Certain Steel Grating From the People's Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 32366-32370 [2010-13778]
Download as PDF
32366
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 8, 2010 / Notices
Comment 9: Income Tax Credits for
Domestically Owned Companies
Purchasing Domestically Produced
Equipment
Comment 10: Provision of Electricity for
Less than Adequate Remuneration
Comment 11: Grant Programs
Comment 12: Separate CVD Rate for
Xinke
VII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2010–13776 Filed 6–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–947]
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Certain Steel Grating From the
People’s Republic of China: Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Effective Date: June 8, 2010.
SUMMARY: On January 6, 2010, the
Department of Commerce
(‘‘Department’’) published its
preliminary determination of sales at
less than fair value (‘‘LTFV’’) in the
antidumping duty investigation of
certain steel grating (‘‘steel grating’’)
from the People’s Republic of China
(‘‘PRC’’). See Certain Steel Grating From
the People’s Republic of China:
Preliminary Determination of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value and Postponement
of Final Determination, 75 FR 847
(January 6, 2010) (‘‘Preliminary
Determination’’). We invited interested
parties to comment on our preliminary
determination of sales at LTFV. Based
on our analysis of the comments we
received, we have made changes from
the Preliminary Determination. We
determine that steel grating from the
PRC is being, or is likely to be, sold in
the United States at LTFV as provided
in section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930,
as amended (‘‘Act’’). The final dumping
margins for this investigation are listed
in the ‘‘Final Determination Margins’’
section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Martin, AD/CVD Operations,
Office 4, Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202)
482–3936.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:31 Jun 07, 2010
Jkt 220001
Case History
The period of investigation (‘‘POI’’) is
October 1, 2008, through March 31,
2009. The Department published its
preliminary determination of sales at
LTFV on January 6, 2010. See
Preliminary Determination. On February
4, 2010, we postponed the final
determination. See Certain Steel Grating
From the People’s Republic of China:
Postponement of Final Determination,
75 FR 5766 (February 4, 2010).
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
seven days. The revised deadline for the
final determination of this investigation
is now May 28, 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.
Between January 11, 2010, through
January 15, 2010, the Department
conducted verification of Ningbo
Jiulong Machinery Manufacturing Co.,
Ltd. and Ningbo Zhenhai Jiulong
Electronic Equipment Factory
(collectively ‘‘Ningbo Jiulong’’). See the
‘‘Verification’’ section below for
additional information. On March 8,
2010, Fisher & Ludlow and Alabama
Metal Industries Corporation (hereafter
referred to as ‘‘Petitioners’’) filed
comments regarding mill test certificates
from Ningbo Jiulong’s suppliers of steel
coils and wire rod that were included in
the Department’s verification exhibits.
Petitioners cited numerous aspects of
the mill test certificates that they
deemed irregular, and which indicated
that the mill test certificates were not
genuine.
On March 8, 2010, the Department
issued a supplemental questionnaire to
Ningbo Jiulong, requiring a response to
Petitioners’ analysis and specific
allegations, and to reconcile its
suppliers’ mill test certificates with
other information on the record. On
March 9, 2010, the Department
requested additional information from
Petitioners, supporting the analysis in
its March 8, 2010 submission. Also, on
March 9, 2010, the Department
requested U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (‘‘CBP’’) entry documents
pertaining to certain Ningbo Jiulong
shipments, specifically any mill test
certificates filed by the importer of
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
record. On March 10, 2010, the
Department issued an additional request
to Ningbo Jiulong to provide mill test
certificates for its steel inputs for certain
specific U.S. sales of steel grating that
the Department had selected for specific
review at verification.
On March 16, 2010, and March 18,
2010, the Department received from
CBP entry documentation and certain
mill test certificates created by Ningbo
Jiulong for steel coils, filed with CBP by
the importer of record.
On March 18, 2010, Ningbo Jiulong
responded to the Department’s March
10, 2010, request for specific mill test
certificates by stating that (1) Ningbo
Jiulong could not link steel coil mill test
certificates to the U.S. sales of steel
grating in which the steel coil was used
in production, and (2) in practice
Ningbo Jiulong did not provide mill test
certificates to its customer for most
sales, despite the ‘‘legalistic terms in the
small print’’ of its purchase orders.
On March 19, 2010, Petitioners
responded to the Department’s request
with supporting information concerning
the analysis in their March 8, 2010
submission. Also, on March 19, 2010,
Ningbo Jiulong responded to the
Department’s supplemental
questionnaire, stating: (1) Ningbo
Jiulong cannot trace any of its suppliers’
mill test certificates to specific
purchases of steel coil or wire rod,
because mill test certificates are
production records that pertain to steel
sold to multiple customers; (2) mill test
certificates are not accounting records
(e.g., invoices, inventory slips, delivery
notes), and thus Ningbo Jiulong does not
keep mill test certificates in its records
in the normal course of business; (3)
Ningbo Jiulong creates its own mill test
certificates that it admits are unreliable,
and that it has no ability to determine
with its own analysis the chemical
properties of any steel that it purchases;
and (4) irregularities in the mill test
certificates noted by Petitioners are due
to the carelessness of their suppliers
and/or ‘‘estimations’’ made by its
suppliers using the content of prior mill
test certificates.
On April 5, 2010, Petitioners, Ningbo
Jiulong, and the Government of China
submitted case briefs. On April 12,
2010, Petitioners, Ningbo Jiulong,
Ningbo Haitian International Co. Ltd.
(‘‘Haitian’’), and Yantai Xinke Steel
Structure Co., Ltd. (‘‘Xinke’’) submitted
rebuttal briefs. On April 19, 2010, the
Department held a public hearing.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and
rebuttal briefs by parties to this
investigation are addressed in the
E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM
08JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 8, 2010 / Notices
‘‘Certain Steel Grating from the People’s
Republic of China: Issues and Decision
Memorandum for the Final
Determination,’’ (‘‘Issues and Decision
Memorandum’’), dated concurrently
with this notice and which is hereby
adopted by this notice. A list of the
issues which parties raised and to
which we respond in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum is attached to
this notice as Appendix I. The Issues
and Decision Memorandum is a public
document and is on file in the Central
Records Unit (‘‘CRU’’), Room 1117 of the
main Commerce building, and is
accessible on the World Wide Web at
https://trade.gov/ia/index.asp. The paper
copy and electronic version of the
memorandum are identical in content.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Changes Since the Preliminary
Determination
Based on our analysis of information
on the record of this investigation, we
have determined that the application of
total adverse facts available (‘‘AFA’’) is
warranted in the case of Ningbo Jiulong.
For further details, see Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comments 3;
see also Memorandum from Thomas
Martin to John M. Andersen, regarding:
Application of Total Adverse Facts
Available for Ningbo Jiulong Machinery
Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in the
Antidumping Duty Investigation of
Certain Steel Grating from the People’s
Republic of China, dated May 28, 2010
(‘‘Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo’’).
