[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12812-12814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5186]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-974]


Steel Wheels From the People's Republic of China: Notice of 
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) has preliminarily 
determined that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of 
steel wheels from the People's Republic of China (PRC).

DATES: Effective Date: March 2, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Copyak or Eric Greynolds, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 4014, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202-482-2209 
and 202-482-6071, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Case History

    On March 30, 2011, the Department received a countervailing duty 
(CVD) petition concerning imports of steel wheels from the PRC filed in 
proper form by Accuride Corporation (Accuride) and Hayes Lemmerz 
International, Inc. (collectively, petitioners).\1\ This investigation 
was initiated on April 19, 2011.\2\ The affirmative preliminary 
determination was published on September 6, 2011.\3\
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    \1\ See Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing Duties 
(Petition). A public version of the Petition and all other public 
documents and public versions of business proprietary documents for 
this investigation are available on the public file in the Central 
Records Unit (CRU), Room 7046 of the main Department of Commerce 
building.
    \2\ See Certain Steel Wheels From the People's Republic of 
China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 76 FR 23302 
(April 26, 2011) (Initiation Notice), and accompanying Initiation 
Checklist.
    \3\ See Certain Steel Wheels From the People's Republic of 
China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and 
Alignment With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 76 FR 55012 
(September 6, 2011) (Preliminary Determination).
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    On September 1, 2011, petitioners alleged that critical 
circumstances exist with respect to imports of steel wheels from the 
PRC and submitted U.S. Census Data in support of their allegation at 
Exhibit I.\4\ On September 9, 2011, the Department requested from the 
three mandatory respondents--the Jingu Companies,\5\ the Xingmin 
Companies,\6\ and the Centurion Xingmin Companies \7\--monthly shipment 
data of subject merchandise to the United States for the period October 
2010 through June 2011.
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    \4\ See Petitioners' Critical Circumstances Allegation 
(September 1, 2011).
    \5\ The Jingu Companies are Zhejiang Jingu Company Limited 
(Zhejiang Jingu), Chengdu Jingu Wheel Co., Ltd. (Chengdu Jingu), 
Shanghai Yata Industrial Co. Ltd. (Shanghai Yata), and Zhejiang 
Wheel World Industrial Co., Ltd. (Wheel World).
    \6\ The Xingmin Companies are Shandong Xingmin Wheel Co. Ltd. 
(Xingmin) and Sino-tex (Longkou) Wheel Manufacturers, Inc. (Sino-
tex).
    \7\ The Centurion Companies are Jining Centurion Wheels 
Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Jining Centurion) and Jining CII Wheel 
Manufacture Co., Ltd. (Jining CII).
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    On September 21, 2011, the Xingmin Companies submitted to the 
Department their monthly shipment data of subject merchandise to the 
United States for the period October 2010 through June 2011.\8\ At 
verification, the Xingmin Companies provided some minor corrections to 
these data.\9\ On September 25, 2011, the Jingu Companies submitted to 
the Department their monthly shipment data of subject merchandise to 
the United States for the period October 2010 through June 2011.\10\ At 
verification, the Jingu Companies provided some minor corrections to 
these data.\11\ On September 26, 2011, the Centurion Companies 
submitted to the Department their monthly shipment data of subject 
merchandise to the United States for the period October 2010 through 
June 2011.\12\
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    \8\ See the Xingmin Companies' third supplemental questionnaire 
response titled ``Steel Wheels from China: Third Supplemental 
Questionnaire Response'' (September 21, 2010) at Exhibit I.
    \9\ See the Department's January 6, 2012, verification report 
titled ``Verification Report of Xingmin Wheel Co. Ltd'' at 2 (filed 
on IA ACCESS on January 10, 2012).
    \10\ See the Jingu Companies' third supplemental questionnaire 
response titled ``CVD Investigation of Steel Wheels from China: 
Critical Circumstances Shipment Data'' (filed on IA ACCESS on 
September 25, 2011, and dated September 26, 2011) at Exhibit I.
    \11\ See the Department's January 31, 2012, verification report 
titled ``Verification Report Regarding Information Submitted by 
Zhejiang Jingu Company Limited'' at 2 and 5-6.
    \12\ See the Centurion Companies' third supplemental 
questionnaire response titled ``CVD Investigation of Steel Wheels 
from China: Critical Circumstances Shipment Data'' (dated September 
26, 2010) at Exhibit I.
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Period of Investigation

    The period for which we are measuring subsidies, or the period of 
investigation (POI), is calendar year 2010.

