1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid From People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 25383-25386 [2016-09882]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 82 / Thursday, April 28, 2016 / Notices
interested party as defined in section
771(9)(C) of the Act, and that Petitioner
has demonstrated sufficient industry
support with respect to the initiation of
the investigation Petitioner is
requesting.3
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–570–046]
1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1Diphosphonic Acid From People’s
Republic of China: Initiation of
Countervailing Duty Investigation
Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is January
1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.4
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce
DATES: Effective Date: February 20,
2016.
AGENCY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Davina Friedmann at (202) 482–0698,
Robert James at (202) 482–0649, AD/
CVD Operations, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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The Petition
On March 31, 2016, the Department of
Commerce (Department) received a
countervailing duty (CVD) petition
concerning imports of 1Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic
Acid (HEDP) from the People’s Republic
of China (the PRC), filed in proper form
on behalf of Compass Chemical
International, LLC (Petitioner). The CVD
petition was accompanied by an
antidumping duty (AD) petition, also
concerning imports of HEDP from the
PRC.1 Petitioner is a domestic producer
of HEDP.2
In accordance with section 702(b)(1)
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act), Petitioner alleges that the
Government of the PRC (GOC) is
providing countervailable subsidies
(within the meaning of sections 701 and
771(5) of the Act) with respect to
imports of HEDP from the PRC, and that
imports of HEDP from the PRC are
materially injuring, and threaten
material injury to, the domestic industry
producing HEDP in the United States.
Also, consistent with section 702(b)(1)
of the Act, for those alleged programs on
which we have initiated a CVD
investigation, the Petition is
accompanied by information reasonably
available to Petitioner supporting its
allegations.
The Department finds that Petitioner
filed the Petition on behalf of the
domestic industry because it is an
1 See ‘‘Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping
and Countervailing Duties: 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,
1-Diphosphonic Acid from the People’s Republic of
China,’’ dated March 31, 2016 (Petitions).
2 See Volume I of the Petitions, at 2, and Exhibit
I–1.
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Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this
investigation is HEDP from the PRC. For
a full description of the scope of this
investigation, see ‘‘Scope of
Investigation’’ at Appendix I of this
notice.
Comments on Scope of the Investigation
During our review of the Petition, the
Department issued questions to, and
received responses from, Petitioner
pertaining to the proposed scope to
ensure that the scope language in the
Petition would be an accurate reflection
of the products for which the domestic
industry is seeking relief.5
As discussed in the preamble to the
Department’s regulations,6 we are
setting aside a period for interested
parties to raise issues regarding product
coverage (i.e., scope). The Department
will consider all comments received
from interested parties, and if necessary,
will consult with interested parties prior
to the issuance of the preliminary
determination. If scope comments
include factual information (see 19 CFR
351.102(b)(21)), all such factual
information should be limited to public
information. In order to facilitate
preparation of its questionnaire, the
Department requests all interested
parties to submit such comments by
5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on
Tuesday, May 10, 2016, which is 20
calendar days from the signature date of
this notice. Any rebuttal comments,
which may include factual information,
must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday,
May 20, 2016, which is ten calendar
days after the initial comments
deadline.
The Department requests that any
factual information the parties consider
relevant to the scope of the investigation
be submitted during this time period.
3 See ‘‘Determination of Industry Support for the
Petition’’ below.
4 See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
5 See Letter from Petitioner to the Department,
‘‘Petitioner for the Imposition of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duties, Supplemental Submission,
Petition Volume I: 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1Diphosphonic Acid from the People’s Republic of
China,’’ dated April 7, 2016 (Petition Supplemental
Information).
6 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties;
Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
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25383
However, if a party subsequently finds
that additional factual information
pertaining to the scope of the
investigation may be relevant, the party
may contact the Department and request
permission to submit the additional
information. All such comments also
must be filed on the record of the
concurrent AD investigation.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to the Department
must be filed electronically using
Enforcement and Compliance’s
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System
(ACCESS).7 An electronically-filed
document must be received successfully
in its entirety by the time and date it is
due. Documents excepted from the
electronic submission requirements
must be filed manually (i.e., in paper
form) with Enforcement and
Compliance’s APO/Dockets Unit, Room
18022, U.S. Department of Commerce,
14th Street and Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20230, and
stamped with the date and time of
receipt by the applicable deadlines.
