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Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China (China) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is April 1, 2023, through September 30, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
Applicable May 7, 2024.
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Luke Caruso or Jonathan Hill, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2081 or (202) 482-3518, respectively.
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Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on October 31, 2023.[1] On February 15, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination in this investigation until May 1, 2024.[2]
For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.[3] A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II 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 https://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.
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are aluminum extrusions from China. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,[4] in the Initiation Notice, Commerce set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage ( i.e., scope).[5] Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice, as well as additional language proposed by Commerce. For a summary of the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this preliminary determination, and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum II.[6] Commerce is preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the revised scope in Appendix I to this notice.
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Commerce calculated export prices in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act and calculated constructed export prices in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Because China is a non-market economy, within the meaning of section 771(18) of the Act, Commerce has calculated normal value in accordance with section 773(c) of the Act. In addition, Commerce has applied partial facts available under section 776(a)(1) of the Act to the collapsed single entity that includes mandatory respondent Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd (SHMC) and applied adverse facts available under sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act to the China-wide entity. For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Combination Rates
In the Initiation Notice,[7] Commerce stated that it would calculate producer/exporter combination rates for the respondents that are eligible for a separate rate in this investigation. Policy Bulletin 05.1 describes this practice.[8]
Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margins exist: Start Printed Page 38032
Producer | Exporter | Estimated weighted- average dumping margin (percent) | Cash deposit rate (adjusted for subsidy offsets) (percent) |
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Hydro Aluminium (Suzhou) Co., Ltd | Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd./Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd./Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua New Energy Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd./Sanhua Heat Exchanger (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd./Sanhua International Singapore Pte. Ltd.9 | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Jiangsu Gongchang Precision Aluminum Co., Ltd | Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd./Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd./Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua New Energy Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd./Sanhua Heat Exchanger (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd./Sanhua International Singapore Pte. Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Gerald New Energy (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd | Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd./Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd./Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua New Energy Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd./Sanhua Heat Exchanger (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd./Sanhua International Singapore Pte. Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Shandong Hongyuan Metal Materials Co., Ltd | Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd./Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd./Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua New Energy Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd./Sanhua Heat Exchanger (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd./Sanhua International Singapore Pte. Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Yangzhou Resler Composite Metal Materials Co., Ltd | Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd./Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd./Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua New Energy Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd./Sanhua Heat Exchanger (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd./Sanhua International Singapore Pte. Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Shandong Wanchuang Metal Technology Co., Ltd | Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd./Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd./Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua New Energy Automotive Components Co., Ltd./Shaoxing Sanhua Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd./Sanhua Heat Exchanger (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd./Sanhua International Singapore Pte. Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Wuxi Fengyun Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd | ACP (Changzhou) Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Changzhou Xiangyun Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd | ACP (Changzhou) Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Changshu Changsheng Aluminium Products Co., Ltd | Changshu Changsheng Aluminium Products Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Changzhou Tenglong Auto Parts Co., Ltd | Changzhou Tenglong Auto Parts Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Chongqing Chaoli Electric Appliance Co., Ltd | Chongqing Chaoli Electric Appliance Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Danfoss (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd | Danfoss Micro Channel Heat Exchanger (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Liaocheng Wanhe Commercial and Trading Ltd | Danfoss Micro Channel Heat Exchanger (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Shandong Wanchuang Metal Technology Co, Ltd | Danfoss Micro Channel Heat Exchanger (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Hydro Precision Tubing (Suzhou) Co., Ltd | Danfoss Micro Channel Heat Exchanger (Jiaxing) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Foshan City Shunde District Rongcheng Stainless Steel Sanitary Wares Industrial Co., Ltd | Foshan City Shunde District Rongcheng Stainless Steel Sanitary Wares Industrial Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Guangdong Wireking Housewares & Hardware Co., Ltd | Guangdong Wireking Housewares & Hardware Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Guangdong XinWei Aluminum Products Co., Ltd | Guangdong XinWei Aluminum Products Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Guangdong Yongfeng Lihua Shading Technology Co., Ltd | Guangdong Yongfeng Lihua Shading Technology Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Guangdong Haomei New Materials Co. Ltd | Hao Mei Aluminium Products Company Limited | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Jiangsu SV Precision Components Co., Ltd | Jiangsu SV Precision Components Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Guangxi Tianheng Auto Component Manufacturing Co., Ltd | Kromet International Inc | 4.91 | 0.00 |
