[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52939-52941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-24704]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 731-TA-1359 (Final)]


Carton-Closing Staples From China; Scheduling of the Final Phase 
of an Antidumping Duty Investigation

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the 
final phase of antidumping investigation No. 731-TA-1359 (Final) 
pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') to determine whether 
an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened 
with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United 
States is materially retarded, by reason of imports of carton-closing 
staples from China, provided for in subheadings 8305.20.00 and 
7317.00.65 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, 
preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce to be sold at 
less than fair value.

DATES: November 3, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Lawrence (202-205-3185), Office 
of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on 202-

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205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special 
assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the 
Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning 
the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server 
(https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may 
be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Scope.--For purposes of this investigation, the Department of 
Commerce has defined the subject merchandise as ``carton-closing 
staples. Carton-closing staples may be manufactured from carbon, alloy, 
or stainless steel wire, and are included in the scope of the 
investigation regardless of whether they are uncoated or coated, 
regardless of the type of coating. Carton-closing staples are generally 
made to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specification 
ASTM D1974/D1974M-16, but can also be made to other specifications. 
Regardless of specification, however, all carton-closing staples 
meeting the scope description are included in the scope. Carton-closing 
staples include stick staple products, often referred to as staple 
strips, and roll staple products, often referred to as coils. Stick 
staples are lightly cemented or lacquered together to facilitate 
handling and loading into stapling machines. Roll staples are taped 
together along their crowns. Carton-closing staples are covered 
regardless of whether they are imported in stick form or roll form. 
Carton-closing staples vary by the size of the wire, the width of the 
crown, and the length of the leg. The nominal leg length ranges from 
0.4095 inch to 1.375 inches and the nominal crown width ranges from 
1.125 inches to 1.375 inches. The size of the wire used in the 
production of carton-closing staples varies from 0.029 to 0.064 inch 
(nominal thickness) by 0.064 to 0.100 inch (nominal width).''
    Background.--The final phase of this investigation is being 
scheduled, pursuant to section 735(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
U.S.C. 1673d(b)), as a result of an affirmative preliminary 
determination by the Department of Commerce that imports of carton-
closing staples from China are being sold in the United States at less 
than fair value within the meaning of section 733 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 
1673b). The investigation was requested in a petition filed on March 
31, 2017 by North American Steel & Wire, Inc./ISM Enterprises, Butler, 
Pennsylvania.
    For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the 
investigation, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, 
consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, 
subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and C (19 
CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigation and public service list.--
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if 
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of this 
investigation as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in section 201.11 of the 
Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date 
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance 
during the preliminary phase of the investigation need not file an 
additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary 
will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses 
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the 
investigation.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to section 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in the final phase of this investigation 
available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the 
investigation, provided that the application is made no later than 21 
days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized 
applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9), who are parties to the investigation. A party granted access 
to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigation need not reapply 
for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the 
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Staff report.--The prehearing staff report in the final phase of 
this investigation will be placed in the nonpublic record on February 
27, 2018, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to 
section 207.22 of the Commission's rules.
    Hearing.--The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the 
final phase of this investigation beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 
March 13, 2018, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. 
Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the 
Secretary to the Commission on or before March 7, 2018. A nonparty who 
has testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request 
permission to present a short statement at the hearing. All parties and 
nonparties desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral 
presentations should participate in a prehearing conference to be held 
on March 12, 2018, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 
if deemed necessary. Oral testimony and written materials to be 
submitted at the public hearing are governed by sections 201.6(b)(2), 
201.13(f), and 207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties must submit 
any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony in camera 
no later than 7 business days prior to the date of the hearing.
    Written submissions.--Each party who is an interested party shall 
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must 
conform with the provisions of section 207.23 of the Commission's 
rules; the deadline for filing is March 6, 2018. Parties may also file 
written testimony in connection with their presentation at the hearing, 
as provided in section 207.24 of the Commission's rules, and 
posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of section 
207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for filing posthearing 
briefs is March 20, 2018. In addition, any person who has not entered 
an appearance as a party to the investigation may submit a written 
statement of information pertinent to the subject of the investigation, 
including statements of support or opposition to the petition, on or 
before March 20, 2018. On April 10, 2018, the Commission will make 
available to parties all information on which they have not had an 
opportunity to comment. Parties may submit final comments on this 
information on or before April 12, 2018, but such final comments must 
not contain new factual information and must otherwise comply with 
section 207.30 of the Commission's rules. All written submissions must 
conform with the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's rules; 
any submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the 
requirements of sections 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's 
rules. The Commission's Handbook on E-Filing, available on the 
Commission's Web site at https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf, elaborates upon the Commission's 
rules with respect to electronic filing.
    Additional written submissions to the Commission, including 
requests pursuant to section 201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall 
not be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such 
submissions, or unless

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the submission is pursuant to a specific request by a Commissioner or 
Commission staff.
    In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the Commission's 
rules, each document filed by a party to the investigation must be 
served on all other parties to the investigation (as identified by 
either the public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service 
must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for 
filing without a certificate of service.
    Authority: This investigation is being conducted under authority of 
title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published pursuant 
to section 207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.
    Issued: November 9, 2017.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2017-24704 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P