ First, the Petition 
established support from domestic producers (or workers) accounting for 
more than 50 percent of the total production of the domestic like 
product and, as such, Commerce is not required to take further action 
in order to evaluate industry support (e.g., polling).\22\ Second, the 
domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for 
industry support under section 732(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the 
domestic producers (or workers) who support the Petition account for at 
least 25 percent of the total production of the domestic like 
product.\23\ Finally, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the 
statutory criteria for industry support under section 732(c)(4)(A)(ii) 
of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the 
Petition account for more than 50 percent of the production of the 
domestic like product produced by that portion of the industry 
expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition.\24\ 
Accordingly, Commerce determines that the Petition was filed on behalf 
of the domestic industry within the meaning of section 732(b)(1) of the 
Act.
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    \21\ See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
    \22\ See section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also Vietnam AD 
Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
    \23\ See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
    \24\ Id.
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    Commerce finds that the petitioners filed the Petition on behalf of 
the domestic industry because they are interested parties as defined in 
sections 771(9)(C), (E), and (F) of the Act, and they have demonstrated 
sufficient industry support with respect to the AD

[[Page 14260]]

investigation that they are requesting that Commerce initiate.\25\
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    \25\ Id.
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Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioners allege that the U.S. industry producing the 
domestic like product is being materially injured, or is threatened 
with material injury, by reason of the imports of the subject 
merchandise sold at less than normal value (NV). In addition, the 
petitioners allege that subject imports exceed the negligibility 
threshold provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\26\
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    \26\ See Volume I of the Petition, at Exhibit I-7; see also 
General Issues Supplement, at 9.
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    The petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by a significant and increasing volume of subject imports; 
reduced market share; underselling and price depression or suppression; 
lost sales and revenues; a decline in U.S. shipments, capacity 
utilization, production, and financial performance; and the magnitude 
of the alleged dumping margins.\27\ We have assessed the allegations 
and supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat of material 
injury, and causation, and we have determined that these allegations 
are properly supported by adequate evidence, and meet the statutory 
requirements for initiation.\28\
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    \27\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 14-25 and Exhibits I-7 
through I-9; see also General Issues Supplement, at 1, 9 and 
Exhibits I-S6 and I-S7.
    \28\ See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment III, 
Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and 
Causation (Attachment III).
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Allegation of Sales at Less Than Fair Value

    The following is a description of the allegation of sales at less 
than fair value upon which Commerce based its decision to initiate the 
AD investigation of imports of LWS from Vietnam. The sources of data 
for the petitioners' calculations relating to U.S. price and NV are 
discussed in greater detail in the Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.\29\
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    \29\ See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.
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Export Price

    The petitioners based U.S. price on export price (EP) using the 
average unit value of publicly available import data.\30\ The 
petitioners also based the U.S. price on EP using price quotes for 
sales of LWS produced in, and exported from, Vietnam and offered for 
sale in the United States.\31\ Where applicable, the petitioners made 
deductions from U.S. price consistent with the terms of sale.\32\
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    \30\ Id.
    \31\ See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.
    \32\ See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.
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Normal Value

    Commerce considers Vietnam to be an NME country.\33\ In accordance 
with section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, the presumption of NME status 
remains in effect until revoked by Commerce. The presumption of NME 
status for Vietnam has not been revoked by Commerce and, therefore, 
remains in effect for purposes of the initiation of this investigation. 
Accordingly, NV in Vietnam is appropriately based on factors of 
production (FOPs) valued in a surrogate market economy country, in 
accordance with section 773(c) of the Act.\34\
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    \33\ See Certain Steel Nails From the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of the 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2014-2016, 82 FR 26050 (82 
FR 26050) (unchanged in Certain Steel Nails From the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam: Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review; 2014-2016, 82 FR 45266 (September 28, 2017).
    \34\ See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.
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    The petitioners state that India is an appropriate surrogate 
country for Vietnam, because it is a market economy country that is at 
a level of economic development comparable to that of Vietnam, it is a 
significant producer of comparable merchandise, and public information 
from India is available to value all material inputs.\35\ Based on the 
information provided by the petitioners, we determine that it is 
appropriate to use India as a surrogate country for initiation 
purposes.
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    \35\ See Volume II of the Petition at 4, and Exhibits II-1A, and 
II-1B.
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    Interested parties will have the opportunity to submit comments 
regarding surrogate country selection and, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.301(c)(3)(i), will be provided an opportunity to submit publicly 
available information to value FOPs no later than 30 days before the 
scheduled date of the preliminary determination.

Factors of Production

    The petitioners state that they do not have access to the 
Vietnamese producers' factors of production and consumption rates for 
those FOPs. Therefore, the petitioners relied on their own experience 
and other information reasonably available.\36\ The petitioners valued 
the estimated FOPs using surrogate values from India.\37\ Additionally, 
for the surrogate values denominated in Indian rupees (INR), the 
petitioners converted INR prices into U.S. dollars using the average 
exchange rate for the POI available on Commerce's website.\38\
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    \36\ Id. at 6 and Exhibit II-7; see also AD Supplement, at 3 and 
Exhibit II-S5.
    \37\ Id. at 6-8 and Exhibits II-9 through II-11; see also AD 
Supplement, at 3-4 and Exhibits II-S6, II-S8, and II-S9.
    \38\ Id. at 6 and Exhibit II-8A.
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Fair Value Comparisons

    Based on the data provided by the petitioners, there is reason to 
believe that imports of LWS from Vietnam are being, or are likely to 
be, sold in the United States at less than fair value. Based on 
comparisons of EP to NV in accordance with sections 772 and 773 of the 
Act, the estimated dumping margins for LWS from Vietnam range from 
101.73 percent to 292.61 percent.\39\
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    \39\ See AD Supplement at 4, and Exhibit II-S2.
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Initiation of the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

    Based upon our examination of the Petition, we find that the 
Petition meets the requirements of section 732 of the Act. Therefore, 
we are initiating this AD investigation to determine whether imports of 
LWS from Vietnam are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United 
States at less than fair value. In accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our 
preliminary determination no later than 140 days after the date of this 
initiation.
    Under the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, numerous 
amendments to the AD and CVD law were made.\40\ The 2015 law does not 
specify dates of application for those amendments. On August 6, 2015, 
Commerce published an interpretative rule, in which it announced the 
applicability dates for each amendment to the Act, except for 
amendments contained in section 771(7) of the Act, which relate to 
determinations of material injury by the ITC.\41\ The amendments to 
sections 771(15), 773, 776, and 782 of the Act are applicable to all 
determinations made on or after August 6, 2015, and, therefore, apply 
to this AD investigation.\42\
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    \40\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Pubic Law 114-
27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
    \41\ See Dates of Application of Amendments to the Antidumping 
and Countervailing Duty Laws Made by the Trade Preferences Extension 
Act of 2015, 80 FR 46793 (August 6, 2015).
    \42\ Id. at 46794-95. The 2015 amendments may be found at 
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1295/text/pl.
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Respondent Selection

    The petitioners named 27 producers/exporters of LWS from 
Vietnam.\43\ In accordance with our standard practice for respondent 
selection in AD cases involving NME countries, we intend to issue 
quantity and value (Q&V)

[[Page 14261]]

questionnaires to producers/exporters of merchandise subject to this 
investigation. In the event Commerce determines that the number of 
companies is large and it cannot individually examine each company 
based on Commerce's resources, where appropriate, Commerce intends to 
select mandatory respondents based on the Q&V questionnaire responses 
received. For this investigation, Commerce will request Q&V information 
from known exporters and producers identified with complete contact 
information in the Petition. In addition, Commerce will post the Q&V 
questionnaire along with filing instructions on Enforcement and 
Compliance's website at http://www.trade.gov/enforcement/news.asp.
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    \43\ See General Issues Supplement at 4, and Exhibit I-S1.
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    Producers/exporters of LWS from Vietnam that do not receive Q&V 
questionnaires by mail may still submit a response to the Q&V 
questionnaire and can obtain a copy of the Q&V questionnaire from 
Enforcement & Compliance's website. The Q&V questionnaire response must 
be submitted by the relevant Vietnamese exporters/producers no later 
than 5:00 p.m. ET on April 10, 2018. All Q&V questionnaire responses 
must be filed electronically via ACCESS.

