Multilayered Wood Flooring From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2021, 41939-41941 [2024-10512]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 14, 2024 / Notices
[FR Doc. 2024–10363 Filed 5–13–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–XV–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C–570–971]
Multilayered Wood Flooring From the
People’s Republic of China: Final
Results of Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review; 2021
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of
Commerce (Commerce) continues to
determine that the mandatory
respondents, Riverside Plywood
Corporation (Riverside) and Jiangsu
Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry
Co., Ltd. (Jiangsu Senmao), and 12 other
producers and/or exporters of
multilayered wood flooring (wood
flooring) from the People’s Republic of
China (China), received countervailable
subsidies during the period of review
(POR) January 1, 2021, through
December 31, 2021.
DATES: Applicable May 14, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Matney or Jonathan Schueler, 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) 482–2429 or
(202) 482–9175, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Background
Commerce published the Preliminary
Results of this administrative review in
the Federal Register on December 28,
2023, and invited interested parties to
comment.1 On February 8, 2024, we
received case briefs from the following
interested parties: Riverside,2 Jiangsu
Senmao, the Government of the People’s
Republic of China (GOC), and the
American Manufacturers of
Multilayered Wood Flooring
1 See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the
People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Results and
Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review; 2021, 88 FR 89664
(December 28, 2023) (Preliminary Results), and
accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum
(PDM).
2 We previously determined Baroque Timber
(Zhongshan) Industries, Suzhou Times Flooring
Co., Ltd., and Zhongshan Lianjia Flooring Co., Ltd.
to be cross-owned affiliates of Riverside. See, e.g.,
Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People’s
Republic of China: Final Results of Countervailing
Duty Administrative Review; 2020, 88 FR 34828
(May 31, 2023).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:01 May 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
(AMMWF).3 In addition, Commerce
received a letter from Anhui Longhua
Bamboo Product Co., Ltd.; Benxi
Flooring Factory (General Partnership);
Benxi Wood Company; Dalian Jiahong
Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; Dalian
Shengyu Science and Technology
Development Co., Ltd.; Dongtai Fuan
Universal Dynamics, LLC; HaiLin
LinJing Wooden Products Co., Ltd.;
Jiangsu Mingle Flooring Co., Ltd.;
Jiangsu Simba Flooring Co., Ltd.;
Jiangsu Yuhui International Trade Co.,
Ltd.; Jiashan On-Line Lumber Co., Ltd.;
Kingman Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; Pinge
Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang) Co.,
Ltd.; Suzhou Dongda Wood Co., Ltd.;
Tongxiang Jisheng Import and Export
Co., Ltd.; Yihua Lifestyle Technology
Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Shiyou Timber Co.,
Ltd.; and Lumber Liquidators Services,
LLC (collectively, CH Respondents)
supporting arguments made by the
mandatory respondents and the GOC.4
On February 20, 2024, AMMWF,
Riverside, and Jiangsu Senmao
submitted timely rebuttal briefs.5 Also
on February 20, 2024, Commerce
received a letter from the CH
Respondents supporting the arguments
presented in the rebuttal briefs by the
GOC and the mandatory respondents.6
Scope of the Order
The product covered by the Order 7 is
multilayered wood flooring from China.
For a complete description of the scope
of the Order, see the Issues and Decision
Memorandum.8
3 See AMMWF’s Letter, ‘‘Case Brief,’’ dated
February 8, 2024; see also GOC’s Letter, ‘‘GOC Case
Brief,’’ dated February 8, 2024; Riverside’s Letter,
‘‘Administrative Case Brief,’’ dated February 8,
2024; and Jiangsu Senmao’s Letter, ‘‘Case Brief on
behalf of Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood
Industry Co., Ltd.,’’ dated February 8, 2024.
4 See CH Respondents’ Letter, ‘‘Letter in Lieu of
Case Brief,’’ dated February 8, 2024.
5 See AMMWF’s Letter, ‘‘Rebuttal Brief,’’ dated
February 20, 2024; see also Riverside’s Letter,
‘‘Rebuttal Brief,’’ dated February 20, 2024; and
Jiangsu Senmao’s Letter, ‘‘Rebuttal Brief,’’ dated
February 20, 2024.
