Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin From the Russian Federation: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 35476-35478 [2021-14328]
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35476
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 6, 2021 / Notices
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mail to John Seo, Senior Economist,
International Trade Administration,
1401 Constitution Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20230, or by email to
john.seo@trade.gov or PRAcomments@
doc.gov. Please reference OMB Control
Number 0625–0275 in the subject line of
your comments. Do not submit
Confidential Business Information or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to John Seo (john.seo@
trade.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The International Trade
Administration provides a multitude of
international trade related programs to
help U.S. businesses. These programs
include information products, services,
and trade events. To accomplish its
mission effectively, ITA needs ongoing
feedback on its programs. This
information collection item allows ITA
to solicit clients’ opinions about the use
of ITA products, services, and trade
events. To promote optimal use and
provide focused and effective
improvements to ITA programs, we are
requesting approval for this clearance
package; including: Use of Comment
Cards (i.e., transactional-based surveys)
to collect feedback immediately after
ITA assistance is provided to clients;
use of annual surveys (i.e., relationshipbased surveys) to gauge overall
satisfaction, impact and needs for
clients with ITA assistance provided
over a period time; use of multiple data
collection methods (i.e., web-enabled
surveys sent via email, telephone
interviews, automated telephone
surveys, and in-person surveys via
mobile devices/laptops/tablets at trade
events/shows) to enable clients to
conveniently respond to requests for
feedback; and a forecast of burden
hours. Without this information, ITA is
unable to systematically determine the
actual and relative levels of performance
for its programs and products/services
and to provide clear, actionable insights
for managerial intervention. This
information will be used for program
evaluation and improvement, strategic
planning, allocation of resources and
stakeholder reporting.
II. Method of Collection
The International Trade
Administration is seeking approval for
the following data collection methods to
provide flexibility in conducting
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17:42 Jul 02, 2021
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customer satisfaction surveys and to
reduce the burden on respondents: (1)
An email message delivering a hot link
to a web enabled survey with an email
reminder sent if the client does not
respond to the survey within two weeks;
(2) a telephone survey/interview; and
(3) a web-enabled survey conducted inperson at trade shows/events via a
laptop, tablet or mobile phone so
participants can immediately respond
without having to provide their email
address.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0625–0275.
Form Number(s): N/A.
Type of Review: Extension of a current
information collection.
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations; Not-for-profit
institutions; State, Local, or Tribal
government; and Federal government.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
50,000.
Estimated Time per Response: 30
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 25,000 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Cost to
Public: $754,651.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Public Law 15 U.S.C.
et seq. and 15 U.S.C. 171 et seq.
IV. Request for Comments
We are soliciting public comments to
permit the Department/Bureau to: (a)
Evaluate whether the proposed
information collection is necessary for
the proper functions of the Department,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the
accuracy of our estimate of the time and
cost burden for this proposed collection,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
Evaluate ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and (d) Minimize the
reporting burden on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments that you submit in
response to this notice are a matter of
public record. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
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cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Chief Information Officer, Commerce
Department.
[FR Doc. 2021–14298 Filed 7–2–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–FP–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–821–830]
Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin
From the Russian Federation:
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing
Duty Determination and Alignment of
Final Determination With Final
Antidumping Duty Determination
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(Commerce) preliminarily determines
that countervailable subsidies are being
provided to producers and exporters of
granular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
resin from the Russian Federation
(Russia). The period of investigation is
January 1, 2020, through December 31,
2020. Interested parties are invited to
comment on this preliminary
determination.
DATES: Applicable July 6, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
George Ayache or Joseph Dowling, AD/
CVD Operations, Office VIII,
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–2623 or
(202) 482–1646, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
Background
This preliminary determination is
made in accordance with section 703(b)
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act). Commerce published the
notice of initiation of this investigation
on February 23, 2021.1 On March 19,
2021, Commerce postponed the
preliminary determination of this
investigation and the revised deadline is
now June 28, 2021.2 For a complete
description of the events that followed
1 See Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from
India and the Russian Federation: Initiation of
Countervailing Duty Investigations, 86 FR 10931
(February 23, 2021) (Initiation Notice).
