Acetone From the Republic of South Africa: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 8247-8249 [2020-02910]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
forth in the CWC ‘‘Annex on
Chemicals’’ and in ‘‘Supplement No. 1
to part 712—SCHEDULE 1
CHEMICALS’’ of the Chemical Weapons
Convention Regulations (CWCR) (15
CFR parts 710–722). The CWC
identified these toxic chemicals and
precursors as posing a high risk to the
object and purpose of the Convention.
The CWC (Part VI of the ‘‘Verification
Annex’’) restricts the production of
‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals for protective
purposes to two facilities per State
Party: A single small-scale facility
(SSSF) and a facility for production in
quantities not exceeding 10 kg per year.
The CWC Article-by-Article Analysis
submitted to the Senate in Treaty Doc.
103–21 defined the term ‘‘protective
purposes’’ to mean ‘‘used for
determining the adequacy of defense
equipment and measures.’’ Consistent
with this definition and as authorized
by Presidential Decision Directive (PDD)
70 (December 17, 1999), which specifies
agency and departmental
responsibilities as part of the U.S.
implementation of the CWC, the
Department of Defense (DOD) was
assigned the responsibility to operate
these two facilities. DOD maintains
strict controls on ‘‘Schedule 1’’
chemicals produced at its facilities in
order to ensure accountability for such
chemicals, as well as their proper use,
consistent with the object and purpose
of the Convention. Although this
assignment of responsibility to DOD
under PDD–70 effectively precluded
commercial production of ‘‘Schedule 1’’
chemicals for ‘‘protective purposes’’ in
the United States, it did not establish
any limitations on ‘‘Schedule 1’’
chemical activities that are not
prohibited by the CWC.
The provisions of the CWC that affect
commercial activities involving
‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals are
implemented in the CWCR (see 15 CFR
part 712) and in the Export
Administration Regulations (EAR) (see
15 CFR 742.18 and 15 CFR part 745),
both of which are administered by the
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
Pursuant to CWC requirements, the
CWCR restrict commercial production
of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals to research,
medical, or pharmaceutical purposes.
The CWCR prohibit commercial
production of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals
for ‘‘protective purposes’’ because such
production is effectively precluded per
PDD–70, as described above. See 15 CFR
712.2(a).
The CWCR also contain other
requirements and prohibitions that
apply to ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals and/or
‘‘Schedule 1’’ facilities. Specifically, the
CWCR:
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(1) Prohibit the import of ‘‘Schedule
1’’ chemicals from States not Party to
the Convention (15 CFR 712.2(b));
(2) Require annual declarations by
certain facilities engaged in the
production of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals
in excess of 100 grams aggregate per
calendar year (i.e., declared ‘‘Schedule
1’’ facilities) for purposes not prohibited
by the Convention (15 CFR 712.5(a)(1)
and (a)(2));
(3) Provide for government approval
of ‘‘declared Schedule 1’’ facilities (15
CFR 712.5(f));
(4) Provide that ‘‘declared Schedule
1’’ facilities are subject to initial and
routine inspection by the OPCW (15
CFR 712.5(e) and 716.1(b)(1));
(5) Require 200 days advance
notification of the establishment of new
‘‘Schedule 1’’ production facilities
producing greater than 100 grams
aggregate of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals per
calendar year (15 CFR 712.4);
(6) Require advance notification and
annual reporting of all imports and
exports of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals to, or
from, other States Parties to the
Convention (15 CFR 712.6, 742.18(a)(1)
and 745.1); and
(7) Prohibit the export of ‘‘Schedule
1’’ chemicals to States not Party to the
Convention (15 CFR 742.18(a)(1) and
(b)(1)(ii)).
For purposes of the CWCR (see 15
CFR 710.1), ‘‘production of a Schedule
1 chemical’’ means the formation of
‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals through
chemical synthesis, as well as
processing to extract and isolate
‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals. The phrase
‘‘production of a schedule 1 chemical’’
includes, in its meaning, the formation
of a chemical through chemical
reaction, including by a biochemical or
biologically mediated reaction.
‘‘Production of a Schedule 1 chemical’’
is understood, for CWCR declaration
purposes, to include intermediates, byproducts, or waste products that are
produced and consumed within a
defined chemical manufacturing
sequence, where such intermediates, byproducts, or waste products are
chemically stable and therefore exist for
a sufficient time to make isolation from
the manufacturing stream possible, but
where, under normal or design
operating conditions, isolation does not
occur.
Request for Comments
In order to assist in determining
whether the legitimate commercial
activities and interests of chemical,
biotechnology, and pharmaceutical
firms in the United States are
significantly harmed by the limitations
of the Convention on access to, and
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8247
production of, ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals
as described in this notice, BIS is
seeking public comments on any effects
that implementation of the CWC,
through the Chemical Weapons
Convention Implementation Act and the
CWCR, has had on commercial activities
involving ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals
during calendar year 2019. To allow BIS
to properly evaluate the significance of
any harm to commercial activities
involving ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals,
public comments submitted in response
to this notice of inquiry should include
both a quantitative and qualitative
assessment of the impact of the CWC on
such activities.
Submission of Comments
All comments must be submitted to
one of the addresses indicated in this
notice. The Department requires that all
comments be submitted in written form.
BIS will consider all comments received
on or before March 16, 2020. All
comments, including those comments
containing any personally identifying
information or information for which a
claim of confidentially is asserted either
in the comments or their transmittal
emails, will be made available for public
inspection and copying. Parties who
wish to comment anonymously may do
so by submitting their comments via
Regulations.gov, leaving the fields that
would identify the commenter blank
and including no identifying
information in the comment itself.
Richard E. Ashooh,
Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020–02848 Filed 2–12–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–33–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–791–824]
Acetone From the Republic of South
Africa: Final 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 imports of
acetone from the Republic of South
Africa (South Africa) are being, or are
likely to be, sold in the United States at
less than fair value (LTFV). The period
of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2018
through December 31, 2018. For
information on the estimated dumping
margins of sales at LTFV, see the ‘‘Final
Determination’’ section of this notice.
AGENCY:
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DATES:
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
Applicable February 13, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Charlotte Baskin-Gerwitz, 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) 482–4880.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Background
This final determination is made in
accordance with section 735 of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).
On September 24, 2019, Commerce
published the Preliminary
Determination of this antidumping duty
(AD) investigation, in which we also
postponed the final determination to
February 6, 2020.1 The petitioner in this
investigation is the Coalition for
Acetone Fair Trade (the petitioner).2
The mandatory respondent in this
investigation is Sasol South Africa
Limited (SSA). Shortly prior to
publication of the Preliminary
Determination, on September 23, 2019,
SSA informed Commerce that it would
not participate in Commerce’s planned
verifications of SSA’s questionnaire
responses.3 A complete summary of the
events that occurred since publication
of 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.4 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 to all parties
in the Central Records Unit, Room B–
8024 of Commerce’s main building. In
addition, a complete version of the
Issues and Decision Memorandum can
be accessed at https://
1 See Acetone from the Republic of South Africa:
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final
Determination, and Extension of Provisional
Measures, 84 FR 49984 (September 24, 2019)
(Preliminary Determination), and accompanying
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
2 The members of the Coalition for Acetone Fair
Trade are AdvanSix Inc., Altivia Petrochemicals,
LLC, and Olin Corporation.
3 See SSA’s Letter, ‘‘Acetone from South Africa:
Notification Regarding Verification Participation,’’
dated September 23, 2019.
4 See Memorandum, ‘‘Issues and Decision
Memorandum for the Final Affirmative
Determination in the Antidumping Duty
Investigation of Acetone from the Republic of South
Africa,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby
adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision
Memorandum).
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enforcement.trade.gov/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 acetone from South
Africa. Commerce did not receive any
scope comments and has not updated
the scope of the investigation since the
Preliminary Determination. For a
complete description of the scope of this
investigation, see Appendix I to this
notice.
Analysis of Comments Received
The issues raised in the case and
rebuttal briefs submitted by interested
parties in this investigation are
discussed in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum. For a list of the issues
raised by parties and responded to by
Commerce in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum, see Appendix II to this
notice.
Verification
Because SSA stated prior to the
Preliminary Determination that it would
not participate in verification, we did
not conduct a verification of SSA’s
information.
Use of Adverse Facts Available (AFA)
In making this final determination,
Commerce relied on facts available. As
discussed in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum,5 we determine that,
because SSA withdrew its participation
in verification, SSA significantly
impeded the investigation, submitted
information that could not be verified,
and failed to cooperate by not acting to
the best of its ability in responding to
Commerce’s requests for information.
Therefore, we are drawing adverse
inferences in selecting from among the
facts otherwise available.6 For further
information, see the ‘‘Use of Facts
Otherwise Available and Adverse
Inferences’’ section in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
Changes Since the Preliminary
Determination
Based on our analysis of the
comments received and our application
of facts available with an adverse
inference to SSA, we revised the margin
calculation for SSA since the
Preliminary Determination. These
changes are discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
5 See
6 See
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Issues and Decision Memorandum at 2–9.
sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
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All-Others Rate
Sections 735(c)(1)(B)(i)(II) and
735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that
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. However, when
the estimated weighted-average
dumping margins for all exporters and
producers individually investigated are
zero or de minimis, or determined under
section 776 of the Act, section
735(c)(5)(B) of the Act provides that
Commerce shall use any reasonable
method to establish the all-others rate,
including averaging the estimated
weighted-average dumping margins for
the exporters and producers
individually investigated.
In this investigation, Commerce based
SSA’s rate entirely on facts otherwise
available. Accordingly, we will use any
reasonable method to establish the
estimated all-others rate. Commerce’s
practice in such situations is to base the
all-others rate on a simple average of the
petition rates.7 Therefore, as the allothers rate we are assigning a simple
average of the margins alleged in the
petition, which is 314.51 percent. For a
full description of the methodology
underlying Commerce’s analysis, see the
Issues and Decision Memorandum.
Final Determination
Pursuant to section 735 of the Act,
Commerce determines the estimated
dumping margins to be:
7 See, e.g., Notice of Preliminary Determinations
of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Nitrite
from the Federal Republic of Germany, 73 FR
21909, 21912 (April 23, 2008), unchanged in Notice
of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value: Sodium Nitrite from the Federal Republic of
Germany, 73 FR 38986, 38987 (July 8, 2008), and
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at
Comment 2; see also Notice of Final Determination
of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Raw Flexible
Magnets from Taiwan, 73 FR 39673, 39674 (July 10,
2008); Steel Threaded Rod from Thailand:
Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value and Affirmative Preliminary
Determination of Critical Circumstances, 78 FR
79670, 79671 (December 31, 2013), unchanged in
Steel Threaded Rod from Thailand: Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Affirmative Final Determination of Critical
Circumstances, 79 FR 14476, 14477 (March 14,
2014); and Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from
Pakistan: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value, 83 FR 48281, 48282 (September 24,
2018).
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 30 / Thursday, February 13, 2020 / Notices
exist, the proceeding will be terminated
and all cash deposits will be refunded.
Exporter or producer
If the ITC determines that such injury
does exist, Commerce will issue an AD
Sasol South Africa Limited ...
414.92 order directing CBP to assess, upon
All Others ..............................
314.51 further instruction by Commerce,
antidumping duties on all imports of the
subject merchandise entered, or
Disclosure
withdrawn from warehouse, for
Because Commerce applied AFA to
consumption on or after the effective
SSA, and the AFA rate is based solely
date of the suspension of liquidation, as
on the petition, there are no calculations discussed above in the ‘‘Continuation of
to disclose for this final determination
Suspension of Liquidation’’ section.
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Notification Regarding Administrative
Continuation of Suspension of
Protective Orders
Liquidation
This notice serves as the only
In accordance with section
reminder to parties subject to an
735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will
administrative protective order (APO) of
instruct U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) to continue to suspend their responsibility concerning the
disposition of proprietary information
liquidation of all appropriate entries of
acetone from South Africa, as described disclosed under APO in accordance
in Appendix I of this notice, which were with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, notification of the return/destruction of
APO materials or conversion to judicial
for consumption on or after September
protective order is hereby requested.
24, 2019, the date of publication of the
Failure to comply with the regulations
Preliminary Determination in the
and the terms of an APO is violation
Federal Register.
subject to sanction.
Pursuant to section 735(c)(l) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.210(d), Commerce
Notification to Interested Parties
will instruct CBP to require cash
deposits equal to the estimated dumping
This determination is issued and
margins indicated in the table above as
published in accordance with sections
follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for
735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19
SSA will be equal to the estimated
CFR 351.210(c).
dumping margin determined in this
Dated: February 6, 2020.
final determination; (2) if the exporter is
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
not a respondent identified above, but
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
the producer is, then the cash deposit
Compliance.
rate will be equal to the companyAppendix I
specific estimated weighted-average
dumping margin established for that
Scope of the Investigation
producer of the subject merchandise;
The merchandise covered by this
and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other
investigation is all grades of liquid or
producers and exporters will be 314.51
aqueous acetone. Acetone is also known
percent, the all-others estimated
under the International Union of Pure and
weighted-average dumping margin.
Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name propan-2These suspension of liquidation and
one. In addition to the IUPAC name, acetone
cash deposit instructions will remain in is also referred to as b-ketopropane (or betaketopropane), ketone propane, methyl
effect until further notice.
For combined and commingled products,
only the acetone component is covered by
the scope of this investigation. However,
when acetone is combined with acetone
components from sources not subject to this
investigation, those third country acetone
components may still be subject to other
acetone investigations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing language, an
acetone combination or mixture that is
transformed through a chemical reaction into
another product, such that, for example, the
acetone can no longer be separated from the
other products through a distillation process
(e.g., methyl methacrylate (MMA) or
Bisphenol A (BPA)), is excluded from this
investigation.
A combination or mixture is excluded from
these investigations if the total acetone
component (regardless of the source or
sources) comprises less than 5 percent of the
combination or mixture, on a dry weight
basis.
The Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)
registry number for acetone is 67–64–1.
The merchandise covered by this
investigation is currently classifiable under
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) subheadings 2914.11.1000
and 2914.11.5000. Combinations or mixtures
of acetone may enter under subheadings in
Chapter 38 of the HTSUS, including, but not
limited to, those under heading
3814.00.1000, 3814.00.2000, 3814.00.5010,
and 3814.00.5090. The list of items found
under these HTSUS subheadings is nonexhaustive. Although these HTSUS
subheadings and CAS registry number are
provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the
scope of this investigation is dispositive.
International Trade Commission
Notification (ITC)
In accordance with section 735(d) of
the Act, we will notify the 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) 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
acetone from South Africa no later than
45 days after our final determination. If
the ITC determines that material injury
or threat of material injury does not
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
Estimated
dumping
margin
(percent)
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8249
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ketone, dimethyl ketone, DMK, dimethyl
carbonyl, propanone, 2-propanone, dimethyl
formaldehyde, pyroacetic acid, pyroacetic
ether, and pyroacetic spirit. Acetone is an
isomer of the chemical formula C3H6O, with
a specific molecular formula of CH3COCH3 or
(CH3)2CO.
The scope covers both pure acetone (with
or without impurities) and acetone that is
combined or mixed with other products,
including, but not limited to, isopropyl
alcohol, benzene, diethyl ether, methanol,
chloroform, and ethanol. Acetone that has
been combined with other products is
included within the scope, regardless of
whether the combining occurs in third
countries.
The scope also includes acetone that is
commingled with acetone from sources not
subject to this investigation.
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Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Investigation
IV. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and
Adverse Inferences
V. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Whether to Rely on Total AFA
for SSA’s Margin
VI. All-Others Rate
VII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2020–02910 Filed 2–12–20; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–423–814]
Acetone From Belgium: Final
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 imports of
acetone from Belgium are being, or are
AGENCY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8247-8249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02910]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-791-824]
Acetone From the Republic of South Africa: Final 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 imports
of acetone from the Republic of South Africa (South Africa) are being,
or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value
(LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2018 through
December 31, 2018. For information on the estimated dumping margins of
sales at LTFV, see the ``Final Determination'' section of this notice.
[[Page 8248]]
DATES: Applicable February 13, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlotte Baskin-Gerwitz, 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) 482-4880.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This final determination is made in accordance with section 735 of
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). On September 24, 2019,
Commerce published the Preliminary Determination of this antidumping
duty (AD) investigation, in which we also postponed the final
determination to February 6, 2020.\1\ The petitioner in this
investigation is the Coalition for Acetone Fair Trade (the
petitioner).\2\ The mandatory respondent in this investigation is Sasol
South Africa Limited (SSA). Shortly prior to publication of the
Preliminary Determination, on September 23, 2019, SSA informed Commerce
that it would not participate in Commerce's planned verifications of
SSA's questionnaire responses.\3\ A complete summary of the events that
occurred since publication of 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.\4\
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
to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B-8024 of Commerce's
main building. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum can be accessed at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed and electronic versions of the Issues and Decision
Memorandum are identical in content.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Acetone from the Republic of South Africa: Preliminary
Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional
Measures, 84 FR 49984 (September 24, 2019) (Preliminary
Determination), and accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
\2\ The members of the Coalition for Acetone Fair Trade are
AdvanSix Inc., Altivia Petrochemicals, LLC, and Olin Corporation.
\3\ See SSA's Letter, ``Acetone from South Africa: Notification
Regarding Verification Participation,'' dated September 23, 2019.
\4\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the
Final Affirmative Determination in the Antidumping Duty
Investigation of Acetone from the Republic of South Africa,'' dated
concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and
Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is acetone from South
Africa. Commerce did not receive any scope comments and has not updated
the scope of the investigation since the Preliminary Determination. For
a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix
I to this notice.
Analysis of Comments Received
The issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs submitted by
interested parties in this investigation are discussed in the Issues
and Decision Memorandum. For a list of the issues raised by parties and
responded to by Commerce in the Issues and Decision Memorandum, see
Appendix II to this notice.
Verification
Because SSA stated prior to the Preliminary Determination that it
would not participate in verification, we did not conduct a
verification of SSA's information.
Use of Adverse Facts Available (AFA)
In making this final determination, Commerce relied on facts
available. As discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum,\5\ we
determine that, because SSA withdrew its participation in verification,
SSA significantly impeded the investigation, submitted information that
could not be verified, and failed to cooperate by not acting to the
best of its ability in responding to Commerce's requests for
information. Therefore, we are drawing adverse inferences in selecting
from among the facts otherwise available.\6\ For further information,
see the ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences''
section in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See Issues and Decision Memorandum at 2-9.
\6\ See sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
Based on our analysis of the comments received and our application
of facts available with an adverse inference to SSA, we revised the
margin calculation for SSA since the Preliminary Determination. These
changes are discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
All-Others Rate
Sections 735(c)(1)(B)(i)(II) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide
that 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.
However, when the estimated weighted-average dumping margins for all
exporters and producers individually investigated are zero or de
minimis, or determined under section 776 of the Act, section
735(c)(5)(B) of the Act provides that Commerce shall use any reasonable
method to establish the all-others rate, including averaging the
estimated weighted-average dumping margins for the exporters and
producers individually investigated.
In this investigation, Commerce based SSA's rate entirely on facts
otherwise available. Accordingly, we will use any reasonable method to
establish the estimated all-others rate. Commerce's practice in such
situations is to base the all-others rate on a simple average of the
petition rates.\7\ Therefore, as the all-others rate we are assigning a
simple average of the margins alleged in the petition, which is 314.51
percent. For a full description of the methodology underlying
Commerce's analysis, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See, e.g., Notice of Preliminary Determinations of Sales at
Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Nitrite from the Federal Republic of
Germany, 73 FR 21909, 21912 (April 23, 2008), unchanged in Notice of
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Sodium Nitrite
from the Federal Republic of Germany, 73 FR 38986, 38987 (July 8,
2008), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 2;
see also Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value: Raw Flexible Magnets from Taiwan, 73 FR 39673, 39674 (July
10, 2008); Steel Threaded Rod from Thailand: Preliminary
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Affirmative
Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances, 78 FR 79670,
79671 (December 31, 2013), unchanged in Steel Threaded Rod from
Thailand: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Affirmative Final Determination of Critical Circumstances, 79 FR
14476, 14477 (March 14, 2014); and Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin
from Pakistan: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
83 FR 48281, 48282 (September 24, 2018).
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Final Determination
Pursuant to section 735 of the Act, Commerce determines the
estimated dumping margins to be:
[[Page 8249]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Exporter or producer dumping margin
(percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sasol South Africa Limited.............................. 414.92
All Others.............................................. 314.51
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure
Because Commerce applied AFA to SSA, and the AFA rate is based
solely on the petition, there are no calculations to disclose for this
final determination pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce will
instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue to
suspend liquidation of all appropriate entries of acetone from South
Africa, as described in Appendix I of this notice, which were entered,
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after September 24,
2019, the date of publication of the Preliminary Determination 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
estimated dumping margins indicated in the table above as follows: (1)
The cash deposit rate for SSA will be equal to the estimated 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 314.51 percent, the all-others estimated weighted-
average dumping margin. These suspension of liquidation and cash
deposit instructions will remain in effect until further notice.
International Trade Commission Notification (ITC)
In accordance with section 735(d) of the Act, we will notify the
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) 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 acetone from South Africa 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 AD 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 serves as the only reminder to parties subject to an
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 notification of the
return/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 violation subject to sanction.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published in accordance with
sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).
Dated: February 6, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this investigation is all grades of
liquid or aqueous acetone. Acetone is also known under the
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name
propan-2-one. In addition to the IUPAC name, acetone is also
referred to as [beta]-ketopropane (or beta-ketopropane), ketone
propane, methyl ketone, dimethyl ketone, DMK, dimethyl carbonyl,
propanone, 2-propanone, dimethyl formaldehyde, pyroacetic acid,
pyroacetic ether, and pyroacetic spirit. Acetone is an isomer of the
chemical formula C3H6O, with a specific
molecular formula of CH3COCH3 or
(CH3)2CO.
The scope covers both pure acetone (with or without impurities)
and acetone that is combined or mixed with other products,
including, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol, benzene, diethyl
ether, methanol, chloroform, and ethanol. Acetone that has been
combined with other products is included within the scope,
regardless of whether the combining occurs in third countries.
The scope also includes acetone that is commingled with acetone
from sources not subject to this investigation.
For combined and commingled products, only the acetone component
is covered by the scope of this investigation. However, when acetone
is combined with acetone components from sources not subject to this
investigation, those third country acetone components may still be
subject to other acetone investigations.
Notwithstanding the foregoing language, an acetone combination
or mixture that is transformed through a chemical reaction into
another product, such that, for example, the acetone can no longer
be separated from the other products through a distillation process
(e.g., methyl methacrylate (MMA) or Bisphenol A (BPA)), is excluded
from this investigation.
A combination or mixture is excluded from these investigations
if the total acetone component (regardless of the source or sources)
comprises less than 5 percent of the combination or mixture, on a
dry weight basis.
The Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number for acetone
is 67-64-1.
The merchandise covered by this investigation is currently
classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(HTSUS) subheadings 2914.11.1000 and 2914.11.5000. Combinations or
mixtures of acetone may enter under subheadings in Chapter 38 of the
HTSUS, including, but not limited to, those under heading
3814.00.1000, 3814.00.2000, 3814.00.5010, and 3814.00.5090. The list
of items found under these HTSUS subheadings is non-exhaustive.
Although these HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number 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. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences
V. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Whether to Rely on Total AFA for SSA's Margin
VI. All-Others Rate
VII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2020-02910 Filed 2-12-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P