2025-00544. Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

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Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

1. [A-570-190]

AGENCY:

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

DATES:

Applicable January 6, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Cloyd, Office VII, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

On November 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) received an antidumping duty (AD) petition concerning imports of sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains (ceramic abrasive grains) from the People's Republic of China (China) filed in proper form on behalf of Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. (the petitioner), a U.S. producer of ceramic abrasive grains.^[1] The AD Petition was accompanied by a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China.^[2]

Between November 27 and December 6, 2024, Commerce requested supplemental information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition in supplemental questionnaires.^[3] Between December 4 and 12, 2024, the petitioner filed timely responses to these requests for additional information.^[4]

On December 6, 2024, Commerce extended the initiation deadline by 20 days to poll the domestic industry in accordance with sections 732(c)(1)(B) and 732(c)(4)(D) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), because the Petition “{had} not established that the domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of total production support the {Petition}. . . .” ^[5]

In accordance with section 732(b) of the Act, the petitioner alleges that imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) within the meaning of section 731 of the Act, and that imports of such products are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the ceramic abrasive grains industry in the United States. Consistent with section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the Petition was accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioner supporting its allegations.

Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of the domestic industry, because the petitioner is an interested party, as defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. Commerce also finds that the petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support for the initiation of the requested LTFV investigation.^[6]

Period of Investigation

Because the Petition was filed on November 25, 2024, and because China is a non-market economy (NME) country, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(b)(1), the period of investigation (POI) for China LTFV investigation is April 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024.

Scope of the Investigation

The products covered by this investigation are ceramic abrasive grains from China. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the appendix to this notice.

Comments on the Scope of the Investigation

On November 27, 2024 and December 6, 2024, Commerce requested information and clarification from the petitioner regarding the proposed scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petition is an accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking relief.^[7] On December 4 and 9, 2024, the petitioner provided clarifications and revised the scope.^[8] The description of merchandise covered by this investigation, as described in the appendix to this notice, reflects these clarifications.

As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding product coverage ( i.e., scope).^[9] Commerce will consider all scope comments received from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with interested parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determination. If scope comments include factual information,^[10] all such factual information should be limited to public information. To facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests that scope comments be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on January 27, 2025, which is the next business day after 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice.^[11] Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, and should also be limited to public information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 6, 2025, which is 10 calendar days from the initial comment deadline.

Commerce requests that any factual information that parties consider relevant to the scope of this investigation be submitted during that period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigation may be relevant, the party must contact Commerce and request permission to submit the additional ( print page 3180) information. All scope comments must be filed simultaneously on the records of the concurrent LTFV and CVD investigations.

Filing Requirements

All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), unless an exception applies.^[12] An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is due.

Comments on Product Characteristics

Commerce is providing interested parties an opportunity to comment on the appropriate physical characteristics of ceramic abrasive grains to be reported in response to Commerce's AD questionnaires. This information will be used to identify the key physical characteristics of the subject merchandise in order to report the relevant factors of production (FOP) accurately, as well as to develop appropriate product comparison criteria.

Interested parties may provide any information or comments that they feel are relevant to the development of an accurate list of physical characteristics. In order to consider the suggestions of interested parties in developing and issuing the AD questionnaires, all product characteristics comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on January 27, 2025, which is the next business day after 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice.^[13] Any rebuttal comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 6, 2025, which is 10 calendar days from the initial comment deadline. All comments and submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using ACCESS, as explained above, on the record of the LTFV investigation.

Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on behalf of the domestic industry. Section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) at least 25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and (ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i) poll the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling method to poll the “industry.”

Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the “industry” as the producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the domestic like product. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), which is responsible for determining whether “the domestic industry” has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the ITC apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic like product,^[14] they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may result in different definitions of the like product, such differences do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.^[15]

Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as “a product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation under this title.” Thus, the reference point from which the domestic like product analysis begins is “the article subject to an investigation” ( i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the petition).

