83_FR_17870 83 FR 17791 - Antidumping Duty Investigations on Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan; Preliminary Determinations of Critical Circumstances

83 FR 17791 - Antidumping Duty Investigations on Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan; Preliminary Determinations of Critical Circumstances

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 79 (April 24, 2018)

Page Range17791-17793
FR Document2018-08692

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that critical circumstances exist for imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from certain producers and exporters from Indonesia, the Republic of Korea (Korea), and Taiwan.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17791-17793]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08692]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-560-832, A-580-896, and A-583-862]


Antidumping Duty Investigations on Polyethylene Terephthalate 
Resin From Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan; Preliminary 
Determinations of Critical Circumstances

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that critical circumstances exist for imports of polyethylene 
terephthalate (PET) resin from certain producers and exporters from 
Indonesia, the Republic of Korea (Korea), and Taiwan.

DATES: Applicable April 24, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene H. Calvert, 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) 482-3586.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 26, 2017, Commerce received antidumping duty (AD) 
petitions concerning imports of PET resin from Brazil, Indonesia, 
Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan, on behalf of DAK Americas LLC; Indorama 
Ventures USA, Inc. (Indorama Ventures); M&G Polymers USA, LLC; and Nan 
Ya Plastics Corporation, America (collectively, the petitioners).\1\ On 
March 27, 2018, the petitioners timely filed allegations that critical 
circumstances exist with respect to imports of PET resin from producers 
and exporters from Indonesia, Korea, and Taiwan.\2\ In accordance with 
19 CFR 351.206(c)(2)(i), when a critical circumstances allegation is 
submitted more than 20 days before the scheduled date of the 
preliminary determination, Commerce must issue a preliminary finding of 
whether there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that critical 
circumstances exist by no later than the date of the preliminary 
determination. In the subject AD investigations, the petitioners 
requested that Commerce issue preliminary critical circumstances 
determinations on an expedited basis.\3\
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    \1\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Petition for the Imposition of 
Antidumping Duties--Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from 
Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan,'' 
dated September 26, 2017 (the Petitions). However, Indorama Ventures 
is not a petitioner with respect to the Indonesia petition.
    \2\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) 
Resin from Indonesia, Korea, and Taiwan--Critical Circumstances 
Allegation,'' dated March 27, 2018 (Critical Circumstances 
Allegations).
    \3\ Id. at 2.
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    Section 733(e)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
provides that Commerce, upon receipt of a timely allegation of critical 
circumstances, will preliminarily determine that critical circumstances 
exist in AD investigations if there is a reasonable basis to believe or 
suspect that: (A)(i) There is a history of dumping and material injury 
by reason of dumped imports in the United States or elsewhere of the 
subject merchandise, or (A)(ii) the person by whom, or for whose 
account, the merchandise was imported knew or should have known that 
the exporter was selling the subject merchandise at less than its fair 
value and that there was likely to be material injury by reason of such 
sales, and (B) there have been massive imports of the subject 
merchandise over a relatively short period.
    Sections 19 CFR 351.206(h)(2) and (i) provide that imports must 
increase by at least 15 percent during the ``relatively short period'' 
to be considered ``massive'' and defines a ``relatively short period'' 
as normally being the period beginning on the date the proceeding 
begins (i.e., the date the petition is filed) and ending at least three 
months later. Commerce's regulations also provide, however, that if 
Commerce finds that importers, or exporters or producers, had reason to 
believe, at some time prior to the beginning of the proceeding, that a 
proceeding was likely, Commerce may consider a period of not less than 
three months from that earlier time.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See 19 CFR 351.206(i).
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Critical Circumstances Analysis

History of Dumping and Material Injury/Knowledge of Sales Below Fair 
Value and Material Injury

    To determine whether there is a history of dumping pursuant to 
section 733(e)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, Commerce generally considers 
current or previous AD orders on subject merchandise from the country 
in question in the United States and current orders imposed by other 
countries regarding imports of the same merchandise. The Critical 
Circumstances Allegations show that other countries have current 
measures in place covering imports of the same merchandise from the 
countries subject to these allegations.\5\ For example, imports of PET 
resin from Indonesia have been subject to an AD measure in Malaysia 
since March 2015; imports of PET resin from Korea have been subject to 
an AD measure in Argentina since September 2017; and imports of PET 
resin from Taiwan have been subject to an AD measure in Argentina since 
September 2016.\6\ Therefore, based on the AD measures in third-country

