Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the People's Republic of China; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 2905-2908 [E6-498]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2006 / Notices
Background
On April 2, 2005, the Government of
Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and
European Integration requested that the
Department of Commerce conduct a
review of Ukraine’s status as a nonmarket economy (‘‘NME’’) country
within the context of a changed
circumstances review of the
antidumping duty order on carbon and
certain alloy steel wire rod from
Ukraine. In response to this request, the
Department initiated a changed
circumstances review in order to
determine whether Ukraine should
continue to be treated as an NME
country for purposes of the antidumping
law, pursuant to sections 751(b) and
771(18)(C)(ii) of the Tariff Act of 1930,
as amended (‘‘the Act’’). See Initiation
of a Changed Circumstances Review of
the Antidumping Duty Order on Carbon
and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from
Ukraine, 70 FR 21396 (April 26, 2005).
In its notice of initiation, the
Department invited public comment on
Ukraine’s ongoing economic reforms
and received extensive initial and
rebuttal comments on July 11, 2005, and
August 31, 2005, respectively. These
comments have been made available to
the public at the Import Administration
Web site at the following address:
https://ia.ita.doc.gov/. In addition, the
Department has compiled and analyzed
information regarding Ukrainian
economic reforms from independent
third-party sources that it commonly
cites for market economy status
decisions.
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Opportunity for Public Comment and
Extension of Final Results
In order to consider any economic
and institutional developments that
occurred in Ukraine since the closure of
the record in this review that may be of
importance to the Department’s
decision, the Department is inviting
further public comment on reforms in
Ukraine. Specifically, the Department
invites comment on such developments
in relation to the factors listed in section
771(18)(B) of the Act, which the
Department must take into account in
making a market/non-market economy
decision:
(i) The extent to which the currency
of the foreign country is convertible into
the currency of other countries;
(ii) The extent to which wage rates in
the foreign country are determined by
free bargaining between labor and
management;
(iii) The extent to which joint
ventures or other investments by firms
of other foreign countries are permitted
in the foreign country;
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(iv) The extent of government
ownership or control of the means of
production;
(v) The extent of government control
over allocation of resources and over
price and output decisions of
enterprises; and
(vi) Such other factors as the
administering authority considers
appropriate.
In order to provide opportunity to
consider the comments, the Department
is extending the deadline for the final
results of this changed circumstance
review by thirty days, making the new
deadline February 16, 2006.
Comments—Deadline, Format, and
Number of Copies
The deadline for submission of
comments is January 25, 2006. The
deadline for rebuttal comments is
February 1, 2006. Each person
submitting comments should include
his or her name and address. To
facilitate their consideration by the
Department, comments should be
submitted in the following format: (1)
Begin each comment on a separate page;
(2) concisely state the issue identified
and discussed in the comment and
include any supporting documentation
in exhibits or appendices; (3) provide a
brief summary of the comment (a
maximum of three sentences) and label
this section ‘‘summary of comment’’; (4)
provide an index or table of contents;
and (5) include the case number, A–
823–812, in the top right hand corner of
the submission.
Persons wishing to comment should
file a signed original and six copies of
each set of comments by the dates
specified above. All comments
responding to this notice will be a
matter of public record and will be
available for public inspection and
copying at Import Administration’s
Central Records Unit, Room B–099,
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5
p.m. on business days. The Department
requires that comments be submitted in
written form. The Department
recommends submission of comments
in electronic media, preferably in
Portable Document Format (PDF), to
accompany the required paper copies.
Comments filed in electronic form
should be submitted on CD–ROM as
comments submitted on diskettes are
likely to be damaged by postal radiation
treatment.
Comments received in electronic form
will be made available to the public on
the Internet at the Import
Administration Web site at the
following address: https://ia.ita.doc.gov/.
Any questions concerning file
formatting, document conversion,
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access on the Internet, or other
electronic filing issues should be
addressed to Andrew Lee Beller, Import
Administration Webmaster, at (202)
482–0866, e-mail: webmastersupport@ita.doc.gov.
Dated: January 12, 2006.
David Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. 06–461 Filed 1–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–868]
Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from
the People’s Republic of China; Final
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On July 11, 2005, the
Department of Commerce (the
Department) published in the Federal
Register the preliminary results of the
2003 - 2004 administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on folding
metal tables and chairs (FMTCs) from
the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The period of review (POR) is June 1,
2003, to May 31, 2004. We have now
completed the 2003 - 2004
administrative review of the order.
Based on comments received, we have
made changes in the dumping margin
calculations. Therefore, the final results
differ from the preliminary results. For
details regarding these changes, see the
section of this notice entitled ‘‘Changes
Since the Preliminary Results.’’ The
final results are listed below in the
‘‘Final Results of Review’’ section.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 18, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marin Weaver or Catherine Feig, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 8, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–2336 and (202)
482–3962, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
The preliminary results in this
administrative review were published
on July 11, 2005. See Folding Metal
Tables and Chairs from the People’s
Republic of China: Notice of Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 70 FR 39726
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(July 11, 2005) (‘‘Preliminary Results’’).