Consultations
Pursuant to section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of
the Act, the Department notified
representatives of the GOC of the receipt
of the Petition. Also, in accordance with
section 702(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act, the
Department provided representatives of
the GOC the opportunity for
consultations with respect to the CVD
petition.8 In lieu of consultation with
the Department, the GOC submitted
comments to the Department on the
alleged subsidy programs.9
Determination of Industry Support for
the Petition
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires
that a petition be filed on behalf of the
domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A)
of the Act provides that a petition meets
this requirement if the domestic
7 See 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing
requirements); Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures;
Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR
39263 (July 6, 2011), for details of the Department’s
electronic filing requirements, which went into
effect on August 5, 2011. Information on help using
ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/
help.aspx and a handbook can be found at https://
access.trade.gov/help/Handbook%20on%
20Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf.
8 See Letter of invitation from the Department
regarding, ‘‘Countervailing Duty Petition on 1Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-DIphosphonic Acid from
the People’s Republic of China,’’ dated April 7,
2016.
9 See Department Memorandum, ‘‘Countervailing
Duty Petition on 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1Diphosphonic Acid from the People’s Republic of
China: GOC Comments on Alleged Subsidy
Programs,’’ dated April 19, 2016.
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producers or workers who support the
petition account for: (i) At least 25
percent of the total production of the
domestic like product; and (ii) more
than 50 percent of the production of the
domestic like product produced by that
portion of the industry expressing
support for, or opposition to, the
petition. Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D)
of the Act provides that, if the petition
does not establish support of domestic
producers or workers accounting for
more than 50 percent of the total
production of the domestic like product,
the Department shall: (i) Poll the
industry or rely on other information in
order to determine if there is support for
the petition, as required by
subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine
industry support using a statistically
valid sampling method to poll the
‘‘industry.’’
Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines
the ‘‘industry’’ as the producers as a
whole of a domestic like product. Thus,
to determine whether a petition has the
requisite industry support, the statute
directs the Department to look to
producers and workers who produce the
domestic like product. The International
Trade Commission (ITC), which is
responsible for determining whether
‘‘the domestic industry’’ has been
injured, must also determine what
constitutes a domestic like product in
order to define the industry. While both
the Department and the ITC must apply
the same statutory definition regarding
the domestic like product,10 they do so
for different purposes and pursuant to a
separate and distinct authority. In
addition, the Department’s
determination is subject to limitations of
time and information. Although this
may result in different definitions of the
like product, such differences do not
render the decision of either agency
contrary to law.11
Section 771(10) of the Act defines the
domestic like product as ‘‘a product
which is like, or in the absence of like,
most similar in characteristics and uses
with, the article subject to an
investigation under this title.’’ Thus, the
reference point from which the
domestic like product analysis begins is
‘‘the article subject to an investigation’’
(i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to
be investigated, which normally will be
the scope as defined in the Petition).
With regard to the domestic like
product, Petitioner does not offer a
definition of the domestic like product
10 See
section 771(10) of the Act.
USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp.
2d 1, 8 (CIT 2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd.
v. United States, 688 F. Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988),
aff’d 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
11 See
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distinct from the scope of the
investigation. Based on our analysis of
the information submitted on the
record, we have determined that HEDP,
as defined in the scope, constitutes a
single domestic like product and we
have analyzed industry support in terms
of that domestic like product.12
In determining whether Petitioner has
standing under section 702(c)(4)(A) of
the Act, we considered the industry
support data contained in the Petition
with reference to the domestic like
product as defined in the ‘‘Scope of the
Investigation,’’ in Appendix I of this
notice. To establish industry support,
Petitioner provided its 2015 production
of the domestic like product.13
Petitioner states that it is the only
known producer of HEDP in the United
States; therefore, the Petition is
supported by 100 percent of the U.S.
industry.14
Our review of the data provided in the
Petition and other information readily
available to the Department indicates
that Petitioner has established industry
support.15 First, the Petition established
support from domestic producers (or
workers) accounting for more than 50
percent of the total production of the
domestic like product and, as such, the
Department is not required to take
further action in order to evaluate
industry support (e.g., polling).16
Second, the domestic producers (or
workers) have met the statutory criteria
for industry support under section
702(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the
domestic producers (or workers) who
support the Petition account for at least
25 percent of the total production of the
domestic like product.17 Finally, the
domestic producers (or workers) have
met the statutory criteria for industry
support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of
the Act because the domestic producers
(or workers) who support the Petition
12 For a discussion of the domestic like product
analysis in this case, see Countervailing Duty
Investigation Initiation Checklist:
1 Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid from
the People’s Republic of China (PRC CVD Initiation
Checklist), at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry
Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Petitions Covering 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1Diphosphonic Acid from the People’s Republic of
China (Attachment II). This checklist is dated
concurrently with this notice and on file
electronically via ACCESS. Access to documents
filed via ACCESS is also available in the Central
Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department
of Commerce building.
13 See Volume I of the Petition, at 5 and Exhibit
I–1.
