[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37053-37058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16770]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-062]


Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic of China: 
Initiation of Less-Than-Fair Value Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable August 2, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sergio Balbontin at (202) 482-6478 or 
Denisa Ursu at (202) 482-2285, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement & 
Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Petition

    On July 13, 2017, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
received an antidumping duty (AD) petition concerning imports of cast 
iron soil pipe fittings (soil pipe fittings) from the People's Republic 
of China (the PRC), 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 
fittings.\2\ The AD petition was accompanied by a countervailing duty 
(CVD) petition for soil pipe fittings from the PRC.\3\
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    \1\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Petition for the 
Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Cast Iron Soil 
Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China,'' dated July 13, 
2017 (the 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.
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    On July 17, 2017, the petitioner filed an amendment to Volume I of 
the Petition.\4\ On July 18, 2017, the Department requested additional 
information and clarification of certain areas of the Petition.\5\ The 
petitioner filed responses to these requests on July 20, 2017.\6\ In 
response to the Department's further requests for information and 
clarification of Volume II of the Petition,\7\ the petitioner submitted 
additional amendments to the Petition on July 26, 2017, and July 28, 
2017.\8\
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    \4\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Amendment to Petitions for 
the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Cast Iron 
Soil Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China,'' dated July 
17, 2017 (Petition Amendment).
    \5\ See Letters from the Department, ``Petition for the 
Imposition of Antidumping Duties on Imports of Cast Iron Soil Pipe 
Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated July 18, 2017, and ``Petitions for the Imposition 
of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Cast Iron 
Soil Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated July 18, 2017.
    \6\ See Letters from the petitioner ``Cast Iron Soil Pipe 
Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Response to 
Supplemental Questions--General Issues,'' dated July 20, 2017 
(General Issues Supplement), and ``Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from 
the People's Republic of China: Response to Supplemental Questions--
Antidumping Duties,'' dated July 20, 2017 (AD Supplemental Response 
1).
    \7\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Telephone Call Regarding 
Financial Ratios,'' dated July 24, 2017; Memorandum to the File, 
``Telephone Call with Petitioner's Counsel Regarding Amendments to 
the Petition,'' dated July 26, 2017; and Memorandum to the File, 
``Telephone Call with Petitioner's Counsel Regarding Questions for 
the Normal Value Calculation,'' dated July 27, 2017.
    \8\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Cast Iron Soil Pipe 
Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Response to 
Supplemental Questions--Antidumping Duties,'' dated July 26, 2017 
(AD Supplemental Response 2); and Letter from the petitioner, ``Cast 
Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Revised 
Antidumping Calculation,'' dated July 28, 2017 (AD Supplemental 
Response 3).
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    In accordance with section 732(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), the petitioner alleges that imports of soil pipe 
fittings from the PRC 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, an industry in the United States. Also, 
consistent with section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the Petition is 
accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioner 
supporting its allegations.
    The Department 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. The Department also 
finds that the petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support with 
respect to the initiation of the AD investigation that the petitioner 
is requesting.\9\
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    \9\ See the ``Determination of Industry Support for the 
Petition'' section, below.
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Period of Investigation

    Because the Petition was filed on July 13, 2017, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.204(b)(1), the period of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2017, 
through June 30, 2017.

Scope of the Investigation

    The product covered by this investigation is soil pipe fittings 
from the PRC. 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, the Department discussed with 
the petitioner the language 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