Scope of Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are steel wheels with a 
wheel diameter of 18 to 24.5 inches. Rims and discs for such wheels are 
included, whether imported as an assembly or separately. These products 
are used with both tubed and tubeless tires. Steel wheels, whether or 
not attached to tires or axles, are included. However, if the steel 
wheels are imported as an assembly attached to tires or axles, the tire 
or axle is not covered by the scope. The scope includes steel wheels, 
discs, and rims of carbon and/or alloy composition and clad wheels, 
discs, and rims when carbon or alloy steel represents more than fifty 
percent of the product by weight. The scope includes wheels, rims, and 
discs, whether coated or uncoated, regardless of the type of coating.
    Imports of the subject merchandise are provided for under the 
following categories of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (HTSUS): 8708.70.05.00, 8708.70.25.00, 8708.70.45.30, and 
8708.70.60.30. Imports of the subject merchandise may also enter under 
the following categories of the HTSUS: 8406.90.4580, 8406.90.7500, 
8420.99.9000, 8422.90.1100, 8422.90.2100, 8422.90.9120, 8422.90.9130, 
8422.90.9160, 8422.90.9195, 8431.10.0010, 8431.10.0090, 8431.20.0000, 
8431.31.0020, 8431.31.0040, 8431.31.0060, 8431.39.0010, 8431.39.0050, 
8431.39.0070, 8431.39.0080, 8431.43.8060, 8431.49.1010, 8431.49.1060, 
8431.49.1090, 8431.49.9030, 8431.49.9040, 8431.49.9085, 8432.90.0005, 
8432.90.0015, 8432.90.0030, 8432.90.0080, 8433.90.1000, 8433.90.5020, 
8433.90.5040, 8436.99.0020, 8436.99.0090, 8479.90.9440, 8479.90.9450, 
8479.90.9496, 8487.90.0080, 8607.19.1200, 8607.19.1500, 8708.70.1500, 
8708.70.3500, 8708.70.4560, 8708.70.6060, 8709.90.0000, 8710.00.0090,

[[Page 12813]]

8714.19.0030, 8714.19.0060, 8716.90.1000, 8716.90.5030, 8716.90.5060, 
8803.20.0015, 8803.20.0030, and 8803.20.0060.
    These HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes only; the written description of the scope is dispositive.

Comments of the Parties

    In their critical circumstances allegation, Petitioners also allege 
that there is a reasonable basis to believe that there are subsidies in 
this investigation which are inconsistent with the World Trade 
Organization (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures 
(Subsidies Agreement). Petitioners cite to the Preliminary 
Determination, in which the Department preliminarily determined that 
the Jingu Companies have received several subsidies which are 
contingent on export performance. See Petitioners' Critical 
Circumstances Allegation (September 1, 2011) at 2.
    Petitioners also claim in their critical circumstances allegation 
that there have been massive imports of steel wheels in the three 
months following the filing of the petition on March 30, 2011. 
Petitioners provided Census Bureau Data, which they contend demonstrate 
that imports of subject merchandise increased by more than 15 percent, 
which is required to be considered ``massive'' under section 
351.206(h)(2) of the Department's regulations. Petitioners submit that, 
by volume, imports increased approximately 48 percent from 510,174 
wheels in the first quarter of 2011, to 753,604 wheels in the second 
quarter of 2010. Id. at 3 and Exhibit 1. Petitioners also contend that, 
by value, imports increased approximately 40 percent, from $17,787,704 
in the first quarter of 2011, to $24,893,481 in the second quarter of 
2010. Id.