14 Id.
15 See PRC CVD Initiation Checklist, at
Attachment II.
16 See section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also
PRC CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
17 See PRC CVD Initiation Checklist, at
Attachment II.
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account for more than 50 percent of the
production of the domestic like product
produced by that portion of the industry
expressing support for, or opposition to,
the Petition.18 Accordingly, the
Department determines that the Petition
was filed on behalf of the domestic
industry within the meaning of section
702(b)(1) of the Act.
The Department finds that Petitioner
filed the Petition on behalf of the
domestic industry because it is an
interested parties as defined in section
771(9)(C) of the Act and it has
demonstrated sufficient industry
support with respect to the CVD
investigation that it is requesting the
Department initiate.19
Injury Test
Because the PRC is a ‘‘Subsidies
Agreement Country’’ within the
meaning of section 701(b) of the Act,
section 701(a)(2) of the Act applies to
this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC
must determine whether imports of the
subject merchandise from the PRC
materially injure, or threaten material
injury to, a U.S. industry.
Allegations and Evidence of Material
Injury and Causation
Petitioner alleges that imports of the
subject merchandise are benefitting
from countervailable subsidies and that
such imports are causing, or threaten to
cause, material injury to the U.S.
industry producing the domestic like
product. In addition, Petitioner alleges
that subject imports exceed the
negligibility threshold provided for
under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.20
Petitioner contends that the industry’s
injured condition is illustrated by
reduced market share; underselling and
price suppression or depression; decline
in shipments and production; decline in
employment; decline in financial
performance; and lost sales and
revenues.21 We have assessed the
allegations and supporting evidence
regarding material injury, threat of
material injury, and causation, and we
have determined that these allegations
are properly supported by adequate
evidence and meet the statutory
requirements for initiation.22
18 Id.
19 Id.
20 See
General Issues Supplement, at 2.
Volume I of the Petition, at 10–13, 19–38
and Exhibit I–5; see also General Issues
Supplement, at 2.
22 See PRC CVD Initiation Checklist, at
Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and
Evidence of Material Injury and Causation for the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions
Covering 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic
Acid from the People’s Republic of China.
21 See
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Initiation of Countervailing Duty
Investigation
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Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires
the Department to initiate a CVD
investigation whenever an interested
party files a CVD petition on behalf of
an industry that: (1) Alleges elements
necessary for an imposition of a duty
under section 701(a) of the Act; and (2)
is accompanied by information
reasonably available to Petitioner
supporting the allegations.
Petitioner alleges that producers/
exporters of HEDP in the PRC benefit
from countervailable subsidies
bestowed by the GOC. The Department
examined the Petition and finds that it
complies with the requirements of
section 702(b)(1) of the Act. Therefore,
in accordance with section 702(b)(1) of
the Act, we are initiating a CVD
investigation to determine whether
manufacturers, producers, or exporters
of HEDP from the PRC receive
countervailable subsidies from the GOC
and various authorities thereof.
On June 29, 2015, the President of the
United States signed into law the Trade
Preferences Extension Act of 2015,
which made numerous amendments to
the AD and CVD law.23 The 2015 law
does not specify dates of application for
those amendments. On August 6, 2015,
the Department published an
interpretative rule, in which it
announced the applicability dates for
each amendment to the Act, except for
amendments contained in section 771(7)
of the Act, which relate to
determinations of material injury by the
ITC.24 The amendments to sections 776
and 782 of the Act are applicable to all
determinations made on or after August
6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to this
CVD investigation.25
Based on our review of the petition,
we find that there is sufficient
information to initiate a CVD
investigation on the four remaining
alleged programs in the PRC.26 For a full
discussion of the basis for our decision
to initiate on each program, see the PRC
CVD Initiation Checklist. A public
version of the initiation checklist for
23 See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015,
Pub. L. 114–27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
24 See Dates of Application of Amendments to the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws Made
by the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, 80
FR 46793 (August 6, 2015) (Applicability Notice).
The 2015 amendments may be found at https://
www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/
1295/text/pl.
25 Id., at 46794–95.
26 Petitioner initially alleged nine subsidy
programs, but subsequently withdrew allegations
on five of those programs. See Volume III of the
Petition, at 18–30; see also Petition Supplemental
Information at 1–3.
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this investigation is available on
ACCESS.
In accordance with section 703(b)(1)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1),
unless postponed, we will make our
preliminary determination no later than
65 days after the date of this initiation.
