Solid Urea From the Russian Federation: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 19610-19613 [2010-8644]

Download as PDF 19610 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 72 / Thursday, April 15, 2010 / Notices mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Jicarilla Ranger District Notices are published in:—‘‘Farmington Daily Times’’, Farmington, New Mexico. Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands Notices for Availability for Comments, Decisions and Objections by Forest Supervisor affecting lands in New Mexico, except the National Grasslands are published in:‘‘Albuquerque Journal’’, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Forest Supervisor Notices affecting National Grasslands in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas are published by grassland and location as follows: Kiowa National Grassland in Colfax, Harding, Mora and Union Counties, New Mexico published in:—‘‘Union County Leader’’, Clayton, New Mexico. Rita Blanca National Grassland in Cimarron County, Oklahoma published in:—‘‘Boise City News’’, Boise City, Oklahoma. Rita Blanca National Grassland in Dallam County, Texas published in:— ‘‘The Dalhart Texan’’, Dalhart, Texas. Black Kettle National Grassland, in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma published in:—‘‘Cheyenne Star’’, Cheyenne, Oklahoma. Black Kettle National Grassland, in Hemphill County, Texas published in:—‘‘The Canadian Record’’, Canadian, Texas. McClellan Creek National Grassland published in:—‘‘The Pampa News’’, Pampa, Texas. Mt. Taylor Ranger District Notices are published in:—‘‘Cibola County Beacon’’, Grants, New Mexico. Magdalena Ranger District Notices are published in:—‘‘Defensor-Chieftain’’, Socorro, New Mexico. Mountainair Ranger District Notices are published in:—‘‘Mountain View Telegraph’’, Moriarty, New Mexico. Sandia Ranger District Notices are published in:—‘‘Albuquerque Journal’’, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kiowa National Grassland Notices are published in:—‘‘Union County Leader’’, Clayton, New Mexico. Rita Blanca National Grassland Notices in Cimarron County, Oklahoma are published in:—‘‘Boise City News’’, Boise City, Oklahoma while Rita Blanca National Grassland Notices in Dallam County, Texas are published in:—‘‘The Dalhart Texan’’, Dalhart, Texas. Black Kettle National Grassland Notices in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma are published in:— ‘‘Cheyenne Star’’, Cheyenne, Oklahoma, while Black Kettle National Grassland Notices in Hemphill County, Texas are published in:—‘‘The Canadian Record’’, Canadian, Texas. McClellan Creek National Grassland Notices are published in:—‘‘The Pampa News’’, Pampa, Texas. VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:35 Apr 14, 2010 Jkt 220001 Gila National Forest Notices for Availability for Comments, Decisions and Objections by Forest Supervisor, Quemado Ranger District, Reserve Ranger District, Glenwood Ranger District, Silver City Ranger District and Wilderness Ranger District are published in:—‘‘Silver City Daily Press’’, Silver City, New Mexico. 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[FR Doc. 2010–8440 Filed 4–14–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [Order No. 1673] Grant of Authority for Subzone Status, CNH America, LLC, (Agricultural Equipment and Component Parts) Racine, WI Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the following Order: Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones Act provides for ‘‘ * * * the establishment * * * of foreign-trade zones in ports of entry of the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, and for other purposes,’’ and authorizes the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to grant to qualified corporations the privilege of establishing foreign-trade zones in or adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry; PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Whereas, the Board’s regulations (15 CFR Part 400) provide for the establishment of special-purpose subzones when existing zone facilities cannot serve the specific use involved, and when the activity results in a significant public benefit and is in the public interest; Whereas, the Foreign Trade Zone of Wisconsin, Ltd., grantee of FTZ 41, has made application to the Board for authority to establish special-purpose subzone status with manufacturing authority at the CNH America, LLC (CNH) facilities, located in Racine, Wisconsin (FTZ Docket 42–2009, filed 10/6/2009); Whereas, notice inviting public comment has been given in the Federal Register (74 FR 52455, 10/13/2009) and the application has been processed pursuant to the FTZ Act and the Board’s regulations; and, Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the examiner’s report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and Board’s regulations are satisfied, and that the proposal is in the public interest; Now, Therefore, the Board hereby grants authority for subzone status for activity related to the manufacturing and distribution of agricultural equipment at the facilities of CNH America, LLC, located in Racine, Wisconsin (Subzone 41I), as described in the application and Federal Register notice, subject to the FTZ Act and the Board’s regulations, including Section 400.28. Signed at Washington, DC, this 1st day of April 2010. Ronald K. Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Alternate Chairman, ForeignTrade Zones Board. [FR Doc. 2010–8555 Filed 4–14–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–821–801] Solid Urea From the Russian Federation: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty 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 E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 72 / Thursday, April 15, 2010 / Notices mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES antidumping duty order on solid urea from the Russian Federation. The review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, MCC EuroChem (EuroChem). The period of review (POR) is July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009. We preliminarily determine that, during the POR, EuroChem sold the subject merchandise at less than normal value. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results. Parties who submit argument in this proceeding are requested to submit with the argument (1) a statement of the issue and (2) a brief summary of the argument. EFFECTIVE DATE: April 15, 2010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dustin Ross or Minoo Hatten, AD/CVD Operations, Office 5, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0747 or (202) 482– 1690, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On July 14, 1987, the Department published the antidumping duty order on solid urea from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Union). See Antidumping Duty Order; Urea From the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 52 FR 26367 (July 14, 1987). Following the break–up of the Soviet Union, the antidumping duty order on solid urea from the Soviet Union was transferred to the individual members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. See Solid Urea From the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; Transfer of the Antidumping Order on Solid Urea From the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic States and Opportunity to Comment, 57 FR 28828 (June 29, 1992). The rate established in the less–than-fair–value investigation for the Soviet Union was applied to each new independent state, including the Russian Federation (Russia). Pursuant to section 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213(b), the Ad Hoc Committee of Domestic Nitrogen Producers and its individual urea– producing members, CF Industries, Inc., and PCS Nitrogen (collectively, the Ad Hoc Committee), requested an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on solid urea from Russia with respect to EuroChem on July 31, 2009. On August 25, 2009, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we published a notice VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:43 Apr 14, 2010 Jkt 220001 of initiation of administrative review of the order. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 74 FR 42873 (August 25, 2009). We are conducting the administrative review of the order in accordance with section 751(a) of the Act. Scope of the Order The merchandise subject to the order is solid urea, a high–nitrogen content fertilizer which is produced by reacting ammonia with carbon dioxide. The product is currently classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States (HTSUS) item number 3102.10.00.00. Previously such merchandise was classified under item number 480.3000 of the Tariff Schedules of the United States. Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise subject to the order is dispositive. Sales Analyzed During the review we learned from the respondent that liquidation of entries of EuroChem’s subject merchandise was not suspended due to the importer’s misclassification of entries during the POR. EuroChem stated that it requested U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to do a post–entry adjustment to suspend liquidation. After querying CBP’s system, we are satisfied that there is one suspended entry on which to assess collectable duties. See memo to file dated March 29, 2010, which is on file in the Central Records Unit (CRU) of the main Commerce building, room 1117. Therefore, pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act, we have calculated the weighted–average margin using all of EuroChem’s sales of solid urea during the POR. For details on our methodology for assessing duties for entries in this POR, see ‘‘Assessment Rates’’ section below. Fair–Value Comparisons To determine whether EuroChem’s sales of solid urea from Russia were made in the United States at less than normal value, we compared the constructed export price (CEP) to the normal value as described in the ‘‘Constructed Export Price’’ and ‘‘Normal Value’’ sections of this notice. When making this comparison in accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we considered all products sold in the home market as described in the ‘‘Scope of the Order’’ section of this notice, above, that were in the ordinary course of trade for purposes of PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19611 determining appropriate product comparisons to the U.S. sales of subject merchandise. We compared the U.S. sales to home–market sales of identical merchandise that were most contemporaneous with the U.S. sales in accordance with 19 CFR 351.414(e). Pursuant to section 777A(d)(2) of the Act, we compared the CEP of each U.S. transaction to the weighted–average price of sales of the foreign like product for the calendar month that corresponds most closely to the calendar month of the individual export sale. Product Comparisons We compared U.S. sales to weighted– average prices of home–market contemporaneous sales of the foreign like product. Wherever possible, we compared U.S. sales with sales of the foreign like product in the home market. Specifically, in making our comparisons, if an identical home– market model was reported as described by the characteristics listed below, we made comparisons to weighted–average home–market prices of that model. We calculated the weighted–average home– market prices on a level of trade– specific basis. If there were no contemporaneous sales of an identical model, we identified the most similar home–market model. We found contemporaneous sales of identical merchandise in the home market for all U.S. sales in accordance with section 771(16) of the Act. In accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we compared products produced by EuroChem and sold in the U.S. and home markets on the basis of the comparison product which met the physical characteristics of the product sold in the United States. In order of importance, these characteristics are form, grade, nitrogen content, size, urea–formaldehyde content, other additive/conditioning agent, coating agent, and biuret content. Date of Sale Section 351.401(i) of the Department’s regulations states that, normally, the Department will use the date of invoice, as recorded in the producer’s or exporter’s records kept in the ordinary course of business, as the date of sale. The regulation provides further that the Department may use a date other than the date of the invoice if the Secretary is satisfied that a different date better reflects the date on which the material terms of sale are established. The Department has a long–standing practice of finding that, where shipment date precedes invoice date, shipment date better reflects the date on which the material terms of sale are E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1 19612 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 72 / Thursday, April 15, 2010 / Notices Constructed Export Price In accordance with section 772(b) of the Act, we used CEP for EuroChem because the subject merchandise was sold in the United States by a U.S. seller affiliated with the producer and export price was not otherwise indicated. We calculated CEP based on the free– on-board or delivered price