Australia Silicomanganese: New AD Duty Investigation Deadlines & Scope
The Commerce Department issued a Federal Register notice on its recently initiated antidumping duty investigation on silicomanganese from Australia (A-602-808) (here). The agency will determine whether imports of silicomanganese from Australia are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. The period of investigation is Jan. 1, 2014, through Dec. 31, 2014.
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Respondent Selection
According to Commerce, the original request for antidumping duties said that there is only one Australian exporter of subject merchandise, Tasmanian Electro Metallurgical Company. Commerce intends to investigate only that exporter, but will accept comments on the issue until March 23.
Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations
"The scope of this investigation covers all forms, sizes and compositions of silicomanganese, except low-carbon silicomanganese, including silicomanganese briquettes, fines, and slag. Silicomanganese is a ferroalloy composed principally of manganese, silicon, and iron, and normally contains much smaller proportions of minor elements, such as carbon, phosphorus, and sulfur. Silicomanganese is sometimes referred to as ferrosilicon manganese.
"Silicomanganese generally contains by weight not less than 4 percent iron, more than 30 percent manganese, more than 8 percent silicon and not more than 0.2 percent phosphorus. Silicomanganese is properly classifiable under subheading 7202.30.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States ('HTSUS').
"Low-carbon silicomanganese is excluded from the scope of this investigation. It is sometimes referred to as ferromanganese-silicon. The low-carbon silicomanganese excluded from this investigation is a ferroalloy with the following chemical specifications by weight: minimum 55 percent manganese, minimum 27 percent silicon, minimum 4 percent iron, maximum 0.10 percent phosphorus, maximum 0.10 percent carbon, and maximum 0.05 percent sulfur. Low carbon silicomanganese is classifiable under HTSUS subheading 7202.30.0000.
"The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The written description of the scope is dispositive."
Comments on Scope Due by March 31
Comments on the scope of the investigation are due by March 31.
Investigations Timetable
| Event | AD Duty |
|---|---|
| Petitions filed | 02/19/15 |
| DOC initiation date | 03/11/15 |
| ITC prelim determinations* | 04/06/15 |
| DOC prelim determinations† | 07/29/15 |
| DOC final determinations† | 10/13/15 |
| ITC final determinations‡ | 11/27/15 |
| Issuance of orders+ | 12/03/15 |
*If the ITC makes a negative determination of injury, the investigations are terminated.
†These deadlines may be extended under the governing statute.
‡This will take place only in the event of Commerce Department final affirmative determinations.
+This will take place only in the event of Commerce and ITC final affirmative determinations.
(See 1502230022 for summary of the Commerce Department's receipt of the petition underlying the initiation of this investigation.)
The AD duty initiation notice is (here).
The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here).