Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From the Republic of Korea: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures, 19694-19696 [2018-09521]

Download as PDF 19694 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the internet at PRAcomment@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Joe Carter—Office of Strategic Planning, 1999 Broadway— Suite 2205, Denver, CO 80220, (303) 844–5656, joe.carter@trade.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Correction The Federal Register published May 1, 2018, in FR Doc. 2018–09119, document citation 83 FR 19047 on page 19047, is a duplicate submission that is being withdrawn. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. We will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Sheleen Dumas, Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2018–09500 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–580–896] Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From the Republic of Korea: 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 polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET resin) from the Republic of Korea (Korea) is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017. DATES: Applicable May 4, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Carey, AD/CVD Operations, Office amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 May 03, 2018 Jkt 244001 VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–3964. 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 October 23, 2017.1 Commerce exercised its discretion to toll all deadlines affected by the closure of the Federal Government from January 20 through 22, 2018. On February 22, 2018, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation.2 The revised deadline for the preliminary determination of this investigation is now April 27, 2018.3 For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.4 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. Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by this investigation is PET resin from Korea. 1 See Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 48977 (October 23, 2017) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Polyethylene Terephthalate from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 83 FR 7655 (February 22, 2018). 3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the Federal Government,’’ (Tolling Memorandum), dated January 23, 2018. All deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by 3 days. 4 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the Less-ThanFair-Value Investigation of Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from the Republic of Korea’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I. Scope Comments In accordance with the preamble to Commerce’s regulations,5 the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).6 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 Decision Memorandum. After evaluating the comments, Commerce is preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice to exclude PET-glycol resin. See the revised scope in Appendix I to this 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. Constructed export prices have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Normal value (NV) is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. In addition, Commerce has preliminarily relied upon adverse facts available under sections 776(a)(1) and 776(b) of the Act for Lotte Chemical Corp., Regd. (Lotte Chemical) and TK Chemical Corp. (TK Chemical). For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Adverse Facts Available Lotte Chemical and TK Chemical were selected as mandatory respondents, but failed to respond to Commerce’s questionnaire. Accordingly, we preliminarily determine to base Lotte Chemical’s and TK Chemical’s dumping margins on adverse facts available (AFA), in accordance with sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.308. As AFA, we applied the highest dumping margin calculated for Korean exports of subject merchandise contained in the petition,7 101.41 percent. For further discussion, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 5 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997). 6 See Initiation Notice. 7 See Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 48977 (October 23, 2017). E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices 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 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 SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., (SK Chemicals), the only cooperative individually examined exporter/producer in this investigation with shipments of subject merchandise during the POI. 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 SK Chemicals 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 weightedaverage dumping margins exist: Exporter/producer amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES SK Chemicals Co., Ltd ............... Lotte Chemical Corp., Regd ....... TK Chemical Corp ...................... All-Others .................................... Estimated weightedaverage dumping margin (percent) Disclosure Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties in this preliminary 8.81 determination within five days of any 101.41 public announcement or, if there is no 101.41 public announcement, within five days 8.81 of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). 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. Section 733(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given an affirmative determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of (a) the date which is 90 days before the date on which the suspension of liquidation was first ordered, or (b) the date on which notice of initiation of the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 May 03, 2018 investigation was published. On April 20, 2018, Commerce preliminarily determined that critical circumstances exist for imports of PET resin from Korea produced and exported by Lotte Chemical, TK Chemical, and all other producers/exporters.8 Accordingly, for Lotte Chemical, TK Chemical, and all other producers/exporters, in accordance with section 733(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the publication of this notice. 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 allothers estimated weighted-average dumping margin. Jkt 244001 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 8 See Antidumping Duty Investigations on Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan; Preliminary Determinations of Critical Circumstances, 83 FR 17791 (April 24, 2018). PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19695 submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.9 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. 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 April 11, 2018, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), SK Chemicals requested that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not to 9 See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1 19696 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 87 / Friday, May 4, 2018 / Notices exceed six months.10 The petitioners 11 filed the same request on April 12, 2018.12 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 period not greater than six months. 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. 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: April 27, 2018. James Maeder, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations. Appendix I amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by this investigation is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 70, but not more than 88, milliliters per gram (0.70 to 0.88 deciliters per gram). The scope includes blends of virgin PET resin and recycled PET resin containing 50 percent or more virgin PET resin content by weight, 10 See Letter from SK Chemicals, ‘‘Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from the Republic of Korea: Request for Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures,’’ dated April 11, 2018. 11 The petitioners are DAK Americas LLC, Indorama Ventures USA, Inc., M&G Polymers USA, LLC, and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America. 12 See Letter from the petitioners, ‘‘Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan—Request to Extend the Antidumping Duty Final Determination,’’ dated April 12, 2018. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:16 May 03, 2018 Jkt 244001 provided such blends meet the intrinsic viscosity requirements above. The scope includes all PET resin meeting the above specifications regardless of additives introduced in the manufacturing process. The scope excludes PET-glycol resin, also referred to as PETG. PET-glycol resins are manufactured by replacing a portion of the raw material input monoethylene glycol (MEG) with one of five glycol modifiers: Cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), diethylene glycol (DEG), neopentyl glycol (NPG), isosorbide, or spiro glycol. Specifically, excluded PET-glycol resins must contain a minimum of 10 percent, by weight, of CHDM, DEG, NPG, isosorbide or spiro glycol, or some combination of these glycol modifiers. Unlike subject PET resin, PET-glycol resins are amorphous resins that are not solid-stated and cannot be crystallized or recycled. The merchandise subject to this investigation is properly classified under subheadings 3907.61.0000 and 3907.69.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise covered by this investigation 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. Discussion of the Methodology A. Application of Adverse Facts Available (AFA) B. Corroboration of Secondary Information C. All-Others Rate D. Comparisons to Fair Value 1. Determination of the Comparison Method 2. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis VII. Date of Sale VIII. Product Comparisons IX. Export Price and Constructed Export Price X. Normal Value A. Home Market Viability B. Affiliated-Party Transactions and Arm’sLength Test C. Level of Trade D. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison Market Prices E. Calculation of NV Based on Constructed Value (CV) F. Cost of Production (COP) Analysis 1. Calculation of COP 2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices 3. Results of the COP Test XI. Currency Conversion XII. Verification XIII. Conclusion [FR Doc. 2018–09521 Filed 5–3–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A–583–862] Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From Taiwan: 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 polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET resin) from Taiwan is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017. DATES: Applicable May 4, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jun Jack Zhao or Alexander Cipolla, 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) 482–1396 or (202) 482–4956, respectively. 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 October 23, 2017.1 On January 23, 2018, Commerce exercised its discretion to toll all deadlines affected by the closure of the Federal Government from January 20, 2018, through January 22, 2018.2 On February 22, 2018, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation.3 As a result, the revised deadline for the preliminary determination of this investigation is now April 27, 2018. For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary 1 See Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 48977 (October 23, 2017) (Initiation Notice). 2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the Federal Government,’’ dated January 23, 2018. 3 See Polyethylene Terephthalate from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 83 FR 7655 (February 22, 2018). E:\FR\FM\04MYN1.SGM 04MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 87 (Friday, May 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19694-19696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09521]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-580-896]


Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From the Republic of Korea: 
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 polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET resin) from the Republic of 
Korea (Korea) is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States 
at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is 
July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.

DATES: Applicable May 4, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean Carey, 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) 482-3964.

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 October 23, 
2017.\1\ Commerce exercised its discretion to toll all deadlines 
affected by the closure of the Federal Government from January 20 
through 22, 2018. On February 22, 2018, Commerce postponed the 
preliminary determination of this investigation.\2\ The revised 
deadline for the preliminary determination of this investigation is now 
April 27, 2018.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, 
the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-
Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 48977 (October 23, 2017) 
(Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Polyethylene Terephthalate from Brazil, Indonesia, the 
Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Postponement of Preliminary 
Determinations of Antidumping Duty Investigations, 83 FR 7655 
(February 22, 2018).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the 
Federal Government,'' (Tolling Memorandum), dated January 23, 2018. 
All deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended 
by 3 days.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\4\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of 
Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from the Republic of Korea'' dated 
concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is PET resin from 
Korea. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\5\ the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\6\ 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 
Decision Memorandum. After evaluating the comments, Commerce is 
preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the 
Initiation Notice to exclude PET-glycol resin. See the revised scope in 
Appendix I to this notice.
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    \5\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \6\ See 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. Constructed export prices 
have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. 
Normal value (NV) is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the 
Act. In addition, Commerce has preliminarily relied upon adverse facts 
available under sections 776(a)(1) and 776(b) of the Act for Lotte 
Chemical Corp., Regd. (Lotte Chemical) and TK Chemical Corp. (TK 
Chemical). For a full description of the methodology underlying the 
preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Adverse Facts Available

    Lotte Chemical and TK Chemical were selected as mandatory 
respondents, but failed to respond to Commerce's questionnaire. 
Accordingly, we preliminarily determine to base Lotte Chemical's and TK 
Chemical's dumping margins on adverse facts available (AFA), in 
accordance with sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.308. 
As AFA, we applied the highest dumping margin calculated for Korean 
exports of subject merchandise contained in the petition,\7\ 101.41 
percent. For further discussion, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.
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    \7\ See Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, 
the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan: Initiation of Less-
Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 82 FR 48977 (October 23, 2017).

