[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 42 (Friday, March 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15132-15134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04324]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-803-001]


Mattresses From Kosovo: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of 
Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and 
Extension of Provisional Measures

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily 
determines that mattresses from Kosovo are being, or are likely to be, 
sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of 
investigation 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: Sean Carey, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3964.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce 
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on August 23. 
2023.\1\ On October 23, 2023, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination for this investigation until February 23, 2024.\2\
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    \1\ See Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, 
India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, 
Spain, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value 
Investigations, 88 FR 57433 (August 23, 2023) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, 
India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, the Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, 
Spain, and Taiwan: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the 
Less-Than-Fair Value Investigations, 88 FR 72737 (October 23, 2023).
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    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics included 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.
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    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation 
of Mattresses from Kosovo,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby 
adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are mattresses from 
Kosovo. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the Preamble,\4\ we set aside a period of time 
for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., 
scope).\5\ Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the 
investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For a summary of 
the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the 
record for this preliminary determination and accompanying discussion 
and analysis of all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Scope 
Decision Memorandum.\6\ Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the 
scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the scope 
in Appendix I to this notice.
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    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice, 88 FR at 57434.
    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Mattresses from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
Bulgaria, Burma, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, 
Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Taiwan: Scope Comments 
Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination,'' dated 
concurrently with this preliminary determination (Preliminary Scope 
Decision Memorandum).
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    In the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, Commerce established 
the deadline for parties to submit scope case and rebuttal briefs.\7\
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    \7\ Id.
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices for 
Ventius International LLC (Ventius) in accordance with section 772(a) 
of the Act. Normal value for Ventius is calculated in accordance with 
section 773 of the Act. Furthermore, pursuant to sections 776(a) and 
(b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied on facts otherwise 
available, with adverse inferences (AFA), for Nisco Thailand Co., Ltd. 
(Nisco Thailand). For a full description of the methodology underlying 
the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that 
in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated 
all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually 
examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted-average of 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for 
exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero 
and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under 
section 776 of the Act.
    Commerce calculated an individual estimated weighted-average 
dumping margin for Ventius. As a result, because we have only 
calculated one margin and that margin is not zero, de minimis, or based 
entirely on facts otherwise available, the estimated weighted-average 
dumping margin calculated for Ventius is the margin assigned to all 
other producers and exporters, pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the 
Act.

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:

[[Page 15133]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Weighted-
                                                              average
                    Producer/exporter                     dumping margin
                                                             (percent)
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Ventius International LLC...............................           62.51
Nisco Thailand Co., Ltd.................................        * 344.70
All Others..............................................           62.51
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* Rate based on AFA.

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(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 Appendix I, entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant 
to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will 
instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-
average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: 
(1) the cash deposit rates for the respondents listed above will be 
equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping 
margins determined in this preliminary determination; (2) if the 
exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, 
then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific 
estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer 
of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other 
producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin. These suspension of liquidation 
measures will remain in effect until further notice.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis 
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination 
within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public 
announcement, within five days of the date of publication 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.\8\ Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the 
case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for 
filing case briefs.\9\ 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.\10\
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    \8\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(i); see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for 
general filing requirements).
    \9\ See 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).
    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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    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.\11\ 
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).\12\
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    \11\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that 
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum.
    \12\ See APO and Service Final Rule.
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    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, 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, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list 
of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, 
Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be 
determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and 
location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.

Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an 
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement 
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of 
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative 
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by 
the petitioner. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), Commerce requires 
that requests by exporters for postponement of the final determination 
be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional measures from 
a four-month period to a period not more than six months in duration.
    On January 28, 2024, Ventius requested that Commerce postpone the 
final determination in the event of an affirmative preliminary 
determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not 
to exceed six months.\13\ On February 6, 2024, the petitioners \14\ 
requested that Commerce postpone the final determination in the event 
of a negative preliminary determination.\15\ In accordance with section 
735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) the 
preliminary determination is affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter 
accounts for a significant proportion of exports of the subject 
merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, Commerce 
is postponing the final determination and extending the provisional 
measures from a four-month period to a period not greater than six 
months. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final determination no 
later than 135 days after the date of publication of this preliminary 
determination.
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    \13\ See Ventius' Letter, ``Mattresses from Kosovo: Request to 
Extend Final Determination,'' dated January 8, 2024.
    \14\ Brooklyn Bedding; Carpenter Co.; Corsicana Mattress 
Company; Future Foam Inc.; FXI, Inc.; Kolcraft Enterprises Inc.; 
Leggett & Platt, Incorporated; Serta Simmons Bedding Inc.; 
Southerland, Inc.; Tempur Sealy International; the International 
Brotherhood of Teamsters; and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, 
Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers 
International Union (collectively, the petitioners).
    \15\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Mattresses from Bosnia and 
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burma, India, Italy, Kosovo, Mexico, 
Philippines, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, and Taiwan: Mattress 
Petitioners' Request for Postponement of Antidumping Final 
Determinations,'' dated February 6, 2024.

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[[Page 15134]]

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 liquid-filled 
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