Notice2025-24032

Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs From India: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
December 31, 2025

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of overhead door counterbalance torsion springs (overhead door springs) from India. The period of investigation is January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 247 (Wednesday, December 31, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 31, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61369-61372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-24032]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-937]


Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs From India: Final 
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Affirmative 
Critical Circumstances Determination

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that 
countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters 
of overhead door counterbalance torsion springs (overhead door springs) 
from India. The period of investigation is January 1, 2023, through 
December 31, 2023.

DATES: Applicable December 31, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zachary Shaykin, 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) 482-2638.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 3, 2025, Commerce published its Preliminary Determination 
in the Federal Register.\1\ In the Preliminary Determination, and in 
accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(the Act), and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce aligned the final 
determination of this countervailing duty (CVD) investigation with the 
final determination in the companion antidumping duty investigation of 
overhead door springs from India.\2\ Due to the lapse in appropriations 
and Federal Government shutdown, on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled 
all deadlines in administrative proceedings by 47 days.\3\ 
Additionally, due to a backlog of documents that were electronically 
filed via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS) during the Federal 
Government shutdown, on November 24, 2025, Commerce tolled all 
deadlines in administrative proceedings by an additional 21 days.\4\ 
Accordingly, the deadline for this final determination is now December 
22, 2025.
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    \1\ See Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs from India: 
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and 
Alignment of Final Determination with Final Antidumping Duty 
Determination, 90 FR 14602 (April 3, 2025) (Preliminary 
Determination), and accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
    \2\ Id., 90 FR at 14603.
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the 
Federal Government,'' dated November 14, 2025.
    \4\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of all Case Deadlines,'' dated 
November 24, 2025.
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    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
Preliminary Determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.\5\ 
The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file 
electronically via ACCESS. ACCESS is available to registered users at 
<a href="https://access.trade.gov">https://access.trade.gov</a>. In addition, a complete version of the Issues 
and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx">https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx</a>.
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    \5\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 
Final Affirmative Determination of the Countervailing Duty 
Investigation of Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs from 
India,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice 
(Issues and Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are overhead door 
springs from India. For a complete description of the scope of this 
investigation, see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    We received no comments from interested parties on the scope of the 
investigation as it appeared in the Preliminary Determination. 
Therefore, we made no changes to the scope of the investigation from 
that published in the Preliminary Determination for the final 
determination.

[[Page 61370]]

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i) of the Act, we intended to conduct 
verification of the sales and benefit information submitted by Alcomex 
Springs Pvt Ltd. (Alcomex) for use in our final determination. However, 
because Alcomex withdrew its participation from this investigation 
prior to Commerce's verification, Commerce did not conduct 
verification.\6\ Thus, as stated above, we drew an adverse inference in 
selecting from the facts otherwise available to determine a 
countervailable subsidy rate with respect to Alcomex based entirely 
under section 776 of the Act. For further information, see the ``Use of 
Facts Otherwise Available and Application of Adverse Inferences'' 
section in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
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    \6\ See Alcomex's Letter, ``Alcomex's Withdrawal of 
Participation from Investigation,'' dated May 19, 2025.
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Analysis of Subsidy Programs and Comments Received

    The subsidy programs under investigation, and the issues raised in 
the case and rebuttal briefs that were submitted by interested parties 
in this investigation are addressed in the Issues and Decision 
Memorandum. For the list of the issues raised by parties, and to which 
we responded in the Issues and Decision Memorandum, see Appendix II to 
this notice.

