[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 231 (Monday, December 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57214-57219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26068]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-073, C-570-074]


Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet From the People's Republic of China: 
Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value and Countervailing Duty 
Investigations

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

DATES: Applicable November 28, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Kearney, at (202) 482-0167, AD/
CVD Operations, Office VI, or Vicki Flynn, at (202) 482-1756, Office of 
Policy, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Initiation

    On the basis of information available to the Department of Commerce 
(the Department), we are initiating an antidumping duty (AD) 
investigation, under section 732(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), to determine whether common alloy aluminum sheet 
(common alloy sheet) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) is 
being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair 
value within the meaning of section 731 of the Act. We are also 
initiating a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation, under section 
702(a) of the Act, to determine whether the Government of the PRC is 
providing countervailable subsidies (within the meaning of sections 701 
and 771(5) of the Act) with respect to imports of common alloy sheet 
from the PRC.
    We have evidence indicating that the United States price of common 
alloy sheet from the PRC may be less than the normal value of such or 
similar merchandise and that imports of common alloy sheet from the PRC 
may be benefitting from countervailable subsidies. We also have 
evidence that imports of common alloy sheet from the PRC may be 
materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic 
industry producing common alloy sheet in the United States.
    U.S. law provides two mechanisms for the initiation of AD and CVD 
investigations. Normally, AD and/or CVD investigations are initiated 
under sections 702(b) and 732(b) of the Act, which specify that AD and/
or CVD proceedings ``shall be initiated whenever an interested party 
described in subparagraph (C), (D), (E), (F), or (G) of section 771(9) 
files a petition with the administering authority, on behalf of an 
industry, which alleges the elements necessary for the imposition of 
the duty imposed by {section 701(a) (for CVD) or 731 (for AD){time} , 
and which is accompanied by information reasonably available to the 
petitioner supporting those allegations.'' Investigations may also be 
initiated under sections 702(a) and 732(a) of the Act, which specify 
that AD and/or CVD investigations ``shall be initiated whenever the 
administering authority determines, from information available to it, 
that a formal investigation is warranted into the question of whether 
the elements necessary for the imposition of a duty under {section 701 
(CVD) or 731 (AD){time}  exist.'' Although the Department has rarely 
invoked this statutory authority, the Department intends to make use of 
all the tools available under U.S. unfair trade laws, where such action 
is warranted under the law, to ensure potential unfair trade practices 
are addressed. To that end, self-initiation of certain AD and CVD cases 
can address situations where industries are faced with potentially 
dumped and/or subsidized imports and where the Department received 
comprehensive detailed information. Although the Department expects 
that future investigations will normally proceed based on petitions 
filed by or on behalf of the industry, the Department will take action 
under Sections 702(a) and 732(a), where warranted, to facilitate the 
application of the appropriate trade remedy for U.S. industries.
    In this instance, we have information warranting an investigation 
into whether (1) the United States price of common alloy sheet from the 
PRC may be less than the normal value of such or similar merchandise, 
(2) imports of common alloy sheet from the PRC may be benefitting from 
countervailable subsidies, and (3) imports of common alloy sheet from 
the PRC may be materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, 
the domestic industry producing common alloy sheet in the United 
States. Imports of common alloy sheet from the PRC into the United 
States have been significant since 2005 and have increased rapidly in 
the last three years.\1\ Furthermore, in light of the systemic and 
significant over-capacity in the Chinese aluminum industry, which has 
been extensively documented, including in a recent International Trade 
Commission (ITC) investigation conducted under section 332(g) of the 
Act,\2\ the U.S. industry is faced with the potential for even further 
increases in exports from the PRC. In light of the above, among other 
considerations, the Department is self-initiating AD and CVD 
investigations of imports of common alloy sheet from the PRC as 
provided for under sections 702(a) and 732(a) of the Act.
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    \1\ Department Memoranda: Supporting Memorandum for the 
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation of Common Alloy 
Aluminum Sheet from the People's Republic of China (AD Initiation 
Memo), at Exhibit 1A, at Attachment 9, and Supporting Memorandum for 
the Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation of Common Alloy 
Aluminum Sheet from the People's Republic of China (CVD Initiation 
Memo), at Exhibit 1A, at Attachment 9. These memoranda are dated 
concurrently with this notice and on file electronically via 
Enforcement & Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). Access to documents 
filed via ACCESS is also available in the Central Records Unit, Room 
B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building.
    \2\ See Aluminum: Competitive Conditions Affecting the U.S. 
Industry, Inv. No. 332-557, USITC Pub. 4703 (June 2017), at 39, 68, 
161, 241, and 465.
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Period of Investigation

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(b), the proposed period of investigation 
(POI) for the CVD investigation is January 1, 2016 through December 31, 
2016 while the proposed POI for the AD investigation is April 1, 2017 
through September 30, 2017.

