[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19503-19504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07207]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-645 and 731-TA-1495-1501 (Preliminary)]
Mattresses From Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Serbia,
Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam; Institution of Anti-Dumping and
Countervailing Duty Investigations and Scheduling of Preliminary Phase
Investigations
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of
investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping and
countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-645 and 731-TA-1495-1501
(Preliminary) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') to
determine whether there is a reasonable indication that 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 mattresses from Cambodia,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam, provided
for in subheadings 9404.21.00, 9404.29.10, 9404.29.90, 9401.40.00, and
9401.90.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that
are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value and
by reason of imports of mattresses from China alleged to be subsidized
by the Government of China. Unless the Department of Commerce
(``Commerce'') extends the time for initiation, the Commission must
reach preliminary determinations in antidumping and countervailing duty
investigations in 45 days, or in this case by May 15, 2020. The
Commission's views must be transmitted to Commerce within five business
days thereafter, or by May 22, 2020.
DATES: March 31, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Messer ((202) 205-3193), 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 202-205-1810. 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 these
investigations may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background.--These investigations are being instituted, pursuant to
sections 703(a) and 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
1671b(a) and 1673b(a)), in response to petitions filed on March 31,
2020, by Brooklyn Bedding (Phoenix, Arizona), Corsicana Mattress
Company (Dallas, Texas), Elite Comfort Solutions (Newnan, Georgia),
FXI, Inc. (Media, Pennsylvania), Innocor, Inc. (Media, Pennsylvania),
Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc. (Chicago, Illinois), Leggett & Platt,
Incorporated (Carthage, Missouri), the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters (Washington, DC), and United Steel, Paper and Forestry,
Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers
International Union, AFL-CIO (Washington, DC).
For further information concerning the conduct of these
investigations 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 B (19 CFR part 207).
Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in sections 201.11 and 207.10
of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication
of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users and (if the
merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level)
representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as
parties in Commission antidumping duty and countervailing duty
investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list
containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their
representatives, who are parties to these investigations upon the
expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.
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 these investigations available to authorized
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C.
1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO issued in
the investigations, provided that the application is made not later
than seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary
for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
Conference.--As the Commission proceeds with alternative solutions
during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission is not holding in-person
Title VII (antidumping and countervailing duty) preliminary phase staff
conferences at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. It is
providing an opportunity for parties to provide opening remarks and
witness testimony by April 17, 2020, and responses to staff questions
through written submissions by April 27, 2020. Commission staff will
issue public written questions to parties participating in the written
proceedings on April 21, 2020. Requests to participate in these written
proceedings should be emailed to [email protected] (DO
NOT FILE ON EDIS) on or before April 17, 2020. A nonparty who has
testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request
permission to participate by submitting a short statement on or before
April 27, 2020.
Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic
filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's
Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov).
No in-person paper-
[[Page 19504]]
based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be
accepted until further notice.
Written submissions.-- Parties that have requested to participate
in the written proceedings held in lieu of an in-person staff
conference may submit opening remarks limited to five pages and witness
testimony (in the form of certified affidavits) limited to 50 pages no
later than April 17, 2020. As provided in sections 201.8 and 207.15 of
the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or
before April 27, 2020, a written brief containing information and
arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigations,
including responses to staff questions. 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 Filing Procedures, available on the
Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf, elaborates upon the Commission's
procedures with respect to filings. Please note the Secretary's Office
will accept only electronic filings during this time. Filings must be
made through the Commission's Electronic Document Information System
(EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov). No in-person paper-based filings or
paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further
notice.
In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, each
document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on all
other parties to the investigations (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.
Certification.--Pursuant to section 207.3 of the Commission's
rules, any person submitting information to the Commission in
connection with these investigations must certify that the information
is accurate and complete to the best of the submitter's knowledge. In
making the certification, the submitter will acknowledge that any
information that it submits to the Commission during these
investigations may be disclosed to and used: (i) By the Commission, its
employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or
maintaining the records of these or related investigations or reviews,
or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations
relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission
including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government
employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes.
All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.
Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published
pursuant to section 207.12 of the Commission's rules.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: April 1, 2020.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-07207 Filed 4-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P