15134 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices 

U.S. International Trade Commission 

Notification 

In accordance with section 733(f) of 

the Act, Commerce will notify the 

International Trade Commission (ITC) of 

its preliminary determination. If the 

final determination is affirmative, the 

ITC will determine before the later of 

120 days after the date of this 

preliminary determination or 45 days 

after the final determination whether 

imports of mattresses from Kosovo are 

materially injuring, or threaten material 

injury to, the U.S. industry. 

Notification to Interested Parties 

This preliminary determination is 

issued and published in accordance 

with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the 

Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c). 

Dated: February 23, 2024. 

Ryan Majerus, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and 

Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive 

functions and duties of the Assistant 

Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. 

Appendix I 

Scope of the Investigation 

The products covered by this investigation 

are all types of youth and adult mattresses. 

The term ‘‘mattress’’ denotes an assembly of 

materials that at a minimum includes a 

‘‘core,’’ which provides the main support 

system of the mattress, and may consist of 

innersprings, foam, other resilient filling, or 

a combination of these materials. Mattresses 

also may contain: (1) ‘‘upholstery,’’ the 

material between the core and the top panel 

of the ticking on a single-sided mattress, or 

between the core and the top and bottom 

panel of the ticking on a double-sided 

mattress; and/or (2) ‘‘ticking,’’ the outermost 

layer of fabric or other material (e.g., vinyl) 

that encloses the core and any upholstery, 

also known as a cover. 

The scope of this investigation is restricted 

to only ‘‘adult mattresses’’ and ‘‘youth 

mattresses.’’ ‘‘Adult mattresses’’ are 

frequently described as ‘‘twin,’’ ‘‘extra-long 

twin,’’ ‘‘full,’’ ‘‘queen,’’ ‘‘king,’’ or ‘‘California 

king’’ mattresses. ‘‘Youth mattresses’’ are 

typically described as ‘‘crib,’’ ‘‘toddler,’’ or 

‘‘youth’’ mattresses. All adult and youth 

mattresses are included regardless of size and 

size description or how they are described 

(e.g., frameless futon mattress and tri-fold 

mattress). 

The scope encompasses all types of 

‘‘innerspring mattresses,’’ ‘‘non-innerspring 

mattresses,’’ and ‘‘hybrid mattresses.’’ 

‘‘Innerspring mattresses’’ contain 

innersprings, a series of metal springs joined 

together in sizes that correspond to the 

dimensions of mattresses. Mattresses that 

contain innersprings are referred to as 

‘‘innerspring mattresses’’ or ‘‘hybrid 

mattresses.’’ ‘‘Hybrid mattresses’’ contain two 

or more support systems as the core, such as 

layers of both memory foam and innerspring 

units. 

‘‘Non-innerspring mattresses’’ are those 

that do not contain any innerspring units. 

They are generally produced from foams 

(e.g., polyurethane, memory (viscoelastic), 

latex foam, gel infused viscoelastic (gel 

foam), thermobonded polyester, 

polyethylene) or other resilient filling. 

Mattresses covered by the scope of this 

investigation may be imported 

independently, as part of furniture or 

furniture mechanisms (e.g., convertible sofa 

bed mattresses, sofa bed mattresses imported 

with sofa bed mechanisms, corner group 

mattresses, day-bed mattresses, roll-away bed 

mattresses, high risers, trundle bed 

mattresses, crib mattresses), or as part of a set 

(in combination with a ‘‘mattress 

foundation’’). ‘‘Mattress foundations’’ are any 

base or support for a mattress. Mattress 

foundations are commonly referred to as 

‘‘foundations,’’ ‘‘boxsprings,’’ ‘‘platforms,’’ 

and/or ‘‘bases.’’ Bases can be static, foldable, 

or adjustable. Only the mattress is covered by 

the scope if imported as part of furniture, 

with furniture mechanisms, or as part of a 

set, in combination with a mattress 

foundation. 

Excluded from the scope of this 

investigation are ‘‘futon’’ mattresses. A 

‘‘futon’’ is a bi-fold frame made of wood, 

metal, or plastic material, or any combination 

thereof, that functions as both seating 

furniture (such as a couch, love seat, or sofa) 

and a bed. A ‘‘futon mattress’’ is a tufted 

mattress, where the top covering is secured 

to the bottom with thread that goes 

completely through the mattress from the top 

through to the bottom, and it does not 

contain innersprings or foam. A futon 

mattress is both the bed and seating surface 

for the futon. 

Also excluded from the scope are airbeds 

(including inflatable mattresses) and 

waterbeds, which consist of air- or liquidfilled bladders as the core or main support 

system of the mattress. 