[[Page 57215]]

Scope of the Investigations

    The product covered by these investigations is common alloy sheet 
from the PRC. For a full description of the scope of these 
investigations, see the ``Scope of the Investigations,'' in the 
Appendix to this notice.

Comments on Scope of the Investigations

    As discussed in the preamble to the Department's regulations,\3\ we 
are setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues 
regarding product coverage (scope). The Department will consider all 
comments received from parties and, if necessary, will consult with 
parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determinations. If 
scope comments include factual information (see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)), 
all such factual information should be limited to public information. 
In order to facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, the 
Department requests all interested parties to submit such comments by 
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on December 18, 2017. Any rebuttal 
comments, which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 
p.m. ET on December 28, 2017.
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    \3\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, 62 FR 27296, 
27323 (May 19, 1997).
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    The Department requests that any factual information the parties 
consider relevant to the scope of the investigations be submitted 
during this time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that 
additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the 
investigations may be relevant, the party may contact the Department 
and request permission to submit the additional information. All such 
comments must also be filed on the records of the concurrent AD and CVD 
investigations.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to the Department must be filed electronically 
using ACCESS.\4\ 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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    \4\ See 19 CFR 351.303 (describing general filing requirements); 
see also Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic 
Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 
39263 (July 6, 2011) and Enforcement and Compliance; Change of 
Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 (November 20, 2014) 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 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

    The Department requests comments from interested parties regarding 
the appropriate physical characteristics of common alloy sheet to be 
reported in response to the Department's AD questionnaires. This 
information will be used to identify the key physical characteristics 
of the subject merchandise in order to report the relevant factors and 
costs of production 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 (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 common alloy sheet, 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 December 18, 2017. Any rebuttal comments, which may 
include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on December 
28, 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.

Injury Test

    Because the PRC is a ``Subsidies Agreement Country'' within the 
meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act 
applies to the CVD investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine 
whether imports of the subject merchandise from the PRC materially 
injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry.

Evidence of Material Injury, Threat of Material Injury, and Causation

    The Department has evidence indicating that the U.S. industry 
producing the domestic like product \5\ may be materially injured, or 
may be threatened with material injury, by reason of imports of the 
subject merchandise that may be benefitting from countervailable 
subsidies and may be sold at less than normal value (NV). In addition, 
the subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided for 
under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\6\
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    \5\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis in 
this case, see AD Initiation Memo and CVD Initiation Memo, at 
``Definition of Domestic Industry.''
    \6\ See AD Initiation Memo and CVD Initiation Memo, at 
``Negligibility.''
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    Information considered by the Department indicates that the 
industry's injured condition is illustrated by reduced market share; 
underselling and price suppression or depression; decreasing U.S. 
shipment and production trends, as well as low capacity utilization 
rates; increasing volumes of imports from the PRC; plant and facility 
closures; and deterioration in financial performance. In addition, the 
information indicates a threat of material injury by reason of the 
imports from the PRC based on the vulnerability of the domestic 
industry to material injury; the rapid increase in the volume and 
market penetration of subject imports; continued underselling and price 
suppression or depression; countervailable subsidies received by common 
alloy sheet producers in the PRC; and significant unused capacity 
available to PRC producers of common alloy sheet to increase production 
for exportation.\7\
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    \7\ See AD Initiation Memo; see also CVD Initiation Memo.
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Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value

    The following is a description of the evidence of sales at less-
than-fair value upon which the Department based its decision to 
initiate an AD investigation of imports of common alloy sheet from the 
PRC. The sources of data for the deductions and adjustments relating to 
U.S. price and NV are discussed in

[[Page 57216]]

greater detail in the AD Initiation Memo.