to unaffiliated purchasers in, or for exportation to, the United States. We also made deductions for any movement expenses in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act. In accordance with section 772(d)(1) of the Act, we calculated the CEP by deducting selling expenses associated with economic activities occurring in the United States, which includes direct selling expenses and indirect selling expenses. Finally, we made an adjustment for profit allocated to these expenses in accordance with section 772(d)(3) of the Act. market to serve as a viable basis for calculating normal value (i.e., the aggregate volume of home–market sales of the foreign like product is five percent or more of the aggregate volume of U.S. sales), we compared the volume of EuroChem’s home–market sales of the foreign like product to the volume of its U.S. sale of subject merchandise in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(C) of the Act. Based on this comparison, we determined that EuroChem had a viable home market during the POR. Consequently, we based normal value on home–market sales to unaffiliated purchasers made in the usual quantities in the ordinary course of trade and sales made to affiliated purchasers where we find prices were made at arm’s length, described in detail below. We based normal value on the starting prices to home–market customers. Pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(B)(ii) of the Act, we deducted inland–freight expenses EuroChem incurred on its home–market sales. Pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(B)(i) of the Act, we deducted home–market packing costs. We made deductions for direct selling expenses, as appropriate. The Department may calculate normal value based on a sale to an affiliated party only if it is satisfied that the price to the affiliated party is comparable to the price at which sales are made to parties not affiliated with the exporter or producer, i.e., sales were made at arm’s–length prices. See 19 CFR 351.403(c). We excluded from our analysis sales to affiliated customers for consumption in the home market that we determined not to be arm’s–length prices. To test whether these sales were made at arm’s–length prices, we compared the prices of sales of comparable merchandise to affiliated and unaffiliated customers, net of all rebates, movement charges, direct selling expenses, and packing. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.403(c) and in accordance with our practice, when the prices charged to an affiliated party were, on average, between 98 and 102 percent of the prices charged to unaffiliated parties for merchandise comparable to that sold to the affiliated party, we determined that the sales to the affiliated party were at arm’s–length prices. See Antidumping Proceedings: Affiliated Party Sales in the Ordinary Course of Trade, 67 FR 69186 (November 15, 2002). We included in our calculation of normal value those sales to affiliated parties that were made at arm’s–length prices. Normal Value In order to determine whether there is a sufficient volume of sales in the home Level of Trade To the extent practicable, we determined normal value for sales at the mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES established. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Negative Final Determination of Critical Circumstances: Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp From Thailand, 69 FR 76918 (December 23, 2004), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 10; see also Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Structural Steel Beams From Germany, 67 FR 35497 (May 20, 2002), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 2. For all U.S. sales, EuroChem reported shipment dates which preceded the date of invoice. For each of these sales, EuroChem reported the date of invoice as the date of sale. The date of invoice is the date on which the final invoice is printed for the U.S. customer following the transfer of subject urea from the ocean vessel to the barge at the U.S. port. Based on record evidence, all material terms of sale are established at the time of shipment, with provisions between customer and producer for variance between agreed–upon price and quantity and final measured price and quantity at the U.S. port of unloading. Consistent with our normal practice, for all U.S. sales EuroChem reported we used the date of shipment as the date of sale. With respect to EuroChem’s home– market sales, shipment date and invoice date are the same for every transaction. Therefore, we use invoice date as the date of sale for all home–market sales. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:43 Apr 14, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 same level of trade as the U.S. sales. When there were no sales at the same level of trade, we compared U.S. sales to home–market sales at a different level of trade. The normal–value level of trade is that of the starting–price sales in the home market. To determine whether home–market sales are at a different level of trade than U.S. sales, we examined stages in the marketing process and selling functions along the chain of distribution between the producer and the unaffiliated customer. In the home market, EuroChem reported a single channel of distribution. Within this single channel of distribution, EuroChem reported a single level of trade for all three customer types (i.e., distributors, traders, and end–users). EuroChem states that, within this single level of trade, greater selling functions are performed for end–users relative to distributors or traders. After analyzing the data on the record with respect to these functions, we find that EuroChem made all home–market sales at a single marketing stage (i.e., one level of trade) in the home market. In the U.S. market, EuroChem had only CEP sales through its affiliated reseller to unaffiliated customers through a single channel of distribution and, thus, a single level of trade. See section 772(b) of the Act. We found that there were significant differences between the selling activities associated with the CEP level of trade and those associated with the home–market level of trade. For example, the CEP level of trade involved little or no sales–strategic and economic planning, distributor/ dealer training, procurement/sourcing service, order input/processing, and freight/delivery service. Therefore, we considered the CEP level of trade to be different from the home–market level of trade and at a less advanced stage of distribution than the home–market level of trade. Consequently, we could not match U.S. sales