1. On 05/26/2020, Commerce published in the Federal Register its affirmative preliminary determination in the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of forged steel fluid end blocks from the Federal Republic of Germany (85 FR 31454). Additionally, Commerce has aligned the deadline for the final determination in the CVD investigation with the deadline for the final determination in the companion antidumping duty investigation of the same merchandise, currently scheduled to be issued no later than 09/29/2020.

2. The products covered by this investigation are forged steel fluid end blocks (fluid end blocks), whether in finished or unfinished form, and which are typically used in the manufacture or service of hydraulic pumps.

The term "forged" is an industry term used to describe the grain texture of steel resulting from the application of localized compressive force. Illustrative forging standards include, but are not limited to, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications A668 and A788.

For purposes of this investigation, the term "steel" denotes metal containing the following chemical elements, by weight: (i) iron greater than or equal to 60 percent; (ii) nickel less than or equal to 8.5 percent; (iii) copper less than or equal to 6 percent; (iv) chromium greater than or equal to 0.4 percent, but less than or equal to 20 percent; and (v) molybdenum greater than or equal to 0.15 percent, but less than or equal to 3 percent. Illustrative steel standards include, but are not limited to, American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) or Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) grades 4130, 4135, 4140, 4320, 4330, 4340, 8630, 15-5, 17-4, F6NM, F22, F60, and XM25, as well as modified varieties of these grades.

The products covered by this investigation are: (1) cut-to-length fluid end blocks with an actual height (measured from its highest point) of 8 inches (203.2 mm) to 40 inches (1,016.0 mm), an actual width (measured from its widest point) of 8 inches (203.2 mm) to 40 inches (1,016.0 mm), and an actual length (measured from its longest point) of 11 inches (279.4 mm) to 75 inches (1,905.0 mm); and (2) strings of fluid end blocks with an actual height (measured from its highest point) of 8 inches (203.2 mm) to 40 inches (1,016.0 mm), an actual width (measured from its widest point) of 8 inches (203.2 mm) to 40 inches (1,016.0 mm), and an actual length (measured from its longest point) up to 360 inches (9,144.0 mm).

The products included in the scope of this investigation have a tensile strength of at least 70 KSI (measured in accordance with ASTM A370) and a hardness of at least 140 HBW (measured in accordance with ASTM E10).

A fluid end block may be imported in finished condition (i.e., ready for incorporation into a pump fluid end assembly without further finishing operations) or unfinished condition (i.e., forged but still requiring one or more finishing operations before it is ready for incorporation into a pump fluid end assembly). Such finishing operations may include: (1) heat treating; (2) milling one or more flat surfaces; (3) contour machining to custom shapes or dimensions; (4) drilling or boring holes; (5) threading holes; and/or (6) painting, varnishing, or coating.

Excluded from the scope of this investigation are fluid end block assemblies which (1) include (a) plungers and related housings, adapters, gaskets, seals, and packing nuts, (b) valves and related seats, springs, seals, and cover nuts, and (c) a discharge flange and related seals, and (2) are otherwise ready to be mated with the "power end" of a hydraulic pump without the need for installation of any plunger, valve, or discharge flange components, or any other further manufacturing operations.

The products included in the scope of this investigation may enter under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 7218.91.0030, 7218.99.0030, 7224.90.0015, 7224.90.0045, 7326.19.0010, 7326.90.8688, or 8413.91.9055. While these HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive.

3. This proceeding has been assigned case number C-428-848.

4. Accordingly, CBP shall suspend liquidation of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 05/26/2020 (the date of publication of the preliminary determination), and shall require, for such entries, a cash deposit equal to the percentages of entered value for the producers and/or exporters listed below.

Producer and/or Exporter: BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH, and its cross-owned companies: Boschgotthardshütte O. Breyer GmbH, BGH Edelstahlwerke GmbH, Rohstoff-, Press- und Schneidbetrieb Siegen GmbH, and SRG Schrott und Recycling GmbH
Case Number: C-428-848-001
Cash Deposit: 5.25 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: Schmiedewerke Gröditz GmbH, and its cross-owned companies: GMH Schmiedetechnik GmbH, Georgsmarienhütte Holding GmbH, and GHM Recycling GmbH
Case Number: C-428-848-002
Cash Deposit: 6.06 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: voestalpine Bohler Group
Case Number: C-428-848-003
Cash Deposit: 10.04 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: All Others
Case Number: C-428-848-000
Cash Deposit Rate: 5.61 percent

5. If there are any questions by the public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by OVIII:JD.)

6. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.

Alexander Amdur