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Wuxi Huaguang Automotive Technology Co., Ltd | Mercury Marine Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Ningbo Jiada Specialty Metals Ltd | Mercury Marine Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Wuxi Jiangyuan Aluminum Co., Ltd | Modine Thermal System (Changzhou) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Jiangsu Asia Pacific Aviation Technology | Modine Thermal System (Changzhou) Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Ningbo Innopower Tengda Machinery Co., Ltd | Ningbo Innopower Tengda Machinery Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
JiangSu Daiweimu New Kinetic Technology Co., Ltd | Scheco Mechanical and Electrical Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Jiangsu Lide Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd | Scheco Mechanical and Electrical Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Wuxi Huaguang Automotive Technology Co., Ltd | Wuxi Huaguang Automotive Technology Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Zhejiang Guoyao Aluminum Co., Ltd | Zhejiang Guoyao Aluminum Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
Zhejiang Xinlong Industry Co., Ltd | Zhejiang Xinlong Industry Co., Ltd | 4.91 | 0.00 |
China-wide entity | * 376.85 | 365.19 | |
* Rate based on facts available with adverse inferences. |
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register . Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the weighted average amount by which normal value exceeds U.S. price, as indicated in the table above as follows: (1) for the producer/exporter combinations listed in the table above, the cash deposit rate is equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin listed for that combination in the table; (2) for all combinations of Chinese producers/exporters of merchandise under consideration that have not established eligibility for their own separate rates, the cash deposit rate will be equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for the China-wide entity; and (3) for all third-county exporters of the merchandise under consideration not listed in the table above, the cash deposit rate is the cash deposit rate applicable to the Chinese producer/exporter combination or China-wide entity that supplied that third-country exporter.
To determine the cash deposit rate, Commerce normally adjusts the estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the amount of domestic subsidy pass-through and export subsidies determined in a companion countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding when CVD provisional measures are in effect. Accordingly, where Commerce has made a preliminary affirmative determination for domestic subsidy pass-through or export subsidies, Commerce has offset the calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the appropriate rate(s). Any such adjusted rates may be found in the “Preliminary Determination” section's table of estimated weighted-average dumping margins above.
Should provisional measures in the companion CVD investigation expire prior to the expiration of provisional measures in this LTFV investigation, Commerce will direct CBP to begin collecting cash deposits at a rate equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated in this preliminary determination unadjusted for the passed-through domestic subsidies or for export subsidies at the time that the CVD provisional measures expire.
These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose to parties to the proceeding the calculations and analysis it performed in this preliminary determination within five days of public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to verify information relied upon in making its final determination.
Public Comment
For scope-related comments, please refer to the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum II for the deadlines for scope comments. After the submission of scope comments, Commerce will set a schedule for the submission of case and rebuttal briefs limited to scope issues. Start Printed Page 38034
Case briefs or other written comments on non-scope issues may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the final verification report is issued in this investigation.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]
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 investigation, we instead request that interested parties provide, at the beginning of their briefs, a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs.[13] 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 executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final determination in this investigation. 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).[14]
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register . Requests should contain (1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and (3) a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures
Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by the petitioner. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), Commerce requires that requests by exporters for postponement of the final determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months in duration.
On April 21, 2024, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), SHMC requested that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months.[15] In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) the preliminary determination is affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce's will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of this notice of preliminary determination in the Federal Register .
U.S. International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination whether imports of subject merchandise are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.
Notification to Interested Parties
This preliminary determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c).
