Biodiesel From Argentina: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in Part, 8837-8839 [2018-04137]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2018 / Notices
Comment 7: Whether to Continue to
Include Allocated RIN and BTC Values
for Wilmar’s U.S. Sales of Biodiesel
Made Without RINs and BTCs
Comment 8: Whether Commerce Should
Correct Its Constructed Value
Calculation Based on Its Cost
Verification Finding
Comment 9: Whether Commerce’s
Application of AFA to Musim Mas was
Justified and Sufficiently Adverse
VI. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2018–04138 Filed 2–28–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–357–820]
Biodiesel From Argentina: Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value and Final Affirmative
Determination of Critical
Circumstances, in Part
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(Commerce) determines that imports of
biodiesel from Argentina are being, or
are likely to be, sold in the United States
at less than fair value (LTFV), as
provided in section 735 of the Tariff Act
of 1930, as amended (the Act). The
period of investigation (POI) is January
1, 2016, through December 31, 2016.
The final weighted-average dumping
margins are listed below in the section
entitled ‘‘Final Determination Margins.’’
DATES: Applicable March 1, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Lindgren, AD/CVD Operations,
Office VII, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
(202) 482–3870.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Background
On October 31, 2017, Commerce
published in the Federal Register the
preliminary affirmative determination of
sales at LTFV and the preliminary
affirmative determination of critical
circumstances, in part, in the
antidumping duty (AD) investigation of
biodiesel from Argentina.1 On December
8, 2017, Commerce published a
1 See Biodiesel from Argentina: Preliminary
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical
Circumstances, in Part, 82 FR 50391 (October 31,
2017) (Preliminary Determination) and
accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Feb 28, 2018
Jkt 244001
postponement notice, extending the due
date of the final LTFV determination
until February 15, 2018.2 Commerce
invited comments from interested
parties on the Preliminary
Determination.3 The petitioner, LDC
Argentina S.A. (LDC), and the Vicentin
Group filed case and rebuttal briefs.4
Commerce exercised its discretion to
toll deadlines affected by the closure of
the Federal Government from January
20 through 22, 2018. The revised
deadline for the final determination of
this investigation is now February 20,
2018.5 A summary of the events that
occurred since Commerce published the
Preliminary Determination, as well as a
full discussion of the issues raised by
interested parties for this final
determination, may be found in the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.6 The
Issues and 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 it is
available to all parties in the Central
Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main
Commerce building. In addition, a
complete version of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum can be accessed
directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/
2 See
Biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia:
Postponement of Final Determinations of Sales in
Less Than Fair Value Investigations and Extension
of Provisional Measures, 82 FR 57952 (December 8,
2017).
3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Case Brief Schedule for the
Antidumping Duty Investigation of Biodiesel from
Argentina,’’ dated December 1, 2017.
4 The petitioner is the National Biodiesel Board
Fair Trade Coalition, which is an ad hoc association
comprised of domestic producers of biodiesel, as
well as one trade association. See, e.g., Biodiesel
from Argentina and Indonesia; Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Petitions, dated March 23,
2017. The Vicentin Group consists of the following
companies: Vicentin S.A.I.C., Renova S.A.,
Oleaginosa Moreno Hermanos S.A., Molinos Agro
S.A., Patagonia Energia S.A., VFG Inversiones y
Actividades Especiales S.A., Vicentin S.A.I.C.
Sucursal Uy, Trading Company X, and Molinos
Overseas Commodities S.A. See, e.g., Preliminary
Decision Memorandum at ‘‘Affiliation and
Collapsing.’’
5 See Memorandum, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the
Shutdown of the Federal Government,’’ dated
January 23, 2018. All deadlines in this segment of
the proceeding have been extended by 3 days. If the
new deadline falls on a non-business day, in
accordance with Commerce’s practice, the deadline
will become the next business day. See Notice of
Clarification: Application of ‘‘Next Business Day’’
Rule for Administrative Determination Deadlines
Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, as Amended, 70
FR 24533 (May 10, 2005).
6 See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision
Memorandum for the Final Affirmative
Determination in the Antidumping Duty
Investigation of Biodiesel from Argentina,’’ dated
concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this
notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum).
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8837
frn/. The signed and electronic versions
of the Issues and Decision
Memorandum are identical in content.