Methodology

    Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section 
701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, 
Commerce determines that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial 
contribution by an ``authority'' that gives rise to a benefit to the 
recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.\7\ For a full description 
of the methodology underlying our final determination, see the Issues 
and Decision Memorandum. In making this final determination, Commerce 
relied on facts otherwise available, including with an adverse 
inference, pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. For a full 
discussion of our application of adverse facts available (AFA), see the 
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comments 1 and 2.
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    \7\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding 
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding 
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
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Use of AFA

    Because Alcomex withdrew from participation in this investigation 
prior to verification, we determine that Alcomex's data cannot serve as 
a reliable basis for reaching a determination in this investigation 
because this data could not be verified. We further determine that 
Alcomex significantly impeded the investigation and did not act to the 
best of its ability to comply with our requests for information. 
Therefore, we also find it appropriate to base Alcomex's 
countervailable subsidy rate on AFA. For further discussion, see the 
Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Changes Since the Preliminary Determination

    We made certain changes to the countervailable subsidy rate for 
Alcomex, certain non-selected respondents in this investigation, and 
all other producers and/or exporters of overhead door springs from 
India since the Preliminary Determination and the Preliminary Critical 
Circumstances Determination.\8\ For a discussion of these changes, see 
the ``Changes Since the Preliminary Determination'' section of the 
Issues and Decision Memorandum.
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    \8\ See Overhead Door Counterbalance Torsion Springs from India: 
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances in 
the Countervailing Duty Investigation, 90 FR 35660 (July 29, 2025) 
(Preliminary Critical Circumstances Determination); see also 
Memorandum, ``Preliminary Critical Circumstances Analysis,'' dated 
July 24, 2025, at Attachment.
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Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

    Commerce preliminarily determined, in accordance with section 
703(e)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206(c)(1), that critical 
circumstances exist with respect to overhead door springs from India 
produced and/or exported by Alcomex, the non-responsive companies,\9\ 
and all other producers and/or exporters not individually examined.\10\ 
For this final determination, pursuant to section 705(a)(2) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 351.206, we continue to find that critical circumstances 
exist for Alcomex, the non-responsive companies, and all other 
producers and/or exporters. With respect to finding that critical 
circumstances exist for the non-responsive companies, we relied on AFA, 
pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. For a full description 
of the methodology, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
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    \9\ The non-responsive companies are: (1) Asha Spring and 
Engineering Company; (2) Balaji Springs Pvt. Ltd.; (3) Modern 
Engineering & Spring Company; and (4) Reliable Springs Ltd. 
(collectively, non-responsive companies).
    \10\ See Preliminary Critical Circumstances Determination.
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All-Others Rate

    Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that Commerce 
shall determine an estimated all-others rate for companies not 
individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the 
weighted average of the estimated rates established for those companies 
individually examined, excluding any zero and de minimis rates and any 
rates based entirely under section 776 of the Act.
    Pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act, if the individual 
estimated countervailable subsidy rates established for all exporters 
and producers individually examined are zero, de minimis, or determined 
based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use any 
reasonable method to establish the estimated subsidy rate for all other 
producers or exporters. In this investigation, Commerce has determined 
that the individually estimated subsidy rate for the individually 
examined respondent(s) under section 776 of the Act. Thus, this is the 
only rate available in this proceeding for deriving the all-others 
rate. Consequently, Commerce established the-all others rate by 
applying the countervailable subsidy rate assigned to the mandatory 
respondent. For a full description of the methodology underlying 
Commerce's analysis, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Final Determination

    Commerce determines that the following estimated countervailable 
subsidy rates exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Subsidy rate
                         Company                            (percent ad
                                                             valorem)
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Alcomex Springs Pvt Ltd.................................        * 172.08
Asha Spring and Engineering Company.....................        * 172.08
Balaji Springs Pvt. Ltd.................................        * 172.08
Modern Engineering & Spring Company.....................        * 172.08
Reliable Springs Ltd....................................        * 172.08
All Others..............................................        * 172.08
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* Rate based on facts available with adverse inferences.

Disclosure

    Because Commerce applied AFA to the sole mandatory respondent, 
respondents not selected for individual examination, and all-other 
producers and/or exporters of subject merchandise in this 
investigation, in accordance with section 776 of the Act, there are no 
calculations to disclose for this final determination pursuant to 19 
CFR 351.224(b).