Respondent Selection
Following standard practice in CVD
investigations, the Department will,
where appropriate, select respondents
based on U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (‘‘CBP’’) data for U.S. imports
of HEDP during the period of
investigation. For this investigation, the
Department will release U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) data for
U.S. imports of subject merchandise
during the period of investigation under
the following Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States numbers:
2931.90.9043. Subject merchandise may
also enter under HTSUS subheadings
2811.19.6090 and 2931.90.9041. We
intend to release the CBP data under
Administrative Protective Order (APO)
to all parties with access to information
protected by APO within five business
days of the announcement of this
Federal Register notice. Interested
parties must submit applications for
disclosure under APO in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for
filing such applications may be found at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/apo/.
Interested parties may submit
comments regarding the CBP data and
respondent selection by 5:00 p.m. ET on
the seventh calendar day after
publication of this notice. Comments
must be filed in accordance with the
filing requirements stated above. If
respondent selection is necessary, we
intend to base our decision regarding
respondent selection upon comments
received from interested parties and our
analysis of the record information
within 20 days of publication of this
notice.
Distribution of Copies of the Petition
In accordance with section
702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.202(f), a copy of the public version
of the Petition has been provided to the
GOC via ACCESS. To the extent
practicable, we will attempt to provide
a copy of the public version of the
Petition to each known exporter (as
named in the Petition), consistent with
19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).
ITC Notification
We will notify the ITC of our
initiation, as required by section 702(d)
of the Act.
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25385
Preliminary Determinations by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine,
within 45 days after the date on which
the Petition was filed, whether there is
a reasonable indication that imports of
HEDP from the PRC are materially
injuring, or threatening material injury
to, a U.S. industry.27 A negative ITC
determination will result in the
investigation being terminated; 28
otherwise, this investigation will
proceed according to statutory and
regulatory time limits.
Submission of Factual Information
Factual information is defined in 19
CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) Evidence
submitted in response to questionnaires;
(ii) evidence submitted in support of
allegations; (iii) publicly available
information to value factors under 19
CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR
351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence placed on
the record by the Department; and (v)
evidence other than factual information
described in (i)–(iv). The regulation
requires any party, when submitting
factual information, to specify under
which subsection of 19 CFR
351.102(b)(21) the information is being
submitted and, if the information is
submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct
factual information already on the
record, to provide an explanation
identifying the information already on
the record that the factual information
seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct. Time
limits for the submission of factual
information are addressed in 19 CFR
351.301, which provides specific time
limits based on the type of factual
information being submitted. Parties
should review the regulations prior to
submitting factual information in this
investigation.
Extension of Time Limits
Parties may request an extension of
time limits before the expiration of a
time limit established under 19 CFR
351.301, or as otherwise specified by the
Secretary. In general, an extension
request will be considered untimely if it
is filed after the expiration of the time
limit established under 19 CFR 351.301
expires. For submissions that are due
from multiple parties simultaneously,
an extension request will be considered
untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. on
the due date. Under certain
circumstances, we may elect to specify
a different time limit by which
extension requests will be considered
untimely for submissions which are due
from multiple parties simultaneously. In
27 See
28 See
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section 703(a)(2) of the Act.
section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
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such a case, we will inform parties in
the letter or memorandum setting forth
the deadline (including a specified time)
by which extension requests must be
filed to be considered timely. An
extension request must be made in a
separate, stand-alone submission; under
limited circumstances we will grant
untimely-filed requests for the extension
of time limits. Review Extension of
Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 57790
(September 20, 2013), available at
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-201309-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to
submitting factual information in this
investigation.
Certification Requirements
Any party submitting factual
information in an AD or CVD
proceeding must certify to the accuracy
and completeness of that information.29
Parties are hereby reminded that revised
certification requirements are in effect
for company/government officials, as
well as their representatives.
Investigations initiated on the basis of
petitions filed on or after August 16,
2013, and other segments of any AD or
CVD proceedings initiated on or after
August 16, 2013, should use the formats
for the revised certifications provided at
the end of the Final Rule.30 The
Department intends to reject factual
submissions if the submitting party does
not comply with the applicable revised
certification requirements.
Notification to Interested Parties
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section 782(b) of the Act.
Certification of Factual Information To
Import Administration During Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July
17, 2013) (‘‘Final Rule’’); see also frequently asked
questions regarding the Final Rule, available at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_
info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
30 See
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Appendix I—Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this
investigation includes all grades of aqueous
acidic (non-neutralized) concentrations of 1hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-diphosphonic acid
(HEDP), also referred to as hydroxye
thylidenendiphosphonic acid, hydro
xyethanediphosphonic acid, acetodi
phosphonic acid, and etidronic acid. The
CAS (Chemical Abstract Service) registry
number for HEDP is 2809–21–4.
The merchandise subject to this
investigation is currently classified in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) at subheading 2931.90.9043.
