Federal Register International Trade Alert for 10 July 2020

by | Jul 10, 2020 | FR Alerts

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: With certain exceptions, Regulation Z requires creditors to make a reasonable, good faith determination of a consumer’s ability to repay any residential mortgage loan, and loans that meet Regulation Z’s requirements for “qualified mortgages” (QMs) obtain certain protections from liability. One category of QMs consists of loans that are eligible for purchase or guarantee by either the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (collectively, government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs), while operating under the conservatorship or receivership of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The GSEs are currently under Federal conservatorship. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) established this category of QMs (Temporary GSE QM loans) as a temporary measure that is set to expire no later than January 10, 2021 (the sunset date) or when the GSEs exit conservatorship. Another category of QMs is the General QM loan category. In a separate proposal released simultaneously with this proposal, the Bureau proposes amendments to the General QM loan definition. In this notice of proposed rulemaking, the Bureau proposes to amend Regulation Z to replace the sunset date of the Temporary GSE QM loan definition with a provision that extends the Temporary GSE QM
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: With certain exceptions, Regulation Z requires creditors to make a reasonable, good faith determination of a consumer’s ability to repay any residential mortgage loan, and loans that meet Regulation Z’s requirements for “qualified mortgages” (QMs) obtain certain protections from liability. One category of QMs is the General QM loan category. For General QM loans, the ratio of the consumer’s total monthly debt to total monthly income (DTI ratio) must not exceed 43 percent. In this notice of proposed rulemaking, the Bureau proposes certain amendments to the General QM loan definition in Regulation Z. Among other things, the Bureau proposes to remove the General QM loan definition’s 43 percent DTI limit and replace it with a price-based threshold. Another category of QMs is loans that are eligible for purchase or guarantee by either the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs), while operating under the conservatorship or receivership of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). The GSEs are currently under Federal conservatorship. The Bureau established this category of QMs (Temporary GSE QM loans) as a temporary measure that is set to expire no later than January 10, 2021 or when the GSEs exit conservatorship. In a
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) has received requests to conduct administrative reviews of various antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders and findings with May anniversary dates. In accordance with Commerce’s regulations, we are initiating those administrative reviews. DATES: Applicable July 10, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda E. Brown, AD/CVD Operations, Customs Liaison Unit, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, telephone: (202) 482-4735. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Commerce has received timely requests, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(b), for administrative reviews of various AD and CVD orders and findings with May anniversary dates. All deadlines for the submission of various types of information, certifications, or comments or actions by Commerce discussed below refer to the number of calendar days from the applicable starting time. Notice of No Sales
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that exporters of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) did not sell subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value during the period of review (POR) September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018. DATES: Applicable July 10, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Baker, AD/CVD Operations, Office VI, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2924. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Commerce is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on OCTG from Vietnam in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce initiated this review on November 15, 2018.\1\ On November 15, 2019, Commerce published the Preliminary Results of this administrative review.\2\ At that time, we invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results. On December 16, 2019, we received case briefs from U.S. Steel (the petitioner), Maverick Tube Corporation and Tenaris Bay City, Inc.
[20-14919][Full Article]ย [PDF]

