2020-14294. Phosphate Fertilizers from Morocco and Russia; Institution of Countervailing Duty Investigations and Scheduling of Preliminary Phase Investigations

AGENCY:

United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of investigations and commencement of preliminary phase countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-650-651 (Preliminary) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (“the Act”) to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports of phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia, provided for in subheadings 3103.11.00, 3103.19.00, 3105.20.00, 3105.30.00, 3105.40.00, 3105.51.00, and 3105.59.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be subsidized by the Governments of Morocco and Russia. Unless the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) extends the time for initiation, the Commission must reach a preliminary determination in countervailing duty investigations in 45 days, or in this case by August 10, 2020. The Commission's views must be transmitted to Commerce within five business days thereafter, or by August 17, 2020.

DATES:

Applicable June 26, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Calvin Chang ([phone]), Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background.—These investigations are being instituted, pursuant to section 703(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a)), in response to a petition filed on June 26, 2020, by The Mosaic Company, Plymouth, Minnesota.

For further information concerning the conduct of these investigations and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 207).

Participation in the investigation and public service list.—Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as provided in §§ 201.11 and 207.10 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users and (if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level) representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as parties in Commission countervailing duty investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to these investigations upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.

Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.—Pursuant to § 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary will make BPI gathered in these investigations available to authorized applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO issued in the investigations, provided that the application is made not later than seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.

Conference.— In light of the restrictions on access to the Commission building due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission is conducting its Title VII (antidumping and countervailing duty) preliminary phase staff conferences through submissions of written opening remarks and written testimony, staff questions and written responses to those questions, and postconference briefs. Requests to appear at the conference should be emailed to [e-mail] (DO NOT FILE ON EDIS) on or before July 15, 2020. A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to participate by submitting a short statement. Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov). No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice.

Written submissions.—As provided in §§ 201.8 and 207.15 of the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or before July 22, 2020, a written brief containing information and arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigations. Parties may file written opening remarks and testimony to the Commission on or before July 15, 2020. Staff questions will be provided to the parties on July 17, 2020, and written responses should be submitted to the Commission on or before July 22, 2020. All written submissions must conform with the provisions of § 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the requirements of §§ 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's rules. The Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures, available on the Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/​documents/​handbook_​on_​filing_​procedures.pdf, elaborates upon the Commission's procedures with respect to filings.

In accordance with §§ 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, each document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on all other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.

Certification.—Pursuant to § 207.3 of the Commission's rules, any person submitting information to the Commission in connection with these investigations must certify that the information is accurate and complete to the best of the submitter's knowledge. In making the certification, the submitter will acknowledge that any information that it submits to the Commission during these investigations may be disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of these or related investigations or reviews, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.

Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published pursuant to § 207.12 of the Commission's rules.

By order of the Commission.

Issued: June 29, 2020.

Lisa Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.