Scope of Investigation
The products covered by this
investigation are certain steel grating,
consisting of two or more pieces of steel,
including load-bearing pieces and cross
pieces, joined by any assembly process,
regardless of: (1) Size or shape; (2)
method of manufacture; (3) metallurgy
(carbon, alloy, or stainless); (4) the
profile of the bars; and (5) whether or
not they are galvanized, painted, coated,
clad or plated. Steel grating is also
commonly referred to as ‘‘bar grating,’’
although the components may consist of
steel other than bars, such as hot-rolled
sheet, plate, or wire rod.
The scope of this investigation
excludes expanded metal grating, which
is comprised of a single piece or coil of
sheet or thin plate steel that has been
slit and expanded, and does not involve
welding or joining of multiple pieces of
steel. The scope of this investigation
also excludes plank type safety grating
which is comprised of a single piece or
coil of sheet or thin plate steel, typically
in thickness of 10 to 18 gauge, that has
been pierced and cold formed, and does
not involve welding or joining of
multiple pieces of steel.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:31 Jun 07, 2010
Jkt 220001
Certain steel grating that is the subject
of this investigation is currently
classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States
(‘‘HTSUS’’) under subheading
7308.90.7000. While the HTSUS
subheading is provided for convenience
and customs purposes, the written
description of the scope of this
investigation is dispositive.
Application of Adverse Facts Available
to Ningbo Jiulong
Section 776(a)(1) of the Act provides
that the Department may rely on facts
otherwise available where necessary
information is not available on the
record, and section 776(a)(2) of the Act
provides that if an interested party: (A)
Withholds information that has been
requested by the Department; (B) fails to
provide such information in a timely
manner or in the form or manner
requested, subject to subsections
782(c)(1) and (e) of the Act; (C)
significantly impedes a determination
under the antidumping statute; or (D)
provides such information but the
information cannot be verified, the
Department shall, subject to subsection
782(d) of the Act, use facts otherwise
available in reaching the applicable
determination.
Section 782(c)(1) of the Act provides
that if an interested party ‘‘promptly
after receiving a request from {the
Department} for information, notifies
{the Department} that such party is
unable to submit the information in the
requested form and manner, together
with a full explanation and suggested
alternative form in which such party is
able to submit the information,’’ the
Department may modify the
requirements to avoid imposing an
unreasonable burden on that party.
Section 782(d) of the Act provides
that, if the Department determines that
a response to a request for information
does not comply with the request, the
Department will inform the person
submitting the response of the nature of
the deficiency and shall, to the extent
practicable, provide that person the
opportunity to remedy or explain the
deficiency. If that person submits
further information that continues to be
unsatisfactory, or this information is not
submitted within the applicable time
limits, the Department may, subject to
section 782(e) of the Act, disregard all
or part of the original and subsequent
responses, as appropriate.
Section 782(e) of the Act states that
the Department shall not decline to
consider information deemed
‘‘deficient’’ under section 782(d) if: (1)
The information is submitted by the
established deadline; (2) the information
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
32367
can be verified; (3) the information is
not so incomplete that it cannot serve as
a reliable basis for reaching the
applicable determination; (4) the
interested party has demonstrated that it
acted to the best of its ability; and (5)
the information can be used without
undue difficulties.
Furthermore, section 776(b) of the Act
states that if the administering authority
finds that an interested party has not
acted to the best of its ability to comply
with a request for information, the
administering authority may, in
reaching its determination, use an
inference that is adverse to that party.
The adverse inference may be based
upon: (1) The petition, (2) a final
determination in the investigation under
this title, (3) any previous review under
section 751 or determination under
section 753, or (4) any other information
placed on the record.
The Department has determined that
the information to construct an accurate
and otherwise reliable margin is not
available on the record with respect to
Ningbo Jiulong because Ningbo Jiulong
withheld information that had been
requested, significantly impeded this
proceeding, and provided information
that could not be verified, pursuant to
sections 776(a)(1) and (2)(A), (C) and (D)
of the of Act.1 As a result, the
Department has determined to apply the
facts otherwise available. Further, the
Department finds that Ningbo Jiulong
failed to cooperate to the best of its
ability, pursuant to section 776(b) of the
Act, and the Department has determined
to use an adverse inference when
applying facts available in this
investigation.2 In addition, we have
concluded that the nature of Ningbo
Jiulong’s unreliable submissions calls
into question the reliability of the
questionnaire responses with respect to
Ningbo Jiulong’s claim of eligibility for
separate rate status. Thus, as an adverse
inference, we find that Ningbo Jiulong is
part of the PRC-wide entity for purposes
of this investigation.3
The PRC Entity (Including Ningbo
Jiulong)
Because we begin with the
presumption that all companies within
an non-market-economy (‘‘NME’’)
country are subject to government
control and because only the companies
listed under the ‘‘Final Determination
Margins’’ section below have overcome
that presumption, we are applying a
single antidumping rate—the PRC-wide
rate—to all other exporters of
1 See
Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo at 10–14.
Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo at 14–17.
3 See Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo at 17.
2 See
E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM
08JNN1
32368
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 8, 2010 / Notices
Separate Rates
In proceedings involving NME
countries, the Department begins with a
rebuttable presumption that all
companies within the country are
subject to government control and, thus,
should be assigned a single
antidumping duty deposit rate. It is the
Department’s policy to assign all
exporters of merchandise subject to an
investigation in an NME country this
single rate unless an exporter can
demonstrate that it is sufficiently
independent so as to be entitled to a
separate rate. See Final Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sparklers
from the People’s Republic of China, 56
FR 20588 (May 6, 1991), as amplified by
Notice of Final Determination of Sales
at Less Than Fair Value: Silicon Carbide
from the People’s Republic of China, 59
FR 22585 (May 2, 1994), and 19 CFR
351.107(d).
In the Preliminary Determination, we
found that the separate rate applicants
Sinosteel Yantai Steel Grating Co., Ltd.
(‘‘Sinosteel’’), Ningbo Haitian, and Xinke
(collectively, the ‘‘Separate Rate
Applicants’’) demonstrated their
eligibility for, and were hence assigned,
separate rate status. No party has
commented on the eligibility of these
companies for separate rate status. For
the final determination, we continue to
find that the evidence placed on the
record of this investigation by these
companies demonstrates both a de jure
and de facto absence of government
control with respect to their exports of
the merchandise under investigation.
Thus, we continue to find that they are
eligible for separate rate status.
Normally, the separate rate is
determined based on the estimated
weighted-average dumping margins
established for exporters and producers
individually investigated, excluding de
minimis margins or margins based
entirely on AFA. See section
735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.
In the Preliminary Determination, the
Department assigned to the Separate
Rate Applicants’ exporter/producer
combinations that qualified for a
separate rate a weighted-average margin
based on the experience of the
mandatory respondent, Ningbo Jiulong.
