Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Belgium: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures, 787-789 [2018-00133]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2018 / Notices The scope does not include calcium citrate that satisfies the standards set forth in the United States Pharmacopeia and has been mixed with a functional excipient, such as dextrose or starch, where the excipient constitutes at least 2 percent, by weight, of the product. Citric acid and sodium citrate are classifiable under 2918.14.0000 and 2918.15.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), respectively. Potassium citrate and crude calcium citrate are classifiable under 2918.15.5000 and, if included in a mixture or blend, 3824.99.9295 of the HTSUS. Blends that include citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate are classifiable under 3824.99.9295 of the HTSUS. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Period of Investigation IV. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures V. Scope Comments VI. Scope of the Investigation VII. Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances VIII. Discussion of the Methodology A. Determination of the Comparison Method B. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis IX. Date of Sale X. Product Comparisons XI. Export Price and Constructed Export Price XII. Normal Value A. Comparison Market Viability B. Level of Trade C. Cost of Production (COP) Analysis 1. Calculation of COP 2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices 3. Results of the COP Test D. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison Market Prices E. Calculation of NV Based on Constructed Value XIII. Currency Conversion XIV. Verification XV. Recommendation [FR Doc. 2018–00132 Filed 1–5–18; 8:45 am] sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:29 Jan 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–423–813] Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Belgium: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that citric acid and certain citrate salts (citric acid) from Belgium are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2017. DATES: Applicable: January 8, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Stolz, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–4474. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AGENCY: Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on June 30, 2017.1 On November 1, 2017, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now December 29, 2017.2 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.3 A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance’s Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 1 See Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 29828 (June 30, 2017) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations of Less-Than-FairValue Investigations, 82 FR 50622 (November 1, 2017). 3 See the Department’s memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 787 Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https:// access.trade.gov, and to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and the electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content. Scope of the Investigation The product covered by this investigation is citric acid from Belgium. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I. Scope Comments In accordance with the preamble to Commerce’s regulations,4 the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).5 Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this preliminary determination, and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.6 Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value (NV) is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. All-Others Rate Sections 733(d)(1)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others 4 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997). 5 See Initiation Notice, 82 FR at 29829. 6 See the Department’s memorandum, ‘‘Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, Colombia and Thailand; and Countervailing Duty Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Thailand: Scope Comments Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination,’’ dated December 1, 2017 (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum). E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1 788 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2018 / Notices sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weightedaverage dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act. Commerce calculated an individual estimated weighted-average dumping margin for S.A. Citrique Belge N.V. (Citrique Belge), the only individually examined exporter/producer in this investigation. Because the only individually calculated dumping margin is not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available, the estimated weighted-average dumping margin calculated for Citrique Belge is the margin assigned to all-other producers and exporters, pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act. estimated weighted-average dumping margin. Disclosure Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Verification As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to verify the information relied upon in making its final determination. Public Comment Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the last Preliminary Determination verification report is issued in this Commerce preliminarily determines investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to that the following estimated weightedissues raised in case briefs, may be average dumping margins exist: submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.7 Estimated Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and weighted(d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or average Exporter/producer rebuttal briefs in this investigation are dumping margin encouraged to submit with each (percent) argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; S.A. Citrique Belge N.V .............. 24.41 All-Others .................................... 24.41 and (3) a table of authorities. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a Suspension of Liquidation hearing, limited to issues raised in the In accordance with section 733(d)(2) case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. written request to the Assistant Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to Secretary for Enforcement and suspend liquidation of entries of subject Compliance, U.S. Department of merchandise, as described in Appendix Commerce, within 30 days after the date I, entered, or withdrawn from of publication of this notice. Requests warehouse, for consumption on or after should contain the party’s name, the date of publication of this notice in address, and telephone number, the the Federal Register. Further, pursuant number of participants, whether any to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 participant is a foreign national, and a CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct list of the issues to be discussed. If a CBP to require a cash deposit equal to request for a hearing is made, Commerce the estimated weighted-average intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. dumping margin or the estimated allDepartment of Commerce, 1401 others rate, as follows: (1) The cash Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, deposit rate for the respondents listed DC 20230, at a time and date to be above will be equal to the companydetermined. Parties should confirm by specific estimated weighted-average telephone the date, time, and location of dumping margins determined in this the hearing two days before the preliminary determination; (2) if the scheduled date. exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, then the