6 See CH Respondents’ Letter, ‘‘Letter in Lieu of
Rebuttal Brief,’’ dated February 20, 2024.
7 See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the
People’s Republic of China: Countervailing Duty
Order, 76 FR 76693 (December 8, 2011); see also
Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People’s
Republic of China: Amended Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Orders, 77 FR 5484 (February
3, 2012); and Multilayered Wood Flooring from the
People’s Republic of China: Final Clarification of
the Scope of the Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Orders, 82 FR 27799 (June 19, 2017)
(collectively, Order).
8 See Memorandum, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for
the Final Results of the Countervailing Duty
Administrative Review of Multilayered Wood
Flooring from the People’s Republic of China;
2021,’’ dated concurrently with, and hereby
adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision
Memorandum).
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
41939
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the parties’ briefs
are addressed in the Issues and Decision
Memorandum. A list of the issues
addressed is attached to this notice at
Appendix I. The Issues and Decision
Memorandum is a public document and
is on file electronically via Enforcement
and Compliance’s Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Centralized
Electronic Service System (ACCESS).
ACCESS is available to registered users
at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a
complete version of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum can be accessed
directly at https://access.trade.gov/
public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
Changes Since the Preliminary Results
Based on our analysis of the case and
rebuttal briefs and the evidence on the
record, we made certain changes from
the Preliminary Results, and we revised
the net countervailable subsidy rates for
Riverside and Jiangsu Senmao. These
changes are explained in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this review
in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(A)
of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act). For each of the subsidy
programs found countervailable, we
find that there is a subsidy, i.e., a
government-provided financial
contribution that gives rise to a benefit
to the recipient, and that the subsidy is
specific.9 The Issues and Decision
Memorandum contains a full
description of the methodology
underlying Commerce’s conclusions,
including any determination that relied
upon the use of adverse facts available
pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of
the Act.
Rate for Non-Selected Companies
Under Review
The statute and Commerce’s
regulations do not address the
establishment of a rate to be applied to
companies not selected for individual
examination when Commerce limits its
examination in an administrative review
pursuant to section 777A(e)(2) of the
Act. However, Commerce normally
determines the rates for non-selected
companies in reviews in a manner that
is consistent with section 705(c)(5) of
the Act, which provides the basis for
calculating the all-others rate in an
investigation. Section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of
the Act instructs Commerce, as a general
9 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.
E:\FR\FM\14MYN1.SGM
14MYN1
41940
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 14, 2024 / Notices
rule, to calculate the all-others rate
equal to the weighted average of the
countervailable subsidy rates
established for exporters and producers
individually investigated, excluding any
zero or de minimis countervailable
subsidy rates, and any rates determined
entirely on the basis of facts available.
There are 12 companies for which a
review was requested and not
rescinded, and which were not selected
as mandatory respondents or found to
be cross-owned with a mandatory
respondent. Because the rates calculated
for the participating mandatory
respondents in this review, Riverside
and Jiangsu Senmao, were above de
minimis and not entirely based on facts
available, we calculated a rate for these
12 non-selected companies by weightaveraging the calculated subsidy rates of
Riverside and Jiangsu Senmao using
their publicly ranged sales data for
exports of subject merchandise to the
United States during the POR.10
This is the same methodology
Commerce applied in the Preliminary
Results for determining a rate for
companies not selected for individual
examination. However, due to changes
in the calculations for Riverside and
Jiangsu Senmao, we revised the nonselected rate accordingly. Consequently,
for the 12 non-selected companies for
which a review was requested and not
rescinded, we are applying an ad
valorem subsidy rate of 21.97 percent.
Final Results of Administrative Review
We determine the countervailable
subsidy rates for the mandatory and
non-selected respondents under review
for the period of January 1, 2021,
through December 31, 2021, are as
follows:
Subsidy rate
(percent ad
valorem)
Producer/exporter
Riverside Plywood Corporation and Its Cross-Owned Affiliate11 ........................................................................................................
Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd. .....................................................................................................................
Non-Selected Companies Under Review12 .........................................................................................................................................
