Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Notices 103779 

1See 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic 

Acid From the People’s Republic of China: 

Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less 

Than Fair Value, and Antidumping Duty Order, 82 

FR 22807 (May 18, 2017); see also 1- 

Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid from 

the People’s Republic of China: Countervailing Duty 

Order, 82 FR 22809 (May 18, 2017) (collectively, 

Orders). 

2See Compass’s Letter, ‘‘Request for an 

Anticircumvention Inquiry Pursuant to Section 

781(c) of the Act,’’ dated October 4, 2024. 

3See Commerce’s Letter, ‘‘Supplemental 

Questionnaire,’’ dated October 30, 2024. 

4 Id. 

5See Compass’s Letter, ‘‘Request for an 

Anticircumvention Inquiry Pursuant to Section 

781(c) of the Act; Response to Supplemental 

Questionnaire,’’ dated November 13, 2024. 

the scheduled date of the preliminary 

determinations and stated the reasons 

for their request. For the reasons stated 

above, and because there are no 

compelling reasons to deny the request, 

in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) 

of the Act, Commerce is postponing the 

deadline for these preliminary 

determinations to no later than 130 days 

after the date on which these 

investigations were initiated, i.e., March 

7, 2025. Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) of 

the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the 

deadline for the final determinations of 

these investigations will continue to be 

75 days after the date of these 

preliminary determinations. 

This notice is issued and published 

pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act 

and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1). 

Dated: December 12, 2024. 

Abdelali Elouaradia, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement 

and Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30306 Filed 12–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[A–570–045, C–570–046] 

1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1- 

Diphosphonic Acid From the People’s 

Republic of China: Initiation of 

Circumvention Inquiry of the 

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 

Orders 

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

SUMMARY: In response to a request from 

Compass Chemical International LLC 

(Compass, a domestic interested party), 

the U.S. Department of Commerce 

(Commerce) is initiating a country-wide 

circumvention inquiry to determine 

whether imports of 1- 

Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic 

Acid (HEDP) from the People’s Republic 

of China (China), which has been 

altered in form or appearance in minor 

respects, are circumventing the 

antidumping duty (AD) and 

countervailing duty (CVD) orders. 

DATES: Applicable December 19, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Charles Vannatta or Tyler O’Daniel; 

Office of Policy, Enforcement and 

Compliance, International Trade 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 

NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 

(202) 482–4036 or (202)–482–6030, 

respectively. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On October 4, 2024, pursuant to 

section 781(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, 

as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 

351.226(j), Compass filed a 

circumvention inquiry request alleging 

that solid or powdered acidic HEDP 

produced in China and exported to the 

United States constitutes merchandise 

altered in form or appearance in minor 

respects that is circumventing the 

Orders,1 and, accordingly, should be 

included within the scope of the 

Orders.2 On October 30, 2024, we issued 

a request for additional information to 

Compass,3 because we had found that 

Compass’ request to conduct a 

circumvention inquiry was insufficient 

for purposes of initiation, in accordance 

with 19 CFR 351.226(d)(1). 

Additionally, we stated that 30-day 

period for Commerce to consider 

whether to initiate on Compass’ 

circumvention inquiry request would 

begin with Compass’ response to the 

request for information.4 Subsequently, 

on November 13, 2024, Compass filed 

its response to our request for 

information.5 Thus, we consider the 

circumvention inquiry request to have 

been filed on November 13, 2024. 

Scope of the Orders 

The merchandise covered by the 

Orders includes all grades of aqueous 

acidic (non-neutralized) concentrations 

of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1, 1- 

disphosphonic acid (HEDP), also 

referred to as 

hydroxyethylidenendiphosphonic acid, 

hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid, 

acetodiphosphonic acid, and etidronic 

acid. The Chemical Abstract Service 

(CAS) registry number for HEDP is 

2809–21–4. 

The merchandise subject to the 

Orders is currently classified in the 

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 

United States (HTSUS) at subheading 

2931.90.9043. It may also enter under 

HTSUS subheadings 2811.19.6090, 

2931.90.9041, 2931.90.9051, 

2811.19.6190, 2931.39.0018 and 

2931.49.0050. While HTSUS 

subheadings and the CAS registry 

number are provided for convenience 

and customs purposes only, the written 

description of the scope of the Orders is 

dispositive. 

