[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 231 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86699-86701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28823]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-044]
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) From the People's Republic of
China; Amended Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less-
Than-Fair Value
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is amending
the preliminary determination of the less-than-fair-value (``LTFV'')
investigation of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (``R-134a'') from the
People's Republic of China (``PRC'') to correct significant ministerial
errors with respect to our preliminary determination.
DATES: Effective December 1, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Haynes or Paul Stolz, AD/CVD
Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5139 or, (202) 482-
4474, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On October 7, 2016, the Department published its Preliminary
Determination.\1\ On October 14, 2016, the Department disclosed to
interested parties its calculations for the Preliminary Determination.
On October 19, 2016, the Department received timely filed allegations
of ministerial errors in the Preliminary Determination.\2\ On October
20, and October 24, 2016, the Department received timely filed reply
comments.\3\
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\1\ See 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) From the People's
Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less-Than-
Fair Value and Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances,
in Part, and Postponement of Final Determination, 81 FR 69786
(October 7, 2016) (``Preliminary Determination'').
\2\ See the ministerial error allegations from Petitioners and
Sanmei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (``Sanmei''), dated October 19,
2016.
\3\ See the reply comments from Petitioners and Sanmei, dated
October 20, 2016, and October 24, 2016, respectively. However,
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(c)(3), the Department has not considered
the rebuttal comments in its analysis.
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Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is July 1, 2015, through December 31,
2015.
Scope of the Investigation
The product subject to this investigation is 1,1,1,2-
Tetrafluoroethane, R-134a, or its chemical equivalent, regardless of
form, type, or purity level. The chemical formula for 1,1,1,2-
tetrafluoroethane is CF3-CH2F, and the Chemical
Abstracts Service (``CAS'') registry number is CAS 811-97-2.\4\
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\4\ 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane is sold under a number of trade
names including Klea 134a and Zephex 134a (Mexichem Fluor); Genetron
134a (Honeywell); FreonTM 134a, Suva 134a, Dymel 134a,
and Dymel P134a (Chemours); Solkane 134a (Solvay); and Forane 134a
(Arkema). Generically, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane has been sold as
Fluorocarbon 134a, R-134a, HFC-134a, HF A-134a, Refrigerant 134a,
and UN3159.
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Merchandise covered by the scope of this investigation is currently
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
(``HTSUS'') at subheading 2903.39.2020. Although the HTSUS subheading
and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.
Analysis of Significant Ministerial Error Allegation
The Department will analyze any comments received and, if
appropriate, correct any significant ministerial error by amending the
preliminary determination according to 19 CFR 351.224(e). A ministerial
error is defined in 19 CFR 351.224(f) as ``an error in addition,
subtraction, or other arithmetic function, clerical error resulting
from inaccurate copying, duplication, or the like, and any other
similar type of unintentional error which the Secretary considers
ministerial.'' \5\ A significant ministerial error is defined as an
error, the correction of which, singly or in combination with other
errors, would result in: (1) A change of at least five
[[Page 86700]]
absolute percentage points in, but not less than 25 percent of, the
antidumping duty rate calculated in the original (erroneous)
preliminary determination; or (2) a difference between an antidumping
duty rate of zero (or de minimis) and an antidumping duty rate of
greater than de minimis or vice versa.\6\
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\5\ See Section 735(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the ``Act'').
\6\ See 19 CFR 351.224(g).
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Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(e) and (g)(1), the Department is
amending the Preliminary Determination to reflect the correction of six
ministerial errors it made in the calculation of the estimated
weighted-average dumping margin for Sanmei, a mandatory respondent \7\
These errors are significant ministerial errors within the meaning of
19 CFR 351.224(g) because Sanmei's margin increases from 137.23 percent
to 232.30 percent as a result of correcting these ministerial errors,
exceeding the significant threshold with a change of at least five
absolute percentage points and more than 25 percent of the estimated
weighted-average dumping margin.
