Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Affirmative Preliminary Critical Circumstances Determination: Certain Orange Juice from Brazil, 49557-49566 [E5-4633]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices
shipments of HRS by Essar Steel
Limited (Essar) to the United States for
the period from December 1, 2003,
through November 30, 2004. See
Initiation of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Administrative
Reviews and Requests for Revocation in
Part, 70 FR 4818 (January 31, 2005). The
preliminary results are currently due no
later than September 2, 2005.
Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary
Results of Review
Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act
of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires
the Department to make a preliminary
determination within 245 days after the
last day of the anniversary month of the
date of publication of the order for
which a review is requested and a final
determination within 120 days after the
date on which the preliminary
determination is published. However, if
it is not practicable to complete the
review within this time period, section
751(a)(3)(A) of the Act allows the
Department to extend the time limit for
the preliminary determination to a
maximum of 365 days and the time
limit for the final determination to 180
days (or 300 days if the Department
does not extend the time limit for the
preliminary determination) from the
date of publication of the preliminary
determination.
The Department finds that it is not
practicable to complete the preliminary
results of this review within this time
limit because additional time is needed
to fully analyze significant amounts of
new data only recently submitted.
Therefore, in accordance with section
751(a)(3)(A) of the Act, the Department
is extending the time limit for
completion of the preliminary results of
this review until no later than January
3, 2006, which is the next business day
after 365 days from the last day of the
anniversary month of the date of
publication of the order. The deadline
for the final results of this
administrative review continues to be
120 days after the publication of the
preliminary results.
This notice is issued and published in
accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of
the Act.
Dated: August 18, 2005.
Barbara E. Tillman,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E5–4632 Filed 8–23–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–351–840]
Notice of Preliminary Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
Postponement of Final Determination,
and Affirmative Preliminary Critical
Circumstances Determination: Certain
Orange Juice from Brazil
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: We preliminarily determine
that certain orange juice from Brazil is
being, or is likely to be, sold in the
United States at less than fair value, as
provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). In
addition, we preliminarily determine
that there is a reasonable basis to believe
or suspect that critical circumstances
exist with respect to the subject
merchandise exported from Brazil.
Interested parties are invited to
comment on this preliminary
determination. Because we are
postponing the final determination, we
will make our final determination not
later than 135 days after the date of
publication of this preliminary
determination in the Federal Register.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 24, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Eastwood or Jill Pollack, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 2, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–3874 or (202) 482–
4593, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preliminary Determination
We preliminarily determine that
certain orange juice from Brazil is being,
or is likely to be, sold in the United
States at less than fair value (LTFV), as
provided in section 733 of the Act. The
estimated margins of sales at LTFV are
shown in the ‘‘Suspension of
Liquidation’’ section of this notice. In
addition, we preliminarily determine
that there is a reasonable basis to believe
or suspect that critical circumstances
exist with respect to the subject
merchandise exported from Brazil. The
critical circumstances analysis for the
preliminary determination is discussed
below under the section ‘‘Critical
Circumstances.’’
Background
Since the initiation of this
investigation (see Notice of Initiation of
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49557
Antidumping Duty Investigation:
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil, 70 FR
7233 (Feb. 11, 2005) (Initiation Notice)),
the following events have occurred.
On March 3, 2005, the United States
International Trade Commission (ITC)
preliminarily determined that there is a
reasonable indication that imports of
certain orange juice from Brazil are
materially injuring the United States
industry. See ITC Investigation No. 731–
TA–1089.
On March 7, 2005, we selected
Sucocitrico Cutrale, S.A. (Cutrale), the
largest producer/exporter of certain
orange juice from Brazil, as a mandatory
respondent in this proceeding and
issued Cutrale an antidumping
questionnaire.
On March 14, 2005, we also selected
the two next largest producers/exporters
of certain orange juice from Brazil (i.e.,
Fischer S/A - Agroindustria (Fischer)
and Montecitrus Industria e Comercio
Limitada (Montecitrus)) as mandatory
respondents in this proceeding. See the
March 14, 2005, memorandum to Louis
Apple, Director, Office 2, from Elizabeth
Eastwood, Jill Pollack, Nichole Zink,
and Ryan Douglas entitled,
‘‘Antidumping Duty Investigation of
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil Selection of Respondents.’’ We issued
antidumping questionnaires to these
exporters on March 14, 2005.
On March 31, 2005, the petitioners1
requested that the Department ‘‘clarify’’
the scope of the instant investigation to
include exports of FCOJM from
producers and exporters previously
covered by a separate antidumping duty
order on frozen concentrated orange
juice (FCOJ) from Brazil. From April 4
through April 14, 2005, we received
comments on the petitioners’ request
from various Brazilian orange juice
producers, as well as additional
comments from the petitioners.
On April 11, 2005, Cutrale requested
that the Department revise the period of
investigation (POI) in this proceeding.
We received section A questionnaire
responses from Cutrale and Fischer on
April 11, 2005. On April 15 and 18,
2005, respectively, the Department
issued supplemental section A
questionnaires to Fischer and Cutrale.
On April 19, 2005, we received a section
A questionnaire response from
Montecitrus.
On April 22, 2005, we rejected
Cutrale’s request to revise the POI. See
the April 22, 2005, memorandum to
Louis Apple, Director, Office 2, from Jill
1 The petitioners in this investigation are the
Florida Citrus Mutual, A. Duda & Sons, Inc. (doing
business as Citrus Belle), Citrus World, Inc., and
Southern Garden Citrus Processing Corporation
(doing business as Southern Gardens).
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Pollack, Analyst, entitled, ‘‘Request by
Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltda. for a Revised
Period of Investigation in the
Antidumping Duty Investigation of
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil.’’
We received section B and C
questionnaire responses from Cutrale
and Fischer on April 27, and 29, 2005,
respectively.
On May 5 and 6, 2005, respectively,
we issued a second supplemental
section A questionnaire to Cutrale, and
a supplemental questionnaire regarding
sections B and C to Fischer.
On May 6, 2005, Cutrale and Fischer
submitted responses to the Department’s
first supplemental section A
questionnaires.
On May 9, 2005, Montecitrus
withdrew its participation from this
antidumping proceeding and requested
that the Department remove from the
record of this proceeding all documents
containing business proprietary
information submitted by or on behalf of
Montecitrus. On May 26, 2005, we
certified to the destruction of all
business proprietary information.
On May 11 and 16, 2005, respectively,
the petitioners alleged that Cutrale and
Fischer made home market sales below
the cost of production (COP) and,
therefore, requested that the Department
initiate a sales–below-cost investigation
of these respondents.
On May 12, 2005, Cutrale submitted
its response to the Department’s second
supplemental section A questionnaire.
On May 23 and 31, 2005, respectively,
we initiated sales–below-cost
investigations for Cutrale and Fischer
and, as a result, requested that Cutrale
and Fischer respond to section D of the
questionnaire. See the May 23, 2005,
memorandum to Louis Apple, Director,
Office 2, from Nichole Zink, Analyst,
entitled, ‘‘Petitioners’ Allegation of
Sales Below the Cost of Production for
Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltda’’ (Cutrale Cost
Initiation Memo) and May 31, 2005,
memorandum to Louis Apple, Director,
Office 2, from Elizabeth Eastwood,
Senior Analyst, entitled, ‘‘Petitioners’
Allegation of Sales Below the Cost of
Production for Fischer S/A–
´
Agroindustria’’ (Fischer Cost Initiation
Memo).
On May 27, 2005, we issued a second
supplemental section A questionnaire to
Fischer.
On June 2, 2005, the petitioners made
a timely request pursuant to 19 CFR
351.205(e) for a 50-day postponement of
the preliminary determination, pursuant
to section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act. The
petitioners stated that a postponement
of the preliminary determination was
necessary in order to permit the
Department and the petitioners to fully
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analyze the information that had been
submitted in the investigation and to
analyze cost information.
On June 7 and 9, 2005, respectively,
we issued a supplemental questionnaire
regarding sections B and C to Cutrale
and a supplemental questionnaire
regarding section B to Fischer.
On June 10, 2005, Fischer submitted
its response to the Department’s second
supplemental section A questionnaire.
On June 7, 2005, pursuant to sections
733(c)(1)(A) and (b)(1) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.205(f), the Department
postponed the preliminary
determination until no later than August
16, 2005. See Postponement of
Preliminary Determination of
Antidumping Duty Investigation:
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil, 70 FR
34086 (June 13, 2005).
On June 21, 2005, Cutrale submitted
its response to the Department’s section
D questionnaire.
On June 24, 2005, we issued a
supplemental section C questionnaire to
Fischer.
On June 27, 2005, we informed the
petitioners that in order for the
Department to consider revising the
scope of this proceeding, they would
need to amend the original petition. For
further discussion, see the ‘‘Scope
Comments’’ section of this notice below.
On June 28, 2005, Fischer submitted
its response to the Department’s section
D questionnaire.
On June 29, 2005, the Department
issued its third supplemental section A
questionnaire to Fischer.
On July 1, 2005, Fischer responded to
the Department’s supplemental section
B questionnaire. On July 5, 2005,
Cutrale responded to the Department’s
supplemental sections B and C
questionnaire.
On July 13, 2005, Fischer submitted
its response to the Department’s third
supplemental section A questionnaire.
On July 14, 2005, we issued a
supplemental section D questionnaire to
Fischer.
On July 22, 2005, Fischer submitted
its response to the Department’s
supplemental section C questionnaire.
On July 25, 2005, the petitioners
alleged that critical circumstances exist
with respect to imports of certain orange
juice from Brazil. Accordingly, pursuant
to section 732(e) of the Act, on July 28,
2005, we requested information from
Cutrale and Fischer regarding monthly
shipments to the United States during
the period June 2001 through June 2005.
On July 26, 2005, and August 4, 2005,
respectively, Cutrale and Fischer
submitted their responses to the
Department’s supplemental section D
questionnaires.
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On August 1 and 2, 2005,
respectively, Cutrale and Fischer
requested that the Department postpone
its final determination in the event of an
affirmative preliminary determination,
in accordance with section 735(a)(2) of
the Act.
On August 3, 2005, we issued a
second supplemental questionnaire
regarding sections B and C to Cutrale.
On August 10, 2005, we issued
additional supplemental questionnaires
to both respondents. Because the
deadline for this information is after the
date of the preliminary determination,
we will consider it for the final
determination.
On August 11, 2005, we received
monthly shipment information from
Cutrale and Fischer. Because this
information was received too late for
use in the preliminary determination,
we will consider it in the final
determination. The critical
circumstances analysis for the
preliminary determination is discussed
below under ‘‘Critical Circumstances.’’
Postponement of Final Determination
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
exports of the subject merchandise, or in
the event of a negative preliminary
determination, a request for such
postponement is made by the petitioner.
The Department’s regulations, at 19 CFR
351.210(e)(2), require that requests by
respondents for postponement of a final
determination be accompanied by a
request for extension of provisional
measures from a four-month period to
not more than six months.
Pursuant to section 735(a)(2) of the
Act, on August 1 and August 2, 2005,
respectively, Cutrale and Fischer
requested that, in the event of an
affirmative preliminary determination
in this investigation, the Department
postpone its final determination until
not later than 135 days after the date of
the publication of the preliminary
determination in the Federal Register,
and extend the provisional measures to
not more than six months. In
accordance with 19 CFR 351.210(b),
because (1) our preliminary
determination is affirmative, (2) Cutrale
and Fischer account for a significant
proportion of exports of the subject
merchandise, and (3) no compelling
reasons for denial exist, we are granting
the respondents’ request and are
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postponing the final determination until
no later than 135 days after the
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. Suspension of liquidation will
be extended accordingly.
Period of Investigation
The POI is October 1, 2003, through
September 30, 2004. This period
corresponds to the four most recent
fiscal quarters prior to the month of the
filing of the petition (i.e., December
2004).
Scope of Investigation
The scope of this investigation
includes certain orange juice for
transport and/or further manufacturing,
produced in two different forms: (1)
frozen orange juice in a highly
concentrated form, sometimes referred
to as FCOJM; and (2) pasteurized single–
strength orange juice which has not
been concentrated, referred to as NFC.
At the time of the filing of the
petition, there was an existing
antidumping duty order on FCOJ from
Brazil. See Antidumping Duty Order;
Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice from
Brazil, 52 FR 16426 (May 5, 1987).
Therefore, the scope of this
investigation with regard to FCOJM
covers only FCOJM produced and/or
exported by those companies which
were excluded or revoked from the pre–
existing antidumping order on FCOJ
from Brazil as of December 27, 2004.
Those companies are Cargill Citrus
Limitada, Cutrale, Fischer2, and
Montecitrus.
The Department also revoked the pre–
existing antidumping duty order on
FCOJ with regard to two additional
companies, Coopercitrus Industrial
Frutesp (Frutesp) and Frutropic S.A.
(Frutropic). See Frozen Concentrated
Orange Juice; Final Results and
Termination in Part of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review; Revocation
in Part of the Antidumping Duty Order,
56 FR 52510 (Oct. 21, 1991), and Frozen
Concentrated Orange Juice; Final
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review and Revocation
of Order in Part, 59 FR 53137 (Oct. 21,
1994). After revocation, both of these
companies experienced changes in their
corporate organization and are now
doing business under the name
COINBRA–Frutesp. Therefore, in order
to determine whether these companies
are subject to this proceeding, the
Department must make successor–ininterest findings with respect to each
2 At the time of this company’s revocation, this
company was doing business under the name
Citrosuco Paulista S.A. (Citrosuco). See the
‘‘Successor-in-Interest’’ section of this notice,
below, for further discussion.
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entity. We intend to make such findings
no later than the final determination in
this case. We note that, should the
Department find COINBRA–Frutesp to
be the successor–in-interest to one or
both of these companies, exports of
FCOJM by the successor company will
be included in this proceeding. See the
‘‘Successor–in-Interest’’ section of this
notice, below, for further discussion.