The POR is June 1, 2003, through May
31, 2004. The respondents in this case
are Feili Furniture Development Ltd.
Quanzhou City, Feili Furniture
Development Co., Ltd., Feili Group
(Fujian) Co., Ltd., and Feili (Fujian) Co.,
Ltd. (collectively ‘‘Feili Group’’), and
New–Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co. Ltd.
(‘‘New–Tec’’). The domestic interested
parties are Meco Corporation (‘‘Meco’’)
and Cosco Home and Office Products
(‘‘Cosco’’).
As stated in the Preliminary Results,
we issued an additional supplemental
questionnaire to New–Tec on July 1,
2005. New–Tec responded on July 29,
2005. On August 18, 2005, the
Department issued another
supplemental questionnaire to New–
Tec. On September 7, 2005, in response
to New–Tec’s August 31, 2005,
extension request, the Department
granted an extension and also requested
additional documentation related to the
inventory reconciliation. On September
16, 2005, in response to the
Department’s requests, New–Tec
submitted its responses to both the
August 18, 2005, supplemental
questionnaire and the additional August
31, 2005, questions. In the Preliminary
Results the Department applied total
adverse facts available to New–Tec.
However, on December 1, 2005, the
Department issued a margin calculation
for New–Tec applying partial adverse
facts available. See Memorandum to
Joseph A. Spetrini; Calculation of an
Anti–Dumping Duty Margin of Review
and Application of Partial Facts
Available with an Adverse Inference for
New–Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
(‘‘New–Tec Memo’’) (December 1, 2005),
see also Memorandum to Wendy J.
Frankel; Factors–of-Production
Valuation for New–Tec Integration
(Xiamen) Co., Ltd. Post–Preliminary
Results (December 1, 2005) (‘‘New–Tec
FOP Memo’’) and Memorandum to the
File; Calculation Memorandum, New–
Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
(‘‘New–Tec Calculation Memo’’)
(December 1, 2005).
On December 8, 2005, we received
case briefs from Meco and the
respondents. On December 9, 2005, we
received a case brief from Cosco.1 We
received rebuttal briefs from Meco and
respondents on December 13, 2005, and
from Cosco on December 14, 3005.2 On
December 27, 2005, the Department
issued a letter to interested parties
1 This case brief was timely because one copy was
originally filed on December 8, 2005 as ‘‘bracketing
not final.’’
2 This rebuttal brief was timely because one copy
was originally filed on December 13, 2005 as
‘‘bracketing not final.’’
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soliciting comments on moving indirect
employee benefit expenses (e.g.,
employees provident and other funds,
employees gratuity trust fund, workman
and staff welfare expense and voluntary
retirement compensation) in the
surrogate Indian financial statements
from direct labor costs to manufacturing
overhead costs. Feili Group, New–Tec,
Cosco and Meco all responded on
December 30, 2005.
Scope of the Order
The products covered by this order
consist of assembled and unassembled
folding tables and folding chairs made
primarily or exclusively from steel or
other metal, as described below:
1) Assembled and unassembled
folding tables made primarily or
exclusively from steel or other
metal (folding metal tables). Folding
metal tables include square, round,
rectangular, and any other shapes
with legs affixed with rivets, welds,
or any other type of fastener, and
which are made most commonly,
but not exclusively, with a
hardboard top covered with vinyl or
fabric. Folding metal tables have
legs that mechanically fold
independently of one another, and
not as a set. The subject
merchandise is commonly, but not
exclusively, packed singly, in
multiple packs of the same item, or
in five piece sets consisting of four
chairs and one table. Specifically
excluded from the scope of the
order regarding folding metal tables
are the following:
a. Lawn furniture;
b. Trays commonly referred to as ‘‘TV
trays’’;
c. Side tables;
d. Child–sized tables;
e. Portable counter sets consisting of
rectangular tables 36’’ high and
matching stools; and
f. Banquet tables. A banquet table is
a rectangular table with a plastic or
laminated wood table top
approximately 28’’ to 36’’ wide by
48’’ to 96’’ long and with a set of
folding legs at each end of the table.
One set of legs is composed of two
individual legs that are affixed
together by one or more cross–
braces using welds or fastening
hardware. In contrast, folding metal
tables have legs that mechanically
fold independently of one another,
and not as a set.
2) Assembled and unassembled
folding chairs made primarily or
exclusively from steel or other
metal (folding metal chairs).
Folding metal chairs include chairs
with one or more cross–braces,
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
regardless of shape or size, affixed
to the front and/or rear legs with
rivets, welds or any other type of
fastener. Folding metal chairs
include: those that are made solely
of steel or other metal; those that
have a back pad, a seat pad, or both
a back pad and a seat pad; and
those that have seats or backs made
of plastic or other materials. The
subject merchandise is commonly,
but not exclusively, packed singly,
in multiple packs of the same item,
or in five piece sets consisting of
four chairs and one table.
