Commerce issues preliminary results in AD administrative review of steel nails from China

Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

1. [A-570-909]

AGENCY:

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

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that Shanghai Yueda Nails Co., Ltd., (Shanghai Yueda) and Shanghai Yueda Nails (Chuzhou) Ltd. (Chuzhou Yueda) (collectively, Yueda Nails), an exporter of certain steel nails (nails) from the People's Republic of China (China), made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR), August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025. In addition, we are rescinding the review with respect to nine companies. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results of review.

DATES:

Applicable November 4, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joshua Nixon, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-8361.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On September 25, 2026, based on timely requests for review, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on nails from China.^[1] On January 28, 2026, Commerce selected Yueda Nails as the mandatory respondent in this review.

Due to the lapse in appropriations and Federal Government shutdown, on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by 47 days,^[2] and, due to a backlog of documents that were electronically filed via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and ( printed page 69542) 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.^[3] On June 4, 2026, Commerce extended the preliminary results deadline by 90 days.^[4] On September 4, 2026, Commerce extended the preliminary results deadline an additional 22 days.^[5] Accordingly, the deadline for these preliminary results is now October 30, 2026.

For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this review, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.^[6] A list of the topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is attached as Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via ACCESS, which is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/​frnotices.

Scope of the Order  ⁷

The products covered by the scope of this Order are nails from China. For a complete description of the scope of the Order, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Rescission of Administrative Review, in Part

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3), it is Commerce's practice to rescind an administrative review of an antidumping duty order where it concludes that there were no suspended entries of subject merchandise during the POR.^[8] Normally, upon completion of an administrative review, the suspended entries are liquidated at the antidumping duty assessment rate for the review period.^[9] Therefore, for an administrative review to be conducted, there must be a reviewable, suspended entry that Commerce can instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to liquidate at the calculated antidumping duty assessment rate for the review period.^[10]

Commerce notified all interested parties of its intent to rescind the instant review regarding the companies listed in Appendix II because there were no reviewable, suspended entries of subject merchandise from these companies during the POR, and invited interested parties to comment.^[11] No party commented on this memorandum. In the absence of any suspended entries of subject merchandise from these companies during the POR, we are rescinding this administrative review for the companies listed in Appendix II, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3).

Methodology

Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We calculated export prices in accordance with section 772 of the Act. Because China is a non-market economy (NME) country within the meaning of section 771(18) of the Act, we calculated normal value in accordance with section 773(c) of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying our conclusions, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Separate Rates

In the Initiation Notice, we informed parties that firms for which the review was initiated that wished to qualify for separate rate status must complete, as appropriate, either a separate rate application or a separate rate certification.^[12] We preliminarily determine that Yueda Nails is eligible for a separate rate in this review. For further discussion, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

The China-Wide Entity

Commerce's policy regarding conditional review of the China-wide entity applies to this administrative review.^[13] Under this policy, the China-wide entity will not be under review unless a party specifically requests, or Commerce self-initiates, a review of the entity. Because no party requested a review of the China-wide entity, the entity is not under review, and the entity's rate ( i.e., 118.04 percent) ^[14] is not subject to change.

Preliminary Results of Review

Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margin exists for the period August 1, 2024, through July 31, 2025:

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). ( printed page 69543)

Public Comment

Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii), we have modified the deadline for interested parties to submit case briefs to Commerce to no later than 21 days after the date of the publication of this notice.^[15] 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.^[16] 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.^[17]

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.^[18] Further, we request that interested parties limit their public, executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the public, executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final results in this administrative review. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the public, 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]

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically via ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time 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 issues to be discussed. Oral presentations at the hearing will be limited to issues raised in the briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce will inform parties of the scheduled date for the hearing.^[20]

Assessment Rates

Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), Commerce will determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise in accordance with the final results of this review.^[21]

If Yueda Nails' weighted-average dumping margin is not zero or de minimis ( i.e., less than 0.50 percent) in the final results of this review, Commerce intends to calculate importer-specific assessment rates on the basis of the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for each importer's examined sales to the total entered value of those sales. Where we do not have entered values for all U.S. sales to a particular importer, we will calculate an importer-specific, per-unit assessment rate on the basis of the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for the importer's examined sales to the total quantity of those sales.^[22] To determine whether an importer-specific, per-unit assessment rate is de minimis, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2), we also will calculate an importer-specific ad valorem ratio based on estimated entered values. If Yueda Nails' weighted-average dumping margin is zero or de minimis, or where an importer-specific ad valorem assessment rate is zero or de minimis, we will instruct CBP to liquidate appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties.^[23]

For entries that were not reported in the U.S. sales database submitted by Yueda Nails during this review, Commerce will instruct CBP to liquidate such entries at the China-wide rate.

For the nine companies listed in Appendix II for which the review is being rescinded, Commerce will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate entries. Antidumping duties shall be assessed at rates equal to the cash deposit rate for estimated antidumping duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue rescission instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register .

The final results of this review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by the final results of this review and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable.

If a timely summons is filed at the CIT, 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 deposit requirements will be effective upon publication of the final results of this administrative review for shipments of the subject merchandise from China entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date, as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) for the company listed above, which has a separate rate, the cash deposit rate will be that established in the final results of this review (except, if the rate is zero or de minimis, then zero cash deposit will be required); (2) for previously investigated or reviewed Chinese and non-Chinese exporters not listed above that received a separate rate in a prior segment of this proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the existing exporter-specific cash deposit rate; (3) for all Chinese exporters of subject merchandise that have not been found to be entitled to a separate rate, the cash deposit rate will be the existing rate for the China-wide entity of 118.04 percent; and (4) for all non-Chinese exporters of subject merchandise which have not received their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate applicable to the Chinese exporter that supplied that non-Chinese exporter. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

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 duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this POR. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. ( printed page 69544)

Notification to Interested Parties

This administrative review and notice are issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, 19 CFR 351.213, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).

Dated: October 29, 2026.

Scot Fullerton,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.

Appendix I

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary

II. Background

III. Scope of the Order

IV. Discussion of the Methodology

V. Currency Conversion

VI. Recommendation

Appendix II

Companies With Respect to Which Commerce Is Rescinding the Review

1. JISCO Corporation

2. Nanjing Caiqing Hardware Co., Ltd.

3. Nanjing Yuechang Hardwares Co., Ltd.

4. Qingdao Jisco Co., Ltd.

5. Shandong Qingyun Hongyi Hardware Co., Ltd.

6. Shanxi Hairui Trade Co., Ltd.

7. Tianjin Jinchi Metal Products Co., Ltd.

8. Tianjin Jinghai County Hongli Industry & Business Co., Ltd.

9. Xi'an Metals and Minerals Import & Export Co., Ltd.

Footnotes

1.   See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews,90 FR 46173 (September 25, 2025) ( Initiation Notice); see also Notice of Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Steel Nails from the People's Republic of China,73 FR 44961 (August 1, 2008) ( Order).

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 Memorandum, “Extension of Deadline for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,” dated June 4, 2026.

5.   See Memorandum, “Extension of Deadline for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review” dated September 4, 2026.

6.   See Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of the Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Steel Nails from the People's Republic of China; 2024-2025,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).

7.   See Order.

8.   See, e.g., Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to Length Plate from the Federal Republic of Germany: Recission of Antidumping Administrative Review; 2020-2021,88 FR 4154 (January 24, 2023).

9.   See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).

10.   See, e.g., Shanghai Sunbeauty Trading Co. v. United States, 380 F.Supp.3d 1328, 1337 (CIT 2019), at 12 (referring to section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) held that “{w}hile the statute does not explicitly require that an entry be suspended as a prerequisite for establishing entitlement to a review, it does explicitly state the determined rate will be used as the liquidation rate for the reviewed entries. This result can only obtain if the liquidation of entries has been suspended”; see also Certain Frozen Fish Fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final Determination of No Shipments; 2018-2019,86 FR 36102, and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 4; and Solid Fertilizer Grade Ammonium Nitrate from the Russian Federation: Notice of Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,77 FR 65532 (October 29, 2012) (noting that “for an administrative review to be conducted, there must be a reviewable, suspended entry to be liquidated at the newly calculated assessment rate”).

11.   See Memorandum, “Notice of Intent to Rescind Review, In Part,” dated September 2, 2026.

12.   See Initiation Notice, 90 FR at 46174.

13.   See Antidumping Proceedings: Announcement of Change in Department Practice for Respondent Selection in Antidumping Duty Proceedings and Conditional Review of the Nonmarket Economy Entity in NME Antidumping Duty Proceedings,78 FR 65963 (November 4, 2013).

14.   See Order, 73 FR at 44965.

15.   See 19 CFR 351.309.

16.   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 Procedures).

17.   See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).

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 Procedures.

20.   See 19 CFR 351.310(d).

21.   See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).

22.   See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).

23.   See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2); see also Antidumping Proceeding: Calculation of the Weighted-Average Dumping Margin and Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping Proceedings; Final Modification,77 FR 8101, 8103 (February 14, 2012).

[FR Doc. 2026-22526 Filed 11-3-26; 8:45 am]

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