It may also enter under HTSUS subheadings
2811.19.6090 and 2931.90.9041. While
HTSUS subheadings and the CAS registry
number are provided for convenience and
customs purposes only, the written
description of the scope of this investigation
is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2016–09882 Filed 4–27–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–896]
Magnesium Metal From the People’s
Republic of China: Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review; 2014–2015
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On January 5, 2016, the
Department of Commerce
(‘‘Department’’) published in the
Federal Register the preliminary results
of the administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on magnesium
metal from the People’s Republic of
China (‘‘PRC’’) covering the period April
1, 2014, through March 31, 2015.1 This
review covers two PRC companies,
Tianjin Magnesium International, Co.,
Ltd. (‘‘TMI’’) and Tianjin Magnesium
Metal Co., Ltd. (‘‘TMM’’). The
Department gave interested parties an
opportunity to comment on the
Preliminary Results, but we received no
comments. Hence, these final results are
unchanged from the Preliminary
Results, and we continue to find that
TMI and TMM did not have reviewable
AGENCY:
Interested parties must submit
applications for disclosure under APO
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On
January 22, 2008, the Department
published Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Documents Submission Procedures;
APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January
22, 2008). Parties wishing to participate
in this investigation should ensure that
they meet the requirements of these
procedures (e.g., the filing of letters of
appearance as discussed at 19 CFR
351.103(d)).
This notice is issued and published
pursuant to sections 702 and 777(i) of
the Act.
29 See
Dated: April 20, 2016.
Christian Marsh,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping
and Countervailing Duty Operations.
entries during the period of review
(‘‘POR’’).
DATES: Effective Date: April 28, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James Terpstra or Brendan Quinn, AD/
CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement
and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–3965 or (202) 482–
5848, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 5, 2016, the Department
published the Preliminary Results.2 We
invited interested parties to comment on
the Preliminary Results, but no
comments were received. Also, as
explained in the memorandum from the
Acting Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement & Compliance, the
Department exercised its authority to
toll all administrative deadlines due to
the recent closure of the Federal
Government.3 As a consequence, all
deadlines in this segment of the
proceeding have been extended by four
business days. The revised deadline for
the final results is now May 10, 2016.
The Department conducted this
review in accordance with section
751(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (‘‘the Act’’).
Scope of the Order
The product covered by this
antidumping duty order is magnesium
metal from the PRC, which includes
primary and secondary alloy
magnesium metal, regardless of
chemistry, raw material source, form,
shape, or size. Magnesium is a metal or
alloy containing by weight primarily the
element magnesium. Primary
magnesium is produced by
decomposing raw materials into
magnesium metal. Secondary
magnesium is produced by recycling
magnesium-based scrap into magnesium
metal. The magnesium covered by this
order includes blends of primary and
secondary magnesium.
The subject merchandise includes the
following alloy magnesium metal
products made from primary and/or
secondary magnesium including,
without limitation, magnesium cast into
ingots, slabs, rounds, billets, and other
shapes; magnesium ground, chipped,
crushed, or machined into rasping,
2 Id.
1 See
Magnesium Metal From the People’s
Republic of China: Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2014–
2015, 81 FR 220 (January 5, 2016) (‘‘Preliminary
Results’’).
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3 See Memorandum to the File from Ron
Lorentzen, Acting A/S for Enforcement &
Compliance, ‘‘Tolling of Administrative Deadlines
As a Result of the Government Closure During
Snowstorm Jonas,’’ dated January 27, 2016.
E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM
28APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25383-25386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09882]
[[Page 25383]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-570-046]
1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid From People's Republic
of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce
DATES: Effective Date: February 20, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Davina Friedmann at (202) 482-0698,
Robert James at (202) 482-0649, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC
20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Petition
On March 31, 2016, the Department of Commerce (Department) received
a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of 1-
Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid (HEDP) from the People's
Republic of China (the PRC), filed in proper form on behalf of Compass
Chemical International, LLC (Petitioner). The CVD petition was
accompanied by an antidumping duty (AD) petition, also concerning
imports of HEDP from the PRC.\1\ Petitioner is a domestic producer of
HEDP.\2\
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\1\ See ``Petition for the Imposition of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duties: 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid
from the People's Republic of China,'' dated March 31, 2016
(Petitions).
\2\ See Volume I of the Petitions, at 2, and Exhibit I-1.
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In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act), Petitioner alleges that the Government of the PRC
(GOC) is providing countervailable subsidies (within the meaning of
sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act) with respect to imports of HEDP
from the PRC, and that imports of HEDP from the PRC are materially
injuring, and threaten material injury to, the domestic industry
producing HEDP in the United States. Also, consistent with section
702(b)(1) of the Act, for those alleged programs on which we have
initiated a CVD investigation, the Petition is accompanied by
information reasonably available to Petitioner supporting its
allegations.