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: On June 22, 2020, the United States Court of International Trade (CIT) sustained the final results of redetermination pertaining to the fifth administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain steel threaded rod (steel threaded rod) from the People’s Republic of China (China) covering the period of review (POR) April 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is notifying the public that the CIT’s final judgment in this case is not in harmony with the final results of the administrative review, and that Commerce is amending the final results with respect to the dumping margin calculated for Jiaxing Brother Fastener Co., Ltd. (a/k/a Jiaxing Brother Standard Parts, Co., Ltd.), IFI & Morgan Ltd., and RMB Fasteners Ltd. (collectively, RMB/IFI Group). DATES: Applicable July 2, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benito Ballesteros, AD/CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-7425. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On November 12, 2015, Commerce published its Final Results in the
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that producers and/or exporters subject to this administrative review made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review (POR), September 1, 2017 through August 31, 2018. DATES: Applicable July 10, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alice Maldonado or Whitley Herndon, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4682 or (202) 482-6274, respectively. [[Page 41539]] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background This review covers 21 producers and exporters of the subject merchandise. Commerce selected Dong-A Steel Company (DOSCO), HiSteel Co., Ltd (HiSteel), and Kukje Steel Co., Ltd. (Kukje Steel), for individual examination. DOSCO informed Commerce that it did not intend to respond to the questionnaire or participate as a mandatory
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) continues to find that two of the three companies under review had no shipments of subject merchandise during the period of review (POR), May 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019, and continues to base the dumping margin for the third company on total adverse facts available (AFA). DATES: Applicable July 10, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Smith, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5193. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Commerce published its Preliminary Results of this review on March 23, 2020.\1\ No parties commented on the Preliminary Results. ————————————————————————— \1\ See Ferrovanadium From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Preliminary Determination of No Shipments in Part; 2018-2019, 85 FR 16326 (March 23, 2020) (“Preliminary Results”), and accompanying Preliminary
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is initiating and issuing expedited preliminary results of changed circumstances reviews (CCR) of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders on large diameter welded pipe from the Republic of Korea (Korea). DATES: Applicable July 10, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Johnson or Sergio Balbontin, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4929 or (202) 482-6478, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On May 2, 2019, Commerce published the AD and CVD orders on large diameter welded pipe from Korea.\1\ On June 11, 2020,\2\ SeAH Steel Corporation (SeAH), a Korean producer of large diameter welded pipe, requested that Commerce initiate CCRs to revoke, in part, the AD and CVD orders on large diameter welded pipe from Korea with respect to certain large diameter welded pipe products within four specific groups of grades, outside diameters, and wall thicknesses.\3\ In its June 11 CCR
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: On May 7, 2020, the White House issued an Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth. As part of this effort, the Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) are co-chairing the Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force (Seafood Trade Task Force), which will develop recommendations to provide to USTR for the development of [[Page 41567]] a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy. On behalf of the Seafood Trade Task Force co-chairs, NOAA requests written input from interested parties on how best to achieve the objectives of the Seafood Trade Task Force as described in the Executive Order, including improving access to foreign markets for U.S. seafood exports through trade policy and negotiations; resolving technical barriers to U.S. seafood exports; and otherwise supporting fair market access for U.S. seafood products. In addition, interested parties are requested to respond to the questions listed below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section as appropriate. The public input provided in response to this request for information (RFI) will inform the Seafood Trade Task Force as it works with Federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop recommendations to USTR in the preparation of a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy. DATES: Intereste
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: As a result of this expedited sunset review, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty order on commodity matchbooks from India would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies as indicated in the “Final Results of Sunset Review” section of this notice. DATES: Applicable July 10, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Arrowsmith, AD/CVD Operations, Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of [[Page 41559]] Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5255. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On March 2, 2020, Commerce initiated the second sunset review of the countervailing duty Order \1\ covering commodity matchbooks from India, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).\2\ Commerce received a notice of intent to participate in
[20-14035][Full Article]ย [PDF]

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: In March, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) implemented temporary modifications to its service regulations to enable non-U.S. Government personnel responsible for serving documents in the Enforcement & Compliance’s (E&C) antidumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) cases to work remotely. Through this extension, Commerce extends the duration of these temporary modifications until further notice. DATES: The temporary final rule published on March 26, 2020 (85 FR 17006), which was extended on May 18, 2020 (85 FR 29615), is further extended indefinitely. At this time, Commerce is not establishing a termination date. Instead, the temporary modifications will remain in place until further notice, and Commerce will publish a document announcing the termination date in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evangeline D. Keenan, Director, APO/ Dockets Unit, at (202) 482-3354. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On March 26, 2020, E&C published a temporary final rule in the Federal Register, temporarily modifying certain requirements for serving documents
[20-14404][Full Article]ย [PDF]