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this
investigation is biodiesel from
Argentina. Commerce did not receive
any scope comments subsequent to the
Preliminary Determination and,
therefore, the scope has not been
updated since the Preliminary
Determination. See the scope in
Appendix I to this notice.
Period of Investigation
The POI is January 1, 2016, through
December 31, 2016.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act),
we conducted the cost and sales
verifications in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, and Kansas City, Missouri,
between October 30, 2017, and
November 17, 2017. We used standard
verification procedures, including an
examination of relevant accounting and
production records, and original source
documents provided by the
respondents.
Final Affirmative Determination of
Critical Circumstances, in Part
In the Preliminary Determination, in
accordance with section 733(e)(1) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.206, Commerce
found that critical circumstances existed
for LDC and ‘‘all other’’ producers or
exporters not individually examined
and found that critical circumstances
did not exist for the Vicentin Group.
Commerce received no comments
concerning the preliminary critical
circumstances determination. Thus, for
this final determination, Commerce
continues to find that, in accordance
with section 735(a)(3) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.206, critical circumstances
exist for LDC and ‘‘all other’’ producers
or exporters and do not exist for the
Vicentin Group. For further discussion
of Commerce’s critical circumstances
analysis, see the Issues and Decision
Memorandum.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and
rebuttal briefs by parties in this
investigation are addressed in the Issues
and Decision Memorandum, which is
hereby adopted by this notice. A list of
the issues raised is attached to this
notice as Appendix II.
E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM
01MRN1
8838
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2018 / Notices
Use of Facts Available and Adverse
Facts Available
For purposes of this final
determination, Commerce relied, in
part, on facts available with adverse
inferences when calculating the margins
for LDC and the Vicentin Group,
pursuant to sections 776(a)(2)(A)–(C)
and 776(b) of the Act. For further
information, see the Issues and Decision
Memorandum.
Changes Since the Preliminary
Determination
Based on our analysis of the
comments received and our findings at
verification, we made certain changes to
the margin calculations. For a
discussion of these changes, see the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.
All-Others Rate
Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act
provides that the estimated ‘‘all-others’’
rate for exporters and producers not
individually investigated shall be an
amount equal to the weighted average of
the estimated weighted-average
dumping margins established for
individually investigated exporters and
producers, excluding any margins that
are zero or de minimis or any margins
determined entirely under section 776
of the Act. We calculated the all-others
rate using a weighted average of the
dumping margins calculated for the
mandatory respondents using each
company’s publicly-ranged values for
the merchandise under consideration,
pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the
Act, as referenced in the ‘‘Final
Determination Margins’’ section below.7
Final Determination Margins
The weighted-average dumping
margins are as follows:
Estimated
weighted-average
dumping margin
(percent)
Exporter or producer
LDC Argentina S.A ..................................................................................................................................
Vicentin S.A.I.C.8 .....................................................................................................................................
All-Others .................................................................................................................................................
Cash deposit rate
(adjusted for
subsidy offset(s))
(percent)
60.44
86.41
74.73
60.44
9 86.23
10 74.63
Continuation of Suspension of
Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(e)(2)
of the Act, for this final determination,
Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend
liquidation of all entries of biodiesel, as
described in the Appendix I to this
notice, produced or exported by LDC
and ‘‘all other’’ exporters and producers
not individually examined, which were
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after August 2,
2017 (90 days prior to the date of
publication of the Preliminary
Determination), because we continue to
find that critical circumstances exist
with regard to imports from produced or
exported by LDC and ‘‘all other’’
exporters and producers not
individually examined.
In accordance with section
735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will
instruct U.S. CBP to continue to
suspend liquidation of all appropriate
entries of biodiesel from Argentina, as
described in Appendix I of this notice,
which were entered, or withdrawn from
warehouse, for consumption on or after
October 31, 2017, the date of
publication of the Preliminary
Determination.
Furthermore, pursuant to section
735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(d), Commerce will instruct CBP
to require a cash deposit for such entries
of merchandise 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 respondent-specific estimated
weighted-average dumping margin
determined in this final 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 respondent-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. Commerce normally adjusts
cash deposits for estimated antidumping
duties by the amount of export subsidies
countervailed in a companion
countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding,
when CVD provisional measures are in
effect. Accordingly, where Commerce
made an affirmative determination for
countervailable export subsidies,
Commerce has offset the estimated
weighted-average dumping margin by
the appropriate CVD rate.11 Any such
adjusted cash deposit rate may be found
in the ‘‘Final Determination Margins’’
section, above.