cash Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weightedSection 735(a)(2) of the Act provides average dumping margin established for that a final determination may be that producer of the subject postponed until not later than 135 days merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and 7 See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 exporters will be equal to the all-others (for general filing requirements). VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:29 Jan 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 after the date of the publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce’s regulations requires that a request by exporters for postponement of the final determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months in duration. On November 30, 2017, Citrique Belge requested that Commerce postpone the final determination in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, and on December 1, 2017, Citrique Belge re-submitted its request to postpone the final determination to also request that provisional measures be extended from a four-month period to a six-month period, pursuant to section 733(d) of the Act.8 In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) The preliminary determination is affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a six-month period. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of this preliminary determination. International Trade Commission Notification In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary determination. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry. 8 See Citrique Belge’s letter, ‘‘Antidumping Duty Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium: Respondent’s Request for Postponement of Final Determination,’’ dated November 30, 2017, as amended by Citrique Belge’s letter, ‘‘Antidumping Duty Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium: Respondent’s Request for Postponement of Final Determination,’’ dated December 1, 2017. E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM 08JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 5 / Monday, January 8, 2018 / Notices Notification to Interested Parties This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: December 29, 2017. Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by this investigation includes all grades and granulation sizes of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate in their unblended forms, whether dry or in solution, and regardless of packaging type. The scope also includes blends of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate; as well as blends with other ingredients, such as sugar, where the unblended form(s) of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate constitute 40 percent or more, by weight, of the blend. The scope also includes all forms of crude calcium citrate, including dicalcium citrate monohydrate, and tricalcium citrate tetrahydrate, which are intermediate products in the production of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate. The scope includes the hydrous and anhydrous forms of citric acid, the dihydrate and anhydrous forms of sodium citrate, otherwise known as citric acid sodium salt, and the monohydrate and monopotassium forms of potassium citrate. Sodium citrate also includes both trisodium citrate and monosodium citrate which are also known as citric acid trisodium salt and citric acid monosodium salt, respectively. The scope does not include calcium citrate that satisfies the standards set forth in the United States Pharmacopeia and has been mixed with a functional excipient, such as dextrose or starch, where the excipient constitutes at least 2 percent, by weight, of the product. Citric acid and sodium citrate are classifiable under 2918.14.0000 and 2918.15.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), respectively. Potassium citrate and crude calcium citrate are classifiable under 2918.15.5000 and, if included in a mixture or blend, 3824.99.9295 of the HTSUS. Blends that include citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate are classifiable under 3824.99.9295 of the HTSUS. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Period of Investigation IV. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures V. Scope Comments VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:29 Jan 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 VI. Scope of the Investigation VII. Discussion of the Methodology A. Determination of Comparison Method B. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis VIII. Date of Sale IX. Product Comparisons X. Export Price And Constructed Export Price A. Export Price XI. Normal Value A. Home Market Viability B. Level of Trade C. Cost of Production Analysis D. Calculation of NV Based On Comparison-Market Prices XII. Currency Conversion XIII. Verification XIV. Recommendation [FR Doc. 2018–00133 Filed 1–5–18; 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: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2016–2017 Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on magnesium metal from the People’s Republic of China (China), covering the period April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2017. Commerce preliminarily determines that Tianjin Magnesium International, Co., Ltd. (TMI) and Tianjin Magnesium Metal, Co., Ltd. (TMM) did not have reviewable entries during the period of review (POR). We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results. DATES: Applicable January 8, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Terpstra, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–3965. AGENCY: Background On April 3, 2017, Commerce published a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on magnesium metal from China for the POR.1 On June 7, 2017, in response to a timely request 1 See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review, 82 FR 16163 (April 3, 2017). PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 789 from the petitioner,2 and in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on magnesium metal from China with respect to TMI and TMM.3 Scope of the Order The product covered by this antidumping duty order is magnesium metal from China, 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, granules, turnings, chips, powder, briquettes, and other shapes; and products that contain 50 percent or greater, but less than 99.8 percent, magnesium, by weight, and that have been entered into the United States as conforming to an ‘‘ASTM Specification for Magnesium Alloy’’ 4 and are thus outside the scope of the existing antidumping orders on magnesium from China (generally referred to as ‘‘alloy’’ magnesium). The scope of this order excludes: (1) All forms of pure magnesium, including chemical combinations of magnesium and other material(s) in which the pure magnesium content is 50 percent or greater, but less than 99.8 percent, by weight, that do not conform to an ‘‘ASTM Specification for Magnesium Alloy’’ 5; (2) magnesium that is in liquid 2 See letter from US Magnesium LLC (the petitioner), ‘‘Magnesium Metal from the People’s Republic of China: Request for Administrative Review,’’ dated April 28, 2017. 3 See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 82 FR 26444 (June 7, 2017). 4 The meaning of this term is the same as that used by the American Society for Testing and Materials in its Annual Book for ASTM Standards: Volume 01.02 Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys. 5 The material is already covered by existing antidumping orders. See Notice of Antidumping E:\FR\FM\08JAN1.SGM Continued 08JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 5 (Monday, January 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 787-789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00133]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-423-813]


Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From Belgium: Preliminary 
Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 
Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that citric acid and certain citrate salts (citric acid) from Belgium 
are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than 
fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is April 1, 2016, 
through March 31, 2017.

DATES: Applicable: January 8, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Stolz, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce 
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on June 30, 
2017.\1\ On November 1, 2017, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now 
December 29, 2017.\2\ For a complete description of the events that 
followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file 
electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). 
ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov, 
and to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main 
Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and the electronic versions of 
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, 
Colombia, and Thailand: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value 
Investigations, 82 FR 29828 (June 30, 2017) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium, 
Colombia, and Thailand: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations 
of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 50622 (November 1, 
2017).
    \3\ See the Department's memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for 
the Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value 
Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from 
Belgium,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this 
notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

    The product covered by this investigation is citric acid from 
Belgium. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\5\ Certain interested 
parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in 
the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments 
and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this preliminary 
determination, and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments 
timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\6\ 
Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the scope language as it 
appeared in the Initiation Notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice, 82 FR at 29829.
    \6\ See the Department's memorandum, ``Citric Acid and Certain 
Citrate Salts from Belgium, Colombia and Thailand; and 
Countervailing Duty Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate 
Salts from Thailand: Scope Comments Decision Memorandum for the 
Preliminary Determination,'' dated December 1, 2017 (Preliminary 
Scope Decision Memorandum).
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in 
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value (NV) is 
calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full 
description of the methodology underlying the preliminary 
determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Sections 733(d)(1)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in 
the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated 
all-others

[[Page 788]]

rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. This 
rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and 
producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis 
margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the 
Act.
    Commerce calculated an individual estimated weighted-average 
dumping margin for S.A. Citrique Belge N.V. (Citrique Belge), the only 
individually examined exporter/producer in this investigation. Because 
the only individually calculated dumping margin is not zero, de 
minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available, the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin calculated for Citrique Belge is the 
margin assigned to all-other producers and exporters, pursuant to 
section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Estimated
                                                               weighted-
                                                                average
                      Exporter/producer                         dumping
                                                                margin
                                                               (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S.A. Citrique Belge N.V.....................................       24.41
All-Others..................................................       24.41
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will 
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation 
of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant 
to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will 
instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-
average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: 
(1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above will be 
equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping 
margins determined in this preliminary determination; (2) if the 
exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, 
then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific 
estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer 
of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other 
producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis 
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination 
within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public 
announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this 
notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to 
verify the information relied upon in making its final determination.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven 
days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in 
this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case 
briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline 
date for case briefs.\7\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), 
parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation 
are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the 
issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of 
authorities.
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    \7\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal 
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days 
after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain 
the party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of 
participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list 
of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, 
Commerce intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time 
and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the 
date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled 
date.

Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an 
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement 
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of 
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative 
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by 
the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations 
requires that a request by exporters for postponement of the final 
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional 
measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months 
in duration.
    On November 30, 2017, Citrique Belge requested that Commerce 
postpone the final determination in the event of an affirmative 
preliminary determination, and on December 1, 2017, Citrique Belge re-
submitted its request to postpone the final determination to also 
request that provisional measures be extended from a four-month period 
to a six-month period, pursuant to section 733(d) of the Act.\8\ In 
accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) The preliminary determination is 
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant 
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling 
reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final 
determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month 
period to a six-month period. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final 
determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of 
this preliminary determination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Citrique Belge's letter, ``Antidumping Duty 
Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from Belgium: 
Respondent's Request for Postponement of Final Determination,'' 
dated November 30, 2017, as amended by Citrique Belge's letter, 
``Antidumping Duty Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate 
Salts from Belgium: Respondent's Request for Postponement of Final 
Determination,'' dated December 1, 2017.
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International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary 
determination. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will 
determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this 
preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination 
whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material 
injury to, the U.S. industry.

[[Page 789]]

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

    Dated: December 29, 2017.
Christian Marsh,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation includes all 
grades and granulation sizes of citric acid, sodium citrate, and 
potassium citrate in their unblended forms, whether dry or in 
solution, and regardless of packaging type. The scope also includes 
blends of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate; as 
well as blends with other ingredients, such as sugar, where the 
unblended form(s) of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium 
citrate constitute 40 percent or more, by weight, of the blend.
    The scope also includes all forms of crude calcium citrate, 
including dicalcium citrate monohydrate, and tricalcium citrate 
tetrahydrate, which are intermediate products in the production of 
citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate.
    The scope includes the hydrous and anhydrous forms of citric 
acid, the dihydrate and anhydrous forms of sodium citrate, otherwise 
known as citric acid sodium salt, and the monohydrate and 
monopotassium forms of potassium citrate. Sodium citrate also 
includes both trisodium citrate and monosodium citrate which are 
also known as citric acid trisodium salt and citric acid monosodium 
salt, respectively.
    The scope does not include calcium citrate that satisfies the 
standards set forth in the United States Pharmacopeia and has been 
mixed with a functional excipient, such as dextrose or starch, where 
the excipient constitutes at least 2 percent, by weight, of the 
product.
    Citric acid and sodium citrate are classifiable under 
2918.14.0000 and 2918.15.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTSUS), respectively. Potassium citrate and crude 
calcium citrate are classifiable under 2918.15.5000 and, if included 
in a mixture or blend, 3824.99.9295 of the HTSUS. Blends that 
include citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate are 
classifiable under 3824.99.9295 of the HTSUS. Although the HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures
V. Scope Comments
VI. Scope of the Investigation
VII. Discussion of the Methodology
    A. Determination of Comparison Method
    B. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis
VIII. Date of Sale
IX. Product Comparisons
X. Export Price And Constructed Export Price
    A. Export Price
XI. Normal Value
    A. Home Market Viability
    B. Level of Trade
    C. Cost of Production Analysis
    D. Calculation of NV Based On Comparison-Market Prices
XII. Currency Conversion
XIII. Verification
XIV. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2018-00133 Filed 1-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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