Stainless Steel Flanges From the People's Republic of China: Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2019

AGENCY:

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

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is rescinding the administrative review of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on stainless steel flanges from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period January 23, 2018, through December 31, 2018.

DATES:

Applicable October 25, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nathan James, AD/CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5305.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 3, 2019, Commerce published in the Federal Register a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the CVD order on stainless steel flanges from China for the period January 23, 2018, through December 31, 2018. On July 1, 2019, Coalition of American Flange Producers, a domestic interested party, filed a timely request for review with respect to 46 companies, in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213(b). Pursuant to this request, and in accordance with section 751(a) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we initiated an administrative review of these companies. On September 9, 2019, Coalition of American Flange Producers filed a timely withdrawal of request for the administrative review of all 46 companies.

Rescission of Review

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), the Secretary will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the party that requested the review withdraws the request within 90 days of the date of publication of the notice of initiation of the requested review. As noted above, Coalition of American Flange Producers, the only party to file a request for review, withdrew its request by the 90-day deadline. Accordingly, we are rescinding the administrative review of the CVD order on stainless steel flanges from China for the period January 23, 2018, through December 31, 2018, in its entirety.

Assessment

Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess countervailing duties on all appropriate entries of stainless steel flanges from China. Countervailing duties shall be assessed at rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions to CBP 15 days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

Notification to Importers

This notice serves as a reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of countervailing duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of countervailing duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of doubled countervailing duties.

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders

This notice also serves as a reminder to all 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. Timely written notification of the return/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 violation which is subject to sanction.

This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4).