These instructions will stay in effect
until further notice.
7 For more detail on this calculation, see
Memorandum, ‘‘Antidumping Duty Investigation of
Biodiesel from Argentina: Final Determination
Calculation for the ‘All Others’ Rate,’’ dated
concurrently with this notice (Final All-Others
Memorandum).
8 As noted above, Commerce preliminarily
determined that Vicentin S.A.I.C., and companies
Renova S.A., Oleaginosa Moreno Hermanos S.A.,
Molinos Agro S.A., Patagonia Energia S.A., VFG
Inversiones y Actividades Especiales S.A., Vicentin
S.A.I.C. Sucursal Uy, Trading Company X, and
Molinos Overseas Commodities S.A. are a single
entity. See Preliminary Decision Memorandum at
‘‘Affiliation and Collapsing.’’ This determination
has not been changed for the purposes of the final
determination.
9 See Memorandum to the File, ‘‘Antidumping
Duty Investigation of Biodiesel from Argentina:
Vicentin Group Final Determination Analysis,’’
dated concurrently with this notice (Vicentin Final
Analysis Memorandum).
10 See Final All-Others Memorandum.
11 See Memorandum to the File, ‘‘Antidumping
Duty Investigation of Biodiesel from Argentina: LDC
Argentina S.A. Final Determination Analysis,’’
dated concurrently with this notice; see also
Vicentin Final Analysis Memorandum; Final AllOthers Memorandum.
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Disclosure
We will disclose the calculations
performed within five days of any
public announcement of this notice in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Feb 28, 2018
Jkt 244001
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 735(d) of
the Act, we will notify the U.S.
International Trade Commission (ITC) of
the final affirmative determination of
sales at LTFV. Because the final
determination in this proceeding is
affirmative, in accordance with section
735(b)(2)(B) of the Act, the ITC will
make its final determination as to
whether the domestic industry in the
United States is materially injured, or
threatened with material injury, by
reason of imports of biodiesel from
Argentina no later than 45 days after our
final determination. If the ITC
determines that material injury or threat
of material injury does not exist, the
proceeding will be terminated and all
cash deposits will be refunded. If the
E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM
01MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 41 / Thursday, March 1, 2018 / Notices
ITC determines that such injury does
exist, Commerce will issue an
antidumping duty order directing CBP
to assess, upon further instruction by
Commerce, antidumping duties on all
imports of the subject merchandise
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the effective
date of the suspension of liquidation, as
discussed above in the ‘‘Continuation of
Suspension of Liquidation’’ section.
Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS), while the B99 product is currently
classifiable under HTSUS subheading
3826.00.3000. Although the HTSUS
subheadings, ASTM specifications, and CAS
numbers are provided for convenience and
customs purposes, the written description of
the scope is dispositive.
Notification Regarding Administrative
Protective Orders
This notice will serve as the only
reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective order (APO) of
their responsibility concerning the
destruction of proprietary information
disclosed under APO in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely
written notification of return/
destruction or APO materials or
conversion to judicial protective order is
hereby requested. Failure to comply
with the regulations and the terms of an
APO is a sanctionable violation.
