[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 4, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47181-47185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17067]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-552-831]


Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and Tube From the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

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


DATES: Applicable July 20, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariela Garvett or Maisha Cryor; AD/CVD 
Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3609 or (202) 482-5831, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

    On June 30, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) received an 
antidumping duty (AD) petition concerning imports of seamless refined 
copper pipe and tube (copper pipe and tube) from the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam (Vietnam) filed in proper form on behalf of the 
petitioners,\1\ domestic producers of copper pipe and tube.\2\
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    \1\ The petitioners are the American Copper Tube Coalition and 
its constituent members (collectively, the petitioners). The members 
of the American Copper Tube Coalition are: Mueller Copper Tube 
Products, Inc., Mueller Copper Tube West Co., Mueller Copper Tube 
Company, Inc., Howell Metal Company, and Linesets, Inc. 
(collectively, Mueller Group), and Cerro Flow Products, LLC.
    \2\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and 
Tube from Vietnam: Antidumping Duty Petition,'' dated June 30, 2020 
(the Petition).
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    On July 6, 2020, Commerce requested supplemental information 
pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition in a supplemental 
questionnaire.\3\ On July 9, 2020, the petitioners filed a response to 
the supplemental questionnaire.\4\
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    \3\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Petition for the Imposition of 
Antidumping Duties on Imports of Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and 
Tube from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated July 6, 2020 (Petition Supplemental).
    \4\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and 
Tube from Vietnam: Amendment of Petition and Response to Commerce's 
Supplemental Questions,'' dated July 9, 2020 (Petition Supplement).
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    In accordance with section 732(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), the petitioners allege that imports of copper pipe 
and tube from Vietnam are being, or are likely to be, sold in the 
United States at less than fair value (LTFV) within the meaning of 
section 731 of the Act, and that imports of such products are 
materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic 
copper pipe and tube industry in the United States. Consistent with 
section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the Petition is accompanied by 
information reasonably available to the petitioners supporting the 
allegation.
    Commerce finds that the petitioners filed the Petition on behalf of 
the domestic industry, because the petitioners are interested parties, 
as defined in sections 771(9)(C) and (E) of the Act. Commerce also 
finds that the petitioners demonstrated sufficient industry support for 
the initiation of the requested investigation.\5\
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    \5\ See infra, section on ``Determination of Industry Support 
for the Petition''.
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Period of Investigation

    Because Vietnam is a non-market economy (NME) country, pursuant to 
19 CFR 351.204(b)(1), the period of investigation for the investigation 
is October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020.

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are copper pipe and tube 
from Vietnam. For a full description of the scope of this 
investigation, see the appendix to this notice.

Comments on the Scope of the Investigation

    On July 6, 2020, Commerce requested further information from the 
petitioners regarding 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.\6\ On July 9, 2020, the 
petitioners revised the scope.\7\ The description of the merchandise 
covered by this investigation, as described in the appendix to this 
notice, reflects these clarifications.
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    \6\ See Petition Supplemental at 3.
    \7\ See Petition Supplement at Exhibit SUP-3.
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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 (i.e., scope).\8\ 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, all such 
factual information should be limited to public information.\9\ To 
facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests that 
all interested parties submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time 
(ET) on August 10, 2020, which is the next business day after 20 
calendar days from the signature date of this notice.\10\ Any rebuttal 
comments, which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 
p.m. ET on August 20, 2020, which is ten calendar days from the initial 
comment deadline.\11\
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    \8\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
    \9\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual 
information'').
    \10\ Commerce's practice dictates that where a deadline falls on 
a weekend or Federal holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next 
business day (in this instance, August 10, 2020). See Notice of 
Clarification: Application of ``Next Business Day'' Rule for 
Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 
1930, As Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10, 2005) (Next Business Day 
Rule).
    \11\ 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

[[Page 47182]]

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 record of the investigation.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via 
Enforcement and Compliance's (E&C's) Antidumping Duty and 
Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), 
unless an exception applies.\12\ An electronically filed document must 
be received successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is 
due.
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    \12\ 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, effective 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%20 Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf.
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Comments on Product Characteristics

