(a) Filing of allegation. Any interested party, as defined in § 165.1, may file an allegation that an importer of covered merchandise has evaded AD/CVD orders. An allegation must be filed electronically through the appropriate portal on CBP's online e-Allegations system or through any other method approved or designated by CBP. Each allegation must be limited to one importer, but an interested party may file multiple allegations. An allegation must satisfy the requirements in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.

(b) Contents. An allegation of evasion must include, but is not limited to, the following information:

(1) Name of the interested party making the allegation and identification of the agent filing on its behalf, if any, and the email address for communication and service purposes;

(2) An explanation as to how the interested party qualifies as an interested party pursuant to § 165.1;

(3) Name and address of importer against whom the allegation is brought;

(4) Description of the covered merchandise;

(5) Applicable AD/CVD orders; and

(6) Information reasonably available to the interested party to support its allegation that the importer with respect to whom the allegation is filed is engaged in evasion.

(c) Certifications. An allegation must also be accompanied by the certifications required under § 165.5(b) and the following statement of informed consent from the person making the submission: “I certify my understanding and consent that the information provided for in § 165.11(b)(1) through (5) may be released for public consumption.”

(d) Signature. The person signing the allegation on behalf of the interested party must include his or her name, position in the company or other affiliation, and provide contact information. Electronic submission of this information will be considered “signed” for purpose of filing the allegation.

(e) Technical assistance and guidance—(1) Availability. CBP will provide technical assistance and guidance for the preparation of an allegation of evasion and its submission to CBP, as described in this section.

(i) Small businesses. Small businesses are entitled to technical assistance upon request. In general, small businesses are eligible to make such requests if they have neither adequate internal resources nor financial ability to obtain qualified outside assistance in preparing and submitting for CBP's consideration allegations of evasion. Small businesses must satisfy the applicable standards set forth in 15 U.S.C. 632 and implemented in 13 CFR part 121.

(ii) Other parties. Other parties may request technical assistance, which CBP may provide if resources are reasonably available.

(2) Requests. Requests for technical assistance may be made at any time via the email address designated on CBP's online e-Allegations system or through any other method approved or designated by CBP.

(3) Limitations. The act of providing technical assistance is not part of the record for the investigation, nor does it compel a decision by CBP to initiate an investigation pursuant to § 165.15.

(a) Date of receipt. The “date of receipt” of a properly filed allegation is the date on which CBP provides an acknowledgment of receipt of an allegation containing all the information and certifications required in § 165.11, together with a CBP-assigned control number, to the party that filed the allegation. CBP has 15 business days from the date of receipt to determine whether to initiate an investigation under the EAPA.

(b) Withdrawal. An allegation may be withdrawn by the party that filed it if that party submits a request to withdraw the allegation to the designated email address specified by CBP or through any other method approved or designated by CBP.

(a) In general. Multiple allegations against one or more importers may be consolidated into a single investigation at CBP's discretion. Consolidations may be made at any point prior to the issuance of a determination as to evasion with respect to a particular importer. If multiple allegations are received and consolidated prior to the initiation of an investigation, then the date of receipt of the first properly filed allegation will start the time period for the deadline to initiate the investigation described in § 165.15 with respect to that allegation.

(b) Criteria. CBP may consolidate multiple allegations if warranted based on the consideration of certain factors. The factors that CBP may consider include, but are not limited to, whether the multiple allegations involve:

(1) Relationships between the importers;

(2) Similarity of covered merchandise;

(3) Similarity of AD/CVD orders; and

(4) Overlap in time periods for entries of covered merchandise.

(c) Notice. Notice of consolidation will be promptly transmitted to all parties to the investigation if consolidation occurs at a point in the investigation after which they have already been notified of the ongoing investigation. Otherwise, parties will be notified no later than five business days after day 90 of the investigation.

(d) Service requirements for other parties to the investigation. Upon notification of consolidation, parties to the consolidated investigation must serve on the newly added parties to the investigation, via an email message or through any other method approved or designated by CBP, public documents and the public versions of any documents that were previously served on parties to the unconsolidated investigation. Service must take place within five business days of the notice of consolidation.

(a) Requests for investigations. Any other Federal agency, including but not limited to the Department of Commerce or the United States International Trade Commission, may request an investigation under this part. CBP will initiate an investigation if the Federal agency has provided information that reasonably suggests that an importer has entered covered merchandise into the customs territory of the United States through evasion, unless the agency submits a request to withdraw to the designated email address specified by CBP or through any other method approved or designated by CBP.

