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Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation


American Government Cars in China Topics:  Coalition of American Chassis Manufacturers

Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation

Jeffrey I. Kessler
Department of Commerce
26 August 2020


[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 166 (Wednesday, August 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52549-52552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18712]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-136]


Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable August 19, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Langley, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3681.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

    On July 30, 2020, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
received a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of 
certain chassis and subassemblies thereof (chassis) from the People's 
Republic of China (China) filed in proper form on behalf of the 
Coalition of American Chassis Manufacturers (the petitioner), the 
members of which are domestic producers of chassis.\1\ The Petition was 
accompanied by an antidumping duty (AD) petition concerning imports of 
chassis from China.\2\
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    \1\ The members of the Coalition of American Chassis 
Manufacturers are: Cheetah Chassis Corporation; Hercules 
Enterprises, LLC; Pitts Enterprises, Inc.; Pratt Industries, Inc.; 
and Stoughton Trailers, LLC. See Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain 
Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic of 
China: Petitions for the Imposition of Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duties,'' dated July 30, 2020 (the Petition) at 
Volume I, Exhibit I-1.
    \2\ Id.
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    Between August 3 and 11, 2020, Commerce requested supplemental 
information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition in separate 
supplemental questionnaires and a phone call with the petitioner,\3\ to 
which the petitioner filed responses between August 7 and 14, 2020.\4\
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    \3\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Petitions for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Certain Chassis 
and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic of China: 
Supplemental Questions,'' dated August 3, 2020 (General Issues 
Supplemental); see also Commerce's Letter, ``Petition for the 
Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of Certain Chassis 
and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic of China: 
Supplemental Questions,'' dated August 3, 2020; Commerce's Letter, 
``Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of 
Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic 
of China: Additional Supplemental Questions,'' dated August 4, 2020; 
Memorandum, ``Phone Call with Counsel to the Petitioner,'' dated 
August 7, 2020; and Memorandum, ``Phone Call with Counsel to the 
Petitioner,'' dated August 11, 2020.
    \4\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain Chassis and Subassemblies 
Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Response to 
Supplemental Questions on General Issues Volume I of the Petition,'' 
dated August 7, 2020 (General Issues Supplemental Response); see 
also Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain Chassis and Subassemblies 
Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Supplemental Responses 
and Additional Supplemental Responses to Volume III of the 
Petition,'' dated August 7, 2020; Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain 
Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic of 
China: Errata to Response to Supplemental Questions on General 
Issues Volume I of the Petition,'' dated August 7, 2020 (Scope 
Errata); Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain Chassis and Subassemblies 
Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Response to Second 
Supplemental Questions (Question 2) on General Issues Volume I of 
the Petition,'' dated August 13, 2020; and Petitioner's Letter, 
``Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's 
Republic of China: Response to Second Supplemental Questions 
(Question 1) on General Issues Volume I of the Petition,'' dated 
August 14, 2020.
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    In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), the petitioner alleges that the Government of China 
(GOC) is providing countervailable subsidies, within the meaning of 
sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, to producers of chassis in China 
and that such imports are materially injuring, or threatening material 
injury to, the domestic industry producing chassis in the United 
States. Consistent with section 702(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(b), for those alleged programs on which we are initiating a CVD 
investigation, the Petition is supported 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)(E) of the Act. Commerce also finds that the 
petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support with respect to the 
initiation of the requested CVD investigation.\5\
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    \5\ See ``Determination of Industry Support for the Petition'' 
section, infra.
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Period of Investigation

    Because the Petition was filed on July 30, 2020, the period of 
investigation (POI) is January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.\6\
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    \6\ See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is chassis from 
China. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see 
the appendix to this notice.

Comments on Scope of the Investigation

    On August 3, 2020, Commerce requested further information 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 August 7, 2020, 
the petitioner revised the scope.\8\ The description of the merchandise 
covered by this investigation, as described in the appendix to this 
notice, reflects these clarifications.
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    \7\ See General Issues Supplemental at 3.
    \8\ See General Issues Supplemental Response; see also Scope 
Errata.
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    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 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 
all interested parties submit scope comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time 
(ET) on September 8, 2020, which is 20 calendar days from the signature 
date of this notice.\11\ Any rebuttal comments, which may include 
factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on September 18, 
2020, which is ten calendar days from the initial comment deadline.
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    \9\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, 62 FR 27296, 
27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual 
information'').
    \11\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b).