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Investigation
IV. Final Affirmative Determination of
Critical Circumstances, in Part
V. Changes Since the Preliminary
Determination
VI. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Adverse Inferences
VII. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Whether It Is Appropriate To
Adjust Normal Value for the Renewable
Identification Number Value
Comment 2: Whether the Determination To
Disregard Home Market Prices Due to
Particular Market Situation Contradicts
Commerce Precedent
Comment 3: Whether the Particular Market
Situation Permits Disregarding Raw
Material Costs
Comment 4: Whether the Particular Market
Situation Adjustment for Soybean Export
Tax Results in Double Counting
Comment 5: Whether To Adjust the
Constructed Value Profit Calculation
Comment 6: Whether Commerce’s Use of
Its Inflation Methodology Should Be
Determined on a Country-Wide or
Company-Specific Basis
Comment 7: Whether It Is Appropriate To
Index Costs for Inflation if Commerce
Finds a Particular Market Situation
Comment 8: Whether To Deduct Export
Taxes From Gross Unit Prices
Comment 9: Whether To Apply Adverse
Facts Available to Certain Unreported
LDC Expenses
Comment 10: Whether To Apply Facts
Available to LDC’s Unreported U.S. Sales
Comment 11: Treatment of Vicentin
Group’s EPA-Related Soybean Expenses
Comment 12: Whether To Apply Adverse
Facts Available to Molinos’s Export
Expenses
Comment 13: Whether To Adjust
Patagonia’s Costs for the Change in
Biodiesel Finished Goods Inventories
Comment 14: Whether To Reduce
Patagonia’s Byproduct Offset by
Commissions Paid on the Sales of the
Byproduct
Comment 15: Whether To Adjust
Vicentin’s Reported Costs for an
Unreconcilable Cost Difference
Comment 16: Whether Elements of the
Renova Transfer Price to Actual
Processing Cost Comparison Are on an
Inconsistent Basis and Require
Adjustment
VIII. Recommendation
Notification to Interested Parties
We are issuing and publishing this
determination and notice in accordance
with sections 735(d) and 777(i) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.210(c).
Dated: February 20, 2018.
Prentiss Lee Smith,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and
Negotiations.
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
Appendix I—Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation
is biodiesel, which is a fuel comprised of
mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids
derived from vegetable oils or animal fats,
including biologically-based waste oils or
greases, and other biologically-based oil or fat
sources. The investigation covers biodiesel in
pure form (B100) as well as fuel mixtures
containing at least 99 percent biodiesel by
volume (B99). For fuel mixtures containing
less than 99 percent biodiesel by volume,
only the biodiesel component of the mixture
is covered by the scope of the investigation.
Biodiesel is generally produced to
American Society for Testing and Materials
International (ASTM) D6751 specifications,
but it can also be made to other
specifications. Biodiesel commonly has one
of the following Chemical Abstracts Service
(CAS) numbers, generally depending upon
the feedstock used: 67784–80–9 (soybean oil
methyl esters); 91051–34–2 (palm oil methyl
esters); 91051–32–0 (palm kernel oil methyl
esters); 73891–99–3 (rapeseed oil methyl
esters); 61788–61–2 (tallow methyl esters);
68990–52–3 (vegetable oil methyl esters);
129828–16–6 (canola oil methyl esters);
67762–26–9 (unsaturated alkylcarboxylic
acid methyl ester); or 68937–84–8 (fatty
acids, C12–C18, methyl ester).
The B100 product subject to the
investigation is currently classifiable under
subheading 3826.00.1000 of the Harmonized
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:26 Feb 28, 2018
Jkt 244001
Appendix II—List of Topics Discussed
in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum
[FR Doc. 2018–04137 Filed 2–28–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
8839
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–351–825]
Stainless Steel Bar From Brazil:
Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review; 2016–
2017
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(Commerce) preliminarily finds that the
sole exporter subject to this
administrative review has not made
sales of subject merchandise at less than
normal value. We invite interested
parties to comment on these preliminary
results.
DATES: Applicable March 1, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dmitry Vladimirov, Office I,
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0665.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
Commerce is conducting an
administrative review of the
antidumping duty order on stainless
steel bar (SSB) from Brazil. The period
of review (POR) is February 1, 2016,
through January 31, 2017. The review
covers one producer/exporter of the
subject merchandise, Villares Metals
S.A. (Villares).
Scope of the Order
The merchandise subject to the order
is SSB. The SSB subject to the order is
currently classifiable under subheadings
7222.10.00, 7222.11.00, 7222.19.00,
7222.20.00, 7222.30.00 of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS). While the
HTSUS subheadings are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, the
written description is dispositive. A full
description of the scope of the order is
contained in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.1
Methodology
Commerce conducted this review in
accordance with section 751(a)(2) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).
Constructed export price and export
1 See the Memorandum, ‘‘Stainless Steel Bar from
Brazil: Decision Memorandum for Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review; 2016–2017,’’ dated concurrently with, and
hereby adopted by this notice (Preliminary Decision
Memorandum).
