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13See Circumvention Initiation Checklist. 

1See Petitioner’s Letter, ‘‘Petitions for the 

Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing 

Duties,’’ dated November 25, 2024 (Petition). 

2 Id. 

3See Commerce’s Letters, ‘‘Supplemental 

Questions,’’ dated November 27, 2024 (General 

Issues Questionnaire); ‘‘Supplemental Questions,’’ 

dated November 27, 2024; and ‘‘Supplemental 

Questions,’’ dated December 17, 2024; see also 

Memorandum, ‘‘Phone Call with Counsel to the 

Petitioner,’’ dated December 6, 2024 (December 6, 

2024, Memorandum). 

4See Petitioner’s Letters, ‘‘Antidumping and 

Countervailing Supplemental Questionnaire 

Response,’’ dated December 4, 2024 (General Issues 

Supplement); ‘‘Countervailing Supplemental 

Questionnaire Response,’’ dated December 4, 2024; 

‘‘Antidumping and Countervailing General Issues 

Supplement Response,’’ dated December 9, 2024 

(Scope Supplement); and ‘‘Antidumping and 

Countervailing Supplemental Questionnaire 

Response,’’ dated December 23, 2024. 

5See Notice of Extension of the Deadline for 

Determining the Adequacy of the Antidumping and 

Countervailing Duty Petitions: Sol Gel AluminaBased Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People’s 

Republic of China, 89 FR 100465 (December 12, 

2024) (Initiation Extension Notice). 

6See section on ‘‘Determination of Industry 

Support for the Petition,’’ infra. 

7See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2). 

Respondent Selection 

Commerce intends to base respondent 

selection on U.S. Customs and Border 

and Protection (CBP) data. Commerce 

intends to place CBP data on each 

record within five days of the 

publication of the 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 relevant 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 partial 

or total 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 will notify U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) of the initiation 

of this circumvention inquiry and direct 

CBP to continue the suspension of 

liquidation of entries of products subject 

to the circumvention inquiry that were 

already subject to the suspension of 

liquidation under the Orders and to 

apply the cash deposit rate that would 

be applicable if the product was 

determined to be covered by the scope 

of the Orders. Should Commerce issue 

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(a) of the Act, Commerce 

determines that the requesters’ requests 

for this 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 certain imports of low-carbon 

steel wire produced in Mexico and 

further processed and completed in the 

United States into wire mesh from 

Mexico, are circumventing the Orders. 

In addition, we have included a 

description of the products that are the 

subject of this inquiry, and an 

explanation of the reasons for 

Commerce’s decision to initiate this 

inquiry as provided above and in the 

accompanying Circumvention Initiation 

Checklist.13 In accordance with 19 CFR 

351.226(e)(2), Commerce intends to 

issue its preliminary circumvention 

determination within 150 days from the 

date of publication of the notice of 

initiation of a circumvention inquiry in 

the Federal Register. 

This notice is published in 

accordance with section 781(a) of the 

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

Dated: January 6, 2025. 

Steven Presing, 

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy 

and Negotiations. 

[FR Doc. 2025–00581 Filed 1–13–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

[C–570–191] 

Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic 

Abrasive Grains From the People’s 

Republic of China: Initiation of 

Countervailing Duty Investigation 

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, 

International Trade Administration, 

Department of Commerce. 

DATES: Applicable January 6, 2025. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Suresh Maniam, Office I, AD/CVD 

Operations, Enforcement and 

Compliance, International Trade 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 

NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 

(202) 482–1603. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

The Petition 

On November 25, 2024, the U.S. 

Department of Commerce (Commerce) 

received a countervailing duty (CVD) 

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 SaintGobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. (the 

petitioner), a U.S. producer of ceramic 

abrasive grains.1 The CVD Petition was 

accompanied by an antidumping duty 

(AD) petition concerning imports of 

ceramic abrasive grains from China.2

Between November 27, 2024, and 

December 17, 2024, Commerce 

requested supplemental information 

pertaining to certain aspects of the 

Petition in supplemental 

questionnaires.3 Between December 4 

and 23, 2024, the petitioner filed timely 

responses to these requests for 

additional information.4

On December 6, 2024, Commerce 

extended the initiation deadline by 20 

days to poll the domestic industry in 

accordance with sections 702(c)(1)(B) 

and 702(c)(4)(D) of the Tariff Act of 

1930, as amended (the Act), because the 

Petition ‘‘{had} not established that the 

domestic producers or workers 

accounting for more than 50 percent of 

total production support the 

{Petition}. . . .’’ 5

In accordance with section 702(b)(1) 

of the Act, the petitioner alleges that the 

Government of China (GOC) is 

providing countervailable subsidies, 

within the meaning of sections 701 and 

771(5) of the Act, to producers of 

ceramic abrasive grains in China, and 

that such imports are materially 

injuring, or threatening material injury 

to, the domestic industry producing 

ceramic abrasive grains in the United 

States. Consistent with section 702(b)(1) 

of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(b), for 

those alleged programs on which we are 

initiating a CVD investigation, 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 with respect to the initiation of 

the requested CVD investigation.6

Period of Investigation 

Because the Petition was filed on 

November 25, 2024, the period of 

investigation for the CVD investigation 

is January 1, 2023, through December 

31, 2023.7


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8See General Issues Questionnaire; see also 

December 6, 2024, Memorandum. 