Excluded from the scope of the
investigation are reconstituted orange
juice and frozen concentrated orange
juice for retail (FCOJR). Reconstituted
orange juice is produced through further
manufacture of FCOJM, by adding
water, oils and essences to the orange
juice concentrate. FCOJR is
concentrated orange juice, typically at
42° Brix, in a frozen state, packed in
retail–sized containers ready for sale to
consumers. FCOJR, a finished consumer
product, is produced through further
manufacture of FCOJM, a bulk
manufacturer’s product.
The subject merchandise is currently
classifiable under subheadings
2009.11.00, 2009.12.25, 2009.12.45, and
2009.19.00 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
These HTSUS subheadings are provided
for convenience and for customs
purposes only and are not dispositive.
Rather the written description of the
scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Successor–in-Interest
As noted above, at the time of the
filing of the petition, there was an
existing antidumping duty order on
FCOJ from Brazil. Therefore, the scope
with regard to FCOJM covers only
FCOJM produced and/or exported by
those companies which were excluded
or revoked from the pre–existing
antidumping order on FCOJ from Brazil
as of December 27, 2004. Three of the
revoked companies, Citrosuco, Frutesp,
and Frutropic, informed the Department
that they have undergone certain
ownership changes since the time of
their revocation and are now doing
business under different names. In our
notice of initiation, we indicated that
we intended to make successor–ininterest determinations with respect to
these companies in order to determine
if the FCOJM exports of the ‘‘new’’
companies fall within the scope of this
proceeding.
Regarding Citrosuco, prior to the
initiation of this investigation, Citrosuco
informed the Department that it is now
doing business under the name Fischer,
and it claimed that Fischer is the
successor–in-interest to Citrosuco. On
March 8, 2005, we issued a separate
questionnaire to Fischer relating to the
successor–in-interest issue. On April 11,
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2005, Fischer submitted its response.
Based on our analysis of this
submission, we find that the company’s
organizational structure, management,
production facilities, supplier
relationships, and customers have
remained essentially unchanged.
Furthermore, Fischer has provided
sufficient documentation of its name
change. Based on all the evidence
reviewed, we find that Fischer operates
as the same business entity as Citrosuco.
Thus, we find that Fischer is the
successor–in-interest to Citrosuco and,
as a consequence, its exports of FCOJM
are subject to this proceeding. For
further discussion, see the August 16,
2005, memorandum to Joseph A.
Spetrini, Acting Assistant Secretary,
from Barbara E. Tillman, Acting Deputy
Assistant Secretary, entitled,
‘‘Successor–In-Interest Determination
for Fischer S.A. Agroindustria in the
Less–Than-Fair–Value Investigation on
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil.’’
Regarding Frutesp and Frutropic,
these entities were purchased by the
Louis Dreyfus group in the early 1990’s
and they are now producing and
exporting FCOJM under the name
COINBRA–Frutesp. Because the
corporate structure changes for these
companies are not recent and involve
complex transactions, additional
consideration is required to determine
their successor–in-interest status.
Accordingly, we intend to make our
successor–in-interest findings no later
than the final determination.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to
our regulations, we set aside a period of
time for parties to raise issues regarding
product coverage and encouraged all
parties to submit comments no later
than April 1, 2005. (See Antidumping
Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final
Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19,
1997) and Initiation Notice at 70 FR
7234.)
As noted in the ‘‘Background’’ section
above, on March 31, 2005, the
petitioners requested that the
Department clarify the scope of the
investigation to include exports of
FCOJM from producers and exporters
previously covered by a separate
antidumping duty order on FCOJ from
Brazil. We received additional
comments from the following interested
parties on this issue: Citrovita Agro
Industrial Ltda. (Citrovita), COINBRA–
Frutesp, Cutrale, Louis Dreyfus Citrus,
Inc., and Montecitrus. On June 27, 2005,
we notified the petitioners that in order
for the Department to consider revising
the scope of the instant investigation as
requested, the petitioners would need to
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amend the original petition. Because the
petitioners have not submitted such an
amendment, we have continued to
define the scope of this investigation as
initiated.
On April 1, 2005, Cutrale agreed with
the Department’s initial treatment of
FCOJM and NFC as a single class or
kind of merchandise.
On May 10, 2005, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) raised concerns
that the scope as currently drafted could
encompass merchandise other than
FCOJM and NFC, under the HTSUS
subheadings for reconstituted juice and
non–orange juice products ‘‘other’’ (i.e.,
2009.12.45 and 2009.19.00). Therefore,
CBP recommended removing these
HTSUS subheadings from the scope of
the instant investigation. See the May
10, 2005, memorandum to the file, from
Jill Pollack, Analyst, entitled:
‘‘Conversation with Customs Official
Regarding the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule (HTS) Codes Included in the
Scope of the Antidumping Duty
Investigation of Certain Orange Juice
from Brazil (A–351–840).’’ On May 31,
2005, the petitioners opposed this
request on the grounds that both of the
HTSUS subheadings cover orange juice
products that lack specific HTSUS
numbers, but which are included in the
written description of the scope.
Therefore, the petitioners maintain
these subheadings should be retained in
order to alleviate circumvention
concerns. After considering the
petitioners’ comments, we find that it is
appropriate to continue to include the
HTSUS subheadings in question in the
scope description set forth above.
Use of Facts Available (FA) for
Montecitrus
One of the mandatory respondents in
this case, Montecitrus, notified the
Department on May 9, 2005, that it no
longer intended to participate in the
investigation. Section 776(a)(2) of the
Act provides that, if an interested party:
(A) withholds information requested by
the Department, (B) fails to provide such
information by the deadline, or in the
form or manner requested, (C)
significantly impedes a proceeding, or
(D) provides information that cannot be
verified, the Department shall use,
subject to sections 782(d) and (e) of the
Act, facts otherwise available in
reaching the applicable determination.
In the instant investigation, by
withdrawing its information from the
record, the Department preliminarily
finds that, pursuant to section
776(a)(2)(A), Montecitrus withheld
requested information. Further,
pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(B), the
Department preliminarily determines
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Montecitrus failed to provide the
information requested by the
Department within the established
deadlines. Finally, by withdrawing from
the investigation and ceasing to
participate in the proceeding, the
Department preliminarily finds that,
pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(C),
Montecitrus significantly impeded the
investigation. Consequently, pursuant to
sections 776(a)(2)(A)-(C) of the Act, the
Department preliminarily finds that the
application of facts available is
warranted.
In selecting from among the facts
otherwise available, section 776(b) of
the Act authorizes the Department to
use an adverse inference if the
Department finds that an interested
party failed to cooperate by not acting
to the best of its ability to comply with
a request for information. See, e.g.,
Notice of Final Determination of Sales
of Less Than Fair Value and Final
Negative Critical Circumstances: Carbon
and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from
Brazil, 67 FR 55792, 55794–96 (Aug. 30,
2002). To examine whether the
respondent cooperated by acting to the
best of its ability under section 776(b) of
the Act, the Department considers, inter
alia, the accuracy and completeness of
submitted information and whether the
respondent has hindered the calculation
of accurate dumping margins. See, e.g.,
Notice of Final Determination of Sales
at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold–
Rolled Flat–Rolled Carbon Quality Steel
Products From Brazil, 65 FR 5554, 5567
(Feb. 4, 2000). In the instant
investigation, by ceasing to participate
in the investigation, Montecitrus
decided not to cooperate and thus did
not act to the best of its ability to
comply with a request for information.
Consequently, we find that an adverse
inference is warranted in determining
an antidumping duty margin for
Montecitrus.
Sections 776(b) and (c) of the Act
authorize the Department to use, as
adverse facts available (AFA),
information derived from the petition, a
final investigation determination, a
previous administrative review, or any
other information placed on the record.
The Department’s practice when
selecting an adverse rate from among
the possible sources of information is to
ensure that the margin is sufficiently
adverse to induce respondents to
provide the Department with complete
and accurate information in a timely
manner.’’ See, e.g., Carbon and Certain
Alloy Steel Wire Rod from Brazil: Notice
of Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value and Final Negative
Critical Circumstances, 67 FR 55792
(Aug. 30, 2002); Static Random Access
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Memory Semiconductors from Taiwan:
Final Determination of Sales at Less
than Fair Value, 63 FR 8909 (Feb. 23,
1998). The Department applies AFA ‘‘to
ensure that the party does not obtain a
more favorable result by failing to
cooperate than if it had cooperated
fully.’’ See Statement of Administrative
Action accompanying the Uruguay
Round Agreements Act, H.R. Doc. No.
103–316, vol. 1, at 870 (1994) (SAA).
In accordance with our standard
practice, as AFA, we are assigning
Montecitrus a rate which is the higher
of: (1) The highest margin stated in the
notice of initiation (i.e., the recalculated
petition margin); or (2) the highest
margin calculated for any respondent in
this investigation. See, e.g., Notice of
Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value: Purified
Carboxymethylcellulose From Sweden,
70 FR 28278 (May 17, 2005). In this
case, the preliminary AFA margin is
60.29 percent, which is the highest
margin stated in the notice of initiation.
See Initiation Notice, 70 FR at 7236. We
find that this rate is sufficiently high as
to effectuate the purpose of the facts
available rule (i.e., to encourage
participation in future segments of this
proceeding).
Corroboration of Information
Section 776(b) of the Act authorizes
the Department to use as AFA
information derived from the petition,
or any other information placed on the
record. Section 776(c) of the Act
requires the Department to corroborate,
to the extent practicable, secondary
information used as FA. Secondary
information is defined as
‘‘{i}nformation derived from the
petition that gave rise to the
investigation or review, the final
determination concerning the subject
merchandise, or any previous review
under section 751 concerning the
subject merchandise.’’ See 19 CFR
351.308 (c) and (d); see also the SAA at
870.
The SAA clarifies that ‘‘corroborate’’
means that the Department will satisfy
itself that the secondary information to
be used has probative value. See the
SAA at 870. The SAA also states that
independent sources used to corroborate
such evidence may include, for
example, published price lists, official
import statistics and customs data, and
information obtained from interested
parties during the particular
investigation. Id. To corroborate
secondary information, the Department
will, to the extent practicable, examine
the reliability and relevance of the
information used.
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In order to determine the probative
value of the margins in the petition for
use as AFA for purposes of this
preliminary determination, we used
information submitted by the two
participating respondents (i.e., Cutrale
and Fischer) in their questionnaire
responses on the record of this
investigation. We reviewed the
adequacy and accuracy of the
information in the petition during our
pre–initiation analysis of the petition, to
the extent appropriate information was
available for this purpose (see the
February 7, 2005, Initiation Checklist).
In accordance with section 776(c) of the
Act, to the extent practicable, we
examined the key elements of the export
price (EP) and constructed value (CV)
calculation on which the highest margin
in the petition was based.
In order to corroborate the petition’s
EP calculation, we compared the PIERS
data for FCOJM provided by the
petitioners in their February 3, 2005,
petition supplement to the prices of
FCOJM reported by Cutrale and Fischer.
These prices are comparable to the
PIERS data reported by the petitioners,
thus corroborating the petition U.S.
price data. In addition, the petitioners
calculated a net U.S. price by deducting
foreign inland freight and insurance,
brokerage, handling, and port charges
from the PIERS data used to derive U.S.
price. We corroborated these expense
amounts by comparing them to the
expenses reported by Cutrale and
Fischer in their questionnaire responses.
In order to corroborate the petitioners’
CV calculation, we compared the
petitioners’ CV data for FCOJM, as
adjusted in the notice of initiation, to
the CV data reported by the respondents
for FCOJM. As discussed in the August
16, 2005, memorandum to the file from
Nichole Zink, Analyst, entitled,
‘‘Corroboration of Data Contained in the
Petition for Assigning Facts Available
Rates’’ (Corroboration Memo), we find
that the figure used by the petitioners is
comparable to the information reported
by Cutrale and Fischer, thus
corroborating the petition cost data.
Therefore, we preliminarily determine
that the petition EP and CV information
has probative value. Accordingly, we
find that the highest margin stated in
the notice of initiation, 60.29 percent, is
corroborated within the meaning of
section 776(c) of the Act. For further
discussion, see the Corroboration
Memo.
Fair Value Comparisons
To determine whether sales of certain
orange juice from Brazil to the United
States were made at LTFV, we
compared the constructed export price
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(CEP) to the normal value (NV), as
described in the ‘‘Constructed Export
Price’’ and ‘‘Normal Value’’ sections of
this notice, below. In accordance with
section 777A(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, we
compared POI weighted–average CEPs
to POI weighted–average NVs.
Product Comparisons
In accordance with section 771(16) of
the Act, we considered all products
produced and sold by Cutrale and
Fischer in the home market during the
POI that fit the description in the
‘‘Scope of Investigation’’ section of this
notice to be foreign like products for
purposes of determining appropriate
product comparisons to U.S. sales. We
compared U.S. sales to sales made in the
home market, where appropriate. Where
there were no sales of identical
merchandise in the home market made
in the ordinary course of trade to
compare to U.S. sales, we compared
U.S. sales to sales of the most similar
foreign like product made in the
ordinary course of trade. In making the
product comparisons, we matched
foreign like products based on the
physical characteristics reported by the
respondents in the following order of
importance: product type and organic
designation. Where there were no sales
of identical or similar merchandise
made in the ordinary course of trade, we
made product comparisons using CV.