E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM
01MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 41 (Thursday, March 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8837-8839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04137]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-357-820]
Biodiesel From Argentina: Final Determination of Sales at Less
Than Fair Value and Final Affirmative Determination of Critical
Circumstances, in Part
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that imports
of biodiesel from Argentina are being, or are likely to be, sold in the
United States at less than fair value (LTFV), as provided in section
735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The period of
investigation (POI) is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016. The
final weighted-average dumping margins are listed below in the section
entitled ``Final Determination Margins.''
DATES: Applicable March 1, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Lindgren, AD/CVD Operations,
Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3870.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 31, 2017, Commerce published in the Federal Register the
preliminary affirmative determination of sales at LTFV and the
preliminary affirmative determination of critical circumstances, in
part, in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of biodiesel from
Argentina.\1\ On December 8, 2017, Commerce published a postponement
notice, extending the due date of the final LTFV determination until
February 15, 2018.\2\ Commerce invited comments from interested parties
on the Preliminary Determination.\3\ The petitioner, LDC Argentina S.A.
(LDC), and the Vicentin Group filed case and rebuttal briefs.\4\
Commerce exercised its discretion to toll deadlines affected by the
closure of the Federal Government from January 20 through 22, 2018. The
revised deadline for the final determination of this investigation is
now February 20, 2018.\5\ A summary of the events that occurred since
Commerce published the Preliminary Determination, as well as a full
discussion of the issues raised by interested parties for this final
determination, may be found in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.\6\
The Issues and 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
it is available to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024
of the main Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the
Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and electronic versions of the
Issues and Decision Memorandum are identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Biodiesel from Argentina: Preliminary Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Preliminary Affirmative Determination
of Critical Circumstances, in Part, 82 FR 50391 (October 31, 2017)
(Preliminary Determination) and accompanying Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.
\2\ See Biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia: Postponement of
Final Determinations of Sales in Less Than Fair Value Investigations
and Extension of Provisional Measures, 82 FR 57952 (December 8,
2017).
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Case Brief Schedule for the Antidumping
Duty Investigation of Biodiesel from Argentina,'' dated December 1,
2017.
\4\ The petitioner is the National Biodiesel Board Fair Trade
Coalition, which is an ad hoc association comprised of domestic
producers of biodiesel, as well as one trade association. See, e.g.,
Biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia; Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Petitions, dated March 23, 2017. The Vicentin
Group consists of the following companies: Vicentin S.A.I.C., Renova
S.A., Oleaginosa Moreno Hermanos S.A., Molinos Agro S.A., Patagonia
Energia S.A., VFG Inversiones y Actividades Especiales S.A.,
Vicentin S.A.I.C. Sucursal Uy, Trading Company X, and Molinos
Overseas Commodities S.A. See, e.g., Preliminary Decision Memorandum
at ``Affiliation and Collapsing.''
\5\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the
Federal Government,'' dated January 23, 2018. All deadlines in this
segment of the proceeding have been extended by 3 days. If the new
deadline falls on a non-business day, in accordance with Commerce's
practice, the deadline will become the next business day. See Notice
of Clarification: Application of ``Next Business Day'' Rule for
Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant to the Tariff Act of
1930, as Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10, 2005).
\6\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the
Final Affirmative Determination in the Antidumping Duty
Investigation of Biodiesel from Argentina,'' dated concurrently
with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision
Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is biodiesel from
Argentina. Commerce did not receive any scope comments subsequent to
the Preliminary Determination and, therefore, the scope has not been
updated since the Preliminary Determination. See the scope in Appendix
I to this notice.
Period of Investigation
The POI is January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act), we conducted the cost and sales verifications in Buenos
Aires, Argentina, and Kansas City, Missouri, between October 30, 2017,
and November 17, 2017. We used standard verification procedures,
including an examination of relevant accounting and production records,
and original source documents provided by the respondents.
Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in Part
In the Preliminary Determination, in accordance with section
733(e)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206, Commerce found that critical
circumstances existed for LDC and ``all other'' producers or exporters
not individually examined and found that critical circumstances did not
exist for the Vicentin Group. Commerce received no comments concerning
the preliminary critical circumstances determination. Thus, for this
final determination, Commerce continues to find that, in accordance
with section 735(a)(3) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206, critical
circumstances exist for LDC and ``all other'' producers or exporters
and do not exist for the Vicentin Group. For further discussion of
Commerce's critical circumstances analysis, see the Issues and Decision
Memorandum.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by parties in
this investigation are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum,
which is hereby adopted by this notice. A list of the issues raised is
attached to this notice as Appendix II.