[[Page 17792]]

markets referenced above, we preliminarily determine that there is a 
history of dumping of PET resin exported from Indonesia, Korea, and 
Taiwan.
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    \5\ See Critical Circumstances Allegations at Attachment 1 
referencing, ``Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices, Semi-Annual 
Report Under Article 16.4 of the Agreement--Argentina,'' WTO no. G/
ADP/N/300/ARG (17-4516), dated August 24, 2017; ``Committee on Anti-
Dumping Practices, Semi-Annual Report Under Article 16.4 of the 
Agreement--Brazil,'' WTO no. G/ADP/N/294/BRA (17-1149), dated 
February 24, 2017; ``Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices, Semi-
Annual Report under Article 16.4 of the Agreement--Indonesia,'' WTO 
no. G/ADP/N/294/IDN (17-1537), dated March 21, 2017; ``Committee on 
Anti-Dumping Practices, Semi-Annual Report Under Article 16.4 of the 
Agreement--Malaysia,'' WTO no. G/ADP/N/294/MYS (17-1375), dated 
March 8, 2017; and ``Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices, Semi-
Annual Report Under Article 16.4 of the Agreement--South Africa,'' 
WTO no. G/ADP/N/294/ZAF (17-1440), dated March 13, 2017.
    \6\ Id.
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    To determine whether importers knew or should have known that 
exporters were selling the subject merchandise at less than fair value 
pursuant section 733(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act, we typically consider the 
magnitude of dumping margins, including margins alleged in 
petitions.\7\ Commerce has found margins of 15 percent or more (for 
constructed export price) to 25 percent or more (for export price) to 
be sufficient for this purpose.\8\ Dumping margins alleged in the three 
AD petitions regarding the Critical Circumstances Allegations 
significantly exceed the 15 to 25 percent threshold: 53.50 percent for 
Indonesia,\9\ 101.41 percent for Korea,\10\ and 45 percent for 
Taiwan.\11\ Because the margins alleged in the Petitions exceed the 
threshold sufficient to impute that importers had knowledge that 
exporters of PET resin from Indonesia, Korea, and Taiwan were selling 
subject merchandise at less than fair value, we preliminarily determine 
that importers knew or should have known that producers/exporters of 
PET resin in all three countries subject to the Critical Circumstances 
Allegations were selling subject merchandise to the United States at 
less than fair value.
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    \7\ See, e.g., Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Investigations of Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products from India, 
Italy, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and 
Taiwan: Preliminary Determinations of Critical Circumstances, 80 FR 
68504 (November 5, 2015) (unchanged in the final determinations); 
see also Notice of Preliminary Determinations of Critical 
Circumstances: Certain Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from 
Australia, the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of 
Korea, the Netherlands, and the Russian Federation, 67 FR 19157, 
19158 (April 18, 2002) (unchanged in the final determination).
    \8\ Id.; see also Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less 
Than Fair Value: Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon Steel Plate from the 
People's Republic of China, 62 FR 31972, 31978 (June 11, 1997) 
(unchanged in the final determination) and Notice of Preliminary 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Negative Preliminary 
Determination of Critical Circumstances and Postponement of Final 
Determination: Certain Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp From the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 69 FR 42672 (July 16, 2004) 
(unchanged in the final determination).
    \9\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Polyethylene Terephthalate 
(``PET'') Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, 
Pakistan, and Taiwan--Petitioners' Amendment to Volume III Relating 
to Indonesia Antidumping Duties,'' dated October 3, 2017 at 9.
    \10\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Polyethylene Terephthalate 
(``PET'') Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, 
Pakistan, and Taiwan--Petitioners' Amendment to Volume IV Relating 
to the Republic of Korea Antidumping Duties,'' dated October 3, 2017 
at 10.
    \11\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Polyethylene Terephthalate 
(``PET'') Resin from Brazil, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, 
Pakistan, and Taiwan--Petitioners' Amendment to Volume VI Relating 
to Taiwan Antidumping Duties,'' dated October 3, 2017 at 7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To determine whether importers knew or should have known that there 
was likely to be material injury caused by reason of such imports 
pursuant section 733(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act, Commerce normally will 
look to the preliminary injury determination of the International Trade 
Commission (ITC).\12\ If the ITC finds a reasonable indication of 
material injury to the relevant U.S. industry, material injury (as 
opposed to the threat of injury), Commerce will determine that a 
reasonable basis exists to impute importer knowledge that material 
injury is likely by reason of such imports. In the subject AD 
investigations, the ITC found that there is a ``reasonable indication'' 
of material injury to the domestic industry because of the imported 
subject merchandise.\13\ Therefore, the ITC's preliminary injury 
determination in these investigations is sufficient to impute importer 
knowledge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ See, e.g., Certain Potassium Phosphate Salts from the 
People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of 
Critical Circumstances in the Antidumping Duty Investigation, 75 FR 
24572, 24573 (May 5, 2010), unchanged in Certain Potassium Phosphate 
Salts from the People's Republic of China: Final Determination of 
Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Termination of Critical 
Circumstances Inquiry, 75 FR 30377 (June 1, 2010).
    \13\ See Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin from Brazil, 
Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan; Determinations, 82 FR 53523 
(November 16, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Massive Imports

