[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 178 (Thursday, September 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56626-56631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19966]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-042, C-570-043]


Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip From the People's Republic of 
China: Preliminary Scope Ruling and Preliminary Affirmative 
Determination of Circumvention for Exports From the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily 
determines that certain stainless steel sheet and strip (SSSS) of 
Chinese-origin that has undergone further processing in the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) is merchandise covered by the scope of 
the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on SSSS 
from the People's Republic of China (China). Additionally, Commerce 
preliminarily determines that SSSS that is completed in Vietnam using 
certain non-subject stainless steel flat-rolled inputs sourced from 
China, is circumventing the AD/CVD orders on SSSS from China. As a 
result, SSSS of Chinese-origin that has undergone further processing or 
completion in Vietnam will be subject to suspension of liquidation 
effective May 15, 2020. We invite interested parties to comment on 
these preliminary determinations.

DATES: Applicable September 15, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Blaine Wiltse, Office of the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
6345.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On May 15, 2020, Commerce published in the Federal Register its 
self-initiation of country-wide circumvention and scope inquiries of 
the AD and CVD orders on SSSS from China \1\ to determine if imports of 
SSSS

[[Page 56627]]

completed in Vietnam using certain non-subject stainless steel flat-
rolled inputs \2\ manufactured in China are circumventing the Orders, 
and to determine whether SSSS that is produced in China and undergoes 
further processing in Vietnam before being exported to the United 
States is subject to the Orders, respectively.\3\ In the Initiation 
Notice, Commerce self-initiated the circumvention inquiry based on 
available information and an analysis pursuant to section 781(b) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.225(h). 
Additionally, Commerce self-initiated the scope inquiry in accordance 
with its authority as outlined in 19 CFR 351.225(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the People's 
Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order, 82 FR 16160 (April 3, 
2017) (AD Order); see also Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the 
People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 82 FR 16166 
(April 3, 2017) (CVD Order) (collectively, Orders).
    \2\ The term ``certain non-subject stainless steel flat-rolled 
inputs'' refers to stainless steel flat-rolled products that are not 
further worked than hot-rolled and/or of a thickness greater than 
4.75 millimeters.
    \3\ See Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Anti-Circumvention and Scope 
Inquiries on the Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders, 85 
FR 29401 (May 15, 2020) (Initiation Notice). On September 20, 2021, 
Commerce significantly revised its regulations pertaining to 
circumvention and scope inquiries, with an effective date of 
November 4, 2021. See Regulations to Improve Administration and 
Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws, 86 FR 52300 
(September 20, 2021). The newly promulgated 19 CFR 351.226 applies 
to circumvention inquiries for which a circumvention request is 
filed, as well as any circumvention inquiry self-initiated by 
Commerce, on or after November 4, 2021. The amendments to 19 CFR 
351.225 apply to scope inquiries for which a scope ruling 
application is filed, as well as any scope inquiry self-initiated by 
Commerce, on or after November 4, 2021. We note that these 
circumvention and scope inquiries were initiated prior to the 
effective date of the new regulations, and, thus, any reference to 
the regulations is to the prior version of the regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of these inquiries, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\4\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum is included as Appendix I 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, the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Memorandum, ``Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty 
Orders on Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the People's Republic 
of China: Preliminary Decision Memorandum for Scope and 
Circumvention Inquiries Covering Exports from the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this 
notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Orders

    The product covered by the Orders is stainless steel sheet and 
strip. For a complete description of the scope of the Orders, see the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Merchandise Subject to the Circumvention Inquiry

    This circumvention inquiry covers SSSS completed in Vietnam using 
certain non-subject stainless steel flat-rolled inputs of Chinese-
origin that is subsequently exported from Vietnam to the United States.

Merchandise Subject to the Scope Inquiry

    This scope inquiry covers SSSS of Chinese-origin that has undergone 
further processing in Vietnam (including but not limited to cold-
rolling, annealing, tempering, polishing, aluminizing, coating, 
painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or slitting, or 
any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise 
from the scope of the Orders) that is subsequently exported to the 
United States.