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose the
calculations and analysis performed for
these final results of review within five
days of the date of publication of this
notice in the Federal Register, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Assessment Rates
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(2),
Commerce will determine, and U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
shall assess, countervailing duties on all
appropriate entries of subject
merchandise in accordance with the
final results of this review, for the
above-listed companies at the applicable
ad valorem assessment rates listed. We
intend to issue assessment instructions
to CBP 35 days after the date of
publication of these final results of
review. If a timely summons is filed at
the U.S. Court of International Trade,
the assessment instructions will direct
CBP not to liquidate relevant entries
until the time for parties to file a request
for a statutory injunction has expired
(i.e., within 90 days of publication).
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Cash Deposit Instructions
In accordance with section
751(a)(2)(C) of the Act, Commerce also
intends to instruct CBP to collect cash
deposits of estimated countervailing
duties in the amounts shown for each of
the respective companies listed above
on shipments of subject merchandise
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the date of
publication of the final results of this
10 See Memorandum, ‘‘Calculation of the NonSelected Rate for the Final Results,’’ dated
concurrently with this notice.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:01 May 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
administrative review. For all nonreviewed firms subject to the Order, we
will instruct CBP to continue to collect
cash deposits of estimated
countervailing duties at the most recent
company-specific or all-others rate
applicable to the company, as
appropriate. These cash deposit
requirements, effective upon
publication of these final results, shall
remain in effect until further notice.
Administrative Protective Order
This notice also serves as a reminder
to parties subject to administrative
protective order (APO) of their
responsibility concerning the
destruction of proprietary information
disclosed under APO in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely
written notification of the return or
destruction of APO materials or
conversion to judicial protective order is
hereby requested. Failure to comply
with the regulations and terms of an
APO is a sanctionable violation.
Notification to Interested Parties
We are issuing and publishing these
final results in accordance with sections
751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19
CFR 351.221(b)(5).
11 Cross-owned affiliates are Baroque Timber
(Zhongshan) Industries, Suzhou Times Flooring
Co., Ltd., and Zhongshan Lianjia Flooring Co., Ltd.
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
30.85
5.39
21.97
Dated: May 7, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and
Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive
functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I—List of Topics Discussed in
the Final Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Non-Selected Companies Under Review
V. Period of Review
VI. Subsidies Valuation Information
VII. Changes Since the Preliminary Results
VIII. Use of Facts Otherwise Available
IX. Analysis of Programs
X. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Whether to Apply Adverse
Facts Available (AFA) to the Export
Buyer’s Credit Program
Comment 2: Whether to Apply AFA
Regarding the Countervailability of the
Provision of Electricity for Less Than
Adequate Remuneration (LTAR)
Comment 3: Whether to Apply AFA to
Specificity Regarding the
Countervailability of the Provision of
Inputs for LTAR
Comment 4: Whether Individually-Owned
Suppliers Are Government Authorities
Comment 5: Whether Commerce Should
Exclude Certain International Tropical
Timber Organization (ITTO) Data or
Weight These Data Differently for the
Wood Input Benchmarks
A. Whether to Exclude Certain ITTO Data
B. Whether Commerce Should Rely Only
on the Tropical Timber Market Report
(TTMR) Grade-Specific Prices to Value
Plywood
C. Whether to Weight the ITTO’s TTMR
and Biennial Review Statistics (BRS)
Data Using Country-Specific Averages
12 See
E:\FR\FM\14MYN1.SGM
Appendix II.
14MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 94 / Tuesday, May 14, 2024 / Notices
D. Whether to Include Domestic Brazilian
Pricing Data in Tier Two World Market
Benchmark Prices
Comment 6: Whether to Revise the Veneer
for LTAR Benchmark
A. Whether to Include Harmonized System
(HS) Subheading 4408.31
B. Whether to Exclude HS Subheadings
4407.10 and 4407.11
C. Whether to Exclude Certain Allegedly
Aberrational Data from Singapore
Comment 7: Whether to Revise the
Plywood for LTAR Benchmark
Comment 8: Whether to Rely on Certain
Ocean Freight Benchmark Data Used to
Calculate the Ocean Freight Benchmarks
Comment 9: Whether Loans from NonChinese Owned Banks Are
Countervailable
Comment 10: Whether Commerce Made
Ministerial Errors in the Subsidy Rate
Calculations Pertaining to Various
Provision of Inputs for LTAR Programs
XI. Recommendation
Appendix II—Non-Selected Companies
Under Review
1. Dalian Penghong Floor Products Co., Ltd.
2. Dalian Shumaike Floor Manufacturing Co.,
Ltd.
