[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 76184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24476]



[[Page 76184]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-063]


Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic of China: 
Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Review of the 
Countervailing Duty Order

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: As a result of this expedited sunset review, the U.S. 
Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the 
countervailing duty (CVD) order on cast iron soil pipe fittings (soil 
pipe fittings) from the People's Republic of China (China) would be 
likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable 
subsidies at the levels indicated in the ``Final Results of Sunset 
Review'' section of this notice.

DATES: Applicable November 6, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry Wolfe, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20230; telephone: (202)-482-0574.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On August 31, 2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register the 
CVD order on soil pipe fittings from China.\1\ On July 3, 2023, 
Commerce published the notice of initiation of the first sunset review 
of the Order, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act).\2\ Commerce received a notice of intent to 
participate from Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute and its individual 
members Charlotte Pipe & Foundry and McWane, Inc. (collectively, 
domestic interested parties) within the deadlines specified in 19 CFR 
351.218(d)(1)(i).\3\ The domestic interested party claimed interested 
party status under section 771(9)(E) of the Act, and 19 CFR 
351.102(b)(17) and (29)(vii) as a trade or business association, a 
majority of whose members manufacture or produce the domestic like 
product in the United States.
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    \1\ See Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic 
of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 83 FR 44566 (August 31, 2018) 
(Order).
    \2\ See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews, 88 FR 42688 
(July 3, 2023) (Initiation Notice). In the Initiation Notice, the 
product is erroneously listed as ``Cast Iron Soil Pipe,'' but the 
correct case number for the order on soil pipe fittings is given.
    \3\ See Domestic Interested Parties' Letter, ``Cast Iron Soil 
Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Notice of Intent 
to Participate in the First Five-Year Review,'' dated July 18, 2023.
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    On August 2, 2023, Commerce received a complete substantive 
response for this review from the domestic interested parties within 
the 30-day deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3)(i).\4\ We did not 
receive a substantive response from any other interested party in this 
proceeding, and no party requested a hearing.
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    \4\ See Domestic Interested Parties' Letter, ``Cast Iron Soil 
Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Petitioner's 
Substantive Response to the Notice of Initiation,'' dated August 2, 
2023 (Substantive Response).
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    On August 22, 2023, Commerce notified the U.S. International Trade 
Commission (ITC) that it did not receive an adequate substantive 
response from respondent interested parties.\5\ As a result, pursuant 
to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), 
Commerce conducted expedited (120-day) sunset review of the Order.
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    \5\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Sunset Reviews for July 2023,'' 
dated August 22, 2023.
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Scope of the Order

    The product covered by the Order is cast iron soil pipe fittings, 
finished and unfinished, regardless of industry or proprietary 
specifications, and regardless of size. The subject merchandise is 
currently provided for in item 7307.11.0045 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Subject merchandise may also 
enter under HTSUS 7324.29.0000 and 7307.92.3010. Although the HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise is dispositive. For a complete 
description of the scope of the Order, see the Issues and Decision 
Memorandum.\6\
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    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 
Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order of 
Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings from the People's Republic of China,'' 
dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues 
and Decision Memorandum).
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Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in this sunset review are addressed in the Issues 
and Decision Memorandum.\7\ The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a 
public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and 
Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic 
Services System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at 
http://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues 
and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
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    \7\ Id.
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Final Results of Sunset Review

    Pursuant to sections 751(c)(1) and 752(b) of the Act, Commerce 
determines that revocation of the Order would be likely to lead to the 
continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the 
following rates:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy rate
                    Producer/exporter                       (percent ad
                                                             valorem)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shanxi Xuanshi Industrial Group Co., Ltd................           34.87
Wor-Biz International Trading Co., Ltd. (Anhui).........            7.37
Shijiazhuang Chengmei Import & Export Co., Ltd..........          133.94
All Others..............................................           23.28
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Administrative Protective Order

    This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a). Timely written notification 
of the destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial 
protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the 
regulations and terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

Notification to Interested Parties

    We are issuing and publishing these final results and notice in 
accordance with sections 751(c), 752(b), and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 
19 CFR 351.218.

    Dated: October 31, 2023.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix

List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. History of the Order
V. Legal Framework
VI. Discussion of the Issues
    . Likelihood of Continuation or Recurrence of a Countervailable 
Subsidy
    2. Net Countervailable Subsidy Rates Likely to Prevail
    3. Nature of the Subsidies
VII. Final Results of Review
VIII. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2023-24476 Filed 11-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P