    Because the statutory criteria of section 733(e)(1)(A) of the Act 
have been satisfied, we next examined whether imports of subject 
merchandise from Indonesia, Korea, and Taiwan were ``massive'' over a 
relatively short period, pursuant to section 733(e)(1)(B) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 351.206(h). In making this determination, Commerce normally 
compares the import volumes of the subject merchandise for at least 
three months immediately preceding the filing of the petition (i.e., 
the ``base period'') to a comparable period of at least three months 
following the filing of the petition (i.e., the ``comparison period''). 
Imports will normally be considered massive when imports during the 
comparison period have increased by 15 percent or more compared to 
imports during the base period. It is Commerce's practice to base its 
critical circumstances analysis on all available data, using base and 
comparison periods of no less than three months.\14\ For these 
preliminary determinations of critical circumstances, Commerce is 
defining the base and comparison periods within the bounds of its 
normal practice by extending the comparison period through January 2018 
as shipment data is available on the record to do so. This is 
consistent with our past practice.\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See, e.g., Notice of Preliminary Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and 
Affirmative Preliminary Determination of Critical Circumstances; 
Certain Frozen Canned Warmwater Shrimp from India, 69 FR 47111, 
47118-47119 (August 4, 2004), unchanged in Notice of Final 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Negative 
Determination of Critical Circumstances: Certain Frozen and Canned 
Warmwater Shrimp from India, 69 FR 76916 (December 23, 2004); see 
also Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain New Pneumatic Off-
the-Road Tires from India: Final Affirmative Critical Circumstances 
Determination, in Part, 82 FR 2946 (January 10, 2017) (OTR Tires 
from India) and accompanying ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for 
the Final Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of 
Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from India,'' at 39-41.
    \15\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Thus, in order to preliminarily determine whether there has been a 
massive surge in imports for each cooperating mandatory respondent, 
using shipment data submitted by the cooperating mandatory respondents, 
and shipment data of subject merchandise compiled by the ITC, Commerce 
compared the total volume of shipments from October 2017 through 
January 2018 (i.e., all months for which shipment data was available) 
with the preceding four-month period of June 2017 through September 
2017.\16\ For ``all others,'' Commerce subtracted shipments reported by 
the cooperating mandatory respondents from the ITC data. For non-
cooperating mandatory respondents (i.e., those mandatory respondents 
that did not respond to our critical circumstances questionnaire or who 
otherwise indicated their unwillingness to participate in the 
investigations), we preliminarily determine, on the basis of adverse 
facts available,\17\ that there has been a massive surge in imports. 
Accordingly, based on our analysis of information on the record, we 
preliminarily determine the following producers/exporters of subject 
merchandise had an increase of 15 percent or more in imports of subject 
merchandise during the comparison period when compared to the base 
period, satisfying the massive surge criteria, pursuant to section 
733(e)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206(h).\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ These base and comparison periods satisfy the regulatory 
provisions that the base period be at least three months long and 
the base period have a comparable duration. Commerce gathered ITC 
shipment data under the harmonized tariff schedule numbers, 
3907.61.0000 and 3907.69.0000.
    \17\ See section 776 of the Act.
    \18\ See respective preliminary critical circumstances 
calculation memoranda for each proceeding, dated concurrently with 
this Federal Register notice.

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[[Page 17793]]

     Indonesia (A-560-832): Indorama Polymers Public Co., Ltd.; 
All Other Producers/Exporters
     Korea (A-580-896): Lotte Chemical Corp. (REGD); TK 
Chemical Corp.; All Other Producers/Exporters
     Taiwan (A-583-862): Far Eastern New Century Corporation; 
Far Eastern Textile Ltd.; Worldwide Polychem (HK), Ltd.; All Other 
Producers/Exporters
    In addition, based on record information, we also find that certain 
producers/exporters did not experience an increase of 15 percent or 
more in imports of subject merchandise during the comparison period 
when compared to the base period. As such, the following producers/
exporters of subject merchandise did not have massive imports, as 
defined by section 733(e)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206(h).\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Indonesia (A-560-832): PT. Indo-Rama Synthetics Tbk.
     Korea (A-580-896): SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.
     Taiwan (A-583-862): Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corporation
    Finally, we note that in the AD investigation regarding imports of 
subject merchandise from Korea, respondent company SKC Co., Ltd. (SKC) 
submitted a certification, in lieu of a questionnaire response, that it 
did not make shipments of subject merchandise to the United States 
during the period of investigation, and there is no information on the 
record to contradict this claim. As a result, we are not making a 
critical circumstances determination with respect to SKC.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ SKC is a distinct entity from mandatory respondent SK 
Chemicals Co., Ltd. (SK Chemicals), which had shipments during the 
period of investigation and which submitted a complete questionnaire 
response. SK Chemicals submitted shipment data for purposes of our 
critical circumstances determination, which has been analyzed for 
these preliminary critical circumstances determinations. We have 
reached a negative finding of critical circumstances for SK 
Chemicals, as indicated above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on the criteria and findings discussed above, we 
preliminarily determine that critical circumstances exist with respect 
to imports of PET resin shipped by certain producers/exporters. Our 
findings are summarized as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Negative
                                                                                                  preliminary
             Country                     Case No.          Affirmative preliminary critical        critical
                                                              circumstances determination        circumstances
                                                                                                 determination
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indonesia.......................  A-560-832               Indorama Polymers Public Co.,       PT. Indo-Rama
                                                           Ltd.; All Other Producers/          Synthetics Tbk.
                                                           Exporters.
Korea...........................  A-580-896               Lotte Chemical Corp. (REGD); TK     SK Chemicals Co.,
                                                           Chemical Corp.;.                    Ltd.
                                                          All Other Producers/Exporters.....
Taiwan..........................  A-583-862               Far Eastern New Century             Shinkong Synthetic
                                                           Corporation; Far Eastern Textile    Fibers
                                                           Ltd.; Worldwide Polychem (HK),      Corporation.
                                                           Ltd.; All Other Producers/
                                                           Exporters.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Final Critical Circumstances Determinations