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[[Page 52550]]

    Commerce requests that any factual information the parties consider 
relevant to the scope of the investigation be submitted during this 
time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional 
factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigation may be 
relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to 
submit the additional information. All such comments must also be filed 
on the record of the concurrent AD investigation.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using 
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.
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    \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.
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Consultations

    Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Act, Commerce 
notified the GOC of the receipt of the Petition and provided it the 
opportunity for consultations with respect to the CVD Petition.\13\ The 
GOC did not request consultations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Countervailing Duty Petition on 
Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic 
of China: Invitation for Consultations to Discuss the Countervailing 
Duty Petition,'' dated July 30, 2020.
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(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 702(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 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 must 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\
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    \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 865 F. 2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989), 
cert. denied 492 U.S. 919 (1989)).
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    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 chassis, 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\
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    \16\ See Volume I of the Petition at 16-18 and Exhibits I-7 and 
I-18; see also General Issues Supplement at 7-9 and Exhibits I-Supp-
1 and I-Supp-2.
    \17\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as 
applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see 
Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Certain 
Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic of 
China (China CVD Initiation Checklist) at Attachment II, Analysis of 
Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Petitions Covering Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from 
the People's Republic of China (Attachment II). This checklist is 
dated concurrently with this notice and on file electronically via 
ACCESS.
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    In determining whether the petitioner has standing under section 
702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data 
contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like product 
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the appendix to 
this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioner provided its 
own production of the domestic like product in 2019 and compared this 
to the estimated total production of the domestic like product for the 
entire domestic industry.\18\ We have relied on the data provided by 
the petitioner for purposes of measuring industry support.\19\
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    \18\ See Volume I of the Petition at 2-3 and Exhibits I-3 and I-
17; see also General Issues Supplement at 9-10 and Exhibit I-Supp-3.
    \19\ See Volume I of the Petition at 2-3 and Exhibits I-3 and I-
17; see also General Issues Supplement at 9-10 and Exhibit I-Supp-3. 
For further discussion, see Attachment II of the China CVD 
Initiation Checklist.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, the General Issues 
Supplement, and other information readily available to Commerce 
indicates that the petitioner has established industry support for the 
Petition.\20\ First, the Petition established support from domestic 
producers (or workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of the total 
production of the domestic like product and, as such, Commerce is not 
required to take further action in order to evaluate industry support 
(e.g., polling).\21\ Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have 
met the statutory criteria for industry support under section 
702(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) 
who support the Petition account for at least 25 percent of the total 
production of the domestic like product.\22\ Finally, the domestic 
producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry 
support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the domestic 
producers (or workers) who support the Petition account for 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,

[[Page 52551]]

the Petition.\23\ Accordingly, Commerce determines that the Petition 
was filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of 
section 702(b)(1) of the Act.\24\
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    \20\ See Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation Checklist.
    \21\ Id.; see also section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act.
    \22\ See Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation Checklist.
    \23\ Id.
    \24\ Id.
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Injury Test

    Because China is a ``Subsidies Agreement Country'' within the 
meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act 
applies to this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine 
whether imports of the subject merchandise from China materially 
injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry.

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioner alleges that imports of the subject merchandise are 
benefitting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are 
causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry 
producing the domestic like product. In addition, the petitioner 
alleges that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold 
provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\25\
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    \25\ See Volume I of the Petition at 25-26 and Exhibit I-13.
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    The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by a significant volume of subject imports; reduced market 
share; underselling and price depression and/or suppression; lost sales 
and revenues; declines in production, shipments, net sales, and 
capacity utilization; decline in employment; and declining financial 
performance.\26\ We assessed the allegations and supporting evidence 
regarding material injury, threat of material injury, causation, as 
well as negligibility, and we have determined that these allegations 
are properly supported by adequate evidence, and meet the statutory 
requirements for initiation.\27\
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    \26\ See Volume I of the Petition at 15-16, 19-39 and Exhibits 
I-3, I-13, I-15 through I-17 and I-20 through I-31; see also General 
Issues Supplement at 10 and Exhibit I-Supp-4.
    \27\ See China CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment III, 
Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and 
Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions 
Covering Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's 
Republic of China.
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Initiation of CVD Investigation

    Based upon our examination of the Petition and supplemental 
responses, we find that the Petition meets the requirements of section 
702 of the Act. Therefore, we are initiating a CVD investigation to 
determine whether imports of chassis from China benefit from 
countervailable subsidies conferred by the GOC. Based on our review of 
the Petition, we find that there is sufficient information to initiate 
a CVD investigation on all of the 30 alleged programs. For a full 
discussion of the basis for our decision to initiate on each program, 
see China CVD Initiation Checklist. A public version of the initiation 
checklist for this investigation is available on ACCESS. In accordance 
with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless 
postponed, we will make our preliminary determination no later than 65 
days after the date of this initiation.

Respondent Selection

    The petitioner named two companies in China as producers/exporters 
of chassis subject to the scope of this investigation.\28\ Accordingly, 
and in the absence of any contradictory information, Commerce intends 
to examine all known producers/exporters of chassis from China.
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    \28\ See Volume I of the Petition at Exhibit I-10.
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Distribution of Copies of the CVD Petition

    In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been 
provided to the GOC via ACCESS. Furthermore, to the extent practicable, 
Commerce 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 702(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date 
on which the Petition was filed, whether there is a reasonable 
indication that imports of chassis from China are materially injuring, 
or threatening material injury to, a U.S. industry.\29\ A negative ITC 
determination will result in the investigation being terminated.\30\ 
Otherwise, this investigation will proceed according to statutory and 
regulatory time limits.
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    \29\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
    \30\ Id.
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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 \31\ 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.\32\ 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.
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    \31\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \32\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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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.\33\ For submissions that are 
due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request will be 
considered untimely if it is filed 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, Commerce 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, stand-alone submission; under limited circumstances we will 
grant untimely-filed requests for the extension of time limits. Parties 
should review Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 
(September 20, 2013), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to submitting extension requests 
or factual information in this investigation.
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    \33\ See 19 CFR 351.302.

