[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 224 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73679-73681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25483]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-475-843]


Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand From Italy: Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Preliminary 
Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances, Postponement of Final 
Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from Italy is 
being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair 
value (LTFV). The period of investigation is April 1, 2019 through 
March 31, 2020. Interested parties are invited to comment on this 
preliminary determination.

DATES: Applicable November 19, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Berger, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2483.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce 
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on May 13, 
2020.\1\ On September 8, 2020, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now 
November 12, 2020.\2\ For a complete description of the events that 
followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum 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. In 
addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can 
be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed 
and the electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are 
identical in content.
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    \1\ See Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Argentina, 
Colombia, Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Saudi 
Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Tunisia, the Republic of 
Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates: Initiation of Less-
Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 85 FR 28605 (May 13, 2020) 
(Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Indonesia, 
Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, and Ukraine: 
Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-
Value Investigations, 85 FR 55413 (September 8, 2020).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of 
Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Italy,'' dated 
concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is PC strand from 
Italy. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\5\ However, Commerce 
received no comments on the scope of this investigation from interested 
parties. Therefore, Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the scope 
language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the scope in 
Appendix I to this notice.
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    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice, 85 FR at 28606.
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export price in 
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value is calculated 
in accordance with section 773 of the Act. In addition, pursuant to 
sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied 
upon facts otherwise available, with adverse inferences, to determine 
the margin assigned to CB Trafilati Acciai S.p.A. (CB). For a full 
description of the methodology underlying the preliminary 
determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Preliminary Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances

    In accordance with section 733(e) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206, 
Commerce preliminarily finds that critical circumstances do not exist 
for CB, WBO Italcables Societa Cooperativa (WBO), or all other 
producers and exporters. For a full description of the methodology and 
results of Commerce's critical circumstances analysis, see the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Sections 733(d)(1)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in 
the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated 
all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually 
examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for 
exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero 
and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under 
section 776 of the Act.
    In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily assigned a rate based 
entirely on facts available to CB. Therefore, the only rate that is not 
zero, de minimis or based entirely on facts otherwise available is the 
rate calculated for WBO. Consequently, the rate calculated for WBO is 
also assigned as the rate for all other producers and exporters.

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Estimated
                                                              weighted-
                                                               average
                     Exporter/Producer                         dumping
                                                                margin
                                                              (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WBO Italcables Societa Cooperativa.........................         3.67
CB Trafilati Acciai S.p.A..................................      * 19.26
All Others.................................................         3.67
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* (AFA).

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will 
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation 
of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal 
to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-
others rate, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for

[[Page 73680]]

the respondents listed above will be equal to the company-specific 
estimated weighted-average dumping margins determined in this 
preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent 
identified above, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will 
be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping 
margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and 
(3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be 
equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin.
    These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect 
until further notice.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis 
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination 
within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public 
announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this 
notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Verification

    Commerce is currently unable to conduct on-site verification of the 
information relied upon in making its final determination in this 
investigation. Accordingly, we intend to take additional steps in lieu 
of on-site verification. Commerce will notify interested parties of any 
additional documentation or information required. Because CB did not 
provide information requested by Commerce, and Commerce preliminarily 
determines CB to have been uncooperative, we will not conduct 
verification of CB.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Interested parties 
will be notified of the timeline for the submission of case briefs and 
written comments at a later date. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues 
raised in case briefs, may be submitted no later than seven days after 
the deadline date for case briefs.\6\ 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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    \6\ 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 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 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.
    Parties are reminded that briefs and hearing requests are to be 
filed electronically using ACCESS and that electronically filed 
documents must be received successfully in their entirety by 5 p.m. 
Eastern Time on the due date. Note that Commerce has temporarily 
modified certain of its requirements for serving documents containing 
business proprietary information, until further notice.\7\
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    \7\ 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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Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an 
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement 
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of 
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative 
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by 
the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations 
requires that a request by exporters for postponement of the final 
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional 
measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months 
in duration.
    On October 30, 2020, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), WBO requested 
that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional 
measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months.\8\ On 
November 2, 2020, the petitioners submitted a letter supporting WBO's 
request that Commerce postpone the final determination.\9\ In 
accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) The preliminary determination is 
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant 
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling 
reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final 
determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month 
period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce 
will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date 
of publication of this preliminary determination.
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    \8\ See WBO's Letter, ``Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand 
from Italy: WBO Italcables Societa Cooperativa's Request to Extend 
Final Determination,'' dated October 30, 2020.
    \9\ The petitioners are Insteel Wire Products Company, Sumiden 
Wire Products Corporation, and Wire Mesh Corp. See Petitioners' 
Letter, ``Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Indonesia, 
Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, and Ukraine--
Petitioners' Request for Postponement of Final Antidumping 
Determinations,'' dated November 2, 2020.
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International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary 
determination. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will 
determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this 
preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination 
whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material 
injury to, the U.S. industry.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

    Dated: November 12, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is prestressed 
concrete steel wire strand (PC strand), produced from wire of non-
stainless, non-galvanized steel, which is suitable for use in 
prestressed concrete (both pretensioned and post-tensioned) 
applications. The product definition encompasses covered and 
uncovered strand and all types, grades, and diameters of PC strand. 
PC strand is normally sold in the United States in sizes ranging 
from 0.25 inches to 0.70 inches in diameter. PC strand made from 
galvanized wire is only excluded from the scope if the zinc and/or 
zinc oxide coating meets or exceeds the 0.40 oz./ft2 standard set 
forth in ASTM-A-475.
    The PC strand subject to this investigation is currently 
classifiable under subheadings

[[Page 73681]]

7312.10.3010 and 7312.10.3012 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheadings are 
provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written 
description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Scope Comments
V. Scope of the Investigation
VI. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inference
VII. Preliminary Critical Circumstances Finding
VIII. Discussion of the Methodology
IX. Currency Conversion
X. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2020-25483 Filed 11-18-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P