Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 46704-46712 [2012-19149]
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46704
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2012 / Notices
will be limited to those raised in the
respective case briefs.
The Department intends to issue the
final results of this administrative
review, including the results of its
analysis of the issues raised in any
written briefs, not later than 120 days
after the date of publication of this
notice, pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A)
of the Act.
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Assessment Rates
Upon issuance of the final results, the
Department will determine, and CBP
shall assess, antidumping duties on all
appropriate entries covered by this
review. The Department intends to issue
assessment instructions to CBP 15 days
after the publication date of the final
results of this review. In accordance
with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1), we will
calculate importer- (or customer-)
specific assessment rates for the
merchandise subject to this review.
Where the respondent has reported
reliable entered values, we will
calculate importer- (or customer-)
specific ad valorem rates by aggregating
the dumping margins calculated for all
U.S. sales to each importer (or customer)
and dividing this amount by the total
entered value of the sales to each
importer (or customer). Where an
importer- (or customer-) specific ad
valorem rate is greater than de minimis,
we will apply the assessment rate to the
entered value of the importers’/
customers’ entries during the POR,
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective upon
publication of the final results of this
administrative review for all shipments
of the subject merchandise entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the publication
date, as provided for by section
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) For the
exporters listed above, the cash deposit
rate will be the rate established in the
final results of this review (except, if the
rate is zero or de minimis, i.e., less than
0.5 percent, no cash deposit rate will be
required for that company); (2) for
previously investigated or reviewed PRC
and non-PRC exporters not listed above
that have separate rates, the cash
deposit rate will continue to be the
exporter-specific rate published for the
most recently completed period; (3) for
all PRC exporters of subject
merchandise that have not been found
to be entitled to a separate rate, the cash
deposit rate will be the PRC-wide rate
of $2.63 per kilogram; and, (4) for all
non-PRC exporters of subject
merchandise which have not received
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their own rate, the cash deposit rate will
be the rate applicable to the PRC
exporter(s) that supplied that non-PRC
exporter. These deposit requirements,
when imposed, shall remain in effect
until further notice.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a
preliminary reminder to importers of
their responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of
antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during this
review period. Failure to comply with
this requirement could result in the
Secretary’s presumption that
reimbursement of antidumping duties
occurred and the subsequent assessment
of double antidumping duties.
These preliminary results are issued
and published in accordance with
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: July 30, 2012.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012–19151 Filed 8–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–583–837]
Polyethylene Terephthalate Film,
Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan:
Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(the Department) is conducting an
administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on
polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet,
and strip (PET Film) from Taiwan. The
period of review (POR) is July 1, 2010,
through June 30, 2011. This review
covers respondents Shinkong Synthetic
Fibers Corporation (SSFC) and its
subsidiary Shinkong Materials
Technology Co. Ltd. (SMTC)
(collectively, Shinkong), and Nan Ya
Plastics Corporation, Ltd. (Nan Ya),
producers and exporters of PET Film
from Taiwan. The Department
preliminarily determines that Nan Ya
made and Shinkong did not make sales
of PET Film from Taiwan below normal
value (NV). The preliminary results are
listed below in the section titled
‘‘Preliminary Results of Review.’’
AGENCY:
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Interested parties are invited to
comment on these preliminary results.
DATES: Effective Date: August 6, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sean Carey or Milton Koch, AD/CVD
Operations, Office 6, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 428–3964, or (202)
482–2584, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 1, 2002, the Department
published in the Federal Register the
antidumping duty order on PET Film
from Taiwan.1 On July 1, 2011, the
Department published a notice of
opportunity to request an administrative
review of the order.2 In response, on
July 29, 2011, Petitioners3 requested
that the Department conduct an
administrative review of Nan Ya’s and
Shinkong’s sales of PET Film from
Taiwan to the United States. Also on
July 29, Shinkong requested that the
Department conduct an administrative
review of its sales. On August 1, 2011,
Nan Ya requested that the Department
conduct an administrative review of its
sales.4 On November 25, 2011,
Petitioners withdrew their request for an
administrative review of Nan Ya.
However, because Nan Ya requested a
review of itself, there was no basis to
rescind the review of Nan Ya.
On August 26, 2011, the Department
initiated an administrative review of
Shinkong and Nan Ya (collectively, the
respondents).5 On September 9, 2011,
the Department issued an antidumping
duty questionnaire to the respondents.
On October 21 and 24, 2011,
respectively, Shinkong and Nan Ya
timely filed their Section A response.
On November 14 and 18, 2011,
1 See Notice of Amended Final Antidumping Duty
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Antidumping Duty Order: Polyethylene
Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip (PET Film)
from Taiwan, 67 FR 44174 (July 1, 2002), as
corrected in 67 FR 46566 (July 15, 2002).
2 See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order,
Finding, or Suspended Investigation: Opportunity
To Request Administrative Review, 76 FR 38609,
38610 (July 1, 2011).
3 Petitioners are DuPont Teijin Films, Mitsubishi
Polyester Film, Inc., SKC, Inc., and Toray Plastics
(America), Inc.
4 This request was timely because July 31, 2011
was a Sunday. See Notice of Clarification:
Application of ‘‘Next Business Day’’ Rule for
Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant
to the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended,70 FR 24533
(May 10, 2005).
5 See Initiation of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and
Requests for Revocation In Part, 76 FR 53404, 53406
(August 26, 2011).
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respectively, Shinkong and Nan Ya
timely filed their Section B, C, and D
responses. On March 27, 2012, the
Department extended the time period
for issuing the preliminary results of
this administrative review.6
On April 11, 2012, Petitioners filed
comments on Nan Ya’s questionnaire
response. Between April and July 2012,
the Department issued several
supplemental questionnaires separately
on sections A, B, and C, and section D,
to both Shinkong and Nan Ya requesting
additional information. All responses
were timely submitted. On July 9, 2012,
Petitioners filed comments on both Nan
Ya’s and Shinkong’s questionnaire
responses. On July 17, 2012, Petitioners
filed targeted dumping allegations for
both Nan Ya and Shinkong.
For purposes of these preliminary
results the Department did not conduct
a targeted dumping analysis. In
calculating the preliminary weightedaverage dumping margins for the
mandatory respondents, the Department
applied the calculation methodology
adopted in Final Modification for
Reviews.7 In particular, the Department
compared monthly weighted-average
export prices (EPs) (or constructed
export prices (CEPs)) with monthly
weighted-average NVs and granted
offsets for non-dumped comparisons in
the calculation of the weighted-average
dumping margins. Application of this
methodology in these preliminary
results affords parties an opportunity to
meaningfully comment on the
Department’s implementation of this
recently adopted methodology in the
context of this administrative review.
The Department intends to continue to
consider, pursuant to 19 CFR
351.414(c), whether another method is
appropriate in these administrative
reviews in light of the parties’ prepreliminary comments and any
comments on the issue that parties may
include in their case and rebuttal briefs.
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Scope of the Order
The products covered by the
antidumping duty order are all gauges of
raw, pretreated, or primed polyethylene
terephthalate film, sheet, and strip,
whether extruded or coextruded.
Excluded are metalized films and other
finished films that have had at least one
6 See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and
Strip (PET Film) From Taiwan: Extension of Time
Limit for the Preliminary Results of the
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 76 FR
13128 (March 10, 2011).
7 See Antidumping Proceedings: Calculation of
the Weighted-Average Dumping Margin and
Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping
Proceedings; Final Modification, 77 FR 8101
(February 14, 2012) (Final Modification for
Reviews).
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of their surfaces modified by the
application of a performance-enhancing
resinous or inorganic layer of more than
0.00001 inches thick. Imports of
polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet,
and strip are currently classifiable in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) under item
number 3920.62.00.90. HTSUS
subheadings are provided for
convenience and customs purposes. The
written description of the scope of the
antidumping duty order is dispositive.
Period of Review
The POR for this administrative
review is July 1, 2010, through June 30,
2011.
Use of Facts Otherwise Available
Section 776(a) of the Act provides that
the Department shall apply ‘‘facts
otherwise available’’ if: (1) Necessary
information is not on the record; or (2)
an interested party or any other person
(A) withholds information that has been
requested, (B) fails to provide
information within the deadlines
established, or in the form and manner
requested by the Department, subject to
subsections (c)(1) and (e) of section 782
of the Act, (C) significantly impedes a
proceeding, or (D) provides information
that cannot be verified as provided by
section 782(i) of the Act.
Section 782(e) of the Act provides that
the Department ‘‘shall not decline to
consider information that is submitted
by an interested party and is necessary
to the determination but does not meet
all applicable requirements established
by the administering authority’’ if the
information is timely, can be verified, is
not so incomplete that it cannot be used,
can be used without undue difficulties,
and if the interested party acted to the
best of its ability in providing the
information. Where all of these
conditions are met, the statute requires
the Department to use the information
supplied.
For the reasons discussed below, the
Department determines that, in
accordance with section 776(a)(1) of the
Act, the use of facts otherwise available
is appropriate for the preliminary
results with respect to Nan Ya’s sales to
certain importers in the United States.
Because Nan Ya reported these sales as
CEP sales, and we are treating these
sales as EP sales for purposes of these
preliminary results (see ‘‘Affiliation of
Nan Ya with U.S. Customers’’),
necessary information, the invoice date
of these sales, is not available on the
record.
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Collapsing SSFC and SMTC
The Department will treat two or
more affiliated producers as a single
entity where: (1) those producers have
production facilities for similar or
identical products that would not
require substantial retooling of either
facility; and (2) there is a significant
potential for manipulation of price or
production pursuant to 19 CFR
351.401(f)(1) and (2). Consistent with
the most recently completed
administrative review, the Department
preliminarily determines that SSFC and
SMTC should be treated as a single
entity (i.e., Shinkong) for purposes of
calculating an antidumping margin
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.401(f).8
SMTC was established in October
2004 and it is a subsidiary of SSFC. In
the past, SSFC and SMTC both
produced similar or identical
merchandise, including subject
merchandise. At the start of the current
POR, on July 1, 2010, SSFC sold its
equipment and machinery to its
subsidiary SMTC, and SSFC stopped
producing subject merchandise.9
However, the equipment remained at
SSFC’s facility and SSFC charged SMTC
a plant management fee. Similar to the
structure of companies the Department
found affiliated in Pipe Fittings from
Italy 10 and Shrimp from Brazil, 11
because SSFC is the majority
shareholder of SMTC, the level of
common ownership between SSFC and
SMTC is such that operations are so
intertwined that they are integral to the
operations of each other. Shinkong
reported that the management of the two
companies is commingled and that
SSFC and SMTC are effectively
managed and operated as one
company.12 Thus, we find that the two
8 See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and
Strip From Taiwan: Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 76 FR
47540, 47541 (August 5, 2011) (‘‘PET Film Prelim
09–10’’) unchanged in Polyethylene Terephthalate
Film, Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan: Final Results
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 76 FR
76941 (December 9, 2011) (‘‘PET Film Review 09–
10’’).
9 See Shinkong’s October 21, 2011 submission at
1.
10 See Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings
From Italy: Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review and Preliminary No
Shipment Determination, 76 FR 79655 (December
22, 2011) (Pipe Fittings from Italy), unchanged in
Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Italy:
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review and Final No Shipment Determination, 77
FR 24459 (April 24, 2012).
11 See Final Results of the Antidumping Duty
Investigation of Certain Frozen and Canned
Warmwater Shrimp from Brazil, 69 FR 76910
(December 23, 2004).
12 See Shinkong’s October 21, 2011 submission at
7.
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companies could switch roles and
restructure manufacturing priorities
such that there is a significant potential
for the manipulation of price or
production and that, according to our
practice, they satisfy the first criteria of
19 CFR 351.401(f)(1). With regard to the
significant potential for manipulation
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.401(f)(2), we
find that, because SMTC has a fully
functioning facility for producing the
subject merchandise, which is located
on the same premises and is controlled
by SSFC,13 the role of producer and
seller could easily switch from SMTC to
SSFC without substantial retooling at
either company. We also found that the
majority ownership of SMTC by SSFC
demonstrates a significant potential for
manipulation of price or production
between the two companies. In
addition, the sale of the production
equipment to SMTC without its
relocation; the imposition of a plant
management fee by SSFC on SMTC;
and, the provision of major inputs at
cost by SSFC to SMTC demonstrate that
production operations are intertwined.
Furthermore, the commingled
management highlights that the
companies are effectively operated and
managed as one. Therefore, because
both 19 CFR 351.401(f)(1) and (2) are
met, we are continuing to collapse SSFC
and SMTC, and treat them as a single
entity, Shinkong, for these preliminary
results.
Affiliation of Nan Ya With U.S.