Also excluded is certain multifunctional 

furniture that is convertible from seating to 

sleeping, regardless of filler material or 

components, where such filler material or 

components are upholstered, integrated into 

the design and construction of, and 

inseparable from, the furniture framing, and 

the outermost layer of the multifunctional 

furniture converts into the sleeping surface. 

Such furniture may, and without limitation, 

be commonly referred to as ‘‘convertible 

sofas,’’ ‘‘sofabeds,’’ ‘‘sofa chaise sleepers,’’ 

‘‘futons,’’ ‘‘ottoman sleepers,’’ or a like 

description. 

Also excluded from the scope of this 

investigation are any products covered by the 

existing antidumping duty orders on 

uncovered innerspring units from the 

People’s Republic of China, South Africa, 

and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. See 

Uncovered Innerspring Units from the 

People’s Republic of China, South Africa, 

and Socialist Republic of Vietnam: 

Continuation of Antidumping Duty Orders, 

84 FR 55285 (October 16, 2019). 

Also excluded from the scope of this 

investigation are bassinet pads with a 

nominal length of less than 39 inches, a 

nominal width of less than 25 inches, and a 

nominal depth of less than 2 inches. 

Additionally, also excluded from the scope 

of this investigation are ‘‘mattress toppers.’’ 

A ‘‘mattress topper’’ is a removable bedding 

accessory that supplements a mattress by 

providing an additional layer that is placed 

on top of a mattress. Excluded mattress 

toppers have a height of four inches or less. 

The products subject to this investigation 

are currently classifiable under Harmonized 

Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 

subheadings: 9404.21.0010, 9404.21.0013, 

9404.21.0095, 9404.29.1005, 9404.29.1013, 

9404.29.1095, 9404.29.9085, 9404.29.9087, 

and 9404.29.9095. Products subject to this 

investigation may also enter under HTSUS 

subheadings: 9401.41.0000, 9401.49.0000, 

and 9401.99.9081. Although the HTSUS 

subheadings are provided for convenience 

and customs purposes, the written 

description of the merchandise subject to this 

investigation is dispositive. 

Appendix II 

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary 

Decision Memorandum 

I. Summary 

II. Background 

III. Period of Investigation 

IV. Use of Facts Available With Adverse 

Inferences 

V. Affiliation 

VI. Discussion of the Methodology 

VII. Currency Conversion 

VIII. Recommendation 

[FR Doc. 2024–04324 Filed 2–29–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[C–570–157] 

Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates 

From the People’s Republic of China: 

Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing 

Duty Determination, and Alignment of 

Final Determination With Final 

Antidumping Duty Determination 

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily 

determines that countervailable 

subsidies are being provided to 

producers and exporters of aluminum 

lithographic printing plates (printing 

plates) from the People’s Republic of 

China (China). The period of 

investigation (POI) is January 1, 2022, 

through December 31, 2022. Interested 

parties are invited to comment on this 

preliminary determination. 

DATES: Applicable March 1, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Terre Keaton Stefanova, AD/CVD 

Operations Office IX, Enforcement and 

Compliance, International Trade 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices 15135 

1See Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates 

from the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of 

Countervailing Duty Investigation, 88 FR 73313 

(October 25, 2023) (Initiation Notice). 

2See Aluminum Lithographic Printing Plates 

from the People’s Republic of China: Postponement 

of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing 

Duty Investigation, 88 FR 85219 (December 7, 

2023). 

3See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for 

the Preliminary Affirmative Determination of the 

Countervailing Duty Investigation of Aluminum 

Lithographic Printing Plates from the People’s 

Republic of China,’’ dated concurrently with, and 

hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary 

Decision Memorandum). 

4See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, 

Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) 

(Preamble). 

5See Initiation Notice. 

6See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act 

regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) 

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

the Act regarding specificity. 

7See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. 

8See Petitioner’s Letter, ‘‘Petitioner’s Request to 

Align Final Countervailing Duty Determination 

With the Companion Antidumping Duty Final 

Determinations,’’ dated February 12, 2024. 

9As discussed in the Preliminary Decision 

Memorandum, Commerce has found the following 

company to be cross-owned with FFPS: Fujifilm 

(China) Investment Co., Ltd. 

NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 

(202) 482–1280. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

This preliminary determination is 

made in accordance with section 703(b) 

of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 

(the Act). Commerce published the 

notice of initiation of this countervailing 

duty investigation on October 25, 2023.1

On December 7, 2023, Commerce 

postponed the preliminary 

determination until February 26, 2024.2

For a complete description of the 

events that followed the initiation of 

this investigation, see the Preliminary 

Decision Memorandum.3 A list of topics 

discussed in the Preliminary Decision 

Memorandum is included as Appendix 

II to this notice. The Preliminary 

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 https:// 

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 are printing plates from 

China. For a complete description of the 

scope of this investigation, see 

Appendix I. 

