    [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 2026)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 14709-14712]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2026-05849]

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    INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

    [Investigation Nos. 701-TA-764-766 and 731-TA-1747-1749 (Final)]

    Hardwood and Decorative Plywood From China, Indonesia, and
    Vietnam; 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-764-766 and 731-TA-1747-1749 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act
    of 1930 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 hardwood and decorative plywood from
    China, Indonesia, and Vietnam, provided for in subheadings 4412.10.05,
    4412.31.06, 4412.31.26, 4412.31.42, 4412.31.45, 4412.31.48, 4412.31.52,
    4412.31.61, 4412.31.92, 4412.33.06, 4412.33.26, 4412.33.32, 4412.33.57,
    4412.34.26, 4412.34.32, 4412.34.57, 4412.39.40, 4412.39.50, 4412.41.00,
    4412.42.00, 4412.51.10, 4412.51.31, 4412.51.41, 4412.51.51, 4412.52.10,
    4412.52.31, 4412.52.41, 4412.91.06, 4412.91.10, 4412.91.31, 4412.91.41,
    4412.92.07, 4412.92.11, 4412.92.31, and 4412.92.42 of the Harmonized
    Tariff Schedule of the United States, preliminarily determined by the
    Department of Commerce (``Commerce'') to be subsidized and sold at
    less-than-fair-value.

    DATES: March 2, 2026.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Calvin Chang ((202) 205-3062), 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 hardwood and decorative plywood, and certain
    veneered panels as described below. For purposes of this investigation,
    hardwood and decorative plywood is defined as a generally flat,
    multilayered plywood or other veneered panel, consisting of two or more
    layers or plies of wood veneers in combination with a core or without a
    core. The veneers and, if present, the core are glued or otherwise
    bonded together. A hardwood and decorative plywood panel must have at
    least either the face or back veneer composed of one or more species of
    hardwood, softwood, or bamboo, regardless of any surface coverings.
    Hardwood and decorative plywood may include products that meet the
    American National Standard for Hardwood and Decorative Plywood, ANSI/
    HPVA HP-1-2024 (including any revisions to that standard).
        For purposes of the investigation a ``veneer'' is a slice of wood
    regardless of thickness which is cut, sliced or sawed from a log, bolt,
    or flitch. The face and back veneers are the outermost veneer of wood
    irrespective of additional surface coatings or covers as described
    below. The core of hardwood and decorative plywood (for those products
    that include a core) consists of the layer or layers of one or more
    material(s) that are situated between the face and back veneers. The
    core may be composed of a range of materials, including but not limited
    to hardwood, softwood, particleboard, or medium density fiberboard
    (MDF).
        All hardwood and decorative plywood is included within the scope
    even if it is trimmed; cut-to-size; notched; punched; drilled; or has
    undergone other forms of minor processing. All hardwood and decorative
    plywood is included within the scope of the investigation, without
    regard to dimension (overall thickness,

    [[Page 14710]]