to sales at the same level of trade in the home market nor could we determine a level–of-trade adjustment based on EuroChem’s home– market sales of the foreign like product. Because the data available do not provide an appropriate basis to determine a level–of-trade adjustment and the home–market level of trade is at a more advanced stage of distribution than the CEP, we have made a CEP– offset adjustment to normal value in accordance with section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Act. The CEP offset is the sum of indirect selling expenses incurred on the home–market sales up to the amount of indirect selling expenses incurred on the U.S. sales. E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 72 / Thursday, April 15, 2010 / Notices Preliminary Results of the Review As a result of this review, we preliminarily determine that a dumping margin of 20.92 percent exists for EuroChem for the period July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009. Disclosure and Public Hearing We will disclose the calculations used in our analysis to parties to this review within five days of the date of publication of this notice. See 19 CFR 351.224(b). Any interested party may request a hearing within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. See 19 CFR 351.310(c). If a hearing is requested, the Department will notify interested parties of the hearing schedule. Interested parties are invited to comment on the preliminary results of this review. Interested parties may submit case briefs within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice. See 19 CFR 351.309(c). 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 review 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. We intend to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of our analysis of issues raised in the case briefs, within 120 days after the date on which the preliminary results are published. See 19 CFR 351.213(h)(1). mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Assessment Rates The Department shall determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.212, we have calculated an importer/customer– specific assessment rate for these preliminary results of review. We divided total dumping margins for the reviewed sales by the entered value of the single suspended entry for this POR. For detailed explanation of our method for assessing duties, see ‘‘2008–2009 Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Solid Urea from Russia – Preliminary Results Analysis Memorandum for EuroChem’’ on file in the CRU of the main Commerce building, room 1117. We will instruct CBP to assess the importer/ customer–specific rate on the suspended entry of subject merchandise made by the importer during the POR. The Department clarified its ‘‘automatic assessment’’ regulation on VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:43 Apr 14, 2010 Jkt 220001 May 6, 2003. This clarification applies to entries of subject merchandise during the POR produced by EuroChem where EuroChem did not know that its merchandise was destined for the United States. In such instances, we will instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed entries EuroChem–produced merchandise at the all–others rate if there is no rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction. For a full discussion of this clarification, see Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003). The Department intends to issue assessment instructions directly to CBP 15 days after the date of publication of the final results of this administrative review. Cash–Deposit Requirements The following deposit requirements will be effective upon publication of the notice of final results of administrative review for all shipments of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication, as provided by section 751(a)(1) of the Act: (1) the cash–deposit rate for EuroChem will be the rate established in the final results of this review; (2) for previously reviewed or investigated companies not listed above, the cash–deposit rate will continue to be the company–specific rate published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the less–than-fair–value 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; (4) if neither the exporter nor the manufacturer is a firm covered in this review, the cash–deposit rate will be 64.93 percent, the all–others rate established in Urea From the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 52 FR 19557 (May 26, 1987). These deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice. Notification to Importer 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 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19613 occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties. We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act. Dated: April 9, 2010. Ronald K. Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. 2010–8644 Filed 4–14–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–570–908] First Administrative Review of Sodium Hexametaphosphate from the People’s Republic of China: Notice of Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (‘‘Department’’) is conducting the first administrative review of the antidumping duty order on sodium hexametaphosphate (‘‘sodium hex’’) from the People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’) for the period of review (‘‘POR’’) September 14, 2007, through February 28, 2009. The Department has preliminarily determined that sales have been made below normal value (‘‘NV’’) by the respondent. If these preliminary results are adopted in our final results of this review, the Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (‘‘CBP’’) to assess antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise during the POR. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results. EFFECTIVE DATE: April 15, 2010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Walker, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0413. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Case Timeline On April 27, 2009, the Department published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of an administrative review of sodium hex from the PRC, covering the POR, for one company, Hubei Xingfa Chemical Group Co., Ltd. (‘‘Xingfa’’). See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for E:\FR\FM\15APN1.SGM 15APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 72 (Thursday, April 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19610-19613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8644]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-821-801]


