1. ON 3/27/2012, COMMERCE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ITS INITIATION OF THE ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF THE DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS FROM THE PRC (77 FR 18207).

2. THE MERCHANDISE THAT IS SUBJECT TO THIS INVESTIGATION IS STAINLESS STEEL SINKS WITH SINGLE OR MULTIPLE DRAWN BOWLS, WITH OR WITHOUT DRAIN BOARDS, WHETHER FINISHED OR UNFINISHED, REGARDLESS OF TYPE OF FINISH, GAUGE, OR GRADE OF STAINLESS STEEL (“DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS”). MOUNTING CLIPS, FASTENERS, SEALS, AND SOUND-DEADENING PADS ARE ALSO COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS IF THEY ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THE SALES PRICE OF THE DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS.(FN) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SCOPE DEFINITION, THE TERM “DRAWN” REFERS TO A MANUFACTURING PROCESS USING METAL FORMING TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE A SMOOTH BASIN WITH SEAMLESS, SMOOTH, AND ROUNDED CORNERS. DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS ARE AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS SHAPES AND CONFIGURATIONS AND MAY BE DESCRIBED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS INCLUDING FLUSH MOUNT, TOP MOUNT, OR UNDERMOUNT (TO INDICATE THE ATTACHMENT RELATIVE TO THE COUNTERTOP). STAINLESS STEEL SINKS WITH MULTIPLE DRAWN BOWLS THAT ARE JOINED THROUGH A WELDING OPERATION TO FORM ONE UNIT ARE COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS. DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS ARE COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE SOLD IN CONJUNCTION WITH NON-SUBJECT ACCESSORIES SUCH AS FAUCETS (WHETHER ATTACHED OR UNATTACHED), STRAINERS, STRAINER SETS, RINSING BASKETS, BOTTOM GRIDS, OR OTHER ACCESSORIES.

EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE STAINLESS STEEL SINKS WITH FABRICATED BOWLS. FABRICATED BOWLS DO NOT HAVE SEAMLESS CORNERS, BUT RATHER ARE MADE BY NOTCHING AND BENDING THE STAINLESS STEEL, AND THEN WELDING AND FINISHING THE VERTICAL CORNERS TO FORM THE BOWLS. STAINLESS STEEL SINKS WITH FABRICATED BOWLS MAY SOMETIMES BE REFERRED TO AS “ZERO RADIUS” OR “NEAR ZERO RADIUS” SINKS.

THE PRODUCTS COVERED BY THESE INVESTIGATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLASSIFIED IN THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES (“HTSUS”) UNDER STATISTICAL REPORTING NUMBER 7324.10.0000. ALTHOUGH THE HTSUS SUBHEADING IS PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE AND CUSTOMS PURPOSES, THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE PRODUCTS UNDER INVESTIGATION IS DISPOSITIVE OF ITS INCLUSION AS SUBJECT MERCHANDISE.

(FN) MOUNTING CLIPS, FASTENERS, SEALS, AND SOUND-DEADENING PADS ARE NOT COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS IF THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED WITHIN THE SALES PRICE OF THE DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY ARE SHIPPED WITH OR ENTERED WITH DRAWN STAINLESS STEEL SINKS.

3. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN ASSIGNED INVESTIGATION NUMBER A-570-983.

4. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER BY CBP OFFICERS, THE IMPORTING PUBLIC OR INTERESTED PARTIES, PLEASE CONTACT DAVINA HASHMI OR RON TRENTHAM AT THE OFFICE OF AD/CVD OPERATIONS, IMPORT ADMINISTRATION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AT (202) 482-0984 OR (202) 482-3577, RESPECTIVELY (GENERATED BY O8:EW).

5. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.

MICHAEL B. WALSH