See Preliminary Determination. For the
final determination, we have denied
Ningbo Jiulong a separate rate in
applying total AFA.6 See ‘‘Application
of Adverse Facts Available To Ningbo
Jiulong’’ section above. In this case,
where there are no mandatory
respondents receiving a calculated rate
and the PRC-wide entity’s rate is based
upon total AFA, we find that applying
the simple average of the rates alleged
in the petition, incorporating revisions
made in Petitioners’ supplemental
responses, is both reasonable and
reliable for purposes of establishing a
separate rate.7 Therefore, the
Department will assign a separate rate
for the Separate Rate Applicants’
4 See, e.g., Synthetic Indigo From the People’s
Republic of China; Notice of Final Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 65 FR 25706 (May
3, 2000).
5 See Memorandum To the File from Robert
Bolling, Thomas Martin, and Brian Soiset,
‘‘Verification of the Sales and Factors Response of
Ningbo Jiulong Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
in the Antidumping Investigation of Certain Steel
Grating from the People’s Republic of China’’ dated
February 23, 2010.
6 See Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 3.
7 See Amended Preliminary Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Circular Welded
Carbon Quality Steel Pipe From the People’s
Republic of China, 73 FR 22130, 22133 (April 24,
2008); Final Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Sodium Hexametaphosphate From the
People’s Republic of China, 73 FR 6479 (February
4, 2008) and the accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 2.
merchandise under consideration from
the PRC, including Ningbo Jiulong.4 The
PRC-wide rate applies to all entries of
subject merchandise except for entries
from the respondents identified as
receiving a separate rate in the ‘‘Final
Determination Margins’’ section below.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the
Act, the Department attempted to verify
Ningbo Jiulong’s questionnaire
responses.5 We used standard
verification procedures, including
examination of relevant accounting and
production records, as well as original
source documents provided by
respondents. However, as detailed in
the AFA section of this notice, and
Comment 3 of the Issues and Decision
Memorandum, we cannot conclude that
the information submitted is either
accurate or reliable.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Surrogate Country
In the Preliminary Determination, we
stated that we selected India as the
appropriate surrogate country to use in
this investigation for the following
reasons: (1) It is a significant producer
of comparable merchandise; (2) it is at
a similar level of economic development
pursuant to section 773(c)(4) of the Act;
and (3) we have reliable data from India
that we can use to value the factors of
production. See Preliminary
Determination. We received no
comments on this issue after the
Preliminary Determination, and we have
made no changes to our findings with
respect to the selection of a surrogate
country for the final determination.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:31 Jun 07, 2010
Jkt 220001
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
exporter/producer combinations using
the average of the margins alleged in the
petition, or 136.76 percent, pursuant to
its practice. This rate is corroborated, to
the extent practicable, for the reasons
stated the ‘‘Corroboration’’ section,
below.
The PRC-Wide Rate
In the Preliminary Determination, the
Department found that the PRC-wide
entity did not respond to our requests
for information. In the Preliminary
Determination, we treated PRC
exporters/producers that did not
respond to the Department’s request for
information as part of the PRC-wide
entity because they did not demonstrate
that they operate free of government
control. No additional information has
been placed on the record with respect
to these entities after the Preliminary
Determination. The PRC-wide entity has
not provided the Department with the
requested information; therefore,
pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(A) of the
Act, the Department continues to find
that the use of facts available is
appropriate to determine the PRC-wide
rate. Section 776(b) of the Act provides
that, in selecting from among the facts
otherwise available, the Department
may employ an adverse inference if an
interested party fails to cooperate by not
acting to the best of its ability to comply
with requests for information. See
Notice of Final Determination of Sales
at Less Than Fair Value: Certain ColdRolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel
Products From the Russian Federation,
65 FR 5510, 5518 (February 4, 2000).
See also, Statement of Administrative
Action accompanying the URAA, H.R.
Rep. No. 103–316, vol. 1, at 870 (1994).
We find that, because the PRC-wide
entity did not respond to our request for
information, it has failed to cooperate to
the best of its ability. Therefore, the
Department finds that, in selecting from
among the facts otherwise available, an
adverse inference is appropriate for the
PRC-wide entity.
Because we begin with the
presumption that all companies within
an NME country are subject to
government control and because only
the companies listed under the ‘‘Final
Determination Margins’’ section below
have overcome that presumption, we are
applying a single antidumping rate—the
PRC-wide rate—to all other exporters of
subject merchandise from the PRC. Such
companies did not demonstrate
entitlement to a separate rate. See, e.g.,
Synthetic Indigo From the People’s
Republic of China; Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value, 65 FR 25706 (May 3, 2000).
The PRC-wide rate applies to all entries
E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM
08JNN1
32369
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 8, 2010 / Notices
of subject merchandise except for
entries from the Separate Rate
Applicants, which are listed in the
‘‘Final Determination Margins’’ section
below.
Corroboration
Section 776(c) of the Act provides
that, when the Department relies on
secondary information in using the facts
otherwise available, it must, to the
extent practicable, corroborate that
information from independent sources
that are reasonably at its disposal. We
have interpreted ‘‘corroborate’’ to mean
that we will, to the extent practicable,
examine the reliability and relevance of
the information submitted. See Notice of
Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled
Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel
Products From Brazil, 65 FR 5554, 5568
(February 4, 2000); see, e.g., Tapered
Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof,
Finished and Unfinished, From Japan,
and Tapered Roller Bearings, Four
Inches or Less in Outside Diameter, and
Components Thereof, From Japan;
Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Reviews and
Partial Termination of Administrative
Reviews, 61 FR 57391, 57392 (November
6, 1996).
As total AFA, the Department
preliminarily selected the rate of 145.18
percent from the Initiation Notice,8 i.e.,
a margin from the petition as revised by
the Department through supplemental
questionnaires. Petitioners’
methodology for calculating the export
price and normal value (‘‘NV’’) in the
petition is discussed in the Initiation
Notice.9 At the Preliminary
Determination, in accordance with
section 776(c) of the Act, we
corroborated our AFA margin by
comparing it to the CONNUM margins
we found for the mandatory respondent.
We found that the margin of 145.18
percent had probative value because it
was in the range of CONNUM model
margins we found for the only
participating mandatory respondent,
Ningbo Jiulong. Accordingly, we found
that the rate of 145.18 percent was
corroborated within the meaning of
section 776(c) of the Act.
Because there are no cooperating
mandatory respondents to corroborate
the 145.18 percent margin used as AFA
for the PRC-wide entity, to the extent
appropriate information was available,
we revisited our pre-initiation analysis
of the adequacy and accuracy of the
information in the petition. See
Antidumping Investigation Initiation
Checklist: Certain Steel Grating from the
People’s Republic of China, dated June
18, 2009 (‘‘Initiation Checklist’’). We
examined evidence supporting the
calculations in the petition and the
supplemental information provided by
Petitioners prior to initiation to
determine the probative value of the
margins alleged in the petition. During
our pre-initiation analysis, we examined
the information used as the basis of
export price and NV in the petition, and
the calculations used to derive the
alleged margins. Also during our preinitiation analysis, we examined
information from various independent
sources provided either in the petition
or, based on our requests, in
supplements to the petition (e.g., Global
Trade Atlas, and Petitioners’ experience
with selling and producing the
merchandise under consideration),
which corroborated key elements of the
export price and NV calculations. See
Initiation Checklist at 7–12. We received
no comments as to the relevance or
probative value of this information.