Solid Urea From the Russian Federation: Preliminary Results of 
Antidumping Duty 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

[[Page 19611]]

antidumping duty order on solid urea from the Russian Federation. The 
review covers one producer/exporter of the subject merchandise, MCC 
EuroChem (EuroChem). The period of review (POR) is July 1, 2008, 
through June 30, 2009. We preliminarily determine that, during the POR, 
EuroChem sold the subject merchandise at less than normal value.
    We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary 
results. Parties who submit argument in this proceeding are requested 
to submit with the argument (1) a statement of the issue and (2) a 
brief summary of the argument.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 15, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dustin Ross or Minoo Hatten, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office 5, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
0747 or (202) 482-1690, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 14, 1987, the Department published the antidumping duty 
order on solid urea from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 
(Soviet Union). See Antidumping Duty Order; Urea From the Union of 
Soviet Socialist Republics, 52 FR 26367 (July 14, 1987). Following the 
break-up of the Soviet Union, the antidumping duty order on solid urea 
from the Soviet Union was transferred to the individual members of the 
Commonwealth of Independent States. See Solid Urea From the Union of 
Soviet Socialist Republics; Transfer of the Antidumping Order on Solid 
Urea From the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to the Commonwealth 
of Independent States and the Baltic States and Opportunity to Comment, 
57 FR 28828 (June 29, 1992). The rate established in the less-than-
fair-value investigation for the Soviet Union was applied to each new 
independent state, including the Russian Federation (Russia).
    Pursuant to section 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(the Act), and 19 CFR 351.213(b), the Ad Hoc Committee of Domestic 
Nitrogen Producers and its individual urea-producing members, CF 
Industries, Inc., and PCS Nitrogen (collectively, the Ad Hoc 
Committee), requested an administrative review of the antidumping duty 
order on solid urea from Russia with respect to EuroChem on July 31, 
2009. On August 25, 2009, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), 
we published a notice of initiation of administrative review of the 
order. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 74 FR 42873 
(August 25, 2009). We are conducting the administrative review of the 
order in accordance with section 751(a) of the Act.