    Commerce is providing interested parties an opportunity to comment 
on the appropriate physical characteristics of copper pipe and tube to 
be reported in response to Commerce's AD questionnaire. This 
information will be used to identify the key physical characteristics 
of the subject merchandise in order to report the relevant costs of 
production accurately, as well as to develop appropriate product-
comparison criteria.
    Interested parties may provide any information or comments that 
they feel are relevant to the development of an accurate list of 
physical characteristics. In order to consider the suggestions of 
interested parties in developing and issuing the AD questionnaires, all 
product characteristics comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on 
August 10, 2020, which is the next business day after 20 calendar days 
from the signature date of this notice.\13\ Any rebuttal comments must 
be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 20, 2020. All comments and 
submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using ACCESS, as 
explained above, on the record of the investigation.
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    \13\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b). Commerce practice dictates that 
where a deadline falls on a weekend or Federal holiday (in this 
instance, August 9, 2020), the appropriate deadline is the next 
business day. See Next Business Day Rule, 70 FR at 24533.
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 732(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 support 
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 732(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,\14\ 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.\15\
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    \14\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
    \15\ 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 petitioners do not 
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope 
of the investigation.\16\ Based on our analysis of the information 
submitted on the record, we have determined that copper pipe and tube, 
as defined in the scope, constitutes a single domestic like product, 
and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like 
product.\17\
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    \16\ See Petition at 21-24; see also Petition Supplement at 1 
and Exhibits SUP-1 and SUP-2.
    \17\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as 
applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see 
the Initiation Checklist at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry 
Support for the Antidumping Duty Petition Covering Seamless Refined 
Copper Pipe and Tube from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 
(Attachment II). This checklist is dated concurrently with, and 
hereby adopted by, this notice and on file electronically via 
ACCESS.
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    In determining whether the petitioners have standing under section 
732(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 petitioners provided 
the 2019 production of the producers who support the Petition and 
compared this to the estimated production of the entire U.S. copper 
pipe and tube industry.\18\ We relied on data provided by the 
petitioners for purposes of measuring industry support.\19\
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    \18\ See Petition at 3-4 and Exhibits 2-4; see also Petition 
Supplement at 2-3 and Exhibit SUP-4.
    \19\ See Petition at 3-4 and Exhibits 2-4; see also Petition 
Supplement at 2-3 and Exhibit SUP-4. For further discussion, see 
Attachment II of the Initiation Checklist.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, the Petition 
Supplement, and other information readily available to Commerce 
indicates that the petitioners have established industry support for 
the Petition.\20\ 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).\21\ Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have 
met the statutory criteria for industry support under section 
732(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

[[Page 47183]]

total production of the domestic like product.\22\ Finally, the 
domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for 
industry support under section 732(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.\23\ Accordingly, Commerce determines that 
the Petition was filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the 
meaning of section 732(b)(1) of the Act.\24\
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    \20\ See Attachment II of the Initiation Checklist.
    \21\ Id.; see also section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act.
    \22\ See Attachment II of the Initiation Checklist.
    \23\ Id.
    \24\ Id.
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Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioners allege that the U.S. industry producing the 
domestic like product is being materially injured, or is threatened 
with material injury, by reason of the imports of the subject 
merchandise sold at LTFV. In addition, the petitioners allege that 
subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided for under 
section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\25\
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    \25\ See the Petition at 24-25 and Exhibit 36.
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    The petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by a significant and increasing volume and market share of 
subject imports; underselling and price depression or suppression; lost 
sales and revenue; declining employment levels; and declining financial 
performance.\26\ We assessed the allegations and supporting evidence 
regarding material injury, threat of material injury, causation, as 
well as negligibility, and we have determined that these allegations 
are properly supported by adequate evidence, and meet the statutory 
requirements for initiation.\27\
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    \26\ See the Petition at 1-2, 19-20, 24-46 and Exhibits 36-43.
    \27\ See Initiation Checklist at Attachment III, Analysis of 
Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation for the 
Antidumping Duty Petition Covering Seamless Refined Copper Pipe and 
Tube from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
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Allegations of Sales at LTFV

    The following is a description of the allegations of sales at LTFV 
upon which Commerce based its decision to initiate an AD investigation 
of imports of copper pipe and tube from Vietnam. The sources of data 
for the deductions and adjustments relating to U.S. price and normal 
value (NV) are discussed in greater detail in the Initiation Checklist.