Separate Rates

    In order to obtain separate-rate status in an NME investigation, 
exporters and producers must submit a separate-rate application.\44\ 
The specific requirements for submitting a separate-rate application 
are outlined in detail in the application itself, which is available on 
Commerce's website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/nme/nme-sep-rate.html. The separate-rate application will be due 30 days after 
publication of this initiation notice.\45\ Exporters and producers who 
submit a separate-rate application and have been selected as mandatory 
respondents will be eligible for consideration for separate-rate status 
only if they timely respond to all parts of Commerce's AD questionnaire 
as mandatory respondents. Commerce requires that companies from Vietnam 
submit a response to both the Q&V questionnaire and the separate-rate 
application by the respective deadlines in order to receive 
consideration for separate-rate status. Companies not filing a timely 
Q&V questionnaire response will not receive separate-rate 
consideration.
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    \44\ See Policy Bulletin 05.1: Separate-Rates Practice and 
Application of Combination Rates in Antidumping Investigation 
involving Non-Market Economy Countries (April 5, 2005), available at 
http://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull05-1.pdf (Policy Bulletin 
05.1).
    \45\ Although in past investigations this deadline was 60 days, 
consistent with 19 CFR 351.301(a), which states that ``the Secretary 
may request any person to submit factual information at any time 
during a proceeding,'' this deadline is now 30 days.
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Use of Combination Rates

    Commerce will calculate combination rates for certain respondents 
that are eligible for a separate rate in an NME investigation. The 
Separate Rates and Combination Rates Bulletin states:

    {w{time} hile continuing the practice of assigning separate 
rates only to exporters, all separate rates that the Department will 
now assign in its NME Investigation will be specific to those 
producers that supplied the exporter during the period of 
investigation. Note, however, that one rate is calculated for the 
exporter and all of the producers which supplied subject merchandise 
to it during the period of investigation. This practice applies both 
to mandatory respondents receiving an individually calculated 
separate rate as well as the pool of non-investigated firms 
receiving the weighted-average of the individually calculated rates. 
This practice is referred to as the application of ``combination 
rates'' because such rates apply to specific combinations of 
exporters and one or more producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned 
to an exporter will apply only to merchandise both exported by the 
firm in question and produced by a firm that supplied the exporter 
during the period of investigation.\46\
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    \46\ See Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 6 (emphasis added).
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Distribution of Copies of the Petition

    In accordance with section 732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been 
provided to the government of Vietnam via ACCESS. To the extent 
practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of 
the Petition to each exporter named in the Petition, as provided under 
19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

    We will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section 
732(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date 
on which the Petition was filed, whether there is a reasonable 
indication that imports of LWS from Vietnam, are materially injuring or 
threatening material injury to a U.S. industry.\47\ A negative ITC 
determination will result in the investigation being terminated.\48\ 
Otherwise, the investigation will proceed according to statutory and 
regulatory time limits.
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    \47\ See section 733(a) of the Act.
    \48\ Id.
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Submission of Factual Information

    Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) 
Evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence 
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available 
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the 
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence 
placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual 
information described in (i)-(iv). 19 CFR 351.301(b) requires any 
party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which 
subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted 
\49\ and, if the information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct 
factual information already on the record, to provide an explanation 
identifying the information already on the record that the factual 
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct.\50\ Time limits for 
the submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, 
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual 
information being submitted. Interested parties should review the 
regulations prior to submitting factual information in this 
investigation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \49\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \50\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Extensions of Time Limits

    Parties may request an extension of time limits before the 
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as 
otherwise specified by the Secretary. In general, an extension request 
will be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the 
time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301. For submissions that are 
due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request will be 
considered untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. 
Under certain circumstances, we may elect to specify a different time 
limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for 
submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such 
a case, we will inform parties in a letter or memorandum setting forth 
the deadline (including a specified time) by which extension requests 
must be filed to be considered timely. An extension request must be 
made in a separate, stand-alone submission; under limited circumstances 
we will grant untimely-filed requests for the extension of time limits. 
Parties should review Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 
(September 20, 2013), available at http://www.thefederalregister.org/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to submitting factual information 
in this investigation.

[[Page 14262]]

Certification Requirements

    Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding 
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\51\ 
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 
351.303(g).\52\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the 
submitting party does not comply with applicable revised certification 
requirements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \51\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \52\ See Certification of Factual Information To Import 
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013); see also frequently asked 
questions regarding the Final Rule, available at http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notification to Interested Parties

    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305.\53\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ On January 22, 2008, Commerce published Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Documents Submission Procedures; 
APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 22, 2008). Parties wishing to 
participate in this investigation should ensure that they meet the 
requirements of these procedures (e.g., the filing of letters of 
appearance as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 732(c)(2) 
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

    Dated: March 27, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix--Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is laminated woven 
sacks. Laminated woven sacks are bags consisting of one or more 
plies of fabric consisting of woven polypropylene strip and/or woven 
polyethylene strip, regardless of the width of the strip; with or 
without an extrusion coating of polypropylene and/or polyethylene on 
one or both sides of the fabric; laminated by any method either to 
an exterior ply of plastic film such as biaxially-oriented 
polypropylene (BOPP), polyester (PET), polyethylene (PE), nylon, or 
any film suitable for printing, or to an exterior ply of paper; 
printed; displaying, containing, or comprising three or more visible 
colors (e.g., laminated woven sacks printed with three different 
shades of blue would be covered by the scope), not including the 
color of the woven fabric; regardless of the type of printing 
process used; with or without lining; with or without handles; with 
or without special closing features (including, but not limited to, 
closures that are sewn, glued, easy-open (e.g., tape or thread), re-
closable (e.g., slider, hook and loop, zipper), hot-welded, 
adhesive-welded, or press- to-close); whether finished or unfinished 
(e.g., whether or not closed on one end and whether or not in roll 
form, including, but not limited to, sheets, lay-flat, or formed in 
tubes); not exceeding one kilogram in actual weight. Laminated woven 
sacks produced in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam are subject to 
the scope regardless of the country of origin of the fabric used to 
make the sack.
    Subject laminated woven sacks are currently classifiable under 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 
6305.33.0040. If entered with plastic coating on both sides of the 
fabric consisting of woven polypropylene strip and/or woven 
polyethylene strip, laminated woven sacks may be classifiable under 
HTSUS subheadings 3923.21.0080, 3923.21.0095, and 3923.29.0000. If 
entered not closed on one end or in roll form (including, but not 
limited to, sheets, lay-flat tubing, and sleeves), laminated woven 
sacks may be classifiable under other HTSUS subheadings, including 
3917.39.0050, 3921.90.1100, 3921.90.1500, and 5903.90.2500. If the 
polypropylene strips and/or polyethylene strips making up the fabric 
measure more than 5 millimeters in width, laminated woven sacks may 
be classifiable under other HTSUS subheadings including 
4601.99.0500, 4601.99.9000, and 4602.90.0000. Although HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the scope is dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2018-06727 Filed 4-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices                                                     14257

