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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3179-3183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00544]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-190]

Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains From the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable January 6, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Cloyd, Office VII, AD/CVD 
Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1246.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

    On November 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
received an antidumping duty (AD) petition concerning imports of sol 
gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains (ceramic abrasive grains) 
from the People's Republic of China (China) filed in proper form on 
behalf of Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. (the petitioner), a 
U.S. producer of ceramic abrasive grains.\1\ The AD Petition was 
accompanied by a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports 
of ceramic abrasive grains from China.\2\
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    \1\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Petitions for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties,'' dated November 25, 2024 
(Petition).
    \2\ Id.
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    Between November 27 and December 6, 2024, Commerce requested 
supplemental information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition 
in supplemental questionnaires.\3\ Between December 4 and 12, 2024, the 
petitioner filed timely responses to these requests for additional 
information.\4\
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    \3\ See Commerce's Letters, ``Supplemental Questions,'' dated 
November 27, 2024 (General Issues Questionnaire); ``Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated November 27, 2024; see also Memorandum, ``Phone 
Call with Counsel to the Petitioner,'' dated December 6, 2024 
(December 6, 2024, Memorandum).
    \4\ See Petitioner's Letters, ``Antidumping and Countervailing 
Supplemental Questionnaire Response,'' dated December 4, 2024 
(General Issues Supplement); ``Antidumping Supplemental 
Questionnaire Response,'' dated December 4, 2024; ``Antidumping and 
Countervailing General Issues Supplement Response,'' dated December 
9, 2024 (Scope Supplement); and ``Antidumping Supplemental 
Questionnaire Response,'' dated December 12, 2024.
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    On December 6, 2024, Commerce extended the initiation deadline by 
20 days to poll the domestic industry in accordance with sections 
732(c)(1)(B) and 732(c)(4)(D) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(the Act), because the Petition ``{had{time}  not established that the 
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of 
total production support the {Petition{time} . . . .'' \5\
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    \5\ See Notice of Extension of the Deadline for Determining the 
Adequacy of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions: Sol 
Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People's Republic 
of China, 89 FR 100465 (December 12, 2024) (Initiation Extension 
Notice).
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    In accordance with section 732(b) of the Act, the petitioner 
alleges that imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China are being, 
or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value 
(LTFV) within the meaning of section 731 of the Act, and that imports 
of such products are materially injuring, or threatening material 
injury to, the ceramic abrasive grains industry in the United States. 
Consistent with section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the Petition was 
accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioner 
supporting its allegations.
    Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of 
the domestic industry, because the petitioner is an interested party, 
as defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. Commerce also finds that 
the petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support for the 
initiation of the requested LTFV investigation.\6\
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    \6\ See section on ``Determination of Industry Support for the 
Petition,'' infra.
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Period of Investigation

    Because the Petition was filed on November 25, 2024, and because 
China is a non-market economy (NME) country, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.204(b)(1), the period of investigation (POI) for China LTFV 
investigation is April 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024.

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are ceramic abrasive 
grains from China. For a full description of the scope of this 
investigation, see the appendix to this notice.