2 See Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from
India and the Russian Federation: Postponement of
Preliminary Determinations in the Countervailing
Duty Investigations, 86 FR 14871 (March 19, 2021).
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 6, 2021 / Notices
the initiation of this investigation, see
the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.3 A list of topics
discussed 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. In addition, a complete
version of the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum can be accessed directly
at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/.
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this
investigation is granular PTFE resin
from Russia. For a complete description
of the scope of this investigation, see
Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to
Commerce’s regulations,4 the Initiation
Notice set aside a period of time for
parties to raise issues regarding product
coverage (i.e., scope).5 An interested
party commented on the scope of the
investigation as it appeared in the
Initiation Notice. For a summary of
these comments and the rebuttal
response submitted to the record for this
preliminary determination, and
accompanying discussion and analysis
of the comments timely received, see
the Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum.6 Commerce is not
preliminarily modifying the scope
language as it appeared in the Initiation
Notice. See scope in Appendix I.
The Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum establishes the deadline
to submit scope case briefs.7 There will
be no further opportunity to comment
on scope-related issues.
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Methodology
Commerce is conducting this
investigation in accordance with section
701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy
programs found countervailable,
Commerce preliminarily determines
3 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for
the Affirmative Preliminary Determination of the
Countervailing Duty Investigation of Granular
Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from the Russian
Federation,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby
adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision
Memorandum).
4 See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties,
Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
5 See Initiation Notice.
6 See Memorandum, ‘‘Comments on Scope of
Investigations,’’ dated concurrently with this notice
(Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum).
7 Id.
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that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial
contribution by an ‘‘authority’’ that
gives rise to a benefit to the recipient,
and that the subsidy is specific.8
Alignment
Company
Joint Stock Company
‘‘HaloPolymer’’ 10 ...............
All Others ..............................
35477
Subsidy rate
(percent)
2.36
2.36
In accordance with section 705(a)(1)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4),
Commerce is aligning the final
determination in this countervailing
duty (CVD) investigation with the final
determination in the companion
antidumping duty (AD) investigation of
granular PTFE resin from Russia based
on a request made by the petitioner.9
Consequently, the final CVD
determination will be issued on the
same date as the final AD
determination, which is currently
scheduled to be issued no later than
November 8, 2021, unless postponed.
Suspension of Liquidation
All-Others Rate
Disclosure
Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of
the Act provide that in the preliminary
determination, Commerce shall
determine an estimated all-others rate
for companies not individually
examined. This rate shall be an amount
equal to the weighted average of the
estimated subsidy rates established for
those companies individually
examined, excluding any rates that are
zero, de minimis, or based entirely
under section 776 of the Act.
Commerce calculated an individual
estimated countervailable subsidy rate
for Joint Stock Company ‘‘HaloPolymer’’
(HaloPolymer), the only individually
examined exporter/producer in this
investigation. Because the only
individually calculated rate is not zero,
de minimis, or based entirely on facts
otherwise available, the rate calculated
for HaloPolymer is the rate assigned to
all other producers and exporters not
individually examined in this
investigation, pursuant to section
705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act.
Commerce intends to disclose to
interested parties its calculations and
analysis performed in this preliminary
determination within five days of the
date of its 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).
Preliminary Determination
8 See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act
regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E)
of the Act regarding benefit; and section 771(5A) of
the Act regarding specificity.
9 See Petitioner’s Letter, ‘‘Request for Alignment,’’
dated April 9, 2021.
10 As discussed in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum, Commerce has found the following
companies to be cross-owned with Joint Stock
Company ‘‘HaloPolymer’’: Limited Liability
Company ‘‘HaloPolymer Kirovo-Chepetsk,’’ Joint
Stock Company ‘‘HaloPolymer Perm,’’ and
URALCHEM JSC.
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the
Act, Commerce intends to verify the
information relied upon in making its
final determination. Normally,
Commerce verifies information using
standard procedures, including an onsite examination of original accounting,
financial, and sales documentation.