Merchandise Subject to the 

Circumvention Inquiry 

The merchandise covered by this 

circumvention inquiry includes all 

grades of acidic (non-neutralized) 

concentrations of 1-hydroxyethylidene1, 1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), also 

referred to as 

hydroxyethylidenendiphosphonic acid, 

hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid, 

acetodiphosphonic acid, and etidronic 

acid, in solid or powder form, produced 

in China and exported to the United 

States. The CAS registry number for 

solid acidic HEDP is 2809–21–4. The 

solid or powder form of acidic HEDP 

subject to this request is typically 

entered into the United States under 

HTSUS subheadings 2931.49.0080, 

2931.90.9052 and 2811.19.6190. 

Statutory and Regulatory Framework 

for Initiation of Circumvention Inquiry 

Section 351.226(d)(1)(ii) of 

Commerce’s regulations states that if 

Commerce determines that a request for 

a circumvention inquiry satisfies the 

requirements of 19 CFR 351.226(c), then 

Commerce ‘‘will accept the request and 

initiate a circumvention inquiry.’’ 

Section 351.226(c)(1) of Commerce’s 

regulations, in turn, requires that each 

request for a circumvention inquiry 

allege ‘‘that the elements necessary for 

a circumvention determination under 

section 781 of the Act exist’’ and be 

‘‘accompanied by information 

reasonably available to the interested 

party supporting these allegations.’’ 

Compass alleges circumvention 

pursuant to section 781(c) of the Act 

(i.e., merchandise altered in form or 

appearance in minor respects). 

Section 781(c)(1) of the Act provides 

that the class or kind of merchandise 

subject to an AD or CVD order shall 

include articles that have been ‘‘altered 

in form or appearance in minor respects 

. . . whether or not included in the 

same tariff classification.’’ Section 

781(c)(2) of the Act provides an 

exception that section 781(c)(1) of the 

Act ‘‘shall not apply with respect to 

altered merchandise if the administering 

authority determines that it would be 

unnecessary to consider the altered 

merchandise within the scope of the 

{order}.’’ Concerning the allegation of 

minor alterations under section 781(c) 

of the Act and 19 CFR 351.226(j), 

Commerce may consider criteria 


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103780 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 244 / Thursday, December 19, 2024 / Notices 

6See Initiation Checklist, ‘‘Initiation of the 

Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping and 

Countervailing Duty Orders,’’ dated concurrently 

with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Initiation 

Checklist). 

7See, e.g., Aluminum Extrusions from the 

People’s Republic of China: Affirmative Final 

Determination of Circumvention of the 

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders and 

Rescission of Minor Alterations Anti-Circumvention 

Inquiry, 82 FR 34630 (July 26, 2017), and 

accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at 

Comment 4; see also Hydrofluorocarbon Blends 

from the People’s Republic of China: Initiation of 

Circumvention Inquiry on the Antidumping Duty 

Order, 88 FR 74150 (October 30, 2023); 

Hydrofluorocarbon Blends from the People’s 

Republic of China: Initiation of Circumvention 

Inquiries on the Antidumping Duty Order, 88 FR 

43275 (July 7, 2023). 8See Initiation Checklist. 

1See Initiation of Antidumping and 

Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 89 FR 

15827 (March 5, 2024) (Initiation Notice); see also 

Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks from the People’s 

Republic of China, the Federal Republic of 

Germany, India, and Italy: Countervailing Duty 

Orders, and Amended Final Affirmative 

Countervailing Duty Determination for the People’s 

Republic of China, 86 FR 7535 (January 29, 2021) 

(Order). 

2See Commerce’s Letter, ’’ Countervailing Duty 

Questionnaire,’’ dated April 10, 2024. 

including, but not limited to: (1) Overall 

physical characteristics of the 

merchandise; (2) expectations of 

ultimate users; (3) use of the 

merchandise; (4) channels of marketing; 

and (5) cost of any modification relative 

to the value of the imported products. 

In accordance with 19 CFR 

351.226(m)(2), for companion AD and 

CVD proceedings, ‘‘the Secretary will 

initiate and conduct a single inquiry 

with respect to the product at issue for 

both orders only on the record of the 

antidumping proceeding.’’ Further, once 

‘‘the Secretary issues a final 

circumvention determination on the 

record of the AD proceeding, the 

Secretary will include a copy of that 

determination on the record of the 

CVD.’’ Accordingly, once Commerce 

concludes this circumvention inquiry, 

Commerce intends to place its final 

circumvention determination on the 

record of the companion CVD 

proceeding. 