Export Price

    The Department calculated two export prices (EP) based on (1) the 
average unit value (AUV) of combined imports of common alloy sheet 
under the relevant Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) subheadings for this product (7060.11.3060, 7060.11.6000, 
7606.12.3090, 7606.12.6000, 7606.91.3090, 7606.91.6080, 7606.92.3090, 
7606.92.6080) from the PRC during the POI; and (2) the AUV of imports 
of common alloy sheet under HTSUS subheading 7606.12.3090 from the PRC 
during the POI, which accounted for over 90 percent of total imports of 
subject merchandise. The Department deducted foreign inland freight, 
foreign brokerage and handling, and unrebated Value-Added Tax (VAT) to 
obtain ex-factory prices, in accordance with our normal practice for 
calculating EPs.\8\
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    \8\ See AD Initiation Memo, at ``U.S. Price.''
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Normal Value

    The Department considers the PRC to be a non-market economy (NME) 
country.\9\ In accordance with section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, any 
determination that a foreign country is an NME country shall remain in 
effect until revoked by the Department. Therefore, we continue to treat 
the PRC as an NME country for purposes of the initiation of this AD 
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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    \9\ See Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Aluminum Foil 
from the People's Republic of China: Affirmative Preliminary 
Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value and Postponement of 
Final Determination, 82 FR 50858, 50861 (November 2, 2017) and 
accompanying decision memorandum, China's Status as a Non-Market 
Economy.
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    South Africa is an appropriate surrogate country because it is a 
market economy country 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 pertaining to South 
Africa is available to value the FOPs.\10\ 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 
within 30 days before the scheduled date of the preliminary 
determination.
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    \10\ See AD Initiation Memo at 3-7 (citing Department 
Memorandum: ``Request for a List of Surrogate Countries for an 
Antidumping Investigation on Cast Soil Iron Pipe Fittings (CSIPF) 
from the People's Republic of China (China),'' dated November 7, 
2017); see also Potassium Permanganate from the People's Republic of 
China: Preliminary Results of the 2015 Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review, 81 FR 89897 (December 13, 2016) (Potassium 
Permanganate from the PRC Preliminary Decision) and accompanying 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum (PDM) (unchanged in Potassium 
Permanganate from the People's Republic of China: Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2015, 82 FR 28044 (June 20, 
2017) (Potassium Permanganate from the PRC)) and accompanying Issues 
and Decision Memorandum (IDM)).
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Factors of Production

    We based the FOPs for materials, labor, and energy on the 
consumption rates of certain producers of common alloy sheet in the 
United States.\11\ The production process for common alloy sheet is 
similar regardless of whether the product is produced in the United 
States or in the PRC.\12\ We valued the estimated FOPs using surrogate 
values from South Africa, as discussed below.\13\
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    \11\ See AD Initiation Memo.
    \12\ Id.
    \13\ Id.
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Valuation of Raw Materials

    We valued the FOPs for raw materials using public import data for 
South Africa obtained from the Global Trade Atlas (GTA) for the 
POI.\14\ We excluded all import data from countries previously 
determined by the Department to maintain broadly available, non-
industry-specific export subsidies and from countries previously 
determined by the Department to be NME countries. In addition, in 
accordance with the Department's practice, we excluded imports that 
were labeled as originating from an unidentified country.\15\
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    \14\ See AD Initiation Memo; see also Potassium Permanganate 
from the PRC Preliminary Decision and accompanying PDM at 14 
(unchanged in Potassium Permanganate from the PRC).
    \15\ See AD Initiation Memo at 4-7.
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Valuation of Energy

    We valued natural gas using the AUV of imports of liquid natural 
gas into South Africa.\16\ We valued electricity using electricity 
rates reported by Eskom, South Africa's electricity public utility.\17\
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    \16\ Id.
    \17\ Id., at 6; see also Potassium Permanganate from the PRC 
Preliminary Decision and accompanying PDM at 14 (unchanged in 
Potassium Permanganate from the PRC).
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Valuation of Labor

    We valued labor using labor data published by Statistics South 
Africa (SSA), the national statistics service of South Africa.\18\ SSA 
is the official South African source for government employment and 
earnings data.\19\
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    \18\ See AD Initiation Memo.
    \19\ Id.
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Valuation of Packing Materials

    We determined the FOPs for packing materials based on the 
experience of U.S. producers of common alloy sheet in packing their own 
products.\20\ We valued the packing materials based on South African 
import values.\21\ We valued labor expenses for packing based on the 
hourly rates derived from the aforementioned labor data from the 
SSA.\22\
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    \20\ Id.
    \21\ Id.; see also Potassium Permanganate from the PRC 
Preliminary Decision and accompanying PDM at 14 (unchanged in 
Potassium Permanganate from the PRC).
    \22\ See AD Initiation Memo.
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Valuation of Factory Overhead, Selling, General and Administrative 
Expenses, and Profit