Constructed Export Price
A. Cutrale
In accordance with section 772(b) of
the Act, we calculate CEP for those sales
where the merchandise was first sold (or
agreed to be sold) in the United States
before or after the date of importation by
or for the account of the producer or
exporter, or by a seller affiliated with
the producer or exporter, to a purchaser
not affiliated with the producer or
exporter. In this case, we are treating all
of Cutrale’s U.S. sales as CEP sales
because they were made in the United
States by Cutrale’s U.S. affiliates on
behalf of Cutrale, within the meaning of
section 772(b) of the Act. We excluded
certain U.S. sales made pursuant to
futures contracts from our analysis
including: 1) sales to the New York
Board of Trade (NYBOT) that have not
been shipped as of the date of the
preliminary determination because the
country of origin of the merchandise is
not yet known; and 2) sales that were
destined for Canada.
For sales made pursuant to futures
contracts, we are considering using as
date of sale the date of the ‘‘sell’’
contract which resulted in the delivery
of merchandise. However, although
Cutrale reported the date of these ‘‘sell’’
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49561
contracts in its most recent U.S. sales
listing, this information was not
received in time for use in the
preliminary determination. For
purposes of this preliminary
determination, as date of sale, we used
the date the futures contract was either:
1) noticed for delivery to the NYBOT, in
the case of sales to the NYBOT; or 2) the
date the NYBOT was notified that
certain futures contracts were to be
applied in an ‘‘exchange for physicals’’
transaction. We intend to further
examine the issue of the appropriate
date of sale for futures contracts for the
final determination. In accordance with
our practice, for all other CEP sales, we
used the earlier of shipment date from
the U.S. affiliate to the customer or the
U.S. affiliate’s invoice date as the date
of sale because these were the dates on
which the material terms of sale were
finalized. See, e.g., Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Structural Steel Beams from
Germany, 67 FR 35497 (May 20, 2002),
and accompanying ‘‘Issues and Decision
Memorandum’’ at Comment 2.
We based CEP on the packed
delivered prices to unaffiliated
purchasers in the United States. For
sales made pursuant to futures
contracts, we adjusted the reported
gross unit price (i.e., the notice price) to
include gains and losses incurred on the
futures contract which resulted in the
shipment of subject merchandise. All
other gains and losses related to futures
trading activities have been included in
indirect selling expenses (see discussion
on indirect selling expenses below).
Where appropriate, we made
adjustments for billing adjustments and
early payment discounts.
In addition, we made deductions for
movement expenses, in accordance with
section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act; these
included, where appropriate, foreign
inland freight, foreign warehousing
expenses, foreign brokerage and
handling expenses, ocean freight, U.S.
brokerage and handling, U.S. customs
duties (including harbor maintenance
fees and merchandise processing fees),
U.S. inland freight expenses (i.e., freight
from port to warehouse), and U.S.
warehousing expenses. Regarding U.S.
customs duties, Cutrale reported that it
received certain ‘‘drawback’’ amounts
associated with duties paid on U.S.
sales and subsequently refunded under
a U.S. duty drawback program.
However, because Cutrale has provided
an insufficient link between the amount
of U.S. duties paid and the duty
drawback received, we disallowed the
‘‘drawback’’ amounts reported by
Cutrale for the preliminary
determination. We have requested
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additional information from Cutrale
regarding this program and will
consider it in our final determination.
In accordance with section 772(d)(1)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.402(b), we
deducted those selling expenses
associated with economic activities
occurring in the United States,
including direct selling expenses (i.e.,
bank charges, commissions, imputed
credit expenses, and repacking), and
indirect selling expenses (including
inventory carrying costs, gains and
losses on ‘‘rolled over’’ futures
contracts, and other indirect selling
expenses). In instances where the
information reported in Cutrale’s sales
listing differed from that reflected in its
narrative, we relied on the narrative
information. For further discussion, see
the August 16, 2005, memorandum to
the file, from Jill Pollack entitled,
‘‘Calculations performed for Sucocitrico
Cutrale Ltda. in the Investigation of
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil’’
(Cutrale calculation memo).
Pursuant to section 772(d)(3) of the
Act, we further reduced the starting
price by an amount for profit to arrive
at CEP. In accordance with section
772(f) of the Act, we calculated the CEP
profit rate using the expenses incurred
by Cutrale and its U.S. affiliates on their
sales of the subject merchandise in the
United States and the profit associated
with those sales.
B. Fischer
In accordance with section 772(b) of
the Act, we calculate CEP for those sales
where the merchandise was first sold (or
agreed to be sold) in the United States
before or after the date of importation by
or for the account of the producer or
exporter, or by a seller affiliated with
the producer or exporter, to a purchaser
not affiliated with the producer or
exporter. In this case, we are treating all
of Fischer’s U.S. sales as CEP sales
because they were made in the United
States by Fischer’s U.S. affiliate on
behalf of Fischer, within the meaning of
section 772(b) of the Act. We
preliminarily determine that invoice
date is the appropriate date of sale
because that is the date that the material
terms of sale are agreed upon. See 19
CFR 351.401(i).
We based CEP on the packed
delivered prices to unaffiliated
purchasers in the United States. Where
appropriate, we made adjustments for
rebates. We made deductions for
movement expenses, in accordance with
section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act; these
included, where appropriate, foreign
inland freight expenses, foreign
warehousing expenses, foreign
brokerage and handling expenses, ocean
freight expenses, bunker fuel
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surcharges, marine insurance expenses,
U.S. brokerage and handling expenses,
U.S. customs duties (including harbor
maintenance fees and merchandise
processing fees), U.S. inland freight
expenses (i.e., freight from port to
warehouse or to customer), and U.S.
warehousing expenses. Regarding U.S.
customs duties, Fischer also reported
that it received certain ‘‘drawback’’
amounts related to U.S. sales. However,
because Fischer has provided an
insufficient link between the amount of
U.S. duties paid and the duty drawback
received, we disallowed the ‘‘drawback’’
amounts reported by Fischer for the
preliminary determination. We have
requested additional information from
Fischer regarding the U.S. duty
drawback program and will consider it
for the final determination.
In accordance with section 772(d)(1)
and (2) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.402(b), we deducted those selling
expenses associated with economic
activities occurring in the United States,
including direct selling expenses (i.e.,
further manufacturing, imputed credit
expenses, and repacking), and indirect
selling expenses (including inventory
carrying costs and other indirect selling
expenses). We recalculated Fischer’s
U.S. credit expenses using the average
interest rate reported by Fischer in its
July 22 response. Regarding inventory
carrying costs, Fischer did not report
these expenses in its U.S. sales listing.
Therefore, we calculated these expenses
using FA. As FA, we based Fischer’s
inventory carrying period on the
information contained in the public
version of Cutrale’s section C response.
Finally, in instances where the
information reported in Fischer’s sales
listing differed from that reflected in its
narrative, we relied on the narrative
information. For further discussion, see
the August 16, 2005, memorandum to
the file from Elizabeth Eastwood
entitled, ‘‘Calculations performed for
Fischer S/A - Agroindustria in the
Investigation of Certain Orange Juice
from Brazil’’ (Fischer calculation
memo).
Pursuant to section 772(d)(3) of the
Act, we further reduced the starting
price by an amount for profit to arrive
at CEP. In accordance with section
772(f) of the Act, we calculated the CEP
profit rate using the expenses incurred
by Fischer and its U.S. affiliate on their
sales of the subject merchandise in the
United States and the profit associated
with those sales.
Normal Value
A. Home Market Viability
In order to determine whether there is
a sufficient volume of sales in the home
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Sfmt 4703
market to serve as a viable basis for
calculating NV (i.e., the aggregate
volume of home market sales of the
foreign like product is equal to or
greater than five percent of the aggregate
volume of U.S. sales), we compared
each respondent’s volume of home
market sales of the foreign like product
to the volume of its U.S. sales of the
subject merchandise, in accordance
with section 773(a)(1)(C) of the Act.
In this investigation, we determined
that the aggregate volume of home
market sales of the foreign like product
for each respondent was sufficient to
permit a proper comparison with its
U.S. sales of the subject merchandise.
B. Affiliated Party Transactions and
Arm’s–Length Test
As noted below, Fischer made sales of
the foreign like product to affiliated
customers during the POI. To test
whether these sales to affiliated
customers were made at arm’s length,
where possible, we compared the prices
of sales to affiliated and unaffiliated
customers, net of all movement charges,
direct selling expenses, and packing.
Where the price to that affiliated party
was, on average, within a range of 98 to
102 percent of the price of the same or
comparable merchandise sold to the
unaffiliated parties at the same level of
trade (LOT), we determined that the
sales made to the affiliated party were
at arm’s length. See Modification
Concerning Affiliated Party Sales in the
Comparison Market, 67 FR 69186 (Nov.
15, 2002).
C. Level of Trade
In accordance with section
773(a)(1)(B) of the Act, to the extent
practicable, we determine NV based on
sales in the comparison market at the
same LOT as the CEP. Pursuant to 19
CFR 351.412(c)(1), the NV LOT is that
of the starting–price sales in the
comparison market or, when NV is
based on CV, that of the sales from
which we derive selling, general and
administrative expenses (SG&A) and
profit. For CEP, it is the level of the
constructed sale from the exporter to the
importer.
To determine whether NV sales are at
a different LOT than CEP sales, we
examine stages in the marketing process
and selling functions along the chain of
distribution between the producer and
the unaffiliated customer. See 19 CFR
351.412(c)(2). If the comparison–market
sales are at a different LOT, and the
difference affects price comparability, as
manifested in a pattern of consistent
price differences between the sales on
which NV is based and comparison
market sales at the LOT of the export
transaction, we make an LOT
adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of
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the Act. Finally, for CEP sales, if the NV
level is more remote from the factory
than the CEP level and there is no basis
for determining whether the difference
in levels between NV and CEP affects
price comparability, we adjust NV
under section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Act
(the CEP–offset provision). See Notice of
Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value: Certain Cut–to-Length
Carbon Steel Plate from South Africa,
62 FR 61731 (Nov. 19, 1997).
In this investigation, we obtained
information from each respondent
regarding the marketing stages involved
in making the reported home market
and U.S. sales, including a description
of the selling activities performed by
each respondent for each channel of
distribution. Company–specific LOT
findings are summarized below.
Cutrale claimed that it made home
market sales at only one LOT (i.e., sales
to original equipment manufacturers).
Because Cutrale performed the same
selling activities for sales to all
customers in the home market (i.e.,
engineering services, packing, inventory
maintenance, processing, technical
assistance, rebates, cash discounts,
guarantees, freight and delivery, and
post–sale warehousing), we determine
that all home market sales by Cutrale
were at the same LOT.
Fischer also claimed that it made
home market sales at one LOT, although
it reported home market sales to the
following customer categories:
reconstitutors and/or repackagers,
institutional food service providers, and
drink producers. Because Fischer
performed the same selling activities for
sales to all customers in the home
market (i.e., inventory maintenance,
order processing/invoicing, freight and
delivery arrangements, and receipt of
payment), we also determine that all
home market sales by Fischer were at
the same LOT.
Both respondents made only CEP
sales during the POI. In order to
determine whether NV was established
at an LOT which constituted a more
advanced stage of distribution than the
LOT of the CEP for these companies, we
compared the selling functions
performed for home market sales with
those performed with respect to the CEP
transaction, which excludes economic
activities occurring in the United States.
We found that both respondents
performed essentially the same selling
functions in their sales offices in Brazil
for both home market and U.S. sales.
Therefore, the respondents’ sales in
Brazil were not at a more advanced
stage of marketing and distribution than
the constructed U.S. LOT, which
represents an F.O.B. foreign port price
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15:23 Aug 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
after the deduction of expenses
associated with U.S. selling activities.
Because we find that no difference in
LOT exists between markets, we find
that neither an LOT adjustment nor a
CEP offset is warranted for either
Cutrale or Fischer.
D. Cost of Production Analysis
Based on our analysis of the
petitioners’ allegations, we found that
there were reasonable grounds to
believe or suspect that Cutrale’s and
Fischer’s sales of certain orange juice in
the home market were made at prices
below their respective COP.
Accordingly, pursuant to section 773(b)
of the Act, we initiated sales–below-cost
investigations to determine whether
Cutrale’s and Fischer’s sales were made
at prices below their respective COPs.
See the Cutrale Cost Initiation Memo,
and the Fischer Cost Initiation Memo.
1. Calculation of COP
In accordance with section 773(b)(3)
of the Act, we calculated COP based on
the sum of the cost of materials and
fabrication for the foreign like product,
plus an amount for SG&A, and interest
expenses. See ‘‘Test of Home Market
Sales Prices’’ section below for
treatment of home market selling
expenses. We relied on the COP data
submitted by Cutrale and Fischer except
in the following instances.
A. Cutrale
1. We revised the allocation of Cutrale’s
net by–product revenue between FCOJM
and NFC; and
2. We revised Cutrale’s general and
administrative (G&A) expense to
include a write–off of fixed assets and
a gain on the sale of fixed assets.
For further discussion of these
adjustments, see the memorandums
from Ji Young Oh and Laurens van
Houten to Neal Halper entitled ‘‘Cost of
Production and Constructed Value
Adjustments for the Preliminary
Determination - Sucocitrico Cutrale
Ltda.’’ dated August 16, 2005.
B. Fischer
1. We revised the per–unit reported
costs for NFC and FCOJM to reflect the
different brix levels between products;
2. We revised Fischer’s G&A expense
rate calculation to exclude packing and
freight from the cost of goods sold
denominator; and
3. We based the COP for one of Fischer’s
production facilities on AFA. As AFA,
we have relied on the costs recorded in
the affiliate’s trial balance for the
applicable months. See below for
further discussion.
For further details regarding these
adjustments, see the Memorandum from
Heidi Schriefer and Frederick Mines to
Neal M. Halper entitled ‘‘Cost of
Production and Constructed Value
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49563
Calculation Adjustments for the
Preliminary Determination - Fischer S/
A - Agroindustria’’ dated August 16,
2005.
