83 FR 8047 - Cast Iron Soil Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 37 (February 23, 2018)
International Trade Administration
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 37 (February 23, 2018)
| Page Range | 8047-8051 | |
| FR Document | 2018-03746 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 8047-8051] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-03746] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C-570-080] Cast Iron Soil Pipe From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. DATES: Applicable February 15, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Renkey at (202) 482-2312, AD/ CVD Operations, Enforcement & Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Petition On January 26, 2018, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) received a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of cast iron soil pipe (soil pipe) from the People's Republic of China (China), filed in proper form, on behalf of the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (the petitioner).\1\ The petitioner is a trade association, whose members are all domestic producers of soil pipe.\2\ The CVD petition \3\ was accompanied by an antidumping duty (AD) petition for soil pipe from China.\4\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ See Letter to the Secretary of Commerce from the petitioner re: Cast Iron Pipe from the People's Republic of China--Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties, dated January 26, 2018 (Petition). \2\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 2. The individual members of the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute are AB&I Foundry, Charlotte Pipe & Foundry, and Tyler Pipe. \3\ See Volume III of the Petition. \4\ See Volume II of the Petition. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On January 30 and 31, 2018, Commerce requested additional information and clarification of certain areas of the Petition.\5\ The petitioner filed responses to these requests on February 1 and 2, 2018.\6\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ See Letters from Commerce, ``Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Supplemental Questions,'' dated January 30, 2018, and ``Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China: General Issues Supplemental Questions,'' dated January 31, 2018. \6\ See Letters from the petitioner ``Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Response to Supplemental Questions-- General Issues,'' dated February 2, 2018 (General Issues Supplement), and ``Cast Iron Pipe from the People's Republic of China--Petitioner's Response to Supplemental Questionnaire Concerning Volume III,'' February 1, 2018 (CVD Supplement). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended [[Page 8048]] (the Act), the petitioner alleges that the Government of China (GOC) is providing countervailable subsidies, within the meaning of sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, with respect to imports of soil pipe from China, and that such imports are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, an industry in the United States. Also, consistent with section 702(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(b), for those alleged programs on which we are initiating a CVD investigation, the Petition is accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioner supporting its allegations. Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of the domestic industry because the petitioner is an interested party as defined in section 771(9)(E) of the Act. Commerce also finds that the petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support with respect to the initiation of the CVD investigation that the petitioner is requesting.\7\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \7\ See ``Determination of Industry Support for the Petition'' section, below. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Period of Investigation Because the Petition was filed on January 26, 2018, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2), the period of investigation is January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.\8\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \8\ See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Scope of the Investigation The product covered by this investigation is soil pipe from China. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the Appendix to this notice. Comments on the Scope of the Investigation On February 2, 2018, in response to a question from Commerce, the petitioner filed a revision to the scope language.\9\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \9\ See General Issues Supplement at Exhibit 1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As discussed in the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\10\ we are setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope). Commerce will consider all comments received from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with the interested parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determination. If scope comments include factual information,\11\ all such factual information should be limited to public information. In order to facilitate preparation of its questionnaire, Commerce requests all interested parties to submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, March 7, 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 Monday, March 19, 2018, which is the next business day after the tenth calendar day from the deadline for initial comments.\12\ All such comments must be filed on the record of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \10\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties: Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997). \11\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21). \12\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. As stated above, all such comments must be filed on the record of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations. Filing Requirements All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using Enforcement & Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS).\13\ An electronically- filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is due. Documents excepted from the electronic submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) with Enforcement & 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \13\ See 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements); see also Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011), 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consultations Pursuant to section 702(b)(4)(A) of the Act, Commerce notified representatives of the GOC of the receipt of the Petition, and provided them the opportunity for consultations with respect to the CVD Petition.\14\ In response to Commerce's invitation, the GOC met with Commerce Officials on February 7, 2018.\15\ The invitation letter and memorandum to the file regarding the consultations are on file electronically via ACCESS. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \14\ See Letter to the Embassy of China from Commerce, ``Countervailing Duty Petition on Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China'' (January 29, 2018). \15\ See memorandum to the file, ``Consultations with Officials from the Government of China,'' dated February 8, 2018. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Determination of Industry Support for the Petition Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(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 702(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,\16\ 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 [[Page 8049]] differences do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\17\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \16\ See Section 771(10) of the Act. \17\ 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)). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 a petition). With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioner does 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 soil pipe, as defined in the scope, constitutes a single domestic like product, and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like product.\18\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \18\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis in this case, see Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China (Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China (Attachment II). This checklist is dated concurrently with 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 Department of Commerce building. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In determining whether the petitioner has standing under section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data contained in the Petition and the General Issues Supplement with reference to the domestic like product as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the Appendix to this notice. The petitioner provided the 2017 production of the domestic like product by its members.\19\ The petitioner states that its members are the only known producers of soil pipe in the United States; therefore, the Petition is supported by 100 percent of the U.S. industry.\20\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \19\ See Volume I of the Petition at 4. \20\ Id. at 3-4 and Exhibit I-1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our review of the data provided in the Petition, General Issues Supplement, and other information readily available to Commerce indicates that the petitioner has 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 702(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 702(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 702(b)(1) of the Act. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \21\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment II. \22\ See section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also Initiation Checklist at Attachment II. \23\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment II. \24\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of the domestic industry because it is an interested party as defined in section 771(9)(E) of the Act, and it has demonstrated sufficient industry support with respect to the CVD investigation that it is requesting that Commerce initiate.\25\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \25\ Id. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Injury Test Because China is a ``Subsidies Agreement Country'' within the meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act applies to this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine whether imports of the subject merchandise from China materially injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry. Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation The petitioner alleges that imports of the subject merchandise are benefitting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry producing the domestic like product. In addition, the petitioner alleges that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\26\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \26\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 13-14 and Exhibit I-7. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is illustrated by a significant and increasing volume of subject imports; reduced market share and increasing market share of subject imports; underselling and price depression; lost sales and revenues; and negative impact on financial results, including total revenue, gross profits, operating income, and net income.\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\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \27\ Id. at 14-19 and Exhibits I-7, I-9 and I-10; see also General Issues Supplement, at 1. \28\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Initiation of CVD Investigation Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires Commerce to initiate a CVD investigation whenever an interested party files a CVD petition on behalf of an industry that: (1) Alleges the elements necessary for an imposition of a duty under section 701(a) of the Act; and (2) is accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioner supporting the allegations. The petitioner alleges that producers/exporters of soil pipe in China benefited from countervailable subsidies bestowed by the GOC. Commerce examined the Petition and finds that it complies with the requirements of section 702(b)(1) of the Act. Therefore, in accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Act, we are initiating a CVD investigation to determine whether manufacturers, producers, and/or exporters of soil pipe from China receive countervailable subsidies from the GOC. Under the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, numerous amendments to the AD and CVD laws were made.\29\ 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.\30\ The amendments to sections 776 and 782 of [[Page 8050]] the Act are applicable to all determinations made on or after August 6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to this CVD investigation.\31\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \29\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114- 27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015). \30\ 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). The 2015 amendments may be found at https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1295/text/pl. \31\ Id., at 46794-95. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subsidy Allegations Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on all 32 alleged programs.\32\ For a full discussion of the basis for our decision to initiate on each program, see the CVD Initiation Checklist. A public version of the initiation checklist for this investigation is available on ACCESS. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \32\ In the CVD Supplement, the petitioner withdrew its request that we initiate a CVD investigation on several programs. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary determination in this investigation no later than 65 days after the date of initiation. Respondent Selection The petitioner named numerous companies as producers/exporters of soil pipe from China. Commerce intends to follow its standard practice in CVD investigations and calculate company-specific subsidy rates in this investigation. In the event Commerce determines that the number of companies is large and it cannot individually examine each company based upon Commerce's resources, where appropriate, Commerce intends to select mandatory respondents based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports of soil pipe from China during the period of investigation under the appropriate Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States number listed in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the Appendix. On February 5, 2018, Commerce released CBP data under Administrative Protective Order (APO) to all parties with access to information protected by APO and indicated that interested parties wishing to comment regarding the CBP data and respondent selection must do so within three business days of the publication date of the notice of initiation of this CVD investigation.