[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 192 (Thursday, October 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69229-69230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22150]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-686-688 and 731-TA-1612-1617 (Final)]


Brass Rod From Brazil, India, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, and 
South Korea; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and 
Antidumping Duty Investigations

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the 
final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 
701-TA-686-688 and 731-TA-1612-1617 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act 
of 1930 (``the Act'') to determine whether an industry in the United 
States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the 
establishment of an industry in the United States is materially 
retarded, by reason of imports of brass rod from Brazil, India, Israel, 
Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea, provided for in subheadings 
7407.21.15, 7407.21.30, 7407.21.70, and 7407.21.90 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States, preliminarily determined by the 
Department of Commerce (``Commerce'') to be subsidized by the 
governments of India, Israel, and South Korea. The determinations with 
respect to imports of brass rod alleged to be sold at less-than-fair-
value are pending.

DATES: September 29, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Duffy ((202) 708-2579), Office 
of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need 
special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact 
the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these 
investigations may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Scope.--For purposes of these investigations, Commerce has defined 
the subject merchandise as ``The products covered by these 
investigations are brass rod and bar (brass rod), which is defined as 
leaded, low-lead, and no-lead solid brass made from alloys such as, but 
not limited to the following alloys classified under the Unified 
Numbering System (UNS) as C27450, C27451, C27460, C34500, C35000, 
C35300, C35330, C36000, C36300, C37000, C37700, C48500, C67300, C67600, 
and C69300, and their international equivalents.
    The brass rod subject to these investigations has an actual cross-
section or outside diameter greater than 0.25 inches but less than or 
equal to 12 inches. Brass rod cross-sections may be round, hexagonal, 
square, or octagonal shapes as well as special profiles (e.g., angles, 
shapes), including hollow profiles.
    Standard leaded brass rod covered by the scope contains, by weight, 
57.0-65.0 percent copper; 0.5-3.0 percent lead; no more than 1.3 
percent iron; and at least 15 percent zinc. No-lead or low-lead brass 
rod covered by the scope contains by weight 59.0-76.0 percent copper; 
0-1.5 percent lead; no more than 0.35 percent iron; and at least 15 
percent zinc. Brass rod may also include other chemical elements (e.g., 
nickel, phosphorous, silicon, tin, etc.).
    Brass rod may be in straight lengths or coils. Brass rod covered by 
these investigations may be finished or unfinished, and may or may not 
be heated, extruded, pickled, or cold-drawn. Brass rod may be produced 
in accordance with ASTM B16, ASTM B124, ASTM B981, ASTM B371, ASTM 
B453, ASTM B21, ASTM B138, and ASTM B927, but such conformity to an 
ASTM standard is not required for the merchandise to be included within 
the scope.
    Excluded from the scope of these investigations is brass ingot, 
which is a casting of unwrought metal unsuitable for conversion into 
brass rod without remelting, that contains, by weight, at least 57.0 
percent copper and 15.0 percent zinc.
    The merchandise covered by these investigations is currently 
classifiable under subheadings 7407.21.9000, 7407.21.7000, and 
7407.21.1500 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS). Products subject to the scope may also enter under HTSUS 
subheadings 7403.21.0000, 7407.21.3000, and 7407.21.5000. The HTSUS 
subheadings and UNS alloy designations are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes. The written description of the scope of the 
investigations is dispositive.''
    Background.--The final phase of these investigations is being 
scheduled pursuant to section 731(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
U.S.C. 1673d(b)), as a result of affirmative preliminary determinations 
by Commerce that certain benefits which constitute subsidies within the 
meaning of Sec.  703 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b) are being provided to 
manufacturers, producers, or exporters in India, Israel, and South 
Korea of brass rod. Commerce's preliminary determinations with respect 
to imports of brass rod from Brazil, India, Israel, Mexico, South 
Africa, and South Korea that are alleged to be sold in the United 
States at less than fair value are pending.

[[Page 69230]]

    The investigations were requested in petitions filed on April 27, 
2023, by the American Brass Rod Fair Trade Coalition, Washington, 
District of Columbia; Mueller Brass Co., Port Huron, Michigan; and 
Wieland Chase LLC, Montpelier, Ohio.
    For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the 
investigations, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, 
consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, 
subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and C (19 
CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if 
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of these 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec.  201.11 of the 
Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date 
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance 
during the preliminary phase of the investigations need not file an 
additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary 
will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses 
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the 
investigations.
    Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic 
filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's 
Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov.) 
No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic 
filings will be accepted until further notice.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to Sec.  207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in the final phase of these investigations 
available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the 
investigations, provided that the application is made no later than 21 
days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized 
applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9), who are parties to the investigations. A party granted access 
to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not reapply 
for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the 
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Staff report.--The prehearing staff report in the final phase of 
these investigations will be placed in the nonpublic record on November 
29, 2023, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to 
Sec.  207.22 of the Commission's rules.
    Hearing.--The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the 
final phase of these investigations beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 
December 12, 2023. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in 
writing with the Secretary to the Commission on or before Thursday, 
December 7, 2023. Any requests to appear as a witness via 
videoconference must be included with your request to appear. Requests 
to appear via videoconference must include a statement explaining why 
the witness cannot appear in person; the Chairman, or other person 
designated to conduct the investigation, may in their discretion for 
good cause shown, grant such a request. Requests to appear as remote 
witness due to illness or a positive COVID-19 test result may be 
submitted by 3pm the business day prior to the hearing. Further 
information about participation in the hearing will be posted on the 
Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html.
    A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the Commission's 
deliberations may request permission to present a short statement at 
the hearing. All parties and nonparties desiring to appear at the 
hearing and make oral presentations should attend a prehearing 
conference, if deemed necessary, to be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, 
December 11, 2023. Parties shall file and serve written testimony and 
presentation slides in connection with their presentation at the 
hearing by no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023 (one 
business day prior to hearing). Oral testimony and written materials to 
be submitted at the public hearing are governed by sections 
201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties 
must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony 
in camera no later than 7 business days prior to the date of the 
hearing.
    Written submissions.--Each party who is an interested party shall 
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must 
conform with the provisions of Sec.  207.23 of the Commission's rules; 
the deadline for filing is December 6, 2023. Parties shall also file 
written testimony in connection with their presentation at the hearing, 
and posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of Sec.  
207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for filing posthearing 
briefs is December 19, 2023. In addition, any person who has not 
entered an appearance as a party to the investigations may submit a 
written statement of information pertinent to the subject of the 
investigations, including statements of support or opposition to the 
petition, on or before December 19, 2023. On January 3, 2024, the 
Commission will make available to parties all information on which they 
have not had an opportunity to comment. Parties may submit final 
comments on this information on or before January 5, 2024, but such 
final comments must not contain new factual information and must 
otherwise comply with Sec.  207.30 of the Commission's rules. All 
written submissions must conform with the provisions of Sec.  201.8 of 
the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain BPI must also 
conform with the requirements of Sec. Sec.  201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of 
the Commission's rules. The Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures, 
available on the Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf, elaborates upon the 
Commission's procedures with respect to filings.
    Additional written submissions to the Commission, including 
requests pursuant to Sec.  201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall not 
be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such submissions, 
or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request by a 
Commissioner or Commission staff.
    In accordance with Sec. Sec.  201.16(c) and 207.3 of the 
Commission's rules, each document filed by a party to the 
investigations must be served on all other parties to the 
investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service 
list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary 
will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.
     Authority: These investigations are being conducted under 
authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is 
published pursuant to Sec.  207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: September 29, 2023.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2023-22150 Filed 10-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P