Notice2026-03202
Stainless Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
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
February 18, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that producers and/or exporters of stainless steel flanges (flanges) from India made sales of subject merchandise in the United States at prices below normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR) October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. In addition, we are rescinding this review for two companies. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7433-7436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03202]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-533-877]
Stainless Steel Flanges From India: Preliminary Results and
Rescission, in Part, of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-
2024
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds
that producers and/or exporters of stainless steel flanges (flanges)
from India made sales of subject merchandise in the United States at
prices below normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR)
October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024. In addition, we are
rescinding this review for two companies. We invite interested parties
to comment on these preliminary results.
DATES: Applicable February 18, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Chen and Benito Ballesteros, AD/
CVD Operations, Office IX, Enforcement and Compliance, International
Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2860 or (202) 482-7425,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 9, 2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register an
antidumping duty order on flanges from India.\1\ On November 14, 2024,
and December 18, 2024, based on timely requests for review, Commerce
initiated an administrative review of the Order covering 13 companies,
in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act).\2\ On December 9, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in
this administrative proceeding by 90 days.\3\ On September 29, 2025,
Commerce extended the deadline for the preliminary results of this
administrative review by 16 days.\4\ Due to the lapse in appropriations
and Federal Government shutdown, on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled
all deadlines in administrative proceeding by 47 days,\5\ and, 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.\6\ On December 2, 2025, Commerce
extended the deadline for the preliminary results by 21 days.\7\
Additionally, on December 23, 2025, Commerce extended the deadline for
the preliminary results by 14 days.\8\ Accordingly, the deadline for
the preliminary results is now January 28, 2026.
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\1\ See Stainless Steel Flanges from India: Antidumping Duty
Order, 83 FR 50639 (October 9, 2018) (Order).
\2\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews, 89 FR 89955 (November 14, 2024) (Initiation
Notice); see also Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews, 89 FR 102856 (December 18, 2024).
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings,'' dated December 9, 2024.
\4\ See Memorandum, ``Extension of Deadline for Preliminary
Results of 2023-2024 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,'' dated
September 29, 2025.
\5\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the
Federal Government,'' dated November 14, 2025.
\6\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of all Case Deadlines,'' dated
November 24, 2025.
\7\ See Memorandum, ``Extension of Deadline for Preliminary
Results of 2023-2024 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,'' dated
December 2, 2025.
\8\ See Memorandum, ``Extension of Deadline for Preliminary
Results of 2023-2024 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,'' dated
December 23, 2025.
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For details regarding the events that occurred subsequent to the
initiation of this review, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.\9\
A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is
included as Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary 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 Preliminary
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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\9\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review of Stainless
Steel Flanges from India; 2023-2024,'' dated concurrently with, and
hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Order
The merchandise covered by the Order is stainless steel flanges
from India. For a full description of the scope, see the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum.
Preliminary Successor-in-Interest Determination
Viraj Profiles Private Limited (Viraj) reported that it changed its
name from
[[Page 7434]]
``Viraj Profiles Limited'' (Viraj Profiles) to ``Viraj Profiles Private
Limited.'' \10\ Based on our analysis of the information on the record
regarding changes with respect to Viraj Profiles' corporate structure,
manufacturing facilities, customers, and suppliers, we preliminarily
determine that Viraj is the successor-in-interest to Viraj Profiles,
and, as a result, should be treated in the same manner as Viraj
Profiles. For further discussion, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum at ``Preliminary Successor-In-Interest Determination.''
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\10\ See BFN/Viraj's Letter, ``Stainless Steel Flanges From
India,'' dated May 12, 2025, at 1-2.
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Partial Rescission of Administrative Review
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an
administrative review, in whole or in part, if a party who requested
the review withdraws the request within 90 days of the date of
publication of notice of initiation of the requested review in the
Federal Register. In February 2025, Echjay Forgings Private Limited
(Echjay) and Goodluck India Limited (Goodluck) timely withdrew their
requests for an administrative review.\11\ Because no other party
requested a review of these companies, Commerce is rescinding this
review with respect to Echjay and Goodluck, in accordance with 19 CFR
351.213(d)(1).