\33\ Commerce will not accept rebuttal comments regarding the CBP data or respondent selection. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \33\ See Memorandum, ``Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People's Republic of China Countervailing Duty Petition: Release of Customs Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection,'' dated February 5, 2018. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such applications may be found on Commerce's website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo. Comments for this investigation must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by Commerce's electronic records system, ACCESS, by 5:00 p.m. ET, by the date noted above. We intend to finalize our decision regarding respondent selection within 20 days of publication of this notice. Distribution of Copies of the Petition In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been provided to the GOC via ACCESS. Because of the large number of producers/exporters identified in the Petition,\34\ Commerce considers the service of the public version of the Petition to the foreign producers/exporters satisfied by delivery of the public version to the GOC, consistent with 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \34\ See Volume I of the Petition, at Exhibit I-4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITC Notification We will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section 702(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 soil pipe from China are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S. industry.\35\ A negative ITC determination will result in the investigation being terminated; \36\ otherwise, this investigation will proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \35\ See section 703(a)(2) of the Act. \36\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) through (iv). The regulation requires any party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted 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. 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. Parties are advised to review the regulations prior to submitting factual information in this investigation. Extension 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. 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 the 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. 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. Certification Requirements Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\37\ Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 351.303(g).\38\ \39\ Commerce intends to [[Page 8051]] reject factual submissions if the submitting party does not comply with the applicable revised certification requirements. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \37\ See section 782(b) of the Act. \38\ See also Certification of Factual Information to Import Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule). Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule are available at http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf. \39\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule); 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 Administrative Protective Order (APO) in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. 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 702 and 777(i) of the Act. Dated: February 15, 2018. Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix--Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by this investigation is cast iron soil pipe, whether finished or unfinished, regardless of industry or proprietary specifications, and regardless of wall thickness, length, diameter, surface finish, end finish, or stenciling. The scope of this investigation includes, but is not limited to, both hubless and hub and spigot cast iron soil pipe. Cast iron soil pipe is nonmalleable iron pipe of various designs and sizes. Cast iron soil pipe is generally distinguished from other types of nonmalleable cast iron pipe by the manner in which it is connected to cast iron soil pipe fittings. Cast iron soil pipe is classified into two major types--hubless and hub and spigot. Hubless cast iron soil pipe is manufactured without a hub, generally in compliance with Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) specification 301 and/or American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification A888, including any revisions to those specifications. Hub and spigot pipe has one or more hubs into which the spigot (plain end) of a fitting is inserted. All pipe meeting the physical description set forth above is covered by the scope of this investigation, whether or not produced according to a particular standard. The subject imports are currently classified in subheading 7303.00.0030 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS): Cast iron soil pipe. The HTSUS subheading and specifications are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive. [FR Doc. 2018-03746 Filed 2-22-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2018 / Notices 8047
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE wishing to attend the meeting must DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
notify Mr. Jonathan Chesebro at the
International Trade Administration contact information above by 5:00 p.m. International Trade Administration
EDT on Friday, March 9, 2018 in order [C–570–080]
Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory
to pre-register. Please specify any
Committee; Meeting of the Civil Cast Iron Soil Pipe From the People’s
requests for reasonable accommodation
Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee Republic of China: Initiation of
at least five business days in advance of
AGENCY: International Trade the meeting. Last minute requests will Countervailing Duty Investigation
Administration, U.S. Department of be accepted, but may not be possible to AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance,
Commerce. fill. International Trade Administration,
ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory A limited amount of time will be Department of Commerce.
Committee meeting. available for pertinent brief oral DATES: Applicable February 15, 2018.
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the comments from members of the public FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
schedule and proposed agenda for a attending the meeting. To accommodate Matthew Renkey at (202) 482–2312, AD/
meeting of the Civil Nuclear Trade as many speakers as possible, the time CVD Operations, Enforcement &
Advisory Committee (CINTAC). for public comments will be limited to Compliance, International Trade
DATES: The meeting is scheduled for
two (2) minutes per person, with a total Administration, U.S. Department of
Thursday, March 15, 2018, from 9:00 public comment period of 60 minutes. Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Individuals wishing to reserve speaking NW, Washington, DC 20230.