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Dated: May 1, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
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Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise subject to this investigation are aluminum extrusions, regardless of form, finishing, or fabrication, whether assembled with other parts or unassembled, whether coated, painted, anodized, or thermally improved. Aluminum extrusions are shapes and forms, produced by an extrusion process, made from aluminum alloys having metallic elements corresponding to the alloy series designations published by the Aluminum Association commencing with the numbers 1, 3, and 6 (or proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents). Specifically, subject aluminum extrusions made from an aluminum alloy with an Aluminum Association series designation commencing with the number 1 contain not less than 99 percent aluminum by weight. Subject aluminum extrusions made from an aluminum alloy with an Aluminum Association series designation commencing with the number 3 contain manganese as the major alloying element, with manganese accounting for not more than 3.0 percent of total materials by weight. Subject aluminum extrusions made from an aluminum alloy with an Aluminum Association series designation commencing with the number 6 contain magnesium and silicon as the major alloying elements, with magnesium accounting for at least 0.1 percent but not more than 2.0 percent of total materials by weight, and silicon accounting for at least 0.1 percent but not more than 3.0 percent of total materials by weight. The scope also includes merchandise made from an aluminum alloy with an Aluminum Association series designation commencing with the number 5 (or proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents) that have a magnesium content accounting for up to but not more than 2.0 percent of total materials by weight.
The country of origin of the aluminum extrusion is determined by where the metal is extruded ( i.e., pressed through a die).
Aluminum extrusions are produced and imported in a wide variety of shapes and forms, including, but not limited to, hollow profiles, other solid profiles, pipes, tubes, bars, and rods. Aluminum extrusions that are drawn subsequent to extrusion (drawn aluminum) are also included in the scope.
Subject aluminum extrusions are produced and imported with a variety of coatings and surface treatments, and types of fabrication. The types of coatings and treatments applied Start Printed Page 38035 to aluminum extrusions include, but are not limited to, extrusions that are mill finished ( i.e., without any coating or further finishing), brushed, buffed, polished, anodized (including bright dip), liquid painted, electroplated, chromate converted, powder coated, sublimated, wrapped, and/or bead blasted. Subject aluminum extrusions may also be fabricated, i.e., prepared for assembly, or thermally improved. Such operations would include, but are not limited to, extrusions that are cut-to-length, machined, drilled, punched, notched, bent, stretched, stretch-formed, hydroformed, knurled, swedged, mitered, chamfered, threaded, spun, etched, and engraved. Performing such operations in third countries does not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation.
The types of products that meet the definition of subject merchandise include but are not limited to, the aluminum extrusion portions of vehicle roof rails and sun/moon roof framing, solar panel racking rails and framing, tradeshow display fixtures and framing, parts for tents or clear span structures, fence posts, drapery rails or rods, electrical conduits, door thresholds, flooring trim, electric vehicle battery trays, heat sinks, signage or advertising poles, telescoping poles, or cleaning system components.
Aluminum extrusions may be heat sinks, which are fabricated aluminum extrusions that dissipate heat away from a heat source and may serve other functions, such as structural functions. Heat sinks come in a variety of sizes and shapes, including but not limited to a flat electronic heat sink, which is a solid aluminum extrusion with at least one flat side used to mount electronic or mechanical devices; a heat sink that is a housing for electronic controls or motors; lighting heat sinks, which dissipate heat away from LED devices; and process and exchange heat sinks, which are tube extrusions with fins or plates used to hold radiator tubing. Heat sinks are included in the scope, regardless of whether the design and production of the heat sinks are organized around meeting specified thermal performance requirements and regardless of whether they have been tested to comply with such requirements. For purposes of the investigations on aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China, only heat sinks designed and produced around meeting specified thermal performance requirements and tested to comply with such requirements are included in the scope. Excluded from the scope of the investigations are large, multi-finned extruded aluminum heat sinks designed to dissipate heat, meeting the following criteria: (1) an aspect ratio (defined as the ratio of the area of a void in an extrusion to the size of the smallest gap opening at the entrance of that void and calculated by dividing the void area by the square of the gap opening) greater than 15 to 1; or (2) the circumscribing circle diameter (defined as the diameter of the smallest circle that will entirely enclose the extrusion's cross-sectional profile) rounded up to the next half inch, exceeds 10 inches, and the weight-per-foot (defined as the theoretical weight of the profile as extruded prior to any machining that may remove material and calculated by multiplying the area of the profile in square inches by 1.2) exceeds 3.50 pounds per foot.
Merchandise that is comprised solely of aluminum extrusions or aluminum extrusions and fasteners, whether assembled at the time of importation or unassembled, is covered by the scope in its entirety.
The scope also includes aluminum extrusions contained in merchandise that is a part or subassembly of a larger whole, whether or not the merchandise also contains a component other than aluminum extrusions that is beyond a fastener. Such merchandise may be either assembled or unassembled at the time of importation. A “part or subassembly” is defined as a unit designed to be attached to, or incorporated with, one or more other units or components into a larger completed product. Only the aluminum extrusion portion of the merchandise described in this paragraph, whether assembled or unassembled, is subject merchandise included in the scope and subject to duties. Examples of merchandise that is a part or subassembly of a larger whole include, but are not limited to, window parts or subassemblies; door unit parts or subassemblies; shower and bath parts or subassemblies; solar panel mounting systems; fenestration system parts or subassemblies, such as curtain wall and window wall units and parts or subassemblies of storefronts; furniture parts or subassemblies; appliance parts or subassemblies, such as fin evaporator coils and systems for refrigerators; railing or deck system parts or subassemblies; fence system parts or subassemblies; motor vehicle parts or subassemblies, such as bumpers for motor vehicles; trailer parts or subassemblies, such as side walls, flooring, and roofings; electric vehicle charging station parts or subassemblies; or signage or advertising system parts or subassemblies. Parts or subassemblies described by this paragraph that are subject to duties in their entirety pursuant to existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders (defined as those antidumping and countervailing duty orders that are in effect as of the date of publication of the order resulting from this investigation) are excluded from the scope of the investigation. Any part or subassembly that otherwise meets the requirements of this scope and that is not covered by other antidumping and/or countervailing duty orders remains subject to the scope of the investigation.
The scope excludes aluminum extrusions contained in fully and permanently assembled merchandise, if the assembled merchandise is not a part or subassembly of a larger whole. To be excluded under this paragraph, the assembled merchandise must also contain a component other than aluminum extrusions, beyond fasteners. In addition, to be excluded under this paragraph, the assembled merchandise must be ready for use as imported, without undergoing after importation any processing, fabrication, finishing, or assembly or the addition of parts or material (with the exception of consumable parts or material or interchangeable media or tooling).
The scope also excludes aluminum extrusions contained in unassembled merchandise if the unassembled merchandise is not a part or subassembly of a larger whole. To be excluded under this paragraph, the unassembled merchandise must also contain a component other than aluminum extrusions, beyond fasteners. In addition, to be excluded under this paragraph, the unassembled merchandise must be a packaged combination of parts that is ready to be assembled as imported, without undergoing after importation any processing, fabrication, or finishing or the addition of parts or material (with the exception of consumable parts or material or interchangeable media or tooling). To be excluded under this paragraph, the unassembled merchandise must be sold and enter as a discrete kit on one Customs entry form.
Examples of such excluded assembled and unassembled merchandise include windows with glass, door units with door panel and glass, motor vehicles, trailers, furniture, appliances, and solar panels and solar modules.
The scope also excludes merchandise containing multiple subassemblies of a larger whole with non-extruded aluminum components beyond fasteners. A subassembly that meets the definition of subject merchandise, including any product expressly identified as subject merchandise in this scope, can only be excluded if it is fully and permanently assembled with at least one other different subassembly, and where (1) at least one of the subassemblies, if entered individually, would not itself be subject to the scope; (2) the aluminum extrusions within the merchandise collectively account for 50 percent or less of the actual weight of the combined multiple subassemblies (without including any non-extruded aluminum fasteners in the calculations); and (3) the aluminum extrusions within the merchandise collectively account for 50 percent or less of the number of pieces of the combined multiple subassemblies (without including any non-extruded aluminum fasteners in the calculations).
The scope also includes aluminum extrusions that have been further processed in a third country, including, but not limited to, the finishing and fabrication processes described above, assembly, whether with other aluminum extrusion components or with non-aluminum extrusion components, or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope product. Third country processing; finishing; and/or fabrication, including those processes described in the scope, does not alter the country of origin of the subject aluminum extrusions.
