Cargo Systems Messaging Service
CSMS # 54833084 - Initiation of AD and CVD Investigations: Gas Powered Pressure Washers from China and Vietnam
CSMS # ##-###### Cargo System Messaging Service Announcement of Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations:
Gas Powered Pressure Washers from the People’s Republic of China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
On January 19, 2023, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated its less-than-fair-value and countervailing duty investigations on “Gas Powered Pressure Washers from the People’s Republic of China (China) and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam)” (Initiation Notices). These investigations have been assigned the following case numbers: A-570-148 and C- 570-149 (China), and A-552-008 (Vietnam).
The Scope of Merchandise covered by these investigations reads as follows:
The merchandise covered by these investigations is cold water gas powered pressure washers (also commonly known as power washers), which are machines that clean surfaces using water pressure that are powered by an internal combustion engine, air-cooled with a power take-off shaft, in combination with a positive displacement pump. This combination of components (i.e., the internal combustion engine, the power take-off shaft, and the positive displacement pump) is defined as the “power unit.” The scope of these investigations covers cold water gas powered pressure washers, whether finished or unfinished, whether assembled or unassembled, and whether or not containing any additional parts or accessories to assist in the function of the “power unit,” including, but not limited to, spray guns, hoses, lances, and nozzles. The scope of these investigations covers cold water gas powered pressure washers, whether or not assembled or packaged with a frame, cart, or trolley, with or without wheels attached.
For purposes of these investigations, an unfinished and/or unassembled cold water gas powered pressure washer consists of, at a minimum, the power unit or components of the power unit, packaged or imported together. Importation of the power unit whether or not accompanied by, or attached to, additional components including, but not limited to a frame, spray guns, hoses, lances, and nozzles constitutes an unfinished cold water gas powered pressure washer for purposes of this scope. The inclusion in a third country of any components other than the power unit does not remove the cold water gas powered pressure washer from the scope. A cold water gas powered pressure washer is within the scope of these investigations regardless of the origin of its engine. Subject merchandise also includes finished and unfinished cold water gas powered pressure washers that are further processed in a third country or in the United States, including, but not limited to, assembly or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of these investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope cold water gas powered pressure washers.
The scope excludes hot water gas powered pressure washers, which are pressure washers that include a heating element used to heat the water sprayed from the machine.
Also specifically excluded from the scope of these investigations is merchandise covered by the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain vertical shaft engines between 99cc and Up to 225cc, and parts thereof from the People’s Republic of China. See Certain Vertical Shaft Engines Between 99 cc and Up to 225cc, and Parts Thereof from the People’s Republic of China: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 86 FR 023675 (May 4, 2021).
The cold water gas powered pressure washers subject to these investigations are classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheadings 8424.30.9000 and 8424.90.9040. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Requirements For Submitting Comments On The Scope Of The Investigations: Please be sure to comply with all three requirements established below.
Deadline for Submitting Comments:
As announced in the Initiation Notices, Commerce is setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (scope). The period for scope comments is intended to provide Commerce with ample opportunity to consider all comments and to consult with parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determinations, as appropriate. If scope comments include factual information (see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)), all such factual information should be limited to public information. Commerce requests that all such comments be filed by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on February 8, 2023, which is 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on February 21, 2023, which is 10 calendar days after the initial comments’ deadline. Commerce requests that any factual information that the parties consider relevant to the scope of the investigations be submitted during this time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the investigations may be relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to submit the additional information. All such comments must be filed on the records of each of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations identified above.
Required Entry of Appearance:
Parties wishing to participate in this segment and be included on the public service list must file a letter of appearance. Section 351.103(d)(1) of Commerce’s regulations states that “with the exception of a petitioner filing a petition in an investigation, to be included on the public service list for a particular segment, each interested party must file a letter of appearance.” The letter of appearance must be filed separately from any other document (with the exception of an application for APO access). Note, the letter of appearance must state how the party qualifies as an interested party (e.g., an exporter, producer, importer of the subject merchandise) and must include a point of contact, including address, telephone/fax number and email address. If you have an E-Filer account for Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), you may also enter your appearance by logging into ACCESS at https://access.trade.gov and clicking on “Manage Entry of Appearance” and then “Create New Entry of Appearance.”
All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time, typically 5 p.m., and date when it is due. Note that Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for serving documents containing business proprietary information until further notice.[1]
For your convenience, Commerce has the following resources available online to assist you in complying with these electronic filing procedures:
ACCESS: Help Link
https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx
ACCESS: External User Guide https://access.trade.gov/help/ACCESS_User_Guide.pdf
ACCESS: Handbook on Electronic Filing Procedures
https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook_on_Electronic_Filing_Procedures.pdf
Federal Register notice: Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011)
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-07-06/pdf/2011-16352.pdf
Enforcement and Compliance: Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 (November 20, 2014)
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-11-20/pdf/2014-27530.pdf
Enforcement and Compliance: General Filing Requirements https://enforcement.trade.gov/filing/index.html
Required Certifications
Please note that certification requirements are in effect for company / government officials as well as their representatives. In all segments of antidumping duty or countervailing duty proceedings, parties submitting factual information must adhere to 19 CFR 351.303(g) regarding the requirement to certify submissions of factual information.
Understanding Critical Circumstances for Antidumping and Countervailing Duties
Critical circumstances is a provision in both the antidumping and countervailing
Duty (AD/CVD) laws that allows for the limited retroactive imposition of duties if certain conditions are met. Importers should be aware that entries of subject merchandise made after the initiation of an AD/CVD investigation may retroactively be subject to AD/CVD.
A finding of critical circumstances is an important tool for Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to offset possible import surges during the early period of an AD/CVD investigation. The petitioner in an AD/CVD investigation may allege critical circumstances during an investigation up to 21 days before the date of Commerce’s final determination. If Commerce makes a determination that critical circumstances exist, it has the statutory authority to order the retroactive suspension of liquidation and posting of a cash deposit for entries made before the issuance of a Preliminary and/or Final AD/CVD determination.
Commerce’s authority to suspend entries retroactively for AD/CVD is limited to those entries made on or after the later of: (1) 90 days before the effective date the suspension of liquidation was first ordered, or, (2) the date on which the determination to initiate the investigation is published in the Federal Register. In either case, AD/CVD cash deposits are due on entries subject to critical circumstances determinations.
If, following a preliminary determination by Commerce that critical circumstances exist, both Commerce and the ITC reach a final affirmative determination of dumping or subsidization, but either agency makes a negative final determination of critical circumstances, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to lift suspension from the entries made during the 90-day critical circumstances period and refund cash deposits made with respect to those entries. Interest is not payable on refunds of cash deposits at this stage in the AD/CVD case.
For Further Information Contact:
AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230:
Dusten Hom at (202) 482-5075 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from China);
Laurel LaCivita at (202) 482-4243 (Antidumping Duty Investigation from Vietnam);
Brontee George at (202) 482-4656 (Countervailing Duty Investigation from China).
Determinations related to these proceedings, issued by Commerce and the ITC, will be published in the Federal Register. Parties may also view Commerce’s public AD/CVD instructions to CBP in ACE and “ADD CVD Search” at https://aceservices.cbp.dhs.gov/adcvdweb.
For questions about CBP’s AD/CVD enforcement, see https://www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/adcvd
[1] See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 10, 2020).
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