Customers
In the less-than-fair-value
investigation 14 and subsequent
administrative reviews,15 the
Department determined that Nan Ya,
through a family grouping, was in a
position of legal and operational control
of three of its U.S. customers, in
accordance with section 771(33)(F) of
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the
Act). We found that members of a family
involved in the ownership and
13 See
Shinkong’s June 18, 2012 submission at 3.
Notice of Final Determination of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value: Polyethylene Terephthalate
Film, Sheet, and Strip (PET Film) from Taiwan, 67
FR 35474 (May 20, 2002) (‘‘PET Film from Taiwan
Investigation’’).
15 See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet,
and Strip from Taiwan: Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 69 FR
50166 (August 13, 2004) and the accompanying
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comments 1
and 3; see also Polyethylene Terephthalate Film,
Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan: Preliminary Results
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review(‘‘Pet
Film Prelim 08–09’’), 75 FR 49902 (August 16,
2010), unchanged in Polyethylene Terephthalate
Film, Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan: Final Results
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 76 FR
9745 (February 22, 2011) (‘‘Pet Film Review 08–
09’’).
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14 See
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management of Nan Ya also shared
ownership and management of three
U.S. importers, and that this family
possessed the potential to act in concert
or act out of common interest to exert
restraint or direction over the activities
of these U.S. companies.
In the last administrative review that
analyzed Nan Ya’s affiliation with these
three U.S. importers that purchased and
sold the subject merchandise, Nan Ya
reported that the 2008 death of its
Chairman, Mr. Y.C. Wang, dissolved the
family ties and common ownership
interests such that there was no longer
an affiliation between Nan Ya and these
three U.S. importers. However, the
Department found that Nan Ya had not
provided sufficient information to
warrant the reconsideration of our prior
affiliation finding.16 Nan Ya now has
provided information in the instant
review regarding both the disposition of
Mr. Y.C. Wang’s assets and the current
ownership and corporate structure of
Nan Ya and the three U.S. importers
that the Department found affiliated in
past proceedings.17 Our analysis of this
information indicates that following the
death of the Chairman, and distribution
of his assets to his heirs, there was no
longer any evidence of control of Nan
Ya by the family unit. Therefore, we
preliminarily determine that Nan Ya is
no longer affiliated with these three U.S.
customers; as such, we are treating all
of Nan Ya’s U.S. sales as EP sales. For
further discussion of the business
proprietary ownership information, see
the Nan Ya affiliation memorandum.18
Home Market Viability
In order to determine whether there is
a sufficient volume of sales in the home
market to serve as a viable basis for
calculating NV (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
Shinkong’s and Nan Ya’s home market
sales of the foreign like product to the
volume of their U.S. sales of subject
merchandise, in accordance with
section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.401(b). Based on this
comparison, we found that both
16 See Memorandum to Barbara E. Tillman,
Director, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6, ‘‘Affiliation
of Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Ltd. (Nan Ya) with
Certain U.S. Customers,’’ dated August 9, 2010, and
attached to the Nan Ya affiliation memorandum for
the 2010–11 review period as Exhibit 1.
17 See Nan Ya’s Supplemental Questionnaire
Response of June 29, 2012 at Questions 12–14 and
Exhibits SE5–Exhibits 12–1 through 12–4.
18 See Memorandum to Barbara E. Tillman,
Director, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6, ‘‘Affiliation
of Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Ltd. (Nan Ya) with
Certain U.S. Customers,’’ dated July 30, 2012.
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companies’ aggregate volume of home
market sales of the foreign like product
was greater than five percent of its
aggregate volume of U.S. sales of the
subject merchandise, and have
determined that both Shinkong’s and
Nan Ya’s home markets were viable
during the POR for comparison
purposes.
Comparisons to Normal Value
To determine whether sales of PET
Film were made at less than NV, we
compared the respondents’ EP sales
made in the United States to unaffiliated
customers to NV, as described below in
the ‘‘United States Price’’ and ‘‘Normal
Value’’ sections of this notice. In
accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B)(ii)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.414(c)(1) and
(d), we compared EP to NV of the
foreign like product in the appropriate
corresponding calendar month where
there were sales made in the ordinary
course of trade, as described in the
‘‘United States Price’’ and ‘‘Normal
Value’’ sections of this notice. Further,
we granted offsets for non-dumped
comparisons in the calculation of the
weighted-average dumping margin.19
Product Comparisons
Pursuant to section 771(16) of the Act,
we determined that products sold by the
respondents, as described in the ‘‘Scope
of the Order’’ section above, in Taiwan
during the POR are foreign like products
for purposes of determining appropriate
product comparisons to U.S. sales. For
product comparisons, we relied on five
criteria to match U.S. sales of subject
merchandise to comparison-market
sales (in order of importance): grade,
specification, thickness, thickness
range, and surface treatment.20 Where
there were no sales of identical
merchandise in the home market to
compare to U.S. sales, we compared
U.S. sales to the most similar foreign
like product on the basis of the
characteristics listed above.
Date of Sale
The Department normally uses
invoice date as date of sale, consistent
with 19 CFR 351.401(i). In prior
19 In these preliminary results, the Department
applied the weighted-average dumping margin
calculation method adopted in Final Modification
for Reviews. In particular, the Department
compared monthly weighted-average EPs with
monthly weighted-average NVs and granted offsets
for non-dumped comparisons in the calculation of
the weighted average dumping margin.
20 See the Department’s September 9, 2011
Antidumping Duty Questionnaire, issued to
Shinkong and Nan Ya respectively, at sections B
and C; see also PET Film Prelim 09–10, 76 FR at
47572, unchanged in PET Film Review 09–10.
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administrative reviews,21 the
Department used invoice date as the
date of sale. In this review, and as
explained further below, the
Department continues to find that
invoice date should be used as the date
of sale for both respondents.
With respect to the specific invoice
date the Department is using for
Shinkong, this respondent reported that,
on occasion, before subject merchandise
was shipped, changes to the terms of
sale occurred at the customer’s request
or because of Shinkong’s production
capacity. According to Shinkong, during
the POR, for home market sales and for
sales to the United States, the terms of
sale were finalized in the Government
Uniform Invoice (GUI).22 As such, we
preliminarily determine that for sales in
the home market, and for sales to the
United States made through domestic
trading companies, the GUI date is the
date on which the material terms of sale
are finalized.23 Therefore, this invoice
date is the most appropriate date to use
as Shinkong’s date of sale. For sales
made directly to U.S. customers,
Shinkong explained that it issues its
commercial invoice after production of
subject merchandise is completed, at
which time the terms of sale have been
finalized.24 Therefore, we preliminarily
determine that, for sales made directly
to the U.S. market, the commercial
invoice date is the most appropriate
invoice date to use as Shinkong’s date
of sale in accordance with 19 CFR
351.401(i), except when shipment date
predates invoice date. In those
instances, and consistent with the
Department’s practice, we have used
shipment date instead of invoice date as
the date of sale.25
Nan Ya reported the GUI invoice date
as the date of sale in the home market
during the POR, because Nan Ya allows
the customer to change the order
quantity after the date of the confirmed
purchase order.26 As such, we
preliminarily determine that for sales in
the home market, the GUI date is the
invoice date on which the material
21 See PET Film Prelim 09–10, 76 FR at 47542,
unchanged in PET Film Review 09–10.
22 See Shinkong’s October 21, 2012 submission at
17.
23 Id.
24 Id.
25 See Narrow Woven Ribbons with Woven
Selvedge from the People’s Republic of China:
Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value and Postponement of Final
Determination, 75 FR 7244, 7251(February 18,
2010), unchanged in Narrow Woven Ribbons With
Woven Selvedge From the People’s Republic of
China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value, 75 FR 41808 (July 19, 2010).
26 See Nan Ya’s Section B Questionnaire
Response of November 22, 2011 at 14–15.
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terms of sale are finalized, and is
therefore the most appropriate date to
use as Nan Ya’s date of sale.
Nan Ya requested that the Department
use the sales confirmation date as the
date of sale for its reported EP sales
because, according to Nan Ya, that is the
date on which the material terms of sale
are established (i.e., price and major
product characteristics such as
specification, thickness, and surface
treatment).27 In addition, Nan Ya
reported that it establishes a sales
confirmation ceiling for total weight by
always entering 19,000 kg., which
represents the capacity of one order
container as a cushion for changes in
production conditions. This allows
importers to change the width and
length of the product, and in rare cases,
to add an additional roll, provided that
the resulting weight is within the ceiling
established on the sales confirmation.28
Nan Ya also reported that there were a
number of instances of sale changes by
type and frequency for its reported U.S.
sales that included other changes in
addition to the product’s width and
length.29
The Department’s regulation
establishes a presumption for invoice
date which may be overcome when a
party demonstrates that the material
terms of sale such as price and quantity
are established on another date. Nan Ya
has not demonstrated that the material
terms of sale are established on sales
confirmation date. Nan Ya allows for
changes after the sales confirmation that
alters the product, which occurs after
the sales confirmation date. Indeed, the
record evidence demonstrates that all
final alterations to the product and the
actual weight are determined at the time
of invoicing when the product is
released to the customer.30 Thus, we
preliminarily determine that the invoice
date is the appropriate date to use as
Nan Ya’s date of sale in accordance with
19 CFR 351.401(i).
As noted above in the ‘‘Affiliation of
Nan Ya with U.S. Customers’’ section,
the Department has preliminarily
determined that Nan Ya is no longer
affiliated with certain U.S. importers
and we now find all of Nan Ya’s U.S.
sales to be EP sales. However, because
Nan Ya reported some of these sales as
CEP sales, it did not provide its invoice
date for these sales but provided the
27 See Nan Ya’s Section A Questionnaire
Response of October 24, 2011 at 20.
28 See Nan Ya’s Section C Questionnaire
Response of November 22, 2011 at 14.
29 See Nan Ya’s Supplemental Questionnaire
Response of June 5, 2012 at Exhibit SE2 14.a. ‘‘Sales
Change Type and Frequency in the U.S. Sales.’’
30 See Nan Ya’s Section C Questionnaire
Response of November 22, 2011 at 15.
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date of the purchase order between the
U.S. importers and their unaffiliated
customers as the date of sale. Because
we have determined that the invoice
date is the most appropriate date to use
as Nan Ya’s date of sale, necessary
information, the invoice date of these
sales, is missing from the record for
NanYa’s reported CEP sales, and we
must rely on the facts available pursuant
to section 776(a) of the Act.
As facts available, we have
constructed an invoice date using the
adjusted purchase order date as
explained below. For the sales it had
identified as CEP sales, Nan Ya reported
the date of the purchase order between
the U.S. importers and their unaffiliated
customers as the date of sale. In
addition, Nan Ya explained that for all
of its U.S. importers, ‘‘{o}nce a purchase
order is issued by the U.S. customer of
the importer to the importer, the latter
will place purchase orders via email or
facsimile with Nan Ya.’’ 31 Therefore,
we have relied on the date of the
purchase order between the U.S.
customer and the importer to establish
the date on which Nan Ya’s U.S.
importers issued purchase orders to Nan
Ya. In order to derive the date on which
Nan Ya issued its invoice for these sales,
we relied on information on the record
that indicates that Nan Ya issues its
invoice when the merchandise is
released to the customer, which is
generally 30 to 60 days after the
confirmed export order.32 For purposes
of these preliminary results, we have
derived Nan Ya’s invoice date for these
sales by adding 45 days to the date on
which the purchase order was received
by Nan Ya from these U.S. importers.
Because this change affects the
calculation of credit expenses for some
of the reported CEP sales that have been
reclassified as EP sales, we have used,
as facts available, the average credit
expense for all reported EP sales to
reflect this expense if it was incurred by
the U.S. importer when purchasing
subject merchandise from Nan Ya. After
these preliminary results, we intend to
gather information from Nan Ya to
establish the actual date of Nan Ya’s
invoice and credit expenses for these
sales.
United States Price
In calculating the U.S. price for
Shinkong and Nan Ya, we used EP, as
defined in section 772(a) of the Act,
because sales to the first unaffiliated
U.S. customer occurred before
31 See Nan Ya’s Section A Questionnaire
Response of October 24, 2011 at 16.
32 See Nan Ya’s Section C Questionnaire
Response of November 22, 2011 at 15.
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importation.33 We based EP on packed
prices to customers in the United States.
We made deductions from U.S. price for
the following movement expenses in
accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of
the Act: domestic inland freight from
plant to port of exportation, brokerage
and handling incurred in the country of
manufacture, marine insurance, and
international freight.