Therefore, the Department finds that the
margin of 145.18 percent has probative
value for the purpose of being selected
as the AFA rate assigned to the PRCwide entity (including Ningbo Jiulong).
Therefore, the Department finds that
the rates derived from the petition for
purposes of initiation have probative
value for the purpose of being selected
as the AFA rate assigned to the PRCwide entity (including Ningbo Jiulong).
Combination Rates
In the initiation notice, the
Department stated that it would
calculate combination rates for
respondents that are eligible for a
separate rate in this investigation. See
Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags From
Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of
Antidumping Duty Investigations, 74 FR
19049 (April 27, 2009). This practice is
described in Separate Rates and
Combination Rates in Antidumping
Investigations Involving Non-Market
Economy Countries, 70 FR 17233 (April
5, 2005) which states:
{w}hile continuing the practice of
assigning separate rates only to exporters, all
separate rates that the Department will now
assign in its {non-market economy}
investigations will be specific to those
producers that supplied the exporter during
the period of investigation. Note, however,
that one rate is calculated for the exporter
and all of the producers which supplied
subject merchandise to it during the period
of investigation. This practice applies both to
mandatory respondents receiving an
individually calculated separate rate as well
as the pool of non-investigated firms
receiving the weighted-average of the
individually calculated rates. This practice is
referred to as the application of ‘‘combination
rates’’ because such rates apply to specific
combinations of exporters and one or more
producers. The cash-deposit rate assigned to
an exporter will apply only to merchandise
both exported by the firm in question and
produced by a firm that supplied the exporter
during the period of investigation.
Final Determination Margins
The Department determines that the
following dumping margins exist for the
period October 1, 2008, through March
31, 2009:
Antidumping duty
percent margin
Exporter
Sinosteel Yantai Steel Grating Co., Ltd ...................................
Ningbo Haitian International Co., Ltd .......................................
Yantai Xinke Steel Structure Co., Ltd ......................................
PRC-wide Entity10 .....................................................................
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Manufacturer
Sinosteel Yantai Steel Grating Co., Ltd ...................................
Ningbo Lihong Steel Grating Co., Ltd ......................................
Yantai Xinke Steel Structure Co., Ltd ......................................
...................................................................................................
Continuation of Suspension of
Liquidation
In accordance with section
735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, the Department
8 See Certain Steel Grating From the People’s
Republic of China: Initiation of Antidumping Duty
Investigation, 74 FR 30273. 30277 (June 25, 2009)
(‘‘Initiation Notice’’).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:31 Jun 07, 2010
Jkt 220001
will instruct CBP to continue to suspend
liquidation of all entries of steel grating
from PRC, as described in the ‘‘Scope of
Investigation’’ section, above, entered, or
9 See
Initiation Notice, 74 FR at 30277.
Jiulong Machinery Manufacturing Co.,
Ltd., Ningbo Zhenhai Jiulong Electronic Equipment
10 Ningbo
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
136.76
136.76
136.76
145.18
withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after January 6,
2010, the date of publication of the
Preliminary Determination in the
Factory and Shanghai DAHE Grating Co., Ltd. are
part of the PRC-wide entity.
E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM
08JNN1
32370
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 109 / Tuesday, June 8, 2010 / Notices
Federal Register. The Department will
instruct CBP to require a cash deposit or
the posting of a bond equal to the
weighted-average dumping margin
amount by which the normal value
exceeds U.S. price, as follows: (1) The
rate for the exporter/producer
combinations listed in the chart above
will be the rate the Department has
determined in this final determination;
(2) for all PRC exporters of subject
merchandise which have not received
their own rate, the cash-deposit rate will
be the PRC-wide entity rate; and (3) for
all non-PRC exporters of subject
merchandise which have not received
their own rate, the cash-deposit rate will
be the rate applicable to the PRC
exporter/producer combination that
supplied that non-PRC exporter. These
suspension-of-liquidation instructions
will remain in effect until further notice.
International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 735(d) of
the Act, the Department notified the
International Trade Commission (‘‘ITC’’)
of its final determination of sales at
LTFV. As the Department’s final
determination is affirmative, in
accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the
Act, within 45 days the ITC will
determine whether the domestic
industry in the United States is
materially injured, or threatened with
material injury, by reason of imports or
sales (or the likelihood of sales) for
importation of the subject merchandise.
If the ITC determines that material
injury or threat of material injury does
not exist, the proceeding will be
terminated and all securities posted will
be refunded or canceled. If the ITC
determines that such injury does exist,
the Department will issue an
antidumping duty order directing CBP
to assess, upon further instruction by
the Department, antidumping duties on
all imports of the subject merchandise
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the effective
date of the suspension of liquidation.
emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Notification Regarding APO
This notice also serves as a reminder
to the parties subject to administrative
protective order (‘‘APO’’) of their
responsibility concerning the
disposition of proprietary information
disclosed under APO in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely
notification of return or destruction of
APO materials or conversion to judicial
protective order is hereby requested.
Failure to comply with the regulations
and the terms of an APO is a
sanctionable violation.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:31 Jun 07, 2010
Jkt 220001
This determination is issued and
published in accordance with sections
735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Dated: May 28, 2010.
Paul Piquado,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[A–403–801]
Appendix I
Issues For Final Determination
General Issues
Comment 1: Whether the Department Can
Concurrently Apply Antidumping and
Countervailing Duties to Non-Market
Economy Producers and Exporters
Comment 2: Whether the Department Should
Recalculate the Petition Margins With
Updated Surrogate Values
Ningbo Jiulong Specific Issues
Comment 3: Whether the Department Should
Apply Adverse Facts Available to Ningbo
Jiulong Based Upon Submitted False
Information Regarding Its Steel Inputs
Comment 4: Whether the Department Should
Rely Upon Documents Obtained From CBP
in the Final Determination
Comment 5: Whether the Department Should
Apply Adverse Facts Available to Ningbo
Jiulong Based Upon the Failure To Report
the Correct Customer
Comment 6: Whether the Department Should
Apply Adverse Facts Available to Ningbo
Jiulong Based Upon Unreported Sales
Comment 7: Whether the Department Should
Apply Partial Adverse Facts Available to
Ningbo Jiulong’s Packing Inputs
Comment 8: Whether the Department Should
Revise Ningbo Jiulong’s Steel Scrap Offset
International Trade Administration
Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Changed Circumstances Review:
Fresh and Chilled Atlantic Salmon
from Norway
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Final Results of Antidumping
Duty Changed Circumstances Review:
Fresh and Chilled Atlantic Salmon from
Norway
SUMMARY: On August 5, 2009, the
Department of Commerce (Department)
initiated a changed circumstances
review of the antidumping order on
fresh and chilled Atlantic Salmon from
Norway and preliminarily determined
that Nordic Group AS is the successor–
in-interest to Nordic Group A/L for
purposes of determining antidumping
duty liability. We received comments
from interested parties. Based on our
analysis, we are now affirming our
preliminary results.