    thickness of face veneer, thickness of back veneer, thickness of core,
    thickness of inner veneers, width, or length). However, the most common
    panel sizes of hardwood and decorative plywood are 1219 x 1829 mm (48 x
    72 inches), 1219 x 2438 mm (48 x 96 inches), and 1219 x 3048 mm (48 x
    120 inches). Subject merchandise also includes hardwood and decorative
    plywood that has been further processed in a third country, including
    but not limited to trimming, cutting, notching, punching, drilling, or
    any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise
    from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of
    manufacture of the in-scope product.
        All hardwood and decorative plywood is included within the scope
    even if it is trimmed; cut-to-size; notched; punched; drilled; or has
    undergone other forms of minor processing. All hardwood and decorative
    plywood is included within the scope of the investigation, without
    regard to dimension (overall thickness, thickness of face veneer,
    thickness of back veneer, thickness of core, thickness of inner
    veneers, width, or length). However, the most common panel sizes of
    hardwood and decorative plywood are 1219 x 1829 mm (48 x 72 inches),
    1219 x 2438 mm (48 x 96 inches), and 1219 x 3048 mm (48 x 120 inches).
    Subject merchandise also includes hardwood and decorative plywood that
    has been further processed in a third country, including but not
    limited to trimming, cutting, notching, punching, drilling, or any
    other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from
    the scope of the investigations if performed in the country of
    manufacture of the in-scope product.
        The scope of the investigation excludes the following items: (1)
    structural plywood (also known as ``industrial plywood'' or
    ``industrial panels'') that (a) is certified, manufactured, and stamped
    to meet U.S. Products Standard PS 1-09, PS 2-09, PS-1-22, PS 2-10, or
    PS 2-18 for Structural Plywood (including any revisions to that
    standard or any substantially equivalent international standard
    intended for structural plywood), including, but not limited to, the
    ``bond performance'' requirements and the performance criteria detailed
    in U.S. Products Standard PS 1-09, PS 2-09, PS-1-22, PS 2-10, or PS 2-
    18 for Structural Plywood (including any revisions to that standard or
    any substantially equivalent international standard intended for
    structural plywood), and (b) where the relevant standard identifies
    core species requirements, has a core made entirely of one or more of
    the following wood species: Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir), Larix
    occidentalis (Western Larch), Tsuga heterophylla (Western Hemlock),
    Abies balsamea (Balsam Pine/Balsam Fir), Abies magnifica (California
    Red Fir), Abies grandis (Grand Fir), Abies procera (Noble Fir), Abies
    amabilis (Pacific Silver Fir), Abies concolor (White Fir), Abies
    lasiocarpa (Subalpine Fir), Picea glauca (White Spruce), Picea
    engelmannii (Engelmann Spruce), Picea mariana (Black Spruce), Picea
    rubens (Red Spruce), Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce), Pinus banksiana
    (Jack Pine), Pinus taeda (Loblolly Southern Pine), Pinus palustris
    (Longleaf Southern Pine), Pinus echinata (Shortleaf Southern Pine),
    Pinus elliottii (Slash Southern Pine), Pinus serotina (Pond Pine),
    Pinus resinosa (Red Pine), Pinus virginiana (Virginia Pine), Pinus
    monticola (Western White Pine), Picea mariana (Black Spruce), Picea
    rubens (Red Spruce), Picea sitchensis (Sitka Spruce), Pinus contorta
    (Lodgepole Pine), Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine), and Pinus
    lambertiana (Sugar Pine); (2) products which have a face and back
    veneer of cork; (3) hardwood plywood subject to the antidumping and
    countervailing duty orders on hardwood plywood from China. See Certain
    Hardwood Plywood Products from the People's Republic of China: Amended
    Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and Antidumping
    Duty Order, 83 FR 504 (January 4, 2018); and Certain Hardwood Plywood
    Products from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty
    Order, 83 FR 513 (January 4, 2018); (4) multilayered wood flooring, as
    described in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on
    multilayered wood flooring from China. See Multilayered Wood Flooring
    from the People's Republic of China: Amended Final Determination of
    Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order, 76 FR 76690
    (December 8, 2011); and Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's
    Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 76 FR 76693 (December 8,
    2011), as amended by Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's
    Republic of China: Amended Antidumping and Countervailing Orders, 77 FR
    5484 (February 3, 2012); (5) multilayered wood flooring with a face
    veneer of bamboo or composed entirely of bamboo; (6) plywood which has
    a shape or design other than a flat panel, with the exception of any
    minor processing described above; (7) products made entirely from
    bamboo and adhesives (also known as ``solid bamboo''); and (8) Phenolic
    Film Faced Plyform (PFF), also known as Phenolic Surface Film Plywood
    (PSF), defined as a panel with an ``Exterior'' or ``Exposure 1'' bond
    classification as is defined by The Engineered Wood Association, having
    an opaque phenolic film layer with a weight equal to or greater than
    90g/m3 permanently bonded on both the face and back veneers and an
    opaque, moisture resistant coating applied to the edges.
        Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are wooden
    furniture goods that, at the time of importation, are fully assembled
    and are ready for their intended uses. Also excluded from the scope of
    the investigation is ``ready to assemble'' (RTA) furniture. RTA
    furniture is defined as (A) furniture packaged for sale for ultimate
    purchase by an end-user that, at the time of importation, includes (1)
    all wooden components (in finished form) required to assemble a
    finished unit of furniture, (2) all accessory parts (e.g., screws,
    washers, dowels, nails, handles, knobs, adhesive glues) required to
    assemble a finished unit of furniture, and (3) instructions providing
    guidance on the assembly of a finished unit of furniture; (B)
    unassembled bathroom vanity cabinets, having a space for one or more
    sinks, that are imported with all unassembled hardwood and hardwood
    plywood components that have been cut-to-final dimensional component
    shape/size, painted or stained prior to importation, and stacked within
    a singled shipping package, except for furniture feet which may be
    packed and shipped separately; or (C) unassembled bathroom vanity linen
    closets that are imported with all unassembled hardwood and hardwood
    plywood components that have been cut-to-final dimensional shape/size,
    painted or stained prior to importation, and stacked within a single
    shipping package, except for furniture feet which may be packed and
    shipped separately.
        Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are kitchen
    cabinets that, at the time of importation, are fully assembled and are
    ready for their intended uses. Also excluded from the scope of the
    investigation are RTA kitchen cabinets. RTA kitchen cabinets are
    defined as kitchen cabinets packaged for sale for ultimate purchase by
    an end-user that, at the time of importation, includes: (1) all wooden
    components (in finished form) required to assemble a finished unit of
    cabinetry; (2) all accessory parts (e.g., screws, washers, dowels,
    nails, handles, knobs, hooks, adhesive glues) required to