Cost of Production Analysis
Pursuant to 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act,
because the Department disregarded
certain of Shinkong’s and Nan Ya’s sales
in the most recently completed reviews
of this order,34 the Department had
reasonable grounds to believe or suspect
that Shinkong and Nan Ya made home
market sales at prices below the cost of
production (COP) in this review. As a
result, the Department is directed under
section 773(b) of the Act to determine
whether Shinkong and Nan Ya made
home market sales during the POR at
prices below COP.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1. Calculation of COP
The Department’s normal practice is
to calculate an annual weighted-average
cost for the entire POR.35 This
methodology is predictable and
generally applicable in all proceedings.
However, the Department recognizes
that distortions may result if our normal
annual average cost method is used
during a period of significant cost
changes. Under such circumstances, in
determining whether to deviate from
our normal methodology of calculating
an annual weighted average cost, the
Department has evaluated the casespecific record evidence using two
primary factors: (1) Whether the change
in the cost of manufacturing (COM)
experienced by the respondent during
the POR is significant; and (2) whether
the record evidence indicates that sales
33 As noted above in the ‘‘Affiliation of Nan Ya
with U.S. Customers’’ section, the Department has
preliminarily determined that Nan Ya is no longer
affiliated with certain U.S. customers and we now
find all of Nan Ya’s U.S. sales to be EP sales.
34 In the most recent review, only Shinkong was
reviewed. See PET Film Prelim 09–10, 76 FR at
47543, unchanged in PET Film Review 09–10. Nan
Ya was most recently reviewed in the 2008–2009
Administrative Review. See PET Film Prelim 08–09,
75 FR at 49905, unchanged in PET Film Review 08–
09.
35 See, e.g., Notice of Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Certain
Pasta from Italy, 65 FR 77852 (December 13, 2000),
and accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comment 18; see also Notice of
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod
from Canada, 71 FR 3822 (January 24, 2006), and
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 5 (explaining the Department’s practice of
computing a single weighted-average cost for the
entire period).
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prices during the shorter averaging
periods could be reasonably linked with
the COP or constructed value (CV)
during the same shorter averaging
periods.36
a. Significance of Cost Changes
Record evidence shows that Shinkong
and Nan Ya experienced significant
changes in the total COM during the
POR and that the changes in COM are
primarily attributable to the price
volatility for purified terephthalic acid
(PTA) and mono ethylene glycol
(MEG),37 the main inputs consumed in
the production of the merchandise
under consideration. Specifically, the
record data shows that the percentage
difference between the high and low
quarterly COM exceeded 25 percent
during the POR. As a result, we have
determined that for these preliminary
results the changes in COM for
Shinkong and Nan Ya are significant.
b. Linkage Between Cost and Sales
Information
The Department also evaluates
whether there is evidence of linkage
between the cost changes and the sales
prices for the given POR. Absent a
surcharge or other pricing mechanism,
the Department may alternatively look
for evidence of a pattern that changes in
selling prices reasonably correlate to
changes in unit costs.38 To determine
whether a reasonable correlation existed
between the sales prices and underlying
costs during the POR, we compared
weighted-average quarterly prices to the
corresponding quarterly COM for the
control numbers with the highest
volume of sales in the comparison
market and in the United States. Our
comparison revealed that the quarterly
cost and quarterly sales prices for
Shinkong and Nan Ya appear to be
reasonably correlated during this period
of significant cost changes.
In light of the two factors, we
preliminarily find that it is appropriate
to rely on a quarterly costing approach
with respect to both Shinkong and Nan
Ya. Thus, we used quarterly average
PTA and EG costs and annual weightedaverage fabrication costs in the COP
calculations. For further discussion of
36 See Final Results of the Antidumping
Administrative Review: Certain Welded Carbon
Steel Pipe and Tube from Turkey, 76 FR 76939
(December 9, 2011), and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 1.
37 Nan Ya reported this input as ethylene glycol
(EG), which is not chemically different than MEG.
38 See Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From Belgium:
Final Results of Administrative Review, 73 FR
75398 (December 11, 2008) and accompanying
Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 4.
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this issue, see the Shinkong and Nan Ya
cost adjustments memoranda.39
2. Calculation of Cost of Production
In accordance with section 773(b)(3)
of the Act, we calculated quarterly COP
based on the sum of Shinkong’s and
Nan Ya’s cost of materials and
fabrication for the foreign like product,
plus amounts for general and
administrative expenses (G&A), interest
expenses and home market packing
costs. These calculations include
revisions by the Department to the COP
information reported by Shinkong and
Nan Ya, consistent with Department
practice.40
On a product-specific basis, we
compared the revised COP figures to
home market prices net of applicable
billing adjustments, discounts and
rebates, movement charges, selling
expenses, and packing to determine
whether home market sales had been
made at prices below COP. In the last
review for Shinkong, we ignored the
grade product characteristic reported by
Shinkong when calculating productspecific costs, as grade differences are
the result of inadvertent errors in
production that lead to different
qualities of PET Film and not the result
of variances in production processes or
costs. However, in this review,
Shinkong reports a difference in grade
based on internal PET film cost codes
and therefore, different grades result in
different weighted average unit COP.41
Thus, we have included the grade
product characteristic in calculating
product-specific costs.
In determining whether to disregard
Shinkong’s and Nan Ya’s home market
sales that were made at prices below the
COP, we examined, in accordance with
sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act,
whether, within an extended period of
time, such sales were made in
substantial quantities, and whether such
sales were made at prices which did not
permit the recovery of all costs within
a reasonable period of time in the
normal course of trade. In accordance
with section 773(b)(2)(C) of the Act,
where less than 20 percent of a given
39 See Memorandum to Neal M. Halper, Director
of Office of Accounting, ‘‘Cost of Production and
Constructed Value Calculation Adjustments for the
Preliminary Review—Nan Ya Plastics Corporation,’’
dated July 30, 2012 (Nan Ya Cost Adjustments
Memorandum); see also Memorandum to Neal M.
Halper, Director of Office of Accounting, ‘‘Cost of
Production and Constructed Value Calculation
Adjustments for the Preliminary Review—Shinkong
Synthetic Fibers Corporation,’’ dated July 30, 2012
(Shinkong Cost Adjustments Memorandum).
40 Id.
41 See Shinkong’s section D response dated
November 14, 2011 at 108 and its supplemental D
response dated June 18, 2012 at 11.
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product was sold at prices less than
COP, we did not disregard any belowcost sales of that product, because the
below-cost sales were not made in
‘‘substantial quantities.’’ Where 20
percent or more of a given product was
sold at prices less than COP, we
disregarded the below cost sales if: (1)
they were made within an extended
period of time in ‘‘substantial
quantities,’’ in accordance with sections
773(b)(2)(B) and (C) of the Act; and (2)
based on our comparison of prices to
weighted-average COP figures for the
POR, they were made at prices which
would not permit the recovery of all
costs within a reasonable period of time,
in accordance with section 773(b)(2)(D)
of the Act. As stated in section
773(b)(2)(D) of the Act, prices are
considered to provide for recovery of
costs if such prices are above the
weighted average per-unit COP for the
period of investigation or review. In
light of the Court’s directives in SeAH
Steel Corp. v. United States, 704 F.
Supp. 2d 1353 (Ct. Int’l Trade 2010),
and SeAH Steel Corporation v. United
States, 764 F. Supp. 2d 1322 (Ct. Int’l
Trade 2011) to use an unadjusted
annual average cost for purposes of the
cost recovery test, in the instant review
we have used the approach which we
adopted recently to test for cost recovery
when using a shorter cost period
methodology.42 Using the methodology
adopted in SPT from Turkey, we
calculated a control-number-specific
weighted-average annual price using
only those sales that were made below
their quarterly COP, and compared the
resulting weighted-average price to the
annual weighted-average cost per
control number. If the annual weightedaverage price per control number was
above the annual weighted-average cost
per control number then we considered
those sales to have provided for the
recovery of costs and restored all such
sales to the NV pool of comparisonmarket sales available for comparison
with U.S. sales. For further details
regarding the cost recovery methodology
and the application of our shorter-cost
period methodology, see Shinkong Cost
Adjustments Memorandum and Nan Ya
Cost Adjustments Memorandum.
Normal Value
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
1. Price-to-Price Comparisons
We calculated NV based on packed
prices (i.e., including costs for packing)
to unaffiliated customers in the home
42 See Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipe and
Tube from Turkey; Notice of Final Results of
Antidumping Review, 76 FR 76939 (December 9,
2011) (‘‘SPT from Turkey’’).
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market.43 We used Shinkong’s and Nan
Ya’s adjustments and deductions as
reported. We made deductions, where
appropriate, for foreign inland freight
pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(B) of the
Act. In addition, for comparisons
involving similar merchandise, we
made adjustments for cost differences
attributable to the physical differences
between the products compared,
pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of
the Act and 19 CFR 351.411. We also
made adjustments for differences in the
circumstances of sale, in accordance
with section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii) of the Act
and 19 CFR 351.410, specifically for
imputed credit expenses. Finally, we
deducted home market packing costs
and added U.S. packing costs in
accordance with section 773(a)(6)(A)
and (B) of the Act.
2. Results of the Sales Below Cost Test
We found that for certain products,
more than 20 percent of Shinkong’s
home market sales were made at prices
below COP and, in addition, these
below cost sales were made within an
extended period of time and in
substantial quantities. In addition,
pursuant to the cost recovery analysis
described above, we found that these
sales were at prices which did not
permit the recovery of costs within a
reasonable period of time. We therefore
disregarded these sales from the
calculation of NV and used the
remaining home market sales as the
basis for determining NV, in accordance
with section 773(b)(1) of the Act.
3. Arm’s-Length Test
The Department may calculate NV
based on a sale to an affiliated party
only if it is satisfied that the price to the
affiliated party is comparable to the
prices at which sales are made to parties
not affiliated with the exporter or
producer; i.e., sales to home market
affiliates must be at arm’s-length.44
Sales to affiliated customers for
consumption in the home market that
are determined not to be at arm’s-length
are excluded from our analysis. To test
whether sales are made at arm’s-length
prices, the Department compares the
prices of sales of comparable
merchandise to affiliated and
unaffiliated customers, net of all
movement charges, direct selling
expenses, and packing. Pursuant to 19
43 Shinkong and Nan Ya sold a small amount of
foreign like product to its affiliates in the home
market for consumption during the POR. These
sales have failed the arm’s-length test and therefore
have been excluded from the calculation of NV. See
‘‘Arm’s Length Test’’ section, below, for further
discussion.
44 See 19 CFR 351.403(c).
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46709
CFR 351.403(c), and in accordance with
the Department’s practice, when the
prices charged to an affiliated party are,
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
determine that the sales to the affiliated
party are at arm’s-length.45
In this proceeding, both Shinkong and
Nan Ya reported sales of the foreign like
product to affiliated customers who
consumed the purchased material. Some
of Shinkong’s and all of Nan Ya’s sales
to these affiliated home market
customers did not pass the arm’s-length
test, and were therefore excluded from
our analysis.46
4. Constructed Value-to-Price
Comparisons
After disregarding certain sales as
below cost, as described above, home
market sales of contemporaneous
identical and similar products existed
that allowed for price-to-price
comparisons for all margin calculations
for both Shinkong and Nan Ya.
Therefore, the Department did not need
to rely on constructed value for any
calculations for these preliminary
results.
Currency Conversions
Pursuant to section 773A of the Act
and 19 CFR 351.415, we made currency
conversions for Shinkong’s and Nan
Ya’s sales based on the daily exchange
rates in effect on the dates of the
relevant U.S. sales as certified by the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Level of Trade
Section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act
states that, to the extent practicable, the
Department will calculate NV based on
sales at the same level of trade (LOT) as
the EP or CEP. Sales are made at
different LOTs if they are made at
different marketing stages (or their
equivalent). See 19 CFR 351.412(c)(2).
Substantial differences in selling
activities are a necessary, but not
45 See Antidumping Proceedings: Affiliated Party
Sales in the Ordinary Course of Trade, 67 FR 69186,
69187 (November 15, 2002).
46 See section 773(b)(1) of the Act; see also
Memorandum to Dana S. Mermelstein, Program
Manager, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6, ‘‘Analysis
for the Preliminary Results of the 2010–2011
Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty
Order on Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet,
and Strip from Taiwan: Shinkong Synthetic Fibers
Corporation and Shinkong Materials Technology
Co. Ltd,’’ dated July 30, 2012 and Memorandum to
Dana S. Mermelstein, Program Manager, AD/CVD
Operations, Office 6, ‘‘Analysis for the Preliminary
Results of the 2010–2011 Administrative Review of
the Antidumping Duty Order on Polyethylene
Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from Taiwan:
Nan Ya Plastics Corporation,’’ dated July 30, 2012.