Methodology

    Commerce is conducting these scope and circumvention inquiries in 
accordance with section 781(b) of the Act. Because Vietnam and China 
\5\ are non-market economy countries, within the meaning of section 
771(18) of the Act, Commerce has calculated the value of certain 
processing and merchandise using factors of production and market 
economy values, as discussed in section 773(c) of the Act. For a full 
description of the methodology underlying Commerce's preliminary 
determinations, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Aluminum Foil 
from the People's Republic of China: Affirmative Preliminary 
Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value and Postponement of 
Final Determination, 82 FR 50858, 50861 (November 2, 2017) (citing 
Memorandum, ``China's Status as a Non-Market Economy,'' dated 
October 26, 2017); see also Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Preliminary Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 81 FR 24797 (October 14, 
2016), unchanged in Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review; 2014-2015, 82 FR 18611 (April 20, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Preliminary Findings

    As detailed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, we 
preliminarily determine, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.225(k)(1), that SSSS of 
Chinese-origin that has undergone further processing in Vietnam is 
covered by the scope of the Orders. Additionally, pursuant to section 
781(b) of the Act, we preliminarily determine that SSSS completed in 
Vietnam using certain non-subject stainless steel flat-rolled inputs of 
Chinese-origin is circumventing the Orders. In reaching these 
preliminary determinations, we relied on information placed on the 
record by a petitioner in the original investigation, Outokumpu 
Stainless USA LLC, and information placed on the record by POSCO VST 
Co., Ltd. (POSCO VST), POSCO Vietnam Processing Center Company Limited, 
and Silverwood (Hong Kong) Ltd.
    Further, because Hoangvu Co., Ltd. and SK Networks Co., Ltd. did 
not cooperate to the best of their ability in responding to Commerce's 
requests for information, we have based parts of our preliminary 
determinations on the facts available, with adverse inferences, 
pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. For a full description 
of the methodology underlying our conclusions, see the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum.

Suspension of Liquidation

    As stated above, Commerce has made preliminary affirmative findings 
that SSSS of Chinese-origin that has undergone further processing in 
Vietnam is merchandise covered by the scope of the Orders and that SSSS 
completed in Vietnam using certain non-subject stainless steel flat-
rolled inputs of Chinese-origin is merchandise circumventing the 
Orders. These affirmative in-scope and circumvention findings apply to 
SSSS that is subject to these determinations and produced and/or 
exported by any Vietnamese company. Therefore, in accordance with 19 
CFR 351.225(l)(2), Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation and to require a cash deposit 
of estimated duties on unliquidated entries of SSSS produced in Vietnam 
from Chinese-sourced stainless steel flat-rolled inputs that were 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after May 
15, 2020, the date of publication of initiation of these circumvention 
and scope inquiries in the Federal Register.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See Initiation Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Where a Vietnamese company subject to these inquiries reports that 
the finished SSSS products that it has exported to the United States 
were produced by a specific Chinese supplier that has its own company-
specific rate under the Orders, the cash deposit rate

[[Page 56628]]

will be the Chinese supplier's company-specific rate. Otherwise, 
Commerce will instruct CBP to require AD cash deposits equal to the 
current China-wide rate (i.e., 58.04 percent) and CVD cash deposits 
equal to the current all-others rate (i.e., 75.60 percent).\7\ The 
suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until 
further notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See AD Order, 82 FR at 16162; and CVD Order, 82 FR at 16176.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SSSS that is further processed or completed in Vietnam from 
stainless steel flat-rolled inputs that are not of Chinese-origin is 
not subject to these inquiries. Therefore, cash deposits are not 
required for such merchandise subject to the following certification 
requirements.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Appendix II for the certification requirements, and 
Appendixes III and IV for the Importer and Exporter Certifications, 
respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    If an importer of SSSS from Vietnam claims that the SSSS was not 
produced using any stainless steel flat-rolled inputs of Chinese-
origin, in order not to be subject to cash deposit requirements, the 
importer and exporter must meet the certification and documentation 
requirements described in Appendix II. An exporter of SSSS produced in 
Vietnam claiming that its SSSS was not produced using any stainless 
steel flat-rolled inputs of Chinese-origin must prepare and maintain an 
Exporter Certification and documentation supporting the Exporter 
Certification (see Appendix IV). In addition, importers of such SSSS 
must prepare and maintain an Importer Certification (see Appendix III) 
as well as documentation supporting the Importer Certification. In 
addition to the Importer Certification, the importer must also maintain 
a copy of the Exporter Certification (see Appendix IV) and relevant 
supporting documentation from its exporter of SSSS produced from 
stainless steel flat-rolled inputs that are not of Chinese-origin.