Comments on the Scope of the Investigation

    On November 27, 2024 and December 6, 2024, Commerce requested 
information and clarification from the petitioner regarding the 
proposed scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petition is an 
accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is 
seeking relief.\7\ On December 4 and 9, 2024, the petitioner provided 
clarifications and revised the scope.\8\ The description of merchandise 
covered by this investigation, as described in the appendix to this 
notice, reflects these clarifications.
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    \7\ See General Issues Questionnaire; see also December 6, 2024, 
Memorandum.
    \8\ See General Issues Supplement at 1-3; see also Scope 
Supplement at 4-5.
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    As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are 
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding 
product coverage (i.e., scope).\9\ Commerce will consider all scope 
comments received from interested parties and, if necessary, will 
consult with interested parties prior to the issuance of the 
preliminary determination. If scope comments include factual 
information,\10\ all such factual information should be limited to 
public information. To facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, 
Commerce requests that scope comments be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time (ET) on January 27, 2025, which is the next business day after 20 
calendar days from the signature date of this notice.\11\ Any rebuttal 
comments, which may include factual information, and should also be 
limited to public information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on 
February 6, 2025, which is 10 calendar days from the initial comment 
deadline.
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    \9\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble); see also 19 CFR 
351.312.
    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual 
information'').
    \11\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1). The deadline for scope comments 
falls on January 26, 2025, which is a Sunday. In accordance with 19 
CFR 351.303(b)(1), Commerce will accept comments filed by 5:00 p.m. 
ET on January 27, 2025 (``For both electronically filed and manually 
filed documents, if the applicable due date falls on a non-business 
day, the Secretary will accept documents that are filed on the next 
business day.'').
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    Commerce requests that any factual information that parties 
consider relevant to the scope of this investigation be submitted 
during that period. However, if a party subsequently finds that 
additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the 
investigation may be relevant, the party must contact Commerce and 
request permission to submit the additional

[[Page 3180]]

information. All scope comments must be filed simultaneously on the 
records of the concurrent LTFV and CVD investigations.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via 
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), unless an exception 
applies.\12\ An electronically filed document must be received 
successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is due.
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    \12\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order 
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and 
Compliance: Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 
(November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing 
requirements, effective August 5, 2011. Information on using ACCESS 
can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx and a handbook 
can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook_on_Electronic_Filing_Procedures.pdf.
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Comments on Product Characteristics

    Commerce is providing interested parties an opportunity to comment 
on the appropriate physical characteristics of ceramic abrasive grains 
to be reported in response to Commerce's AD questionnaires. This 
information will be used to identify the key physical characteristics 
of the subject merchandise in order to report the relevant factors of 
production (FOP) accurately, as well as to develop appropriate product 
comparison criteria.
    Interested parties may provide any information or comments that 
they feel are relevant to the development of an accurate list of 
physical characteristics. In order to consider the suggestions of 
interested parties in developing and issuing the AD questionnaires, all 
product characteristics comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on 
January 27, 2025, which is the next business day after 20 calendar days 
from the signature date of this notice.\13\ Any rebuttal comments must 
be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 6, 2025, which is 10 calendar days 
from the initial comment deadline. All comments and submissions to 
Commerce must be filed electronically using ACCESS, as explained above, 
on the record of the LTFV investigation.
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    \13\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1). The deadline for comments on 
product characteristics falls on January 26, 2025, which is a 
Sunday. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1), Commerce will 
accept comments filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on January 27, 2025 (``For 
both electronically filed and manually filed documents, if the 
applicable due date falls on a non-business day, the Secretary will 
accept documents that are filed on the next business day.'').
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act 
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic 
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) at least 
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and 
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like 
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support 
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 732(c)(4)(D) of 
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of 
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of 
the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i) 
poll the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if 
there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or 
(ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling 
method to poll the ``industry.''
    Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the 
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine 
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute 
directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the 
domestic like product. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), 
which is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' 
has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like 
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the 
ITC apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic like 
product,\14\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a 
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination 
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may 
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences 
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\15\
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    \14\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
    \15\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT 
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F. 
Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United 
States, 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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    Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a 
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in 
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation 
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic 
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an 
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be 
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the 
petition).
    With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioner does not 
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope 
of the investigation.\16\ Based on our analysis of the information 
submitted on the record, we have determined that ceramic abrasive 
grains, as defined in the scope, constitute a single domestic like 
product, and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that 
domestic like product.\17\
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    \16\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as 
applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see 
Checklist, ``Antidumping Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: 
Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People's 
Republic of China,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, 
this notice (China AD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II, 
Analysis of Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Petitions Covering Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive 
Grains from the People's Republic of China (Attachment II). This 
checklist is on file electronically via ACCESS.
    \17\ See Attachment II of the China AD Initiation Checklist.
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    As noted above, on December 6, 2024, Commerce extended the 
initiation deadline by 20 days to poll the domestic industry in 
accordance with sections 732(c)(1)(B) and 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act, 
because the Petition ``{had{time}  not established that the domestic 
producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of total 
production support the {Petition{time} . . . .'' \18\ On December 10, 
2024, we issued polling questionnaires to all known producers 
identified in the Petition.\19\ We requested that the companies 
complete the polling questionnaire and certify their responses by the 
due date specified in the cover letter to the questionnaire. We 
received timely responses to these questionnaires from domestic 
producers on December 17, 2024.\20\ No interested party submitted 
comments on the polling questionnaire responses.
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    \18\ See Initiation Extension Notice.
    \19\ See Commerce's Letters, ``Polling Questionnaire,'' dated 
December 10, 2024; see also Memorandum, ``Email to Counsel for 
Domestic Producers,'' dated December 23, 2024.
    \20\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Polling Questionnaire 
Response,'' dated December 17, 2024; see also 3M Company's Letter, 
``Industry Polling Questionnaire Response,'' dated December 17, 
2024.
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    Our analysis of the data we received in the polling questionnaire 
responses indicates that the domestic producers and workers who support 
the Petition account for at least 25 percent of the total production of 
the domestic like product and more than 50 percent of the