The Department finds that Petitioner filed the Petition on behalf
of the domestic industry because it is an interested party as defined
in section 771(9)(C) of the Act, and that Petitioner has demonstrated
sufficient industry support with respect to the initiation of the
investigation Petitioner is requesting.\3\
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\3\ See ``Determination of Industry Support for the Petition''
below.
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Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is January 1, 2015, through December
31, 2015.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is HEDP from the PRC. For
a full description of the scope of this investigation, see ``Scope of
Investigation'' at Appendix I of this notice.
Comments on Scope of the Investigation
During our review of the Petition, the Department issued questions
to, and received responses from, Petitioner pertaining to the proposed
scope to ensure that the scope language in the Petition would be an
accurate reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is
seeking relief.\5\
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\5\ See Letter from Petitioner to the Department, ``Petitioner
for the Imposition of Antidumping and Countervailing Duties,
Supplemental Submission, Petition Volume I: 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1,
1-Diphosphonic Acid from the People's Republic of China,'' dated
April 7, 2016 (Petition Supplemental Information).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
As discussed in the preamble to the Department's regulations,\6\ we
are setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues
regarding product coverage (i.e., scope). The Department will consider
all comments received from interested parties, and if necessary, will
consult with interested parties prior to the issuance of the
preliminary determination. If scope comments include factual
information (see 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21)), all such factual information
should be limited to public information. In order to facilitate
preparation of its questionnaire, the Department requests all
interested parties to submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(ET) on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, which is 20 calendar days from the
signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include
factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 20,
2016, which is ten calendar days after the initial comments deadline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department requests that any factual information the parties
consider relevant to the scope of the investigation be submitted during
this time period. However, if a party subsequently finds that
additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the
investigation may be relevant, the party may contact the Department and
request permission to submit the additional information. All such
comments also must be filed on the record of the concurrent AD
investigation.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to the Department must be filed electronically
using Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS).\7\ An electronically-
filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the
time and date it is due. Documents excepted from the electronic
submission requirements must be filed manually (i.e., in paper form)
with Enforcement and Compliance's APO/Dockets Unit, Room 18022, U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20230, and stamped with the date and time of receipt by
the applicable deadlines.
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\7\ See 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements);
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing
Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 39263
(July 6, 2011), for details of the Department's electronic filing
requirements, which went into effect on August 5, 2011. Information
on help using ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx and a handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook%20on%20Electronic%20Filling%20Procedures.pdf.
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Consultations
Pursuant to section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act, the Department
notified representatives of the GOC of the receipt of the Petition.
Also, in accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act, the
Department provided representatives of the GOC the opportunity for
consultations with respect to the CVD petition.\8\ In lieu of
consultation with the Department, the GOC submitted comments to the
Department on the alleged subsidy programs.\9\
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\8\ See Letter of invitation from the Department regarding,
``Countervailing Duty Petition on 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-
DIphosphonic Acid from the People's Republic of China,'' dated April
7, 2016.
\9\ See Department Memorandum, ``Countervailing Duty Petition on
1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid from the People's
Republic of China: GOC Comments on Alleged Subsidy Programs,'' dated
April 19, 2016.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Determination of Industry Support for the Petition
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic
[[Page 25384]]
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) At least
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D) of
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product, the Department
shall: (i) Poll the industry or rely on other information in order to
determine if there is support for the petition, as required by
subparagraph (A); or (ii) determine industry support using a
statistically valid sampling method to poll the ``industry.''
Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute
directs the Department to look to producers and workers who produce the
domestic like product. The International Trade Commission (ITC), which
is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry'' has
been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like
product in order to define the industry. While both the Department and
the ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic
like product,\10\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a
separate and distinct authority. In addition, the Department's
determination is subject to limitations of time and information.
Although this may result in different definitions of the like product,
such differences do not render the decision of either agency contrary
to law.\11\
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\10\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
\11\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F.
Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the
Petition).
With regard to the domestic like product, Petitioner does not offer
a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope of
the investigation. Based on our analysis of the information submitted
on the record, we have determined that HEDP, as defined in the scope,
constitutes a single domestic like product and we have analyzed
industry support in terms of that domestic like product.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\12\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis in
this case, see Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation
Checklist: 1 Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid from the
People's Republic of China (PRC CVD Initiation Checklist), at
Attachment II, Analysis of Industry Support for the Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-
Diphosphonic Acid from the People's Republic of China (Attachment
II). This checklist is dated concurrently with this notice and on
file electronically via ACCESS. Access to documents filed via ACCESS
is also available in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the
main Department of Commerce building.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In determining whether Petitioner has standing under section
702(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data
contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like product
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in Appendix I of this
notice. To establish industry support, Petitioner provided its 2015
production of the domestic like product.\13\ Petitioner states that it
is the only known producer of HEDP in the United States; therefore, the
Petition is supported by 100 percent of the U.S. industry.\14\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 5 and Exhibit I-1.