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that S.C. Silcotub S.A. (Silcotub), a producer/exporter of certain small diameter carbon and alloy seamless standard, line and pressure pipe (small diameter seamless pipe) from Romania, did not sell subject merchandise at prices below normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR) August 1, 2018 through July 31, 2019. In addition, Commerce determines that ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Roman S.A. (ArcelorMittal) had no shipments of subject merchandise during the POR. DATES: Applicable July 10, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Johnson or Samantha Kinney, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4929 or (202) 482-2285, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On May 8, 2020, Commerce published in the Federal Register the Preliminary Results of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on small diameter seamless pipe from Romania.\1\
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FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The FDIC proposes to amend its application requirements for the establishment and relocation of branches and offices so that such applications would no longer require statements regarding the compliance of such proposals with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). In connection with an ongoing and comprehensive review of the FDIC’s existing regulations and guidance to identify rules or guidance that may be outdated, duplicative, or inconsistent, and after a careful analysis of applicable law, staff has concluded that continued consideration of the NHPA and the NEPA in the review of applications for the establishment of a branch and applications for the relocation of a branch or main office is not required under law and, therefore, consideration of these statutes during the processing of these applications is an unnecessary regulatory requirement for insured state nonmember banks and insured branches of foreign banks. Accordingly, the FDIC proposes to amend its regulations to remove NHPA and NEPA requirements embedded in its branch application procedures, and to rescind its statements of policy regarding the NHPA and the NEPA, consistent with branch application procedures for national banks and insured state member banks supervised by the Office of the Comptro
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The United States International Trade Commission (Commission) is adopting interim rules that will amend the Commission’s rules of practice and procedure to implement the provisions of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act (the Act) regarding investigations of United States-Mexico cross-border long-haul trucking services (cross-border long-haul trucking services). DATES: Effective July 10, 2020 and applicable July 1, 2020. Deadline for Filing Written Comments: August 10, 2020. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number MISC- 045, Rulemaking regarding USMCA Implementation, by any of the following methods: –Federal eRulemaking Portal:ย https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. –Agency Website:ย https://edis.usitc.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the website. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number (MISC-045, Rulemaking regarding USMCA Implementation), along with a cover letter stating the nature of the commenter’s interest in the proposed rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change toย https://edis.usitc.govย and including any personal information provided. For access to the docket and to read background documents or comments received, go to htt
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Agency Notice

SUMMARY: The U.S. International Trade Commission (“Commission”) hereby gives notice of the procedures it intends to follow to comply with the court-ordered remand of its final determinations in the antidumping duty investigations of polyethylene terephthalate resin (“PET resin”) from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan. For further information concerning the conduct of these remand proceedings and rules of general application, consult the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. DATES: July 6, 2020. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Messer ((202) 205-3193), Office of Investigations, or Brian Allen ((202) 205-3034), Office of General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on 202-205- 1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server (Error! [[Page 41625]] Hyperlink reference not valid.https://www.usitc.gov). The public record
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Agency Notice

SUMMARY: On August 20, 2019, at the direction of the President, the U.S. Trade Representative determined to modify the action being taken in the Section 301 investigation of China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation by imposing additional duties of 10 percent ad valorem on goods of China with an annual trade value of approximately $300 billion. The additional duties on products in List 1, which is set out in Annex A of that action, became effective on September 1, 2019. On August 30, 2019, at the direction of the President, the U.S. Trade Representative determined to increase the rate of the additional duty applicable to the tariff subheadings covered by the action announced in the August 20 notice from 10 to 15 percent. On January 22, 2020, the U.S. Trade Representative determined to reduce the rate from 15 to 7.5 percent. The U.S. Trade Representative initiated a product exclusion process in October 2019, and interested persons have submitted requests for the exclusion of specific products. This notice announces the U.S. Trade Representative’s determination to grant certain exclusion requests, as specified in the Annex to this notice, and make certain amendments to previously announced exclusions. The U.S. Trade Representative will continue to issue decisions on pending re
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