                                             prior to submitting factual information                    This notice is issued and published                   purposes, the written description of the
                                             in this investigation.                                   pursuant to sections 702 and 777(i) of                  scope is dispositive.
                                                                                                      the Act and 19 CFR 351.203(c).                          [FR Doc. 2018–06728 Filed 4–2–18; 8:45 am]
                                             Extensions of Time Limits
                                                                                                        Dated: March 27, 2018.                                BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                                Parties may request an extension of
                                                                                                      Gary Taverman,
                                             time limits before the expiration of a
                                                                                                      Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping
                                             time limit established under 19 CFR                                                                              DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                                                                      and Countervailing Duty Operations,
                                             351.301, or as otherwise specified by the                performing the non-exclusive functions and
                                             Secretary. In general, an extension                      duties of the Assistant Secretary for
                                                                                                                                                              International Trade Administration
                                             request will be considered untimely if it                Enforcement and Compliance.                             [A–552–823]
                                             is filed after the expiration of the time
                                             limit established under 19 CFR 351.301.                  Appendix—Scope of the Investigation                     Laminated Woven Sacks From the
                                             For submissions that are due from                           The merchandise covered by this                      Socialist Republic of Vietnam:
                                             multiple parties simultaneously, an                      investigation is laminated woven sacks.                 Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value
                                             extension request will be considered                     Laminated woven sacks are bags consisting of            Investigation
                                             untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET              one or more plies of fabric consisting of
                                                                                                      woven polypropylene strip and/or woven                  AGENCY:  Enforcement and Compliance,
                                             on the due date. Under certain
                                                                                                      polyethylene strip, regardless of the width of          International Trade Administration,
                                             circumstances, we may elect to specify                   the strip; with or without an extrusion
                                             a different time limit by which                                                                                  Department of Commerce.
                                                                                                      coating of polypropylene and/or
                                             extension requests will be considered                    polyethylene on one or both sides of the                DATES: Effective March 27, 2018.
                                             untimely for submissions which are due                   fabric; laminated by any method either to an            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                             from multiple parties simultaneously. In                 exterior ply of plastic film such as biaxially-         Drew Jackson or Celeste Chen, AD/CVD
                                             such a case, we will inform parties in a                 oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyester                Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and
                                             letter or memorandum setting forth the                   (PET), polyethylene (PE), nylon, or any film            Compliance, International Trade
                                             deadline (including a specified time) by                 suitable for printing, or to an exterior ply of
                                                                                                      paper; printed; displaying, containing, or              Administration, U.S. Department of
                                             which extension requests must be filed                   comprising three or more visible colors (e.g.,          Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
                                             to be considered timely. An extension                    laminated woven sacks printed with three                NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
                                             request must be made in a separate,                      different shades of blue would be covered by            (202) 482–4406 or (202) 482–0890,
                                             stand-alone submission; under limited                    the scope), not including the color of the              respectively.
                                             circumstances we will grant untimely-                    woven fabric; regardless of the type of
                                                                                                      printing process used; with or without lining;          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                             filed requests for the extension of time
                                             limits. Parties should review Extension                  with or without handles; with or without                The Petition
                                             of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 57790                  special closing features (including, but not
                                                                                                      limited to, closures that are sewn, glued,                On March 7, 2018, the U.S.
                                             (September 20, 2013), available at                       easy-open (e.g., tape or thread), re-closable           Department of Commerce (Commerce)
                                             http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-                    (e.g., slider, hook and loop, zipper), hot-             received an antidumping duty (AD)
                                             09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to                      welded, adhesive-welded, or press- to-close);           Petition concerning imports of
                                             submitting factual information in this                   whether finished or unfinished (e.g., whether           laminated woven sacks (LWS) from the
                                             investigation.                                           or not closed on one end and whether or not
                                                                                                                                                              Socialist Republic of Vietnam
                                                                                                      in roll form, including, but not limited to,
                                             Certification Requirements                               sheets, lay-flat, or formed in tubes); not              (Vietnam), filed in proper form on
                                                                                                      exceeding one kilogram in actual weight.                behalf of the Laminated Woven Sacks
                                               Any party submitting factual
                                                                                                      Laminated woven sacks produced in the                   Fair Trade Coalition and its individual
                                             information in an AD or CVD
                                                                                                      Socialist Republic of Vietnam are subject to            members, Polytex Fibers Corporation
                                             proceeding must certify to the accuracy                  the scope regardless of the country of origin           and ProAmpac Holdings Inc.
                                             and completeness of that information.41                  of the fabric used to make the sack.                    (collectively, the petitioners).1 The AD
                                             Parties must use the certification                          Subject laminated woven sacks are                    Petition was accompanied by a
                                             formats provided in 19 CFR                               currently classifiable under Harmonized
                                                                                                                                                              countervailing duty (CVD) petition
                                             351.303(g).42 Commerce intends to                        Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
                                                                                                      subheading 6305.33.0040. If entered with                concerning imports of LWS from
                                             reject factual submissions if the
                                                                                                      plastic coating on both sides of the fabric             Vietnam. The petitioners are domestic
                                             submitting party does not comply with
                                                                                                      consisting of woven polypropylene strip and/            producers of LWS.2
                                             the applicable revised certification
                                                                                                      or woven polyethylene strip, laminated                    On March 12, 16, and 26, 2018,
                                             requirements.                                            woven sacks may be classifiable under                   Commerce requested supplemental
                                             Notification to Interested Parties                       HTSUS subheadings 3923.21.0080,                         information pertaining to certain areas
                                                                                                      3923.21.0095, and 3923.29.0000. If entered              of the Petition.3 The petitioners filed
                                               Interested parties must submit                         not closed on one end or in roll form
                                             applications for disclosure under APO                    (including, but not limited to, sheets, lay-flat           1 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Petitions for the
                                             in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305.43                     tubing, and sleeves), laminated woven sacks             Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing
                                                                                                      may be classifiable under other HTSUS                   Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks From the
                                               41 See  section 782(b) of the Act.                     subheadings, including 3917.39.0050,                    Socialist Republic of Vietnam,’’ (March 7, 2018)
                                               42 See  also Certification of Factual Information to   3921.90.1100, 3921.90.1500, and                         (the Petition); see also Petitioners’ Letter
                                             Import Administration during Antidumping and             5903.90.2500. If the polypropylene strips               ‘‘Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
                                             Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July       and/or polyethylene strips making up the                Investigations of Laminated Woven Sacks From the
                                             17, 2013) (Final Rule); frequently asked questions       fabric measure more than 5 millimeters in               Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Correction to
                                             regarding the Final Rule, available at http://           width, laminated woven sacks may be                     Petitioner’s Name,’’ dated March 16, 2018
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES




                                             enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_                                                                 (clarifying the name of ProAmpac Holdings Inc.).
                                                                                                      classifiable under other HTSUS subheadings
                                             final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.                                                                                        2 See Volume I of the Petition, at 2 and Exhibit
                                                                                                      including 4601.99.0500, 4601.99.9000, and
                                                43 On January 22, 2008, Commerce published                                                                    I–1.
                                                                                                      4602.90.0000. Although HTSUS subheadings
                                             Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:                                                                    3 See Commerce Letter re: ‘‘Petitions for the

                                             Documents Submission Procedures; APO
                                                                                                      are provided for convenience and customs                Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing
                                             Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 22, 2008). Parties                                                               Duties on Imports of Laminated Woven Sacks from
                                             wishing to participate in this investigation should      procedures (e.g., the filing of letters of appearance   the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Supplemental
                                             ensure that they meet the requirements of these          as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)).                                                                Continued




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                                             14258                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices

                                             responses to these requests on March                    Scope of the Investigation                              Commerce requests that any factual
                                             14, 2018,4 March 19, 2018,5 and March                     The products covered by this                        information the parties consider
                                             27, 2018.6                                              investigation are LWS from Vietnam.                   relevant to the scope of the investigation
                                                In accordance with section 732(b) of                 For a full description of the scope of this           be submitted during this time period.
                                             the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the                 investigation, see the ‘‘Scope of the                 However, if a party subsequently finds
                                             Act), the petitioners allege that imports               Investigation,’’ in the Appendix to this              that additional factual information
                                             of LWS from Vietnam are being, or are                   notice.                                               pertaining to the scope of the
                                             likely to be, sold in the United States at                                                                    investigation may be relevant, the party
                                             less than fair value within the meaning                 Comments on Scope of the Investigation                may contact Commerce and request
                                             of section 731 of the Act, and that such                   During our review of the Petition,                 permission to submit the additional
                                             imports are materially injuring, or                     Commerce issued questions to, and                     information. All such comments must
                                             threatening material injury to, the                     received responses from, the petitioners              be filed on the records of the concurrent
                                             domestic industry producing LWS in                      pertaining to the proposed scope to                   AD and CVD investigations of LWS from
                                             the United States. Consistent with                      ensure that the scope language in the                 Vietnam.
                                             section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the Petition              Petition would be an accurate reflection
                                             is accompanied by information                                                                                 Filing Requirements
                                                                                                     of the products for which the domestic
                                             reasonably available to the petitioners                 industry is seeking relief.8 Commerce                    All submissions to Commerce must be
                                             supporting their allegations.                           also held two conference calls with the               filed electronically using Enforcement
                                                Commerce finds that the petitioners                  petitioners regarding the scope                       and Compliance’s Antidumping Duty
                                             filed this Petition on behalf of the                    language.9 As a result of these                       and Countervailing Duty Centralized
                                             domestic industry because the                           exchanges, the scope of the Petition was              Electronic Service System (ACCESS).14
                                             petitioners are interested parties as                   modified to clarify the description of the            An electronically filed document must
                                             defined in section 771(9)(C), (E) and (F)               merchandise covered by the Petition.10                be received successfully in its entirety
                                             of the Act. Commerce also finds that the                The description of the merchandise                    by the time and date it is due.
                                             petitioners demonstrated sufficient                     covered by this initiation, as described              Documents exempted from the
                                             industry support with respect to the                    by the Appendix to this notice, reflects              electronic submission requirements
                                             initiation of the AD investigation that                 these clarifications.                                 must be filed manually (i.e., in paper
                                             the petitioners are requesting.7                           As discussed in the preamble to                    form) with Enforcement and
                                             Period of Investigation                                 Commerce’s regulations, we are setting                Compliance’s APO/Dockets Unit, Room
                                                                                                     aside a period for interested parties to              18022, U.S. Department of Commerce,
                                               Because the Petition was filed on                     raise issues regarding product coverage               1401 Constitution Avenue NW,
                                             March 7, 2018, and Vietnam is a non-                    (scope).11 Commerce will consider all                 Washington, DC 20230, and stamped
                                             market economy (NME) country,                           comments received from interested                     with the date and time of receipt by the
                                             pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(b)(1), the                   parties and, if necessary, will consult               applicable deadlines.
                                             period of investigation (POI) is July 1,                with interested parties prior to the
                                             2017, through December 31, 2017.                        issuance of the preliminary                           Comments on Product Characteristics
                                                                                                     determination. If scope comments                      for AD Questionnaires
                                             Questions,’’ dated March 12, 2018; see also
                                             Commerce Letter re: ‘‘Petition for the Imposition of    include factual information,12 all such                 Commerce will provide interested
                                             Antidumping Duties on Imports of Laminated              factual information should be limited to              parties an opportunity to comment on
                                             Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of              public information. To facilitate                     the appropriate physical characteristics
                                             Vietnam: Supplemental Questions,’’ dated March          preparation of its questionnaires,                    of LWS to be reported in response to
                                             12, 2018. See also Memorandum, ‘‘Petitions for the
                                             Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing            Commerce requests all interested parties              Commerce’s AD questionnaires. This
                                             Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks from the                to submit such comments by 5:00 p.m.                  information will be used to identify the
                                             Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Phone Call with          Eastern Time (ET) on Monday, April 16,                key physical characteristics of the
                                             Counsel to the Petitioners,’’ dated March 16, 2018.
                                             See also Memorandum, ‘‘Petitions for the
                                                                                                     2018, which is 20 calendar days from                  merchandise under consideration in
                                             Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing            the signature date of this notice. Any                order to report the relevant production
                                             Duties on Laminated Woven Sacks from the                rebuttal comments, which may include                  information accurately as well as to
                                             Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Phone Call with          factual information, must be filed by                 develop appropriate product-
                                             Counsel to the Petitioners,’’ dated March 26, 2018.
                                                4 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Investigation of
                                                                                                     5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 26,                   comparison criteria.
                                             Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist                2018, which is 10 calendar days from                    Interested parties may provide any
                                             Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners’ Responses to          the initial comments deadline.13                      information or comments that they
                                             Supplemental Questions Relating to Volume I:                                                                  believe are relevant to the development
                                             General Issues’’ dated March 14, 2018 (General
                                             Issues Supplement); see also Petitioners’ Letter,
                                                                                                       8 See General Issues Supplement; see also Second
                                                                                                                                                           of an accurate list of physical
                                                                                                     General Issues Supplement.                            characteristics. Specifically, they may
                                             ‘‘Investigation of Laminated Woven Sacks From the         9 See Memorandum, ‘‘Petitions for the Imposition
                                             Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners’
                                                                                                     of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on
                                                                                                                                                           provide comments as to which
                                             Responses to Supplemental Questions Relating to                                                               characteristics are appropriate to use as:
                                             Volume II: Antidumping Duties,’’ dated March 14,        Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist
                                             2018 (AD Supplement).                                   Republic of Vietnam, Phone Call with Counsel to       (1) General product characteristics and
                                                5 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Investigation of        the Petitioners,’’ dated March 16, 2018; see also
                                             Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist                Memorandum, ‘‘Petitions for the Imposition of           14 See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty

                                             Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners’ Responses to          Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on
                                                                                                                                                           Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures;
                                             Second Supplemental Questions Relating to               Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist
                                                                                                                                                           Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR
                                             Volume I: General Issues,’’ dated March 19, 2018        Republic of Vietnam, Phone Call with Counsel to
                                                                                                                                                           39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and
                                             (Second General Issues Supplement).                     the Petitioners,’’ dated March 26, 2018.
                                                                                                                                                           Compliance; Change of Electronic Filing System
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                       10 See Second General Issues Supplement; see
                                                6 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Investigation of                                                              Name, 79 FR 69046 (November 20, 2014) for details
                                             Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist                also Third General Issues Supplement.                 of Commerce’s electronic filing requirements,
                                                                                                       11 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing
                                             Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners’ Responses to                                                                which went into effect on August 5, 2011.
                                             Second Supplemental Questions Relating to               Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19,       Information on help using ACCESS can be found at
                                             Volume I: General Issues,’’ dated March 27, 2018        1997).                                                https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx and a handbook
                                             (Third General Issues Supplement).                        12 See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ‘‘factual
                                                                                                                                                           can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/
                                                7 See the ‘‘Determination of Industry Support for    information’’).                                       Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filling
                                             the Petition’’ section, below.                            13 See 19 CFR 351.303(b).                           %20Procedures.pdf.