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[[Page 19695]]

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 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 SK Chemicals Co., Ltd., (SK 
Chemicals), the only cooperative individually examined exporter/
producer in this investigation with shipments of subject merchandise 
during the POI. 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 
SK Chemicals 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)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.......................................        8.81
Lotte Chemical Corp., Regd..................................      101.41
TK Chemical Corp............................................      101.41
All-Others..................................................        8.81
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    Section 733(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given an affirmative 
determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation 
shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of (a) 
the date which is 90 days before the date on which the suspension of 
liquidation was first ordered, or (b) the date on which notice of 
initiation of the investigation was published. On April 20, 2018, 
Commerce preliminarily determined that critical circumstances exist for 
imports of PET resin from Korea produced and exported by Lotte 
Chemical, TK Chemical, and all other producers/exporters.\8\ 
Accordingly, for Lotte Chemical, TK Chemical, and all other producers/
exporters, in accordance with section 733(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the 
suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of 
merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or 
after the date which is 90 days before the publication of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See Antidumping Duty Investigations on Polyethylene 
Terephthalate Resin from Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and 
Taiwan; Preliminary Determinations of Critical Circumstances, 83 FR 
17791 (April 24, 2018).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.\9\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ 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 April 11, 2018, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), SK Chemicals 
requested that Commerce postpone the final determination and that 
provisional measures be extended to a period not to

[[Page 19696]]

exceed six months.\10\ The petitioners \11\ filed the same request on 
April 12, 2018.\12\ 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 period not greater than six months. Accordingly, 
Commerce will make its final determination no later than 135 days after 
the date of publication of this preliminary determination.
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    \10\ See Letter from SK Chemicals, ``Polyethylene Terephthalate 
Resin from the Republic of Korea: Request for Postponement of Final 
Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures,'' dated April 
11, 2018.
    \11\ The petitioners are DAK Americas LLC, Indorama Ventures 
USA, Inc., M&G Polymers USA, LLC, and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, 
America.
    \12\ See Letter from the petitioners, ``Polyethylene 
Terephthalate Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, 
Pakistan, and Taiwan--Request to Extend the Antidumping Duty Final 
Determination,'' dated April 12, 2018.
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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.

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: April 27, 2018.
James Maeder,
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Operations performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is polyethylene 
terephthalate (PET) resin having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 
70, but not more than 88, milliliters per gram (0.70 to 0.88 
deciliters per gram). The scope includes blends of virgin PET resin 
and recycled PET resin containing 50 percent or more virgin PET 
resin content by weight, provided such blends meet the intrinsic 
viscosity requirements above. The scope includes all PET resin 
meeting the above specifications regardless of additives introduced 
in the manufacturing process.
    The scope excludes PET-glycol resin, also referred to as PETG. 
PET-glycol resins are manufactured by replacing a portion of the raw 
material input monoethylene glycol (MEG) with one of five glycol 
modifiers: Cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), diethylene glycol (DEG), 
neopentyl glycol (NPG), isosorbide, or spiro glycol. Specifically, 
excluded PET-glycol resins must contain a minimum of 10 percent, by 
weight, of CHDM, DEG, NPG, isosorbide or spiro glycol, or some 
combination of these glycol modifiers. Unlike subject PET resin, 
PET-glycol resins are amorphous resins that are not solid-stated and 
cannot be crystallized or recycled.
    The merchandise subject to this investigation is properly 
classified under subheadings 3907.61.0000 and 3907.69.0000 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although 
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the merchandise covered by this 
investigation 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. Discussion of the Methodology
    A. Application of Adverse Facts Available (AFA)
    B. Corroboration of Secondary Information
    C. All-Others Rate
    D. Comparisons to Fair Value
    1. Determination of the Comparison Method
    2. Results of the Differential Pricing Analysis
VII. Date of Sale
VIII. Product Comparisons
IX. Export Price and Constructed Export Price
X. Normal Value
    A. Home Market Viability
    B. Affiliated-Party Transactions and Arm's-Length Test
    C. Level of Trade
    D. Calculation of NV Based on Comparison Market Prices
    E. Calculation of NV Based on Constructed Value (CV)
    F. Cost of Production (COP) Analysis
    1. Calculation of COP
    2. Test of Comparison Market Sales Prices
    3. Results of the COP Test
XI. Currency Conversion
XII. Verification
XIII. Conclusion

[FR Doc. 2018-09521 Filed 5-3-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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