[[Page 37054]]

relief.\10\ On July 20, 2017, the petitioner filed a revision to the 
scope language.\11\
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    \10\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Antidumping Duty 
Investigation of Cast Iron Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic 
of China: Telephone Call with Petitioner, Re: Scope of the 
Investigation,'' dated July 18, 2017.
    \11\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Response to Supplemental 
Questions--Scope,'' dated July 20, 2017 (Scope Supplement).
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    As discussed in the preamble to the Department's regulations,\12\ 
we are setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues 
regarding product coverage (i.e., scope). The Department 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,\13\ all such factual information should be limited to 
public information. In order to facilitate preparation of its 
questionnaire, the Department requests all interested parties to submit 
such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, August 22, 
2017, 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 Friday, September 1, 2017, which is 10 
calendar days from the deadline for initial comments.\14\ All such 
comments must be filed on the record of each of the concurrent AD and 
CVD investigations.
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    \12\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, 62 FR 27296, 
27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \13\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21).
    \14\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b).
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    The Department 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 the Department and 
request permission to submit the additional information. As stated 
above, all such comments must be filed on the record of each of the 
concurrent AD and CVD investigations.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to the Department must be filed electronically 
using Enforcement & Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing 
Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS).\15\ An 
electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its 
entirety by the time and date when 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.
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    \15\ 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 the Department's electronic 
filing requirements, which went into effect on August 5, 2011. 
Information on help using ACCESS can be found at http://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

    The Department requests comments from interested parties regarding 
the appropriate physical characteristics of soil pipe fittings to be 
reported in response to the Department's AD questionnaire. This 
information will be used to identify the key physical characteristics 
of the merchandise under consideration in order to report the relevant 
factors and costs of production accurately as well as to develop 
appropriate product-comparison criteria.
    Interested parties will have the opportunity to provide any 
information or comments that they feel 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 (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 used by manufacturers to describe soil pipe fittings, 
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, the 
Department 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 comments must be filed 
by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 17, 2017. Any rebuttal comments, which may 
include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 
24, 2017. All comments and submissions to the Department 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, the Department 
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 the Department 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 the Department 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, the Department'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.\17\
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    \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)).
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    Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a 
product

[[Page 37055]]

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 petitioner does not 
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope 
of the investigation. Based on our analysis of the information 
submitted on the record, we have determined that soil pipe fittings, as 
defined in the scope, constitute a single domestic like product, and we 
have analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like 
product.\18\
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    \18\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis in 
this case, see Antidumping Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: 
Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings 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 Fittings (Soil Pipe Fittings) 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.
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    In determining whether the petitioner has standing under section 
732(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data 
contained in the Petition and the petitioner's subsequent submissions 
with reference to the domestic like product as defined in the ``Scope 
of the Investigation,'' in Appendix I of this notice. The petitioner 
provided the 2016 production of the domestic like product by its 
members.\19\ The petitioner states that its members are the only known 
producers of soil pipe fittings in the United States; therefore, the 
Petition is supported by 100 percent of the U.S. industry.\20\
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    \19\ See Petition Amendment at 2; see also General Issues 
Supplement at 1.
    \20\ See Petition at 2; see also General Issues Supplement at 1 
and Exhibit 2.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, Petition 
Amendment, General Issues Supplement, and other information readily 
available to the Department 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, the Department 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, the Department 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 Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
    \22\ See section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also Initiation 
Checklist at Attachment II.
    \23\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
    \24\ Id.
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    The Department 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 AD investigation that 
it is requesting that the Department initiate.\25\
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    \25\ Id.
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Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioner alleges 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 
petitioner alleges 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 11-12; see also General 
Issues Supplement at 3 and Exhibit 3.
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    The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by reduced market share; underselling and price depression 
or suppression; lost sales and revenues; and negative impact on 
profit.\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 9, 11-20, and Exhibits I-5 
and I-7; see also Petition Amendment at 1-3; see also General Issues 
Supplement at 3 and Exhibit 3.
    \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 Fittings from the People's Republic of China.
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Allegations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value

    The following is a description of the allegations of sales at less 
than fair value upon which the Department based its decision to 
initiate the AD investigation of imports of soil pipe fittings from the 
PRC. The sources of data for the deductions and adjustments relating to 
U.S. price and NV are discussed in greater detail in the Initiation 
Checklist.\29\
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    \29\ Id., at 6-10.
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Export Price

