Initiation of AD/CVD Investigations: Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from KR and TW On July 17, 2017, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated its less-than-fair-value duty investigations on “Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan” (Initiation Notices). These investigations have been assigned the following case numbers: A-580-895 (Republic of Korea) and A-583-861 (Taiwan).
The Scope of Merchandise covered by these investigations reads as follows:
The merchandise subject to these investigations is synthetic staple fibers, not carded or combed, specifically bi-component polyester fibers having a polyester fiber component that melts at a lower temperature than the other polyester fiber component (low melt PSF). The scope includes bi-component polyester staple fibers of any denier or cut length. The subject merchandise may be coated, usually with a finish or dye, or not coated.
Low melt PSF is classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 5503.20.0015. Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the merchandise under the investigations is dispositive.
Comments on the scope of the investigations:
During our review of the Petitions, the Department issued a questionnaire to, and received a response from, the petitioner pertaining to the proposed scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petitions would be an accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking relief.
As part of this review, we determined that the scope language of these Petitions overlaps in certain respects with the scope language of the recently-initiated less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigations of fine denier polyester staple fiber (fine denier PSF) from Korea and Taiwan and the existing AD orders on polyester staple fiber (PSF) from Korea and Taiwan. Specifically, the scope of these Petitions covers all bi-component polyester fiber, where one component melts at a lower temperature than the other component; the scope, as currently written, does not limit the two fiber components to any specific configuration. Further, the scopes of both the fine denier PSF LTFV investigations and the existing PSF AD orders include certain low melt PSF products and exclude others (i.e., they only exclude low melt PSF in “sheath-and-core” configurations). As a result, low melt PSF in other configurations (such as “side-by-side”) is currently covered by the scopes of these investigations, as well as the on-going LTFV investigations on fine denier PSF from Korea and Taiwan, and the existing AD orders on PSF from Korea and Taiwan.
Where the Department has faced the possibility of administering two proceedings covering identical merchandise, we have chosen to craft the scope of the subsequent proceedings to eliminate the potential overlap. Although we have provisionally accepted the scope as defined by the petitioner for purposes of initiation, we are currently evaluating how to address the overlap in product coverage, noted above. If this question is not resolved prior to the preliminary determinations of these proceedings, we intend to include provisionally the following language in the scope:
Excluded from the scope of the investigations on low melt PSF from Korea and Taiwan are any products covered by the existing antidumping duty investigations on fine denier PSF from Korea and Taiwan and the existing antidumping duty orders on certain polyester staple fiber from Korea and Taiwan. See {fine denier PSF preliminary determination citation}; see also Notice of Amended Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea and Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, 65 FR 33807 (May 25, 2000).
We invite interested parties to comment on this issue within the deadlines set forth below.
Requirements for submitting comments on the scope of the investigations: Please be sure to comply with all three requirements established below.
Deadline for Submitting Comments:
As announced in the Initiation Notice, Commerce is setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (scope). The period for scope comments is intended to provide Commerce with ample opportunity to consider all comments and to consult with parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determinations, as appropriate. If scope comments include factual information (see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)), all such factual information should be limited to public information. Commerce requests that all such comments be filed by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), on Monday, August 7, 2017, which is the next business day after 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, August 17, 2017, which is 10 calendar days after the initial comments deadline. Commerce requests that any factual information the parties consider relevant to the scope of the investigations be submitted during this time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigations may be relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to submit the additional information. All such comments must be filed on the records of both of the concurrent AD investigations identified above.
Required Entry of Appearance:
Parties wishing to participate in this segment and be included on the public service list must file a letter of appearance. Section 351.103(d)(1) of Commerce’s regulations states that “with the exception of a petitioner filing a petition in an investigation, to be included on the public service list for a particular segment, each interested party must file a letter of appearance.” The letter of appearance must be filed separately from any other document (with the exception of an application for APO access). Note, the letter of appearance must state how the party qualifies as an interested party (e.g., an exporter, producer, importer of the subject merchandise) and must include a point of contact, including address, telephone/fax number and email address.
All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time, typically 5 p.m., and date when it is due. Documents excepted from the electronic submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form) with Enforcement and Compliance’s APO/Dockets Unit, Room 18022, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, and stamped with the date and time of receipt by the applicable deadlines.
For your convenience, Commerce has the following resources available online to assist you in complying with these electronic filing procedures:
- ACCESS: Help Link
- ACCESS: External User Guide
- ACCESS: Handbook on Electronic Filing Procedures
Federal Register notice: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011).
