# Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate From Belgium: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023
**AGENCY:**
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
**SUMMARY:**
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate (CTL plate) from Belgium was sold at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR) May 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023. Additionally, Commerce is rescinding this review in part, with respect to certain companies. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results of review.
**DATES:**
Applicable June 6, 2024.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Steven Seifert, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3350.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Background**
On May 25, 2017, Commerce published in the *Federal Register* the antidumping duty (AD) order on CTL plate from Belgium. [^1] On May 2, 2023, Commerce published in the *Federal Register* a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the *Order.*[^2] On July 12, 2023, based on timely requests for review in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we initiated an AD administrative review. [^3] This review covers 20 producers and/or exporters of the subject merchandise. <sup>4</sup> Commerce selected Industeel Belgium S.A. (Industeel) for individual examination.
[^1]*See Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Austria, Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan: Amended Final Affirmative Antidumping Determinations for France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan, and Antidumping Duty Orders,* 82 FR 24096 (May 25, 2017) ( *Order* ).
[^2]*See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List,* 88 FR 27445 (May 2, 2023) ( *Initiation Notice* ).
[^3]*See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews,* 88 FR 44262 (July 12, 2023).
[^4] We note that the *Initiation Notice* listed 24 companies, including five companies that Commerce previously collapsed. Commerce collapsed the following companies in the less-than-fair-value investigation: NLMK Clabecq S.A., NLMK Plate Sales S.A., NLMK Sales Europe S.A., NLMK Manage Steel Center S.A., and NLMK La Louviere S.A. as a single entity (collectively, NLMK Belgium). *See Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Belgium: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Determination of Critical Circumstances, in Part,* 82 FR 16378 (April 4, 2017).
On July 12, 2023, we placed on the record U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for entries of CTL plate from Belgium during the POR, showing no suspended entries during the POR for certain companies and invited interested parties to comment. [^5] No interested party submitted comments regarding the CBP data.
[^5]*See* Memorandum, “Release of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Entry Data,” dated July 12, 2023.
On January 11, 2024, Commerce extended the deadline to issue the preliminary results of this review until May 31, 2024. [^6] For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this review, *see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. [^7]
[^6]*See* Memorandum, “Extension of Deadline for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,” dated January 11, 2024.
[^7]*See* Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of the Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Belgium; 2022-2023,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
**Scope of the Order**
The product covered by the *Order* is CTL plate from Belgium. For a full description of the scope of the *Order, see* Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
**Rescission of Administrative Review, in Part**
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3), it is Commerce's practice to rescind an administrative review of an AD order when there are no suspended entries of subject merchandise during the POR. [^8] Normally, upon completion of an administrative review, the suspended entries are liquidated at the AD assessment rate calculated for the review period. [^9] Therefore, for an administrative review to be conducted, there must be a suspended entry that Commerce can instruct CBP to liquidate at the AD assessment rate calculated for the review period. [^10]
[^8]*See, e.g., Dioctyl Terephthalate from the Republic of Korea: Rescission of Antidumping Administrative Review; 2021-2022,* 88 FR 24758 (April 24, 2023); *see also Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate from the Federal Republic of Germany: Recission of Antidumping Administrative Review; 2020-2021,* 88 FR 4157 (January 24, 2023).
[^9]*See* 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
[^10]*See* 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3).
As noted above, there were no suspended entries of subject merchandise for the following companies: C.A. Picard GmbH; Dörrenberg Edelstahl GmbH; [^11] Edgen Murray; EEW Steel Trading LLC; Fike Europe B.A; Macsteel International; NLMK Belgium; NLMK Dansteel A.S.; NLMK Verona SpA; NobelClad Europe GmbH & Co. KG; RP Technik GmbH Profilsysteme; Salzgitter Mannesmann International GmbH; Stahlo Stahl Service GmbH & Co. KG; Stemcor USA; [^12] Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe; TWF Treuhandgesellschaft Werbefilm mbH; Tranter Service Centers; Válcovny Trub Chomutov A.S.; and voestalpine Grobblech GmbH. On May 9, 2024, Commerce notified all interested parties of its intent to rescind the administrative review in part, with respect to these companies because there were no suspended entries of subject merchandise during the POR and invited interested parties to comment. [^13] No interested party submitted comments in response to this notice. Accordingly, in the absence of suspended entries of subject merchandise during the POR for these companies for which this review was initiated, we are hereby rescinding this administrative review, in part, with respect to these 19 companies, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3).
[^11] In the *Initiation Notice,* this company was inadvertently listed as Doerrenberg Edelstahl Gmb. The correct name is Dörrenberg Edelstahl GmbH. *See* Dörrenberg Edelstahl GmbH's Letter, “Certification of No Sales, Shipments, or Entries,” dated August 9, 2023.
[^12] Although Commerce received a request for review of this company, Commerce should not have included this company in the *Initiation Notice* because it is a company located in the United States and is, therefore, neither a producer nor an exporter under section 19 CFR 351.213. Similarly, Commerce inadvertently initiated a review of this company in the prior review and assigned it the rate for companies not selected for individual examination. *See Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Belgium: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2019-2020,* 87 FR 7116 (February 8, 2022). Commerce intends to issue rescission instructions with respect to this company and, for the final results, notify CBP that it will deactivate the number assigned to this company in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).
[^13]*See* Memorandum, “Notice of Intent to Rescind Review, in Part,” dated May 9, 2024.