3. Fine Furniture (Shanghai) Limited 13
4. Fusong Jinlong Wooden Group Co., Ltd.
5. Fusong Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
6. Huzhou Fulinmen Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
7. Huzhou Jesonwood Co., Ltd.
8. Jiangsu Guyu International Trading Co.,
Ltd.
9. Jiashan HuiJiaLe Decoration Material Co.,
Ltd.
10. Metropolitan Hardwood Floors, Inc.
11. Pinge Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang)
Co., Ltd.
12. Zhejiang Fuerjia Wooden Co., Ltd.
[FR Doc. 2024–10512 Filed 5–13–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[RTID 0648–XD929]
Taking and Importing Marine
Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals
Incidental to the Lower Columbia River
Dredged Material Management Plan,
Oregon and Washington
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for
letter of authorization; request for
comments and information.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
13 Commerce previously found Great Wood
(Tonghua) Ltd. and Fine Furniture Plantation
(Shishou) Ltd. to be cross-owned with Fine
Furniture (Shanghai) Limited. See Multilayered
Wood Flooring from the People’s Republic of China:
Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty
Determination,76 FR 64313 (October 18, 2011).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:01 May 13, 2024
Jkt 262001
NMFS has received a request
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE), Portland District, for
authorization to take, by Level A and
Level B harassment only, small numbers
of marine mammals incidental to the
Lower Columbia River (LCR) Dredged
Material Management Plan (DMMP), in
Oregon and Washington, for a period of
5 years from November 2028 through
February 2032. Pursuant to regulations
implementing the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is
announcing receipt of USACE’s request
for the development and
implementation of regulations
governing the incidental taking of
marine mammals. NMFS invites the
public to provide information,
suggestions, and comments on USACE’s
application and request.
DATES: Comments and information must
be received no later than June 13, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the
application should be addressed to Jolie
Harrison, Chief, Permits and
Conservation Division, Office of
Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service. Physical comments
should be sent to 1315 East-West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 and
electronic comments should be sent to
ITP.Pauline@noaa.gov.
Instructions: NMFS is not responsible
for comments sent by any other method,
to any other address or individual, or
received after the end of the comment
period. Comments received
electronically, including all
attachments, must not exceed a 25megabyte file size. Attachments to
electronic comments will be accepted in
Microsoft Word or Excel or Adobe PDF
file formats only. All comments
received are a part of the public record
and will generally be posted online at
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizationsconstruction-activities without change.
All personal identifying information
(e.g., name, address) voluntarily
submitted by the commenter may be
publicly accessible. Do not submit
confidential business information or
otherwise sensitive or protected
information.
An electronic copy of USACE’s
application may be obtained online at:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/
national/marine-mammal-protection/
incidental-take-authorizationsconstruction-activities. In case of
problems accessing these documents,
please call the contact listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Pauline, Office of Protected
Resources, NMFS, (301) 427–8401.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
41941
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Sections 101(a)(5)(A) and (D) of the
MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) direct
the Secretary of Commerce (as delegated
to NMFS) to allow, upon request, the
incidental, but not intentional, taking of
small numbers of marine mammals by
U.S. citizens who engage in a specified
activity (other than commercial fishing)
within a specified geographical region if
certain findings are made and either
regulations are issued or, if the taking is
limited to harassment, a notice of a
proposed authorization is provided to
the public for review.
An incidental take authorization shall
be granted if NMFS finds that the taking
will have a negligible impact on the
species or stock(s), will not have an
immitigable adverse impact on the
availability of the species or stock(s) for
subsistence uses (where relevant), and if
the permissible methods of taking and
requirements pertaining to the
mitigation, monitoring and reporting of
such takings are set forth.
NMFS has defined ‘‘negligible
impact’’ in 50 CFR 216.103 as an impact
resulting from the specified activity that
cannot be reasonably expected to, and is
not reasonably likely to, adversely affect
the species or stock through effects on
annual rates of recruitment or survival.
The MMPA states that the term ‘‘take’’
means to harass, hunt, capture, kill or
attempt to harass, hunt, capture, or kill
any marine mammal.