    We will issue our final determinations concerning critical 
circumstances when we issue our final less than fair value 
determinations. All interested parties will have the opportunity to 
address these preliminary determinations in case briefs to be submitted 
after completion of the preliminary less than fair value 
determinations.

ITC Notification

    In accordance with sections 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the ITC of its preliminary determinations.

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(e)(2) of the Act, because we have 
preliminarily found that critical circumstances exist with regard to 
imports exported by certain producers and exporters, if we make an 
affirmative preliminary determination that sales at less than fair 
value have been made by these same producers/exporters at above de 
minimis rates,\21\ we will instruct Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
to suspend liquidation of all entries of subject merchandise from these 
producers/exporters that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after the date that is 90 days prior to the effective 
date of ``provisional measures'' (e.g., the date of publication in the 
Federal Register of the notice of an affirmative preliminary 
determination of sales at less than fair value at above de minimis 
rates). At such time, we will also instruct CBP to require a cash 
deposit equal to the estimated preliminary dumping margins reflected in 
the preliminary determination published in the Federal Register. The 
suspension of liquidation will remain in effect until further notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ The preliminary determinations concerning the sales at less 
than fair value investigations are currently scheduled for April 27, 
2018.
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 733(f) and 
777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206(c).

    Dated: April 20, 2018.
James Maeder,
Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing 
Duty Operations performing the duties of Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.
[FR Doc. 2018-08692 Filed 4-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P



                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2018 / Notices                                                  17791

