[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 144 (Monday, July 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45181-45185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16186]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-201-854]
Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh From Mexico: Initiation of
Countervailing Duty Investigation
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Applicable July 20, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Tucker or Ian Hamilton, 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) 482-2044 or (202) 482-4798,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Petition
On June 30, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) received a
countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of standard steel
welded wire mesh (wire mesh) from Mexico filed in proper form on behalf
of the petitioners,\1\ domestic producers of wire mesh.\2\ The Petition
was accompanied by an antidumping duty (AD) petition concerning imports
of wire mesh from Mexico.\3\
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\1\ Insteel Industries, Inc.; Mid South Wire Company; National
Wire LLC; Oklahoma Steel & Wire Co.; and Wire Mesh Corp.
(collectively, the petitioners).
\2\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh
from Mexico--Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duties,'' dated June 30, 2020 (the Petition).
\3\ Id.
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On July 2, 2020 and July 6, 2020, Commerce requested supplemental
information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition,\4\ to which
the petitioners filed responses on July 7, 2020 and July 8, 2020,
respectively.\5\
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\4\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Petitions for the Imposition of
Antidumping Duties and Countervailing Duties on Imports of Standard
Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico: Supplemental Questions,'' dated
July 2, 2020; see also Commerce's Letter, ``Petition for the
Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Standard Steel Welded Wire
Mesh from Mexico: Supplemental Questions,'' dated July 6, 2020.
\5\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh
from Mexico--Petitioners' Amendment to
Volume I Concerning General Issues,'' dated July 7, 2020
(General Issues Supplement); see also Petitioners' Letter,
``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico--Petitioners'
Amendment to Volume III Related to Countervailing Duties from
Mexico,'' dated July 8, 2020.
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In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act), the petitioners allege that the Government of Mexico
(GOM) is providing countervailable subsidies, within the meaning of
sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, to producers of wire mesh in Mexico
and that such imports are materially injuring, or threatening material
injury to, the domestic industry producing wire mesh 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 petitioners supporting their allegations.
Commerce finds that the petitioners filed the Petition on behalf of
the domestic industry because the petitioners are interested parties,
as defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. Commerce also finds that
the petitioners demonstrated sufficient industry support for the
initiation of the requested CVD investigation.\6\
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\6\ See infra, section on ``Information Related to Industry
Support.''
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Period of Investigation
Because the Petition was filed on June 30, 2020, the period of
investigation (POI) for this CVD investigation is January 1, 2019
through December 31, 2019, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).\7\
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\7\ See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
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Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are wire mesh from
Mexico. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see
the appendix to this notice.
Comments on Scope of the Investigation
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).\8\ 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,\9\ all
such factual information should be limited to public information. To
facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests that
all interested parties submit scope comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(ET) on August 10, 2020, which is the next business day after 20
calendar days from the signature date of this notice.\10\ Any rebuttal
comments, which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00
p.m. ET on August 20, 2020, which is ten calendar days from the initial
comment deadline.
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\8\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
\9\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual
information'').
\10\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b). Commerce's practice dictates that
where a deadline falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the
appropriate deadline is the next business day (in this instance,
August 10, 2020). See also Notice of Clarification: Application of
``Next Business Day'' Rule for Administrative Determination
Deadlines Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR
24533 (May 10, 2005); and 19 CFR 351.303(b).
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Commerce requests that any factual information parties consider
relevant to the scope of the investigation be submitted during this
time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional
factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigation may be
relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to
submit the additional information. All such comments must also be filed
on the record of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using
Enforcement and Compliance's (E&C's) Antidumping Duty and
Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS),
unless an exception applies.\11\ An electronically filed document must
be received successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is
due.
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\11\ 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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[[Page 45182]]
Consultations
Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Act, Commerce
notified the GOM of the receipt of the Petition and provided it the
opportunity for consultations with respect to the CVD Petition.\12\ The
GOM requested consultations, which were held on July 17, 2020.\13\
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\12\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh
from Mexico: Invitation for Consultation to Discuss the
Countervailing Duty Petition,'' dated July 10, 2020.
\13\ See Memorandum, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from
Mexico Countervailing Duty Petition: Consultations with the
Government of Mexico,'' dated July 17, 2020.
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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 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 must 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 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989),
cert. denied 492 U.S. 919 (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 petitioners do 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 wire mesh, as defined
in the scope, constitutes a single domestic like product, and we have
analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like product.\17\
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\16\ See Volume I of the Petition at 16-17; see also General
Issues Supplement at 9-10.