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[[Page 52552]]

Certification Requirements

    Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding 
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\34\ 
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 
351.303(g).\35\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the 
submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification 
requirements.
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    \34\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \35\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import 
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule); see also 
frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule, available at 
http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
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Notification to Interested Parties

    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On January 22, 2008, Commerce 
published Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Documents 
Submission Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 22, 2008). 
Parties wishing to participate in this investigation should ensure that 
they meet the requirements of these procedures (e.g., the filing of 
letters of appearance as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)). Note that 
Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for 
serving documents containing business proprietary information, until 
further notice.\36\
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    \36\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements 
Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 
10, 2020).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702(c)(2) 
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

    Dated: August 19, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary, for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is chassis and 
subassemblies thereof, whether finished or unfinished, whether 
assembled or unassembled, whether coated or uncoated, regardless of 
the number of axles, for carriage of containers, or other payloads 
(including self-supporting payloads) for road, marine roll-on/roll-
off (RORO) and/or rail transport. Chassis are typically, but are not 
limited to, rectangular framed trailers with a suspension and axle 
system, wheels and tires, brakes, a lighting and electrical system, 
a coupling for towing behind a truck tractor, and a locking system 
or systems to secure the shipping container or containers to the 
chassis using twistlocks, slide pins or similar attachment devices 
to engage the corner fittings on the container or other payload.
    Subject merchandise includes, but is not limited to, the 
following subassemblies:
     Chassis frames, or sections of chassis frames, 
including kingpins or kingpin assemblies, bolsters consisting of 
transverse beams with locking or support mechanisms, goosenecks, 
drop assemblies, extension mechanisms and/or rear impact guards;
     Running gear assemblies or axle assemblies for 
connection to the chassis frame, whether fixed in nature or capable 
of sliding fore and aft or lifting up and lowering down, which may 
or may not include suspension(s) (mechanical or pneumatic), wheel 
end components, slack adjusters, axles, brake chambers, locking 
pins, and tires and wheels;
     Landing gear (legs) or landing gear assemblies, for 
connection to the chassis frame, capable of supporting the chassis 
when it is not engaged to a tractor; and
     Assemblies and/or components that connect to the 
chassis frame or a section of the chassis frame, such as, but not 
limited to, pintle hooks or B-trains (which include a fifth wheel), 
which are capable of connecting a chassis to a converter dolly or 
another chassis.
    Importation of any of these subassemblies, whether assembled or 
unassembled, constitutes an unfinished chassis for purposes of this 
investigation.
    Subject merchandise also includes chassis, whether finished or 
unfinished, entered with or for further assembly with components 
such as, but not limited to: Hub and drum assemblies, brake 
assemblies (either drum or disc), axles, brake chambers, suspensions 
and suspension components, wheel end components, landing gear legs, 
spoke or disc wheels, tires, brake control systems, electrical 
harnesses and lighting systems.
    Processing of finished and unfinished chassis and components 
such as trimming, cutting, grinding, notching, punching, drilling, 
painting, coating, staining, finishing, assembly, or any other 
processing either in the country of manufacture of the in-scope 
product or in a third country does not remove the product from the 
scope. Inclusion of other components not identified as comprising 
the finished or unfinished chassis does not remove the product from 
the scope.
    This scope excludes dry van trailers, refrigerated van trailers 
and flatbed trailers. Dry van trailers are trailers with a wholly 
enclosed cargo space comprised of fixed sides, nose, floor and roof, 
with articulated panels (doors) across the rear and occasionally at 
selected places on the sides, with the cargo space being permanently 
incorporated in the trailer itself. Refrigerated van trailers are 
trailers with a wholly enclosed cargo space comprised of fixed 
sides, nose, floor and roof, with articulated panels (doors) across 
the rear and occasionally at selected places on the sides, with the 
cargo space being permanently incorporated in the trailer and being 
insulated, possessing specific thermal properties intended for use 
with self-contained refrigeration systems. Flatbed (or platform) 
trailers consist of load-carrying main frames and a solid, flat or 
stepped loading deck or floor permanently incorporated with and 
supported by frame rails and cross members.
    The finished and unfinished chassis subject to this 
investigation are typically classified in the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheadings: 8716.39.0090 
and 8716.90.5060. Imports of finished and unfinished chassis may 
also enter under HTSUS subheading 8716.90.5010. While the HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise under investigation is 
dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2020-18712 Filed 8-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P




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