2025-01495. Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation; Correction

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Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

1. [C-570-191]

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice; correction.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) published notice in the Federal Register of January 14, 2025, in which Commerce initiated the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation on sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains (ceramic abrasive grains) from the People's Republic of China (China). This notice contained an appendix that included a typographical error with respect to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings in the scope of the investigation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Suresh Maniam, Office I, 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:

Background

On January 14, 2025, Commerce published in the Federal Register the initiation notice of the CVD investigation on ceramic abrasive grains from China.^[1] In the Initiation Notice, Commerce inadvertently made a typographical error with respect to one of the relevant HTSUS subheadings in the appendix, “Scope of the Investigation.”

Correction

In the Federal Register of January 14, 2025, in FR Doc. 2025-00545,^[2] on page 3178, in the third column, correct the first HTSUS referenced in the fifth paragraph of the section “Appendix Scope of the Investigation” as follows:

The merchandise subject to this investigation is properly classified under subheadings 2818.10.2010 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.

For a full description of the scope of this investigation, revised to reflect the correction specified above, see the appendix to this notice.

Notice to Interested Parties

This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 702 and 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

Dated: January 16, 2025.

Abdelali Elouaradia,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

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 (Al2O3), 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 30 μm. 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 2818.10.2010 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 Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation,90 FR 3175 (January 14, 2025) ( Initiation Notice).

2.   Id.