Specifically excluded from the
scope of the order regarding folding
metal chairs are the following:
a. Folding metal chairs with a wooden
back or seat, or both;
b. Lawn furniture;
c. Stools;
d. Chairs with arms; and
e. Child–sized chairs.
The subject merchandise is currently
classifiable under subheadings
9401.71.0010, 9401.71.0030,
9401.79.0045, 9401.79.0050,
9403.20.0010, 9403.20.0030,
9403.70.8010, 9403.70.8020, and
9403.70.8030 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).
Although the HTSUS subheadings are
provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the Department’s written
description of the merchandise is
dispositive.
Separate Rates Determination for New–
Tec
The Department has treated the PRC
as a non–market economy (NME)
country in all past antidumping duty
investigations and administrative
reviews. See, e.g., Final Determination
of Sales at Less Than Fair Value:
Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol From the
People’s Republic of China, 69 FR 34130
(June 18, 2004). A designation as an
NME country remains in effect until it
is revoked by the Department. See
section 771(18)(C)(i) of the Tariff Act of
1930, as amended (the Act).
It is the Department’s standard policy
to assign all exporters of merchandise
subject to review in an NME country a
single rate unless an exporter can
demonstrate an absence of government
control, with respect to exports. To
establish whether an exporter is
sufficiently independent of government
control to be entitled to a separate rate,
the Department analyzes the exporter in
light of the criteria established in the
Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value: Sparklers from the
People’s Republic of China, 56 FR 20588
(May 6, 1991) (Sparklers); and Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
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Fair Value: Silicon Carbide from the
People’s Republic of China, 59 FR 22585
(May 2, 1994) (Silicon Carbide). Under
this test, exporters in NME countries are
entitled to separate, company–specific
margins when they can demonstrate an
absence of government control over
exports, both in law (de jure) and in fact
(de facto). Evidence supporting, though
not requiring, a finding of de jure
absence of government control over
export activities includes: 1) an absence
of restrictive stipulations associated
with the individual exporter’s business
and export licenses; 2) any legislative
enactments decentralizing control of
companies; and 3) any other formal
measures by the government
decentralizing control of companies. De
facto absence of government control
over exports is based on four factors: 1)
whether each exporter sets its own
export prices independently of the
government and without the approval of
a government authority; 2) whether each
exporter retains the proceeds from its
sales and makes independent decisions
regarding the disposition of profits or
the financing of losses; 3) whether each
exporter has the authority to negotiate
and sign contracts and other
agreements; and 4) whether each
exporter has autonomy from the
government regarding the selection of
management. See Silicon Carbide, 59 FR
at 22587, and Sparklers, 56 FR at 20589.
New–Tec is a joint venture owned by
New–Tec International Inc., a South
Korean company, and Xiamen
Integration Co., Ltd. New–Tec has
placed documents on the record to
demonstrate the absence of de jure
control including its list of
shareholders, business license, and the
Company Law. Other than limiting
New–Tec to activities referenced in the
business license, we found no restrictive
stipulations associated with the license.
In addition, in previous cases the
Department has analyzed the Company
Law and found that it establishes an
absence of de jure control. See, e.g.,
Certain Non–Frozen Apple Juice
Concentrate from the People’s Republic
of China: Final Results, Partial Recision
and Termination of a Partial Deferral of
the 2002–2003 Administrative Review,
69 FR 65148, 65150 (November 10,
2004). We have no information in this
segment of the proceeding which would
cause us to reconsider this
determination. Therefore, based on the
foregoing, we have preliminarily found
an absence of de jure control for New
Tec.
With regard to de facto control, New–
Tec reported the following: (1) it sets
prices to the United States through
negotiations with customers and these
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15:06 Jan 17, 2006
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prices are not subject to review by any
government organization; (2) it does not
coordinate with other exporters or
producers to set the price or determine
to which market companies sell subject
merchandise; (3) the Chamber of
Commerce does not coordinate the
export activities of New–Tec; (4) New–
Tec’s general manager has the authority
to contractually bind the company to
sell subject merchandise; (5) the board
of directors appointed the general
manager; (6) there is no restriction on its
use of export revenues; and (7) New–
Tec’s management decides how to
dispose of the profits and New–Tec has
not had a loss in the last two years.
Additionally, New–Tec’s questionnaire
responses do not suggest that pricing is
coordinated among exporters.
Furthermore, our analysis of New–Tec’s
questionnaire responses reveals no other
information indicating government
control of export activities. Therefore,
based on the information provided, we
determine that there is an absence of de
facto government control over New–
Tec’s export functions.
For the final results of this
administrative review, we find an
absence of government control, both in
law and in fact, with respect to New–
Tec’s export activities according to the
criteria identified in Sparklers and an
absence of government control with
respect to the additional criteria
identified in Silicon Carbide. Therefore,
we have assigned New–Tec a separate
rate.
Corroboration of Facts Available
Section 776(c) of the Act requires the
Department to corroborate, to the extent
practicable, secondary information used
as facts available. Secondary
information is defined as ‘‘information
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 Statement of
Administrative Action (‘‘SAA’’)
accompanying the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (’URAA’’), H.R. Doc.