U.S. Price

    The petitioners based export price (EP) on pricing information for 
a sales offer for copper pipe and tube produced in and exported from 
Vietnam. The petitioners made certain adjustments to U.S. price to 
calculate a net ex-factory U.S. price.\28\
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    \28\ See Initiation Checklist at 6.
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Normal Value

    Commerce considers Vietnam to be an NME country.\29\ In accordance 
with section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, any determination that a foreign 
country is an NME country shall remain in effect until revoked by 
Commerce. Therefore, we continue to treat Vietnam as an NME country for 
purposes of the initiation of this investigation. Accordingly, NV in 
Vietnam is appropriately based on factors of production (FOPs) valued 
in a surrogate market economy country, in accordance with section 
773(c) of the Act.
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    \29\ See, e.g., Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam: Final Results, and Final Results of No 
Shipments of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2016-2017, 
84 FR 18007 (April 29, 2019).
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    The petitioners claim that India is an appropriate surrogate 
country because India is a market economy country that is at a level of 
economic development comparable to that of Vietnam and is a significant 
producer of comparable merchandise.\30\ The petitioners provided 
publicly available information from India to value all FOPs.\31\ Based 
on the information provided by the petitioners, we determine that it is 
appropriate to use India as a surrogate country for Vietnam for 
initiation purposes.
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    \30\ See Petition at 16-17 and Exhibits 24-25.
    \31\ See Petition at 18-19 and Exhibits 29-35; see also Petition 
Supplement at 6-8 and Exhibits SUP-10, SUP-11, SUP-13, SUP-14, SUP-
15, and SUP-16.
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    Interested parties will have the opportunity to submit comments 
regarding surrogate country selection and, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.301(c)(3)(i), will be provided an opportunity to submit publicly 
available information to value FOPs within 30 days before the scheduled 
date of the preliminary determination.

Factors of Production

    The petitioners used their own product-specific consumption rates 
as a surrogate to value Vietnamese manufacturers' FOPs.\32\ 
Additionally, the petitioners calculated factory overhead; selling, 
general and administrative expenses; and profit based on the experience 
of an Indian producer of comparable merchandise (e.g., seamless 
extruded copper and copper base alloy tubes, rods, sections).\33\
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    \32\ See Petition at 17 and Exhibit 26; see also Petition 
Supplement at 6.
    \33\ See Petition at 19 and Exhibits 34 and 35; see also 
Petition Supplement at 8 and Exhibit SUP-16.
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Fair Value Comparisons

    Based on the data provided by the petitioners, there is reason to 
believe that imports of copper pipe and tube from Vietnam are being, or 
are likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV. Based on 
comparisons of EP to NV in accordance with sections 772 and 773 of the 
Act, the estimated dumping margin for copper pipe and tube from Vietnam 
is 111.82 percent.\34\
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    \34\ See Petition Supplement at Exhibit SUP-17.
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Initiation of LTFV Investigation

    Based upon the examination of the Petition and supplemental 
response, we find that it meets the requirements of section 732 of the 
Act. Therefore, we are initiating an AD investigation to determine 
whether imports of copper pipe and tube from Vietnam are being, or are 
likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV. In accordance with 
section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless 
postponed, we will make our preliminary determination no later than 140 
days after the date of this initiation.

Respondent Selection

    In the Petition, the petitioners named five companies in Vietnam as 
producers/exporters of copper pipe and tube.\35\
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    \35\ See the Petition at 15 and Exhibit 20; see also Petition 
Supplement at 4 and Exhibit SUP-7.
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    In accordance with our standard practice for respondent selection 
in AD investigations involving NME countries, Commerce selects 
respondents based on quantity and value (Q&V) questionnaires in cases 
where it has determined that the number of companies is large and it 
cannot individually examine each company based upon its resources. 
Therefore, considering the number of producers and exporters identified 
in the Petition, Commerce will solicit Q&V information that can serve 
as a basis for selecting exporters for individual examination in the 
event that Commerce decides to limit the number of respondents 
individually examined pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the Act. 
Because there are five producers and exporters identified in the 
Petition, Commerce has determined that it will issue Q&V questionnaires 
to each potential respondent for which the petitioners have provided a 
complete address.