                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:47 Apr 02, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00021   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03APN1.SGM   03APN1


                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices                                                    14259

                                             (2) product-comparison criteria. We                     like product. The International Trade                  domestic like product for the entire
                                             note that it is not always appropriate to               Commission (ITC), which is responsible                 domestic industry.18 Because total
                                             use all product characteristics as                      for determining whether ‘‘the domestic                 industry production data for the
                                             product-comparison criteria. We base                    industry’’ has been injured, must also                 domestic like product for 2017 are not
                                             product-comparison criteria on                          determine what constitutes a domestic                  reasonably available to the petitioners,
                                             meaningful commercial differences                       like product in order to define the                    and the petitioners have established that
                                             among products. In other words,                         industry. While both Commerce and the                  shipments are a reasonable proxy for
                                             although there may be some physical                     ITC must apply the same statutory                      production data,19 we have relied on the
                                             product characteristics utilized by                     definition regarding the domestic like                 data the petitioners provided for
                                             manufacturers to describe LWS, it may                   product,15 they do so for different                    purposes of measuring industry
                                             be that only a select few product                       purposes and pursuant to a separate and                support.20
                                             characteristics take into account                       distinct authority. In addition,                          Our review of the data provided in the
                                             commercially meaningful physical                        Commerce’s determination is subject to                 Petition, the General Issues Supplement,
                                             characteristics. In addition, interested                limitations of time and information.                   the Second General Issues Supplement,
                                             parties may comment on the order in                     Although this may result in different                  and other information readily available
                                             which the physical characteristics                      definitions of the like product, such                  to Commerce indicates that the
                                             should be used in matching products.                    differences do not render the decision of              petitioners have established industry
                                             Generally, Commerce attempts to list                    either agency contrary to law.16                       support for the Petition.21 First, the
                                             the most important physical                                Section 771(10) of the Act defines the              Petition established support from
                                             characteristics first and the least                     domestic like product as ‘‘a product                   domestic producers (or workers)
                                             important characteristics last.                         which is like, or in the absence of like,              accounting for more than 50 percent of
                                                In order to consider the suggestions of              most similar in characteristics and uses               the total production of the domestic like
                                             interested parties in developing and                    with, the article subject to an                        product and, as such, Commerce is not
                                             issuing the AD questionnaire, all                       investigation under this title.’’ Thus, the            required to take further action in order
                                             product characteristics comments must                   reference point from which the                         to evaluate industry support (e.g.,
                                             be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 16,                   domestic like product analysis begins is               polling).22 Second, the domestic
                                             2018. Any rebuttal comments must be                     ‘‘the article subject to an investigation’’            producers (or workers) have met the
                                             filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 26, 2018.                (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to             statutory criteria for industry support
                                             All comments and submissions to                         be investigated, which normally will be                under section 732(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act
                                             Commerce must be filed electronically,                  the scope as defined in the Petition).                 because the domestic producers (or
                                             using ACCESS as explained above, on                        With regard to the domestic like
                                                                                                                                                            workers) who support the Petition
                                             the record of the less-than-fair-value                  product, the petitioners do not offer a
                                                                                                                                                            account for at least 25 percent of the
                                             investigation.                                          definition of the domestic like product
                                                                                                                                                            total production of the domestic like
                                                                                                     distinct from the scope of the Petition.
                                             Determination of Industry Support for                                                                          product.23 Finally, the domestic
                                                                                                     Based on our analysis of the information
                                             the Petition                                                                                                   producers (or workers) have met the
                                                                                                     submitted on the record, we have
                                               Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires                 determined that LWS, as defined in the                 statutory criteria for industry support
                                             that a petition be filed on behalf of the               scope, constitute a single domestic like               under section 732(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act
                                             domestic industry. Section 732(c)(4)(A)                 product, and we have analyzed industry                 because the domestic producers (or
                                             of the Act provides that a petition meets               support in terms of that domestic like                 workers) who support the Petition
                                             this requirement if the domestic                        product.17                                             account for more than 50 percent of the
                                             producers or workers who support the                       In determining whether the                          production of the domestic like product
                                             petition account for: (i) At least 25                   petitioners have standing under section                produced by that portion of the industry
                                             percent of the total production of the                  732(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered                 expressing support for, or opposition to,
                                             domestic like product; and (ii) more                    the industry support data contained in                 the Petition.24 Accordingly, Commerce
                                             than 50 percent of the production of the                the Petition with reference to the                     determines that the Petition was filed on
                                             domestic like product produced by that                  domestic like product as defined in the                behalf of the domestic industry within
                                             portion of the industry expressing                      ‘‘Scope of the Investigation,’’ in the                 the meaning of section 732(b)(1) of the
                                             support for, or opposition to, the                      Appendix to this notice. To establish                  Act.
                                             petition. Moreover, section 732(c)(4)(D)                industry support, the petitioners                         Commerce finds that the petitioners
                                             of the Act provides that, if the petition               provided their shipments of the                        filed the Petition on behalf of the
                                             does not establish support of domestic                  domestic like product in 2017 and                      domestic industry because they are
                                             producers or workers accounting for                     compared these shipments to the                        interested parties as defined in sections
                                             more than 50 percent of the total                       estimated total shipments of the                       771(9)(C), (E), and (F) of the Act, and
                                             production of the domestic like product,                                                                       they have demonstrated sufficient
                                             Commerce shall: (i) Poll the industry or                  15 See  section 771(10) of the Act.                  industry support with respect to the AD
                                                                                                       16 See  USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp.
                                             rely on other information in order to
                                                                                                     2d 1, 8 (CIT 2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd.
                                             determine if there is support for the                   v. United States, 688 F. Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988),
                                                                                                                                                               18 See Second General Issues Supplement, at 1

                                             petition, as required by subparagraph                                                                          and Exhibit I–2S1.
                                                                                                     aff’d 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).                     19 See General Issues Supplement, at 7 and
                                             (A); or (ii) determine industry support                    17 For a discussion of the domestic like product
                                                                                                                                                            Exhibit I–S3.
                                             using a statistically valid sampling                    analysis, see Enforcement and Compliance Office of        20 Id; see also Second General Issues Supplement,
                                             method to poll the ‘‘industry.’’                        AD/CVD Operations Antidumping Duty
                                                                                                                                                            at 1 and Exhibit I–2S1. For further discussion, see
                                                                                                     Investigation Initiation Checklist: Laminated Woven
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                                               Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines                  Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
                                                                                                                                                            Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
                                             the ‘‘industry’’ as the producers, as a                 (Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II,
                                                                                                                                                               21 See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at

                                             whole, of a domestic like product. Thus,                Industry Support (Attachment II). This checklist is    Attachment II.
                                                                                                                                                               22 See section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also
                                             to determine whether a petition has the                 dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by,
                                                                                                     this notice and on file electronically via ACCESS.     Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
                                             requisite industry support, the statute                 Access to documents filed via ACCESS is also              23 See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at
                                             directs Commerce to look to producers                   available in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024      Attachment II.
                                             and workers who produce the domestic                    of the main Commerce building.                            24 Id.