Scope of the Order

    The merchandise subject to the order is solid urea, a high-nitrogen 
content fertilizer which is produced by reacting ammonia with carbon 
dioxide. The product is currently classified under the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedules of the United States (HTSUS) item number 
3102.10.00.00. Previously such merchandise was classified under item 
number 480.3000 of the Tariff Schedules of the United States. Although 
the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, 
the written description of the merchandise subject to the order is 
dispositive.

Sales Analyzed

    During the review we learned from the respondent that liquidation 
of entries of EuroChem's subject merchandise was not suspended due to 
the importer's misclassification of entries during the POR. EuroChem 
stated that it requested U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to do 
a post-entry adjustment to suspend liquidation. After querying CBP's 
system, we are satisfied that there is one suspended entry on which to 
assess collectable duties. See memo to file dated March 29, 2010, which 
is on file in the Central Records Unit (CRU) of the main Commerce 
building, room 1117. Therefore, pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(C) of the 
Act, we have calculated the weighted-average margin using all of 
EuroChem's sales of solid urea during the POR. For details on our 
methodology for assessing duties for entries in this POR, see 
``Assessment Rates'' section below.

Fair-Value Comparisons

    To determine whether EuroChem's sales of solid urea from Russia 
were made in the United States at less than normal value, we compared 
the constructed export price (CEP) to the normal value as described in 
the ``Constructed Export Price'' and ``Normal Value'' sections of this 
notice.
    When making this comparison in accordance with section 771(16) of 
the Act, we considered all products sold in the home market as 
described in the ``Scope of the Order'' section of this notice, above, 
that were in the ordinary course of trade for purposes of determining 
appropriate product comparisons to the U.S. sales of subject 
merchandise. We compared the U.S. sales to home-market sales of 
identical merchandise that were most contemporaneous with the U.S. 
sales in accordance with 19 CFR 351.414(e). Pursuant to section 
777A(d)(2) of the Act, we compared the CEP of each U.S. transaction to 
the weighted-average price of sales of the foreign like product for the 
calendar month that corresponds most closely to the calendar month of 
the individual export sale.

Product Comparisons

    We compared U.S. sales to weighted-average prices of home-market 
contemporaneous sales of the foreign like product. Wherever possible, 
we compared U.S. sales with sales of the foreign like product in the 
home market. Specifically, in making our comparisons, if an identical 
home-market model was reported as described by the characteristics 
listed below, we made comparisons to weighted-average home-market 
prices of that model. We calculated the weighted-average home-market 
prices on a level of trade-specific basis. If there were no 
contemporaneous sales of an identical model, we identified the most 
similar home-market model. We found contemporaneous sales of identical 
merchandise in the home market for all U.S. sales in accordance with 
section 771(16) of the Act.
    In accordance with section 771(16) of the Act, we compared products 
produced by EuroChem and sold in the U.S. and home markets on the basis 
of the comparison product which met the physical characteristics of the 
product sold in the United States. In order of importance, these 
characteristics are form, grade, nitrogen content, size, urea-
formaldehyde content, other additive/conditioning agent, coating agent, 
and biuret content.

Date of Sale

    Section 351.401(i) of the Department's regulations states that, 
normally, the Department will use the date of invoice, as recorded in 
the producer's or exporter's records kept in the ordinary course of 
business, as the date of sale. The regulation provides further that the 
Department may use a date other than the date of the invoice if the 
Secretary is satisfied that a different date better reflects the date 
on which the material terms of sale are established. The Department has 
a long-standing practice of finding that, where shipment date precedes 
invoice date, shipment date better reflects the date on which the 
material terms of sale are

[[Page 19612]]

established. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than 
Fair Value and Negative Final Determination of Critical Circumstances: 
Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp From Thailand, 69 FR 76918 
(December 23, 2004), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at 
Comment 10; see also Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less 
Than Fair Value: Structural Steel Beams From Germany, 67 FR 35497 (May 
20, 2002), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 
2.
    For all U.S. sales, EuroChem reported shipment dates which preceded 
the date of invoice. For each of these sales, EuroChem reported the 
date of invoice as the date of sale. The date of invoice is the date on 
which the final invoice is printed for the U.S. customer following the 
transfer of subject urea from the ocean vessel to the barge at the U.S. 
port. Based on record evidence, all material terms of sale are 
established at the time of shipment, with provisions between customer 
and producer for variance between agreed-upon price and quantity and 
final measured price and quantity at the U.S. port of unloading. 
Consistent with our normal practice, for all U.S. sales EuroChem 
reported we used the date of shipment as the date of sale.
    With respect to EuroChem's home-market sales, shipment date and 
invoice date are the same for every transaction. Therefore, we use 
invoice date as the date of sale for all home-market sales.