[[Page 47184]]

    In addition, Commerce will post the Q&V questionnaire along with 
filing instructions on E&C's website at https://enforcement.trade.gov/questionnaires/questionnaires-ad.html. Producers/exporters of copper 
pipe and tube from Vietnam that do not receive Q&V questionnaires may 
still submit a response to the Q&V questionnaire and can obtain a copy 
of the Q&V questionnaire from E&C's website. In accordance with the 
standard practice for respondent selection in AD cases involving NME 
countries, in the event Commerce decides to limit the number of 
respondents individually investigated, Commerce intends to base 
respondent selection on the responses to the Q&V questionnaire that it 
receives.
    Responses to the Q&V questionnaire must be submitted by the 
relevant Vietnamese producers/exporters no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on 
August 5, 2020. All Q&V questionnaire responses must be filed 
electronically via ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be 
received successfully, in its entirety, by ACCESS no later than 5:00 
p.m. ET on the deadline noted above.
    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
Administrative Protective Order (APO) in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.305(b). Instructions for filing such applications may be found on 
E&C's website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo. Commerce intends to 
finalize its decisions regarding respondent selection within 20 days of 
publication of this notice.

Separate Rates

    In order to obtain separate-rate status in an NME investigation, 
exporters and producers must submit a separate-rate application.\36\ 
The specific requirements for submitting a separate-rate application in 
a Vietnam investigation are outlined in detail in the application 
itself, which is available on Commerce's website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/nme/nme-sep-rate.html. The separate-rate 
application will be due 30 days after publication of this initiation 
notice.\37\ Exporters and producers who submit a separate-rate 
application and have been selected as mandatory respondents will be 
eligible for consideration for separate-rate status only if they 
respond to all parts of Commerce's AD questionnaire as mandatory 
respondents. Commerce requires that companies from Vietnam submit a 
response to both the Q&V questionnaire and the separate-rate 
application by the respective deadlines in order to receive 
consideration for separate-rate status. Companies not filing a timely 
Q&V questionnaire response will not receive separate rate 
consideration.
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    \36\ See Policy Bulletin 05.1: ``Separate-Rates Practice and 
Application of Combination Rates in Antidumping Investigation 
involving NME Countries,'' (April 5, 2005), available at http://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull05-1.pdf (Policy Bulletin 05.1).
    \37\ Although in past investigations this deadline was 60 days, 
consistent with 19 CFR 351.301(a), which states that ``the Secretary 
may request any person to submit factual information at any time 
during a proceeding,'' this deadline is now 30 days.
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Use of Combination Rates

    Commerce will calculate combination rates for certain respondents 
that are eligible for a separate rate in an NME investigation. The 
Separate Rates and Combination Rates Bulletin states:

{w{time} hile continuing the practice of assigning separate rates 
only to exporters, all separate rates that the {Commerce{time}  will 
now assign in its NME Investigation will be specific to those 
producers that supplied the exporter during the period of 
investigation. Note, however, that one rate is calculated for the 
exporter and all of the producers which supplied subject merchandise 
to it during the period of investigation. This practice applies both 
to mandatory respondents receiving an individually calculated 
separate rate as well as the pool of non-investigated firms 
receiving the weighted-average of the individually calculated rates. 
This practice is referred to as the application of ``combination 
rates'' because such rates apply to specific combinations of 
exporters and one or more producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned 
to an exporter will apply only to merchandise both exported by the 
firm in question and produced by a firm that supplied the exporter 
during the period of investigation.\38\
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    \38\ See Policy Bulletin 05.1 at 6 (emphasis added).
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Distribution of Copies of the AD Petition

    In accordance with section 732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the AD Petition has been 
provided to the government of Vietnam via ACCESS. To the extent 
practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of 
the AD Petition to each exporter named in the AD Petition, as provided 
under 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

