90 FR 104 pgs. 23359-23361 - Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains From China; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
Type: NOTICEVolume: 90Number: 104Pages: 23359 - 23361
Pages: 23359, 23360, 23361Docket number: [Investigation Nos. 701-TA-750 and 731-TA-1728 (Final)]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2025-09863 Filed 5-30-25; 8:45 am]
Agency: International Trade Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-750 and 731-TA-1728 (Final)]
Sol Gel Alumina-Based Ceramic Abrasive Grains From China; Scheduling of the Final Phase of Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
AGENCY:
United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION:
Notice.
SUMMARY:
The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-750 and 731-TA-1728 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 ("the Act") to determine whether an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports of sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains from China, provided for in subheading 2818.10.20 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce ("Commerce") to be subsidized.
DATES:
May 22, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
[top] Keysha Martinez (202-205-2136), Office
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scope. -For purposes of these investigations, Commerce has defined the subject merchandise as "sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains which are comprised of minimum 94% aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and may contain other compounds, including, but not limited to, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, sodium superoxide, ferric oxide, magnesium oxide, di-aluminum magnesium tetroxide, lanthanum oxide, lanthanum magnesium oxide, zirconium dioxide, or zirconium carbonate. Grain sizes of sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains range from 0.85 mm to 0.0395 mm (which corresponds to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) grit sizes from 20 to 280).
Shapes include but are not limited to angular, sharp, extra sharp, blocky, splintery, round stripped, triangular or shaped like extruded rods or stars.
Ceramic abrasive grains have unique crystalline structures that impart certain advanced properties, such as their extreme hardness and strength ranging between 16 and 22 gigapascals by the Vickers Diamond Indent Method, high melting point (2050°C), and a single- or multi-phase microstructure, which may contain multiple phases, having crystalline sizes ranging from 0.05 to 30 µm. These ceramic abrasive grains include but are not limited to blue, white, white-translucent, or off-white opaque colors.
Sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains are covered by the scope of these investigations, whether or not incorporated into downstream articles, including but not limited to, abrasive papers, grinding wheels, grinding cylinders, and grinding discs. When incorporated into downstream articles, only the sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains component of such articles is covered by the product scope, and not the downstream product as a whole."
Background. -The final phase of these investigations is being scheduled pursuant to sections 705(b) and 731(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671d(b) and 1673d(b)), as a result of an affirmative preliminary determination by Commerce that certain benefits which constitute subsidies within the meaning of section 703 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b) are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in China of sol gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains. The investigations were requested in petitions filed on November 25, 2024, by Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc., Malvern, Pennsylvania.
For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the investigations, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and C (19 CFR part 207).
Participation in the investigations and public service list. -Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of these investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as provided in §?201.11 of the Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance during the preliminary phase of the investigations need not file an additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the investigations.
Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov ). No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice.
Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list. -Pursuant to §?207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary will make BPI gathered in the final phase of these investigations available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the investigations, provided that the application is made no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 1677(9), who are parties to the investigations. A party granted access to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not reapply for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
Staff report. -The prehearing staff report in the final phase of these investigations will be placed in the nonpublic record on July 24, 2025, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to §?207.22 of the Commission's rules.
Hearing. -The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the final phase of these investigations beginning at 9:30 a.m. on August 7, 2025. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary to the Commission on or before August 1, 2025. Any requests to appear as a witness via videoconference must be included with your request to appear. Requests to appear via videoconference must include a statement explaining why the witness cannot appear in person; the Chairman, or other person designated to conduct the investigation, may in their discretion for good cause shown, grant such a request. Requests to appear as remote witness due to illness or a positive COVID-19 test result may be submitted by 3pm the business day prior to the hearing. Further information about participation in the hearing will be posted on the Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html.
A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to present a short statement at the hearing. All parties and nonparties desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral presentations should attend a prehearing conference, if deemed necessary, to be held at 9:30 a.m. on August 4, 2025. Parties shall file and serve written testimony and presentation slides in connection with their presentation at the hearing by no later than noon on August 6, 2025. Oral testimony and written materials to be submitted at the public hearing are governed by sections 201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony in camera no later than 7 business days prior to the date of the hearing.
[top] Written submissions. -Each party who is an interested party shall submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must conform with the provisions of §?207.23 of the
Additional written submissions to the Commission, including requests pursuant to §?201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall not be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such submissions, or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request by a Commissioner or Commission staff.
In accordance with §§?201.16(c) and 207.3 of the Commission's rules, each document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on all other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.
Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published pursuant to §?207.21 of the Commission's rules.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: May 27, 2025.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2025-09863 Filed 5-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P