EFFECTIVE DATE: June 8, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Conniff, Office of AD/CVD Operations,
Office 3, Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–1009.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Surrogate Value Issues for Specific Factors
of Production
Background
Comment 9: Whether the Department Should
Revise the Surrogate Value for the Steel
Coil Input
Comment 10: Whether the Department
Should Revise the Surrogate Value for the
Wire Rod Input
Comment 11: Whether the Department
Should Revise the Surrogate Value for
Galvanizing Services
On April 12, 1991, the Department
issued the order on fresh and chilled
Atlantic Salmon from Norway. See
Antidumping Duty Order: Fresh and
Chilled Atlantic Salmon from Norway,
56 FR 14920 (April 12, 1991)
(Norwegian Salmon Order). Nordic
Group A/L, as an exporter of subject
fresh whole salmon from Norway to the
U.S., requested a new shipper review
(NSR) in 1995. The Department issued
the final results of the NSR in which it
calculated a de minimis margin for
Nordic Group A/L. See Fresh and
Chilled Salmon from Norway: Final
Results of New Shipper Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review, 62 FR 1430
(January 10, 1997). On December 30,
2005, the Department published in the
Federal Register the final results of the
full sunset review of the antidumping
duty order on fresh and chilled Atlantic
Salmon from Norway. See Fresh and
Chilled Atlantic Salmon from Norway:
Final Results of the Full Sunset Review
of Antidumping Duty Order, 70 FR
Surrogate Financial Ratio Calculation Issues
Comment 12: Whether the Department
Should Use the Financial Statement of
Greatweld Steel Grating Private Limited to
Calculate Surrogate Financial Ratios
Comment 13: Whether the Department
Should Use the Financial Statements of
Comparable Merchandise Producers to
Calculate Surrogate Financial Ratios
Separate Rate Applicant Rate Issues
Comment 14: Whether the Department
Should Revise the Rate Assigned to
Separate Rate Applicants
[FR Doc. 2010–13778 Filed 6–7–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\08JNN1.SGM
08JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32366-32370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13778]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-947]
Certain Steel Grating From the People's Republic of China: Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Effective Date: June 8, 2010.
SUMMARY: On January 6, 2010, the Department of Commerce
(``Department'') published its preliminary determination of sales at
less than fair value (``LTFV'') in the antidumping duty investigation
of certain steel grating (``steel grating'') from the People's Republic
of China (``PRC''). See Certain Steel Grating From the People's
Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 75 FR 847 (January 6,
2010) (``Preliminary Determination''). We invited interested parties to
comment on our preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. Based on our
analysis of the comments we received, we have made changes from the
Preliminary Determination. We determine that steel grating from the PRC
is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV as
provided in section 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(``Act''). The final dumping margins for this investigation are listed
in the ``Final Determination Margins'' section below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Martin, AD/CVD Operations,
Office 4, Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3936.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Case History
The period of investigation (``POI'') is October 1, 2008, through
March 31, 2009. The Department published its preliminary determination
of sales at LTFV on January 6, 2010. See Preliminary Determination. On
February 4, 2010, we postponed the final determination. See Certain
Steel Grating From the People's Republic of China: Postponement of
Final Determination, 75 FR 5766 (February 4, 2010).
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 seven
days. The revised deadline for the final determination of this
investigation is now May 28, 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.
Between January 11, 2010, through January 15, 2010, the Department
conducted verification of Ningbo Jiulong Machinery Manufacturing Co.,
Ltd. and Ningbo Zhenhai Jiulong Electronic Equipment Factory
(collectively ``Ningbo Jiulong''). See the ``Verification'' section
below for additional information. On March 8, 2010, Fisher & Ludlow and
Alabama Metal Industries Corporation (hereafter referred to as
``Petitioners'') filed comments regarding mill test certificates from
Ningbo Jiulong's suppliers of steel coils and wire rod that were
included in the Department's verification exhibits. Petitioners cited
numerous aspects of the mill test certificates that they deemed
irregular, and which indicated that the mill test certificates were not
genuine.
On March 8, 2010, the Department issued a supplemental
questionnaire to Ningbo Jiulong, requiring a response to Petitioners'
analysis and specific allegations, and to reconcile its suppliers' mill
test certificates with other information on the record. On March 9,
2010, the Department requested additional information from Petitioners,
supporting the analysis in its March 8, 2010 submission. Also, on March
9, 2010, the Department requested U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(``CBP'') entry documents pertaining to certain Ningbo Jiulong
shipments, specifically any mill test certificates filed by the
importer of record. On March 10, 2010, the Department issued an
additional request to Ningbo Jiulong to provide mill test certificates
for its steel inputs for certain specific U.S. sales of steel grating
that the Department had selected for specific review at verification.
On March 16, 2010, and March 18, 2010, the Department received from
CBP entry documentation and certain mill test certificates created by
Ningbo Jiulong for steel coils, filed with CBP by the importer of
record.
On March 18, 2010, Ningbo Jiulong responded to the Department's
March 10, 2010, request for specific mill test certificates by stating
that (1) Ningbo Jiulong could not link steel coil mill test
certificates to the U.S. sales of steel grating in which the steel coil
was used in production, and (2) in practice Ningbo Jiulong did not
provide mill test certificates to its customer for most sales, despite
the ``legalistic terms in the small print'' of its purchase orders.
On March 19, 2010, Petitioners responded to the Department's
request with supporting information concerning the analysis in their
March 8, 2010 submission. Also, on March 19, 2010, Ningbo Jiulong
responded to the Department's supplemental questionnaire, stating: (1)
Ningbo Jiulong cannot trace any of its suppliers' mill test
certificates to specific purchases of steel coil or wire rod, because
mill test certificates are production records that pertain to steel
sold to multiple customers; (2) mill test certificates are not
accounting records (e.g., invoices, inventory slips, delivery notes),
and thus Ningbo Jiulong does not keep mill test certificates in its
records in the normal course of business; (3) Ningbo Jiulong creates
its own mill test certificates that it admits are unreliable, and that
it has no ability to determine with its own analysis the chemical
properties of any steel that it purchases; and (4) irregularities in
the mill test certificates noted by Petitioners are due to the
carelessness of their suppliers and/or ``estimations'' made by its
suppliers using the content of prior mill test certificates.
On April 5, 2010, Petitioners, Ningbo Jiulong, and the Government
of China submitted case briefs. On April 12, 2010, Petitioners, Ningbo
Jiulong, Ningbo Haitian International Co. Ltd. (``Haitian''), and
Yantai Xinke Steel Structure Co., Ltd. (``Xinke'') submitted rebuttal
briefs. On April 19, 2010, the Department held a public hearing.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties to
this investigation are addressed in the
[[Page 32367]]
``Certain Steel Grating from the People's Republic of China: Issues and
Decision Memorandum for the Final Determination,'' (``Issues and
Decision Memorandum''), dated concurrently with this notice and which
is hereby adopted by this notice. A list of the issues which parties
raised and to which we respond in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is
attached to this notice as Appendix I. The Issues and Decision
Memorandum is a public document and is on file in the Central Records
Unit (``CRU''), Room 1117 of the main Commerce building, and is
accessible on the World Wide Web at https://trade.gov/ia/index.asp. The
paper copy and electronic version of the memorandum are identical in
content.
Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
Based on our analysis of information on the record of this
investigation, we have determined that the application of total adverse
facts available (``AFA'') is warranted in the case of Ningbo Jiulong.
For further details, see Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comments 3;
see also Memorandum from Thomas Martin to John M. Andersen, regarding:
Application of Total Adverse Facts Available for Ningbo Jiulong
Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in the Antidumping Duty Investigation
of Certain Steel Grating from the People's Republic of China, dated May
28, 2010 (``Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo'').
Scope of Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are certain steel
grating, consisting of two or more pieces of steel, including load-
bearing pieces and cross pieces, joined by any assembly process,
regardless of: (1) Size or shape; (2) method of manufacture; (3)
metallurgy (carbon, alloy, or stainless); (4) the profile of the bars;
and (5) whether or not they are galvanized, painted, coated, clad or
plated. Steel grating is also commonly referred to as ``bar grating,''
although the components may consist of steel other than bars, such as
hot-rolled sheet, plate, or wire rod.
The scope of this investigation excludes expanded metal grating,
which is comprised of a single piece or coil of sheet or thin plate
steel that has been slit and expanded, and does not involve welding or
joining of multiple pieces of steel. The scope of this investigation
also excludes plank type safety grating which is comprised of a single
piece or coil of sheet or thin plate steel, typically in thickness of
10 to 18 gauge, that has been pierced and cold formed, and does not
involve welding or joining of multiple pieces of steel.
Certain steel grating that is the subject of this investigation is
currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (``HTSUS'') under subheading 7308.90.7000. While the HTSUS
subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Application of Adverse Facts Available to Ningbo Jiulong
Section 776(a)(1) of the Act provides that the Department may rely
on facts otherwise available where necessary information is not
available on the record, and section 776(a)(2) of the Act provides that
if an interested party: (A) Withholds information that has been
requested by the Department; (B) fails to provide such information in a
timely manner or in the form or manner requested, subject to
subsections 782(c)(1) and (e) of the Act; (C) significantly impedes a
determination under the antidumping statute; or (D) provides such
information but the information cannot be verified, the Department
shall, subject to subsection 782(d) of the Act, use facts otherwise
available in reaching the applicable determination.
Section 782(c)(1) of the Act provides that if an interested party
``promptly after receiving a request from {the Department{time} for
information, notifies {the Department{time} that such party is unable
to submit the information in the requested form and manner, together
with a full explanation and suggested alternative form in which such
party is able to submit the information,'' the Department may modify
the requirements to avoid imposing an unreasonable burden on that
party.
Section 782(d) of the Act provides that, if the Department
determines that a response to a request for information does not comply
with the request, the Department will inform the person submitting the
response of the nature of the deficiency and shall, to the extent
practicable, provide that person the opportunity to remedy or explain
the deficiency. If that person submits further information that
continues to be unsatisfactory, or this information is not submitted
within the applicable time limits, the Department may, subject to
section 782(e) of the Act, disregard all or part of the original and
subsequent responses, as appropriate.
Section 782(e) of the Act states that the Department shall not
decline to consider information deemed ``deficient'' under section
782(d) if: (1) The information is submitted by the established
deadline; (2) the information can be verified; (3) the information is
not so incomplete that it cannot serve as a reliable basis for reaching
the applicable determination; (4) the interested party has demonstrated
that it acted to the best of its ability; and (5) the information can
be used without undue difficulties.
Furthermore, section 776(b) of the Act states that if the
administering authority finds that an interested party has not acted to
the best of its ability to comply with a request for information, the
administering authority may, in reaching its determination, use an
inference that is adverse to that party. The adverse inference may be
based upon: (1) The petition, (2) a final determination in the
investigation under this title, (3) any previous review under section
751 or determination under section 753, or (4) any other information
placed on the record.
The Department has determined that the information to construct an
accurate and otherwise reliable margin is not available on the record
with respect to Ningbo Jiulong because Ningbo Jiulong withheld
information that had been requested, significantly impeded this
proceeding, and provided information that could not be verified,
pursuant to sections 776(a)(1) and (2)(A), (C) and (D) of the of
Act.\1\ As a result, the Department has determined to apply the facts
otherwise available. Further, the Department finds that Ningbo Jiulong
failed to cooperate to the best of its ability, pursuant to section
776(b) of the Act, and the Department has determined to use an adverse
inference when applying facts available in this investigation.\2\ In
addition, we have concluded that the nature of Ningbo Jiulong's
unreliable submissions calls into question the reliability of the
questionnaire responses with respect to Ningbo Jiulong's claim of
eligibility for separate rate status. Thus, as an adverse inference, we
find that Ningbo Jiulong is part of the PRC-wide entity for purposes of
this investigation.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo at 10-14.
\2\ See Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo at 14-17.
\3\ See Ningbo Jiulong AFA Memo at 17.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PRC Entity (Including Ningbo Jiulong)
Because we begin with the presumption that all companies within an
non-market-economy (``NME'') country are subject to government control
and because only the companies listed under the ``Final Determination
Margins'' section below have overcome that presumption, we are applying
a single antidumping rate--the PRC-wide rate--to all other exporters of
[[Page 32368]]
merchandise under consideration from the PRC, including Ningbo
Jiulong.\4\ The PRC-wide rate applies to all entries of subject
merchandise except for entries from the respondents identified as
receiving a separate rate in the ``Final Determination Margins''
section below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See, e.g., Synthetic Indigo From the People's Republic of
China; Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value, 65 FR 25706 (May 3, 2000).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the Act, the Department attempted
to verify Ningbo Jiulong's questionnaire responses.\5\ We used standard
verification procedures, including examination of relevant accounting
and production records, as well as original source documents provided
by respondents. However, as detailed in the AFA section of this notice,
and Comment 3 of the Issues and Decision Memorandum, we cannot conclude
that the information submitted is either accurate or reliable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Memorandum To the File from Robert Bolling, Thomas
Martin, and Brian Soiset, ``Verification of the Sales and Factors
Response of Ningbo Jiulong Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in the
Antidumping Investigation of Certain Steel Grating from the People's
Republic of China'' dated February 23, 2010.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surrogate Country
In the Preliminary Determination, we stated that we selected India
as the appropriate surrogate country to use in this investigation for
the following reasons: (1) It is a significant producer of comparable
merchandise; (2) it is at a similar level of economic development
pursuant to section 773(c)(4) of the Act; and (3) we have reliable data
from India that we can use to value the factors of production. See
Preliminary Determination. We received no comments on this issue after
the Preliminary Determination, and we have made no changes to our
findings with respect to the selection of a surrogate country for the
final determination.