The following aluminum extrusion products are excluded: aluminum extrusions made from an aluminum alloy with an Aluminum Association series designations commencing with the number 2 (or proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents) and containing in excess of 1.5 percent copper by weight; aluminum extrusions made from an aluminum alloy with an Aluminum Association series Start Printed Page 38036 designation commencing with the number 5 (or proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents) and containing in excess of 2.0 percent magnesium by weight; and aluminum extrusions made from an aluminum alloy with an Aluminum Association series designation commencing with the number 7 (or proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents) and containing in excess of 2.0 percent zinc by weight.
The scope also excludes aluminum alloy sheet or plates produced by means other than the extrusion process, such as aluminum products produced by a method of continuous casting or rolling. Cast aluminum products are also excluded. The scope also excludes unwrought aluminum in any form.
The scope also excludes collapsible tubular containers composed of metallic elements corresponding to alloy code 1080A as designated by the Aluminum Association (not including proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents) where the tubular container (excluding the nozzle) meets each of the following dimensional characteristics: (1) length of 37 millimeters (mm) or 62 mm; (2) outer diameter of 11.0 mm or 12.7 mm; and (3) wall thickness not exceeding 0.13 mm.
Also excluded from the scope are extruded drawn solid profiles made from an aluminum alloy with the Aluminum Association series designation commencing with the number 1, 3, or 6 (or proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents), including variants on individual alloying elements not to circumvent the other Aluminum Association series designations, which meet each of the following characteristics: (1) solid cross sectional area greater than 62.4 mm2 and less than 906 mm2 , (2) minimum electrical conductivity of 58% of the international annealed copper standard (IACS) or maximum resistivity of 2.97 μΩ/cm, (3) a uniformly applied nonelectrically conductive temperature-resistant coating co-extruded over characteristic (1) of either polyamide, cross-linked polyethylene, or silicone rubber material which meets the following standards: (a) Vicat A temperature threshold of >140 degrees Celsius, (b) flammability requirements of UL 94V-0, and (c) a minimum coating thickness of 0.10 mm and maximum coating thickness of 2.0 mm, with a maximum thickness tolerance of +/−0.20 mm, (4) characteristic 3 may or may not be encapsulated with a “Precision Drawn Tubing,” wall thicknesses less than 1.2 mm, which is mechanically fixed in place, and (5) packaged in straight lengths, bent or formed and/or attached to hardware.
Also excluded from the scope are extruded tubing and drawn over a ID plug and through a OD die made from an aluminum alloy with the Aluminum Association series designation commencing with the number 3, 5, or 6 (or proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents), including variants on individual alloying elements not to circumvent the other Aluminum Association series designations, which meet each of the following characteristics: (1) an outside mean diameter no greater than 30 mm with a tolerance less than or equal to +/−0.10 mm, (2) uniform wall thickness no greater than 2.7 mm with wall tolerances less than or equal to +/−0.1 mm, (3) may be coated with materials, including zinc, such that the coating material weight is no less than 3 g/m2 and no greater than 30 g/m2, and (4) packaged in continuous coils, straight lengths, bent or formed.
The scope also excludes fully and permanently assembled glass refrigerator shelves with decorative aluminum trim meeting the following characteristics: (1) aluminum trim meeting Aluminum Association series 6063-T5 designation that is anodized; (2) aluminum trim length of not more than 800 mm, and (3) aluminum trim width of not more than 40 mm. Such fully and permanently assembled glass refrigerator shelves include other components in addition to the aluminum trim, including, but not limited to, glass, steel, and plastic. Only fully and permanently assembled glass refrigerator shelves that require no further processing, fabrication, finishing, assembly, or the addition of any parts or material are excluded. Imports of glass refrigerator shelves are classified under HTSUS 8418.99.8050, which is being included for convenience.
Also excluded from the scope of this investigation is certain rectangular wire, imported in bulk rolls or precut strips and produced from continuously cast rolled aluminum wire rod, which is subsequently extruded to dimension to form rectangular wire with or without rounded edges. The product is made from aluminum alloy grade 1070 or 1370 (not including proprietary equivalents or other certifying body equivalents), with no recycled metal content allowed. The dimensions of the wire are 2.95 mm to 6.05 mm in width, and 0.65 mm to 1.25 mm in thickness. Imports of rectangular wire are provided for under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 7605.19.0000, 7604.10.5000, or 7616.99.5190.
