[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6130-6131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01881]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-704-705 and 731-TA-1664-1666 (Preliminary)]


Paper Plates From China, Thailand, and Vietnam; Institution of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations and Scheduling of 
Preliminary Phase Investigations

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of 
investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping and 
countervailing duty investigations Nos. 701-TA-704-705 and 731-TA-1664-
1666 (Preliminary) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') to 
determine whether there is a reasonable indication that 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 paper plates from China, 
Thailand, and Vietnam, provided for in subheading 4823.69.00 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be 
sold in the United States at less than fair value and alleged to be 
subsidized by the Governments of China and Vietnam. Unless the 
Department of Commerce (``Commerce'') extends the time for initiation, 
the Commission must reach a preliminary determination in antidumping 
and countervailing duty investigations in 45 days, or in this case by 
March 11, 2024. The Commission's views must be transmitted to Commerce 
within five business days thereafter, or by March 18, 2024.

DATES: January 25, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Jones (202-205-3358), 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: 
    Background.--These investigations are being instituted, pursuant to 
sections 703(a) and 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1671b(a) and 1673b(a)), in response to a petition filed on January 25, 
2024, by the American Paper Plate Coalition, which is comprised of AJM 
Packaging Corporation, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Aspen Products, 
Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, Dart Container Corporation, Mason, 
Michigan, Hoffmaster Group, Inc., Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Huhtamaki 
Americas, Inc., De Soto, Kansas, and the Unique Industries, Inc., 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
    For further information concerning the conduct of these 
investigations 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 B (19 CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec. Sec.  201.11 and 
207.10 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users 
and (if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail 
level) representative consumer organizations have the right to appear 
as parties in Commission antidumping duty and countervailing duty 
investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list 
containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their 
representatives, who are parties to these investigations upon the 
expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.
    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 these investigations available to authorized 
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO issued in 
the investigations, provided that the application is made not later 
than seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary 
for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Conference.--The Office of Investigations will hold a staff 
conference in connection with the preliminary phase of these 
investigations beginning at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2024. 
Requests to appear at the conference should be emailed to 
[email protected] (DO NOT FILE ON EDIS) on or before 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Please provide an email address for each 
conference participant in the email. Information on conference 
procedures, format, and participation, including guidance for requests 
to appear as a witness via videoconference, will be available on the 
Commission's Public Calendar (Calendar (USITC) [verbar] United States 
International Trade Commission). A nonparty who has testimony that may 
aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to 
participate by submitting a short statement.
    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.
    Written submissions.--As provided in Sec. Sec.  201.8 and 207.15 of 
the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or 
before 5:15 p.m. on February 21, 2024, a written brief containing 
information and arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the 
investigations. Parties shall file written testimony and supplementary 
material in connection with their presentation at the conference no 
later than noon on February 14, 2024. 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.
    In accordance with Sec. Sec.  201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, 
each document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on 
all other parties to the investigations (as identified by either

[[Page 6131]]

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.
    Certification.--Pursuant to Sec.  207.3 of the Commission's rules, 
any person submitting information to the Commission in connection with 
these investigations must certify that the information is accurate and 
complete to the best of the submitter's knowledge. In making the 
certification, the submitter will acknowledge that any information that 
it submits to the Commission during these investigations may be 
disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and 
Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the 
records of these or related investigations or reviews, or (b) in 
internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to 
the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including 
under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and 
contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. All contract 
personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
    Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority 
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published 
pursuant to Sec.  207.12 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 26, 2024.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-01881 Filed 1-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P