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                                             14260                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices

                                             investigation that they are requesting                   petitioners made deductions from U.S.                    U.S. dollars using the average exchange
                                             that Commerce initiate.25                                price consistent with the terms of sale.32               rate for the POI available on
                                                                                                                                                               Commerce’s website.38
                                             Allegations and Evidence of Material                     Normal Value
                                             Injury and Causation                                        Commerce considers Vietnam to be an                   Fair Value Comparisons
                                                The petitioners allege that the U.S.                  NME country.33 In accordance with                          Based on the data provided by the
                                             industry producing the domestic like                     section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, the                    petitioners, there is reason to believe
                                             product is being materially injured, or is               presumption of NME status remains in                     that imports of LWS from Vietnam are
                                                                                                      effect until revoked by Commerce. The                    being, or are likely to be, sold in the
                                             threatened with material injury, by
                                                                                                      presumption of NME status for Vietnam                    United States at less than fair value.
                                             reason of the imports of the subject
                                                                                                      has not been revoked by Commerce and,                    Based on comparisons of EP to NV in
                                             merchandise sold at less than normal
                                                                                                      therefore, remains in effect for purposes                accordance with sections 772 and 773 of
                                             value (NV). In addition, the petitioners
                                                                                                      of the initiation of this investigation.                 the Act, the estimated dumping margins
                                             allege that subject imports exceed the
                                                                                                      Accordingly, NV in Vietnam is                            for LWS from Vietnam range from
                                             negligibility threshold provided for
                                                                                                      appropriately based on factors of                        101.73 percent to 292.61 percent.39
                                             under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.26
                                                                                                      production (FOPs) valued in a surrogate
                                                The petitioners contend that the                                                                               Initiation of the Less-Than-Fair-Value
                                                                                                      market economy country, in accordance
                                             industry’s injured condition is                                                                                   Investigation
                                                                                                      with section 773(c) of the Act.34
                                             illustrated by a significant and                            The petitioners state that India is an                  Based upon our examination of the
                                             increasing volume of subject imports;                    appropriate surrogate country for                        Petition, we find that the Petition meets
                                             reduced market share; underselling and                   Vietnam, because it is a market                          the requirements of section 732 of the
                                             price depression or suppression; lost                    economy country that is at a level of                    Act. Therefore, we are initiating this AD
                                             sales and revenues; a decline in U.S.                    economic development comparable to                       investigation to determine whether
                                             shipments, capacity utilization,                         that of Vietnam, it is a significant                     imports of LWS from Vietnam are being,
                                             production, and financial performance;                   producer of comparable merchandise,                      or are likely to be, sold in the United
                                             and the magnitude of the alleged                         and public information from India is                     States at less than fair value. In
                                             dumping margins.27 We have assessed                      available to value all material inputs.35                accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of
                                             the allegations and supporting evidence                  Based on the information provided by                     the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1),
                                             regarding material injury, threat of                     the petitioners, we determine that it is                 unless postponed, we will make our
                                             material injury, and causation, and we                   appropriate to use India as a surrogate                  preliminary determination no later than
                                             have determined that these allegations                   country for initiation purposes.                         140 days after the date of this initiation.
                                             are properly supported by adequate                          Interested parties will have the                        Under the Trade Preferences
                                             evidence, and meet the statutory                         opportunity to submit comments                           Extension Act of 2015, numerous
                                             requirements for initiation.28                           regarding surrogate country selection                    amendments to the AD and CVD law
                                                                                                      and, pursuant to 19 CFR                                  were made.40 The 2015 law does not
                                             Allegation of Sales at Less Than Fair                    351.301(c)(3)(i), will be provided an                    specify dates of application for those
                                             Value                                                    opportunity to submit publicly available                 amendments. On August 6, 2015,
                                                The following is a description of the                 information to value FOPs no later than                  Commerce published an interpretative
                                             allegation of sales at less than fair value              30 days before the scheduled date of the                 rule, in which it announced the
                                             upon which Commerce based its                            preliminary determination.                               applicability dates for each amendment
                                             decision to initiate the AD investigation                Factors of Production                                    to the Act, except for amendments
                                             of imports of LWS from Vietnam. The                                                                               contained in section 771(7) of the Act,
                                                                                                        The petitioners state that they do not                 which relate to determinations of
                                             sources of data for the petitioners’                     have access to the Vietnamese
                                             calculations relating to U.S. price and                                                                           material injury by the ITC.41 The
                                                                                                      producers’ factors of production and                     amendments to sections 771(15), 773,
                                             NV are discussed in greater detail in the                consumption rates for those FOPs.
                                             Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.29                                                                                776, and 782 of the Act are applicable
                                                                                                      Therefore, the petitioners relied on their               to all determinations made on or after
                                             Export Price                                             own experience and other information                     August 6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to
                                                                                                      reasonably available.36 The petitioners                  this AD investigation.42
                                                The petitioners based U.S. price on                   valued the estimated FOPs using
                                             export price (EP) using the average unit                 surrogate values from India.37                           Respondent Selection
                                             value of publicly available import                       Additionally, for the surrogate values                      The petitioners named 27 producers/
                                             data.30 The petitioners also based the                   denominated in Indian rupees (INR), the                  exporters of LWS from Vietnam.43 In
                                             U.S. price on EP using price quotes for                  petitioners converted INR prices into                    accordance with our standard practice
                                             sales of LWS produced in, and exported                                                                            for respondent selection in AD cases
                                             from, Vietnam and offered for sale in the                  32 See   Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.              involving NME countries, we intend to
                                             United States.31 Where applicable, the                     33 See   Certain Steel Nails From the Socialist        issue quantity and value (Q&V)
                                                                                                      Republic of Vietnam: Preliminary Results and
                                                                                                      Partial Rescission of the Antidumping Duty
                                               25 Id.                                                                                                            38 Id.
                                                                                                      Administrative Review; 2014–2016, 82 FR 26050 (82                 at 6 and Exhibit II–8A.
                                               26 See Volume I of the Petition, at Exhibit I–7; see   FR 26050) (unchanged in Certain Steel Nails From           39 See  AD Supplement at 4, and Exhibit II–S2.
                                             also General Issues Supplement, at 9.                    the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Results of        40 See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015,
                                               27 See Volume I of the Petition, at 14–25 and          Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2014–            Pubic Law 114–27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
                                             Exhibits I–7 through I–9; see also General Issues        2016, 82 FR 45266 (September 28, 2017).                    41 See Dates of Application of Amendments to the
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                                             Supplement, at 1, 9 and Exhibits I–S6 and I–S7.             34 See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.
                                                                                                                                                               Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws Made
                                               28 See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist, at                35 See Volume II of the Petition at 4, and Exhibits   by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, 80
                                             Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and              II–1A, and II–1B.                                        FR 46793 (August 6, 2015).
                                             Evidence of Material Injury and Causation                   36 Id. at 6 and Exhibit II–7; see also AD               42 Id. at 46794–95. The 2015 amendments may be
                                             (Attachment III).                                        Supplement, at 3 and Exhibit II–S5.                      found at https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-
                                               29 See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.                   37 Id. at 6–8 and Exhibits II–9 through II–11; see    congress/house-bill/1295/text/pl.
                                               30 Id.
                                                                                                      also AD Supplement, at 3–4 and Exhibits II–S6, II–         43 See General Issues Supplement at 4, and
                                               31 See Vietnam AD Initiation Checklist.                S8, and II–S9.                                           Exhibit I–S1.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices                                               14261

