Aluminum Extrusions From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With Final Scope Ruling and Notice of Amended Final Scope Ruling Pursuant to Court Decision, 66259 [2016-23305]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• International Trade Administration

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 187 (Tuesday, September 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 66259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23305]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-967; C-570-968]


Aluminum Extrusions From the People's Republic of China: Notice 
of Court Decision Not in Harmony With Final Scope Ruling and Notice of 
Amended Final Scope Ruling Pursuant to Court Decision

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: On August 26, 2016, the United States Court of International 
Trade (CIT or Court) sustained the Department of Commerce's 
(Department) final results of redetermination in which the Department 
determined, under protest, that Whirlpool Corporation's (Whirlpool) 
kitchen appliance door handles with plastic end caps (handles with end 
caps) are not covered by the scope of the antidumping (AD) and 
countervailing duty (CVD) orders on aluminum extrusions from the 
People's Republic of China.

DATES: Effective: September 5, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Terpstra, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; 
telephone: 202-482-3965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On August 4, 2014, the Department issued a final scope ruling in 
which it determined that two types of kitchen appliance door handles 
imported by Whirlpool are within the scope of the Orders \1\ and did 
not meet the scope exclusion for ``finished merchandise'' or ``finished 
goods kits.'' \2\ Whirlpool challenged the Department's final scope 
ruling at the CIT.
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    \1\ See Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China: 
Antidumping Duty Order, 76 FR 30650 (May 26, 2011) and Aluminum 
Extrusions from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty 
Order, 76 FR 30653 (May 26, 2011) (the Orders).
    \2\ See ``Final Scope Ruling on Whirlpool Kitchen Appliance Door 
Handles,'' dated August 4, 2014 (Whirlpool Kitchen Appliance Door 
Handles Scope Ruling).
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    On February 1, 2016, in Whirlpool I the Court issued an opinion and 
order sustaining the Department's findings in the original scope ruling 
that Whirlpool's kitchen appliance door handles consisting of a single 
piece of extruded aluminum are within the scope of the Orders based on 
a plain reading of the scope language.\3\ However, the Court remanded 
the Department's determination that the scope of the Orders covers 
handles consisting of a single piece of aluminum extrusion with plastic 
end caps fastened on with screws. The Court found that the general 
language of the scope did not support the Department's 
determination.\4\ The Court further found that, assuming arguendo that 
Whirlpool's handles with end caps were covered by the general scope 
language, the Department erred in finding that the products did not 
satisfy the ``finished merchandise'' exclusion.\5\
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    \3\ See Whirlpool Corporation v. United States, Court No. 14-
00199, Slip Op. 16-8 (Whirlpool I), at 16-17.
    \4\ Id., at 8-11.
    \5\ Id., at 11-14.
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    On April 18, 2016, the Department issued its Final Results of 
Redetermination, in which it found that although it respectfully 
disagreed with the Court that Whirlpool's handles with end caps were 
not covered by the general scope language, it found under protest that 
Whirlpool's handles with end caps were outside the scope of the 
Orders.\6\ As a result, the Department did not consider whether 
Whirlpool's handles with end caps were subject to the exclusion for 
``finished merchandise.'' \7\
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    \6\ See Results Of Redetermination Pursuant To Court Remand, 
Whirlpool Corp. v. United States, Court No. 14-000199, Slip Op. 16-
08 (CIT February 1, 2016) (Final Results of Redetermination).
    \7\ Id.
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    On August 26, 2016, in Whirlpool II the Court sustained the 
Department's finding in the Final Results of Redetermination that 
Whirlpool's handles with plastic end caps are not covered by the scope 
of the Orders.\8\ Consistent with the decision of the United States 
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit) in Timken 
Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (Timken), as 
clarified by Diamond Sawblades Mfrs. Coalition v. United States, 626 
F.3d 1374 (CAFC 2010) (Diamond Sawblades), the Department is notifying 
the public that the final judgment in this case is not in harmony with 
the Department's final scope ruling and is amending the final scope 
ruling to find that the handles with end caps imported by Whirlpool are 
not covered by the scope of the Orders.
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    \8\ See Whirlpool Corporation v. United States, Court No. 14-
00199, Slip Op. 16-81 (Whirlpool II).
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Timken Notice

    In its decision in Timken, 893 F.2d at 341, as clarified by Diamond 
Sawblades, the Federal Circuit held that, pursuant to section 516A(e) 
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), the Department must 
publish a notice of a court decision that is not ``in harmony'' with a 
Department determination and must suspend liquidation of entries 
pending a ``conclusive'' court decision. The CIT's August 26, 2016, 
judgment in Whirlpool II sustaining the Department's finding in the 
Final Results of Redetermination that Whirlpool's handles with end caps 
are not covered by the scope of the Orders constitutes a final decision 
of the Court that is not in harmony with the Whirlpool Kitchen 
Appliance Door Handles Scope Ruling. This notice is published in 
fulfillment of the publication requirements of Timken. Accordingly, the 
Department will continue the suspension of liquidation of Whirlpool's 
handles with end caps at issue pending expiration of the period for 
appeal or, if appealed, pending a final and conclusive court decision.

Amended Final Scope Ruling

    Because there is now a final court decision with respect to the 
Whirlpool Kitchen Appliance Door Handles Scope Ruling, the Department 
amends its final scope ruling and finds that the scope of the Orders 
does not cover Whirlpool's handles with end caps. The Department will 
instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that the cash deposit 
rate will be zero percent for Whirlpool's handles with end caps. In the 
event the CIT's ruling is not appealed, or if appealed, upheld by the 
Federal Circuit, the Department will instruct CBP to liquidate entries 
of Whirlpool's handles with end caps without regard to antidumping and/
or countervailing duties, and to lift suspension of liquidation of such 
entries.
    This notice is issued and published in accordance with section 
516A(c)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: September 15, 2016.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-23305 Filed 9-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P