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sufficient, condition for determining
that there is a difference in the stages of
marketing.47 In order to determine
whether the comparison market sales
were at different stages in the marketing
process than the U.S. sales, we reviewed
the distribution system in each market
(i.e., the chain of distribution),
including selling functions, class of
customer (customer category), and the
level of selling expenses for each type
of sale.
Pursuant to section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of
the Act, in identifying LOTs for EP and
comparison market sales (i.e., NV based
on either home market or third country
prices),48 we consider the starting prices
before any adjustments. For CEP sales,
we consider only the selling activities
reflected in the price after the deduction
of expenses and profit under section
772(d) of the Act.49
When the Department is unable to
match U.S. sales of the foreign like
product in the comparison market at the
same LOT as the EP or CEP, the
Department may compare the U.S. sale
to sales at a different LOT in the
comparison market. In comparing EP or
CEP sales at a different LOT in the
comparison market, where available
data make it possible, we make an LOT
adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of
the Act. Finally, for CEP sales only, if
the NV LOT is at a more advanced stage
of distribution than the LOT of the CEP
and there is no basis for determining
whether the difference in LOTs between
NV and CEP affects price comparability
(i.e., no LOT adjustment is possible), the
Department shall grant a CEP offset, as
provided in section 773(a)(7)(B) of the
Act.50
In implementing these principles, we
examined information provided by
Shinkong regarding the selling functions
involved in its home market and U.S.
sales, including a description of these
selling functions, provided in Exhibit 8
of Shinkong’s October 21, 2011 response
and Exhibit 12 of Shinkong’s May 24,
2012 response. Shinkong reported that
in the home market it made sales to
affiliated end users, unaffiliated end
users and to unaffiliated distributors,
and that all selling functions were
47 See Certain Orange Juice From Brazil: Final
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review and Notice of Intent Not To Revoke
Antidumping Duty Order in Part, 75 FR 50999,
51001 (August 18, 2010), and accompanying Issues
and Decision Memorandum at Comment 7 (OJ from
Brazil).
48 Where NV is based on CV, we determine the
NV LOT based on the LOT of the sales from which
we derive selling expenses, G&A expenses, and
profit for CV, where possible.
49 See Micron Tech., Inc. v. United States, 243
F.3d 1301, 1314–16 (Fed. Cir. 2001).
50 See, e.g., OJ from Brazil, 75 FR at 51001.
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performed at the same or similar levels
of intensity in all channels of
distribution. We examined the following
three activities performed in the
comparison market: (1) Sales and
marketing (sales forecasting, strategic/
economic planning, order input/
processing, etc.); (2) freight and delivery
(including packing); and (3) technical
service/warranties. Based on our
analysis, we find that Shinkong
performed the same selling functions in
all three categories to the same or
similar degree in all channels of
distribution with the exception of
rebates, which were provided at a low
level only to distributors. Because all
comparison market sales are made
through these channels of distribution,
and Shinkong’s selling activities did not
vary significantly in intensity among
these channels, we preliminarily
determine that there is one LOT in the
comparison market for Shinkong.
Shinkong reported that sales in the
U.S. market were only made to
distributors during the POR. Shinkong
provided information which
consolidated all of the selling activities
performed for U.S. sales into this one
channel of distribution.51 These selling
activities were grouped into the
following three activities: (1) Sales and
marketing (sales negotiation, strategic/
economic planning, order input/
processing, etc.); (2) freight and delivery
(including packing); and (3) technical
services/warranties. Since Shinkong’s
sales to the U.S. importers were only
made through one channel of
distribution, we preliminarily determine
that there is one LOT in the U.S. market.
Finally, we compared the U.S. market
LOT to the home market LOT and found
that the selling functions performed for
U.S. and comparison home market
customers do not differ, as Shinkong
performed the same selling functions at
the same relative or similar level of
intensity in both markets, with the
previously noted exception of rebates.
There was no substantial difference in
these selling activities, therefore, we
preliminarily determine that sales to the
U.S. and comparison market during the
POR were made at the same LOT and,
as a result, no LOT adjustment is
warranted. These findings are consistent
with determinations in past segments of
this proceeding based on similar record
evidence.52
With regard to Nan Ya, because the
Department preliminarily determines
that Nan Ya is no longer affiliated with
51 See Shinkong’s supplemental questionnaire
response of May 24, 2012 at Exhibit 12.
52 See PET Film from Taiwan Investigation; see
also PET Film Review 09–10.
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certain U.S. customers as discussed in
the ‘‘Affiliation of Nan Ya with U.S.
Customers’’ section, above, all of the
U.S. sales are preliminarily determined
to be EP sales. We obtained information
from Nan Ya regarding the marketing
stages involved in making the reported
foreign market and U.S. sales, including
a description of the selling activities
performed by Nan Ya respondent for
each channel of distribution.
In this administrative review, with
respect to the comparison market, Nan
Ya reported that it made sales to both
unaffiliated end users and to
unaffiliated distributors, and that most
selling functions were performed at the
same or similar levels of intensity in
both channels of distribution. We
examined the following three activities
performed in the comparison market: (1)
Sales and marketing (sales forecasting,
strategic/economic planning, order
input/processing, etc.); (2) freight and
delivery (including packing); and (3)
technical service warranties. Based on
our analysis, we find that Nan Ya
performed the selling functions in all
three categories to the same or similar
degree in both channels of
distribution.53 Because all comparison
market sales are made through these two
channels of distribution, and the selling
activities to Nan Ya’s customers did not
vary between theses channels, we
preliminarily determine that there is
one LOT in the comparison market for
Nan Ya.
Nan Ya reported that its sales to the
U.S. market were only made to
distributors during the POR.54 Nan Ya
provided information which
consolidated all of the selling activities
performed for U.S. sales into this one
channel of distribution. These selling
activities were grouped into the
following three activities: (1) Sales and
marketing (sales negotiation, strategic/
economic planning, order input/
processing, etc.); (2) freight and delivery
(including packing); and (3) technical
services/warranties.55 Since Nan Ya’s
sales to the U.S. importers were only
made through one channel of
distribution, we preliminarily determine
that there is one LOT in the U.S. market.
Finally, we compared the U.S. market
LOT to the home market LOT and found
that the selling functions performed for
U.S. and comparison home market
customers do not differ significantly, as
53 See Nan Ya’s Supplemental Questionnaire
Response of June 5, 2012, at Exhibit SE2–Exhibit9.
54 See Nan Ya’s Section A Questionnaire
Response of October 24, 2011 at 13.
55 See Nan Ya’s Supplemental Questionnaire
Response of June 5, 2011, at Exhibit SE2–Exhibit9.
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Nan Ya performed the selling functions
at the same relative or similar level of
intensity in both markets. Nan Ya
reported that it conducts more sales
activities in the home market than in the
U.S. market with respect to sales
negotiations and post-sales technical
services.56 Our examination of the
selling and marketing activities in the
instant review shows that almost all of
the selling functions in the home market
between end-use customers and
distributors are the same.57 However,
we do not find these home market
activities or the level of intensity at
which they are performed, to be
significantly different from the selling
and marketing activities performed in
the U.S. market. Where some differences
appear to exist between the U.S. and
comparison markets, the narrative
explanations show them to be more
similar than different (e.g., the sales
process does not differ by channel of
distribution in either the U.S. or home
market; the same process is used for
handling technical inquiries in both the
U.S. and home market; and Nan Ya
hires outside carriers to deliver the
merchandise to both its customers in the
home market and to the port of
export).58 Therefore, we preliminarily
determine that sales to the U.S. and
comparison market during the POR
were made at the same LOT and, as a
result, no LOT adjustment is warranted.
These findings are consistent with
determinations in past segments of this
proceeding based on similar record
evidence.59
Assessment Rates
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b), the
Department shall determine, and U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
shall assess, antidumping duties on all
appropriate entries. We will instruct
CBP to liquidate entries of merchandise
produced and/or exported by Shinkong
and Nan Ya. The Department intends to
issue assessment instructions to CBP 15
days after the date of publication of the
final results of review. For assessment
purposes, where possible, we calculate
importer-specific (or customer-specific)
ad valorem assessment rates based on
the ratio of the total amount of the
dumping duties calculated for the
examined sales to the total entered
value of those same sales.60 However,
where the respondents do not report the
entered value for their sales, we
calculate importer-specific (or customerspecific) per-unit duty assessment rates.
We will instruct CBP to assess
antidumping duties on all appropriate
entries covered by this review if any
assessment rate calculated in the final
results of this review is above de
minimis.
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit
requirements will be effective for all
shipments of PET Film from Taiwan
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the date of
publication of the final results of this
administrative review, as provided for
by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1)
Preliminary Results of Review
The cash deposit rate for companies
under review will be the rate
As a result of our review, we
established in the final results of this
preliminarily determine the following
review (except, if the rate is de minimis,
weighted-average antidumping duty
margins exist for the period July 1, 2010, i.e., less than 0.5 percent, a zero cash
deposit rate will be required for that
through June 30, 2011.
company); (2) for previously reviewed
Weightedor investigated companies not listed
Producer/
average
above, the cash deposit rate will
Exporter
margin
continue to be the company-specific rate
(percent)
published for the most recent period; (3)
Nan Ya Plastics Corporation,
if the exporter is not a firm covered in
Ltd. ....................................
5.20 this review, a prior review, or the lessShinkong Synthetic Fibers
than-fair-value investigation, but the
Corporation .......................
0.00 manufacturer is, the cash deposit rate
will be the rate established for the most
recent period for the manufacturer of
56 See Nan Ya’s Section A Questionnaire
the merchandise; and, (4) if neither the
Response of October 24, 2011 at 14.
57 See Nan Ya’s Supplemental Questionnaire
exporter nor the manufacturer is a firm
Response of June 5, 2011 at Exhibit SE2–9.
covered in this or any previous review,
58 See Nan Ya’s Section A Questionnaire
the cash deposit rate will be the all
Response of October 24, 2011 at 16; see also Nan
others rate for this proceeding, 2.40
Ya’s Section B Questionnaire Response of
percent. These deposit requirements,
November 22, 2011 at 25; Nan Ya’s Section C
Questionnaire Response of November 22, 2011 at
when imposed, shall remain in effect
26; and Nan Ya’s Supplemental Questionnaire
until further notice.
Response of June 5, 2011 at 12.
59 See PET Film from Taiwan Investigation; see
also PET Film Review 08–09.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:11 Aug 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
60 See
PO 00000
19 CFR 351.212(b).
Frm 00031
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
46711
Disclosure and Public Comment
We will disclose the calculations used
in our analysis to parties in this review
within five days of the date of
publication of this notice in accordance
with 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.61 Interested
parties, who wish to request a hearing,
or to participate if one is requested,
must submit a written request to the
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, filed electronically using IA
ACCESS. An electronically filed
document must be received successfully
in its entirety by the Department’s
electronic records system, IA ACCESS,
by 5 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days
after the date of publication of this
notice.62 If a hearing is requested, the
Department will notify interested
parties of the hearing schedule. Oral
presentations will be limited to issues
raised in the briefs.
Interested parties are invited to
comment on the preliminary results of
this review. The Department typically
requests that interested parties submit
case briefs within 30 days of the date of
publication of this notice. However, we
plan to issue a post-preliminary
supplemental questionnaire and,
therefore, will be extending the case
brief deadline. The Department will
inform interested parties of the updated
briefing schedule when it has been
confirmed. Rebuttal briefs, which must
be limited to issues raised in the case
briefs, must be filed not later than five
days after the time limit for filing case
briefs.63 Parties who submit case briefs
or rebuttal briefs in this review are
requested to submit with each
argument: (1) A statement of the issue;
(2) a brief summary of the argument;
and (3) a table of authorities. Executive
summaries should be limited to five
pages total, including footnotes.
We intend to issue the final results of
this administrative review, including
the results of our analysis of issues
raised in the written comments, within
120 days of publication of these
preliminary results in the Federal
Register, unless otherwise extended.
See section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a
preliminary reminder to importers of
61 See
19 CFR 351.310.
should contain the party’s name,
address, and telephone number, the number of
participants, and a list of the issues to be discussed.
63 See 19 CFR 351.309(c) and (d) (for a further
discussion of case briefs and rebuttal briefs,
respectively).
62 Requests
E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM
06AUN1
46712
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 151 / Monday, August 6, 2012 / Notices
their responsibility under 19 CFR
351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding
the reimbursement of antidumping
duties prior to liquidation of the
relevant entries during this review
period. Failure to comply with this
requirement could result in the
Department’s presumption that
reimbursement of antidumping duties
occurred and the subsequent assessment
of doubled antidumping duties.
