Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Notices 87407 

1See Brass Rod from India: Preliminary 

Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 88 

FR 67240 (September 29, 2023) (Preliminary 

Determination), and accompanying Preliminary 

Decision Memorandum (PDM). 

2See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision 

Memorandum for the Final Affirmative 

Determination of the Countervailing Duty 

Investigation of Brass Rod from India,’’ dated 

concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this 

notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum). 

3See Memorandum, ‘‘Preliminary Scope Decision 

Memorandum,’’ dated September 25, 2023 

(Preliminary Scope Memorandum). 

4See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act 

regarding financial contribution; see also section 

771(5)(E) of the Act regarding benefit; and section 

771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity. 

imported into the United States is 

derived from the set of Harmonized 

System lines listed in the Annex to the 

World Trade Organization Agreement 

on Textiles and Clothing (‘‘ATC’’), and 

the conversion factors for units of 

measure into square meter equivalents 

used by the United States in 

implementing the ATC. For purposes of 

this notice, the most recent 12-month 

period for which data are available as of 

December 20, 2023 is the 12-month 

period ending on October 31, 2023. 

Therefore, for the one-year period 

beginning on December 20, 2023 and 

extending through December 19, 2024, 

the quantity of imports eligible for 

preferential treatment under the valueadded provision is 313,655,640 square 

meters equivalent. Apparel articles 

entered in excess of these quantities will 

be subject to otherwise applicable 

tariffs. 

Jennifer Knight, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Textiles, 

Consumer Goods, Materials Industries, 

Critical Minerals and Metals. 

[FR Doc. 2023–27723 Filed 12–15–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[C–533–916] 

Brass Rod From India: Final 

Affirmative Countervailing Duty 

Determination 

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Commerce (Commerce) determines that 

countervailable subsidies are being 

provided to producers and exporters of 

brass rod from India. The period of 

investigation is April 1, 2022, through 

March 31, 2023. 

DATES: Applicable December 18, 2023. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dusten Hom, 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) 482–5075. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On September 29, 2023, Commerce 

published the Preliminary 

Determination in the Federal Register.1

For a complete description of the events 

that followed the Preliminary 

Determination, see the Issues and 

Decision Memorandum.2 The Issues and 

Decision Memorandum is a public 

document and is on file electronically 

via Enforcement and Compliance’s 

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 

Centralized Electronic Service System 

(ACCESS). ACCESS is available to 

registered users at http://

access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete 

version of the Preliminary Decision 

Memorandum can be accessed directly 

at https://access.trade.gov/public/

FRNoticesListLayout.aspx. 

Scope of the Investigation 

The product covered by this 

investigation is brass rod from India. For 

a complete description of the scope of 

this investigation, see Appendix I. 

Scope Comments 

During the course of this 

investigation, Commerce received scope 

comments from interested parties. 

Commerce issued a Preliminary Scope 

Memorandum to address these 

comments and set aside a period of time 

for parties to address scope issues in 

scope-specific case and rebuttal briefs.3

We did not receive timely comments 

from any interested parties on the 

Preliminary Scope Memorandum. Thus, 

we did not make any changes to the 

scope of the investigation from the 

scope published in the Preliminary 

Determination, as noted in Appendix I. 

Analysis of Subsidy Programs and 

Comments Received 

The subsidy programs under 

investigation and the issue raised in the 

case and rebuttal briefs by parties are 

discussed in the Issues and Decision 

Memorandum. For a list of the topics 

discussed, and the issue raised by 

parties to which we responded in the 

Issues and Decision Memorandum, see 

Appendix II. 

Methodology 

Commerce conducted this 

investigation in accordance with section 

701 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 

amended (the Act). For each of the 

subsidy programs found to be 

countervailable, Commerce 

preliminarily determines that there is a 

subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by 

an ‘‘authority’’ that gives rise to a 

benefit to the recipient, and that the 

subsidy is specific.4 For a full 

description of the methodology 

underlying our final determination, see 

the Issues and Decision Memorandum 

Changes Since the Preliminary 

Determination 

Based on our review and analysis of 

the information received during 

verification and comments received 

from parties, for this final 

determination, we made certain changes 

to the countervailable subsidy rate 

calculations for Rajhans Metals Private 

Limited (RMPL) and for all other 

producers/exporters. For a discussion of 

these changes, see the Issues and 

Decision Memorandum. 

All-Others Rate 

Pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of 

the Act, Commerce will determine an 

all-others rate equal to the weighted 

average countervailable subsidy rates 

established for those exporters and/or 

producers individually investigated, 

excluding any zero and de minimis 

countervailable subsidy rates and any 

rates based entirely under section 776 of 

the Act. 

Commerce calculated an individual 

estimated countervailable subsidy rate 

for RMPL, the only individually 

examined exporter/producer in this 

investigation. Because the only 

individually calculated rate is not zero, 

de minimis, or based entirely under 

section 776 of the Act, the estimated 

weighted-average rate calculated for 

RMPL is the rate assigned to all other 

producers and exporters, pursuant to 

section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act. 

Final Determination 

Commerce determines that the 

following estimated countervailable 

subsidy rates exist for the period of 

April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2023: 

Company 

Subsidy rate 

(percent 

ad valorem) 

Rajhans Metals Private Limited 5 .................................. 2.24 

All Others .............................. 2.24 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
87408 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 241 / Monday, December 18, 2023 / Notices 

5As discussed in the Preliminary Determination 

PDM, Commerce found the following company to 

be cross-owned with RMPL: Rajhans Alloys Private 

Limited (RAPL). However, effective March 11, 2016, 

RAPL was amalgamated with RMPL, and since 

then, ceased to be a separate entity. 