[[Page 3181]]

production of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the 
industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition.\21\ 
Accordingly, Commerce determines that the industry support requirements 
of section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act have been met and that the Petition 
was filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of 
section 732(b)(1) of the Act.\22\
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    \21\ See Attachment II of the China AD Initiation Checklists.
    \22\ Id.
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Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioner alleges that the U.S. industry producing the 
domestic like product is being materially injured, or is threatened 
with material injury, by reason of the imports of the subject 
merchandise sold at LTFV. In addition, the petitioner alleges that 
subject imports from China exceed the negligibility threshold provided 
for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\23\
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    \23\ For further information regarding negligibility and the 
injury allegation, see China AD Initiation Checklist at Attachment 
III, Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and 
Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions 
Covering Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the 
People's Republic of China (Attachment III).
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    The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by the increasing volume of subject imports; reduced market 
share; underselling and price depression and/or suppression; lost sales 
and revenues; declines in the domestic industry's production, capacity 
utilization, and financial performance; and the magnitude of the 
alleged dumping margins.\24\ We assessed the allegations and supporting 
evidence regarding material injury, threat of material injury, 
causation, cumulation, as well as negligibility, and we have determined 
that these allegations are properly supported by adequate evidence and 
meet the statutory requirements for initiation.\25\
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    \24\ See Attachment III of the China AD Initiation Checklist.
    \25\ Id.
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Allegations of Sales at LTFV

    The following is a description of the allegations of sales at LTFV 
upon which Commerce based its decision to initiate LTFV investigations 
of imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China. The sources of data 
for the deductions and adjustments relating to U.S. price and normal 
value (NV) are discussed in greater detail in the China AD Initiation 
Checklist.

U.S. Price

    The petitioner based export price (EP) on invoice pricing 
information for ceramic abrasive grains produced in China and sold in 
the U.S. market during the POI.\26\ The petitioner made certain 
adjustments to U.S. price to calculate a net ex-factory U.S. price, 
where applicable.\27\
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    \26\ See China AD Initiation Checklist.
    \27\ Id.
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Normal Value

    Commerce considers China to be an NME country.\28\ In accordance 
with section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Act, any determination that a foreign 
country is an NME country shall remain in effect until revoked by 
Commerce. Therefore, we continue to treat China as an NME country for 
purposes of the initiation of this LTFV investigation. Accordingly, we 
base NV on FOPs valued in a surrogate market economy country in 
accordance with section 773(c) of the Act.
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    \28\ See, e.g., Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof 
from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, 88 FR 15372 
(March 13, 2023), and accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum 
at 5, unchanged in Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof 
from the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Determination 
of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value and Final Affirmative Determination 
of Critical Circumstances, 88 FR 34485 (May 30, 2023).
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    The petitioner claims that the Republic of T[uuml]rkiye 
(T[uuml]rkiye) is an appropriate surrogate country for China because it 
is a market economy that is at a level of economic development 
comparable to that of China and is a significant producer of comparable 
merchandise.\29\ The petitioner provided publicly available information 
from T[uuml]rkiye to value all FOPs.\30\ Based on the information 
provided by the petitioner, we believe it is appropriate to use 
T[uuml]rkiye as a surrogate country for China to value all FOPs for 
initiation purposes.
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    \29\ See China AD Initiation Checklist.
    \30\ Id.
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    Interested parties will have the opportunity to submit comments 
regarding surrogate country selection and, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.301(c)(3)(i), will be provided an opportunity to submit publicly 
available information to value FOPs within 30 days before the scheduled 
date of the preliminary determination.