    We calculated ratios for factory overhead, selling, general and 
administrative expenses based on the 2016 consolidated financial 
statements of Hulamin Ltd. (Hulamin), a South African producer of 
common alloy sheet.\23\ We calculated a profit rate for Hulamin by 
dividing its operating profit before taxes by the sum of cost of sales 
and SG&A expenses. We multiplied that rate by the total cost of 
production to obtain a profit value. The resulting profit value was 
added to the cost of production value to arrive at total cost of 
production plus profit for the product.\24\
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    \23\ Id.; see also Potassium Permanganate from the PRC 
Preliminary Decision and accompanying PDM at 15-16 (unchanged in 
Potassium Permanganate from the PRC).
    \24\ See AD Initiation Memo, at 7.
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Fair Value Comparisons

    Based on the data obtained by the Department, there is reason to 
believe that imports of common alloy sheet 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 margins for common alloy sheet from the 
PRC are 56.54 percent and 59.72 percent.\25\
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    \25\ Id., at ``Estimated Margins.''
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Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

    Section 732(a) of the Act states that the Department shall initiate 
an antidumping duty investigation whenever it determines, from 
information available to it, that a formal

[[Page 57217]]

investigation is warranted into the question of whether the elements 
necessary for the imposition of a duty under section 731 exists. 
Pursuant to section 732(a) of the Act, on the basis of information 
available to the Department, we are initiating an AD investigation to 
determine whether imports of common alloy sheet 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 intend to make our preliminary AD 
determination no later than 140 days after the date of this initiation.

Respondent Selection for AD Investigation

    In accordance with our standard practice for respondent selection 
in AD cases involving NME countries, we intend to issue quantity and 
value (Q&V) questionnaires to known producers/exporters of merchandise 
subject to the investigation and, if necessary, base respondent 
selection on the responses received. In addition, the Department will 
post the Q&V questionnaire along with filing instructions on the 
Enforcement and Compliance Web site at http://www.trade.gov/enforcement/news.asp.
    Producers/exporters of common alloy sheet 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 the relevant 
PRC exporters/producers no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on December 13, 
2017. All Q&V responses must be filed electronically via ACCESS.

Separate Rates

    In order to obtain separate-rate status in an NME AD investigation, 
exporters and producers must submit a separate-rate application.\26\ 
The specific requirements for submitting a separate-rate application in 
the PRC AD investigation 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.\27\ 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 
respond to all parts of the Department's AD questionnaire as mandatory 
respondents. The Department requires that companies from the PRC 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 response will not receive separate rate consideration.
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    \26\ 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).
    \27\ 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

    In an NME AD investigation, the Department will calculate 
combination rates for certain respondents that are eligible for a 
separate rate in that 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.\28\
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    \28\ 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).
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Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation

    Section 702(a) of the Act states that the Department shall initiate 
a CVD investigation whenever it determines that a formal investigation 
is warranted into the question of whether the elements necessary for an 
imposition of a duty under section 701(a) of the Act exist based on 
information available to the Department.
    On the basis of information available to the Department, producers/
exporters of common alloy sheet in the PRC may benefit from 
countervailable subsidies bestowed by the Government of the PRC. 
Pursuant to section 702(a) of the Act, on the basis of information 
available to the Department, we are initiating a CVD investigation to 
determine whether manufacturers, producers, or exporters of common 
alloy sheet from the PRC receive countervailable subsidies from the 
Government of the PRC. Based on information available to the 
Department, we find that there is sufficient information to initiate a 
CVD investigation on 26 programs. For a full discussion of the basis 
for our decision to initiate on each program, see CVD Initiation Memo.
    In accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary CVD 
determination no later than 65 days after the date of this initiation.

Respondent Selection in CVD Investigation

    Following standard practice in CVD investigations, in the event the 
Department determines that the number of producers/exporters of common 
alloy sheet in the PRC is large and it cannot individually examine each 
company based upon the Department's resources, where appropriate, the 
Department intends to select respondents based on U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports of common alloy sheet 
during the POI under the appropriate HTSUS subheadings listed in the 
``Scope of the Investigations,'' in the Appendix. We intend to release 
the CBP data under APO to all parties with access to information 
protected by APO within five business days of this initiation. 
Interested parties may submit comments regarding the CBP data and 
respondent selection by 5:00 p.m. ET seven calendar days after the 
placement of the CBP data on the record of this investigation. The 
Department will not accept rebuttal comments regarding the CBP data or 
respondent selection.
    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 at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo/.
    Comments must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An 
electronically-filed document must be received successfully, in its 
entirety, by ACCESS no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the date noted above. 
If respondent selection is appropriate, we intend to

[[Page 57218]]

finalize our decisions regarding respondent selection within 20 days of 
publication of this notice.

