Preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value and critical circumstances in AD investigation of rubber bands from the People s Republic of China (A-570-069)

1. On 09/06/2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register (83 FR 45213) its affirmative preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value and critical circumstances in the antidumping investigation of rubber bands from the People's Republic of China (China). 2. The products subject to this investigation are bands made of vulcanized rubber, with a flat length, as actually measured end-to-end by the band lying flat, no less than ½ inch and no greater than 10 inches; with a width, which measures the dimension perpendicular to the length, actually of at least 3/64 inch and no greater than 2 inches; and a wall thickness actually from 0.020 inch to 0.125 inch. Vulcanized rubber has been chemically processed into a more durable material by the addition of sulfur or other equivalent curatives or accelerators. Subject products are included regardless of color or inclusion of printed material on the rubber band's surface, including but not limited to, rubber bands with printing on them, such as a product name, advertising, or slogan, and printed material (e.g., a tag) fastened to the rubber band by an adhesive or another temporary type of connection. The scope includes vulcanized rubber bands which are contained or otherwise exist in various forms and packages, such as, without limitation, vulcanized rubber bands included within a desk accessory set or other type of set or package, and vulcanized rubber band balls. The scope excludes products that consist of an elastomer loop and durable tag all-in-one, and bands that are being used at the time of import to fasten an imported product. Excluded from the scope of this investigation are vulcanized rubber bands of various sizes with arrow shaped rubber protrusions from the outer diameter that exceeds at the anchor point a wall thickness of 0.125 inches and where the protrusion is used to loop around, secure and lock in place. Excluded from the scope of this investigation are yarn/fabric-covered vulcanized rubber hair bands, regardless of size. Merchandise covered by this investigation is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 4016.99.3510. Merchandise covered by the scope may also enter under HTSUS subheading 4016.99.6050. While the 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 A-570-069. 4. Because Commerce determined that critical circumstances exist for imports of rubber bands from China from the China-wide entity, CBP shall suspend liquidation of all appropriate entries of rubber bands from China that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 06/08/2018 which is 90 days before the date of publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register. Effective 06/08/2018, for entries of rubber bands from China from the China-wide entity, CBP shall require a cash deposit equal to the following dumping margins: Exporter: China-Wide Entity Case number: A-570-069-000 Cash deposit rate: 26.65% 5. For all other entries of rubber bands from China, the following cash deposit instructions apply: A. For all China exporters of rubber bands from China which have not received their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the China-wide rate. B. For all non-China exporters of rubber bands from China which have not received their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate applicable to the exporter/producer combinations that supplied that non-China exporter. 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 O3:PS.) 7. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur