Notice2026-08954
Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof From the Czech Republic: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
Primary source
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Published
May 6, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain freight rail couplers and parts thereof (freight rail couplers) from the Czech Republic are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24506-24508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08954]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-851-806]
Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof From the Czech
Republic: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of
Provisional Measures
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily
determines that certain freight rail couplers and parts thereof
(freight rail couplers) from the Czech Republic are being, or are
likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV).
The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2024, through June 30,
2025. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary
determination.
DATES: Applicable May 6, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hart or Sofia Pedrelli, 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) 482-1058 or (202) 482-4310,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section
733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on August 18,
2025.\1\ Due to a lapse in appropriations and Federal Government
shutdown, on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in
administrative proceedings by 47 days.\2\ Additionally, due to a
backlog of document that were electronically filed via Enforcement and
Compliances' Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic
Service System (ACCESS) during the Federal Government Shutdown,
November 24, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative
proceedings by an additional 21 days.\3\ On February 23, 2026, Commerce
postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the
revised deadline is now April 27, 2026.\4\
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\1\ See Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the
Czech Republic and India: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value
Investigations, 90 FR 40059 (August 18, 2025) (Initiation Notice).
\2\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the
Federal Government,'' dated November 14, 2025.
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of all Case Deadlines,'' dated
November 24, 2025.
\4\ See Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the
Czech Republic and India: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations
in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 91 FR 8423 (February 23,
2026).
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For a complete description of the events that followed the
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.\5\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is included as Appendix II 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/frnotices">https://access.trade.gov/frnotices</a>.
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\5\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation
of Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the Czech
Republic,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this
notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are freight rail
couplers from the Czech Republic. For a complete description of the
scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the Preamble to Commerce's regulations,\6\ the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\7\ Certain interested
parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in
the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments
and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this preliminary
determination, and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments
timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\8\
Commerce is preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared
in the Initiation Notice. See the revised scope in Appendix I to this
notice.
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\6\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
\7\ See Initiation Notice.
\8\ See Memorandum, ``Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations of
Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the Czech
Republic and India and Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain
Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from India: Preliminary
Scope Decision Memorandum,'' dated February 26, 2026 (Preliminary
Scope Decision Memorandum).
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[[Page 24507]]
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value for CKD
Kutn[aacute] Hora A.S. (CKD) is calculated using constructed value in
accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of the
methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
All-Others Rate
Sections 733(d)(1)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in
the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated
weighted-average dumping margin, i.e., the all-others rate, for all
exporters and producers not individually examined. This rate shall be
an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-
average dumping margins established for exporters and producers
individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins,
and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act.
Commerce calculated an individual estimated weighted-average
dumping margin for CKD, the only individually examined exporter or
producer in this investigation. Because the only individually
calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margin is not zero, de
minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available, the estimated
weighted-average dumping margin calculated for CKD is the estimated
weighted-average dumping margin assigned to all other producers and
exporters, pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.
Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated
weighted-average dumping margins exist:
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Estimated weighted-
Exporter or producer average dumping
margin (percent)
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CKD Kutn[aacute] Hora A.S........................... 60.05
All Others.......................................... 60.05
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Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation
of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant
to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will
instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-
average dumping margin, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for CKD
will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average
dumping margins determined in this preliminary determination; (2) if
the exporter is not CKD, but the producer is, then the cash deposit
rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average
dumping margin established for CKD; and (3) the cash deposit rate for
all other producers and exporters will be equal to the estimated
weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers and exporters.
These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect
until further notice.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination
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).
Consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(e), Commerce will analyze and, if
appropriate, correct any timely allegations of significant ministerial
errors by amending the preliminary determination. However, consistent
with 19 CFR 351.224(d), Commerce will not consider incomplete
allegations that do not address the significance standard under 19 CFR
351.224(g) following the preliminary determination. Instead, Commerce
will address such allegations in the final determination together with
issues raised in the case briefs or other written comments.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to
verify the information relied upon in making its final determination.
