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Notice2026-22764

Certain Wooden Fence Components From the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation

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Published
November 9, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 215 (Monday, November 9, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 215 (Monday, November 9, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70837-70840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22764]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

C-570-244]


Certain Wooden Fence Components From the People's Republic of 
China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable November 3, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suresh Maniam, Office I, AD/CVD 
Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0176.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

    On September 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
received a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of 
certain wooden fence components \1\ from the People's Republic of China 
(China), filed in proper form on behalf of the American Alliance of 
Wooden Fence Producers (the petitioner),\2\ the members of which are 
domestic producers of certain wooden fence components.\3\ The CVD 
Petition was accompanied by an antidumping duty (AD) petition 
concerning imports of certain wooden fence components from China.\4\
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    \1\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Notice of Change in Case Name,'' 
dated November 2, 2026; see also Memorandum, ``Product Name 
Change,'' dated November 3, 2026.
    \2\ The individual members of the American Alliance of Wooden 
Fence Producers (Alliance) are Alta Forest Products, Sierra Pacific 
Industries, and Mendocino Forest Products.
    \3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Petition for the Imposition of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties,'' dated September 24, 2026 
(Petition).
    \4\ Id.
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    On October 13, 2026, Commerce extended the initiation deadline by 
20 days to further examine the issue of industry support, because it 
was not clear from the Petition whether the industry support criteria 
had been met.\5\
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    \5\ See Notice of Extension of the Deadline for Determining the 
Adequacy of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions: 
Certain Wooden Fence Pickets from China, 91 FR 66106 (October 19, 
2026) (Initiation Extension Notice).
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    Between September 29 and October 29, 2026, Commerce requested 
supplemental information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition 
in supplemental questionnaires.\6\ Between October 4 and 30, 2026, the 
petitioner filed timely responses to these requests for additional 
information.\7\
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    \6\ See Commerce's Letters, ``General Issues Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated September 29, 2026 (First General Issues 
Supplemental Questionnaire); ``Second General Issues Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated October 8, 2026 (Second General Issues 
Supplemental Questionnaire); ``Third Supplemental Questions,'' dated 
October 14, 2026 (Third General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire); 
``CVD Supplemental Questions,'' dated October 5, 2026 (First CVD 
Supplemental Questionnaire); and ``Second CVD Supplemental 
Questions,'' dated October 29, 2026 (Second CVD Supplemental 
Questionnaire).
    \7\ See Petitioner's Letters, ``Petitioner Response to the 1st 
Supplemental Questionnaire Regarding Common Issues and Injury Volume 
I of the Petition,'' dated October 4, 2026 (First General Issues 
Supplement); ``Petitioner Response to the 2nd Supplemental 
Questionnaire Regarding Common Issues and Injury Volume I of the 
Petition,'' dated October 9, 2026 (Second General Issues 
Supplement); ``Petitioner Response to the 3rd Supplemental 
Questionnaire Regarding Common Issues and Injury Volume I of the 
Petition,'' dated October 19, 2026; ``Petitioner Response to the 1st 
Supplemental Questionnaire Regarding China CVD Volume III of the 
Petition,'' dated October 8, 2026 (First CVD Supplement); and 
``Petitioner Response to the 1st Supplemental Questionnaire 
Regarding China CVD Volume III of the Petition,'' dated October 30, 
2026 (Second CVD Supplement).
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    In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), the petitioner alleges that the Government of China 
(GOC) is providing countervailable subsidies, within the meaning of 
sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, to producers of certain wooden 
fence components from China, and that such imports are materially 
injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic industry 
producing certain wooden fence components in the United States. 
Consistent with section 702(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(b), for 
those alleged programs on which we are initiating a CVD investigation, 
the Petition was accompanied by information reasonably available to the 
petitioner supporting its allegations.
    Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of 
the domestic industry, because the petitioner is an interested party, 
as defined in section 771(9)(F) of the Act.\8\ Commerce also finds that 
the petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support with respect to 
the initiation of the requested CVD investigation.\9\
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    \8\ The members of the Alliance are interested parties within 
the meaning of section 771(9)(C) of the Act.
    \9\ See section on ``Determination of Industry Support for the 
Petition,'' infra.
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Period of Investigation (POI)

    Because the Petition was filed on September 24, 2026, the POI is 
January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.\10\
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    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are certain wooden fence 
components from China. For a full description of the scope of this 
investigation, see the appendix to this notice.

Comments on the Scope of the Investigation

    Between September 29 and October 14, 2026, Commerce requested 
information and clarification from the petitioner regarding the 
proposed scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petition is an 
accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is 
seeking relief.\11\ Between October 4 and 19, 2026, the petitioner 
provided clarifications and/or revised the scope.\12\ The description 
of merchandise covered by this investigation, as described in the 
appendix to this notice, reflects these clarifications.
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    \11\ See First General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire; see 
also Second General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire.
    \12\ See First General Issues Supplement at 1-8 and Exhibits I-
Supp-2 through I-Supp-6; see also Second General Issues Supplement 
at 1-2 and Third General Issues Supplement at 1.
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    As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are 
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding 
product coverage (i.e., scope).\13\ Commerce will consider all scope 
comments received from interested parties and, if necessary, will 
consult with interested parties prior to the issuance of the 
preliminary determination. If scope comments include factual 
information, all such factual information should be limited to public 
information.\14\ Commerce requests that interested parties provide at 
the beginning of their scope comments a public executive summary for 
each comment or issue raised in

[[Page 70838]]

their submission. Commerce further requests that interested parties 
limit their public executive summary of each comment or issue to no 
more than 450 words, not including citations. Commerce intends to use 
the public executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries 
included in the analysis of scope comments. To facilitate preparation 
of its questionnaires, Commerce requests that scope comments be 
submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on November 23, 2026, which is 
20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal 
comments, which may include factual information, and should also be 
limited to public information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on 
December 3, 2026, which is 10 calendar days from the initial comment 
deadline.
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    \13\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble); see also 19 CFR 
351.312.
    \14\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual 
information'').
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    Commerce requests that any factual information that parties 
consider relevant to the scope of this investigation be submitted 
during that period. However, if a party subsequently finds that 
additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the 
investigation may be relevant, the party must contact Commerce and 
request permission to submit the additional information. All scope 
comments must be filed simultaneously on the records of the concurrent 
AD and CVD investigations.

Filing Requirements

    All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via 
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), unless an exception 
applies.\15\ An electronically filed document must be received 
successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is due.
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    \15\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order 
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and 
Compliance; Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 
(November 20, 2014), for details of Commerce's electronic filing 
requirements, effective August 5, 2011. Information on using ACCESS 
can be found at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/help">https://access.trade.gov/help</a> and a handbook can be 
found at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/ACCESS%20Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filing%20Procedures_March2026.pdf">https://access.trade.gov/ACCESS%20Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filing%20Procedures_March2026.pdf</a>.
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Consultations

    Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Act, Commerce 
notified the GOC of the receipt of the Petition and provided an 
opportunity for consultations with respect to the Petition.\16\ The GOC 
filed consultation remarks in lieu of consultations on October 13, 
2026.\17\
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    \16\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Invitation for Consultations to 
Discuss the Countervailing Duty Petition,'' dated September 24, 
2026.
    \17\ See GOC's Letter, ``Comments of the Government of the 
People's Republic of China on the Countervailing Duty Petition 
Concerning Certain Wooden Fence Pickets from China,'' dated October 
13, 2026.
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

    Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on 
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act 
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic 
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) at least 
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and 
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like 
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support 
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D) of 
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of 
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of 
the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i) 
poll the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if 
there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or 
(ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling 
method to poll the ``industry.''
    Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the 
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine 
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute 
directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the 
domestic like product. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), 
which is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' 
has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like 
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the 
ITC apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic like 
product,\18\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a 
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination 
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may 
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences 
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\19\
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    \18\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
    \19\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F.Supp.2d 1, 8 (CIT 
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 
F.Supp.639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United 
States, 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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    Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a 
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in 
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation 
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic 
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an 
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be 
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the 
petition).
    With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioner does not 
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope 
of the investigation.\20\ Based on our analysis of the information 
submitted on the record, we have determined that certain wooden fence 
components, as defined in the scope, constitute a single domestic like 
product, and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that 
domestic like product.\21\
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    \20\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as 
applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see 
Checklist, ``Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: 
Certain Wooden Fence Components from the People's Republic of 
China,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice 
(China CVD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II, Analysis of 
Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Petitions Covering Certain Wooden Fence Components from the People's 
Republic of China (Attachment II). This checklist is on file 
electronically via ACCESS.
    \21\ For further discussion, see Attachment II of the China CVD 
Initiation Checklist.
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    As noted above, on October 13, 2026, Commerce extended the 
initiation deadline by 20 days to further examine the issue of industry 
support. In determining whether the petitioner has standing under 
section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support 
data contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like 
product as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the 
appendix to this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioner 
provided the 2025 production of the domestic like product for the U.S. 
producers that support the Petition and compared this to the estimated 
total production of the domestic like product by the U.S. certain 
wooden fence components industry.\22\ We relied on data provided by the 
petitioner for purposes of measuring industry support.\23\
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    \22\ Id.
    \23\ Id.
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    Our review of the data provided in the Petition, the First General 
Issues Supplement, and the Third General Issues Supplement, and other 
information readily available to Commerce indicates that the petitioner 
has established industry support for the Petition.\24\ First, the 
Petition established support from domestic producers (or

[[Page 70839]]

workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of the total production of 
the domestic like product and, as such, Commerce is not required to 
take further action in order to evaluate industry support (e.g., 
polling).\25\ Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the 
statutory criteria for industry support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(i) 
of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the 
Petition account for at least 25 percent of the total production of the 
domestic like product.\26\ Finally, the domestic producers (or workers) 
have met the statutory criteria for industry support under section 
702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) 
who support the Petition account for more than 50 percent of the 
production of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the 
industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition.\27\ 
Accordingly, Commerce determines that the Petition was filed on behalf 
of the domestic industry within the meaning of section 702(b)(1) of the 
Act.\28\
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    \24\ Id.
    \25\ Id.; see also section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act.
    \26\ See Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation Checklist.
    \27\ Id.
    \28\ Id.
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Injury Test

    Because China is a ``Subsidies Agreement Country'' within the 
meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act 
applies to this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine 
whether imports of the subject merchandise from China materially 
injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry.

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

    The petitioner alleges that imports of the subject merchandise are 
benefiting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are 
causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry 
producing the domestic like product. In addition, the petitioner 
alleges that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold 
provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\29\
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    \29\ For further discussion, see China CVD Initiation Checklist 
at Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material 
Injury and Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Petitions Covering Certain Wooden Fence Components from the People's 
Republic of China.
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    The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is 
illustrated by significant increase in the volume of subject imports; 
significant market share by subject imports and reduced market share 
for the domestic industry; underselling and price depression and 
suppression; negative impact on financial performance; lost sales and 
revenue; and decline in production, U.S. shipments, capacity 
utilization, and employment variables.\30\ We assessed the allegations 
and supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat of material 
injury, causation, as well as negligibility, and we have determined 
that these allegations are properly supported by adequate evidence, and 
meet the statutory requirements for initiation.\31\
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    \30\ Id.
    \31\ Id.
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Initiation of CVD Investigation

    Based upon the examination of the Petition and supplemental 
responses, we find that they meet the requirements of section 702 of 
the Act. Therefore, we are initiating a CVD investigation to determine 
whether imports of certain wooden fence components from China benefit 
from countervailable subsidies conferred by the GOC. In accordance with 
section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless 
postponed, we will make our preliminary determination no later than 65 
days after the date of this initiation.
    Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is 
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on 37 programs 
alleged by the petitioner. For a full discussion of the basis for our 
decision to initiate on each program, see the China CVD Initiation 
Checklist. A public version of the initiation checklist for this 
investigation is available on ACCESS.

Respondent Selection

    In the Petition, the petitioner identified 80 companies in 
China.\32\ Commerce intends to follow its standard practice in CVD 
investigations and calculate company-specific subsidy rates in the 
investigation. In the event Commerce determines that the number of 
companies is large, and it cannot individually examine each company 
based upon Commerce's resources, Commerce intends to select mandatory 
respondents based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for 
imports under the appropriate Harmonized tariff Schedule of the United 
States (HTSUS) subheading(s) listed in the ``Scope of the 
Investigation,'' in the appendix.
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    \32\ See Petition at Volume I (pages 9-10 and Exhibit I-8); see 
also First General Issues Supplement at 1 and Exhibit I-Supp-1.
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    On November 3, 2026, Commerce released CBP data on imports of 
certain wooden fence components from China under administrative 
protective order (APO) to all parties with access to information 
protected by APO and indicated that interested parties wishing to 
comment on CBP data and/or respondent selection must do so within three 
days of the publication date of the notice of initiation of this 
investigation.\33\ Comments must be filed electronically using ACCESS. 
An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its 
entirety via ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. ET on the specified deadline. Commerce 
will not accept rebuttal comments regarding the CBP data or respondent 
selection.
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    \33\ See Memorandum, ``Release of U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection Entry Data,'' dated November 3, 2026.
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    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such 
applications may be found on Commerce's website at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders">https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders</a>.

Distribution of a Copy of the Petition

    In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been 
provided to the GOC via ACCESS. To the extent practicable, we will 
attempt to provide a copy of the public version of the Petition to each 
exporter named in the Petition, as provided under 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

    Commerce will notify the ITC of its initiation, as required by 
section 702(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

    The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 25 days after the date 
on which it receives notice of initiation of this investigation, 
whether there is a reasonable indication that imports of certain wooden 
fence components from China are materially injuring, or threatening 
material injury to, a U.S. industry.\34\ A negative ITC determination 
will result in the investigation being terminated.\35\ Otherwise, this 
CVD investigation will proceed according to statutory and regulatory 
time limits.
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    \34\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
    \35\ Id.
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Submission of Factual Information

    Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) 
evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence 
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available 
information to value factors of production under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or 
to measure the adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR

[[Page 70840]]

351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) 
evidence other than factual information described in (i)-(iv). Section 
351.301(b) of Commerce's regulations requires any party, when 
submitting factual information, to specify under which subsection of 19 
CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted \36\ and, if the 
information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct factual 
information already on the record, to provide an explanation 
identifying the information already on the record that the factual 
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct.\37\ Time limits for 
the submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, 
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual 
information being submitted. Interested parties should review the 
regulations prior to submitting factual information in this 
investigation.
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    \36\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
    \37\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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Extensions of Time Limits

    Parties may request an extension of time limits before the 
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as 
otherwise specified by Commerce. In general, an extension request will 
be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the time 
limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as otherwise specified by 
Commerce.\38\ For submissions that are due from multiple parties 
simultaneously, an extension request will be considered untimely if it 
is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. Under certain 
circumstances, Commerce may elect to specify a different time limit by 
which extension requests will be considered untimely for submissions 
which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such a case, we 
will inform parties in a letter or memorandum of the deadline 
(including a specified time) by which extension requests must be filed 
to be considered timely. An extension request must be made in a 
separate, standalone submission; under limited circumstances we will 
grant untimely filed requests for the extension of time limits, where 
we determine, based on 19 CFR 351.302, that extraordinary circumstances 
exist. Parties should review Commerce's regulations concerning the 
extension of time limits and the Time Limits Final Rule prior to 
submitting factual information in this investigation.\39\
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    \38\ See 19 CFR 351.302.
    \39\ See 19 CFR 351.301; see also Extension of Time Limits; 
Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 (September 20, 2013) (Time Limits Final 
Rule), available at <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm">https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm</a>.
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Certification Requirements

    Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding 
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\40\ 
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 
351.303(g).\41\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the 
submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification 
requirements.
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    \40\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
    \41\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import 
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2023) (Final Rule). Additional 
information regarding the Final Rule is available at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/FAQ%20for%20Certifications.pdf?v=1787683944756">https://www.trade.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/FAQ%20for%20Certifications.pdf?v=1787683944756</a>.
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Notification to Interested Parties

    Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Parties wishing to participate 
in this investigation should ensure that they meet the requirements of 
19 CFR 351.103(d) (e.g., by filing the required letters of appearance). 
Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining 
to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\42\
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    \42\ See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other 
Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 
67069 (September 29, 2023).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and 
777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

    Dated: November 3, 2026.
Scot Fullerton,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Operations.

Appendix

Scope of the Investigation

    The scope of this investigation includes certain wooden fence 
components (commonly referred to as wooden fence pickets), finished 
and unfinished, whether assembled or unassembled. Wooden fence 
pickets included in this scope are made of one or more wood species, 
typically from Cryptomeria japonica (Japanese Cedar or Sugi), but 
can also be made from other wood species, including but not limited 
to Western Red Cedar, Redwood, Incense Cedar, Douglas Fir, Western 
Hemlock, Sitka Spruce, and Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese Fir). 
Wooden fence pickets are included within the scope of this 
investigation regardless of form or shape, including, but not 
limited to flat top (also known as square or square top), pointed, 
dog ear, gothic (including but not limited to French gothic, French 
gothic blunt point) and stockade.
    Generally, assembled wooden fence pickets contain at least one 
fence picket attached to one or more cross rails, framing lumber, or 
other fencing materials, and can include fully pre-assembled fence 
panels. Unassembled wooden fence pickets consist of one or more 
wooden fence pickets, not attached to any framing lumber, whether 
sold individually, bundled, or in a kit with framing lumber.
    The finished products covered by the scope of this investigation 
have the following dimensions: a thickness of no more than 1 inch, a 
width of no more than 12 inches, and a length of at least 3 feet. 
The products covered by the scope are typically a length of 5 feet, 
6 feet, or 8 feet when finished.
    Wooden fence pickets are included within the scope of this 
investigation regardless of whether they have been painted, stained, 
pressure-treated, or otherwise coated or treated. Subject 
merchandise also includes wooden fence pickets that have been 
further processed in a third country, including but not limited to 
trimming, cutting, notching, sanding, planing or any other 
processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the 
scope of this investigation if performed in the country of 
manufacture of the in-scope product.
    Excluded from the scope of this investigation are wooden fence 
pickets made exclusively of bamboo (including, but not limited to, 
Phyllostachys edulis, Bambusa textilis, and Bambusa oldhamii), 
Brazilian Pine (Paran[aacute] pine), or Southern Yellow Pine 
(including Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata), Slash Pine (Pinus 
ellioti), Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris), or Loblolly Pine (Pinus 
taeda)).
    Also excluded from the scope of this investigation are wood 
mouldings and millwork products covered by the antidumping and 
countervailing duty orders on wood mouldings and millwork products 
from the People's Republic of China. See Wood Mouldings and Millwork 
Products from the People's Republic of China: Amended Final 
Antidumping Duty Determination and Antidumping Duty Order, 86FR 9486 
(February 16, 2021) (amended final antidumping duty determination 
and antidumping duty order); Wood Mouldings and Millwork Products 
from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 86 
FR 9484 (February 16, 2021) (countervailing duty order).
    Imports of subject merchandise are typically classified under 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) statistical 
numbers 4404.10.0040, 4407.19.0092, 4421.99.7020, and 4421.99.7040. 
Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this 
investigation is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2026-22764 Filed 11-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on November 9, 2026.

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.