With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioner does not offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope of the investigation.^[16] Based on our analysis of the information submitted on the record, we have determined that ceramic abrasive grains, as defined in the scope, constitute a single domestic like product, and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like product.^[17]

As noted above, on December 6, 2024, Commerce extended the initiation deadline by 20 days to poll the domestic industry in accordance with sections 732(c)(1)(B) and 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act, because the Petition “{had} not established that the domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of total production support the {Petition}. . . .” ^[18] On December 10, 2024, we issued polling questionnaires to all known producers identified in the Petition.^[19] We requested that the companies complete the polling questionnaire and certify their responses by the due date specified in the cover letter to the questionnaire. We received timely responses to these questionnaires from domestic producers on December 17, 2024.^[20] No interested party submitted comments on the polling questionnaire responses.

Our analysis of the data we received in the polling questionnaire responses indicates that the domestic producers and workers who support the Petition account for at least 25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product and more than 50 percent of the ( print page 3181) production of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition.^[21] Accordingly, Commerce determines that the industry support requirements of section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act have been met and that the Petition was filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of section 732(b)(1) of the Act.^[22]

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

The petitioner alleges that the U.S. industry producing the domestic like product is being materially injured, or is threatened with material injury, by reason of the imports of the subject merchandise sold at LTFV. In addition, the petitioner alleges that subject imports from China exceed the negligibility threshold provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.^[23]

The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is illustrated by the increasing volume of subject imports; reduced market share; underselling and price depression and/or suppression; lost sales and revenues; declines in the domestic industry's production, capacity utilization, and financial performance; and the magnitude of the alleged dumping margins.^[24] We assessed the allegations and supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat of material injury, causation, cumulation, as well as negligibility, and we have determined that these allegations are properly supported by adequate evidence and meet the statutory requirements for initiation.^[25]

Allegations of Sales at LTFV

The following is a description of the allegations of sales at LTFV upon which Commerce based its decision to initiate LTFV investigations of imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China. The sources of data for the deductions and adjustments relating to U.S. price and normal value (NV) are discussed in greater detail in the China AD Initiation Checklist.

U.S. Price

The petitioner based export price (EP) on invoice pricing information for ceramic abrasive grains produced in China and sold in the U.S. market during the POI.^[26] The petitioner made certain adjustments to U.S. price to calculate a net ex-factory U.S. price, where applicable.^[27]

Normal Value

Commerce considers China to be an NME country.^[28] In accordance with section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, any determination that a foreign country is an NME country shall remain in effect until revoked by Commerce. Therefore, we continue to treat China as an NME country for purposes of the initiation of this LTFV investigation. Accordingly, we base NV on FOPs valued in a surrogate market economy country in accordance with section 773(c) of the Act.

The petitioner claims that the Republic of Türkiye (Türkiye) is an appropriate surrogate country for China because it is a market economy that is at a level of economic development comparable to that of China and is a significant producer of comparable merchandise.^[29] The petitioner provided publicly available information from Türkiye to value all FOPs.^[30] Based on the information provided by the petitioner, we believe it is appropriate to use Türkiye as a surrogate country for China to value all FOPs for initiation purposes.

Interested parties will have the opportunity to submit comments regarding surrogate country selection and, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.301(c)(3)(i), will be provided an opportunity to submit publicly available information to value FOPs within 30 days before the scheduled date of the preliminary determination.

Factors of Production

Because information regarding the volume of inputs consumed by Chinese producers/exporters was not reasonably available, the petitioner used its own production experience and product-specific consumption rates as a surrogate to value Chinese manufacturers' FOPs.^[31] Additionally, the petitioner calculated factory overhead, selling, general, and administrative expenses, and profit based on the experience of a Turkish producer of comparable merchandise.^[32]

Fair Value Comparisons

Based on the data provided by the petitioner, there is reason to believe that imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV. Based on comparisons of EP to NV in accordance with sections 772 and 773 of the Act, the estimated dumping margins for ceramic abrasive grains from China covered by this initiation range from 81.98 to 88.32 percent.^[33]

Initiation of LTFV Investigation

Based upon the examination of the Petition and supplemental responses, we find that they meet the requirements of section 732 of the Act. Therefore, we are initiating a LTFV investigation to determine whether imports of ceramic abrasive grains are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV. In accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary determination no later than 140 days after the date of this initiation.