These preliminary results of
administrative review are issued and
published in accordance with sections
751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: July 30, 2012.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012–19149 Filed 8–3–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–821–807]
Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium
From the Russian Federation: Negative
Final Determination of Circumvention
of the Antidumping Duty Order
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
AGENCY:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Final Determination
We determine that the importation of
vanadium pentoxide from the Russian
Federation (Russia) by the Evraz
Group,1 which is toll-converted into
ferrovanadium in the United States by
Bear Metallurgical Corporation (Bear),
prior to sale to unaffiliated customers in
the United States, does not constitute
circumvention of the antidumping duty
order on ferrovanadium and nitrided
vanadium (ferrovanadium) from Russia,
within the meaning of section 781(a) of
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the
Act).
DATES: Effective Date: August 6, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Goldberger or Rebecca Trainor,
AD/CVD Operations, Office 2, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–4136 or (202) 482–
4007, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1 The Evraz Group (otherwise referred to as Evraz
in this notice) includes OAO Vanady-Tula, East
Metals S.A., and East Metals N.A.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:11 Aug 03, 2012
Jkt 226001
Background
On February 8, 2012, the Department
of Commerce (the Department)
published in the Federal Register its
negative preliminary determination that
Evraz’s imports of vanadium pentoxide
from Russia that are toll-converted into
ferrovanadium in the United States by
Bear are not circumventing the
antidumping duty order on
ferrovanadium and nitrided vanadium
from Russia,2 pursuant to section 781(a)
of the Act.3
AMG Vanadium Inc. (AMG
Vanadium) and Bear submitted case
briefs on March 23, 2012. Both of these
parties and Evraz submitted rebuttal
briefs on March 28, 2012. We held both
a public and a closed hearing on May
3, 2012.
Scope of the Antidumping Duty Order
The products subject to this order are
ferrovanadium and nitrided vanadium,
regardless of grade, chemistry, form or
size, unless expressly excluded from the
scope of this order. Ferrovanadium
includes alloys containing
ferrovanadium as the predominant
element by weight (i.e., more weight
than any other element, except iron in
some instances) and at least 4 percent
by weight of iron. Nitrided vanadium
includes compounds containing
vanadium as the predominant element,
by weight, and at least 5 percent, by
weight, of nitrogen. Excluded from the
scope of the order are vanadium
additives other than ferrovanadium and
nitrided vanadium, such as vanadiumaluminum master alloys, vanadium
chemicals, vanadium waste and scrap,
vanadium-bearing raw materials, such
as slag, boiler residues, fly ash, and
vanadium oxides.
The products subject to this order are
currently classifiable under subheadings
2850.00.20, 7202.92.00, 7202.99.50.40,
8112.40.30.00, and 8112.40.60.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS). Although the
HTSUS subheadings are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, our
written description of the scope is
dispositive.
Scope of the Circumvention Inquiry
The product subject to this
anticircumvention inquiry is vanadium
pentoxide (V2O5) from Russia, which is
2 See Notice of Antidumping Order:
Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium From the
Russian Federation, 60 FR 35550 (July 10, 1995).
3 See Preliminary Negative Determination and
Extension of Time Limit for Final Determination of
Circumvention of the Antidumping Duty Order on
Ferrovanadium and Nitrided Vanadium From the
Russian Federation, 77 FR 6537, (February 8, 2012)
(Preliminary Determination).
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
usually in a granular form and may
contain other substances, including
silica (SiO2), manganese, and sulfur, and
which is converted into ferrovanadium
in the United States. Such merchandise
is classifiable under subheading
2825.30.0010 of the HTSUS. This
inquiry only covers such products that
are imported by the Evraz Group and
converted into ferrovanadium in the
United States by Bear.
Statutory Provisions Regarding
Circumvention
Section 781(a) of the Act provides that
the Department may find circumvention
of an antidumping duty order when
merchandise of the same class or kind
subject to the order is completed or
assembled in the United States. In
conducting anticircumvention inquiries
under section 781(a)(1) of the Act, the
Department determines whether (A)
merchandise sold in the United States is
of the same class or kind as any other
merchandise produced in a foreign
country that is the subject of an
antidumping duty order; (B) such
merchandise sold in the United States is
completed or assembled in the United
States from parts or components
produced in the foreign country with
respect to which the antidumping duty
order applies; (C) the process of
assembly or completion in the United
States is minor or insignificant; and (D)
the value of the parts or components
referred to in (B) is a significant portion
of the total value of the merchandise.
With regard to sub-part (C), section
781(a)(2) of the Act specifies that the
Department ‘‘shall take into account: (A)
The level of investment in the United
States; (B) the level of research and
development in the United States; (C)
the nature of the production process in
the United States, (D) the extent of
production facilities in the United
States; and (E) whether the value of the
processing performed in the United
States represents a small proportion of
the value of the merchandise sold in the
United States.’’
In addition, the Statement of
Administrative Action (SAA)
accompanying the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act, H. R. Doc. No. 103–
316, at 893 (1994), states that no single
factor listed in section 781(a)(2) of the
Act will be controlling. The SAA also
states that the Department will evaluate
each of the factors as they exist in the
United States depending on the
particular circumvention scenario. See
id. Therefore, the importance of any one
of the factors listed under 781(a)(2) of
the Act can vary from case to case
depending on the particular
E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46704-46712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19149]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-583-837]
Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan:
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 antidumping duty order on polyethylene
terephthalate film, sheet, and strip (PET Film) from Taiwan. The period
of review (POR) is July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011. This review
covers respondents Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corporation (SSFC) and its
subsidiary Shinkong Materials Technology Co. Ltd. (SMTC) (collectively,
Shinkong), and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Ltd. (Nan Ya), producers
and exporters of PET Film from Taiwan. The Department preliminarily
determines that Nan Ya made and Shinkong did not make sales of PET Film
from Taiwan below normal value (NV). The preliminary results are listed
below in the section titled ``Preliminary Results of Review.''
Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.
DATES: Effective Date: August 6, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Carey or Milton Koch, AD/CVD
Operations, Office 6, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 428-
3964, or (202) 482-2584, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 1, 2002, the Department published in the Federal Register
the antidumping duty order on PET Film from Taiwan.\1\ On July 1, 2011,
the Department published a notice of opportunity to request an
administrative review of the order.\2\ In response, on July 29, 2011,
Petitioners\3\ requested that the Department conduct an administrative
review of Nan Ya's and Shinkong's sales of PET Film from Taiwan to the
United States. Also on July 29, Shinkong requested that the Department
conduct an administrative review of its sales. On August 1, 2011, Nan
Ya requested that the Department conduct an administrative review of
its sales.\4\ On November 25, 2011, Petitioners withdrew their request
for an administrative review of Nan Ya. However, because Nan Ya
requested a review of itself, there was no basis to rescind the review
of Nan Ya.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Notice of Amended Final Antidumping Duty Determination
of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order:
Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip (PET Film) from
Taiwan, 67 FR 44174 (July 1, 2002), as corrected in 67 FR 46566
(July 15, 2002).
\2\ See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or
Suspended Investigation: Opportunity To Request Administrative
Review, 76 FR 38609, 38610 (July 1, 2011).
\3\ Petitioners are DuPont Teijin Films, Mitsubishi Polyester
Film, Inc., SKC, Inc., and Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
\4\ This request was timely because July 31, 2011 was a Sunday.
See Notice of Clarification: Application of ``Next Business Day''
Rule for Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant to the
Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended,70 FR 24533 (May 10, 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On August 26, 2011, the Department initiated an administrative
review of Shinkong and Nan Ya (collectively, the respondents).\5\ On
September 9, 2011, the Department issued an antidumping duty
questionnaire to the respondents. On October 21 and 24, 2011,
respectively, Shinkong and Nan Ya timely filed their Section A
response. On November 14 and 18, 2011,
[[Page 46705]]
respectively, Shinkong and Nan Ya timely filed their Section B, C, and
D responses. On March 27, 2012, the Department extended the time period
for issuing the preliminary results of this administrative review.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews and Requests for Revocation In Part, 76 FR
53404, 53406 (August 26, 2011).
\6\ See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip (PET
Film) From Taiwan: Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary
Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 76 FR 13128
(March 10, 2011).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On April 11, 2012, Petitioners filed comments on Nan Ya's
questionnaire response. Between April and July 2012, the Department
issued several supplemental questionnaires separately on sections A, B,
and C, and section D, to both Shinkong and Nan Ya requesting additional
information. All responses were timely submitted. On July 9, 2012,
Petitioners filed comments on both Nan Ya's and Shinkong's
questionnaire responses. On July 17, 2012, Petitioners filed targeted
dumping allegations for both Nan Ya and Shinkong.
For purposes of these preliminary results the Department did not
conduct a targeted dumping analysis. In calculating the preliminary
weighted-average dumping margins for the mandatory respondents, the
Department applied the calculation methodology adopted in Final
Modification for Reviews.\7\ In particular, the Department compared
monthly weighted-average export prices (EPs) (or constructed export
prices (CEPs)) with monthly weighted-average NVs and granted offsets
for non-dumped comparisons in the calculation of the weighted-average
dumping margins. Application of this methodology in these preliminary
results affords parties an opportunity to meaningfully comment on the
Department's implementation of this recently adopted methodology in the
context of this administrative review. The Department intends to
continue to consider, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.414(c), whether another
method is appropriate in these administrative reviews in light of the
parties' pre-preliminary comments and any comments on the issue that
parties may include in their case and rebuttal briefs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Antidumping Proceedings: Calculation of the Weighted-
Average Dumping Margin and Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping
Proceedings; Final Modification, 77 FR 8101 (February 14, 2012)
(Final Modification for Reviews).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Order
The products covered by the antidumping duty order are all gauges
of raw, pretreated, or primed polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet,
and strip, whether extruded or coextruded. Excluded are metalized films
and other finished films that have had at least one of their surfaces
modified by the application of a performance-enhancing resinous or
inorganic layer of more than 0.00001 inches thick. Imports of
polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip are currently
classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) under item number 3920.62.00.90. HTSUS subheadings are provided
for convenience and customs purposes. The written description of the
scope of the antidumping duty order is dispositive.
Period of Review
The POR for this administrative review is July 1, 2010, through
June 30, 2011.
Use of Facts Otherwise Available
Section 776(a) of the Act provides that the Department shall apply
``facts otherwise available'' if: (1) Necessary information is not on
the record; or (2) an interested party or any other person (A)
withholds information that has been requested, (B) fails to provide
information within the deadlines established, or in the form and manner
requested by the Department, subject to subsections (c)(1) and (e) of
section 782 of the Act, (C) significantly impedes a proceeding, or (D)
provides information that cannot be verified as provided by section
782(i) of the Act.
Section 782(e) of the Act provides that the Department ``shall not
decline to consider information that is submitted by an interested
party and is necessary to the determination but does not meet all
applicable requirements established by the administering authority'' if
the information is timely, can be verified, is not so incomplete that
it cannot be used, can be used without undue difficulties, and if the
interested party acted to the best of its ability in providing the
information. Where all of these conditions are met, the statute
requires the Department to use the information supplied.
For the reasons discussed below, the Department determines that, in
accordance with section 776(a)(1) of the Act, the use of facts
otherwise available is appropriate for the preliminary results with
respect to Nan Ya's sales to certain importers in the United States.
Because Nan Ya reported these sales as CEP sales, and we are treating
these sales as EP sales for purposes of these preliminary results (see
``Affiliation of Nan Ya with U.S. Customers''), necessary information,
the invoice date of these sales, is not available on the record.