However, due to current travel
restrictions in response to the global
COVID–19 pandemic, Commerce is
unable to conduct on-site verification in
this investigation. Accordingly, we
intend to verify the information relied
upon in making the final determination
through alternative means in lieu of an
on-site verification.
Public Comment
Commerce preliminarily determines
that the following estimated
countervailable subsidy rates exist:
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In accordance with section
703(d)(1)(B) and (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 the scope
of the investigation section entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for
consumption on or after the date of
publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR
351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP
to require a cash deposit equal to the
rates indicated above.
Case briefs or other written comments
may be submitted to the Assistant
Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance. Interested parties will be
notified of the timeline for the
submission of case briefs and written
comments on non-scope issues at a later
date. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues
raised in these case briefs, may be
submitted no later than seven days after
the deadline date for case briefs.11 Note
11 See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303
(for general filing requirements); and Temporary
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 126 / Tuesday, July 6, 2021 / Notices
that Commerce has temporarily
modified certain of its requirements for
serving documents containing business
proprietary information, until further
notice.12 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 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.
included is PTFE wet raw polymer. The
chemical formula for granular PTFE resin is
C2F4, and the Chemical Abstracts Service
(CAS) Registry number is 9002–84–0.
Subject merchandise includes material
matching the above description that has been
finished, packaged, or otherwise processed in
a third country, including by filling,
modifying, compounding, packaging with
another product, or performing any other
finishing, packaging, or processing that
would not otherwise remove the
merchandise from the scope of the
investigation if performed in the country of
manufacture of the granular PTFE resin.
The product covered by this investigation
does not include dispersion or coagulated
dispersion (also known as fine powder)
PTFE.
PTFE further processed into micropowder,
having particle size typically ranging from 1
to 25 microns, and a melt-flow rate no less
than 0.1 gram/10 minutes, is excluded from
the scope of this investigation.
Granular PTFE resin is classified in the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (HTSUS) under subheading
3904.61.0010. Subject merchandise may also
be classified under HTSUS subheading
3904.69.5000. Although the HTSUS
subheadings and CAS Number are provided
for convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope is
dispositive.
International Trade Commission
Notification
In accordance with section 703(f) of
the Act, Commerce will notify the
International Trade Commission (ITC) of
its determination. If Commerce’s final
determination is affirmative, the ITC
will make its final injury determination
before the later of 120 days after the date
of this preliminary determination or 45
days after the final determination.
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Injury Test
IV. Subsidies Valuation
V. Benchmarks and Interest Rates
VI. Analysis of Programs
VII. Recommendation
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and
published pursuant to sections 703(f)
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR
351.205(c).
[A–560–822, A–557–813, A–570–886, A–583–
843, A–549–821, A–552–806]
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Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation
is granular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
resin. Granular PTFE resin is covered by the
scope of this investigation whether filled or
unfilled, whether or not modified, and
whether or not containing co-polymer,
additives, pigments, or other materials. Also
Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due
to COVID–19, 85 FR 17006, 17007 (March 26, 2020).
12 See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD
Service Requirements Due to COVID–19; Extension
of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 10, 2020).
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BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
International Trade Administration
Appendix I
17:42 Jul 02, 2021
[FR Doc. 2021–14328 Filed 7–2–21; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Dated: June 28, 2021.
Christian Marsh,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement
and Compliance.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Appendix II
Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags From
Indonesia, Malaysia, the People’s
Republic of China, Taiwan, Thailand,
and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:
Final Results of the Expedited Sunset
Reviews of the Antidumping Duty
Orders
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: As a result of these expedited
sunset reviews, the Department of
Commerce (Commerce) finds that
revocation of the antidumping duty
(AD) orders on polyethylene retail
carrier bags from Indonesia, Malaysia,
the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan,
AGENCY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam would be likely to lead to
continuation or recurrence of dumping
as indicated in the ‘‘Final Results of
Sunset Review’’ section of this notice.