Factors of Production

    Because information regarding the volume of inputs consumed by 
Chinese producers/exporters was not reasonably available, the 
petitioner used its own production experience and product-specific 
consumption rates as a surrogate to value Chinese manufacturers' 
FOPs.\31\ Additionally, the petitioner calculated factory overhead, 
selling, general, and administrative expenses, and profit based on the 
experience of a Turkish producer of comparable merchandise.\32\
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    \31\ See China AD Initiation Checklist.
    \32\ Id.
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Fair Value Comparisons

    Based on the data provided by the petitioner, there is reason to 
believe that imports of ceramic abrasive grains from China are being, 
or are likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV. Based on 
comparisons of EP to NV in accordance with sections 772 and 773 of the 
Act, the estimated dumping margins for ceramic abrasive grains from 
China covered by this initiation range from 81.98 to 88.32 percent.\33\
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    \33\ Id.
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Initiation of LTFV Investigation

    Based upon the examination of the Petition and supplemental 
responses, we find that they meet the requirements of section 732 of 
the Act. Therefore, we are initiating a LTFV investigation to determine 
whether imports of ceramic abrasive grains are being, or are likely to 
be, sold in the United States at LTFV. In accordance with section 
733(b)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we 
will make our preliminary determination no later than 140 days after 
the date of this initiation.

Respondent Selection

    In the Petition, the petitioner identified 11 companies in China as 
producers and/or exporters of ceramic abrasive grains.\34\ Our standard 
practice for respondent selection in AD investigations involving NME 
countries is to select respondents based on quantity and value (Q&V) 
questionnaires in cases where Commerce has determined that the number 
of companies is large, and it cannot individually examine each company 
based upon its resources. Therefore, considering the number of 
producers and/or exporters identified in the Petition, Commerce will 
solicit Q&V information that can serve as a basis for selecting 
exporters for individual examination in the event that Commerce 
determines that the number is large and decides to limit the number of 
respondents individually examined pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of the

[[Page 3182]]

Act. Because there are 11 Chinese producers and/or exporters identified 
in the Petition, Commerce has determined that it will issue Q&V 
questionnaires to each potential respondent for which there is complete 
address information on the record.
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    \34\ See Petition at Volume I (page I-16 and Exhibit I-5); see 
also General Issues Supplement at 1 and Exhibit I-5-Revised.
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    Commerce will post the Q&V questionnaires along with filing 
instructions on Commerce's website at https://www.trade.gov/ec-adcvd-case-announcements. Producers/exporters of ceramic abrasive grains from 
China that do not receive Q&V questionnaires may still submit a 
response to the Q&V questionnaire and can obtain a copy of the Q&V 
questionnaire from Commerce's website. Responses to the Q&V 
questionnaire must be submitted by the relevant Chinese producers/
exporters no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on January 21, 2025, which is the 
next business day after two weeks from the signature date of this 
notice.\35\ All Q&V questionnaire responses must be filed 
electronically via ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be 
received successfully, in its entirety, by ACCESS no later than 5:00 
p.m. ET on the deadline noted above.
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    \35\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1). The deadline for Q&V 
questionnaire responses falls on January 20, 2025, which is a 
federal holiday. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1), Commerce 
will accept Q&V questionnaire responses filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on 
January 21, 2025 (``For both electronically filed and manually filed 
documents, if the applicable due date falls on a non-business day, 
the Secretary will accept documents that are filed on the next 
business day.'').
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    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
administrative protective order (APO) in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.305(b). As stated above, instructions for filing such applications 
may be found on Commerce's website at https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders.