Except with respect to certain
activities not pertinent here, the MMPA
defines ‘‘harassment’’ as: any act of
pursuit, torment, or annoyance, which
(i) has the potential to injure a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild (Level A harassment); or (ii) has
the potential to disturb a marine
mammal or marine mammal stock in the
wild by causing disruption of behavioral
patterns, including, but not limited to,
migration, breathing, nursing, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (Level B
harassment).
Summary of Request
On October 18, 2023, NMFS received
an application from the USACE
requesting authorization for take of
marine mammals incidental to in-water
construction activities associated with
the LCR DMMP in Oregon and
Washington between River Mile (RM) 23
and RM 36. We provided comments on
the application and the USACE
submitted a revised version on February
27, 2024. We deemed the application
adequate and complete on April 25,
2024. The requested regulations under
which we would issue the requested
E:\FR\FM\14MYN1.SGM
14MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41939-41941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10512]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-570-971]
Multilayered Wood Flooring From the People's Republic of China:
Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2021
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) continues to
determine that the mandatory respondents, Riverside Plywood Corporation
(Riverside) and Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
(Jiangsu Senmao), and 12 other producers and/or exporters of
multilayered wood flooring (wood flooring) from the People's Republic
of China (China), received countervailable subsidies during the period
of review (POR) January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.
DATES: Applicable May 14, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Matney or Jonathan Schueler, 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) 482-2429 or (202)
482-9175, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Commerce published the Preliminary Results of this administrative
review in the Federal Register on December 28, 2023, and invited
interested parties to comment.\1\ On February 8, 2024, we received case
briefs from the following interested parties: Riverside,\2\ Jiangsu
Senmao, the Government of the People's Republic of China (GOC), and the
American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood Flooring (AMMWF).\3\ In
addition, Commerce received a letter from Anhui Longhua Bamboo Product
Co., Ltd.; Benxi Flooring Factory (General Partnership); Benxi Wood
Company; Dalian Jiahong Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; Dalian Shengyu Science
and Technology Development Co., Ltd.; Dongtai Fuan Universal Dynamics,
LLC; HaiLin LinJing Wooden Products Co., Ltd.; Jiangsu Mingle Flooring
Co., Ltd.; Jiangsu Simba Flooring Co., Ltd.; Jiangsu Yuhui
International Trade Co., Ltd.; Jiashan On-Line Lumber Co., Ltd.;
Kingman Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; Pinge Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang)
Co., Ltd.; Suzhou Dongda Wood Co., Ltd.; Tongxiang Jisheng Import and
Export Co., Ltd.; Yihua Lifestyle Technology Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Shiyou
Timber Co., Ltd.; and Lumber Liquidators Services, LLC (collectively,
CH Respondents) supporting arguments made by the mandatory respondents
and the GOC.\4\ On February 20, 2024, AMMWF, Riverside, and Jiangsu
Senmao submitted timely rebuttal briefs.\5\ Also on February 20, 2024,
Commerce received a letter from the CH Respondents supporting the
arguments presented in the rebuttal briefs by the GOC and the mandatory
respondents.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of
China: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing
Duty Administrative Review; 2021, 88 FR 89664 (December 28, 2023)
(Preliminary Results), and accompanying Preliminary Decision
Memorandum (PDM).
\2\ We previously determined Baroque Timber (Zhongshan)
Industries, Suzhou Times Flooring Co., Ltd., and Zhongshan Lianjia
Flooring Co., Ltd. to be cross-owned affiliates of Riverside. See,
e.g., Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of
China: Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review;
2020, 88 FR 34828 (May 31, 2023).
\3\ See AMMWF's Letter, ``Case Brief,'' dated February 8, 2024;
see also GOC's Letter, ``GOC Case Brief,'' dated February 8, 2024;
Riverside's Letter, ``Administrative Case Brief,'' dated February 8,
2024; and Jiangsu Senmao's Letter, ``Case Brief on behalf of Jiangsu
Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd.,'' dated February 8, 2024.
\4\ See CH Respondents' Letter, ``Letter in Lieu of Case
Brief,'' dated February 8, 2024.