As noted above, in its original section
A and D responses, Fischer stated that
it owned and operated three production
facilities that produced the merchandise
under consideration. In the
supplemental section A response,
Fischer stated that one of the three
facilities was actually leased from an
affiliated party. Subsequently, in its
supplemental section D response,
Fischer stated that its previous
representations were erroneous and that
there were actually no leased facilities.
Instead, Fischer claimed that the third
facility was wholly owned and operated
by its affiliate during three months of
the POI and the affiliate produced the
merchandise under consideration. We
reviewed the record evidence and
determined that: (1) These two
producers are affiliated under section
771(33)(E) of the Act; and 2) Fischer and
its affiliate should be treated as one
entity for dumping calculation purposes
under 19 CFR 351.401(f). Specifically,
both entities have production facilities
for similar or identical products that
would not require substantial retooling
of either facility to restructure
manufacturing priorities and there is
significant potential for the
manipulation of price or production.
Thus, Fischer and its affiliate should be
treated as one entity for purposes of this
investigation. However, as noted above,
the respondent failed to provide the
costs associated with the third
production facility.
Section 776(a) of the Act provides
that, (1) if necessary information is not
available on the record, or (2) if an
interested party or any other person (A)
withholds information that has been
requested by the administering
authority; (B) fails to provide such
information by the deadlines for the
submission of the information or in the
form and manner requested, subject to
subsections (c)(1) and (e) of section 782
of the Act; (C) significantly impedes a
proceeding under this title; or (D)
provides such information but the
information cannot be verified as
provided in section 782(i) of the Act, the
Department shall, subject to section
782(d) of the Act, use the facts
otherwise available in reaching the
applicable determination under this
title. As noted above, in selecting from
among the facts otherwise available,
section 776(b) of the Act authorizes the
Department to use an adverse inference
if the Department finds that an
interested party failed to cooperate by
not acting to the best of its ability to
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comply with a request for information.
See, e.g., Notice of Final Determination
of Sales of Less Than Fair Value and
Final Negative Critical Circumstances:
Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire
Rod from Brazil, 67 FR 55792, 55794–
96 (Aug. 30, 2002). To examine whether
the respondent cooperated by acting to
the best of its ability under section
776(b) of the Act, the Department
considers, inter alia, the accuracy and
completeness of submitted information
and whether the respondent has
hindered the calculation of accurate
dumping margins. See, e.g., Notice of
Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value: Certain Cold–Rolled
Flat–Rolled Carbon Quality Steel
Products From Brazil, 65 FR 5554, 5567
(Feb. 4, 2000).
In the instant case, Fischer stated in
its questionnaire response that it owned
and operated three production facilities
that produced the merchandise under
consideration, indicating that the cost of
producing merchandise under
consideration for all three facilities was
included in the reported costs.
However, as mentioned earlier, in the
supplemental questionnaire, we
discovered that Fischer did not in fact
operate one of the three manufacturing
facilities but rather that its affiliate
operated the facility. Fischer failed to
provide the COP related to this facility.
As a result, necessary information is not
available on the record and Fischer
withheld information requested by the
Department, warranting the application
of facts available pursuant to sections
776(a)(1) and (2)(A) of the Act.
Moreover, we preliminarily determine
that Fischer did not cooperate to the
best of its ability in failing to provide
this cost information. Based on the data
Fischer was able to provide with respect
to this affiliate, it is reasonable to
assume that Fischer has access to this
affiliate’s COP data and could have
provided it in response to the
Department’s requests. However,
Fischer failed to do so. Furthermore,
Fischer should have known that the
affiliate’s COP information was required
by the Department because it was
requested in the general instructions for
the Department’s antidumping
questionnaire. Therefore, to account for
the POI production costs related to the
affiliate’s cost of producing merchandise
under consideration, we applied AFA
for purposes of the preliminary
determination pursuant to section
776(b) of the Act. As AFA, for the per–
unit costs of the third facility, we have
relied on the costs recorded in the
affiliate’s trial balance for the applicable
months. Subsequent to this preliminary
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Jkt 205001
determination, the Department will
solicit further information related to the
affiliate’s cost of producing the
merchandise under consideration.
However, if the solicited information is
not provided, the Department may make
additional adverse inferences related to
the total reported cost of production for
purposes of the final determination.
2. Test of Home Market Sales Prices
On a product–specific basis, we
compared the adjusted weighted–
average COP to the home market sales
of the foreign like product, as required
under section 773(b) of the Act, in order
to determine whether the sale prices
were below the COP. The prices were
exclusive of any applicable billing
adjustments, movement charges, and
direct and indirect selling expenses. In
determining whether to disregard home
market sales made at prices less than its
COP, we examined, in accordance with
sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act,
whether such sales were made (1)
within an extended period of time in
substantial quantities, and (2) at prices
which permitted the recovery of all
costs within a reasonable period of time.
3. Results of the COP Test
Pursuant to section 773(b)(2)(C) of the
Act, where less than 20 percent of the
respondent’s sales of a given product
during the POI are at prices less than the
COP, we do not disregard any below–
cost sales of that product, because we
determine that in such instances the
below–cost sales were not made in
substantial quantities. Where 20 percent
or more of the respondent’s sales of a
given product during the POI are at
prices less than the COP, we determine
that the below–cost sales represent
substantial quantities within an
extended period of time, in accordance
with section 773(b)(1)(A) of the Act. In
such cases, we also determine whether
such sales were made at prices which
would not permit recovery of all costs
within a reasonable period of time, in
accordance with section 773(b)(1)(B) of
the Act.
We found that, for Cutrale, less than
20 percent of Cutrale’s home market
sales failed the cost test. Therefore, we
did not disregard any home market sales
when calculating Cutrale’s NV.
Regarding Fischer, we found that, for
certain specific products, more than 20
percent of Fischer’s home market sales
during the POI were at prices less than
the COP and, in addition, the below–
cost sales did not provide for the
recovery of costs within a reasonable
period of time. We therefore excluded
these sales and used the remaining
sales, if any, as the basis for determining
Fischer’s NV, in accordance with
section 773(b)(1) of the Act. Where there
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were no sales of any comparable
product at prices above the COP, we
used CV as the basis for determining
NV.
E. Calculation of Normal Value Based
on Comparison Market Prices
1. Cutrale
For Cutrale, we calculated NV based
on ex–factory prices to unaffiliated
customers. We made adjustments,
where appropriate, to the starting price
for Brazilian taxes and billing
adjustments in accordance with section
773(a)(6)(B)(iii) of the Act. We made no
adjustment to the starting price for
home market rebates for purposes of the
preliminary determination because the
amounts reported were provisional.
Nonetheless, we have requested further
information from Cutrale regarding the
payment of these rebates and will
consider it for the final determination.
We made deductions from the starting
price for home market credit expenses
(offset by interest revenue) pursuant to
section 773(a)(6)(C) of the Act. Because
Cutrale reported that it had no home
market borrowings during the POI, we
recalculated home market credit
expenses using the SELIC interest rate
published by the International Monetary
Fund’s International Financial Statistics
(i.e., the ‘‘SELIC’’ rate). Where
applicable, in accordance with 19 CFR
351.410(e), we offset any commission
paid on a U.S. sale by reducing the NV
by the amount of home market indirect
selling expenses and inventory carrying
costs, up to the amount of the U.S.
commission.
Finally, we deducted home market
packing costs and added U.S. packing
costs, where appropriate, in accordance
with sections 773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the
Act.
2. Fischer
We reclassified certain of Fischer’s
reported sales to unaffiliated parties as
sales to an affiliate because Fischer had
an ownership interest in this customer
during the POI.
We calculated NV based on delivered
prices to unaffiliated customers or
prices to affiliated customers that we
determined to be at arm’s length. We
made adjustments, where appropriate,
to the starting price for Brazilian taxes
in accordance with section
773(a)(6)(B)(iii) of the Act. We deducted
foreign inland freight expenses in
accordance with section 773(a)(6)(B)(ii)
of the Act.
In addition, we made deductions
under section 773(a)(6)(C) of the Act for
credit expenses (offset by interest
revenue). We recalculated home market
credit expenses using the ‘‘SELIC’’ rate
because Fischer did not report home
market borrowings during the POI.
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Finally, we deducted home market
packing costs in accordance with
sections 773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the Act.
Regarding sales packed by an affiliated
party, we disallowed those packing
expenses for purposes of our price–toprice comparisons because Fischer
failed to demonstrate that these packing
expenses were at arm’s length.
Currency Conversion
We made currency conversions into
U.S. dollars in accordance with section
773A(a) of the Act based on the
exchange rates in effect on the dates of
the U.S. sales as certified by the Federal
Reserve Bank.
Critical Circumstances
On July 25, 2005, the petitioners
alleged that there is a reasonable basis
to believe or suspect critical
circumstances exist with respect to the
antidumping investigation of certain
orange juice from Brazil. In accordance
with 19 CFR 351.206(c)(2)(i), because
the petitioners submitted their critical
circumstances allegation more than 20
days before the scheduled date of the
preliminary determination, the
Department must issue a preliminary
critical circumstances determination not
later than the date of the preliminary
determination.
Section 733(e)(1) of the Act provides
that the Department will preliminarily
determine that critical circumstances
exist if there is a reasonable basis to
believe or suspect that: (A)(i) there is a
history of dumping and material injury
by reason of dumped imports in the
United States or elsewhere of the subject
merchandise; or (ii) the person by
whom, or for whose account, the
merchandise was imported knew or
should have known that the exporter
was selling the subject merchandise at
less than its fair value and that there
was likely to be material injury by
reason of such sales; and (B) there have
been massive imports of the subject
merchandise over a relatively short
period. Section 351.206(h)(1) of the
Department’s regulations provides that,
in determining whether imports of the
subject merchandise have been
‘‘massive,’’ the Department normally
will examine: (i) the volume and value
of the imports; (ii) seasonal trends; and
(iii) the share of domestic consumption
accounted for by the imports. In
addition, 19 CFR 351.206(h)(2) provides
that an increase in imports of 15 percent
during the ‘‘relatively short period’’ of
time may be considered ‘‘massive.’’
Section 351.206(i) of the Department’s
regulations defines ‘‘relatively short
period’’ as normally being the period
beginning on the date the proceeding
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15:23 Aug 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
begins (i.e., the date the petition is filed)
and ending at least three months later.
The regulations also provide, however,
that if the Department finds that
importers, exporters, or producers had
reason to believe, at some time prior to
the beginning of the proceeding, that a
proceeding was likely, the Department
may consider a period of not less than
three months from that earlier time.
In determining whether the above
statutory criteria have been satisfied, we
examined: (1) the evidence presented in
the petitioners’ submission of July 25;
(2) information obtained from the
USITC Interactive Tariff and Trade
DataWeb (USITC dataweb); and (3) the
ITC preliminary injury determination.
To determine whether there is a
history of injurious dumping of the
merchandise under investigation, in
accordance with section 733(e)(1)(A)(i)
of the Act, the Department normally
considers evidence of an existing
antidumping duty order on the subject
merchandise in the United States or
elsewhere to be sufficient. See
Preliminary Determination of Critical
Circumstances: Steel Concrete
Reinforcing Bars From Ukraine and
Moldova, 65 FR 70696 (Nov. 27, 2000).
With regard to imports of certain orange
juice from Brazil, the petitioners make
no specific mention of a history of
dumping for Brazil. We are not aware of
any antidumping order in any country
on certain orange juice from Brazil. For
this reason, the Department does not
find a history of injurious dumping of
the subject merchandise from Brazil
pursuant to section 733(e)(1)(A)(i) of the
Act.
To determine whether the person by
whom, or for whose account, the
merchandise was imported knew or
should have known that the exporter
was selling the subject merchandise at
less than its fair value and that there
was likely to be material injury by
reason of such sales in accordance with
733(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act, the
Department normally considers margins
of 25 percent or more for EP sales, or 15
percent or more for CEP transactions,
sufficient to impute knowledge of
dumping. See, e.g., Preliminary
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Certain Cut–to-Length
Carbon Steel Plate from the People’s
Republic of China, 62 FR 31972, 31978
(Oct. 19, 2001). Each respondent
reported only CEP sales. The
preliminary dumping margins
calculated for Cutrale and Fischer are
greater than 15 percent. Based on the
ITC’s preliminary determination of
material injury, and the preliminary
dumping margins calculated for all
respondents, we find there is a
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
49565
reasonable basis to impute, to importers,
knowledge of dumping and likely
injury. See the August 16, 2005,
memorandum to Barbara E. Tillman,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, from
Louis Apple, Director, entitled,
‘‘Antidumping Duty Investigation of
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil Affirmative Preliminary Determination
of Critical Circumstances’’ (Critical
Circumstances Memo) at Attachment II.
For Montecitrus, we have used AFA
in the critical circumstances analysis.
As AFA in this case, we assigned
Montecitrus the highest margin stated in
the notice of initiation, 60.29 percent,
which exceeds the 15 percent threshold
necessary to impute knowledge of
dumping. Consequently, we have
imputed knowledge of dumping with
regard to Montecitrus.
Regarding the companies subject to
the ‘‘All Others’’ rate, it is the
Department’s normal practice to
conduct its critical circumstances
analysis for these companies based on
the experience of investigated
companies. See, e.g., Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Certain Steel Concrete
Reinforcing Bars From Turkey, 62 FR
9737, 9741 (Mar. 4, 1997). However, the
Department does not automatically
extend an affirmative critical
circumstances determination to
companies covered by the ‘‘All Others’’
rate. See, e.g., Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Stainless Steel Sheet and
Strip in Coils from Japan, 64 FR 30574
(June 8, 1999) (Stainless Steel from
Japan). Instead, the Department
considers the traditional critical
circumstances criteria with respect to
the companies covered by the ‘‘All
Others’’ rate. Consistent with Stainless
Steel from Japan, the Department has, in
this case, applied the traditional critical
circumstances criteria to the ‘‘All
Others’’ category for the antidumping
investigation of certain orange juice
from Brazil.
The dumping margin for the ‘‘All
Others’’ category in the instant case,
27.16 percent, exceeds the 15–percent
threshold necessary to impute
knowledge of dumping. Therefore, we
find there is a reasonable basis to
impute, to importers, knowledge of
dumping for the companies covered by
the ‘‘All Others’’ rate. Consequently, we
find that knowledge of dumping exists
with regard to the companies subject to
the ‘‘All Others’’ rate.
In determining whether there are
‘‘massive imports’’ over a ‘‘relatively
short period,’’ pursuant to section
733(e)(1)(B) of the Act, the Department
normally compares the import volumes
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 163 / Wednesday, August 24, 2005 / Notices
of the subject merchandise for at least
three months immediately preceding the
filing of the petition (i.e., the ‘‘base
period’’) to a comparable period of at
least three months following the filing
of the petition (i.e., the ‘‘comparison
period’’). Imports normally will be
considered massive when imports
during the comparison period have
increased by 15 percent or more
compared to imports during the base
period.
The Department requested and
obtained from Cutrale and Fischer
monthly shipment data from June 2001
through June 2005. However, because
this information was received too close
to the date of the preliminary
determination, we were unable to
consider it for the preliminary
determination. Instead, we relied on
U.S. import data from the USITC
DataWeb for imports through May 2005
(i.e., the latest month for which
complete data exists at the time of the
preliminary determination). According
to these statistics, we found the volume
of imports of certain orange juice
increased by more than 15 percent. We
analyzed the time series data for the
three years prior to the filing of the
petition to address the issue of
seasonality and found no seasonal
pattern. As a result, we find that imports
of subject merchandise were massive in
the comparison period. For further
discussion of this analysis, see the
Critical Circumstances Memo at
Attachments I and III.
In summary, we find that Cutrale,
Fischer, Montecitrus, and the
companies subject to the ‘‘All Others’’
rate satisfy the imputed knowledge of
injurious dumping criterion under
section 733(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act and
the massive imports criterion in
accordance with section 733(e)(1)(B) of
the Act. Given the analysis summarized
above, and described in more detail in
the Critical Circumstances Memo, we
preliminarily determine that critical
circumstances exist for imports of
certain orange juice produced in and
exported from Brazil.
We will make a final determination
concerning critical circumstances for all
producers and exporters of subject
merchandise from Brazil when we make
our final dumping determination in this
investigation, which will be 135 days
after publication of the preliminary
dumping determination.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the
Act, we will verify all information relied
upon in making our final determination.
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section
733(e)(2)(A) of the Act, we are directing
CBP to suspend liquidation of all
imports of subject merchandise that are
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after 90 days
prior to the date of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. These
suspension of liquidation instructions
will remain in effect until further notice.
We will instruct CBP to require a cash
deposit or the posting of a bond equal
to the weighted–average amount by
which the NV exceeds CEP, as indicated
in the chart below. The weighted–
average dumping margins are as follows:
Weighted–Average
Margin Percentage
Exporter/Manufacturer
Cutrale .............................................................................................................................................
Fischer .............................................................................................................................................
Montecitrus ......................................................................................................................................
All Others .........................................................................................................................................
The ‘‘All Others’’ rate is calculated
exclusive of all de minimis margins and
margins based entirely on adverse facts
available.
ITC Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of
the Act, we have notified the ITC of our
determination. If our 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 our final
determination whether these imports
materially injure, or threaten material
injury to, the U.S. industry.
Disclosure
We will disclose the calculations used
in our analysis to parties in this
proceeding in accordance with 19 CFR
351.224(b).
Public Comment
Case briefs for this investigation must
be submitted to the Department no later
than seven days after the date of the
final verification report issued in this
proceeding. Rebuttal briefs must be filed
five days from the deadline date for case
VerDate jul<14>2003
15:23 Aug 23, 2005
Jkt 205001
briefs. A list of authorities used, a table
of contents, and an executive summary
of issues should accompany any briefs
submitted to the Department. Executive
summaries should be limited to five
pages total, including footnotes. Section
774 of the Act provides that the
Department will hold a public hearing
to afford interested parties an
opportunity to comment on arguments
raised in case or rebuttal briefs,
provided that such a hearing is
requested by an interested party. If a
request for a hearing is made in this
investigation, the hearing will
tentatively be held two days after the
rebuttal brief deadline date at the U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th Street
and Constitution Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20230. Parties should
confirm by telephone the time, date, and
place of the hearing 48 hours before the
scheduled time.
Interested parties who wish to request
a hearing, or to participate if one is
requested, must submit a written
request to the Assistant Secretary for
Import Administration, U.S. Department
of Commerce, Room 1870, within 30
days of the publication of this notice.
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
24.62
31.04
60.29
27.16
Critical Circumstances
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Requests should contain: 1) the party’s
name, address, and telephone number;
2) the number of participants; and 3) a
list of the issues to be discussed. Oral
presentations will be limited to issues
raised in the briefs.
We will make our final determination
no later than 135 days after the
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register.
This determination is published
pursuant to sections 733(f) and 777(i) of
the Act.
Dated: August 16, 2005.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E5–4633 Filed 8–23–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
E:\FR\FM\24AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49557-49566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-4633]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-351-840]
Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Affirmative Preliminary
Critical Circumstances Determination: Certain Orange Juice from Brazil
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: We preliminarily determine that certain orange juice from
Brazil is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less
than fair value, as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of
1930, as amended (the Act). In addition, we preliminarily determine
that there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that critical
circumstances exist with respect to the subject merchandise exported
from Brazil.
Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary
determination. Because we are postponing the final determination, we
will make our final determination not later than 135 days after the
date of publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal
Register.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 24, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Eastwood or Jill Pollack,
AD/CVD Operations, Office 2, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
3874 or (202) 482-4593, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preliminary Determination
We preliminarily determine that certain orange juice from Brazil is
being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair
value (LTFV), as provided in section 733 of the Act. The estimated
margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Suspension of Liquidation''
section of this notice. In addition, we preliminarily determine that
there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that critical
circumstances exist with respect to the subject merchandise exported
from Brazil. The critical circumstances analysis for the preliminary
determination is discussed below under the section ``Critical
Circumstances.''
Background
Since the initiation of this investigation (see Notice of
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation: Certain Orange Juice from
Brazil, 70 FR 7233 (Feb. 11, 2005) (Initiation Notice)), the following
events have occurred.
On March 3, 2005, the United States International Trade Commission
(ITC) preliminarily determined that there is a reasonable indication
that imports of certain orange juice from Brazil are materially
injuring the United States industry. See ITC Investigation No. 731-TA-
1089.
On March 7, 2005, we selected Sucocitrico Cutrale, S.A. (Cutrale),
the largest producer/exporter of certain orange juice from Brazil, as a
mandatory respondent in this proceeding and issued Cutrale an
antidumping questionnaire.
On March 14, 2005, we also selected the two next largest producers/
exporters of certain orange juice from Brazil (i.e., Fischer S/A -
Agroindustria (Fischer) and Montecitrus Industria e Comercio Limitada
(Montecitrus)) as mandatory respondents in this proceeding. See the
March 14, 2005, memorandum to Louis Apple, Director, Office 2, from
Elizabeth Eastwood, Jill Pollack, Nichole Zink, and Ryan Douglas
entitled, ``Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Orange Juice from
Brazil - Selection of Respondents.'' We issued antidumping
questionnaires to these exporters on March 14, 2005.
On March 31, 2005, the petitioners\1\ requested that the Department
``clarify'' the scope of the instant investigation to include exports
of FCOJM from producers and exporters previously covered by a separate
antidumping duty order on frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ) from
Brazil. From April 4 through April 14, 2005, we received comments on
the petitioners' request from various Brazilian orange juice producers,
as well as additional comments from the petitioners.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The petitioners in this investigation are the Florida Citrus
Mutual, A. Duda & Sons, Inc. (doing business as Citrus Belle),
Citrus World, Inc., and Southern Garden Citrus Processing
Corporation (doing business as Southern Gardens).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On April 11, 2005, Cutrale requested that the Department revise the
period of investigation (POI) in this proceeding.
We received section A questionnaire responses from Cutrale and
Fischer on April 11, 2005. On April 15 and 18, 2005, respectively, the
Department issued supplemental section A questionnaires to Fischer and
Cutrale. On April 19, 2005, we received a section A questionnaire
response from Montecitrus.
On April 22, 2005, we rejected Cutrale's request to revise the POI.
See the April 22, 2005, memorandum to Louis Apple, Director, Office 2,
from Jill
[[Page 49558]]
Pollack, Analyst, entitled, ``Request by Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltda. for
a Revised Period of Investigation in the Antidumping Duty Investigation
of Certain Orange Juice from Brazil.''
We received section B and C questionnaire responses from Cutrale
and Fischer on April 27, and 29, 2005, respectively.
On May 5 and 6, 2005, respectively, we issued a second supplemental
section A questionnaire to Cutrale, and a supplemental questionnaire
regarding sections B and C to Fischer.
On May 6, 2005, Cutrale and Fischer submitted responses to the
Department's first supplemental section A questionnaires.
On May 9, 2005, Montecitrus withdrew its participation from this
antidumping proceeding and requested that the Department remove from
the record of this proceeding all documents containing business
proprietary information submitted by or on behalf of Montecitrus. On
May 26, 2005, we certified to the destruction of all business
proprietary information.
On May 11 and 16, 2005, respectively, the petitioners alleged that
Cutrale and Fischer made home market sales below the cost of production
(COP) and, therefore, requested that the Department initiate a sales-
below-cost investigation of these respondents.
On May 12, 2005, Cutrale submitted its response to the Department's
second supplemental section A questionnaire.
On May 23 and 31, 2005, respectively, we initiated sales-below-cost
investigations for Cutrale and Fischer and, as a result, requested that
Cutrale and Fischer respond to section D of the questionnaire. See the
May 23, 2005, memorandum to Louis Apple, Director, Office 2, from
Nichole Zink, Analyst, entitled, ``Petitioners' Allegation of Sales
Below the Cost of Production for Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltda'' (Cutrale
Cost Initiation Memo) and May 31, 2005, memorandum to Louis Apple,
Director, Office 2, from Elizabeth Eastwood, Senior Analyst, entitled,
``Petitioners' Allegation of Sales Below the Cost of Production for
Fischer S/A-Agroind[uacute]stria'' (Fischer Cost Initiation Memo).
On May 27, 2005, we issued a second supplemental section A
questionnaire to Fischer.
On June 2, 2005, the petitioners made a timely request pursuant to
19 CFR 351.205(e) for a 50-day postponement of the preliminary
determination, pursuant to section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act. The
petitioners stated that a postponement of the preliminary determination
was necessary in order to permit the Department and the petitioners to
fully analyze the information that had been submitted in the
investigation and to analyze cost information.
On June 7 and 9, 2005, respectively, we issued a supplemental
questionnaire regarding sections B and C to Cutrale and a supplemental
questionnaire regarding section B to Fischer.
On June 10, 2005, Fischer submitted its response to the
Department's second supplemental section A questionnaire.
On June 7, 2005, pursuant to sections 733(c)(1)(A) and (b)(1) of
the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f), the Department postponed the preliminary
determination until no later than August 16, 2005. See Postponement of
Preliminary Determination of Antidumping Duty Investigation: Certain
Orange Juice from Brazil, 70 FR 34086 (June 13, 2005).
On June 21, 2005, Cutrale submitted its response to the
Department's section D questionnaire.
On June 24, 2005, we issued a supplemental section C questionnaire
to Fischer.
On June 27, 2005, we informed the petitioners that in order for the
Department to consider revising the scope of this proceeding, they
would need to amend the original petition. For further discussion, see
the ``Scope Comments'' section of this notice below.
On June 28, 2005, Fischer submitted its response to the
Department's section D questionnaire.
On June 29, 2005, the Department issued its third supplemental
section A questionnaire to Fischer.
On July 1, 2005, Fischer responded to the Department's supplemental
section B questionnaire. On July 5, 2005, Cutrale responded to the
Department's supplemental sections B and C questionnaire.
On July 13, 2005, Fischer submitted its response to the
Department's third supplemental section A questionnaire.
On July 14, 2005, we issued a supplemental section D questionnaire
to Fischer.
On July 22, 2005, Fischer submitted its response to the
Department's supplemental section C questionnaire.
On July 25, 2005, the petitioners alleged that critical
circumstances exist with respect to imports of certain orange juice
from Brazil. Accordingly, pursuant to section 732(e) of the Act, on
July 28, 2005, we requested information from Cutrale and Fischer
regarding monthly shipments to the United States during the period June
2001 through June 2005.
On July 26, 2005, and August 4, 2005, respectively, Cutrale and
Fischer submitted their responses to the Department's supplemental
section D questionnaires.
On August 1 and 2, 2005, respectively, Cutrale and Fischer
requested that the Department postpone its final determination in the
event of an affirmative preliminary determination, in accordance with
section 735(a)(2) of the Act.
On August 3, 2005, we issued a second supplemental questionnaire
regarding sections B and C to Cutrale. On August 10, 2005, we issued
additional supplemental questionnaires to both respondents. Because the
deadline for this information is after the date of the preliminary
determination, we will consider it for the final determination.
On August 11, 2005, we received monthly shipment information from
Cutrale and Fischer. Because this information was received too late for
use in the preliminary determination, we will consider it in the final
determination. The critical circumstances analysis for the preliminary
determination is discussed below under ``Critical Circumstances.''
Postponement of Final Determination
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
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by
the petitioner. The Department's regulations, at 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2),
require that requests by respondents for postponement of a final
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional
measures from a four-month period to not more than six months.
