[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5143-5144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02176]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-598-600 and 731-TA-1408-1410 (Preliminary)]


Rubber Bands From China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand; Institution of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations and Scheduling of 
Preliminary Phase Investigations

AGENCY:  United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY:  The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of 
investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping and 
countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-598-600 and 731-TA-1408-
1410 (Preliminary) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') to 
determine whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in 
the United States is materially injured or threatened with material 
injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is 
materially retarded, by reason of imports of rubber bands from China, 
Sri Lanka, and Thailand, provided for in subheading 4016.99.35 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be 
sold in the United States at less than fair value and alleged to be 
subsidized by the Governments of China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Unless 
the Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation, the 
Commission must reach preliminary determinations in antidumping and 
countervailing duty investigations in 45 days, or in this case by March 
16, 2018. The Commission's views must be transmitted to Commerce within 
five business days thereafter, or by March 23, 2018.

DATES:  January 30, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mary Messer (202-205-3193) or Amanda 
Lawrence (202-205-3185), Office of Investigations, U.S. International 
Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-
impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting 
the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. 
General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by 
accessing its internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public 
record for these investigations may be viewed on the Commission's 
electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background.--These investigations are being instituted, pursuant to 
sections 703(a) and 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1671b(a) and 1673b(a)), in response to petitions filed on January 30, 
2018, by Alliance Rubber Co., Hot Springs, Arkansas.
    For further information concerning the conduct of these 
investigations and rules of general application, consult the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A and 
B

[[Page 5144]]

(19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in sections 201.11 and 207.10 
of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users and (if the 
merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level) 
representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as 
parties in Commission antidumping duty and countervailing duty 
investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list 
containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their 
representatives, who are parties to these investigations upon the 
expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to section 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in these investigations available to authorized 
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO issued in 
the investigations, provided that the application is made not later 
than seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary 
for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Conference.--The Commission's Director of Investigations has 
scheduled a conference in connection with these investigations for 9:30 
a.m. on February 20, 2018, at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. Requests to appear at the 
conference should be emailed to [email protected] (DO 
NOT FILE ON EDIS) on or before February 15, 2018. Parties in support of 
the imposition of countervailing and antidumping duties in these 
investigations and parties in opposition to the imposition of such 
duties will each be collectively allocated one hour within which to 
make an oral presentation at the conference. A nonparty who has 
testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request 
permission to present a short statement at the conference.
    Written submissions.--As provided in sections 201.8 and 207.15 of 
the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or 
before February 23, 2018, a written brief containing information and 
arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigations. 
Parties may file written testimony in connection with their 
presentation at the conference. All written submissions must conform 
with the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any 
submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the requirements of 
sections 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's rules. The 
Commission's Handbook on E-Filing, available on the Commission's 
website at https://edis.usitc.gov, elaborates upon the Commission's 
rules with respect to electronic filing.
    In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, each 
document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on all 
other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the public 
or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely 
filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a 
certificate of service.
    Certification.--Pursuant to section 207.3 of the Commission's 
rules, any person submitting information to the Commission in 
connection with these investigations must certify that the information 
is accurate and complete to the best of the submitter's knowledge. In 
making the certification, the submitter will acknowledge that any 
information that it submits to the Commission during these 
investigations may be disclosed to and used: (i) By the Commission, its 
employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or 
maintaining the records of these or related investigations or reviews, 
or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations 
relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission 
including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government 
employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. 
All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.

    Authority:  These investigations are being conducted under 
authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is 
published pursuant to section 207.12 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

     Issued: January 30, 2018.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2018-02176 Filed 2-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P