Also excluded from the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China are all products covered by the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China. See Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order,76 FR 30650 (May 26, 2011); and Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order,76 FR 30653 (May 26, 2011) (collectively, Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China). Solely for the investigations on aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China, the following is an exhaustive list of products where the aluminum extrusion portions thereof meet the definition of subject merchandise. The language contained in the rest of the scope applies to this exhaustive list of products. Merchandise that is not included in the following list that meets the definition of subject merchandise in the 2011 antidumping and countervailing duty orders on Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China remains subject to the earlier orders. No other section of this scope language that provides examples of subject merchandise is exhaustive.
The aluminum extrusion portions of the following products are included in the scope of the investigations on aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China, whether assembled or unassembled: heat sinks as described above; cleaning system components like mops and poles; banner stands/back walls; fabric wall systems; drapery rails; side mount valve controls; water heater anodes; solar panel mounting systems; automotive heating and cooling system components; assembled motor cases with stators; louver assemblies; event décor; window wall units and parts; trade booths; micro channel heat exchangers; telescoping poles, pole handles, and pole attachments; flagpoles; wind sign frames; foreline hose assembly; electronics enclosures; parts and subassemblies for storefronts, including portal sets; light poles; air duct registers; outdoor sporting goods parts and subassemblies; glass refrigerator shelves; aluminum ramps; handicap ramp system parts and subassemblies; frames and parts for tents and clear span structures; parts and subassemblies for screen enclosures, patios, and sunrooms; parts and subassemblies for walkways and walkway covers; aluminum extrusions for Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights; parts and subassemblies for screen, storm, and patio doors; pontoon boat parts and subassemblies, including rub rails, flooring, decking, transom structures, canopy systems, seating; boat hulls, framing, ladders, and transom structures; parts and subassemblies for docks, piers, boat lifts and mounting; recreational and boat trailer parts and subassemblies, including subframes, crossmembers, and gates; solar tracker assemblies with gears; garage door framing systems; door threshold and sill assemblies; highway and bridge signs; bridge, street, and highway rails; scaffolding, including planks and struts; railing and support systems; parts and subassemblies for exercise equipment; weatherstripping; door bottom and sweeps; door seals; floor transitions and trims; parts and subassemblies for modular walls and office furniture; truck trailer parts and subassemblies; boat cover poles, outrigger poles, and rod holders; bleachers and benches; parts and subassemblies for elevators, lifts, and dumbwaiters; parts and subassemblies for mirror and framing systems; window treatments; parts and subassemblies for air foils and fans; bus and Recreational Vehicle (RV) window frames; sliding door rails; dock ladders; parts and subassemblies for RV frames and trailers; awning, canopy, and sunshade structures and their parts and subassemblies; marine motor mounts; linear lighting housings; and cluster mailbox systems.
Imports of the subject merchandise are primarily provided for under the following categories of the HTSUS: 7604.10.1000; 7604.10.3000; 7604.10.5000; 7604.21.0010; 7604.21.0090; 7604.29.1010; 7604.29.1090; 7604.29.3060; 7604.29.3090; 7604.29.5050; 7604.29.5090; 7608.10.0030; 7608.10.0090; 7608.20.0030; 7608.20.0090; 7609.00.0000; 7610.10.0010; 7610.10.0020; 7610.10.0030; 7610.90.0040; and 7610.90.0080.
