Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs From Germany: Final Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 57008-57010 [2019-23216]
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57008
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 206 / Thursday, October 24, 2019 / Notices
manufacture of the in-scope refillable
stainless steel keg.
Specifically excluded are the following:
(1) Vessels or containers that are not
approximately cylindrical in nature (e.g.,
box, ‘‘hopper’’ or ‘‘cone’’ shaped vessels);
(2) stainless steel kegs, vessels, or
containers that have either a ‘‘ball lock’’
valve system or a ‘‘pin lock’’ valve system
(commonly known as ‘‘Cornelius,’’ ‘‘corny’’
or ‘‘ball lock’’ kegs);
(3) necks, spears, couplers or taps, collars,
and valves that are not imported with the
subject merchandise; and
(4) stainless steel kegs that are filled with
beer, wine, or other liquid and that are
designated by the Commissioner of Customs
as Instruments of International Traffic within
the meaning of section 332(a) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, as amended.
The merchandise covered by this
investigation are currently classified in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) under subheadings
7310.10.0010, 7310.10.0050, 7310.29.0025,
and 7310.29.0050.
These HTSUS subheadings are provided
for convenience and customs purposes; the
written description of the scope of this
investigation is dispositive.
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Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope Comments
IV. Final Determination of Critical
Circumstances
V. Scope of the Investigation
VI. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Adverse Inferences
VII. Subsidies Valuation
VIII. Analysis of Programs
IX. Analysis of Comments
Comment 1: Whether to Apply AFA to
Find Producers of Stainless Steel Coil to
be ‘‘Authorities’’
Comment 2: Whether to Apply AFA to
Find the Provision of Stainless Steel Coil
to be Specific
Comment 3: Whether to Apply AFA to
Find the Chinese Stainless Steel Coil
Market Distorted
Comment 4: Whether to Use Data from the
American Metal Market for Calculating
Stainless Steel Coil Benchmarks
Comment 5: Whether to Include Import
Duties in Calculating the Stainless Steel
Coil Benchmark
Comment 6: Whether Commerce Should
Use Coaster Freight Rates from Metal
Expert
Comment 7: Whether to Apply AFA to the
Provision of Electricity for LTAR
Comment 8: Whether Commerce Should
Include Electricity Purchase from a
Private Enterprise in the Benefit
Calculation for the Provision of
Electricity for LTAR Program
Comment 9: Whether Commerce Errored in
the Benefit Calculation for the Provision
of Electricity for LTAR Program
Comment 10: Whether Commerce Properly
Determined that the Provision of Policy
Loans is Specific
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X. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2019–23214 Filed 10–23–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–428–846]
Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs From
Germany: Final Affirmative
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(Commerce) determines that refillable
stainless steel kegs (kegs) from the
Federal Republic of Germany (Germany)
are being, or are likely to be, sold in the
United States at less than fair value
(LTFV). The period of investigation
(POI) is July 1, 2017 through June 30,
2018. The final estimated dumping
margins of sales at LTFV are shown in
the ‘‘Final Determination’’ section of
this notice.
DATES: Applicable October 24, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Micahel Romani, AD/CVD Operations,
Office I, Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0198.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
On June 4, 2019, Commerce published
the Preliminary Determination of this
LTFV investigation in which Commerce
found that kegs from Germany were sold
at LTFV.1 A complete summary of the
events that occurred since Commerce
published the Preliminary
Determination, as well as a full
discussion of the issues raised by parties
for this final determination, may be
found in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum.2 The Issues and Decision
Memorandum is a public document and
is available electronically via
Enforcement and Compliance’s
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
1 See Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from
Germany: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of
Sales at Less Than Fair Value, and Postponement
of Final Determination, 84 FR 25736 (June 4, 2019)
(Preliminary Determination).
2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision
Memorandum for the Final Determination in the
Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Refillable
Stainless Steel Kegs from the Federal Republic of
Germany,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby
adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision
Memorandum).
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Centralized Electronic Service System
(ACCESS). ACCESS is available to
registered users at https://
access.trade.gov, and is available to all
parties in the Central Records Unit,
Room B–8024 of the main Commerce
building. In addition, a complete
version of the Issues and Decision
Memorandum can be accessed at https://
enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed
Issues and Decision Memorandum and
the electronic version are identical in
content.
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this
investigation are refillable stainless steel
kegs from Germany. For a complete
description of the scope of this
investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
On March 29, 2019, we issued a
Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum.3 The scope case briefs
were due on May 6, 2019, 30 days after
the publication of Kegs from China
Preliminary CVD Determination.4 We
did not receive scope briefs from
interested parties. Therefore, Commerce
has made no changes to the scope of this
investigation since the Preliminary
Determination.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act),
Commerce verified the sales and cost
data reported by Blefa GmbH (Blefa) for
use in our final determination. We used
standard verification procedures,
including an examination of relevant
accounting and production records, and
original source documents provided by
the respondent.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case briefs and
rebuttal briefs submitted by interested
3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Refillable Stainless Steel
Kegs from the People’s Republic of China, Germany,
and Mexico: Scope Comments Decision
Memorandum for the Preliminary Determinations,’’
dated March 29, 2019 (Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum).
4 The scope case briefs were due 30 days after the
publication of Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from
the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and
Alignment of Final Determination With Final
Antidumping Duty Determination, 84 FR 13634
(April 5, 2019) (Kegs from China Preliminary CVD
Determination). See the Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum at 5. Because the deadline fell on
Sunday, May 5, 2019, the actual deadline for the
scope case briefs was Monday, May 6, 2019. See 19
CFR 351.303(b)(1) (‘‘For both electronically filed
and manually filed documents, if the applicable
due date falls on a non-business day, the Secretary
will accept documents that are filed on the next
business day.’’). The deadline for scope rebuttal
briefs was Monday, May 13, 2019.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 206 / Thursday, October 24, 2019 / Notices
parties in this proceeding are discussed
in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum. A list of the issues raised
by parties and responded to by
Commerce in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum is attached at Appendix
II.
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 Blefa since
the Preliminary Determination. For a
discussion of these changes, see the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
All-Others Rate
Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act
provides that the estimated weightedaverage dumping margin for all-other
producers and exporters not
individually investigated shall be 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. Blefa is the only
respondent for which Commerce
calculated an estimated weightedaverage dumping margin that is not
zero, de minimis, or based entirely on
facts otherwise available. Therefore, for
purposes of determining the all-others
rate, and pursuant to section
735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, we are using the
estimated weighted-average dumping
margin calculated for Blefa, as
referenced in the ‘‘Final Determination’’
section below.
2019, the date of publication of the
Preliminary Determination of this
investigation in the Federal Register.
Pursuant to section 735(c)(l) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d), Commerce
will instruct CBP to require cash
deposits equal to the weighted-average
dumping margins indicated in the table
above as follows: (1) The cash deposit
rate for Blefa will be equal to the
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 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 7.47 percent, the
all-others estimated weighted-average
dumping margin. These suspension of
liquidation and cash deposit
instructions will remain in effect until
further notice.
Disclosure
We will disclose the calculations
performed within five days of public
announcement of this notice in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 735(d) of
the Act, Commerce will notify the
International Trade Commission (ITC) of
its final determination. Because the final
determination is affirmative, in
accordance with section 735(b)(2) of the
Act, the ITC will make its final
determination as to whether the
domestic industry in the United States
Final Determination
is materially injured, or threatened with
Commerce determines that the
material injury, by reason of imports of
following estimated weighted-average
kegs from Germany no later than 45
dumping margins exist for the period
days after our final determination. If the
July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018:
ITC determines that material injury or
threat of material injury does not exist,
Weighted- the proceeding will be terminated and
average
all cash deposits will be refunded. If the
Producer/exporter
dumping
ITC determines that such injury does
margin
(percent)
exist, Commerce will issue an
antidumping duty order directing CBP
Blefa GmbH ................................
7.47
to assess, upon further instruction by
All Others ....................................
7.47
Commerce, antidumping duties on all
imports of the subject merchandise
Continuation of Suspension of
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
Liquidation
for consumption on or after the effective
In accordance with section
date of the suspension of liquidation.
735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we will instruct
Notification Regarding Administrative
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Protective Orders
(CBP) to continue the suspension of
liquidation of all appropriate entries of
This notice serves as a reminder to
kegs from Germany, as described in
parties subject to administrative
Appendix I to this notice, which were
protective order (APO) of their
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, responsibility concerning the
for consumption on or after June 4,
disposition of proprietary information
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17:34 Oct 23, 2019
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57009
disclosed under APO in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely
written notification of the return or
destruction of 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 violation subject to sanction.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination and this notice are
issued and published pursuant to
sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act
and 19 CFR 352.210(c).
Dated: October 17, 2019.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this
investigation are kegs, vessels, or containers
with bodies that are approximately
cylindrical in shape, made from stainless
steel (i.e., steel containing at least 10.5
percent chromium by weight and less than
1.2 percent carbon by weight, with or
without other elements), and that are
compatible with a ‘‘D Sankey’’ extractor
(refillable stainless steel kegs) with a nominal
liquid volume capacity of 10 liters or more,
regardless of the type of finish, gauge,
thickness, or grade of stainless steel, and
whether or not covered by or encased in
other materials. Refillable stainless steel kegs
may be imported assembled or unassembled,
with or without all components (including
spears, couplers or taps, necks, collars, and
valves), and be filled or unfilled.
‘‘Unassembled’’ or ‘‘unfinished’’ refillable
stainless steel kegs include drawn stainless
steel cylinders that have been welded to form
the body of the keg and attached to an upper
(top) chime and/or lower (bottom) chime.
Unassembled refillable stainless steel kegs
may or may not be welded to a neck, may
or may not have a valve assembly attached,
and may be otherwise complete except for
testing, certification, and/or marking.
Subject merchandise also includes
refillable stainless steel kegs that have been
further processed in a third country,
including but not limited to, attachment of
necks, collars, spears or valves, heat
treatment, pickling, passivation, painting,
testing, certification or any other processing
that would not otherwise remove the
merchandise from the scope of the
investigation if performed in the country of
manufacture of the in-scope refillable
stainless steel keg.
Specifically excluded are the following:
(1) vessels or containers that are not
approximately cylindrical in nature (e.g.,
box, ‘‘hopper’’ or ‘‘cone’’ shaped vessels);
(2) stainless steel kegs, vessels, or
containers that have either a ‘‘ball lock’’
valve system or a ‘‘pin lock’’ valve system
(commonly known as ‘‘Cornelius,’’ ‘‘corny’’
or ‘‘ball lock’’ kegs);
(3) necks, spears, couplers or taps, collars,
and valves that are not imported with the
subject merchandise; and
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57010
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 206 / Thursday, October 24, 2019 / Notices
(4) stainless steel kegs that are filled with
beer, wine, or other liquid and that are
designated by the Commissioner of Customs
as Instruments of International Traffic within
the meaning of section 332(a) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, as amended.
The merchandise covered by this
investigation are currently classified in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) under subheadings
7310.10.0010, 7310.10.0050, 7310.29.0025,
and 7310.29.0050.
These HTSUS subheadings are provided
for convenience and customs purposes; the
written description of the scope of this
investigation is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Investigation
IV. Changes Since the Preliminary
Determination
V. Comparisons to Fair Value
VI. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Differential Pricing Methodology
Comment 2: Price Patterns that Differ
Regionally
Comment 3: Customization Physical
Characteristic
Comment 4: Linking Home-Market Sales Data
with Cost of Production Data
Comment 5: Level of Trade and Constructed
Export Price Offset
Comment 6: Licensing Fees
Comment 7: Blefa US’ Other Income
Comment 8: Double-Counted Packing
Materials
Comment 9: Blefa US’ General and
Administrative Expense Ratio for NonManufactured Sales
VII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2019–23216 Filed 10–23–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–093]
Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs From
the People’s Republic of China: Final
Affirmative 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
refillable stainless steel kegs (kegs) from
the People’s Republic of China (China)
are being, or are likely to be, sold in the
United States at less than fair value
(LTFV). In addition, Commerce
determines that critical circumstances
exist with respect to certain imports of
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AGENCY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Oct 23, 2019
Jkt 250001
the subject merchandise. The period of
investigation (POI) is January 1, 2018
through June 30, 2018. The final
estimated weighted-average dumping
margins are listed below in the ‘‘Final
Determination’’ section of this notice.
DATES: Applicable October 24, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Schauer or Aimee Phelan, AD/
CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement
and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
(202) 482–0410 or (202) 482–0697,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Commerce published the Preliminary
Determination in the LTFV investigation
of kegs from China on June 4, 2019.1 For
a complete description of the events that
followed the Preliminary Determination,
see the Issues and Decision
Memorandum.2
Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is January
1, 2018 through June 30, 2018.
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this
investigation is kegs from China. For a
full description of the scope of this
investigation, see the ‘‘Scope of the
Investigation’’ in Appendix I of this
notice.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and
rebuttal briefs that were submitted by
parties in this investigation are
addressed in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum. A list of issues raised is
attached to this notice at Appendix II.
The Issues and Decision Memorandum
is a public document and is made
available to the public 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
1 See Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from the
People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical
Circumstances, in Part, Postponement of Final
Determination, and Extension of Provisional
Measures, 84 FR 25745 (June 4, 2019) (Preliminary
Determination), and accompanying Preliminary
Decision Memorandum (PDM).
2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Refillable Stainless Steel
Kegs from the People’s Republic of China: Issues
and Decision Memorandum for the Final
Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby
adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision
Memorandum).
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parties in Commerce’s 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 on the internet at https://
enforcement.trade.gov/frn/.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act),
we verified the U.S. sales and factors of
production information submitted by
Ningbo Master International Trade Co.,
Ltd. (Ningbo Master) in July 2019.3 We
used standard verification procedures,
including an examination of relevant
accounting and production records, and
original source documents provided by
Ningbo Master.
China-Wide Entity and Use of Adverse
Facts Available
We continue to find that the use of
facts available is warranted in
determining the rate for the China-wide
entity pursuant to sections 776(a)(1) and
(a)(2)(A)–(C) of the Act.4 Further, we
found that the China-wide entity did not
cooperate to the best of its ability to
comply with our requests for
information and, accordingly, we
determined it appropriate to apply
adverse inferences in selecting from the
facts available, pursuant to section
776(b) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.308(c).
Changes From the Preliminary
Determination
Based on our analysis of the
comments received and our findings at
verification, we made certain changes to
our dumping margin calculation for
Ningbo Master and revised the margins
for non-selected respondents and the
China-wide entity to reflect the revised
margins for Ningbo Master.5
Combination Rates
Consistent with the Preliminary
Determination 6 and Policy Bulletin
05.1,7 Commerce determined
combination rates for the respondents
3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Verification of the
Questionnaire Responses of Ningbo Master
International Trade Co., Ltd. in the Antidumping
Investigation of Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from
the People’s Republic of China,’’ dated July 25,
2019.
4 See Preliminary Determination PDM at 16–18.
5 See Issues and Decision Memorandum for a
discussion of these changes.
6 See Preliminary Determination, 84 FR at 25745–
46.
7 See Enforcement and Compliance’s Policy
Bulletin No. 05.1, regarding, ‘‘Separate-Rates
Practice and Application of Combination Rates in
Antidumping Investigations involving Non-Market
Economy Countries,’’ dated April 5, 2005 (Policy
Bulletin 05.1), available on Commerce’s website at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/policy/bull05-1.pdf.
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 206 (Thursday, October 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57008-57010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23216]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-428-846]
Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs From Germany: Final Affirmative
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that
refillable stainless steel kegs (kegs) from the Federal Republic of
Germany (Germany) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United
States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation
(POI) is July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018. The final estimated
dumping margins of sales at LTFV are shown in the ``Final
Determination'' section of this notice.
DATES: Applicable October 24, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Micahel Romani, AD/CVD Operations,
Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0198.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 4, 2019, Commerce published the Preliminary Determination
of this LTFV investigation in which Commerce found that kegs from
Germany were sold at LTFV.\1\ A complete summary of the events that
occurred since Commerce published the Preliminary Determination, as
well as a full discussion of the issues raised by parties for this
final determination, may be found in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum.\2\ The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document
and is available 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 is available to all parties in the Central
Records Unit, Room B-8024 of the main Commerce building. In addition, a
complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed
at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed Issues and Decision
Memorandum and the electronic version are identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from Germany:
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value, and Postponement of Final Determination, 84 FR 25736 (June 4,
2019) (Preliminary Determination).
\2\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the
Final Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of
Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from the Federal Republic of
Germany,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this
notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are refillable stainless
steel kegs from Germany. For a complete description of the scope of
this investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
On March 29, 2019, we issued a Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum.\3\ The scope case briefs were due on May 6, 2019, 30 days
after the publication of Kegs from China Preliminary CVD
Determination.\4\ We did not receive scope briefs from interested
parties. Therefore, Commerce has made no changes to the scope of this
investigation since the Preliminary Determination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from the
People's Republic of China, Germany, and Mexico: Scope Comments
Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determinations,'' dated
March 29, 2019 (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum).
\4\ The scope case briefs were due 30 days after the publication
of Refillable Stainless Steel Kegs from the People's Republic of
China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and
Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty
Determination, 84 FR 13634 (April 5, 2019) (Kegs from China
Preliminary CVD Determination). See the Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum at 5. Because the deadline fell on Sunday, May 5, 2019,
the actual deadline for the scope case briefs was Monday, May 6,
2019. See 19 CFR 351.303(b)(1) (``For both electronically filed and
manually filed documents, if the applicable due date falls on a non-
business day, the Secretary will accept documents that are filed on
the next business day.''). The deadline for scope rebuttal briefs
was Monday, May 13, 2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Verification
As provided in section 782(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act), Commerce verified the sales and cost data reported by Blefa
GmbH (Blefa) for use in our final determination. We used standard
verification procedures, including an examination of relevant
accounting and production records, and original source documents
provided by the respondent.
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case briefs and rebuttal briefs submitted
by interested
[[Page 57009]]
parties in this proceeding are discussed in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum. A list of the issues raised by parties and responded to by
Commerce in the Issues and Decision Memorandum is attached at Appendix
II.
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
Blefa since the Preliminary Determination. 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
weighted-average dumping margin for all-other producers and exporters
not individually investigated shall be 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. Blefa is the only respondent for which
Commerce calculated an estimated weighted-average dumping margin that
is not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise
available. Therefore, for purposes of determining the all-others rate,
and pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, we are using the
estimated weighted-average dumping margin calculated for Blefa, as
referenced in the ``Final Determination'' section below.
Final Determination
Commerce determines that the following estimated weighted-average
dumping margins exist for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30,
2018:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-
average
Producer/exporter dumping
margin
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blefa GmbH.................................................. 7.47
All Others.................................................. 7.47
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we will
instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue the
suspension of liquidation of all appropriate entries of kegs from
Germany, as described in Appendix I to this notice, which were entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after June 4, 2019,
the date of publication of the Preliminary Determination of this
investigation in the Federal Register.
Pursuant to section 735(c)(l) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d),
Commerce will instruct CBP to require cash deposits equal to the
weighted-average dumping margins indicated in the table above as
follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for Blefa will be equal to the
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 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 7.47
percent, the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin.
These suspension of liquidation and cash deposit instructions will
remain in effect until further notice.
Disclosure
We will disclose the calculations performed within five days of
public announcement of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR
351.224(b).
International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, Commerce will notify
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its final determination.
Because the final determination is affirmative, in accordance with
section 735(b)(2) 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
kegs from Germany 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 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.
Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders
This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written
notification of the return or destruction of 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 violation
subject to sanction.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination and this notice are issued and published
pursuant to sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
352.210(c).
Dated: October 17, 2019.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this investigation are kegs, vessels,
or containers with bodies that are approximately cylindrical in
shape, made from stainless steel (i.e., steel containing at least
10.5 percent chromium by weight and less than 1.2 percent carbon by
weight, with or without other elements), and that are compatible
with a ``D Sankey'' extractor (refillable stainless steel kegs) with
a nominal liquid volume capacity of 10 liters or more, regardless of
the type of finish, gauge, thickness, or grade of stainless steel,
and whether or not covered by or encased in other materials.
Refillable stainless steel kegs may be imported assembled or
unassembled, with or without all components (including spears,
couplers or taps, necks, collars, and valves), and be filled or
unfilled.
``Unassembled'' or ``unfinished'' refillable stainless steel
kegs include drawn stainless steel cylinders that have been welded
to form the body of the keg and attached to an upper (top) chime
and/or lower (bottom) chime. Unassembled refillable stainless steel
kegs may or may not be welded to a neck, may or may not have a valve
assembly attached, and may be otherwise complete except for testing,
certification, and/or marking.
Subject merchandise also includes refillable stainless steel
kegs that have been further processed in a third country, including
but not limited to, attachment of necks, collars, spears or valves,
heat treatment, pickling, passivation, painting, testing,
certification or any other processing that would not otherwise
remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if
performed in the country of manufacture of the in-scope refillable
stainless steel keg.
Specifically excluded are the following:
(1) vessels or containers that are not approximately cylindrical
in nature (e.g., box, ``hopper'' or ``cone'' shaped vessels);
(2) stainless steel kegs, vessels, or containers that have
either a ``ball lock'' valve system or a ``pin lock'' valve system
(commonly known as ``Cornelius,'' ``corny'' or ``ball lock'' kegs);
(3) necks, spears, couplers or taps, collars, and valves that
are not imported with the subject merchandise; and
[[Page 57010]]
(4) stainless steel kegs that are filled with beer, wine, or
other liquid and that are designated by the Commissioner of Customs
as Instruments of International Traffic within the meaning of
section 332(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.
The merchandise covered by this investigation are currently
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) under subheadings 7310.10.0010, 7310.10.0050, 7310.29.0025,
and 7310.29.0050.
These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs
purposes; the written description of the scope of this investigation
is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Investigation
IV. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
V. Comparisons to Fair Value
VI. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Differential Pricing Methodology
Comment 2: Price Patterns that Differ Regionally
Comment 3: Customization Physical Characteristic
Comment 4: Linking Home-Market Sales Data with Cost of Production
Data
Comment 5: Level of Trade and Constructed Export Price Offset
Comment 6: Licensing Fees
Comment 7: Blefa US' Other Income
Comment 8: Double-Counted Packing Materials
Comment 9: Blefa US' General and Administrative Expense Ratio for
Non-Manufactured Sales
VII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2019-23216 Filed 10-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P