2020-19785. Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip 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 sheet and strip (SS sheet and strip) from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period of review (POR) January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, based on the timely withdrawal of the request for review.

DATES:

Applicable September 8, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On April 1, 2020, Commerce published a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the CVD order on SS sheet and strip from China for the POR of January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.^[1] On April 30, 2020, Commerce received a timely-filed request from AK Steel Corporation; Allegheny Ludlum, LLC d/b/a ATI Flat Rolled Products; North American Stainless; and Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC (collectively, the petitioners) for an administrative review of 152 Chinese producers and/or exporters, in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213(b).^[2]

On May 6, 2020, pursuant to this request, and in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), Commerce published a notice initiating an administrative review of the countervailing duty order on SS sheet and strip from China for 152 Chinese producers and/or exporters.^[3] On June 10, 2020, the petitioners timely withdrew their request for an administrative review of all 152 companies.^[4]

Rescission of Review

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the party or parties that requested a review withdraws the request within 90 days of the publication date of the notice of initiation of the requested review. The petitioners withdrew their request for review within the requisite 90 days. No other parties requested an administrative review of the order. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), we are rescinding this review in its entirety.

Assessment

Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess countervailing duties on all appropriate entries of SS sheet and strip 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.

Administrative Protective Orders

This notice also serves as a reminder to all parties subject to administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction 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.

Notification to Interested Parties

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).

Dated: August 31, 2020.

James Maeder,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.

Footnotes

1.  See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review, 85 FR 18191 (April 1, 2020).

2.  See Petitioners' Letter, “Countervailing Duty Order on Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the People's Republic of China—Petitioners' Request for Initiation of Third Administrative Review,” dated April 30, 2020.

3.  See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 85 FR 26931 (May 6, 2020).

4.  See Petitioners' Letter, “Countervailing Duty Order on Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip from the People's Republic of China—Petitioners' Withdrawal of Requests for Third Administrative Review,” dated June 10, 2020.