ITC Notification

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

Preliminary Determinations by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date 
on which the ITC receives notice from the Department that an 
investigation has been initiated, whether there is a reasonable 
indication that imports of common alloy sheet from the PRC are 
materially injuring or threatening material injury to a U.S. 
industry.\29\ A negative ITC determination will result in the 
investigations being terminated; \30\ otherwise, these investigations 
will proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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    \29\ See sections 793(a) and 733(a) of the Act.
    \30\ 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)-(iv). Any party, when submitting 
factual information, must specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 
351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted \31\ 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.\32\ 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 these 
investigations.
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    \31\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \32\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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Extensions of Time Limits

    Parties may request an extension of time limits before the 
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351, 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 expires. 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 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.\33\ 
Parties are hereby reminded that revised certification requirements are 
in effect for company/government officials, as well as their 
representatives. Investigations initiated on or after August 16, 2013, 
and other segments of any AD or CVD proceedings initiated on or after 
August 16, 2013, should use the formats for the revised certifications 
provided at the end of the Final Rule.\34\ The Department intends to 
reject factual submissions if the submitting party does not comply with 
applicable revised certification requirements.
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    \33\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \34\ 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 these investigations should 
ensure that they meet the requirements of these procedures (e.g., the 
filing of letters of appearance as discussed in 19 CFR 351.103(d)).
    Under the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, numerous 
amendments to the AD and CVD laws were made.\35\ 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.\36\ 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 these AD and CVD investigations.\37\
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    \35\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Public Law 
114-27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
    \36\ 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) (Applicability Notice).
    \37\ 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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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702(a), 
732(a), and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.201(b).

    Dated: November 28, 2017.
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 Investigations

    The merchandise covered by these investigations is aluminum 
common alloy sheet (common alloy sheet), which is a flat-rolled 
aluminum product having a thickness of 6.3 mm or less, but greater 
than 0.2 mm, in coils or cut-to-length, regardless of width. Common 
alloy sheet within the scope of these investigations includes both 
not clad aluminum sheet, as well as multi-alloy, clad aluminum 
sheet. With respect to not clad aluminum sheet, common alloy sheet 
is manufactured from a 1XXX-, 3XXX-, or 5XXX-series alloy as 
designated by the Aluminum Association. With respect to multi-alloy, 
clad aluminum sheet, common alloy sheet is produced from a 3XXX-
series core, to which cladding layers are applied to either one or 
both sides of the core.
    Common alloy sheet may be made to ASTM specification B209-14, 
but can also be made to other specifications. Regardless of 
specification, however, all common alloy sheet meeting the scope 
description is included in the scope. Subject merchandise includes 
common alloy sheet that has been further processed in a third 
country, including but not limited to annealing,

[[Page 57219]]

tempering, painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or 
slitting, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove 
the merchandise from the scope of the investigations if performed in 
the country of manufacture of the common alloy sheet.
    Excluded from the scope of these investigations is aluminum can 
stock, which is suitable for use in the manufacture of aluminum 
beverage cans, lids of such cans, or tabs used to open such cans. 
Aluminum can stock is produced to gauges that range from 0.200 mm to 
0.292 mm, and has an H-19, H-41, H-48, or H-391 temper. In addition, 
aluminum can stock has a lubricant applied to the flat surfaces of 
the can stock to facilitate its movement through machines used in 
the manufacture of beverage cans. Aluminum can stock is properly 
classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) subheadings 7606.12.3045 and 7606.12.3055.
    Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is 
within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual 
measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions 
set for the above.
    Common alloy sheet is currently classifiable under HTSUS 
subheadings 7606.11.3060, 7606.11.6000, 7606.12.3090, 7606.12.6000, 
7606.91.3090, 7606.91.6080, 7606.92.3090, and 7606.92.6080. Further, 
merchandise that falls within the scope of these investigations may 
also be entered into the United States under HTSUS subheadings 
7606.11.3030, 7606.12.3030, 7606.91.3060, 7606.91.6040, 
7606.92.3060, 7606.92.6040, 7607.11.9090. Although the HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the scope of these investigations is 
dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2017-26068 Filed 12-1-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P