Certain Pasta From Italy: Notice of Preliminary Results of Eleventh Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 45716-45721 [E8-18026]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45716-45721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18026]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-475-818]


Certain Pasta From Italy: Notice of Preliminary Results of 
Eleventh Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: In response to requests by interested parties, the Department 
of Commerce (``the Department'') is conducting an administrative review 
of the antidumping duty order on certain pasta (``pasta'') from Italy 
for the period of review (``POR'') July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2007. 
This review covers four producers/exporters of subject merchandise. We 
preliminarily determine that during the POR, respondents sold subject 
merchandise at less than normal value (``NV''). If these preliminary 
results are adopted in the final results of this administrative review, 
we will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') to assess 
antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise 
during the POR.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary 
results.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 6, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Hargett (Divella) or 
Stephanie Moore (Zara) , AD/CVD Operations, Office 3, Import 
Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20230; telephone: (202) 482-4161 or (202) 482-3692, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 24, 1996, the Department published in the Federal Register 
the antidumping duty order on pasta from Italy. See Notice of 
Antidumping Duty Order and Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less 
Than Fair Value: Certain Pasta From Italy, 61 FR 38547 (July 24, 1996).
    On July 3, 2007, the Department published a notice of opportunity 
to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on 
certain pasta from Italy. See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, 
Finding, or Suspended Investigation: Opportunity to Request 
Administrative Review, 72 FR 36420 (July 3, 2007). We received requests 
for review from petitioners \1\ and from individual Italian exporters/
producers of pasta, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(b)(1) and (2). On 
August 24, 2007, the Department published the notice of initiation of 
this antidumping duty administrative review covering the period July 1, 
2006, through June 30, 2007, listing the following companies as 
respondents: Atar S.r.L. (``Atar''), Domenico Paone fu Erasmo S.p.A., 
F. Divella SpA (``Divella''), Industria Alimentare Colavita S.p.A., and 
Pasta Zara SpA 1 (``Zara 1'') and Pasta Zara SpA 2 (``Zara 2'') 
(collectively, ``Zara''), Pastificio Carmine Russo, Pastificio Di 
Martino Gaetano & F. lli SrL., Pastificio Felicetti SrL, Pastificio 
Fratelli Pagani S.p.A., Pastificio Russo di Cicciano, Rummo S.p.A. 
Molino e Pastificio, and Valdigrano Di Flavio Pagani SrL. See 
Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 72 FR 48613 (August 24, 
2007) (``Initiation Notice'').
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    \1\ New World Pasta Company; Dakota Growers Pasta Company; and 
American Italian Pasta Company.
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    On October 15, 2007, due to the significant number of requests 
received and then current resource constraints, the Department selected 
the three exporters/producers accounting for the largest volume of 
exports--Atar, Divella, and Zara, as mandatory respondents.\2\
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    \2\ See Memorandum to Melissa Skinner, Director, Office 3, from 
Team regarding Selection of Respondents for Individual Review, 
October 15, 2007.
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    The following companies self-requested that the Department conduct 
an administrative review: Atar, Domenico Paone fu Erasmo S.p.A., 
Industria Alimentare Colavita S.p.A., Pastificio Carmine Russo, 
Pastificio Fratelli Pagani S.p.A. [sic], Pastificio Russo di Cicciano, 
Rummo S.p.A. Molino e Pastificio, and Valdigrano Di Flavio Pagani SrL. 
The companies

[[Page 45717]]

subsequently timely withdrew their request for review. Therefore, on 
December 10, 2007, the Department rescinded the review with respect to 
these companies.\3\
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    \3\ See Certain Pasta from Italy: Notice of Partial Rescission 
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 72 FR 69662 (December 10, 
2007).
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    On January 18, 2008, the Department initiated an investigation to 
determine whether Divella and Zara were selling pasta in Italy at 
prices below the cost of production (``COP'').\4\
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    \4\ See Memoranda from the Team to Melissa Skinner, 
``Petitioners' Allegation of Sales Below the Cost of Production for 
F. Divella SpA'' and ``Petitioners' Allegation of Sales Below the 
Cost of Production for Pasta Zara SpA,'' dated January 18, 2008.
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    Between August 2006 and May 2007, the Department issued its initial 
questionnaire and supplemental questionnaires to each respondent, as 
applicable. We received responses to the Department's initial and 
supplemental questionnaires on December 12, 2007, February 15, 2008, 
March 31, 2008, April 14, 2008, May 5, 2008, and July 3, 2008, from 
Divella. Zara provided responses to the Department's initial and 
supplemental questionnaires on December 12, 2007, April 8, 2008, May 
27, 2008, and July 1, 2008. On January 2, 2008, and March 6, 2008, and 
March 27, 2008, and May 29, 2008, the petitioners filed comments on 
Divella's responses. On January 14, 2008, March 7, 2008, and on May 21, 
2008, petitioners filed comments on Zara's responses. On March 12, 
2008, the Department fully extended the due date for the preliminary 
results of review from April 1, 2008, to July 30, 2008. See Certain 
Pasta from Italy: Extension of Time Limits for the Preliminary Results 
of Eleventh Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR 13208 (March 
12, 2008).

Scope of the Order

    Imports covered by this order are shipments of certain non-egg dry 
pasta in packages of five pounds four ounces or less, whether or not 
enriched or fortified or containing milk or other optional ingredients 
such as chopped vegetables, vegetable purees, milk, gluten, diastasis, 
vitamins, coloring and flavorings, and up to two percent egg white. The 
pasta covered by this scope is typically sold in the retail market, in 
fiberboard or cardboard cartons, or polyethylene or polypropylene bags 
of varying dimensions.
    Excluded from the scope of this order are refrigerated, frozen, or 
canned pastas, as well as all forms of egg pasta, with the exception of 
non-egg dry pasta containing up to two percent egg white. Also excluded 
are imports of organic pasta from Italy that are accompanied by the 
appropriate certificate issued by the Instituto Mediterraneo Di 
Certificazione, by Bioagricoop Scrl, by QC&I International Services, by 
Ecocert Italia, by Consorzio per il Controllo dei Prodotti Biologici, 
by Associazione Italiana per l'Agricoltura Biologica, or by Instituto 
per la Certificazione Etica e Ambientale (``ICEA'') are also excluded 
from this order. See Memorandum from Audrey Twyman to Susan Kuhbach, 
dated February 28, 2006, ``Recognition of Instituto per la 
Certificazione Etica e Ambientale.''
    The merchandise subject to this order is currently classifiable 
under subheadings 1901.90.95 and 1902.19.20 of the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS''). Although the HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise subject to the order is 
dispositive.

Product Comparisons

    In accordance with section 771(16) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (``the Act''), we first attempted to match contemporaneous 
sales of products sold in the United States and comparison markets that 
were identical with respect to the following characteristics: (1) Pasta 
shape; (2) type of wheat; (3) additives; and (4) enrichment. When there 
were no sales of identical merchandise in the comparison market to 
compare with U.S. sales, we compared U.S. sales with the most similar 
product based on the characteristics listed above, in descending order 
of priority. When there were no appropriate comparison market sales of 
comparable merchandise, we compared the merchandise sold in the United 
States to constructed value (``CV''), in accordance with section 
773(a)(4) of the Act.
    For purposes of the preliminary results, where appropriate, we have 
calculated the adjustment for differences in merchandise based on the 
difference in the variable cost of manufacturing (``VCOM'') between 
each U.S. model and the most similar home market model selected for 
comparison.

Comparisons to Normal Value

    To determine whether sales of certain pasta from Italy were made in 
the United States at less than NV, we compared the export price 
(``EP'') or constructed export price (``CEP'') to the NV, as described 
in the ``Export Price/Constructed Export Price'' and ``Normal Value'' 
sections of this notice. In accordance with section 777A(d)(2) of the 
Act, we calculated monthly weighted-average prices for NV and compared 
these to individual U.S. transactions. See the Department's 
``Calculation Memorandum for F. Divella S.p.A.'' (``Divella's 
calculation memo'') see also ``Calculation Memorandum for Pasta Zara 
S.p.A.'' (``Zara's calculation memo''), both dated July 30, 2008, 
available in the Central Records Unit (CRU) in Room 1117 of the Main 
Commerce Building.

Export Price/Constructed Export Price

    For the price to the United States, we used, as appropriate, EP or 
CEP, in accordance with sections 772(a) and (b) of the Act. We 
calculated EP when the merchandise was sold by the producer or exporter 
outside of the United States directly to the first unaffiliated 
purchaser in the United States prior to importation and when CEP was 
not otherwise warranted based on the facts on the record. We calculated 
CEP for those sales where a person in the United States, affiliated 
with the foreign exporter or acting for the account of the exporter, 
made the sale to the first unaffiliated purchaser in the United States 
of the subject merchandise. We based EP and CEP on the packed cost-
insurance-freight (``CIF''), ex-factory, free-on-board (``FOB''), or 
delivered prices to the first unaffiliated customer in, or for 
exportation to, the United States. When appropriate, we reduced these 
prices to reflect discounts and rebates.
    In accordance with section 772(c)(2) of the Act, we made 
deductions, where appropriate, for movement expenses including inland 
freight from plant or warehouse to port of exportation, foreign 
brokerage, handling and loading charges, export duties, international 
freight, marine insurance, U.S. inland freight expenses, warehousing, 
and U.S. duties. In addition, when appropriate, we increased EP or CEP 
as applicable, by an amount equal to the countervailing duty rate 
attributed to export subsidies in the most recently completed 
countervailing duty administrative review, in accordance with section 
772(c)(1)(C) of the Act.
    Zara's U.S. sales are made through Zara USA, an affiliated 
subsidiary in the United States. Zara argues that its U.S. sales should 
be treated as EP because the pasta is shipped directly from Italy to 
the U.S. customer, and that Zara USA's role is minimal as it has no 
employees and its functions are performed by an accountant/consultant. 
Zara states that Zara USA is the importer of record, and that Zara USA 
receives an invoice from the U.S. customs broker, which it then pays. 
Zara USA invoices the unaffiliated U.S.

[[Page 45718]]

customer in the United States and also receives payment from the 
unaffiliated U.S. customers and deposits the checks into Zara USA's 
bank account. Zara states that in terms of document flow, Zara sells to 
Zara USA, and Zara USA sells to the American customer, who pays Zara 
USA. See Zara's April 8, 2008, questionnaire response at pages 39-41.
    The Department finds that the transactions at issue constitute CEP 
rather than EP sales. First, Zara's argument regarding functions 
performed by Zara USA is misplaced because the Department no longer 
employs a function-driven approach known as the ``PQ'' test in 
determining whether sales are EP or CEP.
    As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit explained:

    The definition of CEP includes sales made by either the 
producer/exporter or ``by a seller affiliated with the producer or 
exporter.'' 19 U.S.C. Sec.  1677a(b). EP sales, on the other hand 
can only be made by the producer or exporter of the merchandise. See 
19 U.S.C. Sec.  1677a(a). Consequently, while a sale made by a 
producer or exporter could be either EP or CEP, one made by a U.S. 
affiliate can only be CEP. Limiting affiliate sales to CEP flows 
logically from the geographical restriction of the EP definition, as 
a sale executed in the United States by a U.S. affiliate of the 
producer or exporter to a U.S. purchaser could not be a sale 
``outside the United States.'' The location of the sale and the 
identity of the seller are critical to distinguishing between the 
two categories. Congress provided for only two mutually exclusive 
categories: EP or CEP sales. In distinguishing the two, Congress 
opted for what can be seen as a structural approach to defining EP 
and CEP sales, not the function-driven approach of the PQ Test. 
Congress chose clear and unambiguous words such as ``affiliated,'' 
``sold,'' and ``in'' or ``outside'' the United States. In no sense 
did it leave the distinguishing factor to the agency to identify 
exporter.\5\
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    \5\ See AK Steel Corporation v. United States, 226 F.3d 1361, 
1370-1371 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (``AK Steel'').

    Thus, the primary focus in determining whether a sale is properly 
classified as EP or CEP is: (1) The identity of the seller of subject 
merchandise to the first unaffiliated U.S. customer; and (2) the 
location of the sale to the first unaffiliated U.S. customer.\6\ 
Because the Federal Circuit invalidated the ``PQ'' test in AK Steel, 
the Department will not conduct an analysis of the relative functions 
or activities performed by Zara USA in the sales process.
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    \6\ See AK Steel, 226 F.3d at 1370: ``the critical difference 
between EP and CEP sales is whether the sale or transaction takes 
place inside or outside the United States and whether it is made by 
an affiliate.'' See also id at 1371: ``The location of the sale and 
the identity of the seller are critical to distinguishing between 
{EP and CEP{time} .''
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    In AK Steel, the Court held that the ``seller'' is the party who 
contracts to sell.\7\ In Corus Staal, the Court stated ``{a{time} s the 
material terms of the sale or agreement to sell were not fixed until 
the final invoice, Commerce could properly conclude that the final 
invoices determined when a sale or agreement to sell first occurred.'' 
\8\ In this case, even though the U.S. customer places the order 
directly with Zara, the record evidence suggests that the terms of sale 
are not finalized prior to invoice date. As the invoice issued to the 
first unaffiliated customer identifies Zara USA as the seller of 
subject merchandise, and as Zara USA serves as importer of record, thus 
transferring title to the first unaffiliated purchaser in the United 
States, we preliminarily find that the subject merchandise is first 
sold in the United States to an unaffiliated U.S. customer, and thus 
CEP is warranted. See e.g., Certain New Pneumatic Off-The-Road Tires 
from the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Determination of 
Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Partial Affirmative Determination of 
Critical Circumstances, 73 FR 40485 (July 15, 2008). See also, Zara's 
calculation memo.
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    \7\ See AK Steel, 226 F.3d at 1371.
    \8\ Corus Staal BV et al. v. United States, 2006 Ct. Intl. Trade 
LEXIS 113, at 20, Slip Op. 2006-112 (CIT July 25, 2006) (``Corus 
Staal'').
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    For CEP, in accordance with section 772(d)(1) of the Act, when 
appropriate, we deducted from the starting price those selling expenses 
that were incurred in selling the subject merchandise in the United 
States, including direct selling expenses (advertising, cost of credit, 
warranties, banking, slotting fees, and commissions paid to 
unaffiliated sales agents). In addition, we deducted indirect selling 
expenses that related to economic activity in the United States. These 
expenses include certain indirect selling expenses incurred by its 
affiliated U.S. distributors. We also deducted from CEP an amount for 
profit in accordance with sections 772(d)(3) and (f) of the Act. See 
Divella's calculation memo, see also Zara's calculation memo.

Normal Value

A. Selection of Comparison Markets

    To determine whether there was a sufficient volume of sales in the 
home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating NV, 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. 
Pursuant to sections 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act, because Divella and Zara 
each had an aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like 
product that was greater than five percent of its aggregate volume of 
U.S. sales of the subject merchandise, we determined that the home 
market was viable for both Divella and Zara.

B. Cost of Production Analysis

    With respect to Divella, we made the following COP and CV 
adjustments for the preliminary results. First, we revised the yielded 
per-unit cost of semolina reported in the cost database to include the 
transportation costs related to the sales of by-products, costs 
incurred to transport semolina from the wheat mill to the pasta plant, 
property taxes, and an adjustment made to the June 30, 2007, durum 
wheat inventory. Second, we revised the fixed overhead costs of the 
pasta plant to include property taxes and other operating costs. Third, 
we revised the general and administrative (``G&A'') expense rate to 
include property taxes, other operating costs, and various litigation 
and settlement losses. In addition, the G&A expense ratio denominator 
was revised to exclude the fixed overhead costs related to packing and 
include transportation costs related to the sales of by-products. 
Finally, we revised Divella's net financial expenses to exclude 
dividend income. For further discussion of these adjustments for 
Divella, see the Memorandum from Sheikh Hannan to Neal Halper entitled, 
``Cost of Production and Constructed Value Adjustments for the 
Preliminary Results--F. Divella SpA,'' dated July 30, 2008.
    With respect to Zara, we revised Zara 1 and Zara 2's reported 
database to reflect differences in the originally submitted trial 
balance and the finalized trial balance used to prepare the audited 
financial statements. Additionally, we included credit notes for 
purchases of semolina for both companies and for Zara 2, we included 
water costs and purchases of semolina from Zara 1 in the cost of 
manufacturing (``COM''). We also included certain non-operating 
expenses in the G&A expenses. Further, we adjusted Zara 1's financial 
expenses to exclude certain income items generated from long-term 
assets and losses related to investment activity. Last, we weight-
averaged Zara 1 and Zara 2's respective cost databases to calculate one 
weighted-average COP for the POR. For further discussion of these 
adjustments for Zara, see the Memorandum from Christopher Zimpo to Neal 
Halper entitled, ``Cost of Production and Constructed Value

[[Page 45719]]

Adjustments for the Preliminary Results--Pasta Zara SpA,'' dated July 
30, 2008.
1. Calculation of COP
    Before making any comparisons to NV, we conducted a COP analysis of 
Divella and Zara pursuant to section 773(b) of the Act, to determine 
whether Divella's and Zara's comparison market sales were made at 
prices below the COP. We calculated the COP based on the sum of the 
cost of materials and fabrication for the foreign like product, plus 
amounts for selling, general, and administrative (``SG&A'') expenses 
and packing, in accordance with section 773(b)(3) of the Act.
2. Test of Comparison Market Prices
    As required under section 773(b)(2) of the Act, we compared the 
weighted-average COP to the per-unit price of the comparison market 
sales of the foreign like product to determine whether these sales had 
been made at prices below the COP within an extended period of time in 
substantial quantities, and whether such prices were sufficient to 
permit the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time. We 
determined the net comparison market prices for the below-cost test by 
subtracting from the gross unit price any applicable movement charges, 
discounts, rebates, direct and indirect selling expenses (also 
subtracted from the COP), and packing expenses. See Divella's 
calculation memo, see also Zara's calculation memo.
3. Results of COP Test
    Pursuant to section 773(b)(2)(C)(i) of the Act, where less than 20 
percent of sales of a given product were at prices less than the COP, 
we did not disregard any below-cost sales of that product because we 
determined that the below-cost sales were not made in ``substantial 
quantities.'' Where 20 percent or more of a respondent's sales of a 
given product during the POR were at prices less than the COP we 
determined such sales to have been made in ``substantial quantities.'' 
See section 773(b)(2)(C) of the Act. The sales were made within an 
extended period of time, in accordance with section 773(b)(2)(B) of the 
Act, because they were made over the course of the POR. In such cases, 
because we compared prices to POR-average costs, we also determined 
that such sales were not made at prices which would permit recovery of 
all costs within a reasonable period of time, in accordance with 
section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act. Therefore, for Divella and Zara, we 
disregarded below-cost sales of a given product of 20 percent or more 
and used the remaining sales as the basis for determining NV, in 
accordance with section 773(b)(1) of the Act. See Divella's calculation 
memo, see also Zara's calculation memo.

C. Calculation of Normal Value Based on Comparison Market Prices

    We calculated NV based on ex-works, FOB or delivered prices to 
comparison market customers. We made deductions from the starting 
price, when appropriate, for handling, loading, inland freight, 
warehousing, inland insurance, discounts, and rebates. In accordance 
with sections 773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the Act, we added U.S. packing 
costs and deducted comparison market packing, respectively. In 
addition, we made circumstance-of-sale adjustments for direct expenses, 
including imputed credit expenses, advertising, warranty expenses, 
commissions, bank charges, and billing adjustments, in accordance with 
section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii) of the Act.
    We also made adjustments for Divella and Zara, in accordance with 
19 CFR 351.410(e), for indirect selling expenses incurred in the home 
market or the United States where commissions were granted on sales in 
one market but not in the other, the ``commission offset.'' 
Specifically, where commissions are incurred in one market, but not in 
the other, we will limit the amount of such allowance to the amount of 
either the selling expenses incurred in the one market or the 
commissions allowed in the other market, whichever is less.
    When comparing U.S. sales with comparison market sales of similar, 
but not identical, merchandise, we also made adjustments for physical 
differences in the merchandise in accordance with section 
773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.411. We based this 
adjustment on the difference in the VCOM for the foreign like product 
and subject merchandise, using POR-average costs.
    Sales of pasta purchased by the respondents from unaffiliated 
producers and resold in the comparison market were disregarded. See 
Divella's calculation memo, see also Zara's calculation memo.

E. Level of Trade

    In accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B) of the Act, we determined 
NV based on sales in the comparison market at the same level of trade 
(``LOT'') as the EP and CEP sales, to the extent practicable. When 
there were no sales at the same LOT, we compared U.S. sales to 
comparison market sales at a different LOT. When NV is based on CV, the 
NV LOT is that of the sales from which we derive SG&A expenses and 
profit.
    Consistent with 19 CFR 351.412, to determine whether comparison 
market sales were at a different LOT, we examined stages in the 
marketing process and selling functions along the chain of distribution 
between the producer and the unaffiliated (or arm's-length) customers. 
If the comparison market sales were at a different LOT and the 
differences affect 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 will 
make an LOT adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of the Act.
    Finally, if the NV LOT is more remote from the factory than the CEP 
LOT and there is no basis for determining whether the differences in 
LOT between NV and CEP affected price comparability, we will grant a 
CEP offset, as provided in section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Act. 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, 61732-33 
(November 19, 1997).
    Both respondents claim two LOTs in the home market. Divella 
reported that it sold through three channels of distribution to seven 
customer categories. Divella reported that two of the seven customer 
categories constituted a separate LOT because these two customer 
categories had a greater intensity of selling activities. Zara reported 
that it sold through three channels of distribution to 14 customer 
categories. Zara claimed that six of the customer categories were at a 
different LOT because of a greater intensity of selling activities.
    We disagree with both Divella and Zara that there are two LOTs in 
the home market. Section 351.412(c)(2) of the Department's regulations 
provides that: The Department will determine that sales are made at 
different LOTs if they are made at different marketing stages (or their 
equivalent). Substantial differences in selling activities are a 
necessary, but not sufficient, condition for determining that there is 
a difference in the stage of marketing. Some overlap in selling 
activities will not preclude a determination that two sales are at 
different stages of marketing.
    Our analysis of the selling activities for Divella shows that there 
is overlap in these activities for channels of distribution and 
customer categories. In other words, Divella performs similar selling 
activities for all customer categories and channels of distribution.

[[Page 45720]]

Although there is greater intensity of these activities for some of the 
claimed customer categories, this, in and of itself, does not show a 
substantial difference in selling activities that would form the basis 
for finding a different LOT. See e.g., Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp 
from Ecuador: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 
72 FR 52070 (September 12, 2007), and accompanying Issues and Decision 
Memorandum at Comment 4. Due to the proprietary nature of this issue, 
please refer to Divella's calculation memo for further discussion.
    Our analysis of the selling activities for Zara shows that Zara 
also performs similar selling activities for different customer 
categories, although some of the activities were at different levels of 
intensity. Moreover, some selling activities within the claimed LOT1 
are at higher level of intensity while other selling activities are at 
lower level of intensity than the same selling activities in the 
claimed LOT2. In addition, there is overlap among the channels of 
distribution for the different customer categories in these two claimed 
LOTs. The differences in Zara's selling activities chart do not rise to 
a level of substantial differences that would support a finding that 
there are two LOTs in the home market. Due to the proprietary nature of 
this issue, please refer to Zara's calculation memo for further 
discussion.
    While Divella and Zara attempted to further support their LOT 
claims by submitting an analysis comparing the average volume per 
invoice sold to these different customer categories, the Department 
does not normally consider average quantities as part of our LOT 
analysis. See e.g., Notice of Final Results of the Sixth Administrative 
Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Certain Pasta from Italy and 
Determination Not to Revoke in Part, 69 FR 6255 (February 10, 2004).
    In the U.S. market, both Divella and Zara reported that their sales 
were made through one channel of distribution to one customer category, 
therefore, at one LOT. The Department has determined that Divella's and 
Zara's home market sales were made at LOT1 and at the same stage of 
marketing as the U.S. sales LOT. Therefore, the Department will not 
make an LOT adjustment for Divella or Zara's sales to the United 
States.

Currency Conversion

    For purposes of these preliminary results, we made currency 
conversions in accordance with section 773A(a) of the Act, based on the 
official exchange rates published by the Federal Reserve Bank. See 
Divella's calculation memo, see also Zara's calculation memo.

Preliminary Results of Review

    As a result of our review, we preliminarily determine that the 
following weighted-average percentage margins exist for the period July 
1, 2006, through June 30, 2007, for the mandatory respondents:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Margin
                   Manufacturer/exporter                      (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Divella....................................................         2.83
Zara.......................................................        10.34
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For those companies not selected as mandatory respondents, we 
preliminarily determine that the following simple average percentage 
margin (based on the two reviewed companies) exists for the period July 
1, 2006, through June 30, 2007:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Margin
                   Manufacturer/exporter                      (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pastificio Di Martino Gaetano & F. lli SrL.................         6.59
Pastificio Felicetti SrL...................................         6.59
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department will disclose the calculations performed for these 
preliminary results within five days of the date of publication of this 
notice to the parties of this proceeding, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.224(b). An interested party may request a hearing within 30 days of 
publication of these preliminary results. See 19 CFR 351.310(c). The 
Department intends to verify the information upon which we will rely in 
making our final determination. As a result, we intend to establish the 
briefing schedule upon the completion of verification.
    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(h), the Department intends to issue the 
final results of this administrative review, which will include the 
results of its analysis of issues raised in any such comments, or at a 
hearing, if requested, within 120 days of publication of these 
preliminary results.

Assessment Rate

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b), the Department calculated an 
assessment rate for each importer of the subject merchandise. Upon 
issuance of the final results of this administrative review, if any 
importer-specific assessment rates calculated in the final results are 
above de minimis (i.e., at or above 0.5 percent), the Department will 
issue appraisement instructions directly to CBP to assess antidumping 
duties on appropriate entries by applying the assessment rate to the 
entered value of the merchandise. For assessment purposes, we 
calculated importer-specific assessment rates for the subject 
merchandise by aggregating the dumping margins for all U.S. sales to 
each importer and dividing the amount by the total entered value of the 
sales to that importer. Where appropriate, to calculate the entered 
value, we subtracted international movement expenses (e.g., 
international freight) from the gross sales value. For the responsive 
companies which were not selected for individual review, we have 
calculated an assessment rate based on the simple average of the cash 
deposit rates calculated for the companies selected for individual 
review.
    The Department clarified its ``automatic assessment'' regulation on 
May 6, 2003 (68 FR 23954). This clarification will apply to entries of 
subject merchandise during the POR produced by companies included in 
these preliminary results of review for which the reviewed companies 
did not know their merchandise was destined for the United States. In 
such instances, we will instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed entries at 
the all-others rate if there is no rate for the intermediate 
company(ies) involved in the transaction. For a full discussion of this 
clarification, see Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: 
Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003).

Cash Deposit Requirements

    To calculate the cash deposit rate for Divella and Zara, we divided 
its total dumping margin by the total net value of its sales during the 
review period. For the responsive companies which were not selected for 
individual review, we have calculated a cash deposit rate based on the 
simple average of the cash deposit rates calculated for the companies 
selected for individual review.
    The following deposit rates will be effective upon publication of 
the final results of this administrative review for all shipments of 
pasta from Italy entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption 
on or after the publication date, as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) 
of the Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for companies subject to this 
review will be the rate established in the final results of this 
review, except if the rate is less than 0.5 percent and, therefore, de 
minimis, no cash deposit will be required; (2) for previously reviewed 
or investigated companies not listed above, the cash deposit rate will 
continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recent 
final results for a review in which that

[[Page 45721]]

manufacturer or exporter participated; (3) if the exporter is not a 
firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the original less-than-
fair-value (``LTFV'') investigation, but the manufacturer is, the cash 
deposit rate will be the rate established for the most recent final 
results for the manufacturer of the merchandise; and (4) if neither the 
exporter nor the manufacturer is a firm covered in this or any previous 
review conducted by the Department, the cash deposit rate will be 15.45 
percent, the all-others rate established in the LTFV investigation. See 
Implementation of the Findings of the WTO Panel in US--Zeroing (EC): 
Notice of Determination Under Section 129 of the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act and Revocations and Partial Revocations of Certain 
Antidumping Duty Orders, 72 FR 25261 (May 4, 2007). These cash deposit 
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further 
notice.

Notification to Importers

    This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their 
responsibility under 19 CFR 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 increase the 
subsequent assessment of the antidumping duties by the amount of 
antidumping duties reimbursed.
    These preliminary results of administrative review are issued and 
published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the 
Act and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).

    Dated: July 30, 2008.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-18026 Filed 8-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P