Imports of the subject merchandise, including subject merchandise entered as Start Printed Page 38037 parts of other products, may also be classifiable under the following additional HTSUS categories, as well as other HTSUS categories: 6603.90.8100; 7606.12.3091; 7606.12.3096; 7615.10.2015; 7615.10.2025; 7615.10.3015; 7615.10.3025; 7615.10.5020; 7615.10.5040; 7615.10.7125; 7615.10.7130; 7615.10.7155; 7615.10.7180; 7615.10.9100; 7615.20.0000; 7616.10.9090; 7616.99.1000; 7616.99.5130; 7616.99.5140; 7616.99.5190; 8302.10.3000; 8302.10.6030; 8302.10.6060; 8302.10.6090; 8302.20.0000; 8302.30.3010; 8302.30.3060; 8302.41.3000; 8302.41.6015; 8302.41.6045; 8302.41.6050; 8302.41.6080; 8302.42.3010; 8302.42.3015; 8302.42.3065; 8302.49.6035; 8302.49.6045; 8302.49.6055; 8302.49.6085; 8302.50.0000; 8302.60.3000; 8302.60.9000; 8305.10.0050; 8306.30.0000; 8414.59.6590; 8415.90.8045; 8418.99.8005; 8418.99.8050; 8418.99.8060; 8419.50.5000; 8419.90.1000; 8422.90.0640; 8424.90.9080; 8473.30.2000; 8473.30.5100; 8479.89.9599; 8479.90.8500; 8479.90.9596; 8481.90.9060; 8481.90.9085; 8486.90.0000; 8487.90.0080; 8503.00.9520; 8508.70.0000; 8513.90.2000; 8515.90.2000; 8516.90.5000; 8516.90.8050; 8517.71.0000; 8517.79.0000; 8529.90.7300; 8529.90.9760; 8536.90.8585; 8538.10.0000; 8541.90.0000; 8543.90.8885; 8547.90.0020; 8547.90.0030; 8547.90.0040; 8708.10.3050; 8708.29.5160; 8708.80.6590; 8708.99.6890; 8807.30.0060; 9031.90.9195; 9401.99.9081; 9403.99.1040; 9403.99.9010; 9403.99.9015; 9403.99.9020; 9403.99.9040; 9403.99.9045; 9405.99.4020; 9506.11.4080; 9506.51.4000; 9506.51.6000; 9506.59.4040; 9506.70.2090; 9506.91.0010; 9506.91.0020; 9506.91.0030; 9506.99.0510; 9506.99.0520; 9506.99.0530; 9506.99.1500; 9506.99.2000; 9506.99.2580; 9506.99.2800; 9506.99.5500; 9506.99.6080; 9507.30.2000; 9507.30.4000; 9507.30.6000; 9507.30.8000; 9507.90.6000; and 9603.90.8050.
While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Affiliation and Single Entity Treatment
V. Discussion of the Methodology
VI. Currency Conversion
VII. Recommendation
End Supplemental Information
1. See Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, the Republic of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations,88 FR 74421 (October 31, 2023) ( Initiation Notice).
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2. See Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, the Republic of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations,89 FR 11814 (February 15, 2024).
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3. See Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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4. See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
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5. See Initiation Notice, 88 at FR 74423.
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6. See Memorandum, “Antidumping Duty Investigations and Countervailing Duty Investigations of Aluminum Extrusions from People's Republic of China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, Thailand, the Republic of Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum II,” dated concurrently with this notice (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum II).
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7. See Initiation Notice, 88 FR at 74427.
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8. See Enforcement and Compliance's Policy Bulletin No. 05.1, regarding, “Separate-Rates Practice and Application of Combination Rates in Antidumping Investigations involving Non-Market Economy Countries,” (April 5, 2005) (Policy Bulletin 05.1), available on Commerce's website at enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull05-1.pdf.
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9. Commerce has preliminarily determined that the mandatory respondent Sanhua (Hangzhou) Micro Channel Heat Exchanger Co., Ltd. is affiliated with the following companies and has treated these companies as a single entity: (1) Sanhua Intelligent Controls Co., Ltd.; (2) Zhejiang Sanhua Automotive Components Co., Ltd.; (3) Shaoxing Sanhua New Energy Automotive Components Co., Ltd.; (4) Shaoxing Sanhua Automotive Thermal Management Technology Co., Ltd.; (5) Sanhua Heat Exchanger (Zhengzhou) Co., Ltd.; and (6) Sanhua International Singapore Pte. Ltd. See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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10. See19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(i); see also19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements).
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11. See19 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) ( APO and Service Final Rule).
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12. See19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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13. We use the term “issue” here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
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14. See APO and Service Final Rule.
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15. See SHMC's Letter, “Aluminum Extrusions from China,” dated April 22, 2024.
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[FR Doc. 2024-09941 Filed 5-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P