                                             questionnaires to producers/exporters of                filing a timely Q&V questionnaire                        submitted in response to questionnaires;
                                             merchandise subject to this                             response will not receive separate-rate                  (ii) evidence submitted in support of
                                             investigation. In the event Commerce                    consideration.                                           allegations; (iii) publicly available
                                             determines that the number of                                                                                    information to value factors under 19
                                                                                                     Use of Combination Rates
                                             companies is large and it cannot                                                                                 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
                                             individually examine each company                          Commerce will calculate combination                   adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR
                                             based on Commerce’s resources, where                    rates for certain respondents that are                   351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence placed on
                                             appropriate, Commerce intends to select                 eligible for a separate rate in an NME                   the record by Commerce; and (v)
                                             mandatory respondents based on the                      investigation. The Separate Rates and                    evidence other than factual information
                                             Q&V questionnaire responses received.                   Combination Rates Bulletin states:                       described in (i)–(iv). 19 CFR 351.301(b)
                                             For this investigation, Commerce will                     {w}hile continuing the practice of                     requires any party, when submitting
                                             request Q&V information from known                      assigning separate rates only to exporters, all          factual information, to specify under
                                             exporters and producers identified with                 separate rates that the Department will now              which subsection of 19 CFR
                                             complete contact information in the                     assign in its NME Investigation will be                  351.102(b)(21) the information is being
                                             Petition. In addition, Commerce will                    specific to those producers that supplied the
                                                                                                     exporter during the period of investigation.
                                                                                                                                                              submitted 49 and, if the information is
                                             post the Q&V questionnaire along with                                                                            submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct
                                                                                                     Note, however, that one rate is calculated for
                                             filing instructions on Enforcement and                  the exporter and all of the producers which              factual information already on the
                                             Compliance’s website at http://                         supplied subject merchandise to it during the            record, to provide an explanation
                                             www.trade.gov/enforcement/news.asp.                     period of investigation. This practice applies           identifying the information already on
                                                Producers/exporters of LWS from                      both to mandatory respondents receiving an               the record that the factual information
                                             Vietnam that do not receive Q&V                         individually calculated separate rate as well            seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct.50 Time
                                             questionnaires by mail may still submit                 as the pool of non-investigated firms
                                                                                                                                                              limits for the submission of factual
                                             a response to the Q&V questionnaire                     receiving the weighted-average of the
                                                                                                     individually calculated rates. This practice is          information are addressed in 19 CFR
                                             and can obtain a copy of the Q&V                                                                                 351.301, which provides specific time
                                                                                                     referred to as the application of ‘‘combination
                                             questionnaire from Enforcement &                        rates’’ because such rates apply to specific             limits based on the type of factual
                                             Compliance’s website. The Q&V                           combinations of exporters and one or more                information being submitted. Interested
                                             questionnaire response must be                          producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned to             parties should review the regulations
                                             submitted by the relevant Vietnamese                    an exporter will apply only to merchandise               prior to submitting factual information
                                             exporters/producers no later than 5:00                  both exported by the firm in question and                in this investigation.
                                             p.m. ET on April 10, 2018. All Q&V                      produced by a firm that supplied the exporter
                                             questionnaire responses must be filed                   during the period of investigation.46                    Extensions of Time Limits
                                             electronically via ACCESS.                              Distribution of Copies of the Petition                      Parties may request an extension of
                                             Separate Rates                                            In accordance with section                             time limits before the expiration of a
                                               In order to obtain separate-rate status               732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR                       time limit established under 19 CFR
                                             in an NME investigation, exporters and                  351.202(f), a copy of the public version                 351.301, or as otherwise specified by the
                                             producers must submit a separate-rate                   of the Petition has been provided to the                 Secretary. In general, an extension
                                             application.44 The specific requirements                government of Vietnam via ACCESS. To                     request will be considered untimely if it
                                             for submitting a separate-rate                          the extent practicable, we will attempt                  is filed after the expiration of the time
                                             application are outlined in detail in the               to provide a copy of the public version                  limit established under 19 CFR 351.301.
                                             application itself, which is available on               of the Petition to each exporter named                   For submissions that are due from
                                             Commerce’s website at http://                           in the Petition, as provided under 19                    multiple parties simultaneously, an
                                             enforcement.trade.gov/nme/nme-sep-                      CFR 351.203(c)(2).                                       extension request will be considered
                                             rate.html. The separate-rate application                ITC Notification                                         untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET
                                             will be due 30 days after publication of                                                                         on the due date. Under certain
                                             this initiation notice.45 Exporters and                   We will notify the ITC of our                          circumstances, we may elect to specify
                                             producers who submit a separate-rate                    initiation, as required by section 732(d)                a different time limit by which
                                             application and have been selected as                   of the Act.                                              extension requests will be considered
                                             mandatory respondents will be eligible                  Preliminary Determination by the ITC                     untimely for submissions which are due
                                             for consideration for separate-rate status                                                                       from multiple parties simultaneously. In
                                                                                                        The ITC will preliminarily determine,
                                             only if they timely respond to all parts                                                                         such a case, we will inform parties in a
                                                                                                     within 45 days after the date on which
                                             of Commerce’s AD questionnaire as                                                                                letter or memorandum setting forth the
                                                                                                     the Petition was filed, whether there is
                                             mandatory respondents. Commerce                                                                                  deadline (including a specified time) by
                                                                                                     a reasonable indication that imports of
                                             requires that companies from Vietnam                                                                             which extension requests must be filed
                                                                                                     LWS from Vietnam, are materially
                                             submit a response to both the Q&V                                                                                to be considered timely. An extension
                                                                                                     injuring or threatening material injury to
                                             questionnaire and the separate-rate                                                                              request must be made in a separate,
                                                                                                     a U.S. industry.47 A negative ITC
                                             application by the respective deadlines                                                                          stand-alone submission; under limited
                                                                                                     determination will result in the
                                             in order to receive consideration for                                                                            circumstances we will grant untimely-
                                                                                                     investigation being terminated.48
                                             separate-rate status. Companies not                                                                              filed requests for the extension of time
                                                                                                     Otherwise, the investigation will
                                                                                                                                                              limits. Parties should review Extension
                                                                                                     proceed according to statutory and
                                               44 See Policy Bulletin 05.1: Separate-Rates
                                                                                                                                                              of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 57790
                                             Practice and Application of Combination Rates in        regulatory time limits.
                                                                                                                                                              (September 20, 2013), available at
                                             Antidumping Investigation involving Non-Market
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                                             Economy Countries (April 5, 2005), available at
                                                                                                     Submission of Factual Information                        http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-
                                             http://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull05-1.pdf          Factual information is defined in 19                   09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to
                                             (Policy Bulletin 05.1).
                                                                                                     CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) Evidence                      submitting factual information in this
                                               45 Although in past investigations this deadline
                                                                                                                                                              investigation.
                                             was 60 days, consistent with 19 CFR 351.301(a),
                                                                                                       46 See   Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 6 (emphasis added).
                                             which states that ‘‘the Secretary may request any
                                                                                                       47 See   section 733(a) of the Act.                     49 See   19 CFR 351.301(b).
                                             person to submit factual information at any time
                                             during a proceeding,’’ this deadline is now 30 days.      48 Id.                                                  50 See   19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).