DATES: Applicable July 6, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Allison Hollander or Minoo Hatten, 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) 482–2805 or (202) 482–1690,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On March 31, 2021, Commerce
published the notice of initiation of the
sunset reviews of the AD orders on
polyethylene retail carrier bags (PRCBs)
from Indonesia, Malaysia, the People’s
Republic of China (China), Taiwan,
Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam (Vietnam) 1 pursuant to section
751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act).2 In accordance with
19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i) and (ii),
Commerce received notices of intent to
participate in these sunset reviews from
the Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bag
Committee (the domestic interested
party) within 15 days after the date of
publication of the Initiation Notice.3
1 See Antidumping Duty Orders: Polyethylene
Retail Carrier Bags from Indonesia, Taiwan, and the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 75 FR 23667 (May
4, 2010); see also Antidumping Duty Order:
Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from Malaysia, 69
FR 48203 (August 9, 2004); Antidumping Duty
Order: Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from The
People’s Republic of China, 69 FR 48201 (August
9, 2004); Antidumping Duty Order: Polyethylene
Retail Carrier Bags from Thailand, 69 FR 48204
(August 9, 2004) (collectively, AD Orders).
2 See Initiation Notice of Five-Year (Sunset)
Reviews, 86 FR 16701 (March 31, 2021) (Initiation
Notice).
3 See Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bag Committee’s
Letters, ‘‘Five-Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Review of
Antidumping Duty Order on Polyethylene Retail
Carrier Bags from Indonesia: Domestic Industry
Notice of Intent to Participate in Sunset Review,’’
dated April 9, 2021; ‘‘Five-Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Review
of Antidumping Duty Order on Polyethylene Retail
Carrier Bags from Malaysia: Domestic Industry
Notice of Intent to Participate in Sunset Review,’’
dated April 9, 2021; ‘‘Five-Year (‘‘Sunset’’) Review
Of Antidumping Duty Order On Polyethylene Retail
Carrier Bags from the People’s Republic of China:
Domestic Industry Notice Of Intent to Participate in
Sunset Review,’’ dated April 9, 2021; ‘‘Five-Year
(‘‘Sunset’’) Review Of Antidumping Duty Order on
Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from Taiwan:
Domestic Industry Notice of Intent to Participate In
Sunset Review,’’ dated April 9, 2021; ‘‘Five-Year
(‘‘Sunset’’) Review of Antidumping Duty Order on
Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from Thailand:
Domestic Industry Notice of Intent to Participate in
Sunset Review,’’ dated April 9, 2021; ‘‘Five-Year
(‘‘Sunset’’) Review Of Antidumping Duty Order on
Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam: Domestic Industry Notice of
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35476-35478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14328]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-821-830]
Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin From the Russian
Federation: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination
and Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty
Determination
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines
that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and
exporters of granular polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin from the
Russian Federation (Russia). The period of investigation is January 1,
2020, through December 31, 2020. Interested parties are invited to
comment on this preliminary determination.
DATES: Applicable July 6, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Ayache or Joseph Dowling, AD/
CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2623 or (202)
482-1646, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section
703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on February
23, 2021.\1\ On March 19, 2021, Commerce postponed the preliminary
determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now
June 28, 2021.\2\ For a complete description of the events that
followed
[[Page 35477]]
the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics discussed 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. In addition, a complete
version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly
at https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from India and
the Russian Federation: Initiation of Countervailing Duty
Investigations, 86 FR 10931 (February 23, 2021) (Initiation Notice).
\2\ See Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from India and
the Russian Federation: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations
in the Countervailing Duty Investigations, 86 FR 14871 (March 19,
2021).
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Affirmative
Preliminary Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation
of Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from the Russian
Federation,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this
notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is granular PTFE resin
from Russia. For a complete description of the scope of this
investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\5\ An interested party
commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the
Initiation Notice. For a summary of these comments and the rebuttal
response submitted to the record for this preliminary determination,
and accompanying discussion and analysis of the comments timely
received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\6\ Commerce is
not preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the
Initiation Notice. See scope in Appendix I.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
\5\ See Initiation Notice.