(b) Contents of requests. The following information must be included in the request for an investigation:

(1) Name of importer against whom the allegation is brought;

(2) Description of the covered merchandise;

(3) Applicable AD/CVD orders;

(4) Information that reasonably suggests that an importer has entered covered merchandise into the customs territory of the United States through evasion;

(5) Identification of a point of contact at the agency; and

(6) Notification of any knowledge of or reason to suspect that the covered merchandise poses any health or safety risk to U.S. consumers.

(c) Receipt of requests. Requests for an investigation must be filed electronically via CBP's online e-Allegations system or through any other method approved or designated by CBP. The date of receipt is the date that CBP transmits notice of the assigned control number to the Federal agency that filed the request.

(d) Notice of release of information—(1) Public information. CBP will treat the information required by paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section as public information.

(2) Business confidential treatment. CBP will create a public summary of the information required by paragraphs (b)(4) and (6) of this section.

(e) Access to investigation. The Federal agency is not a party to the investigation. Therefore, it will neither receive official notice of developments after CBP's receipt of the request for an investigation nor will it receive service of any documents filed by interested parties. Only the parties to the investigation will be entitled to notice and service, as well as the related rights to administrative review and judicial review.

(a) Time for determination. CBP will make a determination as to whether to initiate an investigation on or before the 15th business day after the date on which a properly filed allegation is received under § 165.12(a) or a request for an investigation is received from a Federal agency under § 165.14.

(b) Criteria for initiation. CBP will initiate an investigation under subpart C of this part if the following criteria are satisfied:

(1) Nature of merchandise. The covered merchandise described in the allegation or Federal agency request for an investigation is properly within the scope of an AD/CVD order. If CBP lacks sufficient information to make such determination as to the scope of the order, then it will refer the matter to the Department of Commerce pursuant to § 165.16.

(2) Likelihood of evasion. The information provided in the allegation or Federal agency request for an investigation reasonably suggests that the covered merchandise has been entered for consumption into the customs territory of the United States through evasion as it is defined in § 165.1.

(c) Exceptions. Even if the criteria in paragraph (b) of this section are satisfied, CBP will not initiate an investigation under the following circumstances:

(1) Clerical error. A clerical error, as defined in 19 U.S.C. 1517(a)(5)(B), is not evasion, although CBP will take appropriate actions to ensure that AD/CVD duties are assessed and collected.

(2) Withdrawal. An allegation or a request for an investigation from another Federal agency may be withdrawn pursuant to the requirements of § 165.12(b) or § 165.14(a), as applicable.

(d) Notification of the investigation. If CBP determines that it will not initiate an investigation, it will notify the interested party who filed the allegation within five business days of that determination. Otherwise, the parties to the investigation will be notified consistent with the following time limits:

(1) In general. CBP will issue a notice of its decision to initiate an investigation to all parties to the investigation no later than five business days after day 90 of the investigation, and the actual date of initiation of the investigation will be specified therein. In cases where interim measures are taken pursuant to § 165.24, notice to all parties to the investigation will occur no later than five business days after day 90 of the investigation.

(2) Consolidated allegations. If multiple allegations are consolidated, any interested party who filed an allegation after initiation of an investigation will be notified by CBP of the date of the decision to initiate an investigation when that party receives notice of consolidation under § 165.13(c).

(e) Record of the investigation. If an investigation is initiated pursuant to subpart B of this part, then the information considered by CBP prior to initiation will be part of the administrative record pursuant to § 165.21. Any documents submitted prior to the issuance of a notice of CBP's decision to initiate an investigation will be served by CBP on the parties to the investigation, regardless of who submitted those documents.

(a) When required. A referral is required if at any point after receipt of an allegation, CBP cannot determine whether the merchandise described in an allegation is properly within the scope of an antidumping or countervailing duty order.

(b) Referral. The referral may contain any necessary information available to CBP regarding whether the merchandise described in an allegation is subject to the relevant AD/CVD orders.

(c) Notice of referral. TRLED will promptly notify the parties to the investigation of the date of the referral.

(d) Effect on investigation. The time period required for any referral and determination by the Department of Commerce will not be counted toward the deadlines for CBP to decide on whether to initiate an investigation under § 165.15, whether to take interim measures under § 165.24, or the deadline to issue a determination as to evasion under § 165.27.

(e) Notice of decision. CBP will place the determination by the Department of Commerce on the administrative record of CBP's proceeding and will electronically notify the parties to the investigation.