\5\ See AMMWF's Letter, ``Rebuttal Brief,'' dated February 20,
2024; see also Riverside's Letter, ``Rebuttal Brief,'' dated
February 20, 2024; and Jiangsu Senmao's Letter, ``Rebuttal Brief,''
dated February 20, 2024.
\6\ See CH Respondents' Letter, ``Letter in Lieu of Rebuttal
Brief,'' dated February 20, 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scope of the Order
The product covered by the Order \7\ is multilayered wood flooring
from China. For a complete description of the scope of the Order, see
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\7\ See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of
China: Countervailing Duty Order, 76 FR 76693 (December 8, 2011);
see also Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of
China: Amended Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 77 FR
5484 (February 3, 2012); and Multilayered Wood Flooring from the
People's Republic of China: Final Clarification of the Scope of the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 82 FR 27799 (June 19,
2017) (collectively, Order).
\8\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Final Results
of the Countervailing Duty Administrative Review of Multilayered
Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of China; 2021,'' dated
concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and
Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the parties' briefs are addressed in the
Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues addressed is
attached to this notice at Appendix I. The Issues and Decision
Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to
registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete
version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly
at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
Changes Since the Preliminary Results
Based on our analysis of the case and rebuttal briefs and the
evidence on the record, we made certain changes from the Preliminary
Results, and we revised the net countervailable subsidy rates for
Riverside and Jiangsu Senmao. These changes are explained in the Issues
and Decision Memorandum.
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with section
751(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each
of the subsidy programs found countervailable, we find that there is a
subsidy, i.e., a government-provided financial contribution that gives
rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is
specific.\9\ The Issues and Decision Memorandum contains a full
description of the methodology underlying Commerce's conclusions,
including any determination that relied upon the use of adverse facts
available pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\9\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rate for Non-Selected Companies Under Review
The statute and Commerce's regulations do not address the
establishment of a rate to be applied to companies not selected for
individual examination when Commerce limits its examination in an
administrative review pursuant to section 777A(e)(2) of the Act.
However, Commerce normally determines the rates for non-selected
companies in reviews in a manner that is consistent with section
705(c)(5) of the Act, which provides the basis for calculating the all-
others rate in an investigation. Section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act
instructs Commerce, as a general
[[Page 41940]]
rule, to calculate the all-others rate equal to the weighted average of
the countervailable subsidy rates established for exporters and
producers individually investigated, excluding any zero or de minimis
countervailable subsidy rates, and any rates determined entirely on the
basis of facts available.
There are 12 companies for which a review was requested and not
rescinded, and which were not selected as mandatory respondents or
found to be cross-owned with a mandatory respondent. Because the rates
calculated for the participating mandatory respondents in this review,
Riverside and Jiangsu Senmao, were above de minimis and not entirely
based on facts available, we calculated a rate for these 12 non-
selected companies by weight-averaging the calculated subsidy rates of
Riverside and Jiangsu Senmao using their publicly ranged sales data for
exports of subject merchandise to the United States during the POR.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\10\ See Memorandum, ``Calculation of the Non-Selected Rate for
the Final Results,'' dated concurrently with this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the same methodology Commerce applied in the Preliminary
Results for determining a rate for companies not selected for
individual examination. However, due to changes in the calculations for
Riverside and Jiangsu Senmao, we revised the non-selected rate
accordingly. Consequently, for the 12 non-selected companies for which
a review was requested and not rescinded, we are applying an ad valorem
subsidy rate of 21.97 percent.
Final Results of Administrative Review
We determine the countervailable subsidy rates for the mandatory
and non-selected respondents under review for the period of January 1,
2021, through December 31, 2021, are as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subsidy rate
Producer/exporter (percent ad
valorem)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Riverside Plywood Corporation and Its Cross-Owned 30.85
Affiliate\11\..........................................
Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd........ 5.39
Non-Selected Companies Under Review\12\................. 21.97
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclosure
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Cross-owned affiliates are Baroque Timber (Zhongshan)
Industries, Suzhou Times Flooring Co., Ltd., and Zhongshan Lianjia
Flooring Co., Ltd.
