Carbon and Alloy Steel Threaded Rod From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2019-2020

AGENCY:

Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to the producers and exporters subject to the administrative review of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod (threaded rod) from the People's Republic of China (China) during the period of review (POR) July 29, 2019, through December 31, 2020.

DATES:

Applicable November 7, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Schauer or Allison Hollander, AD/CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0410 or (202) 482-2805, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 6, 2022, Commerce published the preliminary results of the 2019-2020 administrative review of the countervailing duty order on threaded rod from China. This review covers two mandatory respondents, Zhejiang Junyue Standard Part Co., Ltd. (Junyue) and Ningbo Zhongjiang High Strength Bolts Co., Ltd. (Zhongjiang Bolts), and three non-examined producers or exporters of subject merchandise. We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results. On June 6, 2022, we received timely case briefs from Vulcan Threaded Products Inc. (the petitioner), Junyue, and Zhongjiang Bolts. On June 13, 2022, we received timely rebuttal briefs from the petitioner, Junyue, and Zhongjiang Bolts. For a complete description of the events that occurred since the Preliminary Results, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Scope of the Order

The product covered by the Order is threaded rod from China. A full description of the scope of the Order is contained in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Analysis of Comments Received

All issues raised by interested parties in briefs are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum accompanying this notice. A list of the issues addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is provided in the appendix to this notice. 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 Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://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.

Changes Since the Preliminary Results

Based on comments in case and rebuttal briefs and record evidence, Commerce made certain changes from the Preliminary Results regarding the calculation of wire rod and steel bar benchmarks and we have corrected several ministerial errors. As a result of these changes, the final rates for Junyue and Zhongjiang Bolts have changed and the rate for non-selected respondents also changed. These changes are explained in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Methodology

Commerce conducted this administrative review in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each subsidy program found to be countervailable, Commerce finds that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution from a government or public entity that gives rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific. For a full description of the methodology underlying all of Commerce's conclusions, including any determination that relied upon the use of adverse facts available pursuant to section 776(a) and (b) of the Act, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Companies Not Selected for Individual Review

The statute and Commerce's regulations do not address the establishment of a rate to be applied to companies not selected for examination when Commerce limits its examination in an administrative review pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the Act. Generally, Commerce looks to section 705(c)(5) of the Act, which provides instructions for determining the all-others rate in an investigation, for guidance when calculating the rate for companies which were not selected for individual examination in an administrative review. Under section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act, the all-others rate is normally an amount equal to the weighted average of the countervailable subsidy rates established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero or de minimis countervailable subsidy rates, and any rates determined entirely on the basis of facts available.

There are three companies for which a review was requested and not rescinded, and which were not selected as mandatory respondents or found to be cross owned with a mandatory respondent: (1) Ningbo Dingtuo Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.; (2) Ningbo Dongxin High-Strength Nut Co., Ltd.; and (3) Ningbo Jinding Fastening Piece Co., Ltd. For these non-selected companies, because the rates calculated for the mandatory respondents, Junyue and Zhongjiang Bolts, were above de minimis and not based entirely on facts available, we are applying the weighted average of the net countervailable subsidy rates calculated for the mandatory respondents, which we calculated using the publicly-ranged sales data submitted by Junyue and Zhongjiang Bolts. This methodology to establish the non-selected subsidy rate is consistent with our practice with regard to the all-others rate, pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act.

Final Results of Administrative Review

In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(5), Commerce calculated the following net countervailable subsidy rates for the period July 29, 2019, through December 31, 2020:

Disclosure

We intend to disclose the calculations performed in connection with the final results of review to parties in this proceeding within five days after public announcement of the final results or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of the notice of final results in the Federal Register , in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Assessment Rates

Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.212(b)(2), Commerce will determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, countervailing duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise covered by this review. We intend to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of these final results of review. If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired ( i.e., within 90 days of publication).

Cash Deposit Instructions

In accordance with section 751(a)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties in the amounts shown for each of the respective companies listed above on shipments of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the final results of this administrative review. For all non-reviewed firms subject to the Order, we will instruct CBP to continue to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties at the most recent company-specific or all-others rate applicable to the company, as appropriate. These cash deposit requirements, effective upon publication of the final results of review, shall remain in effect until further notice.

Administrative Protective Order

This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to an administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return or 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

Commerce is issuing and publishing the final results of review in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(5).

Appendix

List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum

I. Summary

II. Background

III. Scope of the Order

IV. Changes Since the Preliminary Results

V. Non-Selected Companies Under Review

VI. Subsidies Valuation Information

VII. Interest Rates, Discount Rates, and Benchmarks

VIII. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Application of Adverse Inferences

IX. Analysis of Programs

X. Analysis of Comments

Comment 1: Whether Commerce Should Apply Adverse Facts Available (AFA) to the Export Buyer's Credit (EBC) Program

Comment 2: Wire Rod and Steel Bar Benchmarks Calculation

Comment 3: Ocean Freight Benchmark Calculation

Comment 4: Whether Haiyan County Brothers Paper Industry Co., Ltd. (Brother Paper) Is Cross-Owned With Junyue

Comment 5: Whether Commerce Should Countervail Certain of Junyue's Purchases of Electricity

Comment 6: Whether Commerce Should Revise Its Calculation of Junyue's Benefits for Policy Loans and Discount Notes

Comment 7: Whether Commerce Should Revise Its Calculation of Zhongjiang Bolts Benefits for Policy Loans

Comment 8: Whether Commerce Should Revise Its Calculation of the Subsidy Rate for Certain “Other Subsidies”

Comment 9: Whether Commerce Should Revise Its Calculation of Zhongjiang Bolts' Subsidy Rate for Outbound Ocean Freight Rates for Less Than Adequate Remuneration (LTAR)

XI. Recommendation