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                                             14262                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / Notices

                                             Certification Requirements                              or not closed on one end and whether or not           Republic of China.1 The notice of
                                                                                                     in roll form, including, but not limited to,          initiation stated that Commerce, in
                                               Any party submitting factual                          sheets, lay-flat, or formed in tubes); not
                                             information in an AD or CVD                                                                                   accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of
                                                                                                     exceeding one kilogram in actual weight.
                                             proceeding must certify to the accuracy                 Laminated woven sacks produced in the                 the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the
                                             and completeness of that information.51                 Socialist Republic of Vietnam are subject to          Act), and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), would
                                             Parties must use the certification                      the scope regardless of the country of origin         issue its preliminary determination no
                                             formats provided in 19 CFR                              of the fabric used to make the sack.                  later than 140 days after the date of the
                                             351.303(g).52 Commerce intends to                          Subject laminated woven sacks are                  initiation, unless postponed.2
                                             reject factual submissions if the                       currently classifiable under Harmonized               Commerce has exercised its discretion
                                                                                                     Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
                                             submitting party does not comply with                                                                         to toll deadlines for the duration of the
                                                                                                     subheading 6305.33.0040. If entered with
                                             applicable revised certification                        plastic coating on both sides of the fabric           closure of the Federal Government from
                                             requirements.                                           consisting of woven polypropylene strip and/          January 20 through 22, 2018. If the new
                                             Notification to Interested Parties                      or woven polyethylene strip, laminated                deadline falls on a non-business day, in
                                                                                                     woven sacks may be classifiable under                 accordance with Commerce’s practice,
                                               Interested parties must submit                        HTSUS subheadings 3923.21.0080,                       the deadline will become the next
                                             applications for disclosure under APO                   3923.21.0095, and 3923.29.0000. If entered
                                                                                                                                                           business day.3 The current deadline for
                                             in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305.53                    not closed on one end or in roll form
                                               This notice is issued and published                   (including, but not limited to, sheets, lay-flat      the preliminary determination of this
                                             pursuant to sections 732(c)(2) and 777(i)               tubing, and sleeves), laminated woven sacks           investigation is no later than April 20,
                                             of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).                      may be classifiable under other HTSUS                 2018.
                                                                                                     subheadings, including 3917.39.0050,
                                               Dated: March 27, 2018.                                3921.90.1100, 3921.90.1500, and                       Postponement of Preliminary
                                             Gary Taverman,                                          5903.90.2500. If the polypropylene strips             Determination
                                             Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping              and/or polyethylene strips making up the
                                             and Countervailing Duty Operations,                     fabric measure more than 5 millimeters in               On March 19, 2018, the Aluminum
                                             performing the non-exclusive functions and              width, laminated woven sacks may be                   Association Common Alloy Sheet Trade
                                             duties of the Assistant Secretary for                   classifiable under other HTSUS subheadings            Enforcement Working Group (the
                                             Enforcement and Compliance.                             including 4601.99.0500, 4601.99.9000, and             Domestic Industry), made a request for
                                                                                                     4602.90.0000. Although HTSUS subheadings              a 50-day postponement of the
                                             Appendix—Scope of the Investigation                     are provided for convenience and customs
                                                                                                     purposes, the written description of the
                                                                                                                                                           preliminary determination in this
                                                The merchandise covered by this                                                                            investigation to provide Commerce with
                                             investigation is laminated woven sacks.                 scope is dispositive.
                                             Laminated woven sacks are bags consisting of
                                                                                                                                                           sufficient time to review submissions
                                                                                                     [FR Doc. 2018–06727 Filed 4–2–18; 8:45 am]
                                             one or more plies of fabric consisting of                                                                     and request supplemental information,
                                                                                                     BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                             woven polypropylene strip and/or woven                                                                        in order to arrive at the most accurate
                                             polyethylene strip, regardless of the width of                                                                results possible.4 No other parties
                                             the strip; with or without an extrusion                 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                commented.
                                             coating of polypropylene and/or
                                             polyethylene on one or both sides of the                                                                        Pursuant to section 733(c)(1)(B) of the
                                                                                                     International Trade Administration                    Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(2),
                                             fabric; laminated by any method either to an
                                             exterior ply of plastic film such as biaxially-                                                               Commerce has the authority to extend
                                             oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyester                [A–570–073]                                           the deadline for the preliminary
                                             (PET), polyethylene (PE), nylon, or any film                                                                  determination in this investigation.
                                             suitable for printing, or to an exterior ply of         Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet From
                                             paper; printed; displaying, containing, or
                                                                                                                                                           Because Commerce has the support of
                                                                                                     the People’s Republic of China:
                                             comprising three or more visible colors (e.g.,                                                                cooperating parties and has deemed the
                                                                                                     Postponement of Preliminary
                                             laminated woven sacks printed with three                                                                      investigation to be extraordinarily
                                                                                                     Determination of the Less-Than-Fair-
                                             different shades of blue would be covered by                                                                  complicated, Commerce is postponing
                                             the scope), not including the color of the
                                                                                                     Value Investigation
                                                                                                                                                           the deadline for the preliminary
                                             woven fabric; regardless of the type of                 AGENCY:   Enforcement and Compliance,                 determination by 50 days, until June 11,
                                             printing process used; with or without lining;
                                                                                                     International Trade Administration,                   2018, in accordance with section
                                             with or without handles; with or without
                                             special closing features (including, but not            Department of Commerce.
                                                                                                                                                              1 See Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from the
                                             limited to, closures that are sewn, glued,              DATES: Effective April 3, 2018.
                                             easy-open (e.g., tape or thread), re-closable                                                                 People’s Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-
                                                                                                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom                  Fair-Value Investigation, 82 FR 57214 (November
                                             (e.g., slider, hook and loop, zipper), hot-
                                             welded, adhesive-welded, or press- to-close);           Bellhouse at (202) 482–2057 or Deborah                28, 2017) (Initiation Notice); see also Memorandum,
                                                                                                     Scott at (202) 482–2657, AD/CVD                       ‘‘Initiation of the Antidumping Duty Investigation
                                             whether finished or unfinished (e.g., whether                                                                 of Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from the
                                                                                                     Operations, Enforcement and                           People’s Republic of China,’’ dated November 28,
                                               51 See  section 782(b) of the Act.                    Compliance, International Trade                       2017 (Initiation Memorandum).
                                               52 See  Certification of Factual Information To       Administration, Department of                            2 Id., 82 FR at 57217.

                                             Import Administration During Antidumping and            Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue                       3 See Memorandum for The Record from

                                             Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July      NW, Washington, DC 20230.                             Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
                                             17, 2013); see also frequently asked questions                                                                Enforcement and Compliance, performing the non-
                                             regarding the Final Rule, available at http://          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant
                                             enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_                                                              Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance,
                                             final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.                            Background                                            ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the
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                                                53 On January 22, 2008, Commerce published                                                                 Federal Government’’ (Tolling Memorandum),
                                             Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
                                                                                                        On November 28, 2017, the                          dated January 23, 2018. All deadlines in this
                                             Documents Submission Procedures; APO                    Department of Commerce (Commerce)                     segment of the proceeding have been extended by
                                             Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 22, 2008). Parties      initiated an antidumping duty                         3 days.
                                             wishing to participate in this investigation should     investigation concerning imports of                      4 See Letter, ‘‘Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet

                                             ensure that they meet the requirements of these                                                               from the People’s Republic of China—Domestic
                                             procedures (e.g., the filing of letters of appearance
                                                                                                     common alloy aluminum sheet                           Industry Request for Postponement of the
                                             as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)).                     (aluminum sheet) from the People’s                    Preliminary Determination,’’ dated March 19, 2018.



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Document Created: 2018-04-03 00:49:31
Document Modified: 2018-04-03 00:49:31
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
DatesEffective March 27, 2018.
ContactDrew Jackson or Celeste Chen, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4406 or (202) 482-0890, respectively.
FR Citation83 FR 14257 

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