Separate Rates

    In order to obtain separate rate status in an NME investigation, 
exporters and producers must submit a separate rate application. The 
specific requirements for submitting a separate rate application in an 
NME investigation are outlined in detail in the application itself, 
which is available on Commerce's website at https://access.trade.gov/Resources/nme/nme-sep-rate.html. The separate rate application will be 
due 30 days after publication of this initiation notice. Exporters and 
producers must file a timely separate rate application if they want to 
be considered for individual examination. Exporters and producers who 
submit a separate rate application and have been selected as mandatory 
respondents will be eligible for consideration for separate rate status 
only if they respond to all parts of Commerce's AD questionnaire as 
mandatory respondents. Commerce requires that companies from China 
submit a response both to the Q&V questionnaire and to the separate 
rate application by the respective deadlines to receive consideration 
for separate rate status. Companies not filing a timely Q&V 
questionnaire response will not receive separate rate consideration.

Use of Combination Rates

    Commerce will calculate combination rates for certain respondents 
that are eligible for a separate rate in an NME investigation. The 
Separate Rates and Combination Rates Bulletin states:

{w{time} hile continuing the practice of assigning separate rates 
only to exporters, all separate rates that {Commerce{time}  will now 
assign in its NME investigation will be specific to those producers 
that supplied the exporter during the period of investigation. Note, 
however, that one rate is calculated for the exporter and all of the 
producers which supplied subject merchandise to it during the period 
of investigation. This practice applies both to mandatory 
respondents receiving an individually calculated separate rate as 
well as the pool of non-investigated firms receiving the {weighted 
average{time}  of the individually calculated rates. This practice 
is referred to as the application of ``combination rates'' because 
such rates apply to specific combinations of exporters and one or 
more producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned to an exporter will 
apply only to merchandise both exported by the firm in question and 
produced by a firm that supplied the exporter during the period of 
investigation.\36\
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    \36\ See Enforcement and Compliance's Policy Bulletin No. 05.1, 
regarding, ``Separate-Rates Practice and Application of Combination 
Rates in Antidumping Investigation involving NME Countries,'' (April 
5, 2005), at 6 (emphasis added), available on Commerce's website at 
https://access.trade.gov/Resources/policy/bull05-1.pdf.
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Distribution of Copies of the Petition

    In accordance with section 732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), copies of the public version of the Petition have been 
provided to the Government of China via ACCESS. To the extent 
practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of 
the Petition to each exporter named in the Petition, as provided under 
19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

    Commerce will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by 
section 732(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 25 days after the date 
on which the ITC receives notice from Commerce of initiation of the 
investigation, whether there is a reasonable indication that imports of 
ceramic abrasive grains from China are materially injuring, or 
threatening material injury to, a U.S. industry.\37\ A negative ITC 
determination will result in the investigation being terminated.\38\ 
Otherwise, this LTFV investigation will proceed according to statutory 
and regulatory time limits.
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    \37\ See section 733(a) of the Act.
    \38\ Id.
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Submission of Factual Information

    Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) 
evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence 
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available 
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the 
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence 
placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual 
information described in (i)-(iv). Section 351.301(b) of Commerce's 
regulations requires any party, when submitting factual information, to 
specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information 
is being submitted \39\ and, if the information is submitted to rebut, 
clarify, or correct factual information already on the record, to 
provide an explanation identifying the information already on the 
record that the factual information seeks to rebut, clarify, or 
correct.\40\ Time limits for the submission of factual information are 
addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, which provides specific time limits based 
on the type of factual information being submitted. Interested parties 
should review the regulations prior to submitting factual information 
in this investigation.
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    \39\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \40\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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Extensions of Time Limits

