[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22945-22948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10546]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-932]


Certain Steel Threaded Rod From the People's Republic of China: 
Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and 
Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, in Part; 2016-
2017

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that Fastenal Canada Ltd. (Fastenal Canada) did not cooperate to the 
best of its ability and has based its margin on adverse facts available 
(AFA), and that RMB Fasteners Ltd. and IFI & Morgan Ltd. (RMB/IFI) did 
not have any reviewable transactions during the POR.

DATES: Applicable May 17, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Walker, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230; telephone: 202.482.0413.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On June 7, 2016, Commerce published the Initiation Notice of the 
eighth administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on 
steel threaded rod (STR) from China.\1\ The

[[Page 22946]]

period of review (POR) is April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2017. On 
September 26, 2017, we issued the AD questionnaire to RMB/IFI \2\ and 
Fastenal Canada.\3\ On October 5, 2017, Fastenal Canada stated it would 
not participate in this administrative review.\4\ On October 13, 2017, 
RMB/IFI indicated it would have difficulty responding to the original 
questionnaire, and provided information demonstrating that it did not 
have sales of subject merchandise to the United States during the 
POR.\5\ On January 23, 2018, Commerce exercised its discretion to toll 
all deadlines affected by the closure of the Federal Government from 
January 20 through 22, 2018.\6\ RMB/IFI responded to Commerce's 
supplemental questionnaires between February 9 and February 15, 
2018.\7\
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    \1\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews, 82 FR 26444, 26448-50 (June 7, 2017) 
(Initiation Notice).
    \2\ Commerce determined that these companies constituted a 
single entity in the investigation on steel threaded rod from China. 
See Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China: 
Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 73 FR 
58931 (October 8, 2008), unchanged in Certain Steel Threaded Rod 
from the People's Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value, 74 FR 8907 (February 27, 2009) (Final 
Determination). We have received no information in this review to 
call into question that finding.
    \3\ See Commerce's letter to Fastenal Canada, dated September 
26, 2017; Commerce's letter to RMB/IFI, dated September 26, 2017.
    \4\ See Memo to the File, dated October 21, 2017, containing the 
Letter from Fastenal Canada, dated October 5, 2017.
    \5\ See RMB/IFI's October 13, 2017, submission.
    \6\ See Memorandum for The Record from Christian Marsh, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, ``Deadlines 
Affected by the Shutdown of the Federal Government,'' dated January 
23, 2018. All deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been 
extended by 3 days.
    \7\ See RMB/IFI's February 9 and February 15, 2018, submission.
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Scope of the Order

    The merchandise covered by the order includes steel threaded rod. 
The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under subheading 
7318.15.5051, 7318.15.5056, 7318.15.5090, and 7318.15.2095 of the 
United States Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS 
subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise is dispositive.\8\
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    \8\ For a full description of the scope of the Order, see 
Memorandum from James Maeder, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
to Gary Taverman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and 
Compliance, ``Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic 
of China: Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of the 
2016-2017 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review'' (Preliminary 
Decision Memo), dated concurrently with this notice.
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Rescission of Review, In Part

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an 
administrative review, ``in whole or in part, if a party that requested 
a review withdraws the request within 90 days of the date of 
publication of notice of initiation of the requested review.'' The 
petitioner, the only interested party to request an administrative 
review of any companies, timely withdrew its review requests with 
respect to 168 companies.\9\ As such, we are rescinding the 
administrative review with respect to all companies except Jiaxing 
Brother Standard Part Co., Ltd., RMB/IFI, Brother Holding Group Co. 
Ltd., Zhejiang Morgan Brother Technology Co. Ltd., and Fastenal Canada, 
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1).
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    \9\ See Appendix II.
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No Shipments