\14\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our review of the data provided in the Petition and other
information readily available to the Department indicates that
Petitioner has established industry support.\15\ First, the Petition
established support from domestic producers (or workers) accounting for
more than 50 percent of the total production of the domestic like
product and, as such, the Department is not required to take further
action in order to evaluate industry support (e.g., polling).\16\
Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory
criteria for industry support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act
because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the Petition
account for at least 25 percent of the total production of the domestic
like product.\17\ Finally, the domestic producers (or workers) have met
the statutory criteria for industry support under section
702(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers)
who support the Petition account for more than 50 percent of the
production of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the
industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition.\18\
Accordingly, the Department determines that the Petition was filed on
behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of section 702(b)(1)
of the Act.
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\15\ See PRC CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
\16\ See section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act; see also PRC CVD
Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
\17\ See PRC CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment II.
\18\ Id.
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The Department finds that Petitioner filed the Petition on behalf
of the domestic industry because it is an interested parties as defined
in section 771(9)(C) of the Act and it has demonstrated sufficient
industry support with respect to the CVD investigation that it is
requesting the Department initiate.\19\
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\19\ Id.
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Injury Test
Because the PRC is a ``Subsidies Agreement Country'' within the
meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act
applies to this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine
whether imports of the subject merchandise from the PRC materially
injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry.
Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation
Petitioner alleges that imports of the subject merchandise are
benefitting from countervailable subsidies and that such imports are
causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry
producing the domestic like product. In addition, Petitioner alleges
that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided for
under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\20\
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\20\ See General Issues Supplement, at 2.
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Petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is
illustrated by reduced market share; underselling and price suppression
or depression; decline in shipments and production; decline in
employment; decline in financial performance; and lost sales and
revenues.\21\ We have assessed the allegations and supporting evidence
regarding material injury, threat of material injury, and causation,
and we have determined that these allegations are properly supported by
adequate evidence and meet the statutory requirements for
initiation.\22\
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\21\ See Volume I of the Petition, at 10-13, 19-38 and Exhibit
I-5; see also General Issues Supplement, at 2.
\22\ See PRC CVD Initiation Checklist, at Attachment III,
Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and
Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions
Covering 1-Hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-Diphosphonic Acid from the
People's Republic of China.
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[[Page 25385]]
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires the Department to initiate a
CVD investigation whenever an interested party files a CVD petition on
behalf of an industry that: (1) Alleges elements necessary for an
imposition of a duty under section 701(a) of the Act; and (2) is
accompanied by information reasonably available to Petitioner
supporting the allegations.
Petitioner alleges that producers/exporters of HEDP in the PRC
benefit from countervailable subsidies bestowed by the GOC. The
Department examined the Petition and finds that it complies with the
requirements of section 702(b)(1) of the Act. Therefore, in accordance
with section 702(b)(1) of the Act, we are initiating a CVD
investigation to determine whether manufacturers, producers, or
exporters of HEDP from the PRC receive countervailable subsidies from
the GOC and various authorities thereof.
On June 29, 2015, the President of the United States signed into
law the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, which made numerous
amendments to the AD and CVD law.\23\ The 2015 law does not specify
dates of application for those amendments. On August 6, 2015, the
Department published an interpretative rule, in which it announced the
applicability dates for each amendment to the Act, except for
amendments contained in section 771(7) of the Act, which relate to
determinations of material injury by the ITC.\24\ The amendments to
sections 776 and 782 of the Act are applicable to all determinations
made on or after August 6, 2015, and, therefore, apply to this CVD
investigation.\25\
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\23\ See Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-
27, 129 Stat. 362 (2015).
\24\ See Dates of Application of Amendments to the Antidumping
and Countervailing Duty Laws Made by the Trade Preferences Extension
Act of 2015, 80 FR 46793 (August 6, 2015) (Applicability Notice).
The 2015 amendments may be found at https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1295/text/pl.
\25\ Id., at 46794-95.
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Based on our review of the petition, we find that there is
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on the four
remaining alleged programs in the PRC.\26\ For a full discussion of the
basis for our decision to initiate on each program, see the PRC CVD
Initiation Checklist. A public version of the initiation checklist for
this investigation is available on ACCESS.