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\11\ See Echjay's Letter, ``Withdrawal of Request for
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review for the period of October 01,
2023 to September 30, 2024,'' dated February 11, 2025; see also
Goodluck's Letter, ``Withdrawal of Request for Anti-Dumping Duty
Administrative Review for the period of October 01, 2023 to
September 30, 2024,'' dated February 11, 2025.
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Methodology
Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with sections
751(a)(1) and (2) of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Constructed export prices
have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. We
calculated NV in accordance with section 773 of the Act. Furthermore,
pursuant to section 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has
preliminarily relied upon facts otherwise available, with adverse
inferences (AFA) to determine the margin assigned to BFN Forgings
Private Limited; Flanschen werk Bebitz GmbH; Viraj Alloys, Ltd.; Viraj
Forgings, Ltd.; Viraj Impoexpo, Ltd.; and Viraj (collectively, BFN/
Viraj).\12\ For a full description of the methodology underlying these
preliminary results, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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\12\ Commerce previously determined that it was appropriate to
collapse these companies and treat them as a single entity. See,
e.g., Stainless Steel Flanges from India: Final Affirmative
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Affirmative
Critical Circumstance Determination, 83 FR 40745 (August 16, 2018).
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Review-Specific Rate for Companies Not Selected for Individual Review
The Act and Commerce's regulations do not address the rate to be
applied to companies not selected for individual examination when
Commerce limits its examination in an administrative review pursuant to
section 777A(c)(2) of the Act. Generally, Commerce looks to section
735(c)(5) of the Act, which provides instructions for calculating the
all-others rate in a less-than-fair value (LTFV) investigation for
guidance when calculating the rate for companies which were not
selected for individual examination in an administrative review. Under
section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, the all-others rate is normally an
amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average
dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually
investigated, excluding any zero or de minimis margins, and any margins
determined entirely on the basis of facts available. In this
administrative review, Commerce preliminarily assigned a margin based
entirely on AFA to BFN/Viraj. Therefore, the only rate that is not
zero, de minimis or based entirely on AFA is the rate calculated for
Chandan Steel Limited (Chandan). Therefore, we are preliminarily
assigning Chandan's rate of 0.60 percent to the companies not selected
for individual examination in this review, in accordance with section
735(c)(5)(B) of the Act. The companies not selected for individual
examination are listed in Appendix II.
Preliminary Results of Review
We preliminarily determine the following estimated weighted-average
dumping margins exist for the period October 1, 2023, through September
30, 2024:
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\13\ The exporters and/or producers not selected for individual
review are listed in Appendix II.
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Weighted-average
Exporter/producer dumping margin
(percent)
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Chandan Steel Limited............................... 0.60
BFN Forgings Private Limited; Flanschen werk Bebitz 50.72
GmbH; Viraj Alloys, Ltd.; Viraj Forgings, Ltd.;
Viraj Impoexpo, Ltd.; and Viraj Profiles Private
Limited............................................
Companies Not Selected for Individual Review \13\... 0.60
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Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis
performed to interested parties for these preliminary results within
five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public
announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this
notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.\14\ Pursuant to 19
CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii), the deadline for interested parties to submit
case briefs to Commerce is no later than 21 days after the date of the
publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised
in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the
date for filing case briefs.\15\ Interested parties who submit case
briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table
of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.\16\ All
briefs must be filed electronically via ACCESS.\17\ An electronically
filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by ACCESS
by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the established deadline.
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\14\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii); see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for
general filing requirements).
\15\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative Protective
Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29,
2023) (APO and Service Final Rule).
\16\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
\17\ See 19 CFR 351.303.
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As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iii), we
[[Page 7435]]
request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their
briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their
briefs.\18\ Further, we request that interested parties limit their
executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not
including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the
basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision
memorandum that will accompany the final determination in this
investigation. We request that interested parties include footnotes for
relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that
Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the
service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\19\
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\18\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
\19\ See APO and Service Final Rule.