    Parties may request an extension of time limits before the 
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as 
otherwise specified by Commerce. In general, an extension request will 
be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the time 
limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as otherwise specified by 
Commerce.\41\ For submissions that are due from multiple parties 
simultaneously, an extension request will be considered untimely if it 
is filed

[[Page 3183]]

after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. Under certain circumstances, 
Commerce may elect to specify a different time limit by which extension 
requests will be considered untimely for submissions which are due from 
multiple parties simultaneously. In such a case, we will inform parties 
in a letter or memorandum of the deadline (including a specified time) 
by which extension requests must be filed to be considered timely. An 
extension request must be made in a separate, standalone submission; 
under limited circumstances we will grant untimely filed requests for 
the extension of time limits, where we determine, based on 19 CFR 
351.302, that extraordinary circumstances exist. Parties should review 
Commerce's regulations concerning the extension of time limits and the 
Time Limits Final Rule prior to submitting factual information in this 
investigation.\42\
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    \41\ See 19 CFR 351.301; see also Extension of Time Limits; 
Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 (September 20, 2013) (Time Limits Final 
Rule), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm.
    \42\ See 19 CFR 351.302; see also, e.g., Time Limits Final Rule.
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Certification Requirements

    Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding 
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\43\ 
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 
351.303(g).\44\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the 
submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification 
requirements.
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    \43\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \44\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import 
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule). Additional 
information regarding the Final Rule is available at https://access.trade.gov/Resources/filing/index.html.
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Notification to Interested Parties

    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Parties wishing to participate 
in this investigation should ensure that they meet the requirements of 
19 CFR 351.103(d) (e.g., by filing the required letter of appearance). 
Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining 
to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\45\
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    \45\ See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other 
Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 
67069 (September 29, 2023).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 732(c)(2) 
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

    Dated: January 6, 2025.
Steven Presing,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations.

Appendix--Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is sol gel 
alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains which are comprised of minimum 
94% aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and may contain 
other compounds, including, but not limited to, titanium dioxide, 
silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, sodium superoxide, ferric oxide, 
magnesium oxide, di-aluminum magnesium tetroxide, lanthanum oxide, 
lanthanum magnesium oxide, zirconium dioxide, or zirconium 
carbonate. Grain sizes of sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive 
grains range from 0.85 mm to 0.0395 mm (which corresponds to 
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) grit sizes from 20 to 
280).
    Shapes include but are not limited to angular, sharp, extra 
sharp, blocky, splintery, round stripped, triangular or shaped like 
extruded rods or stars.
    Ceramic abrasive grains have unique crystalline structures that 
impart certain advanced properties, such as their extreme hardness 
and strength ranging between 16 and 22 gigapascals by the Vickers 
Diamond Indent Method, high melting point (2050[deg]C), and a 
single- or multi-phase microstructure, which may contain multiple 
phases, having crystalline sizes ranging from 0.05 to 30[micro]m. 
These ceramic abrasive grains include but are not limited to blue, 
white, white-translucent, or off-white opaque colors.
    Sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains are covered by the 
scope of this investigation, whether or not incorporated into 
downstream articles, including but not limited to, abrasive papers, 
grinding wheels, grinding cylinders, and grinding discs. When 
incorporated into downstream articles, only the sol gel alumina-
based ceramic abrasive grains component of such articles is covered 
by the product scope, and not the downstream product as a whole.
    The merchandise subject to this investigation is properly 
classified under subheadings 2818.10.2020 and 2818.10.2090 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Other 
merchandise subject to the current scope, including when 
incorporated into the abovementioned downstream articles, may be 
classified under HTSUS subheadings 2818.10.1000, 2818.20.0000, 
2818.30.0000, 3824.99.1100, 3824.99.1900, 6805.10.0000, 
6805.20.0000, 6805.30.1000, 6805.30.5000, 6804.22.1000, 
6804.22.4000, 6804.22.6000, 8204.12.0000, 8474.90.0010, 
8474.90.0020, 8474.90.0050, and 8474.90.0090. Although the HTSUS 
statistical reporting numbers are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is 
dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2025-00544 Filed 1-13-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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