Verification

    As provided in 19 CFR 351.307, Commerce intends to verify 
information relied upon in making its final determination.

Public Comment

    Interested parties may submit case briefs to the Assistant 
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Commerce will notify 
interested parties of the timeline for the submission of case briefs 
and written comments at a later date. Rebuttal briefs, limited to 
issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed no later than seven days 
after the deadline for case briefs.\9\ Parties who submit case or 
rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are requested to submit with each 
brief: (1) a statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the 
argument; and (3) a table of authorities.\10\ Executive summaries 
should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes.\11\ All 
submissions, with limited exceptions, must be filed electronically 
using ACCESS.\12\ Electronically filed comments must be received 
successfully in its entirety by Commerce's electronic records system, 
ACCESS, by 5:00 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.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d)(1); see also Temporary Rule Modifying 
AD/CVD Service Requirements Due to COVID-19, 85 FR 17006 (March 26, 
2020); and Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due 
to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 10, 
2020) (collectively, Temporary Rules).
    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
    \11\ Id.
    \12\ See 19 CFR 351.303.
    \13\ See Temporary Rules.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant 
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically and 
received successfully in its entirety via ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice.\14\ 
Hearing requests should contain: (1) the party's name, address, and 
telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of 
issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to 
issues raised in the briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, 
parties will be notified of the date and time for the hearing to be 
held.\15\ Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and 
location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See 19 CFR 351.310(c).
    \15\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. International Trade Commission Notification

    Consistent with section 781(e) of the Act, Commerce is notifying 
the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of this affirmative 
preliminary determination to include the merchandise subject to this 
circumvention inquiry within the Orders. Pursuant to section 781(e) of 
the Act, the ITC may request consultations concerning Commerce's 
proposed inclusion of the subject merchandise. These consultations must 
be concluded within 15 days after the date of the request. If, after 
consultations, the ITC believes that a significant injury issue is 
presented by the proposed inclusion, it will have 60 days to provide 
written advice to Commerce.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is published in accordance with section 781(b) of the 
Act and 19 CFR 351.225(h).

    Dated: September 9, 2022.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Orders
IV. Merchandise Subject to these Circumvention and Scope Inquiries
V. Period of Inquiry
VI. Use of Facts Available with an Adverse Inference
VII. Statutory and Regulatory Framework for Scope Inquiry
VIII. Preliminary Scope Analysis and Determination
IX. Surrogate Countries and Methodology for Valuing Stainless Steel 
Flat-Rolled Inputs from China and Further Processing in Vietnam
X. Statutory Framework for Circumvention Inquiry
XI. Preliminary Circumvention Analysis and Determination
XII. Country-Wide Determinations
XIII. Certifications for Nonuse of Chinese-Origin Stainless Steel 
Flat-Rolled Inputs
XIV. Recommendations