Separate Rates
In proceedings involving NME countries, the Department begins with
a rebuttable presumption that all companies within the country are
subject to government control and, thus, should be assigned a single
antidumping duty deposit rate. It is the Department's policy to assign
all exporters of merchandise subject to an investigation in an NME
country this single rate unless an exporter can demonstrate that it is
sufficiently independent so as to be entitled to a separate rate. See
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sparklers from
the People's Republic of China, 56 FR 20588 (May 6, 1991), as amplified
by Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value:
Silicon Carbide from the People's Republic of China, 59 FR 22585 (May
2, 1994), and 19 CFR 351.107(d).
In the Preliminary Determination, we found that the separate rate
applicants Sinosteel Yantai Steel Grating Co., Ltd. (``Sinosteel''),
Ningbo Haitian, and Xinke (collectively, the ``Separate Rate
Applicants'') demonstrated their eligibility for, and were hence
assigned, separate rate status. No party has commented on the
eligibility of these companies for separate rate status. For the final
determination, we continue to find that the evidence placed on the
record of this investigation by these companies demonstrates both a de
jure and de facto absence of government control with respect to their
exports of the merchandise under investigation. Thus, we continue to
find that they are eligible for separate rate status. Normally, the
separate rate is determined based on the estimated weighted-average
dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually
investigated, excluding de minimis margins or margins based entirely on
AFA. See section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.
In the Preliminary Determination, the Department assigned to the
Separate Rate Applicants' exporter/producer combinations that qualified
for a separate rate a weighted-average margin based on the experience
of the mandatory respondent, Ningbo Jiulong. See Preliminary
Determination. For the final determination, we have denied Ningbo
Jiulong a separate rate in applying total AFA.\6\ See ``Application of
Adverse Facts Available To Ningbo Jiulong'' section above. In this
case, where there are no mandatory respondents receiving a calculated
rate and the PRC-wide entity's rate is based upon total AFA, we find
that applying the simple average of the rates alleged in the petition,
incorporating revisions made in Petitioners' supplemental responses, is
both reasonable and reliable for purposes of establishing a separate
rate.\7\ Therefore, the Department will assign a separate rate for the
Separate Rate Applicants' exporter/producer combinations using the
average of the margins alleged in the petition, or 136.76 percent,
pursuant to its practice. This rate is corroborated, to the extent
practicable, for the reasons stated the ``Corroboration'' section,
below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 3.
\7\ See Amended Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe From the
People's Republic of China, 73 FR 22130, 22133 (April 24, 2008);
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium
Hexametaphosphate From the People's Republic of China, 73 FR 6479
(February 4, 2008) and the accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PRC-Wide Rate
In the Preliminary Determination, the Department found that the
PRC-wide entity did not respond to our requests for information. In the
Preliminary Determination, we treated PRC exporters/producers that did
not respond to the Department's request for information as part of the
PRC-wide entity because they did not demonstrate that they operate free
of government control. No additional information has been placed on the
record with respect to these entities after the Preliminary
Determination. The PRC-wide entity has not provided the Department with
the requested information; therefore, pursuant to section 776(a)(2)(A)
of the Act, the Department continues to find that the use of facts
available is appropriate to determine the PRC-wide rate. Section 776(b)
of the Act provides that, in selecting from among the facts otherwise
available, the Department may employ an adverse inference if an
interested party fails to cooperate by not acting to the best of its
ability to comply with requests for information. See Notice of Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cold-Rolled
Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products From the Russian Federation,
65 FR 5510, 5518 (February 4, 2000). See also, Statement of
Administrative Action accompanying the URAA, H.R. Rep. No. 103-316,
vol. 1, at 870 (1994). We find that, because the PRC-wide entity did
not respond to our request for information, it has failed to cooperate
to the best of its ability. Therefore, the Department finds that, in
selecting from among the facts otherwise available, an adverse
inference is appropriate for the PRC-wide entity.
Because we begin with the presumption that all companies within an
NME country are subject to government control and because only the
companies listed under the ``Final Determination Margins'' section
below have overcome that presumption, we are applying a single
antidumping rate--the PRC-wide rate--to all other exporters of subject
merchandise from the PRC. Such companies did not demonstrate
entitlement to a separate rate. See, e.g., Synthetic Indigo From the
People's Republic of China; Notice of Final Determination of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value, 65 FR 25706 (May 3, 2000). The PRC-wide rate
applies to all entries
[[Page 32369]]
of subject merchandise except for entries from the Separate Rate
Applicants, which are listed in the ``Final Determination Margins''
section below.
Corroboration
Section 776(c) of the Act provides that, when the Department relies
on secondary information in using the facts otherwise available, it
must, to the extent practicable, corroborate that information from
independent sources that are reasonably at its disposal. We have
interpreted ``corroborate'' to mean that we will, to the extent
practicable, examine the reliability and relevance of the information
submitted. See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value: Certain Cold-Rolled Flat-Rolled Carbon-Quality Steel Products
From Brazil, 65 FR 5554, 5568 (February 4, 2000); see, e.g., Tapered
Roller Bearings and Parts Thereof, Finished and Unfinished, From Japan,
and Tapered Roller Bearings, Four Inches or Less in Outside Diameter,
and Components Thereof, From Japan; Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Reviews and Partial Termination of Administrative
Reviews, 61 FR 57391, 57392 (November 6, 1996).
As total AFA, the Department preliminarily selected the rate of
145.18 percent from the Initiation Notice,\8\ i.e., a margin from the
petition as revised by the Department through supplemental
questionnaires. Petitioners' methodology for calculating the export
price and normal value (``NV'') in the petition is discussed in the
Initiation Notice.\9\ At the Preliminary Determination, in accordance
with section 776(c) of the Act, we corroborated our AFA margin by
comparing it to the CONNUM margins we found for the mandatory
respondent. We found that the margin of 145.18 percent had probative
value because it was in the range of CONNUM model margins we found for
the only participating mandatory respondent, Ningbo Jiulong.
Accordingly, we found that the rate of 145.18 percent was corroborated
within the meaning of section 776(c) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See Certain Steel Grating From the People's Republic of
China: Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation, 74 FR 30273.
30277 (June 25, 2009) (``Initiation Notice'').