Collapsing SSFC and SMTC
The Department will treat two or more affiliated producers as a
single entity where: (1) those producers have production facilities for
similar or identical products that would not require substantial
retooling of either facility; and (2) there is a significant potential
for manipulation of price or production pursuant to 19 CFR
351.401(f)(1) and (2). Consistent with the most recently completed
administrative review, the Department preliminarily determines that
SSFC and SMTC should be treated as a single entity (i.e., Shinkong) for
purposes of calculating an antidumping margin pursuant to 19 CFR
351.401(f).\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip From
Taiwan: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 76 FR 47540, 47541 (August 5, 2011) (``PET Film Prelim 09-
10'') unchanged in Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip
From Taiwan: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review; 76 FR 76941 (December 9, 2011) (``PET Film Review 09-10'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMTC was established in October 2004 and it is a subsidiary of
SSFC. In the past, SSFC and SMTC both produced similar or identical
merchandise, including subject merchandise. At the start of the current
POR, on July 1, 2010, SSFC sold its equipment and machinery to its
subsidiary SMTC, and SSFC stopped producing subject merchandise.\9\
However, the equipment remained at SSFC's facility and SSFC charged
SMTC a plant management fee. Similar to the structure of companies the
Department found affiliated in Pipe Fittings from Italy \10\ and Shrimp
from Brazil, \11\ because SSFC is the majority shareholder of SMTC, the
level of common ownership between SSFC and SMTC is such that operations
are so intertwined that they are integral to the operations of each
other. Shinkong reported that the management of the two companies is
commingled and that SSFC and SMTC are effectively managed and operated
as one company.\12\ Thus, we find that the two
[[Page 46706]]
companies could switch roles and restructure manufacturing priorities
such that there is a significant potential for the manipulation of
price or production and that, according to our practice, they satisfy
the first criteria of 19 CFR 351.401(f)(1). With regard to the
significant potential for manipulation pursuant to 19 CFR
351.401(f)(2), we find that, because SMTC has a fully functioning
facility for producing the subject merchandise, which is located on the
same premises and is controlled by SSFC,\13\ the role of producer and
seller could easily switch from SMTC to SSFC without substantial
retooling at either company. We also found that the majority ownership
of SMTC by SSFC demonstrates a significant potential for manipulation
of price or production between the two companies. In addition, the sale
of the production equipment to SMTC without its relocation; the
imposition of a plant management fee by SSFC on SMTC; and, the
provision of major inputs at cost by SSFC to SMTC demonstrate that
production operations are intertwined. Furthermore, the commingled
management highlights that the companies are effectively operated and
managed as one. Therefore, because both 19 CFR 351.401(f)(1) and (2)
are met, we are continuing to collapse SSFC and SMTC, and treat them as
a single entity, Shinkong, for these preliminary results.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See Shinkong's October 21, 2011 submission at 1.
\10\ See Stainless Steel Butt-Weld Pipe Fittings From Italy:
Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and
Preliminary No Shipment Determination, 76 FR 79655 (December 22,
2011) (Pipe Fittings from Italy), unchanged in Stainless Steel Butt-
Weld Pipe Fittings From Italy: Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review and Final No Shipment Determination, 77 FR
24459 (April 24, 2012).
\11\ See Final Results of the Antidumping Duty Investigation of
Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp from Brazil, 69 FR 76910
(December 23, 2004).
\12\ See Shinkong's October 21, 2011 submission at 7.
\13\ See Shinkong's June 18, 2012 submission at 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Affiliation of Nan Ya With U.S. Customers
In the less-than-fair-value investigation \14\ and subsequent
administrative reviews,\15\ the Department determined that Nan Ya,
through a family grouping, was in a position of legal and operational
control of three of its U.S. customers, in accordance with section
771(33)(F) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). We found
that members of a family involved in the ownership and management of
Nan Ya also shared ownership and management of three U.S. importers,
and that this family possessed the potential to act in concert or act
out of common interest to exert restraint or direction over the
activities of these U.S. companies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\14\ See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value: Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip (PET
Film) from Taiwan, 67 FR 35474 (May 20, 2002) (``PET Film from
Taiwan Investigation'').
\15\ See Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from
Taiwan: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 69
FR 50166 (August 13, 2004) and the accompanying Issues and Decision
Memorandum at Comments 1 and 3; see also Polyethylene Terephthalate
Film, Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan: Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review(``Pet Film Prelim 08-09''),
75 FR 49902 (August 16, 2010), unchanged in Polyethylene
Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip From Taiwan: Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 76 FR 9745 (February 22,
2011) (``Pet Film Review 08-09'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the last administrative review that analyzed Nan Ya's
affiliation with these three U.S. importers that purchased and sold the
subject merchandise, Nan Ya reported that the 2008 death of its
Chairman, Mr. Y.C. Wang, dissolved the family ties and common ownership
interests such that there was no longer an affiliation between Nan Ya
and these three U.S. importers. However, the Department found that Nan
Ya had not provided sufficient information to warrant the
reconsideration of our prior affiliation finding.\16\ Nan Ya now has
provided information in the instant review regarding both the
disposition of Mr. Y.C. Wang's assets and the current ownership and
corporate structure of Nan Ya and the three U.S. importers that the
Department found affiliated in past proceedings.\17\ Our analysis of
this information indicates that following the death of the Chairman,
and distribution of his assets to his heirs, there was no longer any
evidence of control of Nan Ya by the family unit. Therefore, we
preliminarily determine that Nan Ya is no longer affiliated with these
three U.S. customers; as such, we are treating all of Nan Ya's U.S.
sales as EP sales. For further discussion of the business proprietary
ownership information, see the Nan Ya affiliation memorandum.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ See Memorandum to Barbara E. Tillman, Director, AD/CVD
Operations, Office 6, ``Affiliation of Nan Ya Plastics Corporation,
Ltd. (Nan Ya) with Certain U.S. Customers,'' dated August 9, 2010,
and attached to the Nan Ya affiliation memorandum for the 2010-11
review period as Exhibit 1.
\17\ See Nan Ya's Supplemental Questionnaire Response of June
29, 2012 at Questions 12-14 and Exhibits SE5-Exhibits 12-1 through
12-4.
\18\ See Memorandum to Barbara E. Tillman, Director, AD/CVD
Operations, Office 6, ``Affiliation of Nan Ya Plastics Corporation,
Ltd. (Nan Ya) with Certain U.S. Customers,'' dated July 30, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home Market Viability
In order to determine whether there is a sufficient volume of sales
in the home market to serve as a viable basis for calculating NV (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 Shinkong's and Nan Ya's home market sales of the
foreign like product to the volume of their U.S. sales of subject
merchandise, in accordance with section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act and
19 CFR 351.401(b). Based on this comparison, we found that both
companies' aggregate volume of home market sales of the foreign like
product was greater than five percent of its aggregate volume of U.S.
sales of the subject merchandise, and have determined that both
Shinkong's and Nan Ya's home markets were viable during the POR for
comparison purposes.
Comparisons to Normal Value
To determine whether sales of PET Film were made at less than NV,
we compared the respondents' EP sales made in the United States to
unaffiliated customers to NV, as described below in the ``United States
Price'' and ``Normal Value'' sections of this notice. In accordance
with section 773(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.414(c)(1) and
(d), we compared EP to NV of the foreign like product in the
appropriate corresponding calendar month where there were sales made in
the ordinary course of trade, as described in the ``United States
Price'' and ``Normal Value'' sections of this notice. Further, we
granted offsets for non-dumped comparisons in the calculation of the
weighted-average dumping margin.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ In these preliminary results, the Department applied the
weighted-average dumping margin calculation method adopted in Final
Modification for Reviews. In particular, the Department compared
monthly weighted-average EPs with monthly weighted-average NVs and
granted offsets for non-dumped comparisons in the calculation of the
weighted average dumping margin.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Product Comparisons
Pursuant to section 771(16) of the Act, we determined that products
sold by the respondents, as described in the ``Scope of the Order''
section above, in Taiwan during the POR are foreign like products for
purposes of determining appropriate product comparisons to U.S. sales.
For product comparisons, we relied on five criteria to match U.S. sales
of subject merchandise to comparison-market sales (in order of
importance): grade, specification, thickness, thickness range, and
surface treatment.\20\ Where there were no sales of identical
merchandise in the home market to compare to U.S. sales, we compared
U.S. sales to the most similar foreign like product on the basis of the
characteristics listed above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ See the Department's September 9, 2011 Antidumping Duty
Questionnaire, issued to Shinkong and Nan Ya respectively, at
sections B and C; see also PET Film Prelim 09-10, 76 FR at 47572,
unchanged in PET Film Review 09-10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date of Sale
The Department normally uses invoice date as date of sale,
consistent with 19 CFR 351.401(i). In prior
[[Page 46707]]
administrative reviews,\21\ the Department used invoice date as the
date of sale. In this review, and as explained further below, the
Department continues to find that invoice date should be used as the
date of sale for both respondents.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ See PET Film Prelim 09-10, 76 FR at 47542, unchanged in PET
Film Review 09-10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With respect to the specific invoice date the Department is using
for Shinkong, this respondent reported that, on occasion, before
subject merchandise was shipped, changes to the terms of sale occurred
at the customer's request or because of Shinkong's production capacity.
According to Shinkong, during the POR, for home market sales and for
sales to the United States, the terms of sale were finalized in the
Government Uniform Invoice (GUI).\22\ As such, we preliminarily
determine that for sales in the home market, and for sales to the
United States made through domestic trading companies, the GUI date is
the date on which the material terms of sale are finalized.\23\
Therefore, this invoice date is the most appropriate date to use as
Shinkong's date of sale. For sales made directly to U.S. customers,
Shinkong explained that it issues its commercial invoice after
production of subject merchandise is completed, at which time the terms
of sale have been finalized.\24\ Therefore, we preliminarily determine
that, for sales made directly to the U.S. market, the commercial
invoice date is the most appropriate invoice date to use as Shinkong's
date of sale in accordance with 19 CFR 351.401(i), except when shipment
date predates invoice date. In those instances, and consistent with the
Department's practice, we have used shipment date instead of invoice
date as the date of sale.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ See Shinkong's October 21, 2012 submission at 17.
\23\ Id.
\24\ Id.
\25\ See Narrow Woven Ribbons with Woven Selvedge from the
People's Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value and Postponement of Final Determination, 75 FR
7244, 7251(February 18, 2010), unchanged in Narrow Woven Ribbons
With Woven Selvedge From the People's Republic of China: Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 75 FR 41808 (July
19, 2010).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nan Ya reported the GUI invoice date as the date of sale in the
home market during the POR, because Nan Ya allows the customer to
change the order quantity after the date of the confirmed purchase
order.\26\ As such, we preliminarily determine that for sales in the
home market, the GUI date is the invoice date on which the material
terms of sale are finalized, and is therefore the most appropriate date
to use as Nan Ya's date of sale.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ See Nan Ya's Section B Questionnaire Response of November
22, 2011 at 14-15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nan Ya requested that the Department use the sales confirmation
date as the date of sale for its reported EP sales because, according
to Nan Ya, that is the date on which the material terms of sale are
established (i.e., price and major product characteristics such as
specification, thickness, and surface treatment).\27\ In addition, Nan
Ya reported that it establishes a sales confirmation ceiling for total
weight by always entering 19,000 kg., which represents the capacity of
one order container as a cushion for changes in production conditions.
This allows importers to change the width and length of the product,
and in rare cases, to add an additional roll, provided that the
resulting weight is within the ceiling established on the sales
confirmation.\28\ Nan Ya also reported that there were a number of
instances of sale changes by type and frequency for its reported U.S.
sales that included other changes in addition to the product's width
and length.\29\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ See Nan Ya's Section A Questionnaire Response of October
24, 2011 at 20.
\28\ See Nan Ya's Section C Questionnaire Response of November
22, 2011 at 14.
\29\ See Nan Ya's Supplemental Questionnaire Response of June 5,
2012 at Exhibit SE2 14.a. ``Sales Change Type and Frequency in the
U.S. Sales.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department's regulation establishes a presumption for invoice
date which may be overcome when a party demonstrates that the material
terms of sale such as price and quantity are established on another
date. Nan Ya has not demonstrated that the material terms of sale are
established on sales confirmation date. Nan Ya allows for changes after
the sales confirmation that alters the product, which occurs after the
sales confirmation date. Indeed, the record evidence demonstrates that
all final alterations to the product and the actual weight are
determined at the time of invoicing when the product is released to the
customer.\30\ Thus, we preliminarily determine that the invoice date is
the appropriate date to use as Nan Ya's date of sale in accordance with
19 CFR 351.401(i).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\30\ See Nan Ya's Section C Questionnaire Response of November
22, 2011 at 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As noted above in the ``Affiliation of Nan Ya with U.S. Customers''
section, the Department has preliminarily determined that Nan Ya is no
longer affiliated with certain U.S. importers and we now find all of
Nan Ya's U.S. sales to be EP sales. However, because Nan Ya reported
some of these sales as CEP sales, it did not provide its invoice date
for these sales but provided the date of the purchase order between the
U.S. importers and their unaffiliated customers as the date of sale.
Because we have determined that the invoice date is the most
appropriate date to use as Nan Ya's date of sale, necessary
information, the invoice date of these sales, is missing from the
record for NanYa's reported CEP sales, and we must rely on the facts
available pursuant to section 776(a) of the Act.