No. 103–316 at 870 (1994); see also 19
CFR 351.308(d).
The SAA further provides that the
term ‘‘corroborate’’ means that the
Department will satisfy itself that the
secondary information to be used has
probative value. See SAA at 870. Thus,
to corroborate secondary information,
the Department will, to the extent
practicable, examine the reliability and
relevance of the information used.
However, unlike other types of
information, such as input costs or
selling expenses, there are no
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2907
independent sources for calculated
dumping margins. Thus, in an
administrative review, if the Department
chooses, as partial adverse facts
available (‘‘AFA’’), a calculated margin
from a prior segment of the proceeding,
it is not necessary to question the
reliability of the margin. The AFA rate
used in this review, 70.71 percent, is the
current PRC–wide rate originally
calculated in the less–than-fair–value
investigation and corroborated in the
first administrative review. This rate has
not been judicially invalidated.
Therefore, we consider this rate to be
reliable. See Folding Metal Tables and
Chairs From the People’s Republic of
China: Final Results and Partial
Rescission of First Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 69 FR 75913,
December 20, 2004 (‘‘FMTCs AR1
Final’’); see also Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Folding Metal Tables and
Chairs from the People’s Republic of
China, 67 FR 20090, 20091 (April 24,
2002) (FMTCs Final Determination).
With respect to the relevance aspect
of corroboration, the Department will
consider information reasonably at its
disposal to determine whether a margin
continues to have relevance. Nothing in
the record of this review calls into
question the relevance of the margin we
have selected as AFA. Moreover, the
selected margin is the current PRC–wide
rate and is currently applicable to
exporters who do not have a separate
rate. Further, the selected rate of 70.71
percent was the PRC–wide rate for every
prior segment of this proceeding. See
FMTCs AR1 Final; see also FMTCs Final
Determination. Thus, it is appropriate to
use the selected rate as AFA in this
review.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and
rebuttal briefs by parties to this
administrative review are addressed in
the ‘‘Issues and Decision Memorandum’’
(Decision Memorandum) from Stephen
J. Claeys, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Import Administration, to David M.
Spooner, Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration, dated January 9, 2006,
which is hereby adopted by this notice.
A list of the issues that parties have
raised and to which we have responded,
all of which are in the Decision
Memorandum, is attached to this notice
as an Appendix. Parties can find a
complete discussion of all issues raised
in this review and the corresponding
recommendations in this public
memorandum, which is on file in the
Central Records Unit, room B–099 of the
main Department of Commerce
building. In addition, the Decision
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Memorandum can be accessed directly
on Import Administration’s Web site at
https://.ia.ita.doc.gov. The paper copy
and the electronic version of the
Decision Memorandum are identical in
content.
Changes Since the Preliminary Results
Based on our analysis of the
comments received, we have made
changes in the margin calculations for
New–Tec and Feili Group. The specific
calculation changes can be found in our
calculation memoranda dated January 9,
2006. These changes are listed below.
New–Tec
For the final results the Department
has revised its calculation of
international movement expenses so
that ‘‘QTYU’’ field is not included and
a per–unit international movement
expenses calculated. See Decision
Memorandum at Comment 6.
Additionally, as we sated in the New–
Tec FOP Memo, we have updated our
U.S. deflator for the final results and,
therefore, we adjusted our international
air freight surrogate values to reflect this
change.
Feili Group
For the final results, the Department
has revised its surrogate value for
wooden pallets using a HTS category for
lumber since Feili Group has claimed it
makes its pallets. See Decision
Memorandum at Comment 8. We also
changed our surrogate value labor rate
to the rate issued by the Department in
November 2005, consistent with the
wage rate we applied to New–Tec.
New–Tec and Feili Group
We made several changes to the
surrogate financial ratios. See Decision
Memorandum at Comment 1. For the
final results we use the revised financial
ratios in our margin calculations.
PRC–Wide Entity
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Other than finding that New–Tec is
no longer part of the PRC–wide entity,
we received no comments on and made
no changes to our treatment of the PRC–
wide entity (including Wok and Pan).
Cash Deposit Requirements
Administrative Protective Orders
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective upon
publication of this notice of the final
results of administrative review for all
shipments of FMTCs from the PRC
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the date of
publication, as provided by section
751(a)(1) of the Act: (1) the cash deposit
rates for the reviewed companies will be
the rates shown above except where the
margin is de minimis, no cash deposit
will be required; (2) for previously
reviewed or investigated companies not
listed above that have separate rates, the
cash deposit rate will continue to be the
company–specific rate published for the
most recent period; (3) the cash deposit
rate for all other PRC exporters will be
70.71 percent; and 4) the cash deposit
rate for non–PRC exporters will be the
rate applicable to the PRC exporter that
supplied that exporter.
These deposit requirements shall
remain in effect until publication of the
final results of the next administrative
review.