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\26\ Petitioner initially alleged nine subsidy programs, but
subsequently withdrew allegations on five of those programs. See
Volume III of the Petition, at 18-30; see also Petition Supplemental
Information at 1-3.
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In accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary
determination no later than 65 days after the date of this initiation.
Respondent Selection
Following standard practice in CVD investigations, the Department
will, where appropriate, select respondents based on U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (``CBP'') data for U.S. imports of HEDP during the
period of investigation. For this investigation, the Department will
release U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports
of subject merchandise during the period of investigation under the
following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States numbers:
2931.90.9043. Subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS
subheadings 2811.19.6090 and 2931.90.9041. We intend to release the CBP
data under Administrative Protective Order (APO) to all parties with
access to information protected by APO within five business days of the
announcement of this Federal Register notice. Interested parties must
submit applications for disclosure under APO in accordance with 19 CFR
351.305(b). Instructions for filing such applications may be found at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/apo/.
Interested parties may submit comments regarding the CBP data and
respondent selection by 5:00 p.m. ET on the seventh calendar day after
publication of this notice. Comments must be filed in accordance with
the filing requirements stated above. If respondent selection is
necessary, we intend to base our decision regarding respondent
selection upon comments received from interested parties and our
analysis of the record information within 20 days of publication of
this notice.
Distribution of Copies of the Petition
In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been
provided to the GOC via ACCESS. To the extent practicable, we will
attempt to provide a copy of the public version of the Petition to each
known exporter (as named in the Petition), consistent with 19 CFR
351.203(c)(2).
ITC Notification
We will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by section
702(d) of the Act.
Preliminary Determinations by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date
on which the Petition was filed, whether there is a reasonable
indication that imports of HEDP from the PRC are materially injuring,
or threatening material injury to, a U.S. industry.\27\ A negative ITC
determination will result in the investigation being terminated; \28\
otherwise, this investigation will proceed according to statutory and
regulatory time limits.
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\27\ See section 703(a)(2) of the Act.
\28\ See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.
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Submission of Factual Information
Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i)
Evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence
placed on the record by the Department; and (v) evidence other than
factual information described in (i)-(iv). The regulation requires any
party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which
subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted
and, if the information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct
factual information already on the record, to provide an explanation
identifying the information already on the record that the factual
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct. Time limits for the
submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301,
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual
information being submitted. Parties should review the regulations
prior to submitting factual information in this investigation.
Extension of Time Limits
Parties may request an extension of time limits before the
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as
otherwise specified by the Secretary. In general, an extension request
will be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the
time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301 expires. For submissions
that are due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request
will be considered untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. on the due
date. Under certain circumstances, we may elect to specify a different
time limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for
submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In
[[Page 25386]]
such a case, we will inform parties in the letter or memorandum setting
forth the deadline (including a specified time) by which extension
requests must be filed to be considered timely. An extension request
must be made in a separate, stand-alone submission; under limited
circumstances we will grant untimely-filed requests for the extension
of time limits. Review Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR
57790 (September 20, 2013), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to submitting factual
information in this investigation.
Certification Requirements
Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\29\
Parties are hereby reminded that revised certification requirements are
in effect for company/government officials, as well as their
representatives. Investigations initiated on the basis of petitions
filed on or after August 16, 2013, and other segments of any AD or CVD
proceedings initiated on or after August 16, 2013, should use the
formats for the revised certifications provided at the end of the Final
Rule.\30\ The Department intends to reject factual submissions if the
submitting party does not comply with the applicable revised
certification requirements.
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\29\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
\30\ See Certification of Factual Information To Import
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (``Final Rule''); see also
frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule, available at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
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Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. On January 22, 2008, the
Department published Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Documents Submission Procedures; APO Procedures, 73 FR 3634 (January
22, 2008). Parties wishing to participate in this investigation should
ensure that they meet the requirements of these procedures (e.g., the
filing of letters of appearance as discussed at 19 CFR 351.103(d)).
This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and
777(i) of the Act.
Dated: April 20, 2016.
Christian Marsh,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Operations.
Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this investigation includes all
grades of aqueous acidic (non-neutralized) concentrations of 1-
hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), also referred to as
hydroxyethylidenendiphosphonic acid, hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid,
acetodiphosphonic acid, and etidronic acid. The CAS (Chemical
Abstract Service) registry number for HEDP is 2809-21-4.
The merchandise subject to this investigation is currently
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) at subheading 2931.90.9043. It may also enter under HTSUS
subheadings 2811.19.6090 and 2931.90.9041. While HTSUS subheadings
and the CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs
purposes only, the written description of the scope of this
investigation is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2016-09882 Filed 4-27-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P