    The petitioner based the U.S. price on export price (EP) using 
average unit values (AUVs) of publicly available import data.\30\ The 
petitioner made deductions to U.S. price for foreign inland freight and 
brokerage and handling.\31\
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    \30\ See the attachment to AD Supplemental Response 3.
    \31\ Id.
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Normal Value

    The petitioner stated that the Department has consistently treated 
the PRC as a non-market economy (NME) country.\32\ In accordance with 
section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, the presumption of NME status remains 
in effect until revoked by the Department. The presumption of NME 
status for the PRC has not been revoked by the Department and, 
therefore, remains in effect for purposes of the initiation of this 
investigation. Accordingly, the NV of the product is appropriately 
based on factors of production (FOPs) valued in a surrogate market 
economy country, in accordance with section 773(c) of the Act.
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    \32\ See Volume II of the Petition at 1.
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    The petitioner argues that South Africa is an appropriate surrogate 
country for the PRC because it is a market economy that is at a level 
of economic development comparable to that of the PRC, it is a 
significant producer of comparable merchandise, and public information 
from South Africa is available to value all FOPs.\33\ Based on the 
information provided by the petitioner, we determine that it is 
appropriate to use South Africa as a surrogate country for the PRC. 
Interested parties will have the opportunity to

[[Page 37056]]

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.
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    \33\ See AD Supplemental Response 2 at 2-3 and Exhibits 2-5.
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Factors of Production

    Because information regarding the volume of inputs consumed by 
Chinese producers/exporters is not reasonably available, the petitioner 
based the FOPs for materials, labor, and energy on the production 
experience of one of its member companies.\34\ The petitioner asserts 
that the production process for soil pipe fittings is similar 
regardless of whether the product is produced in the United States or 
in the PRC.\35\ The petitioner valued the estimated FOPs using 
surrogate values from South Africa.
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    \34\ See Volume II of the Petition at 4 and Exhibit II-7. See 
also AD Supplemental Response 2 at 1, 3, and Exhibit 1.
    \35\ See AD Supplemental Response 1 at Exhibit 3.
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Valuation of Raw Materials

    The petitioner valued direct materials based on publicly-available 
import data for South Africa obtained from the Global Trade Atlas (GTA) 
for the period November 2016 through April 2017.\36\ The petitioner 
excluded all import data from countries previously determined by the 
Department to maintain broadly available, non-industry-specific export 
subsidies and countries previously determined by the Department to be 
NME countries.\37\ In addition, in accordance with the Department's 
practice, the petitioner excluded imports that were labeled as 
originating from an unidentified country.\38\
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    \36\ See AD Supplemental Response 2 at 3 and Exhibit 7. In the 
narrative, the petitioner erroneously reported September 2016 
through February 2017.
    \37\ Id.
    \38\ Id.
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Valuation of Labor

    The petitioner relied on 2012 data published by the International 
Labor Organization, inflated to 2017 using the South African Consumer 
Price Index.\39\
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    \39\ Id., at Exhibit 10.
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Valuation of Energy

    The petitioner valued natural gas using GTA import data.\40\ The 
petitioner valued electricity using values reported in the Eskom 2016/
2017 Tariff Book.\41\
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    \40\ Id., at Exhibit 7.
    \41\ Id., at Exhibit 9.
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Valuation of Factory Overhead, Selling, General and Administrative 
Expenses, and Profit