Pursuant to section 735(a)(2) of the Act, on August 1 and August 2,
2005, respectively, Cutrale and Fischer requested that, in the event of
an affirmative preliminary determination in this investigation, the
Department postpone its final determination until not later than 135
days after the date of the publication of the preliminary determination
in the Federal Register, and extend the provisional measures to not
more than six months. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.210(b), because (1)
our preliminary determination is affirmative, (2) Cutrale and Fischer
account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject
merchandise, and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, we are
granting the respondents' request and are
[[Page 49559]]
postponing the final determination until no later than 135 days after
the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Suspension of
liquidation will be extended accordingly.
Period of Investigation
The POI is October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004. This period
corresponds to the four most recent fiscal quarters prior to the month
of the filing of the petition (i.e., December 2004).
Scope of Investigation
The scope of this investigation includes certain orange juice for
transport and/or further manufacturing, produced in two different
forms: (1) frozen orange juice in a highly concentrated form, sometimes
referred to as FCOJM; and (2) pasteurized single-strength orange juice
which has not been concentrated, referred to as NFC.
At the time of the filing of the petition, there was an existing
antidumping duty order on FCOJ from Brazil. See Antidumping Duty Order;
Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice from Brazil, 52 FR 16426 (May 5,
1987). Therefore, the scope of this investigation with regard to FCOJM
covers only FCOJM produced and/or exported by those companies which
were excluded or revoked from the pre-existing antidumping order on
FCOJ from Brazil as of December 27, 2004. Those companies are Cargill
Citrus Limitada, Cutrale, Fischer\2\, and Montecitrus.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ At the time of this company's revocation, this company was
doing business under the name Citrosuco Paulista S.A. (Citrosuco).
See the ``Successor-in-Interest'' section of this notice, below, for
further discussion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department also revoked the pre-existing antidumping duty order
on FCOJ with regard to two additional companies, Coopercitrus
Industrial Frutesp (Frutesp) and Frutropic S.A. (Frutropic). See Frozen
Concentrated Orange Juice; Final Results and Termination in Part of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; Revocation in Part of the
Antidumping Duty Order, 56 FR 52510 (Oct. 21, 1991), and Frozen
Concentrated Orange Juice; Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review and Revocation of Order in Part, 59 FR 53137
(Oct. 21, 1994). After revocation, both of these companies experienced
changes in their corporate organization and are now doing business
under the name COINBRA-Frutesp. Therefore, in order to determine
whether these companies are subject to this proceeding, the Department
must make successor-in-interest findings with respect to each entity.
We intend to make such findings no later than the final determination
in this case. We note that, should the Department find COINBRA-Frutesp
to be the successor-in-interest to one or both of these companies,
exports of FCOJM by the successor company will be included in this
proceeding. See the ``Successor-in-Interest'' section of this notice,
below, for further discussion.
Excluded from the scope of the investigation are reconstituted
orange juice and frozen concentrated orange juice for retail (FCOJR).
Reconstituted orange juice is produced through further manufacture of
FCOJM, by adding water, oils and essences to the orange juice
concentrate. FCOJR is concentrated orange juice, typically at 42[deg]
Brix, in a frozen state, packed in retail-sized containers ready for
sale to consumers. FCOJR, a finished consumer product, is produced
through further manufacture of FCOJM, a bulk manufacturer's product.
The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under subheadings
2009.11.00, 2009.12.25, 2009.12.45, and 2009.19.00 of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). These HTSUS subheadings
are provided for convenience and for customs purposes only and are not
dispositive. Rather the written description of the scope of this
investigation is dispositive.
Successor-in-Interest
As noted above, at the time of the filing of the petition, there
was an existing antidumping duty order on FCOJ from Brazil. Therefore,
the scope with regard to FCOJM covers only FCOJM produced and/or
exported by those companies which were excluded or revoked from the
pre-existing antidumping order on FCOJ from Brazil as of December 27,
2004. Three of the revoked companies, Citrosuco, Frutesp, and
Frutropic, informed the Department that they have undergone certain
ownership changes since the time of their revocation and are now doing
business under different names. In our notice of initiation, we
indicated that we intended to make successor-in-interest determinations
with respect to these companies in order to determine if the FCOJM
exports of the ``new'' companies fall within the scope of this
proceeding.
Regarding Citrosuco, prior to the initiation of this investigation,
Citrosuco informed the Department that it is now doing business under
the name Fischer, and it claimed that Fischer is the successor-in-
interest to Citrosuco. On March 8, 2005, we issued a separate
questionnaire to Fischer relating to the successor-in-interest issue.
On April 11, 2005, Fischer submitted its response. Based on our
analysis of this submission, we find that the company's organizational
structure, management, production facilities, supplier relationships,
and customers have remained essentially unchanged. Furthermore, Fischer
has provided sufficient documentation of its name change. Based on all
the evidence reviewed, we find that Fischer operates as the same
business entity as Citrosuco. Thus, we find that Fischer is the
successor-in-interest to Citrosuco and, as a consequence, its exports
of FCOJM are subject to this proceeding. For further discussion, see
the August 16, 2005, memorandum to Joseph A. Spetrini, Acting Assistant
Secretary, from Barbara E. Tillman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary,
entitled, ``Successor-In-Interest Determination for Fischer S.A.
Agroindustria in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation on Certain
Orange Juice from Brazil.''
Regarding Frutesp and Frutropic, these entities were purchased by
the Louis Dreyfus group in the early 1990's and they are now producing
and exporting FCOJM under the name COINBRA-Frutesp. Because the
corporate structure changes for these companies are not recent and
involve complex transactions, additional consideration is required to
determine their successor-in-interest status. Accordingly, we intend to
make our successor-in-interest findings no later than the final
determination.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to our regulations, we set aside a
period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage
and encouraged all parties to submit comments no later than April 1,
2005. (See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 62 FR
27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) and Initiation Notice at 70 FR 7234.)
As noted in the ``Background'' section above, on March 31, 2005,
the petitioners requested that the Department clarify the scope of the
investigation to include exports of FCOJM from producers and exporters
previously covered by a separate antidumping duty order on FCOJ from
Brazil. We received additional comments from the following interested
parties on this issue: Citrovita Agro Industrial Ltda. (Citrovita),
COINBRA-Frutesp, Cutrale, Louis Dreyfus Citrus, Inc., and Montecitrus.
On June 27, 2005, we notified the petitioners that in order for the
Department to consider revising the scope of the instant investigation
as requested, the petitioners would need to
[[Page 49560]]
amend the original petition. Because the petitioners have not submitted
such an amendment, we have continued to define the scope of this
investigation as initiated.
On April 1, 2005, Cutrale agreed with the Department's initial
treatment of FCOJM and NFC as a single class or kind of merchandise.
On May 10, 2005, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) raised
concerns that the scope as currently drafted could encompass
merchandise other than FCOJM and NFC, under the HTSUS subheadings for
reconstituted juice and non-orange juice products ``other'' (i.e.,
2009.12.45 and 2009.19.00). Therefore, CBP recommended removing these
HTSUS subheadings from the scope of the instant investigation. See the
May 10, 2005, memorandum to the file, from Jill Pollack, Analyst,
entitled: ``Conversation with Customs Official Regarding the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule (HTS) Codes Included in the Scope of the Antidumping
Duty Investigation of Certain Orange Juice from Brazil (A-351-840).''
On May 31, 2005, the petitioners opposed this request on the grounds
that both of the HTSUS subheadings cover orange juice products that
lack specific HTSUS numbers, but which are included in the written
description of the scope. Therefore, the petitioners maintain these
subheadings should be retained in order to alleviate circumvention
concerns. After considering the petitioners' comments, we find that it
is appropriate to continue to include the HTSUS subheadings in question
in the scope description set forth above.
Use of Facts Available (FA) for Montecitrus
One of the mandatory respondents in this case, Montecitrus,
notified the Department on May 9, 2005, that it no longer intended to
participate in the investigation. Section 776(a)(2) of the Act provides
that, if an interested party: (A) withholds information requested by
the Department, (B) fails to provide such information by the deadline,
or in the form or manner requested, (C) significantly impedes a
proceeding, or (D) provides information that cannot be verified, the
Department shall use, subject to sections 782(d) and (e) of the Act,
facts otherwise available in reaching the applicable determination.
In the instant investigation, by withdrawing its information from
the record, the Department preliminarily finds that, pursuant to
section 776(a)(2)(A), Montecitrus withheld requested information.
Further, pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(B), the Department preliminarily
determines Montecitrus failed to provide the information requested by
the Department within the established deadlines. Finally, by
withdrawing from the investigation and ceasing to participate in the
proceeding, the Department preliminarily finds that, pursuant to
section 776(a)(2)(C), Montecitrus significantly impeded the
investigation. Consequently, pursuant to sections 776(a)(2)(A)-(C) of
the Act, the Department preliminarily finds that the application of
facts available is warranted.
In selecting from among the facts otherwise available, section
776(b) of the Act authorizes the Department to use an adverse inference
if the Department finds that an interested party failed to cooperate by
not acting to the best of its ability to comply with a request for
information. See, e.g., Notice of Final Determination of Sales of Less
Than Fair Value and Final Negative Critical Circumstances: Carbon and
Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from Brazil, 67 FR 55792, 55794-96 (Aug.
30, 2002). To examine whether the respondent cooperated by acting to
the best of its ability under section 776(b) of the Act, the Department
considers, inter alia, the accuracy and completeness of submitted
information and whether the respondent has hindered the calculation of
accurate dumping margins. See, e.g., Notice of Final Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon
Quality Steel Products From Brazil, 65 FR 5554, 5567 (Feb. 4, 2000). In
the instant investigation, by ceasing to participate in the
investigation, Montecitrus decided not to cooperate and thus did not
act to the best of its ability to comply with a request for
information. Consequently, we find that an adverse inference is
warranted in determining an antidumping duty margin for Montecitrus.
Sections 776(b) and (c) of the Act authorize the Department to use,
as adverse facts available (AFA), information derived from the
petition, a final investigation determination, a previous
administrative review, or any other information placed on the record.
The Department's practice when selecting an adverse rate from among the
possible sources of information is to ensure that the margin is
sufficiently adverse to induce respondents to provide the Department
with complete and accurate information in a timely manner.'' See, e.g.,
Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from Brazil: Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Negative
Critical Circumstances, 67 FR 55792 (Aug. 30, 2002); Static Random
Access Memory Semiconductors from Taiwan: Final Determination of Sales
at Less than Fair Value, 63 FR 8909 (Feb. 23, 1998). The Department
applies AFA ``to ensure that the party does not obtain a more favorable
result by failing to cooperate than if it had cooperated fully.'' See
Statement of Administrative Action accompanying the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act, H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, vol. 1, at 870 (1994) (SAA).
In accordance with our standard practice, as AFA, we are assigning
Montecitrus a rate which is the higher of: (1) The highest margin
stated in the notice of initiation (i.e., the recalculated petition
margin); or (2) the highest margin calculated for any respondent in
this investigation. See, e.g., Notice of Final Determination of Sales
at Less Than Fair Value: Purified Carboxymethylcellulose From Sweden,
70 FR 28278 (May 17, 2005). In this case, the preliminary AFA margin is
60.29 percent, which is the highest margin stated in the notice of
initiation. See Initiation Notice, 70 FR at 7236. We find that this
rate is sufficiently high as to effectuate the purpose of the facts
available rule (i.e., to encourage participation in future segments of
this proceeding).
Corroboration of Information
Section 776(b) of the Act authorizes the Department to use as AFA
information derived from the petition, or any other information placed
on the record. Section 776(c) of the Act requires the Department to
corroborate, to the extent practicable, secondary information used as
FA. Secondary information is defined as ``{i{time} nformation derived
from the petition that gave rise to the investigation or review, the
final determination concerning the subject merchandise, or any previous
review under section 751 concerning the subject merchandise.'' See 19
CFR 351.308 (c) and (d); see also the SAA at 870.
The SAA clarifies that ``corroborate'' means that the Department
will satisfy itself that the secondary information to be used has
probative value. See the SAA at 870. The SAA also states that
independent sources used to corroborate such evidence may include, for
example, published price lists, official import statistics and customs
data, and information obtained from interested parties during the
particular investigation. Id. To corroborate secondary information, the
Department will, to the extent practicable, examine the reliability and
relevance of the information used.
[[Page 49561]]
In order to determine the probative value of the margins in the
petition for use as AFA for purposes of this preliminary determination,
we used information submitted by the two participating respondents
(i.e., Cutrale and Fischer) in their questionnaire responses on the
record of this investigation. We reviewed the adequacy and accuracy of
the information in the petition during our pre-initiation analysis of
the petition, to the extent appropriate information was available for
this purpose (see the February 7, 2005, Initiation Checklist). In
accordance with section 776(c) of the Act, to the extent practicable,
we examined the key elements of the export price (EP) and constructed
value (CV) calculation on which the highest margin in the petition was
based.
In order to corroborate the petition's EP calculation, we compared
the PIERS data for FCOJM provided by the petitioners in their February
3, 2005, petition supplement to the prices of FCOJM reported by Cutrale
and Fischer. These prices are comparable to the PIERS data reported by
the petitioners, thus corroborating the petition U.S. price data. In
addition, the petitioners calculated a net U.S. price by deducting
foreign inland freight and insurance, brokerage, handling, and port
charges from the PIERS data used to derive U.S. price. We corroborated
these expense amounts by comparing them to the expenses reported by
Cutrale and Fischer in their questionnaire responses. In order to
corroborate the petitioners' CV calculation, we compared the
petitioners' CV data for FCOJM, as adjusted in the notice of
initiation, to the CV data reported by the respondents for FCOJM. As
discussed in the August 16, 2005, memorandum to the file from Nichole
Zink, Analyst, entitled, ``Corroboration of Data Contained in the
Petition for Assigning Facts Available Rates'' (Corroboration Memo), we
find that the figure used by the petitioners is comparable to the
information reported by Cutrale and Fischer, thus corroborating the
petition cost data. Therefore, we preliminarily determine that the
petition EP and CV information has probative value. Accordingly, we
find that the highest margin stated in the notice of initiation, 60.29
percent, is corroborated within the meaning of section 776(c) of the
Act. For further discussion, see the Corroboration Memo.