Respondent Selection

In the Petition, the petitioner identified 11 companies in China as producers and/or exporters of ceramic abrasive grains.^[34] Our standard practice for respondent selection in AD investigations involving NME countries is to select respondents based on quantity and value (Q&V) questionnaires in cases where Commerce has determined that the number of companies is large, and it cannot individually examine each company based upon its resources. Therefore, considering the number of producers and/or exporters identified in the Petition, Commerce will solicit Q&V information that can serve as a basis for selecting exporters for individual examination in the event that Commerce determines that the number is large and decides to limit the number of respondents individually examined pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the ( print page 3182) Act. Because there are 11 Chinese producers and/or exporters identified in the Petition, Commerce has determined that it will issue Q&V questionnaires to each potential respondent for which there is complete address information on the record.

Commerce will post the Q&V questionnaires along with filing instructions on Commerce's website at https://www.trade.gov/​ec-adcvd-case-announcements. Producers/exporters of ceramic abrasive grains from China that do not receive Q&V questionnaires may still submit a response to the Q&V questionnaire and can obtain a copy of the Q&V questionnaire from Commerce's website. Responses to the Q&V questionnaire must be submitted by the relevant Chinese producers/exporters no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on January 21, 2025, which is the next business day after two weeks from the signature date of this notice.^[35] All Q&V questionnaire responses must be filed electronically via ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be received successfully, in its entirety, by ACCESS no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the deadline noted above.

Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under administrative protective order (APO) in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). As stated above, instructions for filing such applications may be found on Commerce's website at https://www.trade.gov/​administrative-protective-orders.

Separate Rates

In order to obtain separate rate status in an NME investigation, exporters and producers must submit a separate rate application. The specific requirements for submitting a separate rate application in an NME investigation are outlined in detail in the application itself, which is available on Commerce's website at https://access.trade.gov/​Resources/​nme/​nme-sep-rate.html. The separate rate application will be due 30 days after publication of this initiation notice. Exporters and producers must file a timely separate rate application if they want to be considered for individual examination. Exporters and producers who submit a separate rate application and have been selected as mandatory respondents will be eligible for consideration for separate rate status only if they respond to all parts of Commerce's AD questionnaire as mandatory respondents. Commerce requires that companies from China submit a response both to the Q&V questionnaire and to the separate rate application by the respective deadlines to receive consideration for separate rate status. Companies not filing a timely Q&V questionnaire response will not receive separate rate consideration.

Use of Combination Rates

Commerce will calculate combination rates for certain respondents that are eligible for a separate rate in an NME investigation. The Separate Rates and Combination Rates Bulletin states:

{w}hile continuing the practice of assigning separate rates only to exporters, all separate rates that {Commerce} will now assign in its NME investigation will be specific to those producers that supplied the exporter during the period of investigation. Note, however, that one rate is calculated for the exporter and all of the producers which supplied subject merchandise to it during the period of investigation. This practice applies both to mandatory respondents receiving an individually calculated separate rate as well as the pool of non-investigated firms receiving the {weighted average} of the individually calculated rates. This practice is referred to as the application of “combination rates” because such rates apply to specific combinations of exporters and one or more producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned to an exporter will apply only to merchandise both exported by the firm in question and produced by a firm that supplied the exporter during the period of investigation.^[36]

Distribution of Copies of the Petition

In accordance with section 732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(f), copies of the public version of the Petition have been provided to the Government of China via ACCESS. To the extent practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of the Petition to each exporter named in the Petition, as provided under 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

Commerce will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section 732(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 25 days after the date on which the ITC receives notice from Commerce of initiation of the investigation, whether there is a reasonable indication that imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S. industry.^[37] A negative ITC determination will result in the investigation being terminated.^[38] Otherwise, this LTFV investigation will proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.

Submission of Factual Information

Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual information described in (i)-(iv). Section 351.301(b) of Commerce's regulations requires any party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted ^[39] and, if the information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct factual information already on the record, to provide an explanation identifying the information already on the record that the factual information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct.^[40] Time limits for the submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual information being submitted. Interested parties should review the regulations prior to submitting factual information in this investigation.