    The petitioner calculated ratios for selling, general, and 
administrative expenses, and profit based on the 2016 consolidated 
financial statements of Tata Africa Steel Processors Proprietary Ltd., 
a South African steel processor and producer of aluminum wire rods.\42\
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    \42\ Id., at Exhibit 11.
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Fair Value Comparisons
    Based on the data provided by the petitioner, there is reason to 
believe that imports of soil pipe fittings from the PRC 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 section 773(c) of 
the Act, the estimated dumping margin for soil pipe fittings from the 
PRC is 92.48 percent.\43\
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    \43\ See the attachment to AD Supplemental Response 3.
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Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation
    Based upon the examination of the AD Petition on soil pipe fittings 
from the PRC, we find that the Petition meets the requirements of 
section 732 of the Act. Therefore, we are initiating an AD 
investigation to determine whether imports of soil pipe fittings from 
the PRC 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 laws were made.\44\ The 2015 law does not 
specify dates of application for those amendments. On August 6, 2015, 
the Department 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.\45\ 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.\46\
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    \44\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Public Law 
114-27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
    \45\ 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).
    \46\ 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 petitioner named 22 companies in the PRC as producers/exporters 
of soil pipe fittings.\47\ In accordance with our standard practice for 
respondent selection in cases involving NME countries, we intend to 
issue quantity and value (Q&V) questionnaires to producers/exporters of 
merchandise subject to this investigation and, in the event we 
determine to limit the number of companies individually examined, base 
respondent selection on the responses received.\48\ For this 
investigation, the Department will request Q&V information from known 
exporters and producers identified, with complete contact information, 
in the Petition. In addition, the Department will post the Q&V 
questionnaire along with filing instructions on the Enforcement & 
Compliance Web site at http://www.trade.gov/enforcement/news.asp.
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    \47\ See Volume I of the Petition at Exhibit I-4.
    \48\ See, e.g., Carton-Closing Staples From the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation, 
82 FR 19351 (April 27, 2017).
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    Exporters/producers of soil pipe fittings from the PRC that do not 
receive Q&V questionnaires by mail may still submit a response to the 
Q&V questionnaire and can obtain a copy from the Enforcement & 
Compliance Web site. The Q&V response must be submitted by all PRC 
exporters/producers no later than August 14, 2017. All Q&V 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.\49\ 
The specific requirements for submitting a separate-rate application 
are outlined in detail in the application itself, which is available on 
the Department's Web site 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.\50\ Exporters and producers who 
submit a separate-rate application and are selected as mandatory 
respondents will be eligible for consideration for separate-rate status 
only if they respond to all parts of the

[[Page 37057]]

Department's AD questionnaire as mandatory respondents. The Department 
requires that respondents submit a response to both the Q&V 
questionnaire and the separate-rate application by their respective 
deadlines in order to receive consideration for separate-rate status.
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    \49\ 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).
    \50\ 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
    The Department 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.\51\
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    \51\ See Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 6 (emphasis added).

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 the PRC 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 soil pipe fittings from the PRC are 
materially injuring or threatening material injury to a U.S. 
industry.\52\ A negative ITC determination will result in the 
investigation being terminated; \53\ otherwise, this investigation will 
proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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    \52\ See section 733(a) of the Act.
    \53\ 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 the Department; 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.gpo.gov/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.\54\ 
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 
351.303(g).55 56 The Department intends to reject factual 
submissions if the submitting party does not comply with the applicable 
revised certification requirements.
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    \54\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \55\ 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.
    \56\ 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.
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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, the Department 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.

    Dated: August 2, 2017.
Carole Showers,
Executive Director, Office of Policy, performing the duties of Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is cast iron soil 
pipe fittings, finished and unfinished, regardless of industry or 
proprietary specifications, and regardless of size. Cast iron soil 
pipe fittings are nonmalleable iron castings of various designs and 
sizes, including, but not limited to, bends, tees, wyes, traps, 
drains, and other common or special fittings, with or without side 
inlets.
    Cast iron soil pipe fittings are classified into two major 
types--hubless and hub and

[[Page 37058]]

spigot. Hubless cast iron soil pipe fittings are 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. Hub and spigot pipe 
fittings have hubs into which the spigot (plain end) of the pipe or 
fitting is inserted. Cast iron soil pipe fittings are generally 
distinguished from other types of nonmalleable cast iron fittings by 
the manner in which they are connected to cast iron soil pipe and 
other fittings.
    The subject imports are normally classified in subheading 
7307.11.0045 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS): Cast fittings of nonmalleable cast iron for 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. 2017-16770 Filed 8-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P