                                               wire; stainless steel tape; stainless steel             Administration, U.S. Department of                    merchandise over a relatively short
                                               wire; galvanized steel stranded wire;                   Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue                    period.
                                               copper wire; bare stranded copper wire;                 NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:                     Sections 19 CFR 351.206(h)(2) and (i)
                                               aluminum alloy wire; aluminum tape;                     (202) 482–3586.                                       provide that imports must increase by at
                                               aluminum alloy rod; insulated copper                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            least 15 percent during the ‘‘relatively
                                               wire; drawn optical glass in reel form;                                                                       short period’’ to be considered
                                               and, drawn optical glass bundles in reel                Background                                            ‘‘massive’’ and defines a ‘‘relatively
                                               form (duty rate ranges from duty-free to                   On September 26, 2017, Commerce                    short period’’ as normally being the
                                               8.8%, and $0.013/kg + 5.7%). The                        received antidumping duty (AD)                        period beginning on the date the
                                               request indicates that aramid yarn,                     petitions concerning imports of PET                   proceeding begins (i.e., the date the
                                               ripcord, binder string, and water                       resin from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea,                  petition is filed) and ending at least
                                               swellable yarn will be admitted to the                  Pakistan, and Taiwan, on behalf of DAK                three months later. Commerce’s
                                               zone in privileged foreign status (19                   Americas LLC; Indorama Ventures USA,                  regulations also provide, however, that
                                               CFR 146.41), thereby precluding                         Inc. (Indorama Ventures); M&G                         if Commerce finds that importers, or
                                               inverted tariff benefits on such items.                 Polymers USA, LLC; and Nan Ya                         exporters or producers, had reason to
                                                  Public comment is invited from                       Plastics Corporation, America                         believe, at some time prior to the
                                               interested parties. Submissions shall be                (collectively, the petitioners).1 On                  beginning of the proceeding, that a
                                               addressed to the Board’s Executive                      March 27, 2018, the petitioners timely                proceeding was likely, Commerce may
                                               Secretary at the address below. The                     filed allegations that critical                       consider a period of not less than three
                                               closing period for their receipt is June                circumstances exist with respect to                   months from that earlier time.4
                                               4, 2018.                                                imports of PET resin from producers                   Critical Circumstances Analysis
                                                  A copy of the notification will be                   and exporters from Indonesia, Korea,
                                               available for public inspection at the                  and Taiwan.2 In accordance with 19                    History of Dumping and Material Injury/
                                               Office of the Executive Secretary,                      CFR 351.206(c)(2)(i), when a critical                 Knowledge of Sales Below Fair Value
                                               Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room                         circumstances allegation is submitted                 and Material Injury
                                               21013, U.S. Department of Commerce,                     more than 20 days before the scheduled                  To determine whether there is a
                                               1401 Constitution Avenue NW,                            date of the preliminary determination,                history of dumping pursuant to section
                                               Washington, DC 20230–0002, and in the                   Commerce must issue a preliminary                     733(e)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, Commerce
                                               ‘‘Reading Room’’ section of the Board’s                 finding of whether there is a reasonable              generally considers current or previous
                                               website, which is accessible via                        basis to believe or suspect that critical             AD orders on subject merchandise from
                                               www.trade.gov/ftz.                                      circumstances exist by no later than the              the country in question in the United
                                                  For further information, contact                     date of the preliminary determination.                States and current orders imposed by
                                               Juanita Chen at juanita.chen@trade.gov                  In the subject AD investigations, the                 other countries regarding imports of the
                                               or 202–482–1378.                                        petitioners requested that Commerce                   same merchandise. The Critical
                                                 Dated: April 17, 2018.                                issue preliminary critical circumstances              Circumstances Allegations show that
                                               Andrew McGilvray,                                       determinations on an expedited basis.3                other countries have current measures
                                               Executive Secretary.                                       Section 733(e)(1) of the Tariff Act of             in place covering imports of the same
                                               [FR Doc. 2018–08464 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am]             1930, as amended (the Act), provides                  merchandise from the countries subject
                                               BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P                                  that Commerce, upon receipt of a timely               to these allegations.5 For example,
                                                                                                       allegation of critical circumstances, will            imports of PET resin from Indonesia
                                                                                                       preliminarily determine that critical                 have been subject to an AD measure in
                                               DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  circumstances exist in AD investigations              Malaysia since March 2015; imports of
                                                                                                       if there is a reasonable basis to believe             PET resin from Korea have been subject
                                               International Trade Administration                      or suspect that: (A)(i) There is a history            to an AD measure in Argentina since
                                               [A–560–832, A–580–896, and A–583–862]                   of dumping and material injury by                     September 2017; and imports of PET
                                                                                                       reason of dumped imports in the United                resin from Taiwan have been subject to
                                               Antidumping Duty Investigations on                      States or elsewhere of the subject                    an AD measure in Argentina since
                                               Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin                        merchandise, or (A)(ii) the person by                 September 2016.6 Therefore, based on
                                               From Indonesia, the Republic of Korea,                  whom, or for whose account, the                       the AD measures in third-country
                                               and Taiwan; Preliminary                                 merchandise was imported knew or
                                               Determinations of Critical                              should have known that the exporter                     4 See  19 CFR 351.206(i).
                                                                                                                                                               5 See  Critical Circumstances Allegations at
                                               Circumstances                                           was selling the subject merchandise at
                                                                                                                                                             Attachment 1 referencing, ‘‘Committee on Anti-
                                                                                                       less than its fair value and that there               Dumping Practices, Semi-Annual Report Under
                                               AGENCY:   Enforcement and Compliance,                   was likely to be material injury by                   Article 16.4 of the Agreement—Argentina,’’ WTO
                                               International Trade Administration,                     reason of such sales, and (B) there have              no. G/ADP/N/300/ARG (17–4516), dated August 24,
                                               Department of Commerce.                                 been massive imports of the subject                   2017; ‘‘Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices,
                                               SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce                                                                           Semi-Annual Report Under Article 16.4 of the
                                               (Commerce) preliminarily determines                                                                           Agreement—Brazil,’’ WTO no. G/ADP/N/294/BRA
                                                                                                         1 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Petition for the
                                                                                                                                                             (17–1149), dated February 24, 2017; ‘‘Committee on
                                               that critical circumstances exist for                   Imposition of Antidumping Duties—Certain              Anti-Dumping Practices, Semi-Annual Report
                                               imports of polyethylene terephthalate                   Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from Brazil,         under Article 16.4 of the Agreement—Indonesia,’’
                                               (PET) resin from certain producers and                  Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and       WTO no. G/ADP/N/294/IDN (17–1537), dated
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               exporters from Indonesia, the Republic                  Taiwan,’’ dated September 26, 2017 (the Petitions).   March 21, 2017; ‘‘Committee on Anti-Dumping
                                                                                                       However, Indorama Ventures is not a petitioner        Practices, Semi-Annual Report Under Article 16.4
                                               of Korea (Korea), and Taiwan.                           with respect to the Indonesia petition.               of the Agreement—Malaysia,’’ WTO no. G/ADP/N/
                                               DATES: Applicable April 24, 2018.                         2 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Polyethylene           294/MYS (17–1375), dated March 8, 2017; and
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        Terephthalate (PET) Resin from Indonesia, Korea,      ‘‘Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices, Semi-
                                                                                                       and Taiwan—Critical Circumstances Allegation,’’       Annual Report Under Article 16.4 of the
                                               Gene H. Calvert, AD/CVD Operations,                     dated March 27, 2018 (Critical Circumstances          Agreement—South Africa,’’ WTO no. G/ADP/N/
                                               Office VII, Enforcement and                             Allegations).                                         294/ZAF (17–1440), dated March 13, 2017.
                                               Compliance, International Trade                           3 Id. at 2.                                            6 Id.




