1. On 09/25/2019, Commerce published in the Federal Register its affirmative preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value in the antidumping duty investigation of carbon and alloy steel threaded rod (CASTR) from Taiwan (84 FR 50382).

2. The merchandise covered by the scope of the investigation is carbon and alloy steel threaded rod. Steel threaded rod is certain threaded rod, bar, or studs, of carbon or alloy steel, having a solid, circular cross section of any diameter, in any straight length. Steel threaded rod is normally drawn, cold-rolled, threaded, and straightened, or it may be hot-rolled. In addition, the steel threaded rod, bar, or studs subject to the investigation are non-headed and threaded along greater than 25 percent of their total actual length. A variety of finishes or coatings, such as plain oil finish as a temporary rust protectant, zinc coating (i.e., galvanized, whether by electroplating or hot-dipping), paint, and other similar finishes and coatings, may be applied to the merchandise.

Steel threaded rod is normally produced to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) specifications ASTM A36, ASTM A193 B7/B7m, ASTM A193 B16, ASTM A307, ASTM A329 L7/L7M, ASTM A320 L43, ASTM A354 BC and BD, ASTM A449, ASTM F1554-36, ASTM F1554-55, ASTM F1554 Grade 105, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) specification ASME B18.31.3, and American Petroleum Institute (API) specification API 20E. All steel threaded rod meeting the physical description set forth above is covered by the scope of the investigation, whether or not produced according to a particular standard.

Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished, assembled, or packaged in a third country, including by cutting, chamfering, coating, or painting the threaded rod, by attaching the threaded rod to, or packaging it with, another product, or any other finishing, assembly, or packaging operation that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the threaded rod.

Carbon and alloy steel threaded rod are also included in the scope of the investigation whether or not imported attached to, or in conjunction with, other parts and accessories such as nuts and washers. If carbon and alloy steel threaded rod are imported attached to, or in conjunction with, such non-subject merchandise, only the threaded rod is included in the scope.

Excluded from the scope of the investigation are: (1) threaded rod, bar, or studs which are threaded only on one or both ends and the threading covers 25 percent or less of the total actual length; and (2) stainless steel threaded rod, defined as steel threaded rod containing, by weight, 1.2 percent or less of carbon and 10.5 percent or more of chromium, with our without other elements.

Excluded from the scope of the antidumping investigation on steel threaded rod from the People's Republic of China is any merchandise covered by the existing antidumping order on Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China. See Certain Steel Threaded Rod from the People's Republic of China: Notice of Antidumping Duty Order, 74 FR 17154 (April 14, 2009).

Specifically excluded from the scope of the investigation is threaded rod that is imported as part of a package of hardware in conjunction with a ready-to-assemble piece of furniture.

Steel threaded rod is currently classifiable under subheadings 7318.15.5051, 7318.15.5056, and 7318.15.5090 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Subject merchandise may also enter under subheading 7318.15.2095 and 7318.19.0000 of the HTSUS. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs purposes only. The written description of the scope is dispositive.

3. This proceeding has been assigned case number A-583-865

4. For imports of CASTR from Taiwan, CBP shall suspend liquidation of such shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 09/25/2019. Effective 09/25/2019, CBP shall require, for such entries, a cash deposit equal to the margins for the producers and/or exporters listed below:

All Others
Case Number: A-583-865-000
Cash Deposit Rate: 32.26%

Producer and/or Exporter: Quintain Steel Co. Ltd.
Case number: A-583-865-001
Cash deposit rate: 32.26%

Producer and/or Exporter: Top Forever Screws Co. Ltd.
Case number: A-583-865-002
Cash deposit rate: 32.26%

Producer and/or Exporter: Fastenal Asia Pacific Ltd. TW Repres
Case number: A-583-865-003
Cash deposit rate: 32.26%

Producer and/or Exporter: QST International Corporation
Case number: A-583-865-004
Cash deposit rate: 32.26%

Producer and/or Exporter: Ta Chen Steel Pipe Ltd.
Case number: A-583-865-005
Cash deposit rate: 32.26%

5. If any entries of this merchandise are exported by a firm other than the producer, then the following instructions apply:

A. If the exporter of the subject merchandise does not have its own rate but the producer has its own rate, the cash deposit or bonding rate will be the producer's rate.

B. Where neither the exporter nor the producer has its own rate or the producer is unknown, use the all-others rate of 32.26 percent to establish the cash deposit.

6. If there are any questions by the importing 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 O1:TP.)

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

Alexander Amdur