This notice also serves as the only
reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective orders (APOs)
of their responsibility concerning the
return or destruction of proprietary
information disclosed under an APO in
accordance with 19 C.F.R. 351.305.
Timely written notification of the
return/destruction of APO materials or
conversion to judicial protective order is
hereby requested. Failure to comply
with the regulations and terms of an
APO is a violation which is subject to
sanction.
We are issuing and publishing this
determination and notice in accordance
with sections 751(a)(1) and 771(i) of the
Act.
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Appendix Issues in Decision
Memorandum
Assessment
List of Comments
The Department will determine, and
Customs and Border Protection (‘‘CBP’’)
will assess, antidumping duties on all
appropriate entries of subject
merchandise in accordance with these
final results of review. For the
companies subject to this review, we
calculated customer–specific
assessment rates because there is no
information on the record that identifies
the importers of record. Specifically, for
New–Tec and Feili Group we calculated
duty assessment rates for subject
merchandise based on the ratio of the
total amount of antidumping duties
calculated for the examined sales to the
total quantity of those sales. The
Department will issue appropriate
assessment instructions directly to CBP
within 15 days of publication of these
final results of review.
I. ISSUES RELATED TO BOTH
RESPONDENTS
Reimbursement of Duties
This notice also serves as a final
reminder to importers of their
Final Results of Review
responsibility under 19 C.F.R. 351.402(f)
to file a certificate regarding the
We determine that the following
reimbursement of antidumping duties
weighted–average, ad valorem,
prior to liquidation of the relevant
percentage margins exist for the period
entries during this review period.
June 1, 2003, through May 31, 2004:
Failure to comply with this requirement
Exporter/Manufacturer
Margin (percent)
could result in the Secretary’s
presumption that reimbursement of
New–Tec .......................
0.00 antidumping duties occurred and the
Feili Group ....................
0.00
subsequent assessment of doubled
PRC Wide–Rate ...........
70.71
antidumping duties.
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Dated: January 9, 2006.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
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Comment 1: Financial Ratios
Comment 2: Use of Market–Economy
Purchase Prices
Comment 3: Surrogate Labor Rate
II. ISSUES SPECIFIC TO NEW–TEC
Comment 4: Treatment of Zero–Priced
Transactions
Comment 5: Application of Total
Adverse Facts Available
Comment 6: International Freight
Surrogate Value
Comment 7: Application of the
International Freight Surrogate Value
III. ISSUES SPECIFIC TO FEILI GROUP
Comment 8: Wood/Pallet Surrogate
Value
Comment 9: Billing Adjustments to U.S.
Prices
Comment 10: Exclusion of Certain
Market–Economy Purchases
[FR Doc. E6–498 Filed 1–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2905-2908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-498]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-868]
Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the People's Republic of
China; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On July 11, 2005, the Department of Commerce (the Department)
published in the Federal Register the preliminary results of the 2003 -
2004 administrative review of the antidumping duty order on folding
metal tables and chairs (FMTCs) from the People's Republic of China
(PRC). The period of review (POR) is June 1, 2003, to May 31, 2004. We
have now completed the 2003 - 2004 administrative review of the order.
Based on comments received, we have made changes in the dumping margin
calculations. Therefore, the final results differ from the preliminary
results. For details regarding these changes, see the section of this
notice entitled ``Changes Since the Preliminary Results.'' The final
results are listed below in the ``Final Results of Review'' section.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 18, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marin Weaver or Catherine Feig, AD/CVD
Operations, Office 8, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
2336 and (202) 482-3962, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The preliminary results in this administrative review were
published on July 11, 2005. See Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from
the People's Republic of China: Notice of Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 70 FR 39726
[[Page 2906]]
(July 11, 2005) (``Preliminary Results''). The POR is June 1, 2003,
through May 31, 2004. The respondents in this case are Feili Furniture
Development Ltd. Quanzhou City, Feili Furniture Development Co., Ltd.,
Feili Group (Fujian) Co., Ltd., and Feili (Fujian) Co., Ltd.
(collectively ``Feili Group''), and New-Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co.
Ltd. (``New-Tec''). The domestic interested parties are Meco
Corporation (``Meco'') and Cosco Home and Office Products (``Cosco'').
As stated in the Preliminary Results, we issued an additional
supplemental questionnaire to New-Tec on July 1, 2005. New-Tec
responded on July 29, 2005. On August 18, 2005, the Department issued
another supplemental questionnaire to New-Tec. On September 7, 2005, in
response to New-Tec's August 31, 2005, extension request, the
Department granted an extension and also requested additional
documentation related to the inventory reconciliation. On September 16,
2005, in response to the Department's requests, New-Tec submitted its
responses to both the August 18, 2005, supplemental questionnaire and
the additional August 31, 2005, questions. In the Preliminary Results
the Department applied total adverse facts available to New-Tec.