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Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days
after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain
the party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of
participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list
of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made,
Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be
determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and
location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
Final Results of Review
Unless otherwise extended, Commerce intends to issue the final
results of this administrative review, including the results of its
analysis of the issues raised in any written briefs, not later than 120
days after the date of publication of this notice, pursuant to section
751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(1).
Assessment Rates
Upon completion of this administrative review, Commerce shall
determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess,
antidumping duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review.
The final results of this review shall be the basis for the assessment
of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by this review
and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable.\20\
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\20\ See section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act.
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Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), where Chandan reported the
entered value for its U.S. sales, we calculated importer-specific ad
valorem antidumping duty assessment rates based on the ratio of the
total amount of antidumping duties calculated for the examined sales to
the total entered value of those same sales. Where either Chandan's
weighted-average dumping margin is zero or de minimis within the
meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c), or an importer-specific rate is zero or
de minimis, we will instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries
without regard to antidumping duties.
Commerce's ``automatic assessment'' practice will apply to entries
of subject merchandise during the POR produced by Chandan for which the
company did not know that the merchandise it sold to the intermediary
(i.e., a reseller, trading company, or exporter) was destined for the
United States. In such instances, we will instruct CBP to liquidate
unreviewed entries at the all-others rate established in the LTFV
investigation (i.e., 7.00 percent),\21\ if there is no rate for the
intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction.\22\
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\21\ See Stainless Steel Flanges from India: Notice of Court
Decision Not in Harmony with the Final Determination of Antidumping
Investigation; Notice of Amended Final Determination, 86 FR 50325
(September 8, 2021) (Amended Final).
\22\ For a full discussion of this practice, see Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties,
68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003).
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For the companies listed in Appendix II which were not selected for
individual review, we will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on
all appropriate entries based on the review-specific rate, calculated
as noted in the ``Preliminary Results of Review'' section, above. For
BFN/Viraj, we will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all
appropriate entries based on the dumping margin listed in the
``Preliminary Results of Review'' section, above.
For the companies for which we are rescinding the review, we will
instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate entries at
rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties
required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue
these rescission instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the
date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP regarding
Chandan, BFN/Viraj, and the companies listed in Appendix II no earlier
than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this
review in the Federal Register. If a timely summons is filed at the
U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will
direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties
to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired (i.e., within
90 days of publication).
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all
shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from
warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the
final results of this administrative review, as provided by section
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) the cash deposit rate for the companies
under review will be equal to the weighted-average dumping margin
established in the final results of this review, except if the rate is
de minimis (i.e., less than 0.50 percent), in which case the cash
deposit rate will be zero; (2) for previously reviewed or investigated
companies not covered by this review, the cash deposit rate will
continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most
recently-completed segment of this proceeding in which they were
examined; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a
prior review, or the LTFV investigation, but the producer is, the cash
deposit rate will be the rate established for the most recently-
completed segment of this proceeding for the producer of the
merchandise; and (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers or
exporters will continue to be 7.00 percent,\23\ the all-others rate
established in the amended final determination of the LTFV
investigation. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall
remain in effect until further notice.
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\23\ See Amended Final, 86 FR at 50326.
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Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping and/or countervailing duties
prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this review period.
Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's
presumption that reimbursement of antidumping and/or countervailing
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duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping
duties, and/or an increase in the amount of antidumping duties by the
amount of the countervailing duties.
Notification to Interested Parties
We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213 and
351.221(b)(4).
Dated: January 28, 2026.
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
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Preliminary Successor-In-Interest Determination
V. Use of Facts Available and Adverse Inferences
VI. Discussion of the Methodology
VII. Recommendation
Appendix II
List of Companies Not Selected for Individual Examination
1. Balkrishna Steel Forge Pvt. Ltd.
2. CD Industries (Prop. Kisaan Engineering Works Pvt. Ltd.)
3. Cetus Engineering Private Limited
4. Fivebros Forgings Private Limited
5. Hilton Metal Forging Limited
6. Jai Auto Pvt. Ltd.
7. Kisaan Die Tech Private Limited
8. Pradeep Metals Limited
9. R. N. Gupta & Company Limited
[FR Doc. 2026-03202 Filed 2-17-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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