    We will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section 
732(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date 
on which the AD Petition were filed, whether there is a reasonable 
indication that imports of copper pipe and tube from Vietnam are 
materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S. 
industry.\39\ A negative ITC determination will result in the 
investigation being terminated.\40\ Otherwise, this AD investigation 
will proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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    \39\ See section 733(a) of the Act.
    \40\ Id.
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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). Section 351.301(b) of Commerce's 
regulations requires any party, when submitting factual information, to 
specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information 
is being submitted \41\ 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.\42\ 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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    \41\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \42\ 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 Commerce. 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 a letter or memorandum of the 
deadline (including a specified time) by which extension requests must 
be filed to be

[[Page 47185]]

considered timely. An extension request must be made in a separate, 
stand-alone submission; under limited circumstances we will grant 
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 countervailing 
duty proceeding must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that 
information.\43\ Parties must use the certification formats provided in 
19 CFR 351.303(g).\44\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions 
if the submitting party does not comply with the applicable 
certification requirements.
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    \43\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \44\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import 
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule). Answers to 
frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule are 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)). Note that 
Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for 
serving documents containing business proprietary information, until 
further notice.\45\
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    \45\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements 
Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 
10, 2020).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 732(c)(2) 
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

    Dated: July 20, 2020
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretaryfor Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix--Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are all seamless 
circular refined copper pipes and tubes, including redraw hollows, 
greater than or equal to 6 inches (152.4 mm) in actual length and 
measuring less than 12.130 inches (308.102 mm) in actual outside 
diameter (OD), regardless of wall thickness, bore (e.g., smooth, 
enhanced with inner grooves or ridges), manufacturing process (e.g., 
hot finished, cold-drawn, annealed), outer surface (e.g., plain or 
enhanced with grooves, ridges, fins, or gills), end finish (e.g., 
plain end, swaged end, flared end, expanded end, crimped end, 
threaded), coating (e.g., plastic, paint), insulation, attachments 
(e.g., plain, capped, plugged, with compression or other fitting), 
or physical configuration (e.g., straight, coiled, bent, wound on 
spools).
    The scope of this investigation covers, but is not limited to, 
seamless refined copper pipe and tube produced or comparable to the 
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) ASTM-B42, ASTM-
B68, ASTM-B75, ASTM-B88, ASTM-B88M, ASTM-B188, ASTM-B251, ASTM-
B251M, ASTM-B280, ASTM-B302, ASTM-B306, ASTM-B359, ASTM-B743, ASTM-
B819, and ASTM-B903 specifications and meeting the physical 
parameters described therein.
    Also included within the scope of this investigation are all 
sets of covered products, including ``line sets'' of seamless 
refined copper tubes (with or without fittings or insulation) 
suitable for connecting an outdoor air conditioner or heat pump to 
an indoor evaporator unit. The phrase ``all sets of covered 
products'' denotes any combination of items put up for sale that is 
comprised of merchandise subject to the scope.
    ``Refined copper'' is defined as: (1) Metal containing at least 
99.85 percent by actual weight of copper; or (2) metal containing at 
least 97.5 percent by actual weight of copper, provided that the 
content by actual weight of any other element does not exceed the 
following limits:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Limiting content
                       Element                         percent by weight
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ag--Silver...........................................               0.25
As--Arsenic..........................................                0.5
Cd--Cadmium..........................................                1.3
Cr--Chromium.........................................                1.4
Mg--Magnesium........................................                0.8
Pb--Lead.............................................                1.5
S--Sulfur............................................                0.7
Sn--Tin..............................................                0.8
Te--Tellurium........................................                0.8
Zn--Zinc.............................................                1.0
Zr--Zirconium........................................                0.3
Other elements (each)................................                0.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Excluded from the scope of this investigation are all seamless 
circular hollows of refined copper less than 12 inches in actual 
length whose actual OD exceeds its actual length.
    The products subject to this investigation are currently 
classifiable under subheadings 7411.10.1030 and 7411.10.1090 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Products 
subject to the investigation may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 
7407.10.1500, 7419.99.5050, 8415.90.8065, and 8415.90.8085. Although 
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the scope of the investigation 
is dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2020-17067 Filed 8-3-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P