[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 56 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 12594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05834]


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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; Determinations

    On the basis of the record \1\ developed in the subject 
investigations, the United States International Trade Commission 
(``Commission'') determines, pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the 
Act''), that there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the 
United States is threatened with material injury by reason of imports 
of rubber bands from China and Thailand provided for in subheadings 
4016.99.35 and 4016.99.60 (statistical reporting numbers 4016.99.3510 
and 4016.99.6050) of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than 
fair value (``LTFV'') and to be subsidized by the governments of China 
and Thailand. The Commission further determines that imports of rubber 
bands from Sri Lanka that are alleged to be sold in the United States 
at LTFV and to be subsidized by the government of Sri Lanka are 
negligible pursuant to section 771(24) of the Act, and its antidumping 
and countervailing duty investigations with regard to rubber bands from 
this country are thereby terminated pursuant to section 703(a)(1) of 
the Act.
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    \1\ The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 207.2(f)).
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Commencement of Final Phase Investigations

    Pursuant to section 207.18 of the Commission's rules, the 
Commission also gives notice of the commencement of the final phase of 
its investigations regarding imports of rubber bands from China and 
Thailand. The Commission will issue a final phase notice of scheduling, 
which will be published in the Federal Register as provided in section 
207.21 of the Commission's rules, upon notice from the U.S. Department 
of Commerce (``Commerce'') of affirmative preliminary determinations in 
the investigations under sections 703(b) or 733(b) of the Act, or, if 
the preliminary determinations are negative, upon notice of affirmative 
final determinations in those investigations under sections 705(a) or 
735(a) of the Act. Parties that filed entries of appearance in the 
preliminary phase of the investigations need not enter a separate 
appearance for the final phase of the investigations. 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 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 the investigations.

Background

    On January 30, 2018, Alliance Rubber Co., Hot Springs, Arkansas 
filed petitions with the Commission and Commerce, alleging that an 
industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with 
material injury by reason of LTFV and subsidized imports of rubber 
bands from China, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Accordingly, effective 
January 30, 2018, the Commission, pursuant to sections 703(a) and 
733(a) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a) and 1673b(a)), instituted 
countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-598-600 and antidumping 
duty investigation Nos. 731-TA-1408-1410 (Preliminary).
    Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigations and of 
a public conference to be held in connection therewith was given by 
posting copies of the notice in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by publishing the 
notice in the Federal Register of February 5, 2018 (83 FR 5143). The 
conference was held in Washington, DC, on February 20, 2018, and all 
persons who requested the opportunity were permitted to appear in 
person or by counsel.
    The Commission made these determinations pursuant to sections 
703(a) and 733(a) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a) and 1673b(a)). It 
completed and filed its determinations in these investigations on March 
19, 2018.\2\ The views of the Commission are contained in USITC 
Publication 4770 (March 2018), entitled Rubber Bands from China, Sri 
Lanka, and Thailand: Investigation Nos. 701-TA-598-600 and 731-TA-1408-
1410 (Preliminary).
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    \2\ Due to the Federal government weather-related closure on 
March 2, 2018, these investigations have been tolled by one day 
pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1671b(a)(2), 1673b(a)(2).

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    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: March 19, 2018.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2018-05834 Filed 3-21-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P