[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 180 (Monday, September 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46969-46971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20086]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

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


Rubber Bands From China and Thailand; Scheduling of the Final 
Phase of Countervailing Duty and Anti-Dumping Duty Investigations

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the 
final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 
701-TA-598 and 600 and 731-TA-1408 and 1410 (Final) pursuant to the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') to determine whether 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

[[Page 46970]]

reason of imports of rubber bands from China and Thailand, provided for 
in subheading 4016.99.35 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States, preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce 
(``Commerce'') to be subsidized and sold at less-than-fair-value.

DATES: August 29, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher W. Robinson (202) 205-
2542), 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: 
    Scope.-- For purposes of these investigations, Commerce has defined 
the subject merchandise as ``. . . bands made of vulcanized rubber, 
with a flat length, as actually measured end-to-end by the band lying 
flat, no less than \1/2\ inch and no greater than 10 inches; with a 
width, which measures the dimension perpendicular to the length, 
actually of at least 3/64 inch and no greater than 2 inches; and a wall 
thickness actually from 0.020 inch to 0.125 inch. Vulcanized rubber has 
been chemically processed into a more durable material by the addition 
of sulfur or other equivalent curatives or accelerators. Subject 
products are included regardless of color or inclusion of printed 
material on the rubber band's surface, including but not limited to, 
rubber bands with printing on them, such as a product name, 
advertising, or slogan, and printed material (e.g., a tag) fastened to 
the rubber band by an adhesive or another temporary type of connection. 
The scope includes vulcanized rubber bands which are contained or 
otherwise exist in various forms and packages, such as, without 
limitation, vulcanized rubber bands included within a desk accessory 
set or other type of set or package, and vulcanized rubber band balls. 
The scope excludes products that consist of an elastomer loop and 
durable tag all-in-one, and bands that are being used at the time of 
import to fasten an imported product. Excluded from the scope of this 
investigation are vulcanized rubber bands of various sizes with arrow 
shaped rubber protrusions from the outer diameter that exceeds at the 
anchor point a wall thickness of 0.125 inches and where the protrusion 
is used to loop around, secure and lock in place. Excluded from the 
scope of this investigation are yarn/fabric-covered vulcanized rubber 
hair bands, regardless of size.''
    Background.--The final phase of these investigations is being 
scheduled pursuant to sections 705(b) and 731(b) of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671d(b) and 1673d(b)), as a result of affirmative 
preliminary determinations by Commerce that certain benefits which 
constitute subsidies within the meaning of section 703 of the Act (19 
U.S.C. 1671b) are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or 
exporters in China and Thailand of rubber bands, and that such products 
are being sold in the United States at less than fair value within the 
meaning of section 733 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673b). The investigations 
were requested in petitions filed on January 30, 2018, by Alliance 
Rubber Co., Hot Springs, Arkansas.
    For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the 
investigations, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, 
consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, 
subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and C (19 
CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if 
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of these 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in section 201.11 of the 
Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date 
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance 
during the preliminary phase of the investigations need not file an 
additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary 
will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses 
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the 
investigations.
    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 the final phase of these investigations 
available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the 
investigations, provided that the application is made no later than 21 
days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized 
applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9), who are parties to the investigations. A party granted access 
to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not reapply 
for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the 
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Staff report.--The prehearing staff report in the final phase of 
these investigations will be placed in the nonpublic record on October 
30, 2018, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to 
section 207.22 of the Commission's rules.
    Hearing.--The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the 
final phase of these investigations beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 
November 13, 2018, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. 
Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the 
Secretary to the Commission on or before November 7, 2018. A nonparty 
who has testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may 
request permission to present a short statement at the hearing. All 
parties and nonparties desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral 
presentations should participate in a prehearing conference to be held 
on November 9, 2018, at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building, if deemed necessary. Oral testimony and written materials to 
be submitted at the public hearing are governed by sections 
201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties 
must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony 
in camera no later than 7 business days prior to the date of the 
hearing.
    Written submissions.--Each party who is an interested party shall 
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must 
conform with the provisions of section 207.23 of the Commission's 
rules; the deadline for filing is November 6, 2018. Parties may also 
file written testimony in connection with their presentation at the 
hearing, as provided in section 207.24 of the Commission's rules, and 
posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of section 
207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for filing posthearing 
briefs is November 20, 2018. In addition, any person who has not 
entered an appearance as a party to the investigations may submit a 
written statement of information pertinent to the subject of the 
investigations,

[[Page 46971]]

including statements of support or opposition to the petition, on or 
before November 20, 2018. On December 7, 2018, the Commission will make 
available to parties all information on which they have not had an 
opportunity to comment. Parties may submit final comments on this 
information on or before December 11, 2018, but such final comments 
must not contain new factual information and must otherwise comply with 
section 207.30 of the Commission's rules. 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.
    Additional written submissions to the Commission, including 
requests pursuant to section 201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall 
not be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such 
submissions, or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request 
by a Commissioner or Commission staff.
    In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the Commission's 
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.

    Authority: These investigations are being conducted under 
authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is 
published pursuant to section 207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: September 11, 2018.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2018-20086 Filed 9-14-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P