Extensions of Time Limits

Parties may request an extension of time limits before the expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as otherwise specified by Commerce. In general, an extension request will be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as otherwise specified by Commerce.^[41] For submissions that are due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request will be considered untimely if it is filed ( print page 3183) after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. Under certain circumstances, Commerce may elect to specify a different time limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such a case, we will inform parties in a letter or memorandum of the deadline (including a specified time) by which extension requests must be filed to be considered timely. An extension request must be made in a separate, standalone submission; under limited circumstances we will grant untimely filed requests for the extension of time limits, where we determine, based on 19 CFR 351.302, that extraordinary circumstances exist. Parties should review Commerce's regulations concerning the extension of time limits and the Time Limits Final Rule prior to submitting factual information in this investigation.^[42]

Certification Requirements

Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.^[43] Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 351.303(g).^[44] Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification requirements.

Notification to Interested Parties

Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Parties wishing to participate in this investigation should ensure that they meet the requirements of 19 CFR 351.103(d) ( e.g., by filing the required letter of appearance). Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).^[45]

This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 732(c)(2) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

Dated: January 6, 2025.

Steven Presing,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations.

Appendix—Scope of the Investigation

The merchandise covered by this investigation is sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains which are comprised of minimum 94% aluminum oxide (Al₂ O₃), and may contain other compounds, including, but not limited to, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, sodium superoxide, ferric oxide, magnesium oxide, di-aluminum magnesium tetroxide, lanthanum oxide, lanthanum magnesium oxide, zirconium dioxide, or zirconium carbonate. Grain sizes of sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains range from 0.85 mm to 0.0395 mm (which corresponds to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) grit sizes from 20 to 280).

Shapes include but are not limited to angular, sharp, extra sharp, blocky, splintery, round stripped, triangular or shaped like extruded rods or stars.

Ceramic abrasive grains have unique crystalline structures that impart certain advanced properties, such as their extreme hardness and strength ranging between 16 and 22 gigapascals by the Vickers Diamond Indent Method, high melting point (2050°C), and a single- or multi-phase microstructure, which may contain multiple phases, having crystalline sizes ranging from 0.05 to 30µm. These ceramic abrasive grains include but are not limited to blue, white, white-translucent, or off-white opaque colors.

Sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains are covered by the scope of this investigation, whether or not incorporated into downstream articles, including but not limited to, abrasive papers, grinding wheels, grinding cylinders, and grinding discs. When incorporated into downstream articles, only the sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains component of such articles is covered by the product scope, and not the downstream product as a whole.

The merchandise subject to this investigation is properly classified under subheadings 2818.10.2020 and 2818.10.2090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Other merchandise subject to the current scope, including when incorporated into the abovementioned downstream articles, may be classified under HTSUS subheadings 2818.10.1000, 2818.20.0000, 2818.30.0000, 3824.99.1100, 3824.99.1900, 6805.10.0000, 6805.20.0000, 6805.30.1000, 6805.30.5000, 6804.22.1000, 6804.22.4000, 6804.22.6000, 8204.12.0000, 8474.90.0010, 8474.90.0020, 8474.90.0050, and 8474.90.0090. Although the HTSUS statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

Footnotes

1.   See Petitioner's Letter, “Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties,” dated November 25, 2024 (Petition).

2.   Id.

3.   See Commerce's Letters, “Supplemental Questions,” dated November 27, 2024 (General Issues Questionnaire); “Supplemental Questions,” dated November 27, 2024; see also Memorandum, “Phone Call with Counsel to the Petitioner,” dated December 6, 2024 (December 6, 2024, Memorandum).

4.   See Petitioner's Letters, “Antidumping and Countervailing Supplemental Questionnaire Response,” dated December 4, 2024 (General Issues Supplement); “Antidumping Supplemental Questionnaire Response,” dated December 4, 2024; “Antidumping and Countervailing General Issues Supplement Response,” dated December 9, 2024 (Scope Supplement); and “Antidumping Supplemental Questionnaire Response,” dated December 12, 2024.

5.   See Notice of Extension of the Deadline for Determining the Adequacy of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions: Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People's Republic of China,89 FR 100465 (December 12, 2024) ( Initiation Extension Notice).