\17\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as
applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see
Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Standard
Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico (Mexico CVD Initiation Checklist)
at Attachment II, ``Analysis of Industry Support for the Antidumping
and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Standard Steel Welded
Wire Mesh from Mexico'' (Attachment II), dated concurrently with
this notice and on file electronically via ACCESS.
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In determining whether the petitioners have standing under section
702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data
contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like product
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the appendix to
this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioners provided
their 2019 production of the domestic like product, as well as the 2019
production of Davis Wire Corporation and Liberty Steel USA., supporters
of the Petition.\18\ The petitioners compared the production of the
supporters of the Petition to the estimated total production of the
domestic like product for the entire domestic industry.\19\ We relied
on data provided by the petitioners for purposes of measuring industry
support.\20\
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\18\ See Volume I of the Petition at 3-4 and Exhibit GEN-3.
\19\ See Volume I of the Petition at 4 and Exhibits GEN-1 and
GEN-3; see also General Issues Supplement at 11 and Exhibit GEN-
SUPP-3.
\20\ Id. For further discussion, see Mexico CVD Initiation
Checklist at Attachment II.
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From July 13-July 17, 2020, we received comments on industry
support from Deacero S.A.P.I. de C.V, a Mexican producer, and its
affiliated U.S. importer, Deacero USA, Inc. (collectively,
Deacero).\21\ The petitioners responded to these industry support
comments on July 14 and July 16, 2020, respectively.\22\
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\21\ See Deacero's Letter, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh
from Mexico--Request to Clarify Scope and to Poll Domestic
Industry,'' dated July 13, 2020; Deacero's Letter, ``Standard Steel
Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico--Continued Request to Clarify Scope and
to Poll Domestic Industry,'' dated July 15, 2020; and Deacero's
Letter, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico--Third Request
to Clarify Scope and to Poll Domestic Industry,'' dated July 17,
2020.
\22\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh
from Mexico--Petitioners' Response to Deacero's Request to Clarify
Scope and to Poll Domestic Industry,'' dated July 14, 2020; see also
Petitioners' Letter, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico--
Petitioners' Response to Deacero's Second Request to Clarify Scope
and to Poll Domestic Industry,'' dated July 16, 2020.
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Our review of the data provided in the Petition, the General Issues
Supplement, and other information readily available to Commerce
indicates that the petitioners have established industry support for
the Petition.\23\ First, the Petition established support from domestic
producers (or workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of the total
production of the domestic like product and, as such, Commerce is not
required to take further action in order to evaluate industry support
(e.g., polling).\24\ Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have
met the statutory criteria for industry support under section
702(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers)
who support the Petition account for at least 25 percent of the total
production of the domestic like product.\25\ Finally, the domestic
producers (or workers) have met the statutory criterion for industry
support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the domestic
producers (or workers) who support the Petition account for 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.\26\ Accordingly, Commerce determines that the Petition
was filed on behalf of the domestic industry within
[[Page 45183]]
the meaning of section 702(b)(1) of the Act.\27\
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\23\ Id.
\24\ See Mexico CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment II; see
also section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act.
\25\ see Mexico CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
\26\ Id.
\27\ Id.
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Injury Test
Because Mexico 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 Mexico materially
injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry.
Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation
The petitioners allege that imports of the subject merchandise are
benefitting 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 petitioners
allege that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided
for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\28\
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\28\ See Volume I of the Petition at 18-19 and Exhibit GEN-9.
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The petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is
illustrated by a significant and increasing volume of subject imports;
reduced market share; underselling and price depression and/or
suppression; lost sales and revenues; decreasing capacity utilization
rates and shipments; declines in employment variables; and declining
financial performance and operating income.\29\ We have assessed the
allegations and supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat
of material injury, causation, as well as negligibility, and we have
determined that these allegations are properly supported by adequate
evidence, and meet the statutory requirements for initiation.\30\
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\29\ See Volume I of the Petition at 9-10, 15, 18-27 and
Exhibits GEN-1, GEN-5, GEN-6 and GEN-9 through GEN-12; see also
General Issues Supplement at 11 and Exhibit GEN-SUPP-5.
\30\ See Mexico CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment III,
``Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and
Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions
Covering Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico.''
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Initiation of CVD Investigation
Based upon the examination of the Petition and supplemental
responses, we find that the Petition meets the requirements of section
702 of the Act. Therefore, we are initiating a CVD investigation to
determine whether imports of wire mesh from Mexico benefit from
countervailable subsidies conferred by the GOM. Based on our review of
the Petition, we find that there is sufficient information to initiate
a CVD investigation on 16 of the 17 alleged programs. For a full
discussion of the basis for our decision to initiate on each program,
see Mexico CVD Initiation Checklist. A public version of the initiation
checklist for this investigation is available on ACCESS. 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.