    On July 7, 2017, RMB/IFI filed a no-shipment certification, 
indicating that it did not export subject merchandise to the United 
States during the POR. During the course of this review, Commerce 
examined this no shipments claim and provides its analysis in the 
Preliminary Decision Memo. Based on the record evidence, we 
preliminarily determine that RMB/IFI did not have any reviewable 
transactions during the POR. In addition, we find that it is 
appropriate not to rescind the review, in part, in this circumstance, 
and to complete the review with respect to the above-named company, 
issuing appropriate instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP) based on the final results of the review.\10\ Should evidence 
contrary to RMB/IFI's no-shipments claims arise, we will address the 
issue in accordance with our governing statute and regulations.
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    \10\ See Non-Market Economy Antidumping Proceedings: Assessment 
of Antidumping Duties, 76 FR 65694, 65694-65695 (October 24, 2011).
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with sections 
751(a)(1)(B) and 751(a)(2)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(the Act). With respect to Fastenal Canada, because it did not respond 
to Commerce's requests for information, we relied on facts available, 
in accordance with section 776(a) of the Act. Further, because we find 
that Fastenal Canada did not act to the best of its ability, we drew an 
adverse inference in selecting from among the facts otherwise 
available, in accordance with section 776(b) of the Act. In addition, 
because Jiaxing Brother Standard Part Co., Ltd., Brother Holding Group 
Co. Ltd. and Zhejiang Morgan Brother Technology Co. Ltd. did not submit 
a separate rate application or certification, we preliminarily find 
that these companies have not demonstrated eligibility for separate 
rates, and accordingly, we are preliminarily assigning these companies 
the China-wide entity rate of 206.00 percent. For a full description of 
the methodology underlying our preliminary conclusions, see the 
Preliminary Decision Memo.
    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of this review, see the Preliminary Decision Memo. A list of 
topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memo is included as 
Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memo is a public 
document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service 
System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov, and to all parties in the Central Records Unit, room 
B8024 of the main Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of 
the Preliminary Decision Memo can be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and the electronic versions of 
the Preliminary Decision Memo are identical in content.

Preliminary Results of Review

    Commerce preliminarily determines that a dumping margin of 206.00 
percent exists for Fastenal Canada for the period April 1, 2016, 
through March 31, 2017.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than 30 
days after the date of publication of the preliminary results, unless 
the Secretary alters the time limit. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues 
raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after 
the deadline date for case briefs.\11\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) 
and (d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this 
investigation are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A 
statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a 
table of authorities.
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    \11\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
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    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal 
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant

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Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests 
should contain the party's name, address, and telephone number, the 
number of participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, 
and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is 
made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time 
and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the 
date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled 
date.
    Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative 
review, which will include the results of our analysis of all issues 
raised in the case briefs, within 120 days of publication of these 
preliminary results in the Federal Register, pursuant to section 
751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.

Assessment Rates

    Upon issuance of the final results, Commerce will determine, and 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping 
duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review.\12\ Commerce 
intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP 15 days after the 
publication date of the final results of this review. We will instruct 
CBP to assess duties at the ad valorem margin rate published above. We 
will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate 
entries covered by this review if any assessment rate calculated in the 
final results of this review is above de minimis. In addition, for any 
exporter under review which Commerce determines had no shipments of the 
subject merchandise, any suspended entries that entered under that 
exporter's case number (i.e., at that exporter's rate) will be 
liquidated at the China-wide rate. \13\ The final results of this 
review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on 
entries of merchandise covered by the final results of this review and 
for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable. Commerce 
will assess duties only on entries of subject merchandise (i.e., 
Chinese-origin STR).
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    \12\ See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
    \13\ For a full discussion of this practice, see Non-Market 
Economy Antidumping Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 
76 FR 65694 (October 24, 2011).
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Cash Deposit Requirements

    The following cash deposit requirements will be effective upon 
publication of the final results of this administrative review for 
shipments of the subject merchandise from China entered, or withdrawn 
from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date, as 
provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) For Fastenal Canada, 
the cash deposit rate will be that established in the final results of 
this review (except, if the rate is zero or de minimis, then zero cash 
deposit will be required) and Commerce will collect cash deposits only 
on Fastenal Canada's Chinese-origin merchandise; (2) for previously 
investigated or reviewed Chinese and non-Chinese exporters not listed 
above that received a separate rate in a prior segment of this 
proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the existing 
exporter-specific rate published for the most recently completed 
period; (3) for all Chinese exporters of subject merchandise that have 
not been found to be entitled to a separate rate, the cash deposit rate 
will be the China-wide rate of 206.00 percent; and (4) for all non-
Chinese exporters of subject merchandise which have not received their 
own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate applicable to the 
Chinese exporter that supplied that non-Chinese exporter. These deposit 
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further 
notice.

Notification to Importers

    This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of 
their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate 
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation 
of the relevant entries during the POR. Failure to comply with this 
requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement 
of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double 
antidumping duties.
    These preliminary results are issued and published in accordance 
with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: May 3, 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

    List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memo:

Summary
    1. Background
    2. Scope of the Order
Discussion of the Methodology
    1. Partial Rescission
    2. Facts Otherwise Available
    3. No Shipments
    4. NME Country Status
    5. Separate Rates
    6. Companies Considered as Part of the China-Wide Entity
    Recommendation

Appendix II

    The 168 Companies for which Commerce is rescinding the review:

1. Aerospace Precision Corp. (Shanghai) Industry Co., Ltd.
2. Aihua Holding Group Co. Ltd.
3. Autocraft Industry Ltd.
4. Autocraft Industry (Shanghai) Ltd.
5. Billion Land Ltd.
6. Billion Technology Ltd.
7. Bolt Mfg. Trade Ltd.
8. Billiongold Hardware Co. Ltd.
9. Brighton Best International (Taiwan) Inc.
10. C and H International Corporation
11. Catic Fujian Co., Ltd.
12. Cci International Ltd.
13. Century Distribution Systems Inc.
14. Certified Products International Inc.
15. Changshu City Standard Parts Factory
16. China Friendly Nation Hardware Technology Limited
17. D.M.D. International Co. Ltd.
18. Da Cheng Hardware Products Co., Ltd.
19. Dalian Xingxin Steel Fabrication
20. Dongxiang Accuracy Hardware Co., Ltd.
21. Ec International (Nantong) Co., Ltd
22. Fastco (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd.
23. Fasten International Co., Ltd.
24. Fastwell Industry Co. Ltd.
25. Fook Shing Bolts & Nuts Co. Ltd.
26. Fuda Xiongzhen Machinery Co., Ltd.
27. Fuller Shanghai Co. Ltd.
28. Gem-Year Industrial Co. Ltd.
29. Guangdong Honjinn Metal & Plastic Co., Ltd.
30. Hainan Zhongyan United Development Co.
31. Haining Hifasters Industrial Co.
32. Haining Shende Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd.
33. Hainan Zhongda Fastener Co., Ltd.
34. Haiyan Ai&Lun Standard Fastener Co.
35. Haiyan Chaoqiang Standard Fastener
36. Haiyan Dayu Fasterners Co., Ltd.
37. Haiyan Evergreen Standard Parts Co. Ltd.
38. Haiyan Fuxin High Strength Fastener
39. Haiyan Hatehui Machinery Hardware
40. Haiyan Hurras Import & Export Co. Ltd.
41. Haiyan Jianhe Hardward Co. Ltd.
42. Haiyan Julong Standard Part Co. Ltd.
43. Haiyan Shangchen Imp. & Exp. Co.
44. Haiyan Yuxing Nuts Co. Ltd.
45. Hangzhou Everbright Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd.
46. Hangzhou Grand Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
47. Hangzhou Great Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd.
48. Hangzhou Lizhan Hardware Co. Ltd.
49. Hangzhou Prostar Enterprises Ltd.
50. Hangzhou Tongwang Machinery Co., Ltd.
51. Hilti (China) Ltd.
52. Hong Kong Sunrise Fasteners Co. Ltd.
53. Hong Kong Yichen Co. Ltd.
54. Honoble Precision (China) Mfg.
55. Intech Industries Shanghai Co., Ltd.
56. Jiangsu Innovo Precision Machinery
57. Jiangsu Jinhuan Fastener Co., Ltd.
58. Jiangsu Zhongweiyu Communication Equipment Co. Ltd.

[[Page 22948]]