Constructed Export Price

    In accordance with section 772(b) of the Act, we used CEP for 
EuroChem because the subject merchandise was sold in the United States 
by a U.S. seller affiliated with the producer and export price was not 
otherwise indicated.
    We calculated CEP based on the free-on-board or delivered price to 
unaffiliated purchasers in, or for exportation to, the United States. 
We also made deductions for any movement expenses in accordance with 
section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act. In accordance with section 772(d)(1) 
of the Act, we calculated the CEP by deducting selling expenses 
associated with economic activities occurring in the United States, 
which includes direct selling expenses and indirect selling expenses. 
Finally, we made an adjustment for profit allocated to these expenses 
in accordance with section 772(d)(3) of the Act.

Normal Value

    In order to determine whether there is a sufficient volume of sales 
in the home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating normal 
value (i.e., the aggregate volume of home-market sales of the foreign 
like product is five percent or more of the aggregate volume of U.S. 
sales), we compared the volume of EuroChem's home-market sales of the 
foreign like product to the volume of its U.S. sale of subject 
merchandise in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(C) of the Act. Based 
on this comparison, we determined that EuroChem had a viable home 
market during the POR. Consequently, we based normal value on home-
market sales to unaffiliated purchasers made in the usual quantities in 
the ordinary course of trade and sales made to affiliated purchasers 
where we find prices were made at arm's length, described in detail 
below.
    We based normal value on the starting prices to home-market 
customers. Pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(B)(ii) of the Act, we deducted 
inland-freight expenses EuroChem incurred on its home-market sales. 
Pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(B)(i) of the Act, we deducted home-market 
packing costs. We made deductions for direct selling expenses, as 
appropriate.
    The Department may calculate normal value based on a sale to an 
affiliated party only if it is satisfied that the price to the 
affiliated party is comparable to the price at which sales are made to 
parties not affiliated with the exporter or producer, i.e., sales were 
made at arm's-length prices. See 19 CFR 351.403(c). We excluded from 
our analysis sales to affiliated customers for consumption in the home 
market that we determined not to be arm's-length prices. To test 
whether these sales were made at arm's-length prices, we compared the 
prices of sales of comparable merchandise to affiliated and 
unaffiliated customers, net of all rebates, movement charges, direct 
selling expenses, and packing. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.403(c) and in 
accordance with our practice, when the prices charged to an affiliated 
party were, on average, between 98 and 102 percent of the prices 
charged to unaffiliated parties for merchandise comparable to that sold 
to the affiliated party, we determined that the sales to the affiliated 
party were at arm's-length prices. See Antidumping Proceedings: 
Affiliated Party Sales in the Ordinary Course of Trade, 67 FR 69186 
(November 15, 2002). We included in our calculation of normal value 
those sales to affiliated parties that were made at arm's-length 
prices.