\12\ See Appendix II.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commerce intends to disclose the calculations and analysis
performed for these final results of review within five days of the
date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Assessment Rates
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(2), Commerce will determine, and U.S.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, countervailing duties
on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise in accordance with
the final results of this review, for the above-listed companies at the
applicable ad valorem assessment rates listed. We intend to issue
assessment instructions to CBP 35 days after the date of publication of
these final results of review. If a timely summons is filed at the U.S.
Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct
CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to
file a request for a statutory injunction has expired (i.e., within 90
days of publication).
Cash Deposit Instructions
In accordance with section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act, Commerce also
intends to instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of estimated
countervailing duties in the amounts shown for each of the respective
companies listed above on shipments of subject merchandise entered, or
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of
publication of the final results of this administrative review. For all
non-reviewed firms subject to the Order, we will instruct CBP to
continue to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties at
the most recent company-specific or all-others rate applicable to the
company, as appropriate. These cash deposit requirements, effective
upon publication of these final results, shall remain in effect until
further notice.
Administrative Protective Order
This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility
concerning the destruction of proprietary information disclosed under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written
notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or
conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to
comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a sanctionable
violation.
Notification to Interested Parties
We are issuing and publishing these final results in accordance
with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR
351.221(b)(5).
Dated: May 7, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I--List of Topics Discussed in the Final Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Non-Selected Companies Under Review
V. Period of Review
VI. Subsidies Valuation Information
VII. Changes Since the Preliminary Results
VIII. Use of Facts Otherwise Available
IX. Analysis of Programs
X. Discussion of the Issues
Comment 1: Whether to Apply Adverse Facts Available (AFA) to the
Export Buyer's Credit Program
Comment 2: Whether to Apply AFA Regarding the Countervailability
of the Provision of Electricity for Less Than Adequate Remuneration
(LTAR)
Comment 3: Whether to Apply AFA to Specificity Regarding the
Countervailability of the Provision of Inputs for LTAR
Comment 4: Whether Individually-Owned Suppliers Are Government
Authorities
Comment 5: Whether Commerce Should Exclude Certain International
Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Data or Weight These Data
Differently for the Wood Input Benchmarks
A. Whether to Exclude Certain ITTO Data
B. Whether Commerce Should Rely Only on the Tropical Timber
Market Report (TTMR) Grade-Specific Prices to Value Plywood
C. Whether to Weight the ITTO's TTMR and Biennial Review
Statistics (BRS) Data Using Country-Specific Averages
[[Page 41941]]
D. Whether to Include Domestic Brazilian Pricing Data in Tier
Two World Market Benchmark Prices
Comment 6: Whether to Revise the Veneer for LTAR Benchmark
A. Whether to Include Harmonized System (HS) Subheading 4408.31
B. Whether to Exclude HS Subheadings 4407.10 and 4407.11
C. Whether to Exclude Certain Allegedly Aberrational Data from
Singapore
Comment 7: Whether to Revise the Plywood for LTAR Benchmark
Comment 8: Whether to Rely on Certain Ocean Freight Benchmark
Data Used to Calculate the Ocean Freight Benchmarks
Comment 9: Whether Loans from Non-Chinese Owned Banks Are
Countervailable
Comment 10: Whether Commerce Made Ministerial Errors in the
Subsidy Rate Calculations Pertaining to Various Provision of Inputs
for LTAR Programs
XI. Recommendation
Appendix II--Non-Selected Companies Under Review
1. Dalian Penghong Floor Products Co., Ltd.
2. Dalian Shumaike Floor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
3. Fine Furniture (Shanghai) Limited \13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\13\ Commerce previously found Great Wood (Tonghua) Ltd. and
Fine Furniture Plantation (Shishou) Ltd. to be cross-owned with Fine
Furniture (Shanghai) Limited. See Multilayered Wood Flooring from
the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing
Duty Determination,76 FR 64313 (October 18, 2011).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Fusong Jinlong Wooden Group Co., Ltd.
5. Fusong Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
6. Huzhou Fulinmen Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
7. Huzhou Jesonwood Co., Ltd.
8. Jiangsu Guyu International Trading Co., Ltd.
9. Jiashan HuiJiaLe Decoration Material Co., Ltd.
10. Metropolitan Hardwood Floors, Inc.
11. Pinge Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd.
12. Zhejiang Fuerjia Wooden Co., Ltd.
[FR Doc. 2024-10512 Filed 5-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P