Fair Value Comparisons
To determine whether sales of certain orange juice from Brazil to
the United States were made at LTFV, we compared the constructed export
price (CEP) to the normal value (NV), as described in the ``Constructed
Export Price'' and ``Normal Value'' sections of this notice, below. In
accordance with section 777A(d)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, we compared POI
weighted-average CEPs to POI weighted-average NVs.
Product Comparisons
In accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we considered all
products produced and sold by Cutrale and Fischer in the home market
during the POI that fit the description in the ``Scope of
Investigation'' section of this notice to be foreign like products for
purposes of determining appropriate product comparisons to U.S. sales.
We compared U.S. sales to sales made in the home market, where
appropriate. Where there were no sales of identical merchandise in the
home market made in the ordinary course of trade to compare to U.S.
sales, we compared U.S. sales to sales of the most similar foreign like
product made in the ordinary course of trade. In making the product
comparisons, we matched foreign like products based on the physical
characteristics reported by the respondents in the following order of
importance: product type and organic designation. Where there were no
sales of identical or similar merchandise made in the ordinary course
of trade, we made product comparisons using CV.
Constructed Export Price
A. Cutrale
In accordance with section 772(b) of the Act, we calculate CEP for
those sales where the merchandise was first sold (or agreed to be sold)
in the United States before or after the date of importation by or for
the account of the producer or exporter, or by a seller affiliated with
the producer or exporter, to a purchaser not affiliated with the
producer or exporter. In this case, we are treating all of Cutrale's
U.S. sales as CEP sales because they were made in the United States by
Cutrale's U.S. affiliates on behalf of Cutrale, within the meaning of
section 772(b) of the Act. We excluded certain U.S. sales made pursuant
to futures contracts from our analysis including: 1) sales to the New
York Board of Trade (NYBOT) that have not been shipped as of the date
of the preliminary determination because the country of origin of the
merchandise is not yet known; and 2) sales that were destined for
Canada.
For sales made pursuant to futures contracts, we are considering
using as date of sale the date of the ``sell'' contract which resulted
in the delivery of merchandise. However, although Cutrale reported the
date of these ``sell'' contracts in its most recent U.S. sales listing,
this information was not received in time for use in the preliminary
determination. For purposes of this preliminary determination, as date
of sale, we used the date the futures contract was either: 1) noticed
for delivery to the NYBOT, in the case of sales to the NYBOT; or 2) the
date the NYBOT was notified that certain futures contracts were to be
applied in an ``exchange for physicals'' transaction. We intend to
further examine the issue of the appropriate date of sale for futures
contracts for the final determination. In accordance with our practice,
for all other CEP sales, we used the earlier of shipment date from the
U.S. affiliate to the customer or the U.S. affiliate's invoice date as
the date of sale because these were the dates on which the material
terms of sale were finalized. See, e.g., Notice of Final Determination
of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Structural Steel Beams from Germany,
67 FR 35497 (May 20, 2002), and accompanying ``Issues and Decision
Memorandum'' at Comment 2.
We based CEP on the packed delivered prices to unaffiliated
purchasers in the United States. For sales made pursuant to futures
contracts, we adjusted the reported gross unit price (i.e., the notice
price) to include gains and losses incurred on the futures contract
which resulted in the shipment of subject merchandise. All other gains
and losses related to futures trading activities have been included in
indirect selling expenses (see discussion on indirect selling expenses
below). Where appropriate, we made adjustments for billing adjustments
and early payment discounts.
In addition, we made deductions for movement expenses, in
accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act; these included, where
appropriate, foreign inland freight, foreign warehousing expenses,
foreign brokerage and handling expenses, ocean freight, U.S. brokerage
and handling, U.S. customs duties (including harbor maintenance fees
and merchandise processing fees), U.S. inland freight expenses (i.e.,
freight from port to warehouse), and U.S. warehousing expenses.
Regarding U.S. customs duties, Cutrale reported that it received
certain ``drawback'' amounts associated with duties paid on U.S. sales
and subsequently refunded under a U.S. duty drawback program. However,
because Cutrale has provided an insufficient link between the amount of
U.S. duties paid and the duty drawback received, we disallowed the
``drawback'' amounts reported by Cutrale for the preliminary
determination. We have requested
[[Page 49562]]
additional information from Cutrale regarding this program and will
consider it in our final determination.
In accordance with section 772(d)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.402(b), we deducted those selling expenses associated with economic
activities occurring in the United States, including direct selling
expenses (i.e., bank charges, commissions, imputed credit expenses, and
repacking), and indirect selling expenses (including inventory carrying
costs, gains and losses on ``rolled over'' futures contracts, and other
indirect selling expenses). In instances where the information reported
in Cutrale's sales listing differed from that reflected in its
narrative, we relied on the narrative information. For further
discussion, see the August 16, 2005, memorandum to the file, from Jill
Pollack entitled, ``Calculations performed for Sucocitrico Cutrale
Ltda. in the Investigation of Certain Orange Juice from Brazil''
(Cutrale calculation memo).
Pursuant to section 772(d)(3) of the Act, we further reduced the
starting price by an amount for profit to arrive at CEP. In accordance
with section 772(f) of the Act, we calculated the CEP profit rate using
the expenses incurred by Cutrale and its U.S. affiliates on their sales
of the subject merchandise in the United States and the profit
associated with those sales.
B. Fischer
In accordance with section 772(b) of the Act, we calculate CEP for
those sales where the merchandise was first sold (or agreed to be sold)
in the United States before or after the date of importation by or for
the account of the producer or exporter, or by a seller affiliated with
the producer or exporter, to a purchaser not affiliated with the
producer or exporter. In this case, we are treating all of Fischer's
U.S. sales as CEP sales because they were made in the United States by
Fischer's U.S. affiliate on behalf of Fischer, within the meaning of
section 772(b) of the Act. We preliminarily determine that invoice date
is the appropriate date of sale because that is the date that the
material terms of sale are agreed upon. See 19 CFR 351.401(i).
We based CEP on the packed delivered prices to unaffiliated
purchasers in the United States. Where appropriate, we made adjustments
for rebates. We made deductions for movement expenses, in accordance
with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act; these included, where
appropriate, foreign inland freight expenses, foreign warehousing
expenses, foreign brokerage and handling expenses, ocean freight
expenses, bunker fuel surcharges, marine insurance expenses, U.S.
brokerage and handling expenses, U.S. customs duties (including harbor
maintenance fees and merchandise processing fees), U.S. inland freight
expenses (i.e., freight from port to warehouse or to customer), and
U.S. warehousing expenses. Regarding U.S. customs duties, Fischer also
reported that it received certain ``drawback'' amounts related to U.S.
sales. However, because Fischer has provided an insufficient link
between the amount of U.S. duties paid and the duty drawback received,
we disallowed the ``drawback'' amounts reported by Fischer for the
preliminary determination. We have requested additional information
from Fischer regarding the U.S. duty drawback program and will consider
it for the final determination.
In accordance with section 772(d)(1) and (2) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.402(b), we deducted those selling expenses associated with economic
activities occurring in the United States, including direct selling
expenses (i.e., further manufacturing, imputed credit expenses, and
repacking), and indirect selling expenses (including inventory carrying
costs and other indirect selling expenses). We recalculated Fischer's
U.S. credit expenses using the average interest rate reported by
Fischer in its July 22 response. Regarding inventory carrying costs,
Fischer did not report these expenses in its U.S. sales listing.
Therefore, we calculated these expenses using FA. As FA, we based
Fischer's inventory carrying period on the information contained in the
public version of Cutrale's section C response. Finally, in instances
where the information reported in Fischer's sales listing differed from
that reflected in its narrative, we relied on the narrative
information. For further discussion, see the August 16, 2005,
memorandum to the file from Elizabeth Eastwood entitled, ``Calculations
performed for Fischer S/A - Agroindustria in the Investigation of
Certain Orange Juice from Brazil'' (Fischer calculation memo).
Pursuant to section 772(d)(3) of the Act, we further reduced the
starting price by an amount for profit to arrive at CEP. In accordance
with section 772(f) of the Act, we calculated the CEP profit rate using
the expenses incurred by Fischer and its U.S. affiliate on their sales
of the subject merchandise in the United States and the profit
associated with those sales.
Normal Value
A. Home Market Viability
In order to determine whether there is a sufficient volume of sales
in the home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating NV (i.e.,
the aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like product
is equal to or greater than five percent of the aggregate volume of
U.S. sales), we compared each respondent's volume of home market sales
of the foreign like product to the volume of its U.S. sales of the
subject merchandise, in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(C) of the
Act.
In this investigation, we determined that the aggregate volume of
home market sales of the foreign like product for each respondent was
sufficient to permit a proper comparison with its U.S. sales of the
subject merchandise.
B. Affiliated Party Transactions and Arm's-Length Test
As noted below, Fischer made sales of the foreign like product to
affiliated customers during the POI. To test whether these sales to
affiliated customers were made at arm's length, where possible, we
compared the prices of sales to affiliated and unaffiliated customers,
net of all movement charges, direct selling expenses, and packing.
Where the price to that affiliated party was, on average, within a
range of 98 to 102 percent of the price of the same or comparable
merchandise sold to the unaffiliated parties at the same level of trade
(LOT), we determined that the sales made to the affiliated party were
at arm's length. See Modification Concerning Affiliated Party Sales in
the Comparison Market, 67 FR 69186 (Nov. 15, 2002).
C. Level of Trade
In accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act, to the extent
practicable, we determine NV based on sales in the comparison market at
the same LOT as the CEP. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.412(c)(1), the NV LOT
is that of the starting-price sales in the comparison market or, when
NV is based on CV, that of the sales from which we derive selling,
general and administrative expenses (SG&A) and profit. For CEP, it is
the level of the constructed sale from the exporter to the importer.
To determine whether NV sales are at a different LOT than CEP
sales, we examine stages in the marketing process and selling functions
along the chain of distribution between the producer and the
unaffiliated customer. See 19 CFR 351.412(c)(2). If the comparison-
market sales are at a different LOT, and the difference affects price
comparability, as manifested in a pattern of consistent price
differences between the sales on which NV is based and comparison
market sales at the LOT of the export transaction, we make an LOT
adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of
[[Page 49563]]
the Act. Finally, for CEP sales, if the NV level is more remote from
the factory than the CEP level and there is no basis for determining
whether the difference in levels between NV and CEP affects price
comparability, we adjust NV under section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Act (the
CEP-offset provision). See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from
South Africa, 62 FR 61731 (Nov. 19, 1997).
In this investigation, we obtained information from each respondent
regarding the marketing stages involved in making the reported home
market and U.S. sales, including a description of the selling
activities performed by each respondent for each channel of
distribution. Company-specific LOT findings are summarized below.
Cutrale claimed that it made home market sales at only one LOT
(i.e., sales to original equipment manufacturers). Because Cutrale
performed the same selling activities for sales to all customers in the
home market (i.e., engineering services, packing, inventory
maintenance, processing, technical assistance, rebates, cash discounts,
guarantees, freight and delivery, and post-sale warehousing), we
determine that all home market sales by Cutrale were at the same LOT.
Fischer also claimed that it made home market sales at one LOT,
although it reported home market sales to the following customer
categories: reconstitutors and/or repackagers, institutional food
service providers, and drink producers. Because Fischer performed the
same selling activities for sales to all customers in the home market
(i.e., inventory maintenance, order processing/invoicing, freight and
delivery arrangements, and receipt of payment), we also determine that
all home market sales by Fischer were at the same LOT.
Both respondents made only CEP sales during the POI. In order to
determine whether NV was established at an LOT which constituted a more
advanced stage of distribution than the LOT of the CEP for these
companies, we compared the selling functions performed for home market
sales with those performed with respect to the CEP transaction, which
excludes economic activities occurring in the United States. We found
that both respondents performed essentially the same selling functions
in their sales offices in Brazil for both home market and U.S. sales.
Therefore, the respondents' sales in Brazil were not at a more advanced
stage of marketing and distribution than the constructed U.S. LOT,
which represents an F.O.B. foreign port price after the deduction of
expenses associated with U.S. selling activities. Because we find that
no difference in LOT exists between markets, we find that neither an
LOT adjustment nor a CEP offset is warranted for either Cutrale or
Fischer.
D. Cost of Production Analysis
Based on our analysis of the petitioners' allegations, we found
that there were reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that Cutrale's
and Fischer's sales of certain orange juice in the home market were
made at prices below their respective COP. Accordingly, pursuant to
section 773(b) of the Act, we initiated sales-below-cost investigations
to determine whether Cutrale's and Fischer's sales were made at prices
below their respective COPs. See the Cutrale Cost Initiation Memo, and
the Fischer Cost Initiation Memo.
1. Calculation of COP
In accordance with section 773(b)(3) of the Act, we calculated COP
based on the sum of the cost of materials and fabrication for the
foreign like product, plus an amount for SG&A, and interest expenses.
See ``Test of Home Market Sales Prices'' section below for treatment of
home market selling expenses. We relied on the COP data submitted by
Cutrale and Fischer except in the following instances.
A. Cutrale
1. We revised the allocation of Cutrale's net by-product revenue
between FCOJM and NFC; and
2. We revised Cutrale's general and administrative (G&A) expense to
include a write-off of fixed assets and a gain on the sale of fixed
assets.
For further discussion of these adjustments, see the memorandums
from Ji Young Oh and Laurens van Houten to Neal Halper entitled ``Cost
of Production and Constructed Value Adjustments for the Preliminary
Determination - Sucocitrico Cutrale Ltda.'' dated August 16, 2005.