**Methodology**
Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with sections 751(a)(1)(B) and (2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Export price is calculated in accordance with section 772 of the Act. NV is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act.
For a full description of the methodology underlying our conclusions, *see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included in the appendix to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at *http://access.trade.gov.* In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at *https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.*
**Preliminary Results of the Review**
We preliminarily determine that the following weighted-average dumping margin exists for the period May 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023:
| Producer or exporter | Weighted-average dumping margin |
| --- | --- |
| Industeel Belgium S.A | 2.52 |
**Disclosure and Public Comment**
Commerce intends to disclose the calculations performed for these preliminary results to interested parties within five days after public announcement, or if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in the *Federal Register* . [^14] Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c), interested parties may submit case briefs to Commerce no later than 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. [^15] Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for filing case briefs. [^16] Interested parties who submit case or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities. [^17]
[^14]*See* 19 CFR 351.224(b).
[^15]*See* 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements).
[^16]*See* 19 CFR 351.309(d); *see also Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,* 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023).
[^17]*See* 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior proceedings we have encouraged interested parties to provide an executive summary of their brief that should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes. In this administrative review, we instead request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs. [^18] Further, we request that interested parties limit their public executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the public executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final results in this administrative review. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the public executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). [^19]
[^18] We use the term “issue” here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
[^19]*See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings; Final Rule,* 88 FR 67069 (September 29, 2023).
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically via ACCESS. Requests should contain: (1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective case briefs. An electronically filed hearing request must be received successfully in its entirety by Commerce's electronic records system, ACCESS, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold a hearing at a time and date to be determined and will notify the parties through ACCESS. [^20] Parties should confirm the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
[^20]*See* 19 CFR 351.310(d).
All submissions, including case and rebuttal briefs, as well as hearing requests, should be filed using ACCESS. [^21] An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the established deadline. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). [^22]
[^21]*See* 19 CFR 351.303.
[^22]*See APO and Final Service Rule.*
**Assessment Rates**
Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(A) of the Act, upon completion of the final results of this administrative review, Commerce shall determine, and CBP shall assess, ADs on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise covered by this review. [^23] If the weighted-average dumping margin for Industeel is not zero or *de minimis* ( *i.e.,* less than 0.5 percent) in the final results of this review, and because Industeel reported entered values for all of its sales, Commerce intends to calculate importer-specific *ad valorem* assessment rates based on the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for each importer's examined sales to the total entered value of those sales, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1). We intend to instruct CBP to assess ADs on all appropriate entries covered by this review when the importer-specific assessment rate calculated in the final results of this review is above *de minimis* ( *i.e.,* 0.50 percent). If Industeel's overall weighted-average dumping margin is zero or *de minimis* or where an importer-specific *ad valorem* assessment rate is zero or *de minimis* in the final results of review, we intend to instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries without regard to ADs. [^24] The final results of this administrative review shall be the basis for the assessment of ADs on entries of merchandise covered by the final results of this review and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable. [^25]
[^23]*See* 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
[^24]*See* 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2); *see also Antidumping Proceedings: Calculation of the Weighted-Average Dumping Margin and Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping Proceedings; Final Modification,* 77 FR 8101, 8103 (February 14, 2012).
[^25]*See* section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act.
For entries of subject merchandise during the POR produced by Industeel for which it did not know that the merchandise was destined for the United States, we intend to instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed entries at the all-others rate ( *i.e.,* 5.40 percent) in the original less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation [^26] if there is no rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction. [^27]
[^26]*See Order,* 82 FR 24096.
[^27] For a full discussion of this practice, *see Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties,* 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003).
Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the *Federal Register* . If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired ( *i.e.,* within 90 days of publication).
**Cash Deposit Requirements**
The following deposit requirements will be effective upon publication in the *Federal Register* of the notice of final results of this administrative review for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication, as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) the cash deposit rate for Industeel will be equal to the weighted-average dumping margin established in the final results of this review, except if the rate is less than 0.50 percent and, therefore, *de minimis* within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1), in which case the cash deposit rate will be zero; (2) for merchandise exported by a company not covered in this review but covered in a prior segment of the proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific cash deposit rate published in the completed segment for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, or a previous segment, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be the rate established in the completed segment for the most recent period for the producer of the merchandise; and (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers or exporters will continue to be 5.40 percent, the all-others rate established in the LTFV investigation. [^28] These deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.
[^28]*See Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-To-Length Plate from Austria, Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan: Amended Final Affirmative Antidumping Determinations for France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, and Antidumping Duty Orders,* 82 FR 24096, 24098 (May 25, 2017).
**Final Results of Review**
Unless the deadline is otherwise extended, Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis of issues raised by interested parties in the written comments, within 120 days of publication of these preliminary results in the *Federal Register* . [^29]
[^29]*See* section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act; *see also* 19 CFR 351.213(h).
**Notification to Importers**
This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of ADs prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this POR. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of ADs occurred and the subsequent assessment of double ADs.
**Notification to Interested Parties**
We are issuing and publishing these preliminary results in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213 and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: May 30, 2024.
Abdelali Elouaradia,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
**Appendix**
**List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum**
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Partial Rescission of Administrative Review
IV. Scope of the Order
V. Discussion of the Methodology
VI. Currency Conversion
VII. Recommendation