[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22618-22622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10532]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-085]


Certain Quartz Surface Products From the People's Republic of 
China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable May 7, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darla Brown at (202) 482-1791, Joshua 
Tucker at (202) 482-2044, or Terre Keaton Stefanova at (202) 482-1280, 
AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

    On April 17, 2018, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
received a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of 
certain quartz surface products (quartz surface products) from the 
People's Republic of China (China), filed in proper form on behalf of 
Cambria Company LLC (the petitioner).\1\ The CVD Petition was 
accompanied by an antidumping duty (AD) Petition concerning imports of 
quartz surface products China. The petitioner is a domestic producer of 
quartz surface products.\2\
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    \1\ See the petitioner's Letter, ``Petitions for the Imposition 
of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties: Certain Quartz Surface 
Products from the People's Republic of China,'' dated April 17, 2018 
(the Petition).
    \2\ Id. at Volume I of the Petition at I-2.
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    On April 20, 2018, Commerce requested supplemental information

[[Page 22619]]

pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition. The petitioner filed 
additional information on April 24, 2018.\3\ On May 1, 2018, Commerce 
requested that the petitioner clarify the scope of the Petition, and in 
response, the petitioner submitted certain revisions to the scope.\4\ 
On May 1, 2018, we received comments on industry support and a polling 
request from M S International, Inc. (MSI), a U.S. importer.\5\ On May 
3, 2018, the petitioner provided a response to MSI's comments on 
industry support.\6\ On May 4, 2018, MSI submitted comments on the 
petitioner's Industry Support Supplement.\7\
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    \3\ See the petitioner's Letter, ``Certain Quartz Surface 
Products from the People's Republic of China: Response to 
Supplemental Questions--General Issues,'' dated April 24, 2018 
(General Issues Supplement). See also Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain 
Quartz Surface Products from the People's Republic of China: 
Response to Supplemental Questions--Countervailing Duties,'' dated 
April 24, 2018.
    \4\ See the petitioner's Letter, ``Certain Quartz Surface 
Products from the People's Republic of China: Response to 
Supplemental Questions re: Scope,'' dated May 1, 2018.
    \5\ See letter from M S International, Inc., ``Quartz Surface 
Products from the People's Republic of China: Comments on the Lack 
of Standing of the Petitioner and Requests for Action,'' dated May 
1, 2018 (M S International Standing Challenge).
    \6\ See the petitioner's letter, ``Certain Quartz Surface 
Products from the People's Republic of China: Petitioner's Response 
to MSI's Comments on Standing,'' dated May 3, 2018 (Industry Support 
Supplement).
    \7\ letter from M S International, Inc., ``Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Investigations of Quartz Surface Products from 
the People's Republic of China: Reply to Petitioner's Comments on 
Lack of Standing,'' dated May 4, 2018 (Second M S International 
Standing Challenge).
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    In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), the petitioner alleges that the Government of China 
(GOC) is providing countervailable subsidies, within the meaning of 
sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, to producers of quartz surface 
products in China and imports of such products are materially injuring, 
or threatening material injury to, the domestic quartz surface products 
industry in the United States. Consistent with section 702(b)(1) of the 
Act and 19 CFR 351.202(b), for those alleged programs on which we are 
initiating a CVD investigation, the Petition is accompanied by 
information reasonably available to the petitioner supporting its 
allegations.
    Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of 
the domestic industry because the petitioner is an interested party as 
defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. Commerce also finds that the 
petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support necessary for the 
initiation of the requested CVD investigation.\8\
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    \8\ See ``Determination of Industry Support for the Petition'' 
section, infra.
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Period of Investigation

    Because the Petition was filed on April 17, 2018, the period of 
investigation is January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017.

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are quartz surface 
products from China. For a full description of the scope of this 
investigation, see the Appendix to this notice.