    [[Page 14711]]

    assemble a finished unit of cabinetry; and (3) instructions providing
    guidance on the assembly of a finished unit of cabinetry. Excluded from
    the scope of the investigation are finished table tops, which are table
    tops imported in finished form with pre-cut or drilled openings to
    attach the underframe or legs. The table tops are ready for use at the
    time of import and require no further finishing or processing. Excluded
    from the scope of the investigation are finished countertops that are
    imported in finished form and require no further finishing or
    manufacturing. Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are
    laminated veneer lumber (``LVL'') door and window components with (1) a
    maximum width of 44 millimeters, a thickness from 30 millimeters to 72
    millimeters, and a length of less than 2413 millimeters, (2) water
    boiling point exterior adhesive, (3) a modulus of elasticity of
    1,500,000 pounds per square inch or higher, (4) finger-jointed or lap-
    jointed core veneer with all layers oriented so that the grain is
    running parallel or with no more than 3 dispersed layers of veneer
    oriented with the grain running perpendicular to the other layers; and
    (5) top layer machined with a curved edge and one or more profile
    channels throughout.
        Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are certain door
    stiles and rails made of LVL that have a width not to exceed 50
    millimeters, a thickness not to exceed 50 millimeters, and a length of
    less than 2,450 millimeters.
        Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are finished
    two-ply products that are made of one ply of wood veneer and one ply of
    a non-wood veneer material and the two-ply product cannot be glued or
    otherwise adhered to additional plies or that are made of two plies of
    wood veneer and have undergone staining, cutting, notching, punching,
    drilling, or other processing on the surface of the veneer such that
    the two-ply product cannot be glued or otherwise adhered to additional
    plies.
        Background.--The final phase of these investigations is being
    scheduled pursuant to sections 705(b) and 731(b) of the Tariff Act of
    1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671d(b) and 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 China, Indonesia, and Vietnam of hardwood and decorative
    plywood, and that such products are being sold in the United States at
    less than fair value within the meaning of Sec.  733 of the Act (19
    U.S.C. 1673b). The investigations were requested in petitions filed on
    May 22, 2025, by the Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, the
    members of which are Columbia Forest Products, Greensboro, North
    Carolina; Commonwealth Plywood Co., Ltd., Whitehall, New York; Manthei
    Wood Products, Petoskey, Michigan; States Industries LLC, Eugene,
    Oregon; and Timber Products Company, Springfield, Oregon.
        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 July 1,
    2026, 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 Thursday,
    July 16, 2026. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in
    writing with the Secretary to the Commission on or before Friday, July
    10, 2026. 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 3:00
    p.m. 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 Tuesday,
    July 14, 2026. Parties shall file and serve written testimony and
    presentation slides in connection with their presentation at the
    hearing by no later than noon on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. 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 July 9, 2026. Parties shall also file
    written testimony in connection with their presentation at the hearing,

    [[Page 14712]]

    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 July 23, 2026. 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 July 23, 2026. On August 12, 2026, 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 August 14, 2026, 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: March 23, 2026.
    Lisa Barton,
    Secretary to the Commission.
    [FR Doc. 2026-05849 Filed 3-25-26; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 7020-02-P