However, on December 1, 2005, the Department issued a margin
calculation for New-Tec applying partial adverse facts available. See
Memorandum to Joseph A. Spetrini; Calculation of an Anti-Dumping Duty
Margin of Review and Application of Partial Facts Available with an
Adverse Inference for New-Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. (``New-Tec
Memo'') (December 1, 2005), see also Memorandum to Wendy J. Frankel;
Factors-of-Production Valuation for New-Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co.,
Ltd. Post-Preliminary Results (December 1, 2005) (``New-Tec FOP Memo'')
and Memorandum to the File; Calculation Memorandum, New-Tec Integration
(Xiamen) Co., Ltd. (``New-Tec Calculation Memo'') (December 1, 2005).
On December 8, 2005, we received case briefs from Meco and the
respondents. On December 9, 2005, we received a case brief from
Cosco.\1\ We received rebuttal briefs from Meco and respondents on
December 13, 2005, and from Cosco on December 14, 3005.\2\ On December
27, 2005, the Department issued a letter to interested parties
soliciting comments on moving indirect employee benefit expenses (e.g.,
employees provident and other funds, employees gratuity trust fund,
workman and staff welfare expense and voluntary retirement
compensation) in the surrogate Indian financial statements from direct
labor costs to manufacturing overhead costs. Feili Group, New-Tec,
Cosco and Meco all responded on December 30, 2005.
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\1\ This case brief was timely because one copy was originally
filed on December 8, 2005 as ``bracketing not final.''
\2\ This rebuttal brief was timely because one copy was
originally filed on December 13, 2005 as ``bracketing not final.''
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Scope of the Order
The products covered by this order consist of assembled and
unassembled folding tables and folding chairs made primarily or
exclusively from steel or other metal, as described below:
1) Assembled and unassembled folding tables made primarily or
exclusively from steel or other metal (folding metal tables). Folding
metal tables include square, round, rectangular, and any other shapes
with legs affixed with rivets, welds, or any other type of fastener,
and which are made most commonly, but not exclusively, with a hardboard
top covered with vinyl or fabric. Folding metal tables have legs that
mechanically fold independently of one another, and not as a set. The
subject merchandise is commonly, but not exclusively, packed singly, in
multiple packs of the same item, or in five piece sets consisting of
four chairs and one table. Specifically excluded from the scope of the
order regarding folding metal tables are the following:
a. Lawn furniture;
b. Trays commonly referred to as ``TV trays'';
c. Side tables;
d. Child-sized tables;
e. Portable counter sets consisting of rectangular tables 36'' high
and matching stools; and
f. Banquet tables. A banquet table is a rectangular table with a
plastic or laminated wood table top approximately 28'' to 36'' wide by
48'' to 96'' long and with a set of folding legs at each end of the
table. One set of legs is composed of two individual legs that are
affixed together by one or more cross-braces using welds or fastening
hardware. In contrast, folding metal tables have legs that mechanically
fold independently of one another, and not as a set.
2) Assembled and unassembled folding chairs made primarily or
exclusively from steel or other metal (folding metal chairs). Folding
metal chairs include chairs with one or more cross-braces, regardless
of shape or size, affixed to the front and/or rear legs with rivets,
welds or any other type of fastener. Folding metal chairs include:
those that are made solely of steel or other metal; those that have a
back pad, a seat pad, or both a back pad and a seat pad; and those that
have seats or backs made of plastic or other materials. The subject
merchandise is commonly, but not exclusively, packed singly, in
multiple packs of the same item, or in five piece sets consisting of
four chairs and one table. Specifically excluded from the scope of the
order regarding folding metal chairs are the following:
a. Folding metal chairs with a wooden back or seat, or both;
b. Lawn furniture;
c. Stools;
d. Chairs with arms; and
e. Child-sized chairs.
The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under subheadings
9401.71.0010, 9401.71.0030, 9401.79.0045, 9401.79.0050, 9403.20.0010,
9403.20.0030, 9403.70.8010, 9403.70.8020, and 9403.70.8030 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the
HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes,
the Department's written description of the merchandise is dispositive.
Separate Rates Determination for New-Tec
The Department has treated the PRC as a non-market economy (NME)
country in all past antidumping duty investigations and administrative
reviews. See, e.g., Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value: Tetrahydrofurfuryl Alcohol From the People's Republic of China,
69 FR 34130 (June 18, 2004). A designation as an NME country remains in
effect until it is revoked by the Department. See section 771(18)(C)(i)
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).