6.   See section on “Determination of Industry Support for the Petition,” infra.

7.   See General Issues Questionnaire; see also December 6, 2024, Memorandum.

8.   See General Issues Supplement at 1-3; see also Scope Supplement at 4-5.

9.   See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) ( Preamble); see also19 CFR 351.312.

10.   See19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining “factual information”).

11.   See19 CFR 351.303(b)(1). The deadline for scope comments falls on January 26, 2025, which is a Sunday. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1), Commerce will accept comments filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on January 27, 2025 (“For both electronically filed and manually filed documents, if the applicable due date falls on a non-business day, the Secretary will accept documents that are filed on the next business day.”).

12.   See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures,76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and Compliance: Change of Electronic Filing System Name,79 FR 69046 (November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing requirements, effective August 5, 2011. Information on using ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/​help.aspx and a handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/​help/​Handbook_​on_​Electronic_​Filing_​Procedures.pdf.

13.   See19 CFR 351.303(b)(1). The deadline for comments on product characteristics falls on January 26, 2025, which is a Sunday. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1), Commerce will accept comments filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on January 27, 2025 (“For both electronically filed and manually filed documents, if the applicable due date falls on a non-business day, the Secretary will accept documents that are filed on the next business day.”).

14.   See section 771(10) of the Act.

15.   See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT 2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F. Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).

16.  For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see Checklist, “Antidumping Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People's Republic of China,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (China AD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People's Republic of China (Attachment II). This checklist is on file electronically via ACCESS.

17.   See Attachment II of the China AD Initiation Checklist.

18.   See Initiation Extension Notice.

19.   See Commerce's Letters, “Polling Questionnaire,” dated December 10, 2024; see also Memorandum, “Email to Counsel for Domestic Producers,” dated December 23, 2024.

20.   See Petitioner's Letter, “Polling Questionnaire Response,” dated December 17, 2024; see also 3M Company's Letter, “Industry Polling Questionnaire Response,” dated December 17, 2024.

21.   See Attachment II of the China AD Initiation Checklists.

22.   Id.

23.  For further information regarding negligibility and the injury allegation, see China AD Initiation Checklist at Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People's Republic of China (Attachment III).

24.   See Attachment III of the China AD Initiation Checklist.

25.   Id.

26.   See China AD Initiation Checklist.

27.   Id.

28.   See, e.g., Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances,88 FR 15372 (March 13, 2023), and accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum at 5, unchanged in Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value and Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances,88 FR 34485 (May 30, 2023).

29.   See China AD Initiation Checklist.

30.   Id.

31.   See China AD Initiation Checklist.

32.   Id.

33.   Id.

34.   See Petition at Volume I (page I-16 and Exhibit I-5); see also General Issues Supplement at 1 and Exhibit I-5-Revised.

35.   See19 CFR 351.303(b)(1). The deadline for Q&V questionnaire responses falls on January 20, 2025, which is a federal holiday. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1), Commerce will accept Q&V questionnaire responses filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on January 21, 2025 (“For both electronically filed and manually filed documents, if the applicable due date falls on a non-business day, the Secretary will accept documents that are filed on the next business day.”).

36.   See Enforcement and Compliance's Policy Bulletin No. 05.1, regarding, “Separate-Rates Practice and Application of Combination Rates in Antidumping Investigation involving NME Countries,” (April 5, 2005), at 6 (emphasis added), available on Commerce's website at https://access.trade.gov/​Resources/​policy/​bull05-1.pdf.

37.   See section 733(a) of the Act.

38.   Id.

39.   See19 CFR 351.301(b).

40.   See19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).

41.   See19 CFR 351.301; see also Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule,78 FR 57790 (September 20, 2013) ( Time Limits Final Rule), available at https://www.gpo.gov/​fdsys/​pkg/​FR-2013-09-20/​html/​2013-22853.htm.

42.   See19 CFR 351.302; see also, e.g., Time Limits Final Rule.

43.   See section 782(b) of the Act.

44.   See Certification of Factual Information to Import Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) ( Final Rule). Additional information regarding the Final Rule is available at https://access.trade.gov/​Resources/​filing/​index.html.

45.   See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,88 FR 67069 (September 29, 2023).