Scope Comments 

In accordance with the Preamble to 

Commerce’s regulations,4 the Initiation 

Notice set aside a period of time for 

parties to raise issues regarding product 

coverage, (i.e., scope).5 No interested 

party commented on the scope of the 

investigation as it appeared in the 

Initiation Notice. 

Methodology 

Commerce is conducting this 

investigation in accordance with section 

701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy 

programs found 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.6

Commerce notes that, in making these 

findings, it relied, in part, on facts 

available and, because it finds that one 

or more respondents and the 

Government of China did not act to the 

best of their ability to respond to 

Commerce’s requests for information, it 

drew an adverse inference where 

appropriate in selecting from among the 

facts otherwise available.7 For further 

information, see the ‘‘Use of Facts 

Otherwise Available and Adverse 

Inferences’’ section in the Preliminary 

Decision Memorandum. 

Alignment 

In accordance with section 705(a)(1) 

of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), 

Commerce is aligning the final 

determination in this investigation with 

the final determination in the 

companion antidumping duty 

investigation of printing plates from 

China based on a request made by 

Eastman Kodak Company (the 

petitioner).8 Consequently, the final 

countervailing duty determination will 

be issued on the same date as the final 

antidumping duty determination, which 

is currently scheduled to be issued no 

later than July 9, 2024, unless 

postponed. 

All-Others Rate 

Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of 

the Act provide that in the preliminary 

determination, Commerce shall 

determine an estimated all-others rate 

for companies not individually 

examined. This rate shall be an amount 

equal to the weighted average of the 

estimated subsidy rates established for 

those companies individually 

examined, excluding any zero and de 

minimis rates and any rates based 

entirely under section 776 of the Act. 

In this investigation, Commerce 

preliminarily assigned a rate based 

entirely on facts available to Shanghai 

National Ink Co. Ltd. Therefore, the only 

rate that that is not zero, de minimis, or 

based entirely on facts otherwise 

available is the rate calculated for 

Fujifilm Printing Plate (China) Co., Ltd. 

(FFPS). Consequently, the rate 

calculated for FFPS is also assigned as 

the rate for all other producers and 

exporters, pursuant to section 

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

Preliminary Determination 

Commerce preliminarily determines 

that the following estimated 

countervailable subsidy rates exist: 

Company 

Subsidy rate 

(percent 

ad valorem) 

Fujifilm Printing Plate (China) 

Co., Ltd.9 ........................... 38.50 

Shanghai National Ink Co. 

Ltd ..................................... 231.98 

All Others .............................. 38.50 

Suspension of Liquidation 

In accordance with section 

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

Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) to 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 the date of 

publication of this notice in the Federal 

Register . Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 

351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP 

to require a cash deposit equal to the 

rates indicated above. 

Disclosure 

Commerce intends to disclose its 

calculations and analysis performed to 

interested parties in this preliminary 

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). 

Verification 

As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the 

Act, Commerce intends to verify the 

information relied upon in making its 

final determination. 

Public Comment 

Case briefs or other written comments 

may be submitted to the Assistant 

Secretary for Enforcement and 

Compliance no later than seven days 

after the date on which the last 

verification report is issued in this 

investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
15136 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 42 / Friday, March 1, 2024 / Notices 

10See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative 

Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in 

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 

88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023) (APO and 

Service Final Rule). 

11See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2). 

12We use the term ‘‘issue’’ here to describe an 

argument that Commerce would normally address 

in a comment of the Issues and Decision 

Memorandum. 

13See APO and Service Final Rule, 88 FR at 

67069. 

14See 19 CFR 351.310(d). 

issues raised in the case briefs, may be 

filed not later than five days after the 

date for filing case briefs.10 Interested 

parties who submit case briefs or 

rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must 

submit: (1) a table of contents listing 

each issue; and (2) a table of 

authorities.11

As provided under 19 CFR 

351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior 

proceedings we have encouraged 

interested parties to provide an 

executive summary of their brief that 

should be limited to five pages total, 

including footnotes. In this 

investigation, we instead request that 

interested parties provide at the 

beginning of their briefs a public, 

executive summary for each issue raised 

in their briefs.12 Further, we request that 

interested parties limit their executive 

summary of each issue to no more than 

450 words, not including citations. We 

intend to use the executive summaries 

as the basis of the comment summaries 

included in the issues and decision 

memorandum that will accompany the 

final determination in this investigation. 

We request that interested parties 

include footnotes for relevant citations 

in the executive summary of each issue. 