As facts available, we have constructed an invoice date using the
adjusted purchase order date as explained below. For the sales it had
identified as CEP sales, Nan Ya reported the date of the purchase order
between the U.S. importers and their unaffiliated customers as the date
of sale. In addition, Nan Ya explained that for all of its U.S.
importers, ``{o{time} nce a purchase order is issued by the U.S.
customer of the importer to the importer, the latter will place
purchase orders via email or facsimile with Nan Ya.'' \31\ Therefore,
we have relied on the date of the purchase order between the U.S.
customer and the importer to establish the date on which Nan Ya's U.S.
importers issued purchase orders to Nan Ya. In order to derive the date
on which Nan Ya issued its invoice for these sales, we relied on
information on the record that indicates that Nan Ya issues its invoice
when the merchandise is released to the customer, which is generally 30
to 60 days after the confirmed export order.\32\ For purposes of these
preliminary results, we have derived Nan Ya's invoice date for these
sales by adding 45 days to the date on which the purchase order was
received by Nan Ya from these U.S. importers. Because this change
affects the calculation of credit expenses for some of the reported CEP
sales that have been reclassified as EP sales, we have used, as facts
available, the average credit expense for all reported EP sales to
reflect this expense if it was incurred by the U.S. importer when
purchasing subject merchandise from Nan Ya. After these preliminary
results, we intend to gather information from Nan Ya to establish the
actual date of Nan Ya's invoice and credit expenses for these sales.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\31\ See Nan Ya's Section A Questionnaire Response of October
24, 2011 at 16.
\32\ See Nan Ya's Section C Questionnaire Response of November
22, 2011 at 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States Price
In calculating the U.S. price for Shinkong and Nan Ya, we used EP,
as defined in section 772(a) of the Act, because sales to the first
unaffiliated U.S. customer occurred before
[[Page 46708]]
importation.\33\ We based EP on packed prices to customers in the
United States. We made deductions from U.S. price for the following
movement expenses in accordance with section 772(c)(2)(A) of the Act:
domestic inland freight from plant to port of exportation, brokerage
and handling incurred in the country of manufacture, marine insurance,
and international freight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\33\ As noted above in the ``Affiliation of Nan Ya with U.S.
Customers'' section, the Department has preliminarily determined
that Nan Ya is no longer affiliated with certain U.S. customers and
we now find all of Nan Ya's U.S. sales to be EP sales.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of Production Analysis
Pursuant to 773(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act, because the Department
disregarded certain of Shinkong's and Nan Ya's sales in the most
recently completed reviews of this order,\34\ the Department had
reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that Shinkong and Nan Ya made
home market sales at prices below the cost of production (COP) in this
review. As a result, the Department is directed under section 773(b) of
the Act to determine whether Shinkong and Nan Ya made home market sales
during the POR at prices below COP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\34\ In the most recent review, only Shinkong was reviewed. See
PET Film Prelim 09-10, 76 FR at 47543, unchanged in PET Film Review
09-10. Nan Ya was most recently reviewed in the 2008-2009
Administrative Review. See PET Film Prelim 08-09, 75 FR at 49905,
unchanged in PET Film Review 08-09.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Calculation of COP
The Department's normal practice is to calculate an annual
weighted-average cost for the entire POR.\35\ This methodology is
predictable and generally applicable in all proceedings. However, the
Department recognizes that distortions may result if our normal annual
average cost method is used during a period of significant cost
changes. Under such circumstances, in determining whether to deviate
from our normal methodology of calculating an annual weighted average
cost, the Department has evaluated the case-specific record evidence
using two primary factors: (1) Whether the change in the cost of
manufacturing (COM) experienced by the respondent during the POR is
significant; and (2) whether the record evidence indicates that sales
prices during the shorter averaging periods could be reasonably linked
with the COP or constructed value (CV) during the same shorter
averaging periods.\36\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\35\ See, e.g., Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review: Certain Pasta from Italy, 65 FR 77852
(December 13, 2000), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum
at Comment 18; see also Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review: Carbon and Certain Alloy Steel Wire Rod from
Canada, 71 FR 3822 (January 24, 2006), and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 5 (explaining the Department's
practice of computing a single weighted-average cost for the entire
period).
\36\ See Final Results of the Antidumping Administrative Review:
Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipe and Tube from Turkey, 76 FR 76939
(December 9, 2011), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum
at Comment 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
a. Significance of Cost Changes
Record evidence shows that Shinkong and Nan Ya experienced
significant changes in the total COM during the POR and that the
changes in COM are primarily attributable to the price volatility for
purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and mono ethylene glycol (MEG),\37\
the main inputs consumed in the production of the merchandise under
consideration. Specifically, the record data shows that the percentage
difference between the high and low quarterly COM exceeded 25 percent
during the POR. As a result, we have determined that for these
preliminary results the changes in COM for Shinkong and Nan Ya are
significant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\37\ Nan Ya reported this input as ethylene glycol (EG), which
is not chemically different than MEG.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
b. Linkage Between Cost and Sales Information
The Department also evaluates whether there is evidence of linkage
between the cost changes and the sales prices for the given POR. Absent
a surcharge or other pricing mechanism, the Department may
alternatively look for evidence of a pattern that changes in selling
prices reasonably correlate to changes in unit costs.\38\ To determine
whether a reasonable correlation existed between the sales prices and
underlying costs during the POR, we compared weighted-average quarterly
prices to the corresponding quarterly COM for the control numbers with
the highest volume of sales in the comparison market and in the United
States. Our comparison revealed that the quarterly cost and quarterly
sales prices for Shinkong and Nan Ya appear to be reasonably correlated
during this period of significant cost changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\38\ See Stainless Steel Plate in Coils From Belgium: Final
Results of Administrative Review, 73 FR 75398 (December 11, 2008)
and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In light of the two factors, we preliminarily find that it is
appropriate to rely on a quarterly costing approach with respect to
both Shinkong and Nan Ya. Thus, we used quarterly average PTA and EG
costs and annual weighted-average fabrication costs in the COP
calculations. For further discussion of this issue, see the Shinkong
and Nan Ya cost adjustments memoranda.\39\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\39\ See Memorandum to Neal M. Halper, Director of Office of
Accounting, ``Cost of Production and Constructed Value Calculation
Adjustments for the Preliminary Review--Nan Ya Plastics
Corporation,'' dated July 30, 2012 (Nan Ya Cost Adjustments
Memorandum); see also Memorandum to Neal M. Halper, Director of
Office of Accounting, ``Cost of Production and Constructed Value
Calculation Adjustments for the Preliminary Review--Shinkong
Synthetic Fibers Corporation,'' dated July 30, 2012 (Shinkong Cost
Adjustments Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Calculation of Cost of Production
In accordance with section 773(b)(3) of the Act, we calculated
quarterly COP based on the sum of Shinkong's and Nan Ya's cost of
materials and fabrication for the foreign like product, plus amounts
for general and administrative expenses (G&A), interest expenses and
home market packing costs. These calculations include revisions by the
Department to the COP information reported by Shinkong and Nan Ya,
consistent with Department practice.\40\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\40\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a product-specific basis, we compared the revised COP figures to
home market prices net of applicable billing adjustments, discounts and
rebates, movement charges, selling expenses, and packing to determine
whether home market sales had been made at prices below COP. In the
last review for Shinkong, we ignored the grade product characteristic
reported by Shinkong when calculating product-specific costs, as grade
differences are the result of inadvertent errors in production that
lead to different qualities of PET Film and not the result of variances
in production processes or costs. However, in this review, Shinkong
reports a difference in grade based on internal PET film cost codes and
therefore, different grades result in different weighted average unit
COP.\41\ Thus, we have included the grade product characteristic in
calculating product-specific costs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\41\ See Shinkong's section D response dated November 14, 2011
at 108 and its supplemental D response dated June 18, 2012 at 11.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In determining whether to disregard Shinkong's and Nan Ya's home
market sales that were made at prices below the COP, we examined, in
accordance with sections 773(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Act, whether,
within an extended period of time, such sales were made in substantial
quantities, and whether such sales were made at prices which did not
permit the recovery of all costs within a reasonable period of time in
the normal course of trade. In accordance with section 773(b)(2)(C) of
the Act, where less than 20 percent of a given
[[Page 46709]]
product was sold at prices less than COP, we did not disregard any
below-cost sales of that product, because the below-cost sales were not
made in ``substantial quantities.'' Where 20 percent or more of a given
product was sold at prices less than COP, we disregarded the below cost
sales if: (1) they were made within an extended period of time in
``substantial quantities,'' in accordance with sections 773(b)(2)(B)
and (C) of the Act; and (2) based on our comparison of prices to
weighted-average COP figures for the POR, they were made at prices
which would not permit the recovery of all costs within a reasonable
period of time, in accordance with section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act. As
stated in section 773(b)(2)(D) of the Act, prices are considered to
provide for recovery of costs if such prices are above the weighted
average per-unit COP for the period of investigation or review. In
light of the Court's directives in SeAH Steel Corp. v. United States,
704 F. Supp. 2d 1353 (Ct. Int'l Trade 2010), and SeAH Steel Corporation
v. United States, 764 F. Supp. 2d 1322 (Ct. Int'l Trade 2011) to use an
unadjusted annual average cost for purposes of the cost recovery test,
in the instant review we have used the approach which we adopted
recently to test for cost recovery when using a shorter cost period
methodology.\42\ Using the methodology adopted in SPT from Turkey, we
calculated a control-number-specific weighted-average annual price
using only those sales that were made below their quarterly COP, and
compared the resulting weighted-average price to the annual weighted-
average cost per control number. If the annual weighted-average price
per control number was above the annual weighted-average cost per
control number then we considered those sales to have provided for the
recovery of costs and restored all such sales to the NV pool of
comparison-market sales available for comparison with U.S. sales. For
further details regarding the cost recovery methodology and the
application of our shorter-cost period methodology, see Shinkong Cost
Adjustments Memorandum and Nan Ya Cost Adjustments Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\42\ See Certain Welded Carbon Steel Pipe and Tube from Turkey;
Notice of Final Results of Antidumping Review, 76 FR 76939 (December
9, 2011) (``SPT from Turkey'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Normal Value
1. Price-to-Price Comparisons
We calculated NV based on packed prices (i.e., including costs for
packing) to unaffiliated customers in the home market.\43\ We used
Shinkong's and Nan Ya's adjustments and deductions as reported. We made
deductions, where appropriate, for foreign inland freight pursuant to
section 773(a)(6)(B) of the Act. In addition, for comparisons involving
similar merchandise, we made adjustments for cost differences
attributable to the physical differences between the products compared,
pursuant to section 773(a)(6)(C)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.411. We
also made adjustments for differences in the circumstances of sale, in
accordance with section 773(a)(6)(C)(iii) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.410, specifically for imputed credit expenses. Finally, we deducted
home market packing costs and added U.S. packing costs in accordance
with section 773(a)(6)(A) and (B) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\43\ Shinkong and Nan Ya sold a small amount of foreign like
product to its affiliates in the home market for consumption during
the POR. These sales have failed the arm's-length test and therefore
have been excluded from the calculation of NV. See ``Arm's Length
Test'' section, below, for further discussion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Results of the Sales Below Cost Test
We found that for certain products, more than 20 percent of
Shinkong's home market sales were made at prices below COP and, in
addition, these below cost sales were made within an extended period of
time and in substantial quantities. In addition, pursuant to the cost
recovery analysis described above, we found that these sales were at
prices which did not permit the recovery of costs within a reasonable
period of time. We therefore disregarded these sales from the
calculation of NV and used the remaining home market sales as the basis
for determining NV, in accordance with section 773(b)(1) of the Act.
3. Arm's-Length Test
The Department may calculate NV based on a sale to an affiliated
party only if it is satisfied that the price to the affiliated party is
comparable to the prices at which sales are made to parties not
affiliated with the exporter or producer; i.e., sales to home market
affiliates must be at arm's-length.\44\ Sales to affiliated customers
for consumption in the home market that are determined not to be at
arm's-length are excluded from our analysis. To test whether sales are
made at arm's-length prices, the Department compares the prices of
sales of comparable merchandise to affiliated and unaffiliated
customers, net of all movement charges, direct selling expenses, and
packing. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.403(c), and in accordance with the
Department's practice, when the prices charged to an affiliated party
are, 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 determine that the sales to the affiliated party
are at arm's-length.\45\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\44\ See 19 CFR 351.403(c).
\45\ See Antidumping Proceedings: Affiliated Party Sales in the
Ordinary Course of Trade, 67 FR 69186, 69187 (November 15, 2002).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In this proceeding, both Shinkong and Nan Ya reported sales of the
foreign like product to affiliated customers who consumed the purchased
material. Some of Shinkong's and all of Nan Ya's sales to these
affiliated home market customers did not pass the arm's-length test,
and were therefore excluded from our analysis.\46\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\46\ See section 773(b)(1) of the Act; see also Memorandum to
Dana S. Mermelstein, Program Manager, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6,
``Analysis for the Preliminary Results of the 2010-2011
Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order on Polyethylene
Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from Taiwan: Shinkong Synthetic
Fibers Corporation and Shinkong Materials Technology Co. Ltd,''
dated July 30, 2012 and Memorandum to Dana S. Mermelstein, Program
Manager, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6, ``Analysis for the Preliminary
Results of the 2010-2011 Administrative Review of the Antidumping
Duty Order on Polyethylene Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip from
Taiwan: Nan Ya Plastics Corporation,'' dated July 30, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Constructed Value-to-Price Comparisons
After disregarding certain sales as below cost, as described above,
home market sales of contemporaneous identical and similar products
existed that allowed for price-to-price comparisons for all margin
calculations for both Shinkong and Nan Ya. Therefore, the Department
did not need to rely on constructed value for any calculations for
these preliminary results.