Appendix II

Certification Requirements

    If a company imports stainless steel sheet and strip (SSSS) from 
Vietnam and claims that the entry was not produced from Chinese-
sourced stainless steel flat-rolled inputs and, thus, is not subject 
to the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) Orders 
\16\ on SSSS from China, then the importer is required to complete 
and maintain the Importer Certification attached hereto as Appendix 
III and retain all supporting documentation. The importer is further 
required to maintain a copy of the Exporter Certification, attached 
as Appendix IV, and retain all supporting documentation. The 
Importer Certification must be completed, signed, and dated by the 
time of filing of the entry summary for the relevant importation. 
Where the importer uses a broker to facilitate the entry process, it 
should obtain the entry number from the broker. Agents of the 
importer, such as

[[Page 56629]]

brokers, however, are not permitted to make this certification on 
behalf of the importer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the People's 
Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order, 82 FR 16160 (April 3, 
2017); see also Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the People's 
Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 82 FR 16166 (April 3, 
2017) (collectively, Orders).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All importers of SSSS from Vietnam are eligible for the 
certification process detailed below, with the exception that 
entries of SSSS produced and/or exported by Hoangvu Co., Ltd. and SK 
Networks Co., Ltd. are ineligible for certification.
    The exporter is required to complete and maintain the Exporter 
Certification, attached as Appendix IV, and is further required to 
provide the importer a copy of that certification and all supporting 
documentation (e.g., invoice, purchase order, production records, 
etc.). The Exporter Certification must be completed, signed, and 
dated by the time of shipment of the relevant entries (except as 
noted below). The Exporter Certification should be completed by the 
party selling the subject merchandise manufactured in Vietnam to the 
United States.
    The importer will not be required to submit the certifications 
or supporting documentation to U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP) as part of the entry process. However, the importer and 
exporter will be required to present the certifications, and 
supporting documentation, to the U.S. Department of Commerce 
(Commerce) and/or CBP, as applicable, upon request by the respective 
agency. Additionally, the claims made in the certifications and any 
supporting documentation are subject to verification by Commerce 
and/or CBP. The importer and exporter are required to maintain the 
certifications and supporting documentation for the later of: (1) a 
period of five years from the date of entry; or (2) a period of 
three years after the conclusion of any litigation in United States 
courts regarding such entries.
    For SSSS exported from Vietnam that was produced using Chinese-
sourced stainless steel flat-rolled inputs subject to this inquiry 
that has been found to be circumventing the AD/CVD Orders on SSSS 
from China, Commerce has established the following third-country 
case numbers in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE): A-552-
042 and C-552-043. For SSSS exported from Vietnam that is 
merchandise covered by the scope of the AD/CVD Orders on SSSS from 
China, where the country of origin does not change for CBP's 
reporting purposes, importers should report such entries under the 
case numbers for the Orders on SSSS from China: A-570-042 and C-570-
043. For SSSS exported from Vietnam that is merchandise covered by 
the scope of the AD/CVD Orders on SSSS from China, where the 
country-of-origin changes for CBP's reporting purposes, importers 
should report such entries under the following third-country case 
numbers: A-552-042 and C-552-043.
    If it is determined that the certification and/or documentation 
requirements in a certification have not been met, Commerce intends 
to instruct CBP to suspend, under the appropriate case numbers, 
either those established for the AD/CVD Orders on SSSS from China, 
A-570-042/C-570-043, or the third country case numbers, A-552-042/C-
552-043, all unliquidated entries for which these requirements were 
not met and require the importer to post applicable AD and CVD cash 
deposits equal to the rates as determined by Commerce. Entries 
suspended under A-570-042/C-570-043/A-552-042/C-552-043 will be 
liquidated pursuant to applicable administrative reviews of the 
Orders or through the automatic liquidation process.
    For shipments and/or entries suspended pursuant to the 
preliminary determinations of these scope and circumvention 
inquiries that were shipped and/or entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption during the period on or after May 15, 
2020 (the date of initiation of these scope and circumvention 
inquiries) through the date of publication of the preliminary 
determination in the Federal Register, for which certifications are 
required, importers and exporters should complete the required 
certification, as soon as practicable but not later than 45 days 