Scope Comments

    During our review of the Petition, Commerce issued questions to, 
and received responses from, the petitioner pertaining to the proposed 
scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petition is an accurate 
reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking 
relief.\9\ As a result of these exchanges, the scope of the Petition 
was modified to clarify the description of merchandise covered by the 
Petition. The description of the merchandise covered by this 
initiation, as described in the Appendix to this notice, reflects these 
clarifications.
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    \9\ See General Issues Supplement, at 3-5.
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    As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are 
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding 
product coverage (scope).\10\ Commerce will consider all comments 
received from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with 
interested parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary 
determination. If scope comments include factual information,\11\ all 
such factual information should be limited to public information. To 
facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests that 
all interested parties submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time 
(ET) on May 29, 2018, which is the next business day after 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 
June 8, 2018, which is 10 calendar days from the initial comments 
deadline.\12\
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    \10\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
    \11\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual 
information'').
    \12\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b).
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    Commerce requests that any factual information parties consider 
relevant to the scope of the investigation be submitted during this 
period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual 
information pertaining to the scope of the investigation may be 
relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to 
submit the additional information. All such submissions must be filed 
on the records of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using 
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS).\13\ An electronically 
filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the 
time and date it is due. Documents exempted from the electronic 
submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) 
with Enforcement and 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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    \13\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order 
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011). See also Enforcement and 
Compliance: Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 
(November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing 
requirements, which went into effect on August 5, 2011. Information 
on help using ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx, and a handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf.
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Consultations

    Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Act, Commerce 
notified representatives of the GOC of the receipt of the Petition and 
provided them the opportunity for consultations with respect to the 
Petition.\14\ The GOC did not request consultations.
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    \14\ See Letter from Commerce, ``Countervailing Duty Petition on 
Certain Quartz Surface Products from the People's Republic of 
China,'' dated April 18, 2018.
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act 
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic 
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) At least 
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and 
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like 
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing

[[Page 22620]]

support for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 
702(c)(4)(D) of the Act provides that, if the petition does not 
establish support of domestic producers or workers accounting for more 
than 50 percent of the total production of the domestic like product, 
Commerce shall: (i) Poll the industry or rely on other information in 
order to determine if there is support for the petition, as required by 
subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine industry support using a 
statistically valid sampling method to poll the ``industry.''
    Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the 
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine 
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute 
directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the 
domestic like product. The International Trade Commission (ITC), which 
is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' has 
been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like 
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the 
ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic 
like product,\15\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a 
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination 
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may 
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences 
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\16\
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    \15\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
    \16\ 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 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.\17\ Based on our analysis of the information 
submitted on the record, we have determined that quartz surface 
products, 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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    \17\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 13.
    \18\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as 
applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see 
Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Certain 
Quartz Surface Products from the People's Republic of China 
(Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry 
Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions 
Covering Certain Quartz Surface Products 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 
702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data 
contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like product 
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the Appendix to 
this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioner provided its 
own production of the domestic like product in 2017 and compared this 
to the estimated total production of the domestic like product for the 
entire domestic industry.\19\ We relied on data the petitioner provided 
for purposes of measuring industry support.\20\
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    \19\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 3 and Exhibit I-3; see 
also General Issues Supplement, at 13-14 and Exhibit 15.
    \20\ Id. at 3 and Exhibit I-3; see also General Issues 
Supplement, at 13-14 and Exhibit 15; see also Industry Support 
Supplement, at 3 and Exhibit 1. For further discussion, see 
Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
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    In a letter dated May 1, 2018, MSI, a U.S. importer, submitted 
comments on industry support and requested that Commerce poll the 
industry to determine industry support.\21\ The petitioner responded to 
these comments in the Industry Support Supplement, dated May 3, 2018. 
In a letter dated May 4, 2018, MSI submitted comments on the 
petitioner's Industry Support Supplement.\22\ For further discussion of 
these comments, see Attachment II of the Initiation Checklist.
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    \21\ See M S International Standing Challenge.
    \22\ See Second M S International Standing Challenge.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, the General Issues 
Supplement, Industry Support Supplement, and other information readily 
available to Commerce indicates that the petitioner has established 
industry support for the Petition.\23\ First, the Petition established 
support from domestic producers (or workers) accounting for more than 
50 percent of the total production of the domestic like product and, as 
such, Commerce is not required to take further action in order to 
evaluate industry support (e.g., polling).\24\ Second, the domestic 
producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry 
support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the domestic 
producers (or workers) who support the Petition account for at least 25 
percent of the total production of the domestic like product.\25\ 
Finally, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory 
criteria for industry support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act 
because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the Petition 
account for more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like 
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support 
for, or opposition to, the Petition.\26\ Accordingly, Commerce 
determines that the Petition was filed on behalf of the domestic 
industry within the meaning of section 702(b)(1) of the Act.
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    \23\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 3 and Exhibit I-3; see 
also General Issues Supplement at 13-14 and Exhibit 15; see also 
Industry Support Supplement at 3 and Exhibit 1. For further 
discussion, see Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
    \24\ Id.; see also section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act.
    \25\ See Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
    \26\ Id.
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    Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of 
the domestic industry because it is an interested party as defined in 
section 771(9)(C) of the Act, and it has demonstrated sufficient 
industry support with respect to the CVD investigation that it is 
requesting that Commerce initiate.\27\
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    \27\ Id.
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Injury Test