Currency Conversions
Pursuant to section 773A of the Act and 19 CFR 351.415, we made
currency conversions for Shinkong's and Nan Ya's sales based on the
daily exchange rates in effect on the dates of the relevant U.S. sales
as certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Level of Trade
Section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act states that, to the extent
practicable, the Department will calculate NV based on sales at the
same level of trade (LOT) as the EP or CEP. Sales are made at different
LOTs if they are made at different marketing stages (or their
equivalent). See 19 CFR 351.412(c)(2). Substantial differences in
selling activities are a necessary, but not
[[Page 46710]]
sufficient, condition for determining that there is a difference in the
stages of marketing.\47\ In order to determine whether the comparison
market sales were at different stages in the marketing process than the
U.S. sales, we reviewed the distribution system in each market (i.e.,
the chain of distribution), including selling functions, class of
customer (customer category), and the level of selling expenses for
each type of sale.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\47\ See Certain Orange Juice From Brazil: Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Notice of Intent Not To
Revoke Antidumping Duty Order in Part, 75 FR 50999, 51001 (August
18, 2010), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 7 (OJ from Brazil).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursuant to section 773(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Act, in identifying LOTs
for EP and comparison market sales (i.e., NV based on either home
market or third country prices),\48\ we consider the starting prices
before any adjustments. For CEP sales, we consider only the selling
activities reflected in the price after the deduction of expenses and
profit under section 772(d) of the Act.\49\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\48\ Where NV is based on CV, we determine the NV LOT based on
the LOT of the sales from which we derive selling expenses, G&A
expenses, and profit for CV, where possible.
\49\ See Micron Tech., Inc. v. United States, 243 F.3d 1301,
1314-16 (Fed. Cir. 2001).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the Department is unable to match U.S. sales of the foreign
like product in the comparison market at the same LOT as the EP or CEP,
the Department may compare the U.S. sale to sales at a different LOT in
the comparison market. In comparing EP or CEP sales at a different LOT
in the comparison market, where available data make it possible, we
make an LOT adjustment under section 773(a)(7)(A) of the Act. Finally,
for CEP sales only, if the NV LOT is at a more advanced stage of
distribution than the LOT of the CEP and there is no basis for
determining whether the difference in LOTs between NV and CEP affects
price comparability (i.e., no LOT adjustment is possible), the
Department shall grant a CEP offset, as provided in section
773(a)(7)(B) of the Act.\50\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\50\ See, e.g., OJ from Brazil, 75 FR at 51001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In implementing these principles, we examined information provided
by Shinkong regarding the selling functions involved in its home market
and U.S. sales, including a description of these selling functions,
provided in Exhibit 8 of Shinkong's October 21, 2011 response and
Exhibit 12 of Shinkong's May 24, 2012 response. Shinkong reported that
in the home market it made sales to affiliated end users, unaffiliated
end users and to unaffiliated distributors, and that all selling
functions were performed at the same or similar levels of intensity in
all channels of distribution. We examined the following three
activities performed in the comparison market: (1) Sales and marketing
(sales forecasting, strategic/economic planning, order input/
processing, etc.); (2) freight and delivery (including packing); and
(3) technical service/warranties. Based on our analysis, we find that
Shinkong performed the same selling functions in all three categories
to the same or similar degree in all channels of distribution with the
exception of rebates, which were provided at a low level only to
distributors. Because all comparison market sales are made through
these channels of distribution, and Shinkong's selling activities did
not vary significantly in intensity among these channels, we
preliminarily determine that there is one LOT in the comparison market
for Shinkong.
Shinkong reported that sales in the U.S. market were only made to
distributors during the POR. Shinkong provided information which
consolidated all of the selling activities performed for U.S. sales
into this one channel of distribution.\51\ These selling activities
were grouped into the following three activities: (1) Sales and
marketing (sales negotiation, strategic/economic planning, order input/
processing, etc.); (2) freight and delivery (including packing); and
(3) technical services/warranties. Since Shinkong's sales to the U.S.
importers were only made through one channel of distribution, we
preliminarily determine that there is one LOT in the U.S. market.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\51\ See Shinkong's supplemental questionnaire response of May
24, 2012 at Exhibit 12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, we compared the U.S. market LOT to the home market LOT and
found that the selling functions performed for U.S. and comparison home
market customers do not differ, as Shinkong performed the same selling
functions at the same relative or similar level of intensity in both
markets, with the previously noted exception of rebates. There was no
substantial difference in these selling activities, therefore, we
preliminarily determine that sales to the U.S. and comparison market
during the POR were made at the same LOT and, as a result, no LOT
adjustment is warranted. These findings are consistent with
determinations in past segments of this proceeding based on similar
record evidence.\52\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\52\ See PET Film from Taiwan Investigation; see also PET Film
Review 09-10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
With regard to Nan Ya, because the Department preliminarily
determines that Nan Ya is no longer affiliated with certain U.S.
customers as discussed in the ``Affiliation of Nan Ya with U.S.
Customers'' section, above, all of the U.S. sales are preliminarily
determined to be EP sales. We obtained information from Nan Ya
regarding the marketing stages involved in making the reported foreign
market and U.S. sales, including a description of the selling
activities performed by Nan Ya respondent for each channel of
distribution.
In this administrative review, with respect to the comparison
market, Nan Ya reported that it made sales to both unaffiliated end
users and to unaffiliated distributors, and that most selling functions
were performed at the same or similar levels of intensity in both
channels of distribution. We examined the following three activities
performed in the comparison market: (1) Sales and marketing (sales
forecasting, strategic/economic planning, order input/processing,
etc.); (2) freight and delivery (including packing); and (3) technical
service warranties. Based on our analysis, we find that Nan Ya
performed the selling functions in all three categories to the same or
similar degree in both channels of distribution.\53\ Because all
comparison market sales are made through these two channels of
distribution, and the selling activities to Nan Ya's customers did not
vary between theses channels, we preliminarily determine that there is
one LOT in the comparison market for Nan Ya.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\53\ See Nan Ya's Supplemental Questionnaire Response of June 5,
2012, at Exhibit SE2-Exhibit-9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nan Ya reported that its sales to the U.S. market were only made to
distributors during the POR.\54\ Nan Ya provided information which
consolidated all of the selling activities performed for U.S. sales
into this one channel of distribution. These selling activities were
grouped into the following three activities: (1) Sales and marketing
(sales negotiation, strategic/economic planning, order input/
processing, etc.); (2) freight and delivery (including packing); and
(3) technical services/warranties.\55\ Since Nan Ya's sales to the U.S.
importers were only made through one channel of distribution, we
preliminarily determine that there is one LOT in the U.S. market.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\54\ See Nan Ya's Section A Questionnaire Response of October
24, 2011 at 13.
\55\ See Nan Ya's Supplemental Questionnaire Response of June 5,
2011, at Exhibit SE2-Exhibit-9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, we compared the U.S. market LOT to the home market LOT and
found that the selling functions performed for U.S. and comparison home
market customers do not differ significantly, as
[[Page 46711]]
Nan Ya performed the selling functions at the same relative or similar
level of intensity in both markets. Nan Ya reported that it conducts
more sales activities in the home market than in the U.S. market with
respect to sales negotiations and post-sales technical services.\56\
Our examination of the selling and marketing activities in the instant
review shows that almost all of the selling functions in the home
market between end-use customers and distributors are the same.\57\
However, we do not find these home market activities or the level of
intensity at which they are performed, to be significantly different
from the selling and marketing activities performed in the U.S. market.
Where some differences appear to exist between the U.S. and comparison
markets, the narrative explanations show them to be more similar than
different (e.g., the sales process does not differ by channel of
distribution in either the U.S. or home market; the same process is
used for handling technical inquiries in both the U.S. and home market;
and Nan Ya hires outside carriers to deliver the merchandise to both
its customers in the home market and to the port of export).\58\
Therefore, we preliminarily determine that sales to the U.S. and
comparison market during the POR were made at the same LOT and, as a
result, no LOT adjustment is warranted. These findings are consistent
with determinations in past segments of this proceeding based on
similar record evidence.\59\
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\56\ See Nan Ya's Section A Questionnaire Response of October
24, 2011 at 14.
\57\ See Nan Ya's Supplemental Questionnaire Response of June 5,
2011 at Exhibit SE2-9.
\58\ See Nan Ya's Section A Questionnaire Response of October
24, 2011 at 16; see also Nan Ya's Section B Questionnaire Response
of November 22, 2011 at 25; Nan Ya's Section C Questionnaire
Response of November 22, 2011 at 26; and Nan Ya's Supplemental
Questionnaire Response of June 5, 2011 at 12.
\59\ See PET Film from Taiwan Investigation; see also PET Film
Review 08-09.
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Preliminary Results of Review
As a result of our review, we preliminarily determine the following
weighted-average antidumping duty margins exist for the period July 1,
2010, through June 30, 2011.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-
average
Producer/ Exporter margin
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, Ltd........................ 5.20
Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corporation................... 0.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assessment Rates
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b), the Department shall determine, and
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping
duties on all appropriate entries. We will instruct CBP to liquidate
entries of merchandise produced and/or exported by Shinkong and Nan Ya.
The Department intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP 15 days
after the date of publication of the final results of review. For
assessment purposes, where possible, we calculate importer-specific (or
customer-specific) ad valorem assessment rates based on the ratio of
the total amount of the dumping duties calculated for the examined
sales to the total entered value of those same sales.\60\ However,
where the respondents do not report the entered value for their sales,
we calculate importer-specific (or customer-specific) per-unit duty
assessment rates. We will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on
all appropriate entries covered by this review if any assessment rate
calculated in the final results of this review is above de minimis.
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\60\ See 19 CFR 351.212(b).
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Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all
shipments of PET Film from Taiwan entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the date of publication of the final
results of this administrative review, as provided for by section
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) The cash deposit rate for companies under
review will be the rate established in the final results of this review
(except, if the rate is de minimis, i.e., less than 0.5 percent, a zero
cash deposit rate will be required for that company); (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; and, (4) if neither the exporter nor the manufacturer
is a firm covered in this or any previous review, the cash deposit rate
will be the all others rate for this proceeding, 2.40 percent. These
deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until
further notice.
Disclosure and Public Comment
We will disclose the calculations used in our analysis to parties
in this review within five days of the date of publication of this
notice in accordance with 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.\61\ Interested parties, who wish to request a
hearing, or to participate if one is requested, must submit a written
request to the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, U.S.
Department of Commerce, filed electronically using IA ACCESS. An
electronically filed document must be received successfully in its
entirety by the Department's electronic records system, IA ACCESS, by 5
p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this
notice.\62\ If a hearing is requested, the Department will notify
interested parties of the hearing schedule. Oral presentations will be
limited to issues raised in the briefs.
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\61\ See 19 CFR 351.310.
\62\ Requests should contain the party's name, address, and
telephone number, the number of participants, and a list of the
issues to be discussed.
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Interested parties are invited to comment on the preliminary
results of this review. The Department typically requests that
interested parties submit case briefs within 30 days of the date of
publication of this notice. However, we plan to issue a post-
preliminary supplemental questionnaire and, therefore, will be
extending the case brief deadline. The Department will inform
interested parties of the updated briefing schedule when it has been
confirmed. Rebuttal briefs, which must be limited to issues raised in
the case briefs, must be filed not later than five days after the time
limit for filing case briefs.\63\ Parties who submit case briefs or
rebuttal briefs in this review are requested to submit with each
argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the
argument; and (3) a table of authorities. Executive summaries should be
limited to five pages total, including footnotes.
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\63\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c) and (d) (for a further discussion of
case briefs and rebuttal briefs, respectively).
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We intend to issue the final results of this administrative review,
including the results of our analysis of issues raised in the written
comments, within 120 days of publication of these preliminary results
in the Federal Register, unless otherwise extended. See section
751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.
Notification to Importers
This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of
[[Page 46712]]
their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation
of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply
with this requirement could result in the Department's presumption that
reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent
assessment of doubled antidumping duties.
These preliminary results of administrative review are issued and
published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the
Act.
Dated: July 30, 2012.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-19149 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P