9See General Issues Supplement at 1–3; see also 

Scope Supplement at 4–5. 

10See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing 

Duties; Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 

1997) (Preamble). 

11See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ‘‘factual 

information’’). 

12See 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.’’). 

13See 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. 

14See Commerce’s Letter, ‘‘Invitation for 

Consultation to Discuss the Countervailing Duty 

Petition,’’ dated November 26, 2024. 

15The GOC submitted comments on the CVD 

petition. See GOC’s Letter, ‘‘Comments on 

Countervailing Duty Petition,’’ dated December 13, 

2024. 

16See section 771(10) of the Act. 

17See 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)). 

18For a discussion of the domestic like product 

analysis as applied to this case and information 

regarding industry support, see Checklist, 

‘‘Countervailing 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 CVD 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. 

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.8 On December 

4 and 9, 2024, the petitioner provided 

clarifications and revised the scope.9

The description of merchandise covered 

by this investigation, as described in the 

appendix to this notice, reflects these 

clarifications. 

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).10 Commerce will consider 

all 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, all such 

factual information should be limited to 

public information.11 To facilitate 

preparation of its questionnaire, 

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.12 Any rebuttal comments, 

which may include factual information, 

must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on 

February 6, 2025, which is 10 calendar 

days from the initial comment deadline. 

Commerce requests that any factual 

information that parties consider 

relevant to the scope of the investigation 

be submitted during that time 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 

information. All scope comments must 

be filed simultaneously on the records 

of the concurrent AD 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.13 An 

electronically filed document must be 

received successfully in its entirety by 

the time and date it is due. 

Consultations 

Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) 

and (ii) of the Act, Commerce notified 

the GOC of the receipt of the Petition 

and provided an opportunity for 

consultations with respect to the 

Petition.14 The GOC did not request 

consultations.15

Determination of Industry Support for 

the Petition 

Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires 

that a petition be filed on behalf of the 

domestic industry. Section 702(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 702(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,16 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.17

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.18 Based on our analysis of 

the information submitted on the 

record, we have determined that 


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19See Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation 

Checklist. 

20See Initiation Extension Notice. 

21See Commerce’s Letters, ‘‘Polling 

Questionnaire,’’ dated December 10, 2024; see also 

Memorandum, ‘‘Email to Counsel for Domestic 

Producers,’’ dated December 23, 2024. 

22See Petitioner’s Letter, ‘‘Polling Questionnaire 

Response,’’ dated December 17, 2024; see also 3M 

Company’s Letter, ‘‘Industry Polling Questionnaire 

Response,’’ dated December 17, 2024. 

23See Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation 

Checklist. 

24 Id. 

25For further information regarding negligibility 

and the injury allegation, see China CVD 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). 

26 Id. 

27 Id. 

28See Petition at Volume I (Exhibit I–5); see also 

General Issues Supplement at 1 and Exhibit I–5– 

Revised. 

29See Memorandum, ‘‘Release of U.S. Customs 

and Border Protection Entry Data,’’ dated January 2, 

2025. 

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.19

As noted above, on December 6, 2024, 

Commerce extended the initiation 

deadline by 20 days to poll the domestic 

industry in accordance with sections 

702(c)(1)(B) and 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act 

because the Petition ‘‘{had} not 

established that the domestic producers 

or workers accounting for more than 50 

percent of total production support the 

{Petition}. . . .’’ 20 On December 10, 

2024, we issued polling questionnaires 

to all known producers identified in the 

Petition.21 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, 2024.22 No interested 

party submitted comments on the 

polling questionnaire responses. 

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 

production of the domestic like product 

produced by that portion of the industry 

expressing support for, or opposition to, 

the Petition.23 Accordingly, Commerce 

determines that the industry support 

requirements of section 702(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 702(b)(1) of the Act.24

Injury Test 

Because China is a ‘‘Subsidies 

Agreement Country’’ within the 

meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, 

section 701(a)(2) of the Act applies to 

this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC 

must determine whether imports of the 

subject merchandise from China 

materially injure, or threaten material 

injury to, a U.S. industry. 

Allegations and Evidence of Material 

Injury and Causation 

The petitioner alleges that imports of 

the subject merchandise are benefiting 

from countervailable subsidies and that 

such imports are causing, or threaten to 

cause, material injury to the U.S. 

industry producing the domestic like 

product. In addition, the petitioner 

alleges that subject imports from China 

exceed the negligibility threshold 

provided for under section 771(24)(A) of 

the Act.25

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; 

and declines in the domestic industry’s 

production, capacity utilization, and 

financial performance.26 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.27

Initiation of CVD Investigation 

Based upon the examination of the 

Petition and supplemental responses, 

we find that they meet the requirements 

of section 702 of the Act. Therefore, we 

are initiating a CVD investigation to 

determine whether imports of ceramic 

abrasive grains benefit from 

countervailable subsidies conferred by 

the GOC. In accordance with section 

703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 

351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will 

make our preliminary determination no 

later than 65 days after the date of this 

initiation. 