Level of Trade

    To the extent practicable, we determined normal value for sales at 
the same level of trade as the U.S. sales. When there were no sales at 
the same level of trade, we compared U.S. sales to home-market sales at 
a different level of trade. The normal-value level of trade is that of 
the starting-price sales in the home market. To determine whether home-
market sales are at a different level of trade than U.S. sales, we 
examined stages in the marketing process and selling functions along 
the chain of distribution between the producer and the unaffiliated 
customer.
    In the home market, EuroChem reported a single channel of 
distribution. Within this single channel of distribution, EuroChem 
reported a single level of trade for all three customer types (i.e., 
distributors, traders, and end-users). EuroChem states that, within 
this single level of trade, greater selling functions are performed for 
end-users relative to distributors or traders. After analyzing the data 
on the record with respect to these functions, we find that EuroChem 
made all home-market sales at a single marketing stage (i.e., one level 
of trade) in the home market.
    In the U.S. market, EuroChem had only CEP sales through its 
affiliated reseller to unaffiliated customers through a single channel 
of distribution and, thus, a single level of trade. See section 772(b) 
of the Act. We found that there were significant differences between 
the selling activities associated with the CEP level of trade and those 
associated with the home-market level of trade. For example, the CEP 
level of trade involved little or no sales-strategic and economic 
planning, distributor/dealer training, procurement/sourcing service, 
order input/processing, and freight/delivery service. Therefore, we 
considered the CEP level of trade to be different from the home-market 
level of trade and at a less advanced stage of distribution than the 
home-market level of trade. Consequently, we could not match U.S. sales 
to sales at the same level of trade in the home market nor could we 
determine a level-of-trade adjustment based on EuroChem's home-market 
sales of the foreign like product. Because the data available do not 
provide an appropriate basis to determine a level-of-trade adjustment 
and the home-market level of trade is at a more advanced stage of 
distribution than the CEP, we have made a CEP-offset adjustment to 
normal value in accordance with section 773(a)(7)(B) of the Act. The 
CEP offset is the sum of indirect selling expenses incurred on the 
home-market sales up to the amount of indirect selling expenses 
incurred on the U.S. sales.

[[Page 19613]]

Preliminary Results of the Review

    As a result of this review, we preliminarily determine that a 
dumping margin of 20.92 percent exists for EuroChem for the period July 
1, 2008, through June 30, 2009.

Disclosure and Public Hearing

    We will disclose the calculations used in our analysis to parties 
to this review within five days of the date of publication of this 
notice. See 19 CFR 351.224(b). Any interested party may request a 
hearing within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. See 19 CFR 351.310(c). If a hearing is requested, the 
Department will notify interested parties of the hearing schedule.
    Interested parties are invited to comment on the preliminary 
results of this review. Interested parties may submit case briefs 
within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice. See 19 CFR 
351.309(c). 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 review 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.
    We intend to issue the final results of this administrative review, 
including the results of our analysis of issues raised in the case 
briefs, within 120 days after the date on which the preliminary results 
are published. See 19 CFR 351.213(h)(1).

Assessment Rates

    The Department shall determine, and CBP shall assess, antidumping 
duties on all appropriate entries. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.212, 
we have calculated an importer/customer-specific assessment rate for 
these preliminary results of review. We divided total dumping margins 
for the reviewed sales by the entered value of the single suspended 
entry for this POR. For detailed explanation of our method for 
assessing duties, see ``2008-2009 Administrative Review of the 
Antidumping Duty Order on Solid Urea from Russia - Preliminary Results 
Analysis Memorandum for EuroChem'' on file in the CRU of the main 
Commerce building, room 1117. We will instruct CBP to assess the 
importer/customer-specific rate on the suspended entry of subject 
merchandise made by the importer during the POR.
    The Department clarified its ``automatic assessment'' regulation on 
May 6, 2003. This clarification applies to entries of subject 
merchandise during the POR produced by EuroChem where EuroChem did not 
know that its merchandise was destined for the United States. In such 
instances, we will instruct CBP to liquidate unreviewed entries 
EuroChem-produced merchandise at the all-others rate if there is no 
rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction. For 
a full discussion of this clarification, see Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 68 
FR 23954 (May 6, 2003).
    The Department intends to issue assessment instructions directly to 
CBP 15 days after the date of publication of the final results of this 
administrative review.

Cash-Deposit Requirements

    The following deposit requirements will be effective upon 
publication of the notice of final results of administrative review for 
all shipments of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication, as 
provided by section 751(a)(1) of the Act: (1) the cash-deposit rate for 
EuroChem will be the rate established in the final results of this 
review; (2) for previously reviewed or investigated companies not 
listed above, the cash-deposit rate will continue to be the company-
specific rate published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter 
is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the less-than-
fair-value 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; (4) if neither the exporter nor the 
manufacturer is a firm covered in this review, the cash-deposit rate 
will be 64.93 percent, the all-others rate established in Urea From the 
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; Final Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value, 52 FR 19557 (May 26, 1987). These deposit 
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further 
notice.

Notification to Importer

    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 this notice in accordance with 
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: April 9, 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-8644 Filed 4-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S
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