after the publication of the preliminary determinations in the 
Federal Register. Accordingly, where appropriate, the relevant 
bullet in the certification should be edited to reflect that the 
certification was completed within this time frame. Specifically, 
exporters should complete the language in Paragraph G in the 
Exporter Certification that reads: ``The shipments/products 
referenced herein shipped before mm/dd/yyyy, the date on which 
Commerce published notice of its preliminary scope and circumvention 
findings in the Federal Register. This certification was completed 
on mm/dd/yyyy, within 45 days of the Federal Register notice 
publication.'' For such entries/shipments, importers and exporters 
each have the option to complete a blanket certification covering 
multiple entries/shipments, individual certifications for each 
entry/shipment, or a combination thereof. The Exporter 
Certifications should be maintained by both the importer and 
exporter and provided to CBP or Commerce only upon request by the 
respective agency. The exporter must provide the importer a copy of 
the Exporter Certification within 45 days of the publication of the 
preliminary determination in the Federal Register.
    For shipments and/or entries suspended pursuant to the 
preliminary determinations of these scope and circumvention 
inquiries that were shipped and/or entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption within 30 days of the date of publication 
of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register, for which 
certifications are required, importers and exporters should complete 
the required certification, as soon as practicable but not later 
than 45 days after the publication of the preliminary determinations 
in the Federal Register. Accordingly, where appropriate, the 
relevant bullet in the certification should be edited to reflect 
that the certification was completed within this time frame. 
Specifically, exporters should complete the language in Paragraph G 
in the Exporter Certification that reads: ``The shipments/products 
referenced herein shipped on mm/dd/yyyy. This certification was 
completed on mm/dd/yyyy, within 45 days of the date on which 
Commerce published its preliminary scope and circumvention findings 
in the Federal Register.'' For such entries/shipments, importers and 
exporters each have the option to complete a blanket certification 
covering multiple entries/shipments, individual certifications for 
each entry/shipment, or a combination thereof. The Exporter 
Certifications should be maintained by both the importer and 
exporter and provided to CBP or Commerce only upon request by the 
respective agency. The exporter must provide the importer a copy of 
the Exporter Certification within 45 days of the publication of the 
preliminary determination in the Federal Register.
    For shipments and/or entries after 30 days from the date of 
publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal 
Register, for which certifications are required, importers and 
exporters should complete the required certification at or prior to 
the date of entry summary and exporters should complete the required 
certification and provide it to the importer at or prior to the date 
of shipment. Specifically, exporters should complete the language in 
Paragraph G in the Exporter Certification that reads: ``I understand 
that {EXPORTING COMPANY{time}  must provide this Exporter 
Certification to the U.S. importer by the time of shipment.''
    For unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has 
not become final) of merchandise entered as non-AD/CVD type entries 
(e.g., type 01) that were shipped and/or entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption in the United States during the period, 
May 15, 2020 (the date of initiation of these scope and 
circumvention inquiries) through the date of publication of the 
preliminary determination in the Federal Register, that is 
merchandise covered by the scope of the AD/CVD Orders or was 
produced using Chinese-sourced stainless steel flat-rolled inputs 
subject to this inquiry that have been found to be circumventing the 
AD/CVD Orders, importers should file a Post Summary Correction with 
CBP, in accordance with CBP's regulations, regarding conversion of 
such entries from non-AD/CVD type entries to AD/CVD type entries 
(e.g., type 01 to type 03). For such shipments, the Exporter 
Certifications should be completed as soon as practicable, but not 
later than 45 days after publication of the preliminary 
determination in the Federal Register. Importers should report those 
AD/CVD type entries of merchandise that is covered by the scope of 
the AD/CVD Orders, under the case numbers for the Orders on SSSS 
from China, A-570-042/C-570-043, or A-552-042/C-552-043, as 
appropriate. Importers should report those AD/CVD type entries that 
were produced using Chinese-sourced stainless steel flat-rolled 
inputs subject to this inquiry that have been found to be 
circumventing the AD/CVD Orders, using the third-country case 
numbers, A-552-042/C-552-043. Similarly, the importer should pay 
cash deposits on those entries consistent with the regulations 
governing post summary corrections that require payment of 
additional duties.