[[Page 8838]]
Use of Facts Available and Adverse Facts Available
For purposes of this final determination, Commerce relied, in part,
on facts available with adverse inferences when calculating the margins
for LDC and the Vicentin Group, pursuant to sections 776(a)(2)(A)-(C)
and 776(b) of the Act. For further information, see the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
Based on our analysis of the comments received and our findings at
verification, we made certain changes to the margin calculations. For a
discussion of these changes, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
All-Others Rate
Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that the estimated ``all-
others'' rate for exporters and producers not individually investigated
shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated
weighted-average dumping margins established for individually
investigated exporters and producers, excluding any margins that are
zero or de minimis or any margins determined entirely under section 776
of the Act. We calculated the all-others rate using a weighted average
of the dumping margins calculated for the mandatory respondents using
each company's publicly-ranged values for the merchandise under
consideration, pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, as
referenced in the ``Final Determination Margins'' section below.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ For more detail on this calculation, see Memorandum,
``Antidumping Duty Investigation of Biodiesel from Argentina: Final
Determination Calculation for the `All Others' Rate,'' dated
concurrently with this notice (Final All-Others Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Determination Margins
The weighted-average dumping margins are as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ As noted above, Commerce preliminarily determined that
Vicentin S.A.I.C., and companies Renova S.A., Oleaginosa Moreno
Hermanos S.A., Molinos Agro S.A., Patagonia Energia S.A., VFG
Inversiones y Actividades Especiales S.A., Vicentin S.A.I.C.
Sucursal Uy, Trading Company X, and Molinos Overseas Commodities
S.A. are a single entity. See Preliminary Decision Memorandum at
``Affiliation and Collapsing.'' This determination has not been
changed for the purposes of the final determination.
\9\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Antidumping Duty Investigation
of Biodiesel from Argentina: Vicentin Group Final Determination
Analysis,'' dated concurrently with this notice (Vicentin Final
Analysis Memorandum).
\10\ See Final All-Others Memorandum.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash deposit rate
Estimated weighted- (adjusted for
Exporter or producer average dumping subsidy offset(s))
margin (percent) (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LDC Argentina S.A............... 60.44 60.44
Vicentin S.A.I.C.\8\............ 86.41 \9\ 86.23
All-Others...................... 74.73 \10\ 74.63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure
We will disclose the calculations performed within five days of any
public announcement of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR
351.224(b).
Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(e)(2) of the Act, for this final
determination, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of all entries of biodiesel, as
described in the Appendix I to this notice, produced or exported by LDC
and ``all other'' exporters and producers not individually examined,
which were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or
after August 2, 2017 (90 days prior to the date of publication of the
Preliminary Determination), because we continue to find that critical
circumstances exist with regard to imports from produced or exported by
LDC and ``all other'' exporters and producers not individually
examined.
In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will
instruct U.S. CBP to continue to suspend liquidation of all appropriate
entries of biodiesel from Argentina, as described in Appendix I of this
notice, which were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after October 31, 2017, the date of publication of
the Preliminary Determination.
Furthermore, pursuant to section 735(c)(1)(B)(ii) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.210(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit
for such entries of merchandise 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
respondent-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin
determined in this final 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 respondent-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. Commerce normally adjusts cash deposits for estimated
antidumping duties by the amount of export subsidies countervailed in a
companion countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding, when CVD provisional
measures are in effect. Accordingly, where Commerce made an affirmative
determination for countervailable export subsidies, Commerce has offset
the estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the appropriate CVD
rate.\11\ Any such adjusted cash deposit rate may be found in the
``Final Determination Margins'' section, above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Antidumping Duty
Investigation of Biodiesel from Argentina: LDC Argentina S.A. Final
Determination Analysis,'' dated concurrently with this notice; see
also Vicentin Final Analysis Memorandum; Final All-Others
Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
These instructions will stay in effect until further notice.