Analysis 

After analyzing the record evidence 

and Compass’ allegation, we determine 

that the circumvention request satisfies 

the requirements of 19 CFR 351.226(c) 

and that there is sufficient information 

to warrant initiation of a circumvention 

inquiry based on minor alterations, 

pursuant to section 781(c) of the Act 

and 19 CFR 351.226(j). For a full 

discussion of the basis for our decision 

to initiate a circumvention inquiry, see 

the Initiation Checklist.6

As explained in the Initiation 

Checklist, the information provided by 

Compass also warrants initiating this 

circumvention inquiry on a countrywide basis. Commerce has taken this 

approach in prior circumvention 

inquiries, where the facts warranted 

initiation on a country-wide basis.7

Respondent Selection 

Commerce intends to base respondent 

selection on U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection (CBP) data. Commerce 

intends to place the CBP data on the 

record within five days of the 

publication of this initiation notice. 

Comments regarding the CBP data and 

respondent selection should be 

submitted within seven days after 

placement of the CBP data on the record 

of the inquiry. 

Commerce intends to establish a 

schedule for questionnaire responses 

after respondent selection. A company’s 

failure to completely respond to 

Commerce’s requests for information 

may result in the application of facts 

available, pursuant to section 776(a) of 

the Act, which may include adverse 

inferences, pursuant to section 776(b) of 

the Act. 

Suspension of Liquidation 

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.226(l)(1), 

Commerce intends to notify CBP of this 

initiation and direct CBP to continue the 

suspension of liquidation of entries of 

products subject to this circumvention 

inquiry that are already subject to the 

suspension of liquidation under the 

Orders and to apply the cash deposit 

rates that would be applicable if the 

products were determined to be covered 

by the scope of the Orders. Should 

Commerce issue affirmative preliminary 

or final circumvention determinations, 

Commerce will follow the suspension of 

liquidation rules under 19 CFR 

351.226(l)(2)–(4). 

Notification to Interested Parties 

In accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(d) 

and section 781(c) of the Act, Commerce 

determines that Compass’ request for a 

circumvention inquiry satisfies the 

requirements of 19 CFR 351.226(c). 

Accordingly, Commerce is notifying all 

interested parties of the initiation of this 

circumvention inquiry to determine 

whether solid or powdered acidic HEDP 

produced in, and exported from, China 

are circumventing the Orders. We have 

included a description of the products 

that are the subject to this inquiry and 

an explanation of Commerce’s decision 

to initiate this inquiry as provided in 

the accompanying Initiation Checklist.8

In accordance with 19 CFR 

351.226(e)(1), Commerce intends to 

issue its preliminary circumvention 

determination no later than 150 days 

from the date of publication of the 

notice of initiation of this 

circumvention inquiry in the Federal 

Register. 

This notice is published in 

accordance with section 781(c) of the 

Act and 19 CFR 351.226(d)(1)(ii). 

Dated: December 13, 2024. 

Abdelali Elouaradia, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement 

and Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2024–30303 Filed 12–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[C–428–848] 

Forged Steel Fluid End Blocks From 

Germany: Preliminary Results and 

Rescission, In Part of Countervailing 

Duty Administrative Review; 2023 

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily 

determines that countervailable 

subsidies were provided to BGH 

Edelstahl Siegen GmbH (BGH), a 

producer and exporter of forged steel 

fluid end blocks (fluid end blocks) from 

Germany. The period of review (POR) is 

January 1, 2023, through December 31, 

2023. In addition, Commerce is 

rescinding this review, in part, with 

respect to one company. Interested 

parties are invited to comment on these 

preliminary results. 

DATES: Applicable December 19, 2024. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rachel Accorsi or Shane Subler, AD/ 

CVD Operations, Office VIII, 

Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 

Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 

DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–3149 or 

(202) 482–6241, respectively. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On March 5, 2024, based on timely 

requests for review, Commerce initiated 

this administrative review of the 

countervailing duty order on fluid end 

blocks from Germany.1 On April 10, 

2024, Commerce selected BGH and 

Schmiedewerke Gr ditz GmbH (SWG) as 

the mandatory respondents in this 

review.2 On July 22, 2024, Commerce 


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