\6\ See Memorandum, ``Comments on Scope of Investigations,''
dated concurrently with this notice (Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum establishes the deadline
to submit scope case briefs.\7\ There will be no further opportunity to
comment on scope-related issues.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with
section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found
countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a
subsidy, i.e., a financial contribution by an ``authority'' that gives
rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is
specific.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\8\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alignment
In accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.210(b)(4), Commerce is aligning the final determination in this
countervailing duty (CVD) investigation with the final determination in
the companion antidumping duty (AD) investigation of granular PTFE
resin from Russia based on a request made by the petitioner.\9\
Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same
date as the final AD determination, which is currently scheduled to be
issued no later than November 8, 2021, unless postponed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Request for Alignment,'' dated
April 9, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
All-Others Rate
Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the
preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-
others rate for companies not individually examined. This rate shall be
an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates
established for those companies individually examined, excluding any
rates that are zero, de minimis, or based entirely under section 776 of
the Act.
Commerce calculated an individual estimated countervailable subsidy
rate for Joint Stock Company ``HaloPolymer'' (HaloPolymer), the only
individually examined exporter/producer in this investigation. Because
the only individually calculated rate is not zero, de minimis, or based
entirely on facts otherwise available, the rate calculated for
HaloPolymer is the rate assigned to all other producers and exporters
not individually examined in this investigation, pursuant to section
705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act.
Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated
countervailable subsidy rates exist:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum,
Commerce has found the following companies to be cross-owned with
Joint Stock Company ``HaloPolymer'': Limited Liability Company
``HaloPolymer Kirovo-Chepetsk,'' Joint Stock Company ``HaloPolymer
Perm,'' and URALCHEM JSC.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subsidy rate
Company (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joint Stock Company ``HaloPolymer'' \10\................ 2.36
All Others.............................................. 2.36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (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
the scope of the investigation section entered, or withdrawn from
warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d),
Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the rates
indicated above.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose to interested parties its calculations
and analysis performed in this preliminary determination within five
days of the date of its 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.
Normally, Commerce verifies information using standard procedures,
including an on-site examination of original accounting, financial, and
sales documentation. However, due to current travel restrictions in
response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Commerce is unable to conduct
on-site verification in this investigation. Accordingly, we intend to
verify the information relied upon in making the final determination
through alternative means in lieu of an on-site verification.
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Interested parties
will be notified of the timeline for the submission of case briefs and
written comments on non-scope issues at a later date. Rebuttal briefs,
limited to issues raised in these case briefs, may be submitted no
later than seven days after the deadline date for case briefs.\11\ Note
[[Page 35478]]
that Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for
serving documents containing business proprietary information, until
further notice.\12\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2),
parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation
are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the
issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of
authorities.
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\11\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general
filing requirements); and Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service
Requirements Due to COVID-19, 85 FR 17006, 17007 (March 26, 2020).
\12\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements
Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July
10, 2020).
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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 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.
International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If
Commerce's final determination is affirmative, the ITC will make its
final injury determination before the later of 120 days after the date
of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final
determination.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections
703(f) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c).
Dated: June 28, 2021.
Christian Marsh,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is granular
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin. Granular PTFE resin is covered
by the scope of this investigation whether filled or unfilled,
whether or not modified, and whether or not containing co-polymer,
additives, pigments, or other materials. Also included is PTFE wet
raw polymer. The chemical formula for granular PTFE resin is C2F4,
and the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry number is 9002-84-
0.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above
description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed
in a third country, including by filling, modifying, compounding,
packaging with another product, or performing any other finishing,
packaging, or processing that would not otherwise remove the
merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the
country of manufacture of the granular PTFE resin.
The product covered by this investigation does not include
dispersion or coagulated dispersion (also known as fine powder)
PTFE.
PTFE further processed into micropowder, having particle size
typically ranging from 1 to 25 microns, and a melt-flow rate no less
than 0.1 gram/10 minutes, is excluded from the scope of this
investigation.
Granular PTFE resin is classified in the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 3904.61.0010.
Subject merchandise may also be classified under HTSUS subheading
3904.69.5000. Although the HTSUS subheadings and CAS Number are
provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written
description of the scope is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Injury Test
IV. Subsidies Valuation
V. Benchmarks and Interest Rates
VI. Analysis of Programs
VII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2021-14328 Filed 7-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