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

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioner alleges that imports of the subject merchandise are 
benefitting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are 
causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry 
producing the domestic like product. In addition, the petitioner 
alleges that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold 
provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\28\
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    \28\ See General Issues Supplement, at 14-15 and Exhibit 16.
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    The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by a significant and increasing volume of subject imports; 
reduced market share; underselling and

[[Page 22621]]

price depression or suppression; lost sales and lost revenues; negative 
effects on the existing product development and production efforts of 
the domestic industry; and negative impact on the domestic industry's 
financial and operating indicators, such as sales, profits, return on 
investment, cash flow, capacity utilization, and employment.\29\ 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.\30\
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    \29\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 10-30 and Exhibits I-3 and 
I-9 through I-19; see also General Issues Supplement, at 14-15 and 
Exhibits 16 through 18.
    \30\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment III, Analysis of 
Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation for the 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Certain 
Quartz Surface Products from the People's Republic of China.
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Initiation of CVD Investigation

    Based on the examination of the Petition, we find that the Petition 
meets the requirements of section 702 of the Act. Therefore, we are 
initiating a CVD investigation to determine whether imports of quartz 
surface products from China benefit from countervailable subsidies 
conferred by the GOC. In accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our 
preliminary determination no later than 65 days after the date of this 
initiation.
    Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is 
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on all but four 
of the alleged subsidy programs. For a full discussion of the basis for 
our decision to initiate on each program, see Initiation Checklist. A 
public version of the initiation checklist for this investigation is 
available on ACCESS.

Respondent Selection

    The petitioner named 301 companies \31\ as producers/exporters of 
quartz surface products in China. Commerce intends to follow its 
standard practice in CVD investigations and calculate company-specific 
subsidy rates in this investigation. In the event Commerce determines 
that the number of companies is large and it cannot individually 
examine each company based upon Commerce's resources, where 
appropriate, Commerce intends to select mandatory respondents based
on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports of 
quartz surface products from China during the POI under the appropriate 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States number listed in the 
``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the Appendix.
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    \31\ See Volume I of the Petition, at Exhibit I-8.
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    On May 1, 2018, Commerce released CBP data under Administrative 
Protective Order (APO) to all parties with access to information 
protected by APO and indicated that interested parties wishing to 
comment regarding the CBP data and respondent selection must do so 
within three business days of the publication date of the notice of 
initiation of this CVD investigation.\32\ Commerce will not accept 
rebuttal comments regarding the CBP data or respondent selection.
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    \32\ See Memorandum, ``Certain Quartz Surface Products from the 
People's Republic of China Countervailing Duty Petition: Release of 
Customs Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection,'' dated May 1, 
2018.
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    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such 
applications may be found on Commerce's website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo.
    Comments 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. 
We intend to finalize our decisions regarding respondent selection 
within 20 days of publication of this notice.