It is the Department's standard policy to assign all exporters of
merchandise subject to review in an NME country a single rate unless an
exporter can demonstrate an absence of government control, with respect
to exports. To establish whether an exporter is sufficiently
independent of government control to be entitled to a separate rate,
the Department analyzes the exporter in light of the criteria
established in the Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value: Sparklers from the People's Republic of China, 56 FR 20588 (May
6, 1991) (Sparklers); and Final Determination of Sales at Less Than
[[Page 2907]]
Fair Value: Silicon Carbide from the People's Republic of China, 59 FR
22585 (May 2, 1994) (Silicon Carbide). Under this test, exporters in
NME countries are entitled to separate, company-specific margins when
they can demonstrate an absence of government control over exports,
both in law (de jure) and in fact (de facto). Evidence supporting,
though not requiring, a finding of de jure absence of government
control over export activities includes: 1) an absence of restrictive
stipulations associated with the individual exporter's business and
export licenses; 2) any legislative enactments decentralizing control
of companies; and 3) any other formal measures by the government
decentralizing control of companies. De facto absence of government
control over exports is based on four factors: 1) whether each exporter
sets its own export prices independently of the government and without
the approval of a government authority; 2) whether each exporter
retains the proceeds from its sales and makes independent decisions
regarding the disposition of profits or the financing of losses; 3)
whether each exporter has the authority to negotiate and sign contracts
and other agreements; and 4) whether each exporter has autonomy from
the government regarding the selection of management. See Silicon
Carbide, 59 FR at 22587, and Sparklers, 56 FR at 20589.
New-Tec is a joint venture owned by New-Tec International Inc., a
South Korean company, and Xiamen Integration Co., Ltd. New-Tec has
placed documents on the record to demonstrate the absence of de jure
control including its list of shareholders, business license, and the
Company Law. Other than limiting New-Tec to activities referenced in
the business license, we found no restrictive stipulations associated
with the license. In addition, in previous cases the Department has
analyzed the Company Law and found that it establishes an absence of de
jure control. See, e.g., Certain Non-Frozen Apple Juice Concentrate
from the People's Republic of China: Final Results, Partial Recision
and Termination of a Partial Deferral of the 2002-2003 Administrative
Review, 69 FR 65148, 65150 (November 10, 2004). We have no information
in this segment of the proceeding which would cause us to reconsider
this determination. Therefore, based on the foregoing, we have
preliminarily found an absence of de jure control for New Tec.
With regard to de facto control, New-Tec reported the following:
(1) it sets prices to the United States through negotiations with
customers and these prices are not subject to review by any government
organization; (2) it does not coordinate with other exporters or
producers to set the price or determine to which market companies sell
subject merchandise; (3) the Chamber of Commerce does not coordinate
the export activities of New-Tec; (4) New-Tec's general manager has the
authority to contractually bind the company to sell subject
merchandise; (5) the board of directors appointed the general manager;
(6) there is no restriction on its use of export revenues; and (7) New-
Tec's management decides how to dispose of the profits and New-Tec has
not had a loss in the last two years. Additionally, New-Tec's
questionnaire responses do not suggest that pricing is coordinated
among exporters. Furthermore, our analysis of New-Tec's questionnaire
responses reveals no other information indicating government control of
export activities. Therefore, based on the information provided, we
determine that there is an absence of de facto government control over
New-Tec's export functions.
For the final results of this administrative review, we find an
absence of government control, both in law and in fact, with respect to
New-Tec's export activities according to the criteria identified in
Sparklers and an absence of government control with respect to the
additional criteria identified in Silicon Carbide. Therefore, we have
assigned New-Tec a separate rate.
Corroboration of Facts Available
Section 776(c) of the Act requires the Department to corroborate,
to the extent practicable, secondary information used as facts
available. Secondary information is defined as ``information 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
Statement of Administrative Action (``SAA'') accompanying the Uruguay
Round Agreements Act ('URAA''), H.R. Doc. No. 103-316 at 870 (1994);
see also 19 CFR 351.308(d).
The SAA further provides that the term ``corroborate'' means that
the Department will satisfy itself that the secondary information to be
used has probative value. See SAA at 870. Thus, to corroborate
secondary information, the Department will, to the extent practicable,
examine the reliability and relevance of the information used. However,
unlike other types of information, such as input costs or selling
expenses, there are no independent sources for calculated dumping
margins. Thus, in an administrative review, if the Department chooses,
as partial adverse facts available (``AFA''), a calculated margin from
a prior segment of the proceeding, it is not necessary to question the
reliability of the margin. The AFA rate used in this review, 70.71
percent, is the current PRC-wide rate originally calculated in the
less-than-fair-value investigation and corroborated in the first
administrative review. This rate has not been judicially invalidated.
Therefore, we consider this rate to be reliable. See Folding Metal
Tables and Chairs From the People's Republic of China: Final Results
and Partial Rescission of First Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,
69 FR 75913, December 20, 2004 (``FMTCs AR1 Final''); see also Notice
of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Folding Metal
Tables and Chairs from the People's Republic of China, 67 FR 20090,
20091 (April 24, 2002) (FMTCs Final Determination).
With respect to the relevance aspect of corroboration, the
Department will consider information reasonably at its disposal to
determine whether a margin continues to have relevance. Nothing in the
record of this review calls into question the relevance of the margin
we have selected as AFA. Moreover, the selected margin is the current
PRC-wide rate and is currently applicable to exporters who do not have
a separate rate. Further, the selected rate of 70.71 percent was the
PRC-wide rate for every prior segment of this proceeding. See FMTCs AR1
Final; see also FMTCs Final Determination. Thus, it is appropriate to
use the selected rate as AFA in this review.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties to
this administrative review are addressed in the ``Issues and Decision
Memorandum'' (Decision Memorandum) from Stephen J. Claeys, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, to David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, dated January 9, 2006,
which is hereby adopted by this notice. A list of the issues that
parties have raised and to which we have responded, all of which are in
the Decision Memorandum, is attached to this notice as an Appendix.
