2021-07364. Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand From Tunisia: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value

AGENCY:

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

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand) from Tunisia is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) during the period of investigation (POI), April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020. The final weighted-average dumping margins are listed below in the section entitled “Final Determination.”

DATES:

Applicable April 9, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On November 19, 2020, Commerce published the Preliminary Determination in this investigation, and invited interested parties to comment on the findings.^[1] The petitioners in this investigation are Insteel Wire Products, Sumiden Wire Products Corporation, and Wire Mesh Corp. The mandatory respondent subject to this investigation is Ste. Ten. De Trefilage Maklada, which later amended its name to Maklada Industries and Maklada SA (collectively, Maklada). A summary of the events that occurred since the Preliminary Determination, may be found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.^[2]

Period of Investigation

The POI is April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020.

Scope of the Investigation

The product covered by this investigation is PC strand from Tunisia. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.

Analysis of Comments Received

All issues raised by interested parties in the case and rebuttal briefs are discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues raised by parties and responded to by Commerce in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached to this notice as Appendix II. The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is available 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 http://enforcement.trade.gov/​frn/​index.html.

Verification

Commerce was unable to conduct on-site verification of the information relied upon in making its final determination in this investigation as provided for in section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Accordingly, we took additional steps in lieu of on-site verification and requested additional documentation and information.^[3]

Changes Since the Preliminary Determination

Based on our analysis of the comments received, we made one change to the margin assigned to Maklada since the Preliminary Determination. For a discussion of this change, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers and exporters not individually investigated shall be equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for individually investigated exporters and producers, excluding any margins that are zero, de minimis, or determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. The only rate that is not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available is the rate calculated for Maklada. Accordingly, the rate calculated for Maklada is also the rate assigned to all other producers and exporters.

Final Determination

The final estimated weighted-average dumping margins are as follows:

Exporter/producer	Estimated weighted- average dumping margin (percent)
Maklada Industries and Maklada SA	30.58
All Others	30.58

Disclosure

We intend to disclose to interested parties the calculations and analysis performed in this final determination within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of the publication of this notice to parties in this proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation

In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to suspend liquidation of all appropriate entries of subject merchandise from Maklada and all other producers and exporters, as described in Appendix I, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after November 19, 2020, the date of publication of the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register.

Pursuant to section 735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d), upon publication of this notice, Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit for such entries of merchandise equal to the estimated weighted average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin determined in this final determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the respondent-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin.

These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.

International Trade Commission Notification

In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of the final affirmative determination of sales at LTFV. Because the final determination in this proceeding is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports, or sales (or the likelihood of sales) for importation of PC strand no later than 45 days after our final determination. If the ITC determines that material injury or threat of material injury does not exist, the proceeding will be terminated, and all cash deposits will be refunded. If the ITC determines that material injury or threat of material injury does exist, Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by Commerce, antidumping duties on all imports of the subject merchandise, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of liquidation.

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order

This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to an administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely 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 the terms of an APO is a violation subject to sanction.

Notification to Interested Parties

We are issuing and publishing this determination and notice in accordance with sections 735(d) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

Dated: April 5, 2021.

Christian Marsh,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

The merchandise covered by this investigation is prestressed concrete steel wire strand (PC strand), produced from wire of non-stainless, non-galvanized steel, which is suitable for use in prestressed concrete (both pretensioned and post-tensioned) applications. The product definition encompasses covered and uncovered strand and all types, grades, and diameters of PC strand. PC strand is normally sold in the United States in sizes ranging from 0.25 inches to 0.70 inches in diameter. PC strand made from galvanized wire is only excluded from the scope if the zinc and/or zinc oxide coating meets or exceeds the 0.40 oz./ft2 standard set forth in ASTM-A-475.

The PC strand subject to this investigation is currently classifiable under subheadings 7312.10.3010 and 7312.10.3012 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum

I. Summary

II. Background

III. Scope of the Investigation

IV. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination

V. Discussion of the Issues

Comment 1: Whether SAS Program Language Should Reflect that Maklada Industries and Maklada SA Were Collapsed into A Single Entity

Comment 2: Whether Maklada Failed to Properly Report Its Warranty Expenses for Its U.S. Sales

Comment 3: Whether Commerce Should Include Maklada's Parent's General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses in Maklada's G&A Ratio

Comment 4: Whether Commerce Should Include Maklada's Parent's Interest Expenses in Maklada's Interest Expense Ratio

VI. Recommendation

Footnotes

1.  See Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Tunisia: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures, 85 FR 73681 (November 19, 2020) (Preliminary Determination), and accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

2.  See Memorandum, “Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Final Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum).

3.  See Commerce's Letter, Untitled, dated November 8, 2020; see also Maklada's Letter, “Prestressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from Tunisia: Remote Verification Response,” dated December 16, 2020.