B. Fischer
1. We revised the per-unit reported costs for NFC and FCOJM to reflect
the different brix levels between products;
2. We revised Fischer's G&A expense rate calculation to exclude packing
and freight from the cost of goods sold denominator; and
3. We based the COP for one of Fischer's production facilities on AFA.
As AFA, we have relied on the costs recorded in the affiliate's trial
balance for the applicable months. See below for further discussion.
For further details regarding these adjustments, see the Memorandum
from Heidi Schriefer and Frederick Mines to Neal M. Halper entitled
``Cost of Production and Constructed Value Calculation Adjustments for
the Preliminary Determination - Fischer S/A - Agroindustria'' dated
August 16, 2005.
As noted above, in its original section A and D responses, Fischer
stated that it owned and operated three production facilities that
produced the merchandise under consideration. In the supplemental
section A response, Fischer stated that one of the three facilities was
actually leased from an affiliated party. Subsequently, in its
supplemental section D response, Fischer stated that its previous
representations were erroneous and that there were actually no leased
facilities. Instead, Fischer claimed that the third facility was wholly
owned and operated by its affiliate during three months of the POI and
the affiliate produced the merchandise under consideration. We reviewed
the record evidence and determined that: (1) These two producers are
affiliated under section 771(33)(E) of the Act; and 2) Fischer and its
affiliate should be treated as one entity for dumping calculation
purposes under 19 CFR 351.401(f). Specifically, both entities have
production facilities for similar or identical products that would not
require substantial retooling of either facility to restructure
manufacturing priorities and there is significant potential for the
manipulation of price or production. Thus, Fischer and its affiliate
should be treated as one entity for purposes of this investigation.
However, as noted above, the respondent failed to provide the costs
associated with the third production facility.
Section 776(a) of the Act provides that, (1) if necessary
information is not available on the record, or (2) if an interested
party or any other person (A) withholds information that has been
requested by the administering authority; (B) fails to provide such
information by the deadlines for the submission of the information or
in the form and manner requested, subject to subsections (c)(1) and (e)
of section 782 of the Act; (C) significantly impedes a proceeding under
this title; or (D) provides such information but the information cannot
be verified as provided in section 782(i) of the Act, the Department
shall, subject to section 782(d) of the Act, use the facts otherwise
available in reaching the applicable determination under this title. As
noted above, in selecting from among the facts otherwise available,
section 776(b) of the Act authorizes the Department to use an adverse
inference if the Department finds that an interested party failed to
cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to
[[Page 49564]]
comply with a request for information. See, e.g., Notice of Final
Determination of Sales of Less Than Fair Value and Final Negative
Critical Circumstances: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from
Brazil, 67 FR 55792, 55794-96 (Aug. 30, 2002). To examine whether the
respondent cooperated by acting to the best of its ability under
section 776(b) of the Act, the Department considers, inter alia, the
accuracy and completeness of submitted information and whether the
respondent has hindered the calculation of accurate dumping margins.
See, e.g., Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon Quality Steel Products
From Brazil, 65 FR 5554, 5567 (Feb. 4, 2000).
In the instant case, Fischer stated in its questionnaire response
that it owned and operated three production facilities that produced
the merchandise under consideration, indicating that the cost of
producing merchandise under consideration for all three facilities was
included in the reported costs. However, as mentioned earlier, in the
supplemental questionnaire, we discovered that Fischer did not in fact
operate one of the three manufacturing facilities but rather that its
affiliate operated the facility. Fischer failed to provide the COP
related to this facility. As a result, necessary information is not
available on the record and Fischer withheld information requested by
the Department, warranting the application of facts available pursuant
to sections 776(a)(1) and (2)(A) of the Act. Moreover, we preliminarily
determine that Fischer did not cooperate to the best of its ability in
failing to provide this cost information. Based on the data Fischer was
able to provide with respect to this affiliate, it is reasonable to
assume that Fischer has access to this affiliate's COP data and could
have provided it in response to the Department's requests. However,
Fischer failed to do so. Furthermore, Fischer should have known that
the affiliate's COP information was required by the Department because
it was requested in the general instructions for the Department's
antidumping questionnaire. Therefore, to account for the POI production
costs related to the affiliate's cost of producing merchandise under
consideration, we applied AFA for purposes of the preliminary
determination pursuant to section 776(b) of the Act. As AFA, for the
per-unit costs of the third facility, we have relied on the costs
recorded in the affiliate's trial balance for the applicable months.
Subsequent to this preliminary determination, the Department will
solicit further information related to the affiliate's cost of
producing the merchandise under consideration. However, if the
solicited information is not provided, the Department may make
additional adverse inferences related to the total reported cost of
production for purposes of the final determination.
2. Test of Home Market Sales Prices
On a product-specific basis, we compared the adjusted weighted-
average COP to the home market sales of the foreign like product, as
required under section 773(b) of the Act, in order to determine whether
the sale prices were below the COP. The prices were exclusive of any
applicable billing adjustments, movement charges, and direct and
indirect selling expenses. In determining whether to disregard home
market sales made at prices less than its COP, we examined, in
accordance with sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act, whether such
sales were made (1) within an extended period of time in substantial
quantities, and (2) at prices which permitted the recovery of all costs
within a reasonable period of time.
3. Results of the COP Test
Pursuant to section 773(b)(2)(C) of the Act, where less than 20
percent of the respondent's sales of a given product during the POI are
at prices less than the COP, we do not disregard any below-cost sales
of that product, because we determine that in such instances the below-
cost sales were not made in substantial quantities. Where 20 percent or
more of the respondent's sales of a given product during the POI are at
prices less than the COP, we determine that the below-cost sales
represent substantial quantities within an extended period of time, in
accordance with section 773(b)(1)(A) of the Act. In such cases, we also
determine whether such sales were made at prices which would not permit
recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time, in accordance
with section 773(b)(1)(B) of the Act.
We found that, for Cutrale, less than 20 percent of Cutrale's home
market sales failed the cost test. Therefore, we did not disregard any
home market sales when calculating Cutrale's NV. Regarding Fischer, we
found that, for certain specific products, more than 20 percent of
Fischer's home market sales during the POI were at prices less than the
COP and, in addition, the below-cost sales did not provide for the
recovery of costs within a reasonable period of time. We therefore
excluded these sales and used the remaining sales, if any, as the basis
for determining Fischer's NV, in accordance with section 773(b)(1) of
the Act. Where there were no sales of any comparable product at prices
above the COP, we used CV as the basis for determining NV.
E. Calculation of Normal Value Based on Comparison Market Prices
1. Cutrale
For Cutrale, we calculated NV based on ex-factory prices to
unaffiliated customers. We made adjustments, where appropriate, to the
starting price for Brazilian taxes and billing adjustments in
accordance with section 773(a)(6)(B)(iii) of the Act. We made no
adjustment to the starting price for home market rebates for purposes
of the preliminary determination because the amounts reported were
provisional. Nonetheless, we have requested further information from
Cutrale regarding the payment of these rebates and will consider it for
the final determination.
We made deductions from the starting price for home market credit
expenses (offset by interest revenue) pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(C)
of the Act. Because Cutrale reported that it had no home market
borrowings during the POI, we recalculated home market credit expenses
using the SELIC interest rate published by the International Monetary
Fund's International Financial Statistics (i.e., the ``SELIC'' rate).
Where applicable, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.410(e), we offset any
commission paid on a U.S. sale by reducing the NV by the amount of home
market indirect selling expenses and inventory carrying costs, up to
the amount of the U.S. commission.
Finally, we deducted home market packing costs and added U.S.
packing costs, where appropriate, in accordance with sections
773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the Act.
2. Fischer
We reclassified certain of Fischer's reported sales to unaffiliated
parties as sales to an affiliate because Fischer had an ownership
interest in this customer during the POI.
We calculated NV based on delivered prices to unaffiliated
customers or prices to affiliated customers that we determined to be at
arm's length. We made adjustments, where appropriate, to the starting
price for Brazilian taxes in accordance with section 773(a)(6)(B)(iii)
of the Act. We deducted foreign inland freight expenses in accordance
with section 773(a)(6)(B)(ii) of the Act.
In addition, we made deductions under section 773(a)(6)(C) of the
Act for credit expenses (offset by interest revenue). We recalculated
home market credit expenses using the ``SELIC'' rate because Fischer
did not report home market borrowings during the POI.
[[Page 49565]]
Finally, we deducted home market packing costs in accordance with
sections 773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the Act. Regarding sales packed by an
affiliated party, we disallowed those packing expenses for purposes of
our price-to-price comparisons because Fischer failed to demonstrate
that these packing expenses were at arm's length.
Currency Conversion
We made currency conversions into U.S. dollars in accordance with
section 773A(a) of the Act based on the exchange rates in effect on the
dates of the U.S. sales as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank.
Critical Circumstances
On July 25, 2005, the petitioners alleged that there is a
reasonable basis to believe or suspect critical circumstances exist
with respect to the antidumping investigation of certain orange juice
from Brazil. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.206(c)(2)(i), because the
petitioners submitted their critical circumstances allegation more than
20 days before the scheduled date of the preliminary determination, the
Department must issue a preliminary critical circumstances
determination not later than the date of the preliminary determination.
Section 733(e)(1) of the Act provides that the Department will
preliminarily determine that critical circumstances exist if there is a
reasonable basis to believe or suspect that: (A)(i) there is a history
of dumping and material injury by reason of dumped imports in the
United States or elsewhere of the subject merchandise; or (ii) the
person by whom, or for whose account, the merchandise was imported knew
or should have known that the exporter was selling the subject
merchandise at less than its fair value and that there was likely to be
material injury by reason of such sales; and (B) there have been
massive imports of the subject merchandise over a relatively short
period. Section 351.206(h)(1) of the Department's regulations provides
that, in determining whether imports of the subject merchandise have
been ``massive,'' the Department normally will examine: (i) the volume
and value of the imports; (ii) seasonal trends; and (iii) the share of
domestic consumption accounted for by the imports. In addition, 19 CFR
351.206(h)(2) provides that an increase in imports of 15 percent during
the ``relatively short period'' of time may be considered ``massive.''
Section 351.206(i) of the Department's regulations defines ``relatively
short period'' as normally being the period beginning on the date the
proceeding begins (i.e., the date the petition is filed) and ending at
least three months later. The regulations also provide, however, that
if the Department finds that importers, exporters, or producers had
reason to believe, at some time prior to the beginning of the
proceeding, that a proceeding was likely, the Department may consider a
period of not less than three months from that earlier time.
In determining whether the above statutory criteria have been
satisfied, we examined: (1) the evidence presented in the petitioners'
submission of July 25; (2) information obtained from the USITC
Interactive Tariff and Trade DataWeb (USITC dataweb); and (3) the ITC
preliminary injury determination.
To determine whether there is a history of injurious dumping of the
merchandise under investigation, in accordance with section
733(e)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, the Department normally considers evidence
of an existing antidumping duty order on the subject merchandise in the
United States or elsewhere to be sufficient. See Preliminary
Determination of Critical Circumstances: Steel Concrete Reinforcing
Bars From Ukraine and Moldova, 65 FR 70696 (Nov. 27, 2000). With regard
to imports of certain orange juice from Brazil, the petitioners make no
specific mention of a history of dumping for Brazil. We are not aware
of any antidumping order in any country on certain orange juice from
Brazil. For this reason, the Department does not find a history of
injurious dumping of the subject merchandise from Brazil pursuant to
section 733(e)(1)(A)(i) of the Act.
To determine whether the person by whom, or for whose account, the
merchandise was imported knew or should have known that the exporter
was selling the subject merchandise at less than its fair value and
that there was likely to be material injury by reason of such sales in
accordance with 733(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act, the Department normally
considers margins of 25 percent or more for EP sales, or 15 percent or
more for CEP transactions, sufficient to impute knowledge of dumping.
See, e.g., Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value:
Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from the People's Republic of
China, 62 FR 31972, 31978 (Oct. 19, 2001). Each respondent reported
only CEP sales. The preliminary dumping margins calculated for Cutrale
and Fischer are greater than 15 percent. Based on the ITC's preliminary
determination of material injury, and the preliminary dumping margins
calculated for all respondents, we find there is a reasonable basis to
impute, to importers, knowledge of dumping and likely injury. See the
August 16, 2005, memorandum to Barbara E. Tillman, Acting Deputy
Assistant Secretary, from Louis Apple, Director, entitled,
``Antidumping Duty Investigation of Certain Orange Juice from Brazil -
Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances''
(Critical Circumstances Memo) at Attachment II.
For Montecitrus, we have used AFA in the critical circumstances
analysis. As AFA in this case, we assigned Montecitrus the highest
margin stated in the notice of initiation, 60.29 percent, which exceeds
the 15 percent threshold necessary to impute knowledge of dumping.
Consequently, we have imputed knowledge of dumping with regard to
Montecitrus.
Regarding the companies subject to the ``All Others'' rate, it is
the Department's normal practice to conduct its critical circumstances
analysis for these companies based on the experience of investigated
companies. See, e.g., Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value: Certain Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars From Turkey,
62 FR 9737, 9741 (Mar. 4, 1997). However, the Department does not
automatically extend an affirmative critical circumstances
determination to companies covered by the ``All Others'' rate. See,
e.g., Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value:
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Japan, 64 FR 30574 (June
8, 1999) (Stainless Steel from Japan). Instead, the Department
considers the traditional critical circumstances criteria with respect
to the companies covered by the ``All Others'' rate. Consistent with
Stainless Steel from Japan, the Department has, in this case, applied
the traditional critical circumstances criteria to the ``All Others''
category for the antidumping investigation of certain orange juice from
Brazil.
The dumping margin for the ``All Others'' category in the instant
case, 27.16 percent,