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                                               17792                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2018 / Notices

                                               markets referenced above, we                            Critical Circumstances Allegations were                determinations of critical
                                               preliminarily determine that there is a                 selling subject merchandise to the                     circumstances, Commerce is defining
                                               history of dumping of PET resin                         United States at less than fair value.                 the base and comparison periods within
                                               exported from Indonesia, Korea, and                        To determine whether importers                      the bounds of its normal practice by
                                               Taiwan.                                                 knew or should have known that there                   extending the comparison period
                                                 To determine whether importers                        was likely to be material injury caused                through January 2018 as shipment data
                                               knew or should have known that                          by reason of such imports pursuant                     is available on the record to do so. This
                                               exporters were selling the subject                      section 733(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act,                   is consistent with our past practice.15
                                               merchandise at less than fair value                     Commerce normally will look to the                        Thus, in order to preliminarily
                                               pursuant section 733(e)(1)(A)(ii) of the                preliminary injury determination of the                determine whether there has been a
                                               Act, we typically consider the                          International Trade Commission (ITC).12                massive surge in imports for each
                                               magnitude of dumping margins,                           If the ITC finds a reasonable indication               cooperating mandatory respondent,
                                               including margins alleged in petitions.7                of material injury to the relevant U.S.                using shipment data submitted by the
                                               Commerce has found margins of 15                        industry, material injury (as opposed to               cooperating mandatory respondents,
                                               percent or more (for constructed export                 the threat of injury), Commerce will                   and shipment data of subject
                                               price) to 25 percent or more (for export                determine that a reasonable basis exists               merchandise compiled by the ITC,
                                               price) to be sufficient for this purpose.8              to impute importer knowledge that                      Commerce compared the total volume of
                                               Dumping margins alleged in the three                    material injury is likely by reason of                 shipments from October 2017 through
                                               AD petitions regarding the Critical                     such imports. In the subject AD                        January 2018 (i.e., all months for which
                                               Circumstances Allegations significantly                 investigations, the ITC found that there               shipment data was available) with the
                                               exceed the 15 to 25 percent threshold:                  is a ‘‘reasonable indication’’ of material             preceding four-month period of June
                                               53.50 percent for Indonesia,9 101.41                    injury to the domestic industry because                2017 through September 2017.16 For
                                               percent for Korea,10 and 45 percent for                 of the imported subject merchandise.13                 ‘‘all others,’’ Commerce subtracted
                                               Taiwan.11 Because the margins alleged                   Therefore, the ITC’s preliminary injury                shipments reported by the cooperating
                                               in the Petitions exceed the threshold                   determination in these investigations is               mandatory respondents from the ITC
                                               sufficient to impute that importers had                 sufficient to impute importer                          data. For non-cooperating mandatory
                                               knowledge that exporters of PET resin                   knowledge.                                             respondents (i.e., those mandatory
                                               from Indonesia, Korea, and Taiwan were                                                                         respondents that did not respond to our
                                               selling subject merchandise at less than                Massive Imports                                        critical circumstances questionnaire or
                                               fair value, we preliminarily determine                     Because the statutory criteria of                   who otherwise indicated their
                                               that importers knew or should have                      section 733(e)(1)(A) of the Act have                   unwillingness to participate in the
                                               known that producers/exporters of PET                   been satisfied, we next examined                       investigations), we preliminarily
                                               resin in all three countries subject to the             whether imports of subject merchandise                 determine, on the basis of adverse facts
                                                                                                       from Indonesia, Korea, and Taiwan were                 available,17 that there has been a
                                                 7 See, e.g., Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
                                                                                                       ‘‘massive’’ over a relatively short period,            massive surge in imports. Accordingly,
                                               Investigations of Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products                                                           based on our analysis of information on
                                               from India, Italy, the People’s Republic of China,      pursuant to section 733(e)(1)(B) of the
                                               the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan: Preliminary          Act and 19 CFR 351.206(h). In making                   the record, we preliminarily determine
                                               Determinations of Critical Circumstances, 80 FR         this determination, Commerce normally                  the following producers/exporters of
                                               68504 (November 5, 2015) (unchanged in the final
                                                                                                       compares the import volumes of the                     subject merchandise had an increase of
                                               determinations); see also Notice of Preliminary                                                                15 percent or more in imports of subject
                                               Determinations of Critical Circumstances: Certain       subject merchandise for at least three
                                               Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from             months immediately preceding the                       merchandise during the comparison
                                               Australia, the People’s Republic of China, India, the   filing of the petition (i.e., the ‘‘base               period when compared to the base
                                               Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, and the
                                                                                                       period’’) to a comparable period of at                 period, satisfying the massive surge
                                               Russian Federation, 67 FR 19157, 19158 (April 18,                                                              criteria, pursuant to section 733(e)(1)(B)
                                               2002) (unchanged in the final determination).           least three months following the filing
                                                 8 Id.; see also Preliminary Determination of Sales    of the petition (i.e., the ‘‘comparison                of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206(h).18
                                               at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Cut-to-Length          period’’). Imports will normally be
                                               Carbon Steel Plate from the People’s Republic of                                                               Final Determination, and Affirmative Preliminary
                                               China, 62 FR 31972, 31978 (June 11, 1997)
                                                                                                       considered massive when imports                        Determination of Critical Circumstances; Certain
                                               (unchanged in the final determination) and Notice       during the comparison period have                      Frozen Canned Warmwater Shrimp from India, 69
                                               of Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less Than      increased by 15 percent or more                        FR 47111, 47118–47119 (August 4, 2004),
                                               Fair Value, Negative Preliminary Determination of       compared to imports during the base                    unchanged in Notice of Final Determination of
                                               Critical Circumstances and Postponement of Final                                                               Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Negative
                                               Determination: Certain Frozen and Canned                period. It is Commerce’s practice to base              Determination of Critical Circumstances: Certain
                                               Warmwater Shrimp From the Socialist Republic of         its critical circumstances analysis on all             Frozen and Canned Warmwater Shrimp from India,
                                               Vietnam, 69 FR 42672 (July 16, 2004) (unchanged         available data, using base and                         69 FR 76916 (December 23, 2004); see also
                                               in the final determination).                                                                                   Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain New
                                                 9 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Polyethylene
                                                                                                       comparison periods of no less than three               Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from India: Final
                                               Terephthalate (‘‘PET’’) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia,
                                                                                                       months.14 For these preliminary                        Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination,
                                               the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan—                                                                   in Part, 82 FR 2946 (January 10, 2017) (OTR Tires
                                               Petitioners’ Amendment to Volume III Relating to           12 See, e.g., Certain Potassium Phosphate Salts     from India) and accompanying ‘‘Issues and
                                               Indonesia Antidumping Duties,’’ dated October 3,        from the People’s Republic of China: Preliminary       Decision Memorandum for the Final Determination
                                               2017 at 9.                                              Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances    in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain
                                                 10 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Polyethylene            in the Antidumping Duty Investigation, 75 FR           New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from India,’’ at
                                               Terephthalate (‘‘PET’’) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia,   24572, 24573 (May 5, 2010), unchanged in Certain       39–41.
                                                                                                       Potassium Phosphate Salts from the People’s               15 Id.
                                               the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan—
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                                               Petitioners’ Amendment to Volume IV Relating to         Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at        16 These base and comparison periods satisfy the