[[Page 61371]]

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with sections 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) and 
703(e)(2)(A) of the Act, and pursuant to our Preliminary Critical 
Circumstances Determination, Commerce instructed U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits and suspend 
liquidation of all entries of overhead door springs from India, as 
described in Appendix I of this notice, which were entered or withdrawn 
from warehouse for consumption on or after January 3, 2025, 90 days 
prior to the date of publication of the Preliminary Determination of 
this investigation in the Federal Register. In accordance with section 
703(d) of the Act, we instructed CBP to discontinue the suspension of 
liquidation of all entries of subject merchandise entered or withdrawn 
from warehouse, on or after August 1, 2025, but to continue the 
suspension of liquidation of all entries of subject merchandise on or 
before July 31, 2025.
    If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final 
affirmative injury determination, we will issue a CVD order, reinstate 
the suspension of liquidation under section 706(a) of the Act, and 
require a cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties for such 
entries of subject merchandise in the amounts indicated above, in 
accordance with section 706(a) of the Act. If the ITC determines that 
material injury, or threat of material injury, does not exist, this 
proceeding will be terminated, and all estimated duties deposited or 
securities posted as a result of the suspension of liquidation will be 
refunded or canceled.

ITC Notification

    In accordance with section 705(d) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the ITC of its final affirmative determination that countervailable 
subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of overhead 
door springs from India. Because the final determination is 
affirmative, in accordance with section 705(b) of the Act, the ITC will 
make its final determination as to whether the domestic industry in the 
United States is materially injured, or threatened with material 
injury, by reason of imports of molded fiber products from India no 
later than 45 days after this final determination. In addition, we are 
making available to the ITC all non-privileged and nonproprietary 
information related to this investigation. We will allow the ITC access 
to all privileged and business proprietary information in our files, 
provided the ITC confirms that it will not disclose such information, 
either publicly or under an administrative protective order (APO), 
without the written consent of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement 
and Compliance. If the ITC determines that material injury or threat of 
material injury does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated and 
all cash deposits will be refunded.
    If the ITC determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will 
issue a CVD order directing CBP to assess, upon further instruction by 
Commerce, countervailing duties on all imports of the subject 
merchandise that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of 
liquidation, as discussed above in the ``Suspension of Liquidation'' 
section.

Administrative Protective Order

    In the event that the ITC issues a final negative injury 
determination, this notice will serve as the only reminder to parties 
subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the destruction of 
proprietary information disclosed under APO, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/destruction of 
APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby 
requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO 
is a violation which is subject to sanction.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
705(d) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