Appendix III

Importer Certification

    I hereby certify that:
    A. My name is {IMPORTING COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME{time}  and I am 
an official of {IMPORTING COMPANY{time} , located at {ADDRESS OF 
IMPORTING COMPANY{time} ;

[[Page 56630]]

    B. I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the 
importation into the Customs territory of the United States of the 
stainless steel sheet and strip (SSSS) produced in Vietnam that 
entered under entry summary number(s), identified below, and are 
covered by this certification. ``Direct personal knowledge'' refers 
to facts the certifying party is expected to have in its own 
records. For example, the importer should have ``direct personal 
knowledge'' of the importation of the product (e.g., the name of the 
exporter) in its records;
    C. I have personal knowledge of the facts regarding the 
production of the imported products covered by this certification. 
``Personal knowledge'' includes facts obtained from another party, 
(e.g., correspondence received by the importer (or exporter) from 
the producer regarding the source of the SSSS inputs used to produce 
the imported products);
    D. This certification applies to the following entries (repeat 
this block as many times as necessary):
    Entry Summary #:
    Entry Summary Line Item #:
    Foreign Seller:
    Foreign Seller's Address:
    Foreign Seller's Invoice #:
    Foreign Seller's Invoice Line Item #:
    Country of Origin of Stainless Steel Flat-Rolled Inputs:
    If the importer is acting on behalf of the first U.S. customer, 
complete this paragraph:
    E. The SSSS covered by this certification was imported by 
{IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  on behalf of {U.S. CUSTOMER{time} , 
located at {ADDRESS OF U.S. CUSTOMER{time} ;
    F. The SSSS covered by this certification does not contain 
stainless steel flat-rolled inputs produced in the People's Republic 
of China (China);
    G. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  is required to 
maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation 
supporting this certification (i.e., documents maintained in the 
normal course of business, or documents obtained by the certifying 
party, for example, certificates of origin, product data sheets, 
mill test reports, productions records, invoices, etc.) for the 
later of (1) a period of five years from the date of entry or (2) a 
period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in the 
United States courts regarding such entries;
    H. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY{time} is required to 
provide this certification and supporting records, upon request, to 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the U.S. Department 
of Commerce (Commerce);
    I. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY{time}  is required to 
maintain a copy of the exporter's certification (attesting to the 
production and/or export of the imported merchandise identified 
above), and any supporting documentation provided by the exporter to 
the importer, for the later of (1) a period of five years from the 
date of entry or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of 
any litigation in United States courts regarding such entries;
    J. I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY{time} is required to 
maintain and provide a copy of the exporter's certification and 
supporting documentation provided by the exporter to the importer, 
upon request, to CBP and/or Commerce;
    K. I understand that the claims made herein, and the 
substantiating documentation, are subject to verification by CBP 
and/or Commerce;
    L. I understand that failure to maintain the required 
certification and supporting documentation and/or failure to 
substantiate the claims made herein and/or failure to allow CBP and/
or Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de 
facto determination that all entries to which this certification 
applies are within the scope of the antidumping duty (AD) and 
countervailing duty (CVD) orders on SSSS from China. I understand 
that such finding will result in:
    [cir] suspension of liquidation of all unliquidated entries (and 
entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these 
requirements were not met;
    [cir] the requirement that the importer post applicable AD and/
or CVD cash deposits (as appropriate) equal to the rates determined 
by Commerce; and
    [cir] the revocation of {IMPORTING COMPANY{time} 's privilege to 
certify that future imports of SSSS were not produced using 
stainless steel flat-rolled inputs sourced from China subject to 
these certifications.
    M. I understand that agents of the importer, such as brokers, 
are not permitted to make this certification;
    N. This certification was completed by the time of filing the 
entry summary or within 45 days of the date on which Commerce 
published notice of its preliminary scope and circumvention findings 
in the Federal Register; and
    O. I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 
U.S.C. 1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly 
and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government.