Respondent Selection
In the Petition, the petitioners named nine companies in Mexico as
producers/exporters of wire mesh.\31\ Commerce intends to follow its
standard practice in CVD investigations and calculate company-specific
subsidy rates in this investigation. In the event Commerce determines
that the number of companies is large and it cannot individually
examine each company based upon Commerce's resources, where
appropriate, Commerce intends to select mandatory respondents based on
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports of wire
mesh from Mexico during the POI under the appropriate Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States numbers listed in the ``Scope of the
Investigation,'' in the appendix.
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\31\ See Volume I of the Petition at Exhibit GEN-7.
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On July 15, 2020, Commerce released CBP data on imports of wire
mesh from Mexico under administrative protective order (APO) to all
parties with access to information protected by APO and indicated that
interested parties wishing to comment on the CBP data must do so within
three business days of the publication date of the notice of initiation
of this investigation.\32\ 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.
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\32\ See Memorandum, ``Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from
Mexico Countervailing Duty Petition: Release of Customs Data from
U.S. Customs and Border Protection,'' dated July 15, 2020.
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Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such
applications may be found on E&C's website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo.
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 CVD Petition has been
provided to the GOM via ACCESS. Furthermore, to the extent practicable,
we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of the CVD
Petition to each exporter named in the CVD Petition, as provided under
19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).
ITC Notification
Commerce will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by
section 702(d) of the Act.
Preliminary Determination by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date
on which the CVD Petition was filed, whether there is a reasonable
indication that imports of wire mesh from Mexico are materially
injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S. industry.\33\ A
negative ITC determination will result in the investigation being
terminated.\34\ Otherwise, the CVD investigation will proceed according
to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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\33\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
\34\ 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 \35\ 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.\36\ 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
[[Page 45184]]
submitting factual information in this investigation.
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\35\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
\36\ 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.\37\ 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, Commerce 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, stand-alone submission; under limited circumstances we will
grant untimely-filed requests for the extension of time limits. Parties
should review Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 57790
(September 20, 2013), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to submitting extension requests
or factual information in this investigation.
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\37\ See 19 CFR 351.302.
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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.\38\
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR
351.303(g).\39\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the
submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification
requirements.
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\38\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
\39\ See 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
http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
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Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On January 22, 2008, Commerce
published Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Documents
Submission Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January 22, 2008).
Parties wishing to participate in this investigation should ensure that
they meet the requirements of these procedures (e.g., the filing of
letters of appearance as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)). Note that
Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for
serving documents containing business proprietary information, until
further notice.\40\
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\40\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements
Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July
10, 2020).
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This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and
777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).
Dated: July 20, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix
Scope of the Investigation
The scope of this investigation covers uncoated standard welded
steel reinforcement wire mesh (wire mesh) produced from smooth or
deformed wire. Subject wire mesh is produced in square and
rectangular grids of uniformly spaced steel wires that are welded at
all intersections. Sizes are specified by combining the spacing of
the wires in inches or millimeters and the wire cross-sectional area
in hundredths of square inch or millimeters squared. Subject wire
mesh may be packaged and sold in rolls or in sheets.
Subject wire mesh is currently produced to ASTM specification
A1064/A1064M, which covers carbon-steel wire and welded wire
reinforcement, smooth and deformed, for concrete in the following
seven styles:
1. 6x6 W1.4/W1.4 or D1.4/D1.4
2. 6x6 W2.1/W2.1 or D2.1/D2.1
3. 6x6 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9
4. 6x6 W4/W4 or D4/D4
5. 6x12 W4/W4 or D4/D4
6. 4x4 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9
7. 4x4 W4/W4 or D4/D4
The first number in the style denotes the nominal spacing
between the longitudinal wires and the second number denotes the
nominal spacing between the transverse wires. In the first style
listed above, for example, ``6x6'' denotes a grid size of six inches
by six inches. ``W'' denotes the use of smooth wire, and ``D''
denotes the use of deformed wire in making the mesh. The number
following the W or D denotes the nominal cross-sectional area of the
transverse and longitudinal wires in hundredths of a square inch
(i.e., W1.4 or D1.4 is .014 square inches).
Smooth wire is wire that has a uniform cross-sectional diameter
throughout the length of the wire.
Deformed wire is wire with indentations or raised transverse
ribs, which results in wire that does not have a uniform cross-
sectional diameter throughout the length of the wire.
