Stainless Steel Bar from India: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 12199-12206 [2010-5602]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 49 / Monday, March 15, 2010 / Notices
continue to be the company–specific
rate published for the most recent
period; 3) if the exporter is not a firm
covered in this review, a previous
review, or the original LTFV
investigation, but the manufacturer is,
the cash deposit rate will be the rate
established for the most recent period
for the manufacturer of the
merchandise; and 4) the cash deposit
rate for all other manufacturers or
exporters will be 5.34 percent, the all–
others rate made effective by the Section
129 Determination. These requirements,
when imposed, shall remain in effect
until further notice.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a
preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f) 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 double antidumping duties.
This administrative review and notice
are published in accordance with
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.221.
Dated: March 8, 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010–5588 Filed 3–12–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–533–810]
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Stainless Steel Bar from India:
Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
is conducting an administrative review
of the antidumping duty order on
stainless steel bar from India. The
period of review is February 1, 2008,
through January 31, 2009. This review
covers imports of stainless steel bar
from two producers/exporters: Ambica
Steels Limited and Venus Wire
Industries Pvt. Ltd. We preliminarily
find that sales of the subject
merchandise have been made below
normal value. If these preliminary
results are adopted in our final results,
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we will instruct U.S. Customs and
Border Protection to assess antidumping
duties on appropriate entries. Interested
parties are invited to comment on these
preliminary results. We will issue the
final results no later than 120 days from
the date of publication of this notice.
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 15, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Scott Holland, Seth Isenberg, or Austin
Redington, AD/CVD Operations, Office
1, Import Administration, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department
of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington
DC 20230; telephone (202) 482–1279,
(202) 482–0588, or (202) 482–1664,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 21, 1995, the Department
of Commerce (‘‘Department’’) published
in the Federal Register the antidumping
duty order on stainless steel bar (‘‘SSB’’)
from India. See Antidumping Duty
Orders: Stainless Steel Bar from Brazil,
India and Japan, 60 FR 9661 (February
21, 1995). On February 4, 2009, the
Department published a notice in the
Federal Register providing an
opportunity for interested parties to
request an administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on SSB from
India for the period of review (‘‘POR’’)
February 1, 2008, through January 31,
2009. See Antidumping or
Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or
Suspended Investigation; Opportunity
To Request Administrative Review, 74
FR 6013 (February 4, 2009).
On February 19, 2009, the Department
received a timely request for review
from Ambica Steels Limited (‘‘Ambica’’).
On February 27, 2009, we received a
timely request for review from Venus
Wire Industries Pvt. Ltd. (‘‘Venus
Wire’’). Also, on February 27, 2009, we
received a timely request from domestic
interested parties Carpenter Technology
Corp.; Crucible Specialty Metals, a
division of Crucible Materials Corp.;
Electralloy Co., a G.O. Carlson, Inc.
company; and Valbruna Slater Stainless,
Inc. (collectively, ‘‘Petitioners’’), for a
review of Venus Wire and its affiliates.
On March 24, 2009, in accordance with
section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930,
as amended (‘‘the Act’’), we initiated an
administrative review on Ambica and
Venus Wire. See Initiation of
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews and Requests
for Revocation in Part, 74 FR 12310
(March 24, 2009).
On April 10, 2009, the Department
issued antidumping duty questionnaires
to Ambica and Venus Wire. Ambica
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submitted its responses to the
antidumping questionnaire in May and
June 2009. Venus Wire submitted its
responses to the antidumping
questionnaire in May, June, and July
2009. After analyzing these responses,
we issued supplemental questionnaires
to Ambica and Venus Wire to clarify or
correct information contained in the
initial questionnaire responses. We
received responses to these
supplemental questionnaires from
Ambica in September, November, and
December, 2009, and January and
February, 2010. We received responses
to these supplemental questionnaires
from Venus Wire in September,
November, and December, 2009, and
January and March, 2010.
On February 17, 2010, the Department
determined that the January 25, 2010,
Section D cost reconciliation submitted
by Sieves Manufacturing (India) Pvt.
Ltd. (‘‘Sieves’’) (an affiliated company
collapsed with Venus Wire, see
‘‘Affiliation’’ section below) was filed
after the established deadline and, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.302(d)(i),
the Department returned the submission
to Sieves. See Letter from Susan
Kuhbach to Sieves ‘‘Rejection of Sieves’
Section D supplemental response’’ dated
February 17, 2010. The Department later
determined that it had previously
granted a separate extension until
January 25, 2010, for submission of
Sieves’ cost reconciliation. See
Memorandum from Austin Redington,
International Trade Compliance Analyst
to the File entitled, ‘‘Extension Request
from Sieves,’’ dated January 15, 2010.
Thus, because it was timely filed, the
Department requested that Sieves re–
submit the Section D cost responses that
the Department had previously
returned. See Letter from Brandon
Farlander, Program Manager to Sieves
entitled ‘‘Resubmission of Sieves’
Section D supplemental response,’’
dated February 24, 2010.
On October 29, 2009, we extended the
time limit for completing the
preliminary results of this review to no
later than March 1, 2010, in accordance
with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act. See
Stainless Steel Bar From India:
Extension of Time Limit for the
Preliminary Results of the Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR
55814 (October 29, 2009).
As explained in the memorandum
from the Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Import Administration, the Department
has exercised its discretion to toll
deadlines for the duration of the closure
of the Federal Government from
February 5, through February 12, 2010.
Thus, all deadlines in this segment of
the proceeding have been extended by
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seven days. The revised deadline for the
preliminary results of this review is now
March 8, 2010. See Memorandum to the
Record from Ronald Lorentzen, DAS for
Import Administration, regarding
‘‘Tolling of Administrative Deadlines As
a Result of the Government Closure
During the Recent Snowstorm,’’ dated
February 12, 2010.
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Period of Review
The POR is February 1, 2008, through
January 31, 2009.
Notice of Intent Not To Revoke Order
In Part
On February 27, 2009, pursuant to 19
CFR 351.222(b)(2), Venus Wire
requested that the Department revoke it
from the antidumping duty order on
SSB from India at the conclusion of this
administrative review. A request for
revocation of an order in part must be
accompanied by three elements: (1) the
company’s certification that it sold
subject merchandise at not less than
normal value (‘‘NV’’) during the POR,
and that in the future it would not sell
such merchandise at less than NV; (2)
the company’s certification that it has
sold the subject merchandise to the
United States in commercial quantities
during each of the past three years, and
(3) the company’s agreement to
immediate reinstatement of the
antidumping duty order, if the
Department concludes that the
company, subsequent to revocation,
sold the subject merchandise at less
than NV. See 19 CFR 351.222(e).
Venus Wire’s February 27, 2009,
request for revocation was not in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.222(e)
because it was not accompanied by a
certification that (1) Venus Wire had not
sold the subject merchandise at less
than NV for a three-year period, and
would not do so in the future and (2)
Venus Wire had sold the subject
merchandise to the United States in
commercial quantities during each of
the past three years. The company
provided a certification regarding
commercial quantities on November 6,
2009. However, this submission was not
filed with the Department within the
anniversary month of the proceeding as
required by 19 CFR 351.222(e). Venus
Wire did not, at any point, provide a
certification stating that it had sold the
subject merchandise at not less than NV
during the current review period and
that it would not do so in the future.
Because Venus Wire’s request for
revocation was incomplete, the
Department notified Venus Wire that it
was not being considered for revocation
in the course of this administrative
review. See Letter from Susan Kuhbach
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to Venus Wire Pvt. Ltd. ‘‘Request for
Revocation,’’ dated February 16, 2010.
Bona Fide Analysis
In their letter of May 29, 2009,
Petitioners alleged that the U.S.
transaction reported by Ambica during
the POR was not a bona fide sale.
We analyzed the transaction,
comparing it to other sales of subject
merchandise using data obtained from
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(‘‘CBP’’) to determine whether it was a
bona fide transaction. In terms of price
and quantity, we found Ambica’s U.S.
sale to be within the range of sales of all
imports of the subject merchandise, as
well as within the range of sales of
product in the same Harmonized Tariff
Schedule (‘‘HTS’’) code measured over
the entire POR. We also found Ambica’s
U.S. sale to be within the price range of
sales for the same HTS code in the same
quarter of the sale. We included this
quarterly analysis because we are using
quarterly costs. For our complete
analysis of these and other relevant
factors, see Memorandum from Seth
Isenberg, International Trade
Compliance Analyst to the File entitled,
‘‘Bona Fide Nature of Ambica Steels
Limited’s Sales in the Period of Review
for Stainless Steel Bar from India,’’ dated
March 8, 2010, (‘‘Bona Fide Memo’’) on
file in the Central Records Unit in room
1117 of the main Department building
(‘‘CRU’’). Based on our analysis, we
preliminarily determine that Ambica’s
U.S. sale was a bona fide transaction.
Scope of the Order
Imports covered by the order are
shipments of SSB. SSB means articles of
stainless steel in straight lengths that
have been either hot–rolled, forged,
turned, cold–drawn, cold–rolled or
otherwise cold–finished, or ground,
having a uniform solid cross section
along their whole length in the shape of
circles, segments of circles, ovals,
rectangles (including squares), triangles,
hexagons, octagons, or other convex
polygons. SSB includes cold–finished
SSBs that are turned or ground in
straight lengths, whether produced from
hot–rolled bar or from straightened and
cut rod or wire, and reinforcing bars that
have indentations, ribs, grooves, or
other deformations produced during the
rolling process.
Except as specified above, the term
does not include stainless steel semi–
finished products, cut–to-length flat–
rolled products (i.e., cut–to-length
rolled products which if less than 4.75
mm in thickness have a width
measuring at least 10 times the
thickness, or if 4.75 mm or more in
thickness having a width which exceeds
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150 mm and measures at least twice the
thickness), wire (i.e., cold–formed
products in coils, of any uniform solid
cross section along their whole length,
which do not conform to the definition
of flat–rolled products), and angles,
shapes, and sections.
The SSB subject to this review is
currently classifiable under subheadings
7222.11.00.05, 7222.11.00.50,
7222.19.00.05, 7222.19.00.50,
7222.20.00.05, 7222.20.00.45,
7222.20.00.75, and 7222.30.00.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (‘‘HTSUS’’). Although the
HTSUS subheadings are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, our
written description of the scope of the
order is dispositive.
On May 23, 2005, the Department
issued a final scope ruling that SSB
manufactured in the United Arab
Emirates out of stainless steel wire rod
from India is not subject to the scope of
the order. See Memorandum from Team
to Barbara E. Tillman, ‘‘Antidumping
Duty Orders on Stainless Steel Bar from
India and Stainless Steel Wire Rod from
India: Final Scope Ruling,’’ dated May
23, 2005, which is on file in the CRU.
See also Notice of Scope Rulings, 70 FR
55110 (September 20, 2005).
Affiliation
Precision Metals
In the 2005–2006 antidumping duty
administrative review of SSB from
India, the Department determined that
Venus Wire and Precision Metals were
affiliated within the meaning of section
771(33) of the Act, and also that the two
companies should be treated as a single
entity for the purposes of that
administrative review. See Notice of
Final Results and Final Partial
Rescission of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review: Stainless Steel
Bar from India, 72 FR 51595, 51596
(September 10, 2007). In the 2007–2008
antidumping administrative review of
SSB from India, the Department again
determined that these two companies
should be treated as a single entity. See
Stainless Steel Bar From India: Final
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 74 FR 47198
(September 15, 2009).
During the current, 2008–2009
administrative review, the Department
again examined Venus Wire’s
relationship with Precision Metals.
Based on Venus Wire’s representations
that its corporate affiliation relationship
with Precision Metals remained the
same during the POR as during the
2005–2006, and 2007–2008
administrative reviews (see Venus
Wire’s May 19, 2009, Section A
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questionnaire response (‘‘AQR’’) at A–2,
6–10), the Department hereby continues
to treat Venus Wire and Precision
Metals as a single entity in the current
administrative review. See
Memorandum from Erika McDonald to
the File, ‘‘Relationship of Venus Wire
Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Precision
Metals,’’ dated September 15, 2009,
which is on file in the CRU.
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Sieves
On September 2, 2009, the
Department determined that Venus Wire
and Sieves are affiliated within the
meaning of section 771(33) of the Act,
and also that the two companies should
be treated as a single entity and
collapsed for the purposes of the 2007–
2008 administrative review. See
Stainless Steel Bar From India: Final
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 74 FR at 47201.
See Stainless Steel Bar From India:
Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR
9787, 9792 (March 6, 2009).
Accordingly, we announced our
intention to treat Venus Wire and Sieves
as a single entity and collapse them for
the 2008–2009 administrative review.
See Memorandum from Erika McDonald
to the File, ‘‘Relationship of Venus Wire
Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Sieves
Manufacturers (India) Pvt. Ltd.,’’ dated
September 15, 2009, which is on file in
the CRU. We gave interested parties two
weeks to provide comments on the
collapsing of these two entities. No
comments were received. Therefore, the
Department continues to treat Venus
Wire and Sieves as a single entity in the
current administrative review.
Hindustan Inox (formerly Hindustan
Stainless)
Petitioners allege that Hindustan Inox,
formerly known as Hindustan Stainless
(‘‘Hindustan’’), should also be collapsed
with Venus Wire. See Petitioners’ June
12, 2009, and January 29, 2010, filings.
Petitioners argue that Hindustan is a
producer and exporter of SSB and, as a
Venus Wire affiliate, Venus Wire should
report Hindustan’s sales and costs in its
responses. However, Venus Wire and
Sieves stated that Hindustan did not
produce or export SSB during the POR
and that Hindustan only did job works
of SSB for Sieves. See Venus Wire’s
November 2, 2009, Section A
supplemental questionnaire response
(‘‘ASQR’’) at 5–6, and 8. See also Sieves’
December 31, 2009, Section A
supplemental questionnaire response
(‘‘ASQR’’) at 4, 6. Sieves further reported
that while Hindustan is in the process
of setting up a facility to manufacture
SSB, Hindustan did not start producing
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SSB until after the POR. See Sieves’
October 19, 2009, Section A
questionnaire response (‘‘AQR’’) at 8–9.
After reviewing record information, we
have determined that because
Hindustan was not a producer/exporter
of SSB during the POR, it should not be
collapsed with Venus Wire in the
current administrative review.
The collapsed entity of Venus Wire,
Precision Metals, and Sieves is hereafter
referred to as ‘‘Venus.’’
Fair Value Comparisons
To determine whether sales of SSB by
Venus and Ambica to the United States
were made at less than NV, we
compared export price (‘‘EP’’) to NV. See
‘‘Export Price’’ and ‘‘Normal Value’’
sections of this notice. Pursuant to
section 777A(d)(2) of the Act, we
compared the EPs of individual U.S.
transactions to the weighted–average
NV of the foreign–like product, where
there were sales made in the ordinary
course of trade, as discussed in the ‘‘Cost
of Production Analysis’’ section, below.
Product Comparisons
In accordance with section 771(16) of
the Act, we considered all products sold
by Ambica and Venus (‘‘respondents’’)
in the comparison market covered by
the description in the ‘‘Scope of the
Order’’ section, above, to be foreign–like
products for purposes of determining
appropriate product comparisons to
U.S. sales. In accordance with section
773(a)(1)(C)(ii) of the Act, in order 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 the
respondents’ volumes of home market
sales of the foreign–like product to the
volumes of their U.S. sales of the subject
merchandise. See the ‘‘Normal Value’’
section, below, for further details.
We compared U.S. sales to monthly
weighted–average prices of
contemporaneous sales made in the
home market based on the following
criteria: (1) general type of finish; (2)
grade; (3) remelting; (4) type of final
finishing operation; (5) shape; and (6)
size. This was consistent with our
practice in the original investigation.
See Preliminary Determination of Sales
at Less Than Fair Value and
Postponement of Final Determination:
Stainless Steel Bar From India, 59 FR
39733, 39735 (August 4, 1994);
unchanged in the final, see Notice of
Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value: Stainless Steel Bar
from India, 59 FR 66915 (December 28,
1994). Where there were no home
market sales of the foreign–like product
that were identical in these respects to
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12201
the merchandise sold in the United
States, we compared U.S. products with
the most similar merchandise sold in
the home market based on the
characteristics listed above, in that order
of priority, made in the ordinary course
of trade. Where there were no sales of
identical or similar merchandise made
in the ordinary course of trade in the
comparison market, we compared U.S.
sales to constructed value (‘‘CV’’).
Date of Sale
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.401(i), the
date of sale is normally the date of
invoice, unless satisfactory evidence is
presented that the material terms of sale,
price, and quantity are established on
some other date. Accordingly, since no
such evidence was provided in this
proceeding, we have relied on the
invoice date as date of sale for both the
U.S. and home market sales by Ambica
and Venus. See Ambica’s June 8, 2009,
section B questionnaire response
(‘‘BQR’’) and Ambica’s November 14,
2009, section A, B, and C supplemental
questionnaire (‘‘A, B, & C SQR’’) at 12–
13. See also Venus Wire’s AQR at A–18
and Annexure A–4.
Export Price
Section 772(a) of the Act defines EP
as the price at which the subject
merchandise is first sold before the date
of importation by the producer or
exporter outside of the United States to
an unaffiliated purchaser in the United
States or to an unaffiliated purchaser for
exportation to the United States, as
adjusted under section 772(c) of the Act.
Section 772(b) of the Act defines
constructed export price (‘‘CEP’’) as the
price at which the subject merchandise
is 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 of such
merchandise or by a seller affiliated
with the producer or exporter, to a
purchaser not affiliated with the
producer or exporter.
Petitioners argue that Venus was
affiliated with its U.S. customer, AMS
Specialty Steel (‘‘AMS’’), during the POR
by virtue of a principal–agent
relationship. Because of this alleged
affiliation, Petitioners contend that
Venus should have reported its sales
through AMS as CEP sales, rather than
as EP sales to AMS. See Petitioners’
June 12, 2009 filing at 11–15. Petitioners
made an identical claim in the previous
administrative review. See Stainless
Steel Bar From India: Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 74 FR at 47199 and
accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 2. Venus
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denied Petitioners’ claims and stated
that it did not have a principal–agent
relationship with AMS and that its sales
should not be reported as CEP, since
Venus sold material to AMS as its first
unaffiliated customer. Venus also
presented further support, which cannot
be further described here because of its
proprietary nature. See Letter from
Venus Wire, dated November 4, 2009
and Attachment. After reviewing the
information presented by both
Petitioners and Venus, we found that
there is no evidence to substantiate
Petitioners’ allegations. Therefore, the
Department continues to find that there
is no principal–agent relationship
between Venus and AMS and will not
treat Venus’ sales to AMS as CEP sales.
Petitioners argue that Ambica was
affiliated with its U.S. customer during
the POR by virtue of a principal–agent
relationship. See Petitioners’ May 29,
2009 filing. Petitioners base the
allegation on the fact that the customer
advertises itself as an exclusive agent for
several unnamed international mills on
its website and does not advertise on the
site the specific type of bar it purchased
from Ambica. Because of this alleged
affiliation, Petitioners contend that
Ambica should have reported its U.S.
sale through its customer as a CEP sale,
rather than as an EP sale.
In the absence of an agency contract,
‘‘the analysis of whether a relationship
constitutes an agency is case–specific
and can be quite complex; there is no
bright line test.’’ See Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Engineered Process Gas
Turbo–Compressor Systems, Whether
Assembled or Unassembled, and
Whether Complete or Incomplete, from
Japan, 62 FR 24394, 24403 (May 5,
1997). The Department’s examination of
allegations of an agency relationship has
focused on a range of criteria, including
(but not limited to) the following: (1) the
foreign producer’s role in negotiating
price and other terms of sale; (2) the
extent of the foreign producer’s
interaction with the U.S. customer; (3)
whether the agent/reseller maintains
inventory; (4) whether the agent/reseller
takes title to the merchandise and bears
the risk of loss; (5) whether the agent/
reseller further processes or otherwise
adds value to the merchandise; (6) the
means of marketing a product by the
producer to the U.S. customer in the
pre–sale period; and (7) whether the
identity of the producer on sales
documentation inferred such an agency
relationship during the sales
transactions. See Stainless Steel Sheet
and Strip From Taiwan; Final Results
and Partial Rescission of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review, 67 FR 6682
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15:34 Mar 12, 2010
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(February 13, 2002) and accompanying
Issues and Decision Memorandum, at
Comment 23.
As there was no agency contract, the
Department examined the above factors.
Applying the Department’s analytical
framework for determining principal–
agent relationships, we find no evidence
that Ambica has any knowledge of its
customer’s customers, or has had any
involvement with its customers’ sales.
After reviewing the allegations and
Ambica’s responses, the Department
finds that there is no principal–agent
relationship between Ambica and its
customer. See Bona Fide Memo.
Therefore, for both Ambica and
Venus, because the merchandise was
sold prior to importation by the exporter
or producer outside the United States to
the first unaffiliated purchaser in the
United States, and because CEP
methodology was not otherwise
warranted, we have based the U.S. price
on EP. For both Ambica and Venus, we
based EP on the packed, or delivered
duty paid price to unaffiliated
purchasers in the United States. We
adjusted the reported gross unit price,
where applicable, for early payment
discounts and other discounts for
weight shortages, short payments or
quality claims. We made deductions for
movement expenses in accordance with
section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act. These
deductions included, where
appropriate, freight incurred in
transporting merchandise to the Indian
port, domestic brokerage and handling,
international freight, marine insurance,
U.S. brokerage and handling, freight
incurred in the United States, U.S.
customs duties, and other transportation
fees. See Ambica Preliminary Results
Calculation Memorandum (March 8,
2010). See also Venus Preliminary
Results Calculation Memorandum
(March 8, 2010).
Duty Drawback
Section 772(c)(1)(B) of the Act
provides that EP or CEP shall be
increased by among other things, ‘‘the
amount of any import duties imposed
by the country of exportation which
have been rebated, or which have not
been collected, by reason of the
exportation of the subject merchandise
to the United States.’’ The Department
determines that an adjustment to U.S.
price for claimed duty drawback is
appropriate when a company can
demonstrate that: (1) the ‘‘import duty
and rebate are directly linked to, and
dependent upon, one another;’’ and (2)
‘‘the company claiming the adjustment
can show that there were sufficient
imports of the imported raw materials to
account for the drawback received on
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the exported product.’’ Rajinder Pipes
Ltd. v. United States, 70 F. Supp. 2d
1350, 1358 (Ct. Int’l Trade 1999). Venus
claimed a duty drawback adjustment
based on its participation in the Indian
government’s Duty Entitlement
Passbook Program.
The Department finds that Venus has
not provided sufficient evidence to
establish the necessary link between the
import duty and the reported duty
drawback. Therefore, because Venus has
failed to meet the Department’s
requirements, we are denying Venus’
request for a duty drawback adjustment
for the preliminary results. See Venus
Preliminary Results Calculation
Memorandum.
Normal Value
A. Home Market Viability
Section 773(a)(1) of the Act directs
that NV be based on the price at which
the foreign–like product is sold in the
home market, provided that the
merchandise is sold in sufficient
quantities (or value, if quantity is
inappropriate) and that there is no
particular market situation that prevents
a proper comparison with the EP.
Section 773 (a)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the Act
contemplates that quantities (or values)
will normally be considered insufficient
if they are less than five percent of the
aggregate quantity (or value) of sales of
the subject merchandise to the United
States.
In order 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 its
volume of U.S. sales of the subject
merchandise, in accordance with
section 773(a)(1)(C) of the Act.
Both Ambica’s and Venus’ reported
home market sales of SSB during the
POR were more than five percent of
their sales of SSB to the United States.
See Ambica’s AQR at 3–4 and Venus
Wire’s AQR at A–3. Therefore, Ambica’s
and Venus’ home markets were viable
for purposes of calculating NV.
To derive NV for Ambica and Venus,
we made the adjustments detailed in the
‘‘Calculation of Normal Value Based on
Home Market Prices’’ section below.
B. Level of Trade
Section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act
states that, to the extent practicable, the
Department will calculate NV based on
sales at the same level of trade (‘‘LOT’’)
as the EP. Sales are made at different
LOTs if they are made at different
marketing stages (or their equivalent).
See 19 CFR 351.412(c)(2). Substantial
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differences in selling activities are a
necessary, but not sufficient, condition
for determining that there is a difference
in the stages of marketing. Id.; see also
Notice of Final Determination of Sales
at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cut–toLength Carbon Steel Plate From South
Africa, 62 FR 61731, 61732 (November
19, 1997).
In order to determine whether the
comparison market sales were at
different stages in the marketing process
than the U.S. sales, we reviewed the
distribution system in each market (i.e.,
the ‘‘chain of distribution’’),1 including
selling functions,2 class of customer
(‘‘customer category’’), and the level of
selling expenses for each type of sale.
Pursuant to section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the
Act, in identifying LOTs for EP and
comparison market sales (i.e., NV based
on either comparison market or third
country prices),3 we consider the
starting prices before any adjustments.
When the Department is unable to
match U.S. sales to sales of the foreign–
like product in the comparison market
at the same LOT as the EP, the
Department may compare the U.S. sale
to sales at a different LOT in the
comparison market. In comparing EP
sales at a different LOT in the
comparison market, where available
data make it practicable, we make an
LOT adjustment under section
773(a)(7)(A) of the Act.
Ambica reported that its customer
base in the home market consists of end
users and trading companies, and in the
U.S. market, it consists of a trading
company. See Ambica’s AQR at A–18–
19. In addition, Ambica has reported
five channels of distribution in the
home market and one channel
distribution in the U.S. market. See
Ambica’s AQR at A–15–19. In the home
market, Ambica made sales: directly to
end–users from the factory; directly to
traders from the factory; directly to end–
users via Ambica’s distribution
warehouses; directly to traders via
1 The marketing process in the United States and
comparison market begins with the producer and
extends to the sale to the final user or customer.
The chain of distribution between the two may have
many or few links, and each respondent’s sales
occur somewhere along this chain. In performing
this evaluation, we considered the respondent’s
narrative response to properly determine where in
the chain of distribution the sale occurs.
2 Selling functions associated with a particular
chain of distribution help us to evaluate the LOT(s)
in a particular market. For purposes of these
preliminary results, we have organized the common
selling functions into four major categories: sales
process and marketing support, freight and
delivery, inventory and warehousing, and quality
assurance/warranty services.
3 Where NV is based on CV, we determine the NV
LOT based on the LOT of the sales from which we
derive selling expenses, general and administrative
expenses (‘‘G&A’’) and profit for CV, where possible.
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Ambica’s distribution warehouses; and
by a consignment agent to end–users
and/or traders. In Ambica’s single
channel of distribution to the U.S.
market, Ambica made sales directly to
the trader. Ambica reported that its
prices did not vary based on channel of
distribution and/or customer category.
See Ambica’s AQR at 22.
Ambica reported a single LOT in both
the home market and the U.S. market,
and has not requested an LOT
adjustment. See Ambica’s BQR at 21,
and Ambica’s June 8, 2009, section C
questionnaire response (‘‘CQR’’) at 22;
see also Ambica’s A, B, & C SQR at 27.
We examined the information
reported by Ambica regarding the type
and level of selling functions performed,
and customer categories. Specifically,
we considered the extent to which, sales
process/marketing support, freight/
delivery, inventory maintenance, and
quality assurance/warranty service
varied with respect to the different
customer categories and channels of
distribution (i.e., distributors and
processors) across the markets.
We preliminary find the LOTs for the
home market channels of distribution
similar with regard to sales and
marketing, inventory maintenance, and
quality assurance/warranty service.
Further, freight and delivery services
were identical in all channels in the
home market. Therefore, we consider
the home market to constitute a single
LOT. We compared the U.S. LOT to the
LOT reported for sales in the home
market. We found the LOT in the United
States to be similar to the LOT in the
home market. Thus, we preliminarily
have compared U.S. sales to home
market sales at the same LOT.
Our LOT findings with regard to
Venus are summarized below. Because
Venus Wire and Sieves have reported
their LOT information in separate
responses, we have examined each
response separately. However, our final
LOT determination for the collapsed
entity of Venus is a consolidated LOT
determination of the collapsed entity of
Venus Wire and Sieves.
Venus reported one channel of
distribution and a single LOT in both
the home market and the U.S. market.
Venus reported that it sells to trading
companies, distributors, and end users
at the same LOT in the home market.
Also, Venus reported that it sells to
distributors, trading companies, and end
users at the same LOT in the U.S.
market. See Venus Wire’s CQR at 28 and
December 15, 2009, section B & C
supplemental questionnaire (‘‘B & C
SQR’’) at 16. Venus reported that its
prices did not vary based on channel of
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distribution and/or customer category.
See Venus Wire’s AQR at A–16.
We examined the information
reported by Venus regarding its sales
processes for its home market and U.S.
market sales, including customer
categories and the type and level of
selling activities performed. See Venus
Wire’s AQR at A–17–19. Specifically,
we considered the extent to which sales
process/marketing support, freight/
delivery, inventory maintenance, and
quality assurance/warranty service
varied with respect to the different
customer categories and channels of
distribution across the markets. Because
there was only one channel of
distribution and because the selling
functions were identical for all home
market sales, we found that the home
market channel of distribution
comprises one LOT. Because there was
only one channel of distribution and
because the selling functions were
identical for U.S. sales, we evaluated the
U.S. channel of distribution and found
that it also comprises one LOT. Next, we
compared the U.S. LOT to the home
market LOT. See id. Venus reported
similar levels of freight/delivery in both
the home market and U.S. market. See
id. Further, Venus reported no
inventory maintenance in either the
home market or the U.S. market, and
reported that it provided no warranty
services in any of its channels of
distribution. See id. The only minor
difference that Venus reported was in
relation to sales process/marketing
support, where Venus indicated that it
advertises and promotes its U.S. market
sales, but not the home market sales.
See id. Based on our examination of the
selling functions performed in the single
channel of distribution in the U.S.
market, we find that Venus’ U.S. sales
were at a single LOT.
Based on the foregoing, we
preliminarily find that Venus’ sales in
the home market and the United States
were made at the same LOT. Thus, we
were able to match EP sales to sales at
the same LOT in the home market and
no LOT adjustment was necessary.
C. Cost Averaging Methodology
The Department’s normal practice is
to calculate an annual weighted–average
cost for the entire POR. See, e.g., Certain
Pasta From Italy: Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 65 FR 77852 (December 13,
2000), and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 18,
and Notice of Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel
Wire Rod from Canada, 71 FR 3822
(January 24, 2006), and accompanying
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Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 5 (explaining the
Department’s practice of computing a
single weighted–average cost for the
entire period). However, the Department
recognizes that possible distortions may
result if our normal annual average cost
method is used during a period of
significant cost changes. In determining
whether to deviate from our normal
methodology of calculating an annual
weighted average cost, the Department
evaluates the case–specific record
evidence using two primary factors: (1)
The change in the cost of manufacturing
(‘‘COM’’) recognized by the respondent
during the POR must be deemed
significant; and (2) the record evidence
must indicate that sales during the
shorter averaging periods could be
reasonably linked with the cost of
production (‘‘COP’’) or CV during the
same shorter averaging periods. See
Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From
Belgium: Final Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR
75398, 75399 (December 11, 2008)
(‘‘SSPC from Belgium’’) and
accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 4; see also
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils
from Mexico; Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 74 FR 6365 (February 9, 2009)
(‘‘SSSS from Mexico’’) and
accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 5.
1. Significance of Cost Changes
In prior cases, the Department
established 25 percent as the threshold
for determining that the changes in
COM are significant enough to warrant
a departure from our standard annual
costing approach. See SSPC from
Belgium and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 4;
see also Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip
in Coils From Mexico; Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 73 FR 45708,
45710 (August 6, 2008), unchanged in
SSSS from Mexico and accompanying
Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 5. To determine whether the
changes in production costs were
significant, we analyzed, on a product–
specific basis, the extent to which the
total COM changed during the POR. We
did this by analyzing, on a CONNUM–
specific basis, the difference between
the lowest quarterly average COM and
the highest quarterly average COM, as a
percentage of the lowest quarterly
average COM. In the instant case, record
evidence shows that Ambica and Venus
experienced significant changes (i.e.,
changes that exceeded 25 percent)
between the high and low quarterly
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COMs during the POR and that the
change in COM is primarily attributable
to the price volatility for stainless scrap
and ferro–alloys, major inputs
consumed in the production of the
merchandise under consideration. See
‘‘Cost of Production and Constructed
Value Calculation Adjustments for the
Preliminary Results Ambica Steels Ltd.,’’
from Stephanie C. Arthur to Neal M.
Halper, dated March 8, 2010 (‘‘Ambica
Cost Calculation Memorandum’’) and
‘‘Cost of Production and Constructed
Value Calculation Adjustments for the
Preliminary Results Venus Wire
Industries Pvt. Ltd.,’’ from LaVonne L.
Clark to Neal M. Halper, dated March 8,
2010 (‘‘Venus Cost Calculation
Memorandum’’). In examining
company–specific purchase information
for these inputs, we found that the
prices changed dramatically throughout
the POR and consequently directly
affected the cost of the material inputs
consumed. See Ambica Cost Calculation
Memorandum and Venus Cost
Calculation Memorandum. As a result,
we have determined for the preliminary
results that the changes in COM are
significant enough to warrant a
departure from our standard annual
costing approach, as these significant
cost changes create distortions in the
Department’s sales–below-cost test as
well as the overall margin calculation.
2. Linkage Between Cost and Sales
Information
As noted above, the Department
preliminarily found cost changes to be
significant in this administrative review;
thus, the Department subsequently
evaluated whether there is evidence of
linkage between the cost changes and
the sales prices during the POR. The
Department’s definition of linkage does
not require direct traceability between
specific sales and their specific
production cost, but rather relies on
whether there are elements which
would indicate a reasonable correlation
between the underlying costs and the
final sales prices levied by the company.
See SSSS from Mexico and
accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 5; see also
SSPC from Belgium and accompanying
Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 4. These correlative elements
may be measured and defined in a
number of ways depending on the
associated industry, and the overall
production and sales processes.
To determine whether a reasonable
correlation existed between sales prices
and their underlying costs during the
POR, we compared weighted–average
quarterly prices to the corresponding
quarterly COM for the five highest–
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volume home market CONNUMs. For
Ambica, our comparison revealed that
sales prices and costs trended
consistently with each other for all of
these five products, thereby establishing
a reasonable link between the
underlying costs and sales prices. See
Ambica Cost Calculation Memorandum.
While we were able to use data from
Venus to establish the significance of
cost changes discussed above, we did
not have the necessary information from
Venus to establish the linkage between
cost and sales information. The
Department requested the necessary
information from Venus to perform the
linkage analysis in supplemental
questionnaires dated October 14, 2009;
December 30, 2009; and March 1, 2010.
Because we have not yet received all of
the necessary information from Venus to
complete the linkage between sales
prices and their underlying costs, we
have relied on facts available for
purposes of these preliminary results.
Section 776(a) of the Act provides that
the Department shall apply ‘‘facts
otherwise available’’ if (1) necessary
information is not on the record, or (2)
an interested party or any other person
(A) withholds information that has been
requested, (B) fails to provide
information within the deadlines
established, or in the form and manner
requested by the Department, subject to
subsections (c)(1) and (e) of section 782
of the Act, (C) significantly impedes a
proceeding, or (D) provides information
that cannot be verified as provided by
section 782(i) of the Act. Here, we lack
information necessary to determine
whether a linkage between Venus’ sales
prices and their underlying costs
reasonably exists. Therefore, we must
rely upon facts available. As facts
available, we have relied on the
determination that a reasonable linkage
exists for Ambica, the other respondent
to this proceeding. As noted in the
Ambica Cost Calculation Memorandum,
the Department determined that
Ambica’s quarterly–average price and
cost changes appear to be reasonably
correlated and that Ambica’s average
quarterly cost trended consistently with
the change in the average quarterly sales
prices. Therefore, as facts available, we
have determined a reasonable linkage
also exists between Venus’s sales prices
and its underlying costs. We plan to
analyze this issue when the necessary
data have been received from Venus.
See Venus Cost Calculation
Memorandum.
For both Ambica and Venus, we
found there to be a significant change
(i.e., one that exceeded 25 percent) in
COM between the high and low
quarters, as well as a reasonable linkage
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of sales prices and costs during the
shorter cost averaging period.
Accordingly, we have preliminarily
determined that a quarterly costing
approach would lead to more
appropriate comparisons in our
antidumping duty calculations.
Therefore, we preliminarily used
quarterly indexed annual–average direct
material costs and annual weighted–
average conversion costs in the COP and
CV calculations for Ambica and Venus.
For ferritic and martensitic products
manufactured by Ambica, we have
continued to use a single weighted–
average total COM.
D. Cost of Production Analysis
Because we disregarded sales of
certain products made at prices below
the COP in the most recently completed
review of SSB from India (see Stainless
Steel Bar From India: Final Results of
Antidumping New Shipper Review, 72
FR 72671 (December 21, 2007) (Ambica)
and Stainless Steel Bar From India:
Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 74 FR 47198
(September 15, 2009) (Venus)), we had
reasonable grounds to believe or suspect
that sales of the foreign like product
under consideration for the
determination of NV in this review for
Ambica and Venus may have been made
at prices below the COP, as provided by
section 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act.
Pursuant to section 773(b)(1) of the Act,
we initiated a COP investigation of sales
by Ambica and Venus. We relied on
home market sales and COP information
provided by Ambica and Venus in its
questionnaire responses, except where
noted below:
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Ambica
Using Ambica’s quarterly cost
information from the November 23,
2009 response, for austenitic grades of
product, we measured the cost changes,
in terms of a percentage, to develop
direct material indices for each quarter.
We used these indices to calculate an
annual weighted–average material cost
for the POR and then restate that annual
average material cost to each respective
quarter on an equivalent basis. See
Ambica Cost Calculation Memorandum.
Venus
We relied on Venus’ quarterly cost
information from the January 11, 13,
and 25, 2010 responses and measured
the cost changes, in terms of a
percentage, to develop direct material
indices for each quarter. We used these
indices to calculate an annual
weighted–average material cost for the
POR and then restate that annual
average material cost to each respective
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quarter on an equivalent basis. We
revised Venus’ calculation of its
quarterly raw materials costs to exclude
remelted material inputs because we
currently do not have adequate
information on the record to determine
if these costs are under–stated or
double–counted. Further, we revised
Venus’ financial expenses to exclude an
overstatement of net foreign exchange
gain. See Venus Cost Calculation
Memorandum.
In determining whether to disregard
home market sales made at prices below
the COP, we examined, in accordance
with sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the
Act, whether, within an extended
period of time, such sales were made in
substantial quantities, and whether such
sales were made at prices which
permitted the recovery of all costs
within a reasonable period of time in
the normal course of trade. As noted in
section 773(b)(1)(D) of the Act, prices
are considered to provide for recovery of
costs if such prices are above the
weighted average per–unit COP for the
period of investigation or review. In the
instant case, we have relied on a
quarterly costing approach for certain
merchandise produced by Ambica and
merchandise produced by Venus. This
methodology (1) restates the quarterly
material costs in terms of the ‘‘base
period’’ (i.e., the first quarter), (2)
calculates an annual weighted–average
cost for the POR, and (3) restates it to
each respective quarter. We find that
this quarterly costing method meets the
requirements of section 773(b)(2)(D) of
the Act.
Where less than 20 percent of the
respondent’s home market sales of a
given model were at prices below the
COP, we did not disregard any below–
cost sales of that model because we
determined that the below–cost sales
were not made within an extended
period of time and in ‘‘substantial
quantities.’’ Where 20 percent or more of
the respondent’s home market sales of a
given model were at prices less than the
COP, we disregarded the below–cost
sales because: (1) They were made
within an extended period of time in
‘‘substantial quantities,’’ in accordance
with sections 773(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the
Act; and (2) based on our comparison of
prices to the weighted–average COPs for
the POR, they were at prices which
would not permit the recovery of all
costs within a reasonable period of time,
in accordance with section 773(b)(2)(D)
of the Act.
Our cost test revealed that, for home
market sales of certain models, less than
20 percent of the sales of those models
were at prices below the COP. We
therefore retained all such sales in our
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analysis and used them as the basis for
determining NV. Our cost test also
indicated that, for home market sales of
other models, more than 20 percent
were sold at prices below the COP
within an extended period of time and
were at prices which would not permit
the recovery of all costs within a
reasonable period of time. Thus, in
accordance with section 773(b)(1) of the
Act, we excluded these below–cost sales
from our analysis and used the
remaining above–cost sales as the basis
for determining NV.
Based on the additional information
we plan to obtain after the preliminary
results regarding the linkage between
quarterly costs and sales, we plan to
provide a post–preliminary analysis of
COP for Venus.
E. Calculation of Normal Value Based
on Home Market Prices
We calculated NV based on ex–factory
or delivered prices to unaffiliated
customers in the home market. We
made adjustments for differences in
packing in accordance with sections
773(a)(6)(A) and 773(a)(6)(B)(i) of the
Act, and we deducted movement
expenses consistent with section
773(a)(6)(B)(ii) of the Act. In addition,
where applicable, we made adjustments
for differences in cost attributable to
differences in physical characteristics of
the merchandise pursuant to section
773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act, as well as for
differences in circumstances of sale in
accordance with section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.410. We also
made adjustments, in accordance with
19 CFR 351.410(e), for indirect selling
expenses incurred on comparison
market or U.S. sales where commissions
were granted on sales in one market but
not in the other. Specifically, where
commissions were granted in the U.S.
market but not in the comparison
market, we made a downward
adjustment to NV for the lesser of (1) the
amount of the commission paid in the
U.S. market, or (2) the amount of
indirect selling expenses incurred in the
comparison market. If commissions
were granted in the comparison market
but not in the U.S. market, we made an
upward adjustment to NV following the
same methodology. We did not make
further adjustments to Ambica’s or
Venus’ home market data.
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 reported by the Federal
Reserve Bank.
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Preliminary Results of the Review
For the firms listed below, we find
that the following weighted–average
percentage margin exists for the period
February 1, 2008, through January 31,
2009:
Exporter/Manufacturer
Venus Wire Industries
Pvt. Ltd. /Precision
Metals/Sieves Manufacturing (India) Pvt.
Ltd. ............................
Ambica Steels Limited ..
Margin
5.54 percent
0.00 percent
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Public Comment
The Department will disclose the
calculations performed within five days
of publication of this notice in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), any
interested party may request a hearing
within 30 days of publication of this
notice. Any hearing, if requested, will
be held 42 days after the publication of
this notice, or the first workday
thereafter. Issues raised in the hearing
will be limited to those raised in the
case and rebuttal briefs. Pursuant to 19
CFR 351.309(c), interested parties may
submit case briefs within 30 days of the
date of publication of this notice.
Rebuttal briefs, which must be limited
to issues raised in the case briefs, may
be filed not later than 35 days after the
date of publication of this notice. See 19
CFR 351.309(d). Parties who submit
case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this
proceeding are requested to submit with
each argument: 1) a statement of the
issue, and 2) a brief summary of the
argument with an electronic version
included. The Department will publish
the final results of this administrative
review, including the results of our
analysis of issues raised in the briefs, no
later than 120 days after publication of
these preliminary results.
Assessment Rates
If these preliminary results are
adopted in the final results, we will
instruct CBP to assess antidumping
duties on all appropriate entries. The
Department will issue appropriate
assessment instructions directly to CBP
15 days after publication of the final
results of review in the Federal
Register.
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), for
all sales made by the respondent for
which it has reported the importer of
record and the entered value of the U.S.
sales, we have calculated importer–
specific assessment rates based on the
ratio of the total amount of antidumping
duties calculated for the examined sales
to the total entered value of those sales.
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Where the respondent did not report the
entered value for U.S. sales to an
importer, we have calculated importer–
specific assessment rates for the
merchandise in question by aggregating
the dumping margins calculated for all
U.S. sales to each importer and dividing
this amount by the total quantity of
those sales.
To determine whether the duty
assessment rates were de minimis (i.e.,
less than 0.50 percent) in accordance
with the requirement set forth in 19 CFR
351.106(c)(2), we calculated importer–
specific ad valorem rates based on the
estimated entered value. Where the
assessment rate is above de minimis, we
will instruct CBP to assess duties on all
entries of subject merchandise by that
importer. Pursuant to 19 CFR
351.106(c)(2), we will instruct CBP to
liquidate without regard to antidumping
duties any entries for which the
assessment rate is de minimis.
The Department clarified its
‘‘automatic assessment’’ regulation on
May 6, 2003. See Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68
FR 23954 (May 6, 2003). This
clarification will apply to entries of
subject merchandise during the POR
produced by the respondent for which
it did not know its 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 id.
be the rate established for the most
recent period for the manufacturer of
the merchandise; and (4) the cash
deposit rate for all other manufacturers
and/or exporters of this merchandise,
shall be 12.45 percent, the all–others
rate established in the LTFV
investigation. See Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Stainless Steel Bar from
India, 59 FR 66915 (December 28, 1994).
These deposit requirements, when
imposed, shall remain in effect until
further notice.
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective upon
completion of the final results of this
administrative review for all shipments
of SSB from India entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the publication
date of the final results of this
administrative review, as provided by
section 751(a)(1) of the Act: (1) the cash
deposit rate for the reviewed companies
will be the rate established in the final
results of this administrative review
(except no cash deposit will be required
if its weighted–average margin is de
minimis); (2) if the exporter is not a firm
covered in this review, but was covered
in a previous review or the original less
than fair value (‘‘LTFV’’) investigation,
the cash deposit rate will continue to be
the company–specific rate published for
the most recent period; and (3) if neither
the exporter nor the manufacturer is a
firm covered in this or any previous
reviews, or the original LTFV
investigation, the cash deposit rate will
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
PO 00000
Frm 00036
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a
preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of
antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during this
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 double antidumping duties.
We are issuing and publishing these
preliminary results of review in
accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and
777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: March 8, 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010–5602 Filed 3–12–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
International Trade Administration
[A–552–802]
Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp
From the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam: Preliminary Results, Partial
Rescission, and Request for
Revocation, in Part, of the Fourth
Administrative Review
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(‘‘the Department’’) is conducting an
administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on certain
frozen warmwater shrimp from the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
(‘‘Vietnam’’), covering the period of
review (‘‘POR’’) of February 1, 2008,
through January 31, 2009. As discussed
below, we preliminarily determine that
sales have been made below normal
value (‘‘NV’’). If these preliminary
E:\FR\FM\15MRN1.SGM
15MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12199-12206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5602]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-533-810]
Stainless Steel Bar from India: Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is conducting an administrative
review of the antidumping duty order on stainless steel bar from India.
The period of review is February 1, 2008, through January 31, 2009.
This review covers imports of stainless steel bar from two producers/
exporters: Ambica Steels Limited and Venus Wire Industries Pvt. Ltd. We
preliminarily find that sales of the subject merchandise have been made
below normal value. If these preliminary results are adopted in our
final results, we will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to
assess antidumping duties on appropriate entries. Interested parties
are invited to comment on these preliminary results. We will issue the
final results no later than 120 days from the date of publication of
this notice.
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 15, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Holland, Seth Isenberg, or
Austin Redington, AD/CVD Operations, Office 1, Import Administration,
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20230; telephone
(202) 482-1279, (202) 482-0588, or (202) 482-1664, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 21, 1995, the Department of Commerce (``Department'')
published in the Federal Register the antidumping duty order on
stainless steel bar (``SSB'') from India. See Antidumping Duty Orders:
Stainless Steel Bar from Brazil, India and Japan, 60 FR 9661 (February
21, 1995). On February 4, 2009, the Department published a notice in
the Federal Register providing an opportunity for interested parties to
request an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on SSB
from India for the period of review (``POR'') February 1, 2008, through
January 31, 2009. See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order,
Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request
Administrative Review, 74 FR 6013 (February 4, 2009).
On February 19, 2009, the Department received a timely request for
review from Ambica Steels Limited (``Ambica''). On February 27, 2009,
we received a timely request for review from Venus Wire Industries Pvt.
Ltd. (``Venus Wire''). Also, on February 27, 2009, we received a timely
request from domestic interested parties Carpenter Technology Corp.;
Crucible Specialty Metals, a division of Crucible Materials Corp.;
Electralloy Co., a G.O. Carlson, Inc. company; and Valbruna Slater
Stainless, Inc. (collectively, ``Petitioners''), for a review of Venus
Wire and its affiliates. On March 24, 2009, in accordance with section
751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), we
initiated an administrative review on Ambica and Venus Wire. See
Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative
Reviews and Requests for Revocation in Part, 74 FR 12310 (March 24,
2009).
On April 10, 2009, the Department issued antidumping duty
questionnaires to Ambica and Venus Wire. Ambica submitted its responses
to the antidumping questionnaire in May and June 2009. Venus Wire
submitted its responses to the antidumping questionnaire in May, June,
and July 2009. After analyzing these responses, we issued supplemental
questionnaires to Ambica and Venus Wire to clarify or correct
information contained in the initial questionnaire responses. We
received responses to these supplemental questionnaires from Ambica in
September, November, and December, 2009, and January and February,
2010. We received responses to these supplemental questionnaires from
Venus Wire in September, November, and December, 2009, and January and
March, 2010.
On February 17, 2010, the Department determined that the January
25, 2010, Section D cost reconciliation submitted by Sieves
Manufacturing (India) Pvt. Ltd. (``Sieves'') (an affiliated company
collapsed with Venus Wire, see ``Affiliation'' section below) was filed
after the established deadline and, in accordance with 19 CFR
351.302(d)(i), the Department returned the submission to Sieves. See
Letter from Susan Kuhbach to Sieves ``Rejection of Sieves' Section D
supplemental response'' dated February 17, 2010. The Department later
determined that it had previously granted a separate extension until
January 25, 2010, for submission of Sieves' cost reconciliation. See
Memorandum from Austin Redington, International Trade Compliance
Analyst to the File entitled, ``Extension Request from Sieves,'' dated
January 15, 2010. Thus, because it was timely filed, the Department
requested that Sieves re-submit the Section D cost responses that the
Department had previously returned. See Letter from Brandon Farlander,
Program Manager to Sieves entitled ``Resubmission of Sieves' Section D
supplemental response,'' dated February 24, 2010.
On October 29, 2009, we extended the time limit for completing the
preliminary results of this review to no later than March 1, 2010, in
accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act. See Stainless Steel
Bar From India: Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results of
the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR 55814 (October 29,
2009).
As explained in the memorandum from the Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Import Administration, the Department has exercised its discretion
to toll deadlines for the duration of the closure of the Federal
Government from February 5, through February 12, 2010. Thus, all
deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by
[[Page 12200]]
seven days. The revised deadline for the preliminary results of this
review is now March 8, 2010. See Memorandum to the Record from Ronald
Lorentzen, DAS for Import Administration, regarding ``Tolling of
Administrative Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure During
the Recent Snowstorm,'' dated February 12, 2010.
Period of Review
The POR is February 1, 2008, through January 31, 2009.
Notice of Intent Not To Revoke Order In Part
On February 27, 2009, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.222(b)(2), Venus Wire
requested that the Department revoke it from the antidumping duty order
on SSB from India at the conclusion of this administrative review. A
request for revocation of an order in part must be accompanied by three
elements: (1) the company's certification that it sold subject
merchandise at not less than normal value (``NV'') during the POR, and
that in the future it would not sell such merchandise at less than NV;
(2) the company's certification that it has sold the subject
merchandise to the United States in commercial quantities during each
of the past three years, and (3) the company's agreement to immediate
reinstatement of the antidumping duty order, if the Department
concludes that the company, subsequent to revocation, sold the subject
merchandise at less than NV. See 19 CFR 351.222(e).
Venus Wire's February 27, 2009, request for revocation was not in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.222(e) because it was not accompanied by a
certification that (1) Venus Wire had not sold the subject merchandise
at less than NV for a three-year period, and would not do so in the
future and (2) Venus Wire had sold the subject merchandise to the
United States in commercial quantities during each of the past three
years. The company provided a certification regarding commercial
quantities on November 6, 2009. However, this submission was not filed
with the Department within the anniversary month of the proceeding as
required by 19 CFR 351.222(e). Venus Wire did not, at any point,
provide a certification stating that it had sold the subject
merchandise at not less than NV during the current review period and
that it would not do so in the future.
Because Venus Wire's request for revocation was incomplete, the
Department notified Venus Wire that it was not being considered for
revocation in the course of this administrative review. See Letter from
Susan Kuhbach to Venus Wire Pvt. Ltd. ``Request for Revocation,'' dated
February 16, 2010.
Bona Fide Analysis
In their letter of May 29, 2009, Petitioners alleged that the U.S.
transaction reported by Ambica during the POR was not a bona fide sale.
We analyzed the transaction, comparing it to other sales of subject
merchandise using data obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(``CBP'') to determine whether it was a bona fide transaction. In terms
of price and quantity, we found Ambica's U.S. sale to be within the
range of sales of all imports of the subject merchandise, as well as
within the range of sales of product in the same Harmonized Tariff
Schedule (``HTS'') code measured over the entire POR. We also found
Ambica's U.S. sale to be within the price range of sales for the same
HTS code in the same quarter of the sale. We included this quarterly
analysis because we are using quarterly costs. For our complete
analysis of these and other relevant factors, see Memorandum from Seth
Isenberg, International Trade Compliance Analyst to the File entitled,
``Bona Fide Nature of Ambica Steels Limited's Sales in the Period of
Review for Stainless Steel Bar from India,'' dated March 8, 2010,
(``Bona Fide Memo'') on file in the Central Records Unit in room 1117
of the main Department building (``CRU''). Based on our analysis, we
preliminarily determine that Ambica's U.S. sale was a bona fide
transaction.
Scope of the Order
Imports covered by the order are shipments of SSB. SSB means
articles of stainless steel in straight lengths that have been either
hot-rolled, forged, turned, cold-drawn, cold-rolled or otherwise cold-
finished, or ground, having a uniform solid cross section along their
whole length in the shape of circles, segments of circles, ovals,
rectangles (including squares), triangles, hexagons, octagons, or other
convex polygons. SSB includes cold-finished SSBs that are turned or
ground in straight lengths, whether produced from hot-rolled bar or
from straightened and cut rod or wire, and reinforcing bars that have
indentations, ribs, grooves, or other deformations produced during the
rolling process.
Except as specified above, the term does not include stainless
steel semi-finished products, cut-to-length flat-rolled products (i.e.,
cut-to-length rolled products which if less than 4.75 mm in thickness
have a width measuring at least 10 times the thickness, or if 4.75 mm
or more in thickness having a width which exceeds 150 mm and measures
at least twice the thickness), wire (i.e., cold-formed products in
coils, of any uniform solid cross section along their whole length,
which do not conform to the definition of flat-rolled products), and
angles, shapes, and sections.
The SSB subject to this review is currently classifiable under
subheadings 7222.11.00.05, 7222.11.00.50, 7222.19.00.05, 7222.19.00.50,
7222.20.00.05, 7222.20.00.45, 7222.20.00.75, and 7222.30.00.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS''). Although
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs
purposes, our written description of the scope of the order is
dispositive.
On May 23, 2005, the Department issued a final scope ruling that
SSB manufactured in the United Arab Emirates out of stainless steel
wire rod from India is not subject to the scope of the order. See
Memorandum from Team to Barbara E. Tillman, ``Antidumping Duty Orders
on Stainless Steel Bar from India and Stainless Steel Wire Rod from
India: Final Scope Ruling,'' dated May 23, 2005, which is on file in
the CRU. See also Notice of Scope Rulings, 70 FR 55110 (September 20,
2005).
Affiliation
Precision Metals
In the 2005-2006 antidumping duty administrative review of SSB from
India, the Department determined that Venus Wire and Precision Metals
were affiliated within the meaning of section 771(33) of the Act, and
also that the two companies should be treated as a single entity for
the purposes of that administrative review. See Notice of Final Results
and Final Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review:
Stainless Steel Bar from India, 72 FR 51595, 51596 (September 10,
2007). In the 2007-2008 antidumping administrative review of SSB from
India, the Department again determined that these two companies should
be treated as a single entity. See Stainless Steel Bar From India:
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR 47198
(September 15, 2009).
During the current, 2008-2009 administrative review, the Department
again examined Venus Wire's relationship with Precision Metals. Based
on Venus Wire's representations that its corporate affiliation
relationship with Precision Metals remained the same during the POR as
during the 2005-2006, and 2007-2008 administrative reviews (see Venus
Wire's May 19, 2009, Section A
[[Page 12201]]
questionnaire response (``AQR'') at A-2, 6-10), the Department hereby
continues to treat Venus Wire and Precision Metals as a single entity
in the current administrative review. See Memorandum from Erika
McDonald to the File, ``Relationship of Venus Wire Industries Pvt. Ltd.
and Precision Metals,'' dated September 15, 2009, which is on file in
the CRU.
Sieves
On September 2, 2009, the Department determined that Venus Wire and
Sieves are affiliated within the meaning of section 771(33) of the Act,
and also that the two companies should be treated as a single entity
and collapsed for the purposes of the 2007-2008 administrative review.
See Stainless Steel Bar From India: Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 74 FR at 47201. See Stainless Steel Bar From
India: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,
74 FR 9787, 9792 (March 6, 2009). Accordingly, we announced our
intention to treat Venus Wire and Sieves as a single entity and
collapse them for the 2008-2009 administrative review. See Memorandum
from Erika McDonald to the File, ``Relationship of Venus Wire
Industries Pvt. Ltd. and Sieves Manufacturers (India) Pvt. Ltd.,''
dated September 15, 2009, which is on file in the CRU. We gave
interested parties two weeks to provide comments on the collapsing of
these two entities. No comments were received. Therefore, the
Department continues to treat Venus Wire and Sieves as a single entity
in the current administrative review.
Hindustan Inox (formerly Hindustan Stainless)
Petitioners allege that Hindustan Inox, formerly known as Hindustan
Stainless (``Hindustan''), should also be collapsed with Venus Wire.
See Petitioners' June 12, 2009, and January 29, 2010, filings.
Petitioners argue that Hindustan is a producer and exporter of SSB and,
as a Venus Wire affiliate, Venus Wire should report Hindustan's sales
and costs in its responses. However, Venus Wire and Sieves stated that
Hindustan did not produce or export SSB during the POR and that
Hindustan only did job works of SSB for Sieves. See Venus Wire's
November 2, 2009, Section A supplemental questionnaire response
(``ASQR'') at 5-6, and 8. See also Sieves' December 31, 2009, Section A
supplemental questionnaire response (``ASQR'') at 4, 6. Sieves further
reported that while Hindustan is in the process of setting up a
facility to manufacture SSB, Hindustan did not start producing SSB
until after the POR. See Sieves' October 19, 2009, Section A
questionnaire response (``AQR'') at 8-9. After reviewing record
information, we have determined that because Hindustan was not a
producer/exporter of SSB during the POR, it should not be collapsed
with Venus Wire in the current administrative review.
The collapsed entity of Venus Wire, Precision Metals, and Sieves is
hereafter referred to as ``Venus.''
Fair Value Comparisons
To determine whether sales of SSB by Venus and Ambica to the United
States were made at less than NV, we compared export price (``EP'') to
NV. See ``Export Price'' and ``Normal Value'' sections of this notice.
Pursuant to section 777A(d)(2) of the Act, we compared the EPs of
individual U.S. transactions to the weighted-average NV of the foreign-
like product, where there were sales made in the ordinary course of
trade, as discussed in the ``Cost of Production Analysis'' section,
below.
Product Comparisons
In accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we considered all
products sold by Ambica and Venus (``respondents'') in the comparison
market covered by the description in the ``Scope of the Order''
section, above, to be foreign-like products for purposes of determining
appropriate product comparisons to U.S. sales. In accordance with
section 773(a)(1)(C)(ii) of the Act, in order 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 the respondents' volumes
of home market sales of the foreign-like product to the volumes of
their U.S. sales of the subject merchandise. See the ``Normal Value''
section, below, for further details.
We compared U.S. sales to monthly weighted-average prices of
contemporaneous sales made in the home market based on the following
criteria: (1) general type of finish; (2) grade; (3) remelting; (4)
type of final finishing operation; (5) shape; and (6) size. This was
consistent with our practice in the original investigation. See
Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Postponement of Final Determination: Stainless Steel Bar From India, 59
FR 39733, 39735 (August 4, 1994); unchanged in the final, see Notice of
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Stainless Steel
Bar from India, 59 FR 66915 (December 28, 1994). Where there were no
home market sales of the foreign-like product that were identical in
these respects to the merchandise sold in the United States, we
compared U.S. products with the most similar merchandise sold in the
home market based on the characteristics listed above, in that order of
priority, made in the ordinary course of trade. Where there were no
sales of identical or similar merchandise made in the ordinary course
of trade in the comparison market, we compared U.S. sales to
constructed value (``CV'').
Date of Sale
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.401(i), the date of sale is normally the
date of invoice, unless satisfactory evidence is presented that the
material terms of sale, price, and quantity are established on some
other date. Accordingly, since no such evidence was provided in this
proceeding, we have relied on the invoice date as date of sale for both
the U.S. and home market sales by Ambica and Venus. See Ambica's June
8, 2009, section B questionnaire response (``BQR'') and Ambica's
November 14, 2009, section A, B, and C supplemental questionnaire (``A,
B, & C SQR'') at 12-13. See also Venus Wire's AQR at A-18 and Annexure
A-4.
Export Price
Section 772(a) of the Act defines EP as the price at which the
subject merchandise is first sold before the date of importation by the
producer or exporter outside of the United States to an unaffiliated
purchaser in the United States or to an unaffiliated purchaser for
exportation to the United States, as adjusted under section 772(c) of
the Act. Section 772(b) of the Act defines constructed export price
(``CEP'') as the price at which the subject merchandise is 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 of such
merchandise or by a seller affiliated with the producer or exporter, to
a purchaser not affiliated with the producer or exporter.
Petitioners argue that Venus was affiliated with its U.S. customer,
AMS Specialty Steel (``AMS''), during the POR by virtue of a principal-
agent relationship. Because of this alleged affiliation, Petitioners
contend that Venus should have reported its sales through AMS as CEP
sales, rather than as EP sales to AMS. See Petitioners' June 12, 2009
filing at 11-15. Petitioners made an identical claim in the previous
administrative review. See Stainless Steel Bar From India: Final
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR at 47199 and
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 2. Venus
[[Page 12202]]
denied Petitioners' claims and stated that it did not have a principal-
agent relationship with AMS and that its sales should not be reported
as CEP, since Venus sold material to AMS as its first unaffiliated
customer. Venus also presented further support, which cannot be further
described here because of its proprietary nature. See Letter from Venus
Wire, dated November 4, 2009 and Attachment. After reviewing the
information presented by both Petitioners and Venus, we found that
there is no evidence to substantiate Petitioners' allegations.
Therefore, the Department continues to find that there is no principal-
agent relationship between Venus and AMS and will not treat Venus'
sales to AMS as CEP sales.
Petitioners argue that Ambica was affiliated with its U.S. customer
during the POR by virtue of a principal-agent relationship. See
Petitioners' May 29, 2009 filing. Petitioners base the allegation on
the fact that the customer advertises itself as an exclusive agent for
several unnamed international mills on its website and does not
advertise on the site the specific type of bar it purchased from
Ambica. Because of this alleged affiliation, Petitioners contend that
Ambica should have reported its U.S. sale through its customer as a CEP
sale, rather than as an EP sale.
In the absence of an agency contract, ``the analysis of whether a
relationship constitutes an agency is case-specific and can be quite
complex; there is no bright line test.'' See Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Engineered Process Gas
Turbo-Compressor Systems, Whether Assembled or Unassembled, and Whether
Complete or Incomplete, from Japan, 62 FR 24394, 24403 (May 5, 1997).
The Department's examination of allegations of an agency relationship
has focused on a range of criteria, including (but not limited to) the
following: (1) the foreign producer's role in negotiating price and
other terms of sale; (2) the extent of the foreign producer's
interaction with the U.S. customer; (3) whether the agent/reseller
maintains inventory; (4) whether the agent/reseller takes title to the
merchandise and bears the risk of loss; (5) whether the agent/reseller
further processes or otherwise adds value to the merchandise; (6) the
means of marketing a product by the producer to the U.S. customer in
the pre-sale period; and (7) whether the identity of the producer on
sales documentation inferred such an agency relationship during the
sales transactions. See Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip From Taiwan;
Final Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 67 FR 6682 (February 13, 2002) and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum, at Comment 23.
As there was no agency contract, the Department examined the above
factors. Applying the Department's analytical framework for determining
principal-agent relationships, we find no evidence that Ambica has any
knowledge of its customer's customers, or has had any involvement with
its customers' sales. After reviewing the allegations and Ambica's
responses, the Department finds that there is no principal-agent
relationship between Ambica and its customer. See Bona Fide Memo.
Therefore, for both Ambica and Venus, because the merchandise was
sold prior to importation by the exporter or producer outside the
United States to the first unaffiliated purchaser in the United States,
and because CEP methodology was not otherwise warranted, we have based
the U.S. price on EP. For both Ambica and Venus, we based EP on the
packed, or delivered duty paid price to unaffiliated purchasers in the
United States. We adjusted the reported gross unit price, where
applicable, for early payment discounts and other discounts for weight
shortages, short payments or quality claims. We made deductions for
movement expenses in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act.
These deductions included, where appropriate, freight incurred in
transporting merchandise to the Indian port, domestic brokerage and
handling, international freight, marine insurance, U.S. brokerage and
handling, freight incurred in the United States, U.S. customs duties,
and other transportation fees. See Ambica Preliminary Results
Calculation Memorandum (March 8, 2010). See also Venus Preliminary
Results Calculation Memorandum (March 8, 2010).
Duty Drawback
Section 772(c)(1)(B) of the Act provides that EP or CEP shall be
increased by among other things, ``the amount of any import duties
imposed by the country of exportation which have been rebated, or which
have not been collected, by reason of the exportation of the subject
merchandise to the United States.'' The Department determines that an
adjustment to U.S. price for claimed duty drawback is appropriate when
a company can demonstrate that: (1) the ``import duty and rebate are
directly linked to, and dependent upon, one another;'' and (2) ``the
company claiming the adjustment can show that there were sufficient
imports of the imported raw materials to account for the drawback
received on the exported product.'' Rajinder Pipes Ltd. v. United
States, 70 F. Supp. 2d 1350, 1358 (Ct. Int'l Trade 1999). Venus claimed
a duty drawback adjustment based on its participation in the Indian
government's Duty Entitlement Passbook Program.
The Department finds that Venus has not provided sufficient
evidence to establish the necessary link between the import duty and
the reported duty drawback. Therefore, because Venus has failed to meet
the Department's requirements, we are denying Venus' request for a duty
drawback adjustment for the preliminary results. See Venus Preliminary
Results Calculation Memorandum.
Normal Value
A. Home Market Viability
Section 773(a)(1) of the Act directs that NV be based on the price
at which the foreign-like product is sold in the home market, provided
that the merchandise is sold in sufficient quantities (or value, if
quantity is inappropriate) and that there is no particular market
situation that prevents a proper comparison with the EP. Section 773
(a)(1)(B)(ii)(II) of the Act contemplates that quantities (or values)
will normally be considered insufficient if they are less than five
percent of the aggregate quantity (or value) of sales of the subject
merchandise to the United States.
In order 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 its volume of U.S. sales of the subject
merchandise, in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(C) of the Act.
Both Ambica's and Venus' reported home market sales of SSB during
the POR were more than five percent of their sales of SSB to the United
States. See Ambica's AQR at 3-4 and Venus Wire's AQR at A-3. Therefore,
Ambica's and Venus' home markets were viable for purposes of
calculating NV.
To derive NV for Ambica and Venus, we made the adjustments detailed
in the ``Calculation of Normal Value Based on Home Market Prices''
section below.
B. Level of Trade
Section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act states that, to the extent
practicable, the Department will calculate NV based on sales at the
same level of trade (``LOT'') as the EP. Sales are made at different
LOTs if they are made at different marketing stages (or their
equivalent). See 19 CFR 351.412(c)(2). Substantial
[[Page 12203]]
differences in selling activities are a necessary, but not sufficient,
condition for determining that there is a difference in the stages of
marketing. Id.; see also 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 (November 19, 1997).
In order to determine whether the comparison market sales were at
different stages in the marketing process than the U.S. sales, we
reviewed the distribution system in each market (i.e., the ``chain of
distribution''),\1\ including selling functions,\2\ class of customer
(``customer category''), and the level of selling expenses for each
type of sale. Pursuant to section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act, in
identifying LOTs for EP and comparison market sales (i.e., NV based on
either comparison market or third country prices),\3\ we consider the
starting prices before any adjustments. When the Department is unable
to match U.S. sales to sales of the foreign-like product in the
comparison market at the same LOT as the EP, the Department may compare
the U.S. sale to sales at a different LOT in the comparison market. In
comparing EP sales at a different LOT in the comparison market, where
available data make it practicable, we make an LOT adjustment under
section 773(a)(7)(A) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The marketing process in the United States and comparison
market begins with the producer and extends to the sale to the final
user or customer. The chain of distribution between the two may have
many or few links, and each respondent's sales occur somewhere along
this chain. In performing this evaluation, we considered the
respondent's narrative response to properly determine where in the
chain of distribution the sale occurs.
\2\ Selling functions associated with a particular chain of
distribution help us to evaluate the LOT(s) in a particular market.
For purposes of these preliminary results, we have organized the
common selling functions into four major categories: sales process
and marketing support, freight and delivery, inventory and
warehousing, and quality assurance/warranty services.
\3\ Where NV is based on CV, we determine the NV LOT based on
the LOT of the sales from which we derive selling expenses, general
and administrative expenses (``G&A'') and profit for CV, where
possible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ambica reported that its customer base in the home market consists
of end users and trading companies, and in the U.S. market, it consists
of a trading company. See Ambica's AQR at A-18-19. In addition, Ambica
has reported five channels of distribution in the home market and one
channel distribution in the U.S. market. See Ambica's AQR at A-15-19.
In the home market, Ambica made sales: directly to end-users from the
factory; directly to traders from the factory; directly to end-users
via Ambica's distribution warehouses; directly to traders via Ambica's
distribution warehouses; and by a consignment agent to end-users and/or
traders. In Ambica's single channel of distribution to the U.S. market,
Ambica made sales directly to the trader. Ambica reported that its
prices did not vary based on channel of distribution and/or customer
category. See Ambica's AQR at 22.
Ambica reported a single LOT in both the home market and the U.S.
market, and has not requested an LOT adjustment. See Ambica's BQR at
21, and Ambica's June 8, 2009, section C questionnaire response
(``CQR'') at 22; see also Ambica's A, B, & C SQR at 27.
We examined the information reported by Ambica regarding the type
and level of selling functions performed, and customer categories.
Specifically, we considered the extent to which, sales process/
marketing support, freight/delivery, inventory maintenance, and quality
assurance/warranty service varied with respect to the different
customer categories and channels of distribution (i.e., distributors
and processors) across the markets.
We preliminary find the LOTs for the home market channels of
distribution similar with regard to sales and marketing, inventory
maintenance, and quality assurance/warranty service. Further, freight
and delivery services were identical in all channels in the home
market. Therefore, we consider the home market to constitute a single
LOT. We compared the U.S. LOT to the LOT reported for sales in the home
market. We found the LOT in the United States to be similar to the LOT
in the home market. Thus, we preliminarily have compared U.S. sales to
home market sales at the same LOT.
Our LOT findings with regard to Venus are summarized below. Because
Venus Wire and Sieves have reported their LOT information in separate
responses, we have examined each response separately. However, our
final LOT determination for the collapsed entity of Venus is a
consolidated LOT determination of the collapsed entity of Venus Wire
and Sieves.
Venus reported one channel of distribution and a single LOT in both
the home market and the U.S. market.
Venus reported that it sells to trading companies, distributors,
and end users at the same LOT in the home market. Also, Venus reported
that it sells to distributors, trading companies, and end users at the
same LOT in the U.S. market. See Venus Wire's CQR at 28 and December
15, 2009, section B & C supplemental questionnaire (``B & C SQR'') at
16. Venus reported that its prices did not vary based on channel of
distribution and/or customer category. See Venus Wire's AQR at A-16.
We examined the information reported by Venus regarding its sales
processes for its home market and U.S. market sales, including customer
categories and the type and level of selling activities performed. See
Venus Wire's AQR at A-17-19. Specifically, we considered the extent to
which sales process/marketing support, freight/delivery, inventory
maintenance, and quality assurance/warranty service varied with respect
to the different customer categories and channels of distribution
across the markets. Because there was only one channel of distribution
and because the selling functions were identical for all home market
sales, we found that the home market channel of distribution comprises
one LOT. Because there was only one channel of distribution and because
the selling functions were identical for U.S. sales, we evaluated the
U.S. channel of distribution and found that it also comprises one LOT.
Next, we compared the U.S. LOT to the home market LOT. See id. Venus
reported similar levels of freight/delivery in both the home market and
U.S. market. See id. Further, Venus reported no inventory maintenance
in either the home market or the U.S. market, and reported that it
provided no warranty services in any of its channels of distribution.
See id. The only minor difference that Venus reported was in relation
to sales process/marketing support, where Venus indicated that it
advertises and promotes its U.S. market sales, but not the home market
sales. See id. Based on our examination of the selling functions
performed in the single channel of distribution in the U.S. market, we
find that Venus' U.S. sales were at a single LOT.
Based on the foregoing, we preliminarily find that Venus' sales in
the home market and the United States were made at the same LOT. Thus,
we were able to match EP sales to sales at the same LOT in the home
market and no LOT adjustment was necessary.
C. Cost Averaging Methodology
The Department's normal practice is to calculate an annual
weighted-average cost for the entire POR. See, e.g., Certain Pasta From
Italy: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 65 FR
77852 (December 13, 2000), and accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 18, and Notice of Final Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod
from Canada, 71 FR 3822 (January 24, 2006), and accompanying
[[Page 12204]]
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 5 (explaining the
Department's practice of computing a single weighted-average cost for
the entire period). However, the Department recognizes that possible
distortions may result if our normal annual average cost method is used
during a period of significant cost changes. In determining whether to
deviate from our normal methodology of calculating an annual weighted
average cost, the Department evaluates the case-specific record
evidence using two primary factors: (1) The change in the cost of
manufacturing (``COM'') recognized by the respondent during the POR
must be deemed significant; and (2) the record evidence must indicate
that sales during the shorter averaging periods could be reasonably
linked with the cost of production (``COP'') or CV during the same
shorter averaging periods. See Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From
Belgium: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR
75398, 75399 (December 11, 2008) (``SSPC from Belgium'') and
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 4; see also
Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Mexico; Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 74 FR 6365 (February 9, 2009)
(``SSSS from Mexico'') and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum
at Comment 5.
1. Significance of Cost Changes
In prior cases, the Department established 25 percent as the
threshold for determining that the changes in COM are significant
enough to warrant a departure from our standard annual costing
approach. See SSPC from Belgium and accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 4; see also Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in
Coils From Mexico; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 73 FR 45708, 45710 (August 6, 2008), unchanged
in SSSS from Mexico and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 5. To determine whether the changes in production costs were
significant, we analyzed, on a product-specific basis, the extent to
which the total COM changed during the POR. We did this by analyzing,
on a CONNUM-specific basis, the difference between the lowest quarterly
average COM and the highest quarterly average COM, as a percentage of
the lowest quarterly average COM. In the instant case, record evidence
shows that Ambica and Venus experienced significant changes (i.e.,
changes that exceeded 25 percent) between the high and low quarterly
COMs during the POR and that the change in COM is primarily
attributable to the price volatility for stainless scrap and ferro-
alloys, major inputs consumed in the production of the merchandise
under consideration. See ``Cost of Production and Constructed Value
Calculation Adjustments for the Preliminary Results Ambica Steels
Ltd.,'' from Stephanie C. Arthur to Neal M. Halper, dated March 8, 2010
(``Ambica Cost Calculation Memorandum'') and ``Cost of Production and
Constructed Value Calculation Adjustments for the Preliminary Results
Venus Wire Industries Pvt. Ltd.,'' from LaVonne L. Clark to Neal M.
Halper, dated March 8, 2010 (``Venus Cost Calculation Memorandum''). In
examining company-specific purchase information for these inputs, we
found that the prices changed dramatically throughout the POR and
consequently directly affected the cost of the material inputs
consumed. See Ambica Cost Calculation Memorandum and Venus Cost
Calculation Memorandum. As a result, we have determined for the
preliminary results that the changes in COM are significant enough to
warrant a departure from our standard annual costing approach, as these
significant cost changes create distortions in the Department's sales-
below-cost test as well as the overall margin calculation.
2. Linkage Between Cost and Sales Information
As noted above, the Department preliminarily found cost changes to
be significant in this administrative review; thus, the Department
subsequently evaluated whether there is evidence of linkage between the
cost changes and the sales prices during the POR. The Department's
definition of linkage does not require direct traceability between
specific sales and their specific production cost, but rather relies on
whether there are elements which would indicate a reasonable
correlation between the underlying costs and the final sales prices
levied by the company. See SSSS from Mexico and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 5; see also SSPC from Belgium and
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 4. These
correlative elements may be measured and defined in a number of ways
depending on the associated industry, and the overall production and
sales processes.
To determine whether a reasonable correlation existed between sales
prices and their underlying costs during the POR, we compared weighted-
average quarterly prices to the corresponding quarterly COM for the
five highest-volume home market CONNUMs. For Ambica, our comparison
revealed that sales prices and costs trended consistently with each
other for all of these five products, thereby establishing a reasonable
link between the underlying costs and sales prices. See Ambica Cost
Calculation Memorandum.
While we were able to use data from Venus to establish the
significance of cost changes discussed above, we did not have the
necessary information from Venus to establish the linkage between cost
and sales information. The Department requested the necessary
information from Venus to perform the linkage analysis in supplemental
questionnaires dated October 14, 2009; December 30, 2009; and March 1,
2010. Because we have not yet received all of the necessary information
from Venus to complete the linkage between sales prices and their
underlying costs, we have relied on facts available for purposes of
these preliminary results. Section 776(a) of the Act provides that the
Department shall apply ``facts otherwise available'' if (1) necessary
information is not on the record, or (2) an interested party or any
other person (A) withholds information that has been requested, (B)
fails to provide information within the deadlines established, or in
the form and manner requested by the Department, subject to subsections
(c)(1) and (e) of section 782 of the Act, (C) significantly impedes a
proceeding, or (D) provides information that cannot be verified as
provided by section 782(i) of the Act. Here, we lack information
necessary to determine whether a linkage between Venus' sales prices
and their underlying costs reasonably exists. Therefore, we must rely
upon facts available. As facts available, we have relied on the
determination that a reasonable linkage exists for Ambica, the other
respondent to this proceeding. As noted in the Ambica Cost Calculation
Memorandum, the Department determined that Ambica's quarterly-average
price and cost changes appear to be reasonably correlated and that
Ambica's average quarterly cost trended consistently with the change in
the average quarterly sales prices. Therefore, as facts available, we
have determined a reasonable linkage also exists between Venus's sales
prices and its underlying costs. We plan to analyze this issue when the
necessary data have been received from Venus. See Venus Cost
Calculation Memorandum.
For both Ambica and Venus, we found there to be a significant
change (i.e., one that exceeded 25 percent) in COM between the high and
low quarters, as well as a reasonable linkage
[[Page 12205]]
of sales prices and costs during the shorter cost averaging period.
Accordingly, we have preliminarily determined that a quarterly costing
approach would lead to more appropriate comparisons in our antidumping
duty calculations. Therefore, we preliminarily used quarterly indexed
annual-average direct material costs and annual weighted-average
conversion costs in the COP and CV calculations for Ambica and Venus.
For ferritic and martensitic products manufactured by Ambica, we have
continued to use a single weighted-average total COM.
D. Cost of Production Analysis
Because we disregarded sales of certain products made at prices
below the COP in the most recently completed review of SSB from India
(see Stainless Steel Bar From India: Final Results of Antidumping New
Shipper Review, 72 FR 72671 (December 21, 2007) (Ambica) and Stainless
Steel Bar From India: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 74 FR 47198 (September 15, 2009) (Venus)), we had reasonable
grounds to believe or suspect that sales of the foreign like product
under consideration for the determination of NV in this review for
Ambica and Venus may have been made at prices below the COP, as
provided by section 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act. Pursuant to section
773(b)(1) of the Act, we initiated a COP investigation of sales by
Ambica and Venus. We relied on home market sales and COP information
provided by Ambica and Venus in its questionnaire responses, except
where noted below:
Ambica
Using Ambica's quarterly cost information from the November 23,
2009 response, for austenitic grades of product, we measured the cost
changes, in terms of a percentage, to develop direct material indices
for each quarter. We used these indices to calculate an annual
weighted-average material cost for the POR and then restate that annual
average material cost to each respective quarter on an equivalent
basis. See Ambica Cost Calculation Memorandum.
Venus
We relied on Venus' quarterly cost information from the January 11,
13, and 25, 2010 responses and measured the cost changes, in terms of a
percentage, to develop direct material indices for each quarter. We
used these indices to calculate an annual weighted-average material
cost for the POR and then restate that annual average material cost to
each respective quarter on an equivalent basis. We revised Venus'
calculation of its quarterly raw materials costs to exclude remelted
material inputs because we currently do not have adequate information
on the record to determine if these costs are under-stated or double-
counted. Further, we revised Venus' financial expenses to exclude an
overstatement of net foreign exchange gain. See Venus Cost Calculation
Memorandum.
In determining whether to disregard home market sales made at
prices below the COP, we examined, in accordance with sections
773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act, whether, within an extended period of
time, such sales were made in substantial quantities, and whether such
sales were made at prices which permitted the recovery of all costs
within a reasonable period of time in the normal course of trade. As
noted in section 773(b)(1)(D) of the Act, prices are considered to
provide for recovery of costs if such prices are above the weighted
average per-unit COP for the period of investigation or review. In the
instant case, we have relied on a quarterly costing approach for
certain merchandise produced by Ambica and merchandise produced by
Venus. This methodology (1) restates the quarterly material costs in
terms of the ``base period'' (i.e., the first quarter), (2) calculates
an annual weighted-average cost for the POR, and (3) restates it to
each respective quarter. We find that this quarterly costing method
meets the requirements of section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act.
Where less than 20 percent of the respondent's home market sales of
a given model were at prices below the COP, we did not disregard any
below-cost sales of that model because we determined that the below-
cost sales were not made within an extended period of time and in
``substantial quantities.'' Where 20 percent or more of the
respondent's home market sales of a given model were at prices less
than the COP, we disregarded the below-cost sales because: (1) They
were made within an extended period of time in ``substantial
quantities,'' in accordance with sections 773(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the
Act; and (2) based on our comparison of prices to the weighted-average
COPs for the POR, they were at prices which would not permit the
recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time, in accordance
with section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act.
Our cost test revealed that, for home market sales of certain
models, less than 20 percent of the sales of those models were at
prices below the COP. We therefore retained all such sales in our
analysis and used them as the basis for determining NV. Our cost test
also indicated that, for home market sales of other models, more than
20 percent were sold at prices below the COP within an extended period
of time and were at prices which would not permit the recovery of all
costs within a reasonable period of time. Thus, in accordance with
section 773(b)(1) of the Act, we excluded these below-cost sales from
our analysis and used the remaining above-cost sales as the basis for
determining NV.
Based on the additional information we plan to obtain after the
preliminary results regarding the linkage between quarterly costs and
sales, we plan to provide a post-preliminary analysis of COP for Venus.
E. Calculation of Normal Value Based on Home Market Prices
We calculated NV based on ex-factory or delivered prices to
unaffiliated customers in the home market. We made adjustments for
differences in packing in accordance with sections 773(a)(6)(A) and
773(a)(6)(B)(i) of the Act, and we deducted movement expenses
consistent with section 773(a)(6)(B)(ii) of the Act. In addition, where
applicable, we made adjustments for differences in cost attributable to
differences in physical characteristics of the merchandise pursuant to
section 773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act, as well as for differences in
circumstances of sale in accordance with section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii) of
the Act and 19 CFR 351.410. We also made adjustments, in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.410(e), for indirect selling expenses incurred on
comparison market or U.S. sales where commissions were granted on sales
in one market but not in the other. Specifically, where commissions
were granted in the U.S. market but not in the comparison market, we
made a downward adjustment to NV for the lesser of (1) the amount of
the commission paid in the U.S. market, or (2) the amount of indirect
selling expenses incurred in the comparison market. If commissions were
granted in the comparison market but not in the U.S. market, we made an
upward adjustment to NV following the same methodology. We did not make
further adjustments to Ambica's or Venus' home market data.
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 reported by the Federal Reserve Bank.
[[Page 12206]]
Preliminary Results of the Review
For the firms listed below, we find that the following weighted-
average percentage margin exists for the period February 1, 2008,
through January 31, 2009:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exporter/Manufacturer Margin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venus Wire Industries Pvt. Ltd. /Precision Metals/ 5.54 percent
Sieves Manufacturing (India) Pvt. Ltd..............
Ambica Steels Limited............................... 0.00 percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Comment
The Department will disclose the calculations performed within five
days of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR
351.224(b). Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), any interested party may
request a hearing within 30 days of publication of this notice. Any
hearing, if requested, will be held 42 days after the publication of
this notice, or the first workday thereafter. Issues raised in the
hearing will be limited to those raised in the case and rebuttal
briefs. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c), interested parties may submit
case briefs within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice.
Rebuttal briefs, which must be limited to issues raised in the case
briefs, may be filed not later than 35 days after the date of
publication of this notice. See 19 CFR 351.309(d). Parties who submit
case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are requested to
submit with each argument: 1) a statement of the issue, and 2) a brief
summary of the argument with an electronic version included. The
Department will publish the final results of this administrative
review, including the results of our analysis of issues raised in the
briefs, no later than 120 days after publication of these preliminary
results.
Assessment Rates
If these preliminary results are adopted in the final results, we
will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate
entries. The Department will issue appropriate assessment instructions
directly to CBP 15 days after publication of the final results of
review in the Federal Register.
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), for all sales made by the
respondent for which it has reported the importer of record and the
entered value of the U.S. sales, we have calculated importer-specific
assessment rates based on the ratio of the total amount of antidumping
duties calculated for the examined sales to the total entered value of
those sales. Where the respondent did not report the entered value for
U.S. sales to an importer, we have calculated importer-specific
assessment rates for the merchandise in question by aggregating the
dumping margins calculated for all U.S. sales to each importer and
dividing this amount by the total quantity of those sales.
To determine whether the duty assessment rates were de minimis
(i.e., less than 0.50 percent) in accordance with the requirement set
forth in 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2), we calculated importer-specific ad
valorem rates based on the estimated entered value. Where the
assessment rate is above de minimis, we will instruct CBP to assess
duties on all entries of subject merchandise by that importer. Pursuant
to 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2), we will instruct CBP to liquidate without
regard to antidumping duties any entries for which the assessment rate
is de minimis.
The Department clarified its ``automatic assessment'' regulation on
May 6, 2003. See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003). This
clarification will apply to entries of subject merchandise during the
POR produced by the respondent for which it did not know its
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 id.
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit requirements will be effective upon
completion of the final results of this administrative review for all
shipments of SSB from India entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the publication date of the final results of
this administrative review, as provided by section 751(a)(1) of the
Act: (1) the cash deposit rate for the reviewed companies will be the
rate established in the final results of this administrative review
(except no cash deposit will be required if its weighted-average margin
is de minimis); (2) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this
review, but was covered in a previous review or the original less than
fair value (``LTFV'') investigation, the cash deposit rate will
continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recent
period; and (3) if neither the exporter nor the manufacturer is a firm
covered in this or any previous reviews, or the original LTFV
investigation, the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for
the most recent period for the manufacturer of the merchandise; and (4)
the cash deposit rate for all other manufacturers and/or exporters of
this merchandise, shall be 12.45 percent, the all-others rate
established in the LTFV investigation. See Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Stainless Steel Bar
from India, 59 FR 66915 (December 28, 1994). These deposit
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further
notice.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during this 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 double antidumping duties.
We are issuing and publishing these preliminary results of review
in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: March 8, 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-5602 Filed 3-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S