Based on our review of the Petition, 

we find that there is sufficient 

information to initiate a CVD 

investigation on 24 of the 29 programs 

alleged by the petitioner. For a full 

discussion of the basis for our decision 

to initiate on each program, see the 

China CVD Initiation Checklist. A 

public version of the initiation checklist 

for this investigation is available on 

ACCESS. 

Respondent Selection 

In the Petition, the petitioner 

identified 11 companies in China as 

producers and/or exporters of ceramic 

abrasive grains.28 Commerce intends to 

follow its standard practice in CVD 

investigations and calculate companyspecific subsidy rates in this 

investigation. In the event that 

Commerce determines that the number 

of companies is large and it cannot 

individually examine each company 

based on Commerce’s resources, 

Commerce normally selects mandatory 

respondents in CVD investigations using 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP) entry data for U.S. imports under 

the appropriate Harmonized Tariff 

Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) 

subheading(s) listed in the ‘‘Scope of the 

Investigation’’ in the appendix. 

On January 2, 2025 Commerce 

released CBP data on imports of ceramic 

abrasive grains from China under 

administrative protective order (APO) to 

all parties with access to information 

protected by APO and indicated that 

interested parties wishing to comment 

on CBP data and/or respondent 

selection must do so within three 

business days of the publication date of 

the notice of initiation of this 

investigation.29 Comments must be filed 

electronically using ACCESS. An 

electronically filed document must be 

received successfully in its entirety via 

ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. ET on the 

specified deadline. Commerce will not 

accept rebuttal comments regarding the 

CBP data or respondent selection. 

Interested parties must submit 

applications for disclosure under 

administrative protective order (APO) in 

accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). 

Instructions for filing such applications 

may be found on Commerce’s website at 

https://www.trade.gov/administrativeprotective-orders. 

Distribution of Copies of the Petition 

In accordance with section 

702(b)(4)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 

351.202(f), a copy of the public version 

of the Petition has been provided to the 

GOC 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). 


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30See section 703(a) of the Act. 

31 Id. 

32See 19 CFR 351.301(b). 

33See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2). 

34See 19 CFR 351.302. 

35See 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. 

36See section 782(b) of the Act. 

37See Certification of Factual Information to 

Import Administration During Antidumping and 

Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 

17, 2013) (Final Rule); see also frequently asked 

questions regarding the Final Rule, available at 

https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_

info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf. 

38See Administrative Protective Order, Service, 

and Other Procedures in Antidumping and 

Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069 

(September 29, 2023). 

ITC Notification 

Commerce will notify the ITC of its 

initiation, as required by section 702(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.30 A negative ITC 

determination will result in the 

investigation being terminated.31

Otherwise, this CVD investigation will 

proceed according to statutory and 

regulatory time limits. 

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 of 

production 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 32 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.33 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. 

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.34 For submissions that are 

due from multiple parties 

simultaneously, an extension request 

will be considered untimely if it is filed 

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.35

Certification Requirements 

Any party submitting factual 

information in an AD or CVD 

proceeding must certify to the accuracy 

and completeness of that information.36

Parties must use the certification 

formats provided in 19 CFR 

351.303(g).37 Commerce intends to 

reject factual submissions if the 

submitting party does not comply with 

the applicable certification 

requirements. 

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 

letters of appearance). Note that 

Commerce has amended certain of its 

requirements pertaining to the service of 

documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).38

This notice is issued and published 

pursuant to sections 702 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 aluminabased 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 °C), 

and a single- or multi-phase microstructure, 

which may contain multiple phases, having 

crystalline sizes ranging from 0.05 to 30mm. 

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, 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 8 / Tuesday, January 14, 2025 / Notices 3179 

1See Petitioner’s Letter, ‘‘Petitions for the 

Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing 

Duties,’’ dated November 25, 2024 (Petition). 

2 Id. 

3See 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). 

4See 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. 

5See Notice of Extension of the Deadline for 

Determining the Adequacy of the Antidumping and 

Countervailing Duty Petitions: Sol Gel AluminaBased Ceramic Abrasive Grains from the People’s 

Republic of China, 89 FR 100465 (December 12, 

2024) (Initiation Extension Notice). 

6See section on ‘‘Determination of Industry 

Support for the Petition,’’ infra. 

7See General Issues Questionnaire; see also 

December 6, 2024, Memorandum. 8See General Issues Supplement at 1–3; see also 

Scope Supplement at 4–5. 9See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, 

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

(Preamble); see also 19 CFR 351.312. 

10See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ‘‘factual 

information’’). 

11See 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.’’). 

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. 2025–00545 Filed 1–13–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P 

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 LessThan-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 SaintGobain 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

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

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} not established that the 

domestic producers or workers 

accounting for more than 50 percent of 

total production support the 

{Petition}. . . .’’ 5

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

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. 

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. 

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 


khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES