91 FR 48068 · published 2026-07-30
· Commerce Department, International Trade Administration
Mirrored from the Federal Register (retrieved 2026-08-08) —
the official copy is at federalregister.gov
(their site may ask for human verification).
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) from Egypt during the period of investigation (POI), January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 145 (Thursday, July 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48068-48070]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-15439]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-729-806]
Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar From Egypt: Final Affirmative
Countervailing Duty 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 steel concrete reinforcing bar (rebar) from Egypt during the period
of investigation (POI), January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.
DATES: Applicable July 30, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roee Tenne or Lingjun Wang, AD/CVD
Operations, Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3996 or (202) 482-2316,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 13, 2026, Commerce published in the Federal Register the
Preliminary Determination and invited comments from interested
parties.\1\ For a complete description of the events that occurred
since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination, as well as a
full discussion of the issues raised by parties for this final
determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.\2\ The Issues
and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file
electronically via ACCESS. ACCESS is available to registered users at
http://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues
and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/frnotices.
\1\ See Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Egypt: Preliminary
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, and Alignment of
Final Determination with Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 91 FR
1263 (January 13, 2026) (Preliminary Determination), and
accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
\2\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the
Final Affirmative Determination of in the Countervailing Duty
Investigation of Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Egypt,'' dated
concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and
Decision Memorandum).
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is rebar from Egypt. For
a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix
I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\3\ the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\4\ No interested party
commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the
Initiation Notice. Therefore, Commerce is not modifying the scope
language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the scope in
Appendix I to this notice.
\3\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
\4\ See Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Algeria, Bulgaria,
Egypt, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Less-
Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 90 FR 27846 (June 30, 2025)
(Initiation Notice).
Verification
Commerce conducted verification of the information relied upon in
making its final determination in this investigation, in accordance
with section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).
Specifically, we conducted virtual verifications of the subsidy
information reported by the Government of Egypt (GOE) and Ezz Group in
April and May 2026 using standard verification procedures, including an
examination of relevant sales and accounting records, and original
source documents.\5\
\5\ See Memorandum, ``Verification of the Questionnaire
Responses of the Government of Egypt,'' dated May 27, 2026; see also
Memorandum, ``Verification of the Questionnaire Responses of Ezz
Group,'' dated May 27, 2026.
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 parties in this
investigation, are discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. For
a list of the issues raised by parties, and to which we responded in
the Issues and Decision Memorandum, see Appendix II.
Methodology
Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section
701 the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found to be
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.\6\ For a full
description of the methodology underlying our final determination, see
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
\6\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding
financial contribution; see also section 771(5)(E) of the Act
regarding benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding
specificity.
Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
We made certain changes to the countervailable subsidy rate
calculations for Ezz Group. For a discussion of these changes, see the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.
All-Others Rate
Pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act, Commerce will
determine an all-others rate equal to the weighted average
countervailable subsidy rates established for those exporters and/or
producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis
countervailable subsidy rates, and any rates based entirely under
section 776 of the Act.
In this investigation, Commerce calculated an individual estimated
countervailable subsidy rate for Ezz Group, the only individually
examined exporter and producer in this investigation. Because the only
individual calculated rate is not zero, de minimis, or based entirely
on facts otherwise available, the rate calculated for Ezz Group is also
assigned as the rate for all other producers and exporters, pursuant to
section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act.
Final Determination
Commerce determines that the following estimated countervailable
subsidy rates exist for the period January 1, 2024, through December
31, 2024:
Subsidy rate (percent
Company ad valorem)
Al-Ezz Dekheila Steel Alexandria Company (SAE); 23.27
Ezz Steel Company S.A.E.; Ezz Rolling Mills
Company (SAE); Al-Ezz Flat Steel Company
(SAE); Contra Steel Co.; Al-Ezz Group Holding
Company for Industry & Investment
(collectively, Ezz Group).....................
All Others..................................... 23.27
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis
performed to interested parties in this final determination within five
days of its public announcement, or if there is no public announcement,
within five days of the date of publication of this notice in the
Federal Register, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation
As a result of our Preliminary Determination, and pursuant to
sections 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, we instructed U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits and suspend
liquidation of entries of subject merchandise, as described in the
scope of the investigation section, that were entered, or withdrawn
from warehouse, for consumption on or after January 13, 2026, the date
of publication of the Preliminary Determination in the Federal
Register, for entries produced and/or exported by Ezz Group and all
other producers and exporters. 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, May 13, 2026, but to continue the suspension of
liquidation of all entries of subject merchandise that were subject to
suspension of liquidation between January 13, 2026, and May 12, 2026.
If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final
affirmative injury determination, we will issue a countervailing duty
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 rebar from
Egypt. 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 rebar from Egypt no later than 45 days after this final
determination. In addition, we are making available to 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 that 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 countervailing duty 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 ``Continuation of 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: July 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 merchandise subject to this investigation is steel concrete
reinforcing bar imported in either straight length or coil form
(rebar) regardless of metallurgy, length, diameter, or grade or lack
thereof.
The subject merchandise includes rebar that has been further
processed in the subject countries or a third country, including but
not limited to cutting, grinding, galvanizing, painting, coating, 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 rebar.
Specifically excluded are plain rounds (i.e., nondeformed or
smooth rebar).
The subject merchandise is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) primarily under item numbers
7213.10.0000, 7214.20.0000, and 7228.30.8010. The subject
merchandise may also enter under other HTSUS numbers including
7221.00.0017, 7221.00.0018, 7221.00.0030, 7221.00.0045,
7222.11.0001, 7222.11.0057, 7222.11.0059, 7222.30.0001,
7227.20.0080, 7227.90.6030, 7227.90.6035, 7227.90.6040,
7228.20.1000, and 7228.60.6000. HTSUS numbers are provided for
convenience and customs purposes; however, the written description
of the scope remains dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination and Post-
Preliminary Analysis
IV. Subsidies Valuation Information
V. Analysis of Programs
VI. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Whether the Provision of Natural Gas for Less Than
Adequate Remuneration (LTAR) Program is Specific
Comment 2: Whether to Modify the Benchmark for the Provision of
Natural Gas for LTAR
Comment 3: Whether the Provision of Electricity for LTAR Program
is Specific
Comment 4: Whether to Modify the Benchmark for the Provision of
Electricity for LTAR
Comment 5: Whether Central Bank of Egypt Industrial Sector
Initiative is Specific
Comment 6: Whether EZDK and EFS Were Uncreditworthy
VII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2026-15439 Filed 7-29-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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