Signature

{NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL{time} 
{TITLE{time} 
{DATE{time} 

Appendix IV

Exporter Certification

    I hereby certify that:
    A. My name is {COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME{time}  and I am an 
official of {NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY{time} , located at {ADDRESS 
OF EXPORTING COMPANY{time} ;
    B. I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the 
production and exportation in the Customs territory of the United 
States of the stainless steel sheet and strip (SSSS) identified 
below. ``Direct personal knowledge'' refers to facts the certifying 
party is expected to have in its own books and records. For example, 
an exporter should have ``direct personal knowledge'' of the 
producer's identity and location;
    C. The SSSS covered by this certification does not contain 
stainless steel flat-rolled inputs produced in the People's Republic 
of China (China);
    D. This certification applies to the following sales to {NAME OF 
U.S. CUSTOMER{time} , located at {ADDRESS OF U.S. CUSTOMER{time}  
(repeat this block as many times as necessary):
    Foreign Seller's Invoice # to U.S. Customer:
    Foreign Seller's Invoice to U.S. Customer Line item #:
    Producer's Invoice # to Foreign Seller: (If the foreign seller 
and the producer are the same party, put NA here.)
    Producer's Invoice # Foreign Seller: (If the foreign seller and 
the producer are the same party, put NA here.)
    Producer of Stainless Steel Flat-Rolled Inputs' Name:
    Location (Country) of Producer of Stainless Steel Flat-Rolled 
Inputs:
    E. The SSSS products covered by this certification were shipped 
to {NAME OF U.S. PARTY TO WHOM MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED{time} , 
located at {U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED{time} ;
    F. I understand that {EXPORTING COMPANY{time}  is required to 
maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation 
supporting this certification (i.e., documents maintained in the 
normal course of business, or documents obtained by the certifying 
party, for example, product data sheets, mill test reports, 
productions records, invoices, etc.) for the later of: (1) a period 
of five years from the date of entry; or (2) a period of three years 
after the conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts 
regarding such entries;
    G. The shipments/products referenced herein shipped before mm/
dd/yyyy, the date on which Commerce published notice of its 
preliminary scope and circumvention findings in the Federal 
Register. This certification was completed on mm/dd/yyyy, within 45 
days of the Federal Register notice publication.

{Or{time} 

    The shipments/products referenced herein shipped on mm/dd/yyyy. 
This certification was completed on mm/dd/yyyy, within 45 days of 
the date on which Commerce published its preliminary scope and 
circumvention findings in the Federal Register.

{Or{time} 

    I understand that {EXPORTING COMPANY{time}  must provide this 
Exporter Certification to the U.S. importer by the time of shipment;
    H. I understand that failure to maintain the required 
certification and supporting documentation, failure to substantiate 
the claims made herein, and/or failure to allow U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce 
(Commerce) to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de 
facto determination that all entries to which this certification 
applies are within the scope of the antidumping duty (AD) and 
countervailing duty (CVD) orders on SSSS from China. I understand 
that such a finding will result in:
    [cir] suspension of all unliquidated entries (and entries for 
which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements 
were not met;
    [cir] the requirement that the importer post applicable AD and/
or CVD cash deposits (as appropriate) equal to the rates as 
determined by Commerce; and

[[Page 56631]]

    [cir] the revocation of {EXPORTING COMPANY{time} 's privilege to 
certify that future imports of SSSS were not produced using 
stainless steel flat-rolled inputs sourced from China subject to 
these certifications.
    I. This certification was completed at time of shipment or 
within 45 days of the date on which Commerce published notice of its 
preliminary scope and anti-circumvention findings in the Federal 
Register; and
    J. I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 
U.S.C. 1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly 
and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government.

Signature

{NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL{time} 
{TITLE{time} 
{DATE{time} 

[FR Doc. 2022-19966 Filed 9-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P