59. Jiashan Steelfit Trading Co. Ltd.
60. Jiashan Zhongsheng Metal Products Co., Ltd.
61. Jiaxing Allywin Mfg. Co., Ltd.
62. Jiaxing Chinafar Standard
63. Jiaxing Sini Fastener Co., Ltd.
64. Jiaxing Jinhow Import & Export Co., Ltd.
65. Jiaxing Xinyue Standard Part Co. Ltd.
66. Jiaxing Yaoliang Import & Export Co. Ltd.
67. Jinan Banghe Industry & Trade Co., Ltd.
68. Kinfast Hardware (Shenzhen) Ltd.
69. King Socket Screw Company Ltd.
70. L&W Fasteners Company
71. Macropower Industrial Inc.
72. Mai Seng International Trading Co., Ltd.
73. MB Services Company
74. Midas Union Co., Ltd.
75. Nanjing Prosper Import & Export Corporation Ltd.
76. Nantong Runyou Metal Products
77. New Pole Power System Co. Ltd.
78. Ningbo Abc Fasteners Co., Ltd.
79. Ningbiao Bolts & Nuts Manufacturing Co.
80. Ningbo Beilun Milfast Metalworks Co. Ltd.
81. Ningbo Beilun Pingxin Hardware Co., Ltd.
82. Ningbo Dexin Fastener Co. Ltd.
83. Ningbo Dongxin High-Strength Nut Co., Ltd.
84. Ningbo Exact Fasteners Co., Ltd.
85. Ningbo Fastener Factory
86. Ningbo Fengya Imp. and Exp. Co. Ltd.
87. Ningbo Fourway Co., Ltd.
88. Ningbo Haishu Holy Hardware Import and Export Co. Ltd.
89. Ningbo Haishu Wit Import & Export Co. Ltd.
90. Ningbo Haishu Yixie Import & Export Co. Ltd.
91. Ningbo Jinding Fastening Piece Co., Ltd.
92. Ningbo MPF Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
93. Ningbo Panxiang Imp. & Exp., Co. Ltd.
94. Ningbo Seduno Imp. Exp. Co., Ltd.
95. Ningbo Qianjiu Instrument Case Factory
96. Ningbo Yili Import & Export Co., Ltd.
97. Ningbo Yinzhou Dongxiang Accuracy Hardware Co., Ltd.
98. Ningbo Yinzhou Foreign Trade Co., Ltd.
99. Ningbo Yinzhou Woafan Industry &Trade Co., Ltd.
100. Ningbo Zhenhai Beisuda Equipment Co.
101. Ningbo Zhenhai Jinhuan Fasteners
102. Ningbo Zhenghai Yongding Fastener Co., Ltd.
103. Ningbo Zhenhai Dingli Fastener Screw Co., Ltd.
104. Ningbo Zhongjiang High Strength Bolts Co. Ltd.
105. Ningbo Zhongjiang Petroleum Pipes & Machinery Co., Ltd.
106. Orient International Holding Shanghai Rongheng Intl Trading Co. 
Ltd.
107. Orient Rider Corporation Ltd.
108. Pol Shin Fastener (Zhejiang) Co.
109. Prosper Business and Industry Co., Ltd.
110. Qingdao Free Trade Zone Health Intl.
111. Qingdao Top Steel Industrial Co. Ltd.
112. Sampulse Industrial Co., Ltd.
113. Shaanxi Succeed Trading Co., Ltd.
114. Shanghai Autocraft Co., Ltd.
115. Shanghai Beitra Fasteners Co., Ltd.
116. Shanghai E-Heng Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd.
117. Shanghai East Best Foreign Trade Co.
118. Shanghai East Best International Business Development Co., Ltd.
119. Shanghai Fortune International Co. Ltd.
120. Shanghai Furen International Trading
121. Shanghai Hunan Foreign Economic Co., Ltd.
122. Shanghai Jiabao Trade Development Co. Ltd.
123. Shanghai Nanshi Foreign Economic Co.
124. Shanghai Overseas International Trading Co. Ltd.
125. Shanghai Prime Machinery Co. Ltd.
126. Shanghai Printing & Dyeing and Knitting Mill.
127. Shanghai Printing & Packaging Machinery Corp
128. Shanghai Recky International Trading Co., Ltd.
129. Shanghai Sinotex United Corp. Ltd.
130. Shanghai Strong Hardware Co. Li
131. Shanghai Wisechain Fasteners Ltd.
132. Shenzhen Fenda Technology Co., Ltd.
133. Shenzhen Haozhenghao Technology Co.
134. Shijianzhuang Huitongxiang Li Trade
135. Soyoung Industrial Co., Ltd.
136. SRC Metal (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
137. Suntec Industries Co., Ltd.
138. Suzhou Henry International Trading Co., Ltd.
139. T and C Fastener Co. Ltd.
140. T and L Industry Co. Ltd.
141. Taizhou Maixing Machinery Co.
142. Telsto Development Co., Ltd.
143. The Hoffman Group International
144. Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone
145. Tianjin Star International Trade Co., Ltd.
146. Tong Ming Entreprise Co., Ltd.
147. Tong Win International Co., Ltd.
148. Tri Steel Co., Ltd.
149. Wisechain Trading Limited
150. Wuxi Metec Metal Co. Ltd.
151. Xiamen Hua Min Imp. and Exp. Ltd.
152. Xiamen Rongxinda Industry Co., Ltd.
153. Xiamen Yuhui Import & Export Co., Ltd.
154. Yogendra International
155. Yuyao Hualun Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
156. Zhangjiagang Ever Faith Industry Co.
157. Zhejiang Heirrmu Mechanical and Electrical Equipment 
Manufacturing Co Ltd.
158. Zhejiang Heiter Industries Co., Ltd.
159. Zhejiang Heiter Mfg & Trade Co. Ltd.
160. Zhejiang Jin Zeen Fasteners Co. Ltd.
161. Zhejiang Junyue Standard Part Co., Ltd.
162. Zhejiang Laibao Precision Technology Co. Ltd.
163. Zhejiang Metals & Minerals Imp & Exp Co. Ltd.
164. Zhejiang New Century Imp & Exp Co. Ltd.
165. Zhejiang New Oriental Fastener Co., Ltd.
166. Zhejiang Zhenglian Industry Development Co., Ltd.
167. Zhongsheng Metal Co., Ltd.
168. Zhoushan Zhengyuan Standard Parts Co., Ltd.

[FR Doc. 2018-10546 Filed 5-16-18; 8:45 am]
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