Continuation of Suspension of 

Liquidation 

As a result of our Preliminary 

Determination, and pursuant to sections 

703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, 

Commerce instructed U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash 

deposits and suspend liquidation of 

entries of subject merchandise as 

described in the scope of the 

investigation section entered, or 

withdrawn from warehouse, for 

consumption on or after September 29, 

2023, the date of publication of the 

Preliminary Determination in the 

Federal Register. The suspension of 

liquidation ordered in the Preliminary 

Determination will remain in effect 

until further notice. 

Additionally, pursuant to section 

705(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 

351.210(d), where appropriate, 

Commerce will instruct CBP to require 

a cash deposit equal to the estimated 

individual countervailable subsidy rate 

or the estimated all-others rate, as 

indicated in the chart above, effective 

on the date of publication of this final 

determination. 

If the U.S. International Trade 

Commission (ITC) issues a final 

affirmative injury determination, we 

will issue a countervailing duty order 

and require a cash deposit of estimated 

countervailing duties for such entries of 

subject merchandise in the amounts 

indicated above, in accordance with 

section 706(a) of the Act. If the ITC 

determines that material injury, or 

threat of material injury, does not exist, 

this proceeding will be terminated, and 

all estimated duties deposited or 

securities posted as a result of the 

suspension of liquidation will be 

refunded or canceled. 

Disclosure 

Commerce intends to disclose its 

calculations and analysis performed to 

interested parties in this final 

determination within five days of its 

public announcement, or if there is no 

public announcement, within five days 

of the date of this notice in accordance 

with 19 CFR 351.224(b). 

ITC Notification 

In accordance with section 705(d) of 

the Act, Commerce will notify the ITC 

of its final affirmative determination 

that countervailable subsidies are being 

provided to producers and exporters of 

brass rod from India. As Commerce’s 

final determination is affirmative, in 

accordance with section 705(b) of the 

Act, the ITC will determine, within 45 

days, whether the domestic industry in 

the United States is materially injured, 

or threatened with material injury, by 

reason of imports of brass rod from 

India. In addition, we are making 

available to the ITC all non-privileged 

and non-proprietary information related 

to this investigation. We will allow the 

ITC access to all privileged and business 

proprietary information in our files, 

provided the ITC confirms that it will 

not disclose such information, either 

publicly or under an administrative 

protective order (APO), without the 

written consent of the Assistant 

Secretary for Enforcement and 

Compliance. 

Administrative Protective Order 

In the event that the ITC issues a final 

negative injury determination, this 

notice will serve as the only reminder 

to parties subject to the APO of their 

responsibility concerning the 

destruction of proprietary information 

disclosed under APO, in accordance 

with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). 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 determination is issued and 

published pursuant to sections 705(d) 

and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 

351.210(c). 

Dated: December 11, 2023. 

Abdelali Elouaradia, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement 

and Compliance. 

Appendix I 

Scope of the Investigation 

The products covered by this investigation 

are brass rod and bar (brass rod), which is 

defined as leaded, low-lead, and no-lead 

solid brass made from alloys such as, but not 

limited to the following alloys classified 

under the Unified Numbering System (UNS) 

as C27450, C27451, C27460, C34500, C35000, 

C35300, C35330, C36000, C36300, C37000, 

C37700, C48500, C67300, C67600, and 

C69300, and their international equivalents. 

The brass rod subject to this investigation 

has an actual cross-section or outside 

diameter greater than 0.25 inches but less 

than or equal to 12 inches. Brass rod crosssections may be round, hexagonal, square, or 

octagonal shapes as well as special profiles 

(e.g., angles, shapes), including hollow 

profiles. 

Standard leaded brass rod covered by the 

scope contains, by weight, 57.0–65.0 percent 

copper; 0.5–3.0 percent lead; no more than 

1.3 percent iron; and at least 15 percent zinc. 

No-lead or low-lead brass rod covered by the 

scope contains by weight 59.0–76.0 percent 

copper; 0–1.5 percent lead; no more than 

0.35 percent iron; and at least 15 percent 

zinc. Brass rod may also include other 

chemical elements (e.g., nickel, phosphorous, 

silicon, tin, etc.). 

Brass rod may be in straight lengths or 

coils. Brass rod covered by this investigation 

may be finished or unfinished, and may or 

may not be heated, extruded, pickled, or 

cold-drawn. Brass rod may be produced in 

accordance with ASTM B16, ASTM B124, 

ASTM B981, ASTM B371, ASTM B453, 

ASTM B21, ASTM B138, and ASTM B927, 

but such conformity to an ASTM standard is 

not required for the merchandise to be 

included within the scope. 

Excluded from the scope of this 

investigation is brass ingot, which is a casting 

of unwrought metal unsuitable for 

conversion into brass rod without remelting, 

that contains, by weight, at least 57.0 percent 

copper and 15.0 percent zinc. 

The merchandise covered by this 

investigation is currently classifiable under 

subheadings 7407.21.9000, 7407.21.7000, 

and 7407.21.1500 of the Harmonized Tariff 

Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). 

Products subject to the scope may also enter 

under HTSUS subheadings 7403.21.0000, 

7407.21.3000, and 7407.21.5000. The HTSUS 

subheadings and UNS alloy designations are 

provided for convenience and customs 

purposes. The written description of the 

scope of the 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. Subsidies Valuation Information 

V. Analysis of Programs 

VI. Discussion of the Issue 

Comment: Whether Commerce Correctly 

Calculated Advance Authorization 

Program Benefits 

VII. Recommendation 

[FR Doc. 2023–27698 Filed 12–15–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget for Review 

and Approval; Comment Request; 

U.S.-Canada Albacore Treaty 

Reporting System 

The Department of Commerce will 

submit the following information 

collection request to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) for 

review and clearance in accordance 

with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 


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