Rolls of subject wire mesh are produced in the following styles
and nominal width and length combinations:
Style: 6x6 W1.4/W1.4 or D1.4/D1.4 (i.e., 10 gauge)
Roll Sizes:
5' x 50'
5' x 150'
6' x 150'
5' x 200'
7' x 200'
7.5' x 200'
Style: 6x6 W2.1/W2.1 or D2.1/D2.1 (i.e., 8 gauge)
Roll Sizes: 5' x 150'
Style: 6x6 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9 (i.e., 6 gauge)
Roll Sizes:
5' x 150'
7' x 200'
All rolled wire mesh is included in scope regardless of length.
Sheets of subject wire mesh are produced in the following styles
and nominal width and length combinations:
Style: 6x6 W1.4/W1.4 or D1.4/D1.4 (i.e., 10 gauge)
Sheet Size:
3'6'' x 7'
4' x 7'
4' x 7'6''
5' x 10'
7' x 20'
7'6'' x 20'
8' x 12'6''
8' x 15'
8' x 20'
Style: 6x6 W2.1/W2.1 or D2.1/D2.1 (i.e., 8 gauge)
Sheet Size:
5' x 10'
7' x 20'
7'6'' x 20'
8' x 12'6''
8' x 15'
8' x 20'
Style: 6x6 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9 (i.e., 6 gauge)
Sheet Size:
3'6'' x 20'
5' x 10'
7' x 20'
7'6'' x 20'
8' x 12'6''
8' x 15'
8' x 20'
Style: 6x12 W4/W4 or D4/D4 (i.e., 4 gauge)
Sheet Size: 8' x 20'
Style: 4x4 W2.9/W2.9 or D2.9/D2.9 (i.e., 6 gauge)
Sheet Size:
5' x 10'
7' x 20'
7'6'' x 20'
8' x 12'6''
8' x 12'8''
8' x 15'
8' x 20'
Style: 4x4 W4/W4 or D4/D4 (i.e., 4 gauge)
Sheet Size:
5' x 10'
8' x 12'6''
8' x 12'8''
8' x 15'
8' x 20'
[[Page 45185]]
Any product imported, sold, or invoiced in one of these size
combinations is within the scope.
ASTM specification A1064/A1064M provides for permissible
variations in wire gauges, the spacing between transverse and
longitudinal wires, and the length and width combinations. To the
extent a roll or sheet of welded wire mesh falls within these
permissible variations, it is within this scope.
ASTM specification A1064/A1064M also defines permissible
oversteeling, which is the use of a heavier gauge wire with a larger
cross-sectional area than nominally specified. It also permits a
wire diameter tolerance of 0.003 inches for products up
to W5/D5 and 0.004 for sizes over W5/D5. A producer may
oversteel by increasing smooth or deformed wire diameter up to two
whole number size increments on Table 1 of A1064. Subject wire mesh
has the following actual wire diameter ranges, which account for
both oversteeling and diameter tolerance:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum
W/D Number oversteeling Diameter range
Number (inch)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.4 (i.e., 10 gauge).............. 3.4 0.093 to 0.211.
2.1 (i.e., 8 gauge)............... 4.1 0.161 to 0.231.
2.9 (i.e., 6 gauge)............... 4.9 0.189 to 0.253.
4.0 (i.e., 4 gauge)............... 6.0 0.223 to 0.280.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To the extent a roll or sheet of welded wire mesh falls within
the permissible variations provided above, it is within this scope.
In addition to the tolerances permitted in ASTM specification
A1064/A1064M, wire mesh within this scope includes combinations
where:
1. A width and/or length combination varies by one
grid size in any direction, i.e., 6 inches in length or
width where the wire mesh's grid size is ``6x6''; and/or
2. The center-to-center spacing between individual wires may
vary by up to one quarter of an inch from the nominal grid size
specified.
Length is measured from the ends of any wire and width is
measured between the center-line of end longitudinal wires.
Additionally, although the subject wire mesh typically meets
ASTM A1064/A1064M, the failure to include certifications, test
reports or other documentation establishing that the product meets
this specification does not remove the product from the scope. Wire
mesh made to comparable foreign specifications (e.g., DIN, JIS,
etc.) or proprietary specifications is included in the scope.
Excluded from the scope is wire mesh that is galvanized (i.e.,
coated with zinc) or coated with an epoxy coating. In order to be
excluded as galvanized, the excluded welded wire mesh must have a
zinc coating thickness meeting the requirements of ASTM
specification A641/A641M. Epoxy coating is a mix of epoxy resin and
hardener that can be applied to the surface of steel wire.
Merchandise subject to this investigation are classified under
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) categories
7314.20.0000 and 7314.39.0000. While HTSUS subheadings are provided
for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the
scope of this investigation is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2020-16186 Filed 7-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P