(EDT). time during the meeting must contact SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
Mr. Chesebro and submit a brief
statement of the general nature of the The Petition
the U.S. Department of Commerce,
Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room comments and the name and address of On January 26, 2018, the Department
12015–12017, 1401 Constitution Ave. the proposed participant by 5:00 p.m. of Commerce (Commerce) received a
NW, Washington, DC 20230. EDT on Friday, March 9, 2018. If the countervailing duty (CVD) petition
number of registrants requesting to concerning imports of cast iron soil pipe
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
make statements is greater than can be (soil pipe) from the People’s Republic of
Jonathan Chesebro, Office of Energy &
reasonably accommodated during the China (China), filed in proper form, on
Environmental Industries, International
meeting, ITA may conduct a lottery to behalf of the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute
Trade Administration, Mail Stop 28018,
determine the speakers. (the petitioner).1 The petitioner is a
1401 Constitution Ave. NW,
trade association, whose members are
Washington, DC 20230 (Phone: 202– Any member of the public may all domestic producers of soil pipe.2
482–1297; Fax: 202–482–5665; email: submit pertinent written comments The CVD petition 3 was accompanied by
jonathan.chesebro@trade.gov). concerning the CINTAC’s affairs at any an antidumping duty (AD) petition for
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: time before and after the meeting. soil pipe from China.4
Background: The CINTAC was Comments may be submitted to the On January 30 and 31, 2018,
established under the discretionary Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Commerce requested additional
authority of the Secretary of Commerce Committee, Office of Energy & information and clarification of certain
and in accordance with the Federal Environmental Industries, U.S. areas of the Petition.5 The petitioner
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Department of Commerce, Mail Stop filed responses to these requests on
App.), in response to an identified need 28018, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW, February 1 and 2, 2018.6
for consensus advice from U.S. industry Washington, DC 20230. For In accordance with section 702(b)(1)
to the Secretary of Commerce regarding consideration during the meeting, and of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
the development and administration of to ensure transmission to the Committee
programs to expand United States prior to the meeting, comments must be 1 See Letter to the Secretary of Commerce from
exports of civil nuclear goods and the petitioner re: Cast Iron Pipe from the People’s
received no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on Republic of China—Petition for the Imposition of
services in accordance with applicable
Friday, March 9, 2018. Comments Antidumping and Countervailing Duties, dated
U.S. laws and regulations, including
received after that date will be January 26, 2018 (Petition).
advice on how U.S. civil nuclear goods 2 See Volume I of the Petition, at 2. The
and services export policies, programs, distributed to the members but may not
individual members of the Cast Iron Soil Pipe
and activities will affect the U.S. civil be considered at the meeting. Institute are AB&I Foundry, Charlotte Pipe &
nuclear industry’s competitiveness and Copies of CINTAC meeting minutes Foundry, and Tyler Pipe.
3 See Volume III of the Petition.
ability to participate in the international will be available within 90 days of the 4 See Volume II of the Petition.
market. meeting. 5 See Letters from Commerce, ‘‘Petition for the
Topics to be considered: The agenda Dated: February 14, 2018. Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of
for the Thursday, March 15, 2018 Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People’s Republic of
Man Cho, China: Supplemental Questions,’’ dated January 30,
CINTAC meeting is as follows:
Deputy Director, Office of Energy and 2018, and ‘‘Petitions for the Imposition of
Public Session 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports
Environmental Industries.
1. International Trade of Cast Iron Soil Pipe from the People’s Republic
[FR Doc. 2018–03710 Filed 2–22–18; 8:45 am]
Administration’s Civil Nuclear of China: General Issues Supplemental Questions,’’
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Trade Initiative Update BILLING CODE 3510–DR–P dated January 31, 2018.
6 See Letters from the petitioner ‘‘Cast Iron Soil
2. Civil Nuclear Trade Promotion Pipe from the People’s Republic of China: Response
Activities Discussion to Supplemental Questions—General Issues,’’ dated
3. Public comment period February 2, 2018 (General Issues Supplement), and
‘‘Cast Iron Pipe from the People’s Republic of
The meeting will be open to the China—Petitioner’s Response to Supplemental
public and will be accessible to people Questionnaire Concerning Volume III,’’ February 1,
with disabilities. Members of the public 2018 (CVD Supplement).
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:52 Feb 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_8084/page/1.svg)
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 37 / Friday, February 23, 2018 / Notices 8051
reject factual submissions if the purposes only; the written description of the and services export policies, programs,
submitting party does not comply with scope of this investigation is dispositive. and activities will affect the U.S. civil
the applicable revised certification [FR Doc. 2018–03746 Filed 2–22–18; 8:45 am] nuclear industry’s competitiveness and
requirements. BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P ability to participate in the international
market.
Notification to Interested Parties
Topics to be considered: The agenda
Interested parties must submit DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE for the Thursday, May 17, 2018 CINTAC
applications for disclosure under meeting is as follows:
Administrative Protective Order (APO) International Trade Administration
Public Session 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory 1. International Trade
January 22, 2008, Commerce published Committee; Meeting of the Civil Administration’s Civil Nuclear
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee Trade Initiative Update
Proceedings: Documents Submission 2. Civil Nuclear Trade Promotion
Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR AGENCY: International Trade
Activities Discussion
3634 (January 22, 2008). Parties wishing Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce. 3. Public comment period
to participate in this investigation
should ensure that they meet the ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory The meeting will be open to the
requirements of these procedures (e.g., Committee meeting. public and will be accessible to people
the filing of letters of appearance as with disabilities. Members of the public
discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)). SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the wishing to attend the meeting must
This notice is issued and published schedule and proposed agenda for a notify Mr. Jonathan Chesebro at the
pursuant to sections 702 and 777(i) of meeting of the Civil Nuclear Trade contact information above by 5:00 p.m.
the Act. Advisory Committee (CINTAC). EDT on Friday, May 11, 2018 in order
DATES: The meeting is scheduled for to pre-register. Please specify any
Dated: February 15, 2018. requests for reasonable accommodation
Thursday, May 17, 2018, from 1:00 p.m.
Christian Marsh, at least five business days in advance of
to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement (EDT). the meeting. Last minute requests will
and Compliance. be accepted, but may not be possible to
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held fill.
Appendix—Scope of the Investigation via conference call. The call-in number
A limited amount of time will be
The merchandise covered by this and passcode will be provided by email
available for pertinent brief oral
investigation is cast iron soil pipe, whether to registrants. Requests to register
finished or unfinished, regardless of industry
comments from members of the public
(including to speak or for auxiliary aids)
or proprietary specifications, and regardless attending the meeting. To accommodate
and any written comments should be
of wall thickness, length, diameter, surface as many speakers as possible, the time
submitted to: Mr. Jonathan Chesebro,
finish, end finish, or stenciling. The scope of for public comments will be limited to
Office of Energy & Environmental
this investigation includes, but is not limited two (2) minutes per person, with a total
to, both hubless and hub and spigot cast iron Industries, International Trade
public comment period of 60 minutes.
soil pipe. Cast iron soil pipe is nonmalleable Administration, Room 20010, 1401
Individuals wishing to reserve speaking
iron pipe of various designs and sizes. Cast Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
time during the meeting must contact
iron soil pipe is generally distinguished from 20230 (Fax: 202–482–5665; email:
Mr. Chesebro and submit a brief
other types of nonmalleable cast iron pipe by jonathan.chesebro@trade.gov). Members
the manner in which it is connected to cast
statement of the general nature of the
of the public are encouraged to submit
iron soil pipe fittings. comments and the name and address of
registration requests and written
Cast iron soil pipe is classified into two the proposed participant by 5:00 p.m.
comments via email to ensure timely
major types—hubless and hub and spigot. EDT on Friday, May 11, 2018. If the
receipt.
Hubless cast iron soil pipe is manufactured number of registrants requesting to
without a hub, generally in compliance with FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. make statements is greater than can be
Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI) Jonathan Chesebro, Office of Energy & reasonably accommodated during the
specification 301 and/or American Society Environmental Industries, International meeting, ITA may conduct a lottery to
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Trade Administration, Mail Stop 28018, determine the speakers.
specification A888, including any revisions 1401 Constitution Ave. NW,
to those specifications. Hub and spigot pipe Any member of the public may
has one or more hubs into which the spigot
Washington, DC 20230 (Phone: 202– submit pertinent written comments
(plain end) of a fitting is inserted. All pipe 482–1297; Fax: 202–482–5665; email: concerning the CINTAC’s affairs at any
meeting the physical description set forth jonathan.chesebro@trade.gov). time before and after the meeting.
above is covered by the scope of this SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments may be submitted to the
investigation, whether or not produced Background: The CINTAC was Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory
according to a particular standard. established under the discretionary Committee, Office of Energy &
The subject imports are currently classified authority of the Secretary of Commerce Environmental Industries, U.S.
in subheading 7303.00.0030 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
and in accordance with the Federal Department of Commerce, Mail Stop
States (HTSUS): Cast iron soil pipe. The Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 28018, 1401 Constitution Ave. NW,
HTSUS subheading and specifications are App.), in response to an identified need Washington, DC 20230. For
provided for convenience and customs for consensus advice from U.S. industry consideration during the meeting, and
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
to the Secretary of Commerce regarding to ensure transmission to the Committee
39 See Certification of Factual Information to the development and administration of prior to the meeting, comments must be
Import Administration During Antidumping and programs to expand United States received no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July exports of civil nuclear goods and Friday, May 11, 2018. Comments
17, 2013) (Final Rule); see also frequently asked
questions regarding the Final Rule, available at
services in accordance with applicable received after that date will be
http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_ U.S. laws and regulations, including distributed to the members but may not
info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf. advice on how U.S. civil nuclear goods be considered at the meeting.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:52 Feb 22, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/83_FR_8084/page/5.svg)
Document Created: 2018-02-23 01:32:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 01:32:49
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Dates | Applicable February 15, 2018. | |
| Contact | Matthew Renkey at (202) 482-2312, AD/ CVD Operations, Enforcement & Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 8047 |
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