Analysis

    Section 703(e)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
provides that the Department will preliminarily determine that critical 
circumstances exist if there is a reasonable basis to believe or 
suspect that: (A) The alleged countervailable subsidy is inconsistent 
with the Subsidies Agreement, and (B) there have been massive imports 
of the subject merchandise over a relatively short period.
    When determining whether an alleged countervailable subsidy is 
inconsistent with the Subsidies Agreement, the Department limits its 
findings to those subsidies contingent on export performance or use of 
domestic over imported goods (i.e., those prohibited under Article 3 of 
the Subsidies Agreement).\13\ In the Preliminary Determination, the 
Department found that, during the POI, the Jingu Companies received 
countervailable benefits under five programs that are contingent upon 
export performance. Therefore, we preliminarily determine that there is 
a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that these five programs are 
inconsistent with the Subsidies Agreement.
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    \13\ See, e.g., Notice of Preliminary Negative Determination of 
Critical Circumstances: Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires 
From the People's Republic of China, 73 FR 21588, 21589-90 (April 
22, 2008), unchanged in Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty 
Determination and Final Negative Critical Circumstances 
Determination: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod From Germany, 
67 FR 55808, 55809 (August 30, 2002).
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    In the Preliminary Determination, the Department found that, during 
the POI, the Centurion Companies and Xingmin Companies did not receive 
countervailable benefits under any programs that are contingent upon 
export performance. Therefore, we preliminarily determine that there is 
not a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that the Centurion 
Companies and the Xingmin Companies received benefits inconsistent with 
the Subsidies Agreement.
    In determining whether imports of the subject merchandise have been 
``massive,'' section 351.206(h)(1) of the Department's regulations 
provides that the Department normally will examine: (i) The volume and 
value of the imports; (ii) seasonal trends; and (iii) the share of 
domestic consumption accounted for by the imports. In addition, the 
Department will not consider imports to be massive unless imports 
during the ``relatively short period'' (comparison period) have 
increased by at least 15 percent compared to imports during an 
``immediately preceding period of comparable duration'' (base period). 
See 19 CFR 351.206(h)(2).
    Section 351.206(i) of the Department's regulations defines 
``relatively short period'' as normally being the period beginning on 
the date the proceeding commences (i.e., the date the petition is 
filed) and ending at least three months later. For consideration of 
this allegation, we have used a three-month base period (i.e., January 
2011 through March 2011) and a three-month comparison period (i.e., 
April 2011 through June 2011).
    In determining whether there were massive imports from the Jingu 
Companies, we analyzed the Jingu Companies' monthly shipment data for 
the period January 2011 through June 2011. These data indicate that 
there was not a massive increase in shipments of subject merchandise to 
the United States by the Jingu Companies during the three-month period 
immediately following the filing of the petition on March 30, 2011. 
Specifically, shipments of subject merchandise to the United States 
from the Jingu Companies decreased, both in terms of volume and value. 
See the Memorandum to the File from Robert Copyak, Senior Financial 
Analyst, AD/CVD Operations Office 3, titled ``Critical Circumstances 
Shipment Data Analysis,'' (Critical Circumstances Memorandum) 
(February, 2011) at Attachment I.
    With regard to whether imports of subject merchandise by the ``all 
other'' exporters of steel wheels in the PRC were massive, we 
preliminarily determine that because there is evidence of the existence 
of countervailable subsidies that are inconsistent with the Subsidies 
Agreement, an analysis is warranted as to whether there was a massive 
increase in shipment by the ``all other'' companies, in accordance with 
section 351.206(h)(1) of the Department's regulations. Therefore, we 
analyzed, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.206(i), monthly shipment data 
for the period January 2011 through June 2011, using shipment data from 
the International Trade Commission's (ITC's) Dataweb and adjusting it 
to remove the shipments by the respondents participating in the 
investigation.\14\ For this analysis, we used only the data pertaining 
to the HTSUS numbers 8708.70.05.00, 8708.70.25.00, 8708.70.45.30, and 
8708.70.60.30, which are the HTSUS categories under which a majority of 
the subject merchandise entered the United States. We did not use the 
HTSUS numbers described in the scope as categories that imports of 
subject merchandise ``may also enter under'' because they are basket 
categories. The data provided by the respondents and the data for 
shipments by other exporters from the ITC's Dataweb indicate there was 
a massive increase in shipments, as defined by 19 CFR 351.206(h). See 
Critical Circumstances Memorandum at Attachment II.
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    \14\ See, e.g., Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From the 
People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing 
Duty Determination, Preliminary Negative Critical Circumstances 
Determination, 74 FR 47210, 47212 (September 15, 2009), unchanged in 
Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From the People's Republic of 
China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination: Final 
Negative Critical Circumstances Determination, 74 FR 64045 (December 
7, 2009).
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Conclusion

    We preliminarily determine that critical circumstances do not exist 
for

[[Page 12814]]

imports of steel wheels from the three mandatory respondents the Jingu 
Companies, Centurion Companies, and Xingmin Companies. Although the 
Preliminary Determination indicates that the Jingu Companies benefited 
from programs that are inconsistent with the Subsidies Agreement, the 
Jingu Companies' shipment data does not indicate a massive increase in 
shipments of subject merchandise to the United States. With regard to 
Centurion and Xingmin, there is no evidence on the record indicating 
that either company benefited from programs that are inconsistent with 
the Subsidies Agreement and therefore we preliminarily determine that 
critical circumstances do not exist with regard to shipments from these 
two mandatory respondents.
    We also preliminary determine, based on our analysis of the 
shipment data provided by the three mandatory respondents and ITC 
Dataweb data, that critical circumstances exist for imports from ``all 
other'' exporters of steel from the PRC. We will make a final 
determination concerning critical circumstances for steel wheels from 
the PRC when we make our final countervailable subsidy determination in 
this investigation.

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 703(e)(2)(A) of the Act, we are 
directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend, with regard to 
the ``all other'' companies only, liquidation of any unliquidated 
entries of subject merchandise from the PRC entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse for consumption, on or after June 8, 2011, which is 90 days 
prior to the date of publication of the Preliminary Determination in 
the Federal Register.

ITC Notification

    In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, we will notify the 
ITC of our determination.
    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
703(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: February 27, 2012.
Ronald K. Lorentzen
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-5186 Filed 3-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P