    Dated: December 22, 2025.
Christopher Abbott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is helically-
wound, overhead door counterbalance torsion steel springs (overhead 
door counterbalance torsion springs) and any cones, plugs or other 
similar fittings for mounting and creating torque in the spring 
(herein collectively referred to as cones) attached to or entered 
with and invoiced with the subject overhead door counterbalance 
torsion springs. Overhead door counterbalance torsion springs are 
helical steel springs with tightly wound coils that store and 
release mechanical energy by winding and unwinding along the 
spring's axis by an angle, using torque to create a lifting force in 
the counterbalance assembly typically used to raise and lower 
overhead doors, including garage doors, industrial rolling doors, 
warehouse doors, trailer doors, and other overhead doors, gates, 
grates, or similar devices. The merchandise covered by this 
investigation covers all overhead door counterbalance torsion 
springs with a coil inside diameter of 15.8 millimeters (mm) or more 
but not exceeding 304.8 mm (measured across the diameter from inner 
edge to inner edge); a wire diameter of 2.5 mm to 20.4 mm; a length 
of 127 mm or more; and regardless of the following characteristics:
    <bullet> wire type (including, but not limited to, oil-tempered 
wire, hard-drawn wire, music wire, galvanized or other coated wire);
    <bullet> wire cross-sectional shape (e.g., round, square, or 
other shapes);
    <bullet> coating (e.g., uncoated, oil- or water-based coatings, 
lubricant coatings, zinc, aluminum, zinc-aluminum, paint or plastic 
coating, etc.);
    <bullet> winding orientation (left-hand or right-hand wind 
direction);
    <bullet> end type (including, but not limited to, looped, double 
looped, clipped, long length, mini warehouse, Barcol, Crawford, 
Kinnear, Wagner, rolling steel or barrel ends); and
    <bullet> whether the overhead door counterbalance torsion 
springs are fitted with hardware, including but not limited to 
fasteners, clips, and cones (winding or stationary cones).
    For purposes of the diameters referenced above, where the 
nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is within the scope 
if application of either the nominal or actual measurement would 
place it within the scope based on the definitions set forth above.
    The steel torsion springs included in the scope of this 
investigation are produced from steel in which: (1) iron 
predominates, by weight, over each of the other contained elements; 
and (2) the carbon content is 2 percent or less, by weight.
    Subject merchandise includes cones attached to or entered with 
and invoiced with the subject overhead door counterbalance torsion 
springs. Such cones, which are typically cast aluminum, aluminum 
alloy or steel (but may be made from other materials) are made to 
mount the subject springs to the overhead door counterbalance system 
and create and maintain torque in the spring. Cones or other similar 
fittings that are not attached to the subject springs or are not 
entered with and invoiced with the subject springs are not included 
within the scope unless entered as parts of kits as described below.
    Subject merchandise also includes all subject overhead door 
counterbalance torsion springs and cones or other similar fittings 
for mounting and tensioning the spring entered as a part of overhead 
door kits, overhead door mounting or assembly kits, or as a part of 
a spring-operated motor assembly or as a part of a spring winder 
assembly kit for torsion springs. When counterbalance torsion 
springs and cones or other similar fittings for attaching and 
tensioning the torsion spring are entered as a part of such kits, 
only the counterbalance spring and cones or other similar fittings 
in the kit are within scope. Subject merchandise also includes 
overhead door counterbalance torsion springs that have been further 
processed in a third country, including but not limited to cutting 
to length,

[[Page 61372]]

attachment of hardware, cones or end-fittings, inclusion in garage 
door kits or garage door mounting or assembly kits, or any other 
processing that would not remove the merchandise from the scope of 
this investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the 
in-scope overhead door counterbalance torsion springs. All products 
that meet the written physical description are within the scope of 
this investigation unless specifically excluded. The following 
products are specifically excluded from the scope of this 
investigation:
    <bullet> leaf springs (slender arc-shaped length of spring steel 
of a rectangular cross-section);
    <bullet> disc springs (conical springs consisting of a convex 
disc with the outer edge working against the center of the disc);
    <bullet> extension springs (close-wound round helical wire 
springs that store and release energy by resisting the external 
pulling forces applied to the spring's ends in the direction of its 
length);
    <bullet> compression springs (helical coiled springs with open 
wound active coils (such open winding is also known as pitch) that 
are designed to compress under load or force); and
    <bullet> spiral springs (torsion springs wound as concentric 
spirals such as a clock spring or mainspring).
    The products subject to this investigation are currently 
classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) subheadings 7320.20.5020, 7320.20.5045 and 7320.20.5060. 
They may also be classified under HTSUS subheading 8412.90.9085 if 
entered as parts of spring-operated motors. They may also be 
classified in HTSUS subheading 8412.80.1000 (spring-operated motors) 
if entered as part of a spring counterweight assembly for an 
overhead door. They may also be classified in HTSUS subheading 
7308.90.9590, a basket category that includes metal garage doors 
entered with mounting accessories or assemblies.
    Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this 
investigation is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Diversification of India's Economy
IV. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
V. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Application of Adverse 
Inferences
VI. Final Determination of Critical Circumstances
VII. Analysis of Programs
VIII. Discussion of the Issues
    Comment 1: Commerce Should Apply Total Adverse Facts Available 
(AFA) to Alcomex
    Comment 2: Whether Commerce Should Apply AFA to the Government 
of India
    Comment 3: Commerce Incorrectly Determined that Certain Programs 
Are Countervailable
    Comment 4: Commerce Should Select Alcomex's Preliminary 
Countervailable Subsidy Rate as the Rate Assigned to All Other 
Producers and/or Exporters in India
IX. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2025-24032 Filed 12-30-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on December 31, 2025.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.