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven
days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in
this investigation. A timeline for the submission of case briefs and
written comments will be notified to interested parties at a later
date. 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.\9\ Interested parties who submit case or rebuttal briefs in
this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each
issue; and (2) a table of authorities.\10\
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\9\ 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).
\10\ See 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iii), we
request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their
briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their
briefs.\11\ 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).\12\
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\11\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
\12\ 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
(1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of
participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and (3)
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.
Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional
Measures
Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of
[[Page 24508]]
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by
the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations
requires that a request by exporters for postponement of the final
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional
measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months
in duration.
On April 24, 2026, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), CKD requested
that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional
measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months.\13\ In
accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) the preliminary determination is
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling
reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final
determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month
period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce
will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date
of publication of this preliminary determination.
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\13\ See CKD's Letter, ``Request to Extend the Final
Determination,'' dated April 24, 2026.
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U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify
the ITC of its preliminary determination. If the final determination is
affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after
the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final
determination whether these imports are materially injuring, or
threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published in accordance with
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c).
Dated: April 27, 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
Scope of the Investigation
The scope of these investigations covers certain freight railcar
couplers (also known as ``fits'' or ``assemblies'') and parts
thereof. Freight rail couplers are composed of two main parts,
namely knuckles and coupler bodies but may also include other items
(e.g., coupler locks, lock lift assemblies, knuckle pins, knuckle
throwers, and rotors). The parts covered by these investigations
include: (1) E coupler bodies; (2) E/F coupler bodies; (3) F coupler
bodies; (4) E knuckles; and (5) F knuckles; as set forth by the
Association of American Railroads (AAR). The freight rail coupler
parts are included within the scope of these investigations when
imported individually. Coupler locks, lock lift assemblies, knuckle
pins, knuckle throwers, and rotors are covered merchandise when
imported in an assembly but are not covered by the scope when
imported separately.
Subject freight rail couplers and parts are included within the
scope whether finished or unfinished, whether imported individually
or with other subject or nonsubject parts, whether assembled or
unassembled, whether mounted or unmounted, or if joined with
nonsubject merchandise, such as other nonsubject parts or a
completed railcar. Finishing includes, but is not limited to, arc
washing, welding, grinding, shot blasting, heat treatment,
machining, and assembly of various parts. When a subject coupler or
subject parts are mounted on or to other nonsubject merchandise,
such as a railcar, only the coupler or subject parts are covered by
the scope.
The finished products covered by the scope of these
investigations meet or exceed the AAR specifications of M-211,
``Foundry and Product Approval Requirements for the Manufacture of
Couplers, Coupler Yokes, Knuckles, Follower Blocks, and Coupler
Parts,'' and/or AAR M-215 ``Coupling Systems,'' or other equivalent
domestic or international standards (including any revisions to the
standard(s)).
The country of origin for subject couplers and parts thereof,
whether fully assembled, unfinished or finished, or attached to a
railcar, is the country where the subject coupler parts were cast or
forged. Subject merchandise includes coupler parts as defined above
that have been further processed or further assembled, including
those coupler parts attached to a railcar in third countries.
Further processing includes, but is not limited to, arc washing,
welding, grinding, shot blasting, heat treatment, painting, coating,
priming, machining, and assembly of various parts. The inclusion,
attachment, joining, or assembly of nonsubject parts with subject
parts or couplers either in the country of manufacture of the in-
scope product or in a third country does not remove the subject
parts or couplers from the scope.
The couplers that are the subject of these investigations are
currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) statistical reporting number 8607.30.1010,
8607.30.1050, and 8607.30.1090. Subject merchandise attached to
finished railcars may also enter under HTSUS statistical reporting
numbers 7326.90.8688, 8606.10.0000, 8606.91.0000, 8606.92.0000,
8606.99.0130, or under subheading 8606.99.0160. Subject merchandise
may also be imported under HTSUS statistical reporting number
7325.99.5000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience
and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of
these investigations is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Affiliation
V. Discussion of the Methodology
VI. Particular Market Situation
VII. Currency Conversion
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2026-08954 Filed 5-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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