Distribution of Copies of the Petition

    In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), copies of the public versions of the Petition have been 
provided to the GOC 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 
702(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determinations 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 quartz surface products from China are 
materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S. 
industry.\33\ A negative ITC determination will result in the 
investigation being terminated.\34\ Otherwise, this investigation will 
proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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    \33\ See section 703(a)(2) of the Act.
    \34\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
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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 Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual 
information described in (i)-(iv). When submitting factual information, 
19 CFR 351.301(b) requires any party to specify under which subsection 
of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted \35\ 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.\36\ 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 this 
investigation.
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    \35\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \36\ 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 351.301, 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. 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

[[Page 22622]]

untimely-filed requests for the extension of time limits. Parties 
should 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.\37\ 
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 
351.303(g).\38\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the 
submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification 
requirements.
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    \37\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \38\ 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 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On January 22, 2008, Commerce 
published Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Documents 
Submission Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 22, 2008). 
Parties wishing to participate in this investigation should ensure that 
they meet the requirements of these procedures (e.g., the filing of 
letters of appearance as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)).
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and 
777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

    Dated: May 7, 2018.
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 I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by the investigation is certain quartz 
surface products.\39\ Quartz surface products consist of slabs and 
other surfaces created from a mixture of materials that includes 
predominately silica (e.g., quartz, quartz powder, cristobalite) as 
well as a resin binder (e.g., an unsaturated polyester). The 
incorporation of other materials, including, but not limited to, 
pigments, cement, or other additives does not remove the merchandise 
from the scope of the investigation. However, the scope of the 
investigation only includes products where the silica content is 
greater than any other single material, by actual weight. Quartz 
surface products are typically sold as rectangular slabs with a 
total surface area of approximately 45 to 60 square feet and a 
nominal thickness of one, two, or three centimeters. However, the 
scope of this investigation includes surface products of all other 
sizes, thicknesses, and shapes. In addition to slabs, the scope of 
this investigation includes, but is not limited to, other surfaces 
such as countertops, backsplashes, vanity tops, bar tops, work tops, 
tabletops, flooring, wall facing, shower surrounds, fire place 
surrounds, mantels, and tiles. Certain quartz surface products are 
covered by the investigation whether polished or unpolished, cut or 
uncut, fabricated or not fabricated, cured or uncured, edged or not 
edged, finished or unfinished, thermoformed or not thermoformed, 
packaged or unpackaged, and regardless of the type of surface 
finish.
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    \39\ Quartz surface products may also generally be referred to 
as engineered stone or quartz, artificial stone or quartz, 
agglomerated stone or quartz, synthetic stone or quartz, processed 
stone or quartz, manufactured stone or quartz, and 
Bretonstone[supreg].
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    In addition, quartz surface products are covered by the 
investigation whether or not they are imported attached to, or in 
conjunction with, non-subject merchandise such as sinks, sink bowls, 
vanities, cabinets, and furniture. If quartz surface products are 
imported attached to, or in conjunction with, such non-subject 
merchandise, only the quartz surface product is covered by the 
scope.
    Subject merchandise includes material matching the above 
description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise 
fabricated in a third country, including by cutting, polishing, 
curing, edging, thermoforming, attaching to, or packaging with 
another product, or any other finishing, packaging, or fabrication 
that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of 
the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the 
quartz surface products.
    The scope of the investigation does not cover quarried stone 
surface products, such as granite, marble, soapstone, or quartzite. 
Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigation are 
crushed glass surface products. Crushed glass surface products are 
surface products in which the crushed glass content is greater than 
any other single material, by actual weight.
    The products subject to the scope are currently classified in 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under 
the following subheading: 6810.99.0010. Subject merchandise may also 
enter under subheadings 6810.11.0010, 6810.11.0070, 6810.19.1200, 
6810.19.1400, 6810.19.5000, 6810.91.0000, 6810.99.0080, 
6815.99.4070, 2506.10.0010, 2506.10.0050, 2506.20.0010, 
2506.20.0080. The HTSUS subheadings set forth above are provided for 
convenience and U.S. Customs purposes only. The written description 
of the scope is dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2018-10532 Filed 5-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P