\9\ See Initiation Notice, 74 FR at 30277.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because there are no cooperating mandatory respondents to
corroborate the 145.18 percent margin used as AFA for the PRC-wide
entity, to the extent appropriate information was available, we
revisited our pre-initiation analysis of the adequacy and accuracy of
the information in the petition. See Antidumping Investigation
Initiation Checklist: Certain Steel Grating from the People's Republic
of China, dated June 18, 2009 (``Initiation Checklist''). We examined
evidence supporting the calculations in the petition and the
supplemental information provided by Petitioners prior to initiation to
determine the probative value of the margins alleged in the petition.
During our pre-initiation analysis, we examined the information used as
the basis of export price and NV in the petition, and the calculations
used to derive the alleged margins. Also during our pre-initiation
analysis, we examined information from various independent sources
provided either in the petition or, based on our requests, in
supplements to the petition (e.g., Global Trade Atlas, and Petitioners'
experience with selling and producing the merchandise under
consideration), which corroborated key elements of the export price and
NV calculations. See Initiation Checklist at 7-12. We received no
comments as to the relevance or probative value of this information.
Therefore, the Department finds that the margin of 145.18 percent has
probative value for the purpose of being selected as the AFA rate
assigned to the PRC-wide entity (including Ningbo Jiulong).
Therefore, the Department finds that the rates derived from the
petition for purposes of initiation have probative value for the
purpose of being selected as the AFA rate assigned to the PRC-wide
entity (including Ningbo Jiulong).
Combination Rates
In the initiation notice, the Department stated that it would
calculate combination rates for respondents that are eligible for a
separate rate in this investigation. See Polyethylene Retail Carrier
Bags From Indonesia, Taiwan, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 74 FR 19049 (April 27,
2009). This practice is described in Separate Rates and Combination
Rates in Antidumping Investigations Involving Non-Market Economy
Countries, 70 FR 17233 (April 5, 2005) which states:
{w{time} hile continuing the practice of assigning separate
rates only to exporters, all separate rates that the Department will
now assign in its {non-market economy{time} investigations will be
specific to those producers that supplied the exporter during the
period of investigation. Note, however, that one rate is calculated
for the exporter and all of the producers which supplied subject
merchandise to it during the period of investigation. This practice
applies both to mandatory respondents receiving an individually
calculated separate rate as well as the pool of non-investigated
firms receiving the weighted-average of the individually calculated
rates. This practice is referred to as the application of
``combination rates'' because such rates apply to specific
combinations of exporters and one or more producers. The cash-
deposit rate assigned to an exporter will apply only to merchandise
both exported by the firm in question and produced by a firm that
supplied the exporter during the period of investigation.
Final Determination Margins
The Department determines that the following dumping margins exist
for the period October 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Antidumping duty
Manufacturer Exporter percent margin
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sinosteel Yantai Steel Grating Sinosteel Yantai Steel 136.76
Co., Ltd. Grating Co., Ltd.
Ningbo Haitian International Ningbo Lihong Steel 136.76
Co., Ltd. Grating Co., Ltd.
Yantai Xinke Steel Structure Yantai Xinke Steel 136.76
Co., Ltd. Structure Co., Ltd.
PRC-wide Entity\10\........... ...................... 145.18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ Ningbo Jiulong Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Ningbo
Zhenhai Jiulong Electronic Equipment Factory and Shanghai DAHE
Grating Co., Ltd. are part of the PRC-wide entity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, the Department
will instruct CBP to continue to suspend liquidation of all entries of
steel grating from PRC, as described in the ``Scope of Investigation''
section, above, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption
on or after January 6, 2010, the date of publication of the Preliminary
Determination in the
[[Page 32370]]
Federal Register. The Department will instruct CBP to require a cash
deposit or the posting of a bond equal to the weighted-average dumping
margin amount by which the normal value exceeds U.S. price, as follows:
(1) The rate for the exporter/producer combinations listed in the chart
above will be the rate the Department has determined in this final
determination; (2) for all PRC exporters of subject merchandise which
have not received their own rate, the cash-deposit rate will be the
PRC-wide entity rate; and (3) for all non-PRC exporters of subject
merchandise which have not received their own rate, the cash-deposit
rate will be the rate applicable to the PRC exporter/producer
combination that supplied that non-PRC exporter. These suspension-of-
liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.
International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, the Department
notified the International Trade Commission (``ITC'') of its final
determination of sales at LTFV. As the Department's final determination
is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the Act, within
45 days the ITC will determine whether the domestic industry in the
United States is materially injured, or threatened with material
injury, by reason of imports or sales (or the likelihood of sales) for
importation of the subject merchandise. If the ITC determines that
material injury or threat of material injury does not exist, the
proceeding will be terminated and all securities posted will be
refunded or canceled. If the ITC determines that such injury does
exist, the Department will issue an antidumping duty order directing
CBP to assess, upon further instruction by the Department, antidumping
duties on all imports of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn
from warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the
suspension of liquidation.
Notification Regarding APO
This notice also serves as a reminder to the parties subject to
administrative protective order (``APO'') of their responsibility
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of return or
destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order
is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the
terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.
This determination is issued and published in accordance with
sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: May 28, 2010.
Paul Piquado,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
Appendix I
Issues For Final Determination
General Issues
Comment 1: Whether the Department Can Concurrently Apply Antidumping
and Countervailing Duties to Non-Market Economy Producers and
Exporters
Comment 2: Whether the Department Should Recalculate the Petition
Margins With Updated Surrogate Values
Ningbo Jiulong Specific Issues
Comment 3: Whether the Department Should Apply Adverse Facts
Available to Ningbo Jiulong Based Upon Submitted False Information
Regarding Its Steel Inputs
Comment 4: Whether the Department Should Rely Upon Documents
Obtained From CBP in the Final Determination
Comment 5: Whether the Department Should Apply Adverse Facts
Available to Ningbo Jiulong Based Upon the Failure To Report the
Correct Customer
Comment 6: Whether the Department Should Apply Adverse Facts
Available to Ningbo Jiulong Based Upon Unreported Sales
Comment 7: Whether the Department Should Apply Partial Adverse Facts
Available to Ningbo Jiulong's Packing Inputs
Comment 8: Whether the Department Should Revise Ningbo Jiulong's
Steel Scrap Offset
Surrogate Value Issues for Specific Factors of Production
Comment 9: Whether the Department Should Revise the Surrogate Value
for the Steel Coil Input
Comment 10: Whether the Department Should Revise the Surrogate Value
for the Wire Rod Input
Comment 11: Whether the Department Should Revise the Surrogate Value
for Galvanizing Services
Surrogate Financial Ratio Calculation Issues
Comment 12: Whether the Department Should Use the Financial
Statement of Greatweld Steel Grating Private Limited to Calculate
Surrogate Financial Ratios
Comment 13: Whether the Department Should Use the Financial
Statements of Comparable Merchandise Producers to Calculate
Surrogate Financial Ratios
Separate Rate Applicant Rate Issues
Comment 14: Whether the Department Should Revise the Rate Assigned
to Separate Rate Applicants
[FR Doc. 2010-13778 Filed 6-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P