                                               the Republic of Korea Antidumping Duties,’’ dated       Less Than Fair Value and Termination of Critical       regulatory provisions that the base period be at least
                                               October 3, 2017 at 10.                                  Circumstances Inquiry, 75 FR 30377 (June 1, 2010).     three months long and the base period have a
                                                 11 See Petitioners’ Letter, ‘‘Polyethylene               13 See Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Resin       comparable duration. Commerce gathered ITC
                                               Terephthalate (‘‘PET’’) Resin from Brazil, Indonesia,   from Brazil, Indonesia, Korea, Pakistan, and           shipment data under the harmonized tariff schedule
                                               the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, and Taiwan—            Taiwan; Determinations, 82 FR 53523 (November          numbers, 3907.61.0000 and 3907.69.0000.
                                               Petitioners’ Amendment to Volume VI Relating to         16, 2017).                                                17 See section 776 of the Act.

                                               Taiwan Antidumping Duties,’’ dated October 3,              14 See, e.g., Notice of Preliminary Determination      18 See respective preliminary critical

                                               2017 at 7.                                              of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of      circumstances calculation memoranda for each



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                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2018 / Notices                                                                     17793

                                                 • Indonesia (A–560–832): Indorama                          to the base period. As such, the                                   (SKC) submitted a certification, in lieu
                                               Polymers Public Co., Ltd.; All Other                         following producers/exporters of subject                           of a questionnaire response, that it did
                                               Producers/Exporters                                          merchandise did not have massive                                   not make shipments of subject
                                                 • Korea (A–580–896): Lotte Chemical                        imports, as defined by section                                     merchandise to the United States during
                                               Corp. (REGD); TK Chemical Corp.; All                         733(e)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR                                 the period of investigation, and there is
                                               Other Producers/Exporters                                    351.206(h).19                                                      no information on the record to
                                                 • Taiwan (A–583–862): Far Eastern                            • Indonesia (A–560–832): PT. Indo-                               contradict this claim. As a result, we are
                                               New Century Corporation; Far Eastern                         Rama Synthetics Tbk.                                               not making a critical circumstances
                                               Textile Ltd.; Worldwide Polychem (HK),                         • Korea (A–580–896): SK Chemicals                                determination with respect to SKC.20
                                               Ltd.; All Other Producers/Exporters                          Co., Ltd.                                                            Based on the criteria and findings
                                                 In addition, based on record                                 • Taiwan (A–583–862): Shinkong                                   discussed above, we preliminarily
                                               information, we also find that certain                       Synthetic Fibers Corporation                                       determine that critical circumstances
                                               producers/exporters did not experience                         Finally, we note that in the AD                                  exist with respect to imports of PET
                                               an increase of 15 percent or more in                         investigation regarding imports of                                 resin shipped by certain producers/
                                               imports of subject merchandise during                        subject merchandise from Korea,                                    exporters. Our findings are summarized
                                               the comparison period when compared                          respondent company SKC Co., Ltd.                                   as follows:

                                                                                                                                      Affirmative preliminary                                                 Negative preliminary
                                                        Country                  Case No.                                             critical circumstances                                                  critical circumstances
                                                                                                                                           determination                                                           determination

                                               Indonesia .................     A–560–832          Indorama Polymers Public Co., Ltd.; All Other Producers/Exporters ..............                          PT. Indo-Rama Syn-
                                                                                                                                                                                                              thetics Tbk.
                                               Korea .......................   A–580–896          Lotte Chemical Corp. (REGD); TK Chemical Corp.; .......................................                   SK Chemicals Co., Ltd.
                                                                                                  All Other Producers/Exporters .........................................................................
                                               Taiwan .....................    A–583–862          Far Eastern New Century Corporation; Far Eastern Textile Ltd.; Worldwide                                  Shinkong Synthetic Fi-
                                                                                                    Polychem (HK), Ltd.; All Other Producers/Exporters.                                                       bers Corporation.



                                               Final Critical Circumstances                                 90 days prior to the effective date of                             DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                               Determinations                                               ‘‘provisional measures’’ (e.g., the date of
                                                                                                            publication in the Federal Register of                             International Trade Administration
                                                  We will issue our final determinations
                                               concerning critical circumstances when                       the notice of an affirmative preliminary                           [C–489–823]
                                               we issue our final less than fair value                      determination of sales at less than fair
                                               determinations. All interested parties                       value at above de minimis rates). At                               Welded Line Pipe From the Republic of
                                               will have the opportunity to address                         such time, we will also instruct CBP to                            Turkey: Rescission of Countervailing
                                               these preliminary determinations in                          require a cash deposit equal to the                                Duty Administrative Review; 2016
                                               case briefs to be submitted after                            estimated preliminary dumping margins                              AGENCY:  Enforcement and Compliance,
                                               completion of the preliminary less than                      reflected in the preliminary                                       International Trade Administration,
                                               fair value determinations.                                   determination published in the Federal                             Department of Commerce.
                                               ITC Notification                                             Register. The suspension of liquidation                            SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
                                                                                                            will remain in effect until further notice.                        (Commerce) is rescinding the
                                                 In accordance with sections 733(f) of
                                                                                                               This notice is issued and published                             administrative review of the
                                               the Act, Commerce will notify the ITC
                                                                                                            pursuant to sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1)                          countervailing duty order on welded
                                               of its preliminary determinations.
                                                                                                            of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206(c).                                  line pipe from the Republic of Turkey
                                               Suspension of Liquidation                                                                                                       (Turkey) for the period January 1, 2016,
                                                                                                              Dated: April 20, 2018.
                                                 In accordance with section 733(e)(2)                                                                                          through December 31, 2016.
                                                                                                            James Maeder,
                                               of the Act, because we have                                                                                                     DATES: Applicable April 24, 2018.
                                                                                                            Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for
                                               preliminarily found that critical                                                                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                            Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
                                               circumstances exist with regard to                                                                                              Alice Maldonado or David Crespo, AD/
                                                                                                            Operations performing the duties of Deputy
                                               imports exported by certain producers                        Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
                                                                                                                                                                               CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement
                                               and exporters, if we make an affirmative                     Countervailing Duty Operations.                                    and Compliance, International Trade
                                               preliminary determination that sales at                                                                                         Administration, U.S. Department of
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2018–08692 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am]
                                               less than fair value have been made by                                                                                          Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
                                                                                                            BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
                                               these same producers/exporters at above                                                                                         NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone:
                                               de minimis rates,21 we will instruct                                                                                            (202) 482–4682 or (202) 482–3693,
                                               Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to                                                                                          respectively.
                                               suspend liquidation of all entries of                                                                                           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               subject merchandise from these
                                               producers/exporters that are entered, or                                                                                        Background
                                               withdrawn from warehouse, for                                                                                                     On December 4, 2017, Commerce
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               consumption on or after the date that is                                                                                        published in the Federal Register a

                                               proceeding, dated concurrently with this Federal             investigation and which submitted a complete                       negative finding of critical circumstances for SK
                                               Register notice.                                             questionnaire response. SK Chemicals submitted                     Chemicals, as indicated above.
                                                 19 Id.                                                     shipment data for purposes of our critical                           21 The preliminary determinations concerning the
                                                 20 SKC is a distinct entity from mandatory                 circumstances determination, which has been                        sales at less than fair value investigations are
                                               respondent SK Chemicals Co., Ltd. (SK Chemicals),            analyzed for these preliminary critical                            currently scheduled for April 27, 2018.
                                               which had shipments during the period of                     circumstances determinations. We have reached a



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Document Created: 2018-04-24 00:39:51
Document Modified: 2018-04-24 00:39:51
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
DatesApplicable April 24, 2018.
ContactGene H. Calvert, 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) 482-3586.
FR Citation83 FR 17791 

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