Parties can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this
review and the corresponding recommendations in this public memorandum,
which is on file in the Central Records Unit, room B-099 of the main
Department of Commerce building. In addition, the Decision
[[Page 2908]]
Memorandum can be accessed directly on Import Administration's Web site
at https://.ia.ita.doc.gov. The paper copy and the electronic version of
the Decision Memorandum are identical in content.
Changes Since the Preliminary Results
Based on our analysis of the comments received, we have made
changes in the margin calculations for New-Tec and Feili Group. The
specific calculation changes can be found in our calculation memoranda
dated January 9, 2006. These changes are listed below.
New-Tec
For the final results the Department has revised its calculation of
international movement expenses so that ``QTYU'' field is not included
and a per-unit international movement expenses calculated. See Decision
Memorandum at Comment 6. Additionally, as we sated in the New-Tec FOP
Memo, we have updated our U.S. deflator for the final results and,
therefore, we adjusted our international air freight surrogate values
to reflect this change.
Feili Group
For the final results, the Department has revised its surrogate
value for wooden pallets using a HTS category for lumber since Feili
Group has claimed it makes its pallets. See Decision Memorandum at
Comment 8. We also changed our surrogate value labor rate to the rate
issued by the Department in November 2005, consistent with the wage
rate we applied to New-Tec.
New-Tec and Feili Group
We made several changes to the surrogate financial ratios. See
Decision Memorandum at Comment 1. For the final results we use the
revised financial ratios in our margin calculations.
PRC-Wide Entity
Other than finding that New-Tec is no longer part of the PRC-wide
entity, we received no comments on and made no changes to our treatment
of the PRC-wide entity (including Wok and Pan).
Final Results of Review
We determine that the following weighted-average, ad valorem,
percentage margins exist for the period June 1, 2003, through May 31,
2004:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exporter/Manufacturer Margin (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
New-Tec............................................. 0.00
Feili Group......................................... 0.00
PRC Wide-Rate....................................... 70.71
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit requirements will be effective upon
publication of this notice of the final results of administrative
review for all shipments of FMTCs from the PRC entered, or withdrawn
from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication, as
provided by section 751(a)(1) of the Act: (1) the cash deposit rates
for the reviewed companies will be the rates shown above except where
the margin is de minimis, no cash deposit will be required; (2) for
previously reviewed or investigated companies not listed above that
have separate rates, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the
company-specific rate published for the most recent period; (3) the
cash deposit rate for all other PRC exporters will be 70.71 percent;
and 4) the cash deposit rate for non-PRC exporters will be the rate
applicable to the PRC exporter that supplied that exporter.
These deposit requirements shall remain in effect until publication
of the final results of the next administrative review.
Assessment
The Department will determine, and Customs and Border Protection
(``CBP'') will assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of
subject merchandise in accordance with these final results of review.
For the companies subject to this review, we calculated customer-
specific assessment rates because there is no information on the record
that identifies the importers of record. Specifically, for New-Tec and
Feili Group we calculated duty assessment rates for subject merchandise
based on the ratio of the total amount of antidumping duties calculated
for the examined sales to the total quantity of those sales. The
Department will issue appropriate assessment instructions directly to
CBP within 15 days of publication of these final results of review.
Reimbursement of Duties
This notice also serves as a final reminder to importers of their
responsibility under 19 C.F.R. 351.402(f) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply
with this requirement could result in the Secretary's presumption that
reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent
assessment of doubled antidumping duties.
Administrative Protective Orders
This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective orders (APOs) of their responsibility
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information
disclosed under an APO in accordance with 19 C.F.R. 351.305. Timely
written notification of the return/destruction of APO materials or
conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to
comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a violation which is
subject to sanction.
We are issuing and publishing this determination and notice in
accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 771(i) of the Act.
Dated: January 9, 2006.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
Appendix Issues in Decision Memorandum
List of Comments
I. ISSUES RELATED TO BOTH RESPONDENTS
Comment 1: Financial Ratios
Comment 2: Use of Market-Economy Purchase Prices
Comment 3: Surrogate Labor Rate
II. ISSUES SPECIFIC TO NEW-TEC
Comment 4: Treatment of Zero-Priced Transactions
Comment 5: Application of Total Adverse Facts Available
Comment 6: International Freight Surrogate Value
Comment 7: Application of the International Freight Surrogate Value
III. ISSUES SPECIFIC TO FEILI GROUP
Comment 8: Wood/Pallet Surrogate Value
Comment 9: Billing Adjustments to U.S. Prices
Comment 10: Exclusion of Certain Market-Economy Purchases
[FR Doc. E6-498 Filed 1-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S