Note that Commerce has amended 

certain of its requirements pertaining to 

the service of documents in 19 CFR 

351.303(f).13

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), 

interested parties who wish to request a 

hearing, limited to issues raised in the 

case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a 

written request to the Assistant 

Secretary for Enforcement and 

Compliance, U.S. Department of 

Commerce via ACCESS within 30 days 

after the date of publication of this 

notice. Requests should contain the 

party’s name, address, and telephone 

number, the number of participants, and 

a list of the issues to be discussed. Oral 

presentations at the hearing will be 

limited to issues raised in the briefs. If 

a request for a hearing is made, parties 

will be notified of the time and date for 

the hearing.14

U.S. International Trade Commission 

Notification 

In accordance with section 703(f) of 

the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S. 

International Trade Commission (ITC) of 

its determination. If the final 

determination is affirmative, the ITC 

will determine before the later of 120 

days after the date of this preliminary 

determination or 45 days after the final 

determination. 

Notification to Interested Parties 

This determination is issued and 

published pursuant to sections 703(f) 

and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 

351.205(c). 

Dated: February 26, 2024. 

Ryan Majerus, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and 

Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive 

functions and duties of the Assistant 

Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. 

Appendix I 

Scope of the Investigation 

The merchandise covered by this 

investigation is aluminum lithographic 

printing plates. Aluminum lithographic 

printing plates consist of a flat substrate 

containing at least 90 percent aluminum. The 

aluminum-containing substrate is generally 

treated using a mechanical, electrochemical, 

or chemical graining process, which is 

followed by one or more anodizing 

treatments that form a hydrophilic layer on 

the aluminum-containing substrate. An 

image-recording, oleophilic layer that is 

sensitive to light, including but not limited 

to ultra-violet, visible, or infrared, is 

dispersed in a polymeric binder material that 

is applied on top of the hydrophilic layer, 

generally on one side of the aluminum 

lithographic printing plate. The oleophilic 

light-sensitive layer is capable of capturing 

an image that is transferred onto the plate by 

either light or heat. The image applied to an 

aluminum lithographic printing plate 

facilitates the production of newspapers, 

magazines, books, yearbooks, coupons, 

packaging, and other printed materials 

through an offset printing process, where an 

aluminum lithographic printing plate 

facilitates the transfer of an image onto the 

printed media. Aluminum lithographic 

printing plates within the scope of this 

investigation include all aluminum 

lithographic printing plates, irrespective of 

the dimensions or thickness of the 

underlying aluminum substrate, whether the 

plate requires processing after an image is 

applied to the plate, whether the plate is 

ready to be mounted to a press and used in 

printing operations immediately after an 

image is applied to the plate, or whether the 

plate has been exposed to light or heat to 

create an image on the plate or remains 

unexposed and is free of any image. 

Subject merchandise also includes 

aluminum lithographic printing plates 

produced from an aluminum sheet coil that 

has been coated with a light-sensitive imagerecording layer in a subject country and that 

is subsequently unwound and cut to the final 

dimensions to produce a finished plate in a 

third country (including the United States), 

or exposed to light or heat to create an image 

on the plate in a third country (including in 

a foreign trade zone within the United 

States). 

Excluded from the scope of this 

investigation are lithographic printing plates 

manufactured using a substrate produced 

from a material other than aluminum, such 

as rubber or plastic. 

Aluminum lithographic printing plates are 

currently classifiable under Harmonized 

Tariff of the United States (HTSUS) 

subheadings 3701.30.0000 and 3701.99.6060. 

Further, merchandise that falls within the 

scope of this investigation may also be 

entered into the United States under HTSUS 

subheadings 3701.99.3000 and 8442.50.1000. 

Although the HTSUS subheadings are 

provided for convenience and customs 

purposes, the written description of the 

scope of this investigation is dispositive. 

Appendix II 

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary 

Decision Memorandum 

I. Summary 

II. Background 

III. Injury Test 

IV. Analysis of China’s Financial System 

V. Diversification of China’s Economy 

VI. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and 

Adverse Inferences 

VII. Subsidies Valuation 

VIII. Benchmarks and Interest Rates 

IX. Analysis of Programs 

X. Recommendation 

[FR Doc. 2024–04392 Filed 2–29–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[A–487–001] 

Mattresses From Bulgaria: Preliminary 

Affirmative Determination of Sales at 

Less Than Fair Value 

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily 

determines that mattresses from 

Bulgaria are being, or are likely to be, 

sold in the United States at less than fair 

value (LTFV). The period of 

investigation (POI) is July 1, 2022, 

through June 30, 2023. Interested parties 

are invited to comment on this 

preliminary determination. 

DATES: Applicable March 1, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: T.J. 

Worthington, AD/CVD Operations, 

Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1