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\7\ See Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, from
Erin Begnal, Director, Office III, ``Antidumping Duty Investigation
of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluorethane (R134a) from the People's Republic of
China: Allegation of Ministerial Errors in the Preliminary
Determination,'' dated concurrently with this notice for the
analysis performed (``Ministerial Error Memorandum''). The
Department is also correcting an additional error made by Sanmei, as
the error is related to one of the ministerial errors that the
Department made and has corrected.
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Because Sanmei is the only mandatory respondent eligible for a
separate rate, Sanmei is the only respondent for which we individually
calculated an estimated weighted-average dumping margin. For this
reason, we assigned Sanmei's calculated rate to all non-examined
separate rate respondents. With this amended preliminary determination,
the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for each non-examined
separate rate respondent is also amended to 232.30 percent.
In the Preliminary Determination, in order to determine the
probative value of the dumping margin alleged in the petition for
assigning an adverse facts available (``AFA'') rate, we examined the
information on the record. When we compared the highest petition
dumping margin of 220.90 percent to the transaction-specific dumping
margins calculated for Sanmei, we found that the highest petition
dumping margin was higher than each of the transaction-specific dumping
margins calculated for Sanmei. Therefore, we were unable to corroborate
the highest dumping margin contained in the petition for use as AFA,
which was applied to the PRC-wide entity.\8\ Because Sanmei's amended
preliminary estimated weighted-average dumping margin is now higher
than the highest dumping margin alleged in the petition, the AFA rate
applied to the PRC-wide entity is also 232.30 percent.
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\8\ See Preliminary Determination and accompanying Preliminary
Decision Memorandum at 20-21.
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Because we are relying on information obtained in the course of
this investigation on which to base this rate, not on secondary
information, it is not necessary to corroborate this calculated rate as
AFA.\9\
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\9\ See, e.g., 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluroethane From the People's
Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value, 79 FR 62597 (October 20, 2014), and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at 3. See also section 776(c) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.308(c) and (d).
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Amended Cash Deposits and Suspension of Liquidation
The collection of cash deposits and suspension of liquidation will
be revised accordingly, in accordance with section 733(d) and (g)(1) of
the Act and 19 CFR 351.224. Because it is an increase from the
Preliminary Determination, the amended cash deposit rate will be
effective on the date of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. This suspension of liquidation will remain in effect until
further notice.
Amended Preliminary Determination
The Department preliminarily determines that the following
estimated weighted-average antidumping duty margins exist:
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Weighted-
Exporter Producer average margin
(percent)
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Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry Zhejiang Sanmei 232.30
Co., Ltd. Chemical Industry
Co., Ltd. and
Jiangsu Sanmei
Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu Bluestar Green Technology Jiangsu Bluestar 232.30
Co., Ltd. Green Technology
Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....... Electrochemical 232.30
Factory of Zhejiang
Juhua Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....... Sinochem 232.30
Environmental
Protection
Chemicals (Taicang)
Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....... Zhejiang Quzhou 232.30
Lianzhou
Refrigerants Co.,
Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....... Zhejiang Sanmei 232.30
Chemical Ind. Co.,
Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....... Zhejiang Zhonglan 232.30
Refrigeration
Technology Co., Ltd.
Weitron International Sinochem 232.30
Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. Environmental
Protection
Chemicals (Taicang)
Co., Ltd.
Weitron International Weitron 232.30
Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. International
Refrigeration
Equipment Co., Ltd.
Weitron International Zhejiang Organic 232.30
Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. Fluor-Chemistry
Plant, Zhejiang
Juhua Co., Ltd.
Weitron International Zhejiang Quhua Fluor- 232.30
Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. Chemistry Co., Ltd.
Weitron International Zhejiang Quhua Juxin 232.30
Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. Fluorochemical
Industry Co., Ltd.
Weitron International Zhejiang Sanmei 232.30
Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. Chemical Industry
Co., Ltd.
PRC-Wide Entity................... .................... 232.30
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Disclosure
We intend to disclose the calculations performed to parties in this
proceeding within five days after publication of the notice of amended
preliminary determination in the Federal Register in accordance with 19
CFR 351.224(b).
International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, we will notify the
International
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Trade Commission of our determination.
This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections
733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.224(e).
Dated: November 25, 2016.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-28823 Filed 11-30-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P