International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we will notify the
U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of the final affirmative
determination of sales at LTFV. Because the final determination in this
proceeding is affirmative, in accordance with section 735(b)(2)(B) of
the Act, the ITC will make its final determination as to whether the
domestic industry in the United States is materially injured, or
threatened with material injury, by reason of imports of biodiesel from
Argentina no later than 45 days after our final determination. If the
ITC determines that material injury or threat of material injury does
not exist, the proceeding will be terminated and all cash deposits will
be refunded. If the
[[Page 8839]]
ITC determines that such injury does exist, Commerce will issue an
antidumping duty order directing CBP to assess, upon further
instruction by Commerce, antidumping duties on all imports of the
subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the effective date of the suspension of
liquidation, as discussed above in the ``Continuation of Suspension of
Liquidation'' section.
Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders
This notice will serve as the only reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility
concerning the destruction of proprietary information disclosed under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written
notification of return/destruction or APO materials or conversion to
judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with
the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.
Notification to Interested Parties
We are issuing and publishing this determination and notice in
accordance with sections 735(d) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(c).
Dated: February 20, 2018.
Prentiss Lee Smith,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations.
Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is biodiesel, which is
a fuel comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids
derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, including biologically-
based waste oils or greases, and other biologically-based oil or fat
sources. The investigation covers biodiesel in pure form (B100) as
well as fuel mixtures containing at least 99 percent biodiesel by
volume (B99). For fuel mixtures containing less than 99 percent
biodiesel by volume, only the biodiesel component of the mixture is
covered by the scope of the investigation.
Biodiesel is generally produced to American Society for Testing
and Materials International (ASTM) D6751 specifications, but it can
also be made to other specifications. Biodiesel commonly has one of
the following Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers, generally
depending upon the feedstock used: 67784-80-9 (soybean oil methyl
esters); 91051-34-2 (palm oil methyl esters); 91051-32-0 (palm
kernel oil methyl esters); 73891-99-3 (rapeseed oil methyl esters);
61788-61-2 (tallow methyl esters); 68990-52-3 (vegetable oil methyl
esters); 129828-16-6 (canola oil methyl esters); 67762-26-9
(unsaturated alkylcarboxylic acid methyl ester); or 68937-84-8
(fatty acids, C12-C18, methyl ester).
The B100 product subject to the investigation is currently
classifiable under subheading 3826.00.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), while the B99 product is
currently classifiable under HTSUS subheading 3826.00.3000. Although
the HTSUS subheadings, ASTM specifications, and CAS numbers are
provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written
description of the scope is dispositive.
Appendix II--List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Investigation
IV. Final Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in
Part
V. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
VI. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences
VII. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Whether It Is Appropriate To Adjust Normal Value for
the Renewable Identification Number Value
Comment 2: Whether the Determination To Disregard Home Market
Prices Due to Particular Market Situation Contradicts Commerce
Precedent
Comment 3: Whether the Particular Market Situation Permits
Disregarding Raw Material Costs
Comment 4: Whether the Particular Market Situation Adjustment
for Soybean Export Tax Results in Double Counting
Comment 5: Whether To Adjust the Constructed Value Profit
Calculation
Comment 6: Whether Commerce's Use of Its Inflation Methodology
Should Be Determined on a Country-Wide or Company-Specific Basis
Comment 7: Whether It Is Appropriate To Index Costs for
Inflation if Commerce Finds a Particular Market Situation
Comment 8: Whether To Deduct Export Taxes From Gross Unit Prices
Comment 9: Whether To Apply Adverse Facts Available to Certain
Unreported LDC Expenses
Comment 10: Whether To Apply Facts Available to LDC's Unreported
U.S. Sales
Comment 11: Treatment of Vicentin Group's EPA-Related Soybean
Expenses
Comment 12: Whether To Apply Adverse Facts Available to
Molinos's Export Expenses
Comment 13: Whether To Adjust Patagonia's Costs for the Change
in Biodiesel Finished Goods Inventories
Comment 14: Whether To Reduce Patagonia's Byproduct Offset by
Commissions Paid on the Sales of the Byproduct
Comment 15: Whether To Adjust Vicentin's Reported Costs for an
Unreconcilable Cost Difference
Comment 16: Whether Elements of the Renova Transfer Price to
Actual Processing Cost Comparison Are on an Inconsistent Basis and
Require Adjustment
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2018-04137 Filed 2-28-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P