Wooden Cabinets and Vanities and Components Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, Rescission of Administrative Review in Part, and Intent To Rescind in Part; 2021
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of wooden cabinets and vanities ...
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of wooden cabinets and vanities and components thereof (wooden cabinets) from the People's Republic of China (China). The period of review (POR) is January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.
DATES:
Applicable May 5, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Konrad Ptaszynski or Michael Romani, AD/CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6187 or (202) 482-0198, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 21, 2020, Commerce published in the
Federal Register
the countervailing duty (CVD) order on wooden cabinets from China.[1]
On June 9, 2022, Commerce published the notice of initiation of an administrative review of the
Order
for the period January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021.[2]
On August 16, 2022, Commerce selected The Ancientree Cabinet Co., Ltd. (Ancientree), as the sole mandatory respondent in this administrative review. However, between August 30 and September 7, 2022, multiple respondents timely withdrew their requests for review, including Ancientree.[3]
As a result, on September 26, 2022, Commerce selected Fujian Dushi Wooden Industry Co. (Dushi) and Jiangsu Sunwell Cabinetry Co., Ltd. (Sunwell) as mandatory respondents in this administrative review.[4]
On December 16, 2022, Commerce exercised its discretion to extend the deadline for the preliminary results of this review by 118 days, until April 28, 2023.[5]
For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this review,
see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.[6]
A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at
http://access.trade.gov.
In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at
https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
Scope of the Order
The product covered by the
Order
is wooden cabinets from China. For a complete description of the scope,
see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this administrative 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, Commerce preliminarily finds 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).[7]
In making these findings, Commerce relied, in part, on facts available and, because it finds that one or more respondents, including the Government of China, did not act to the best of their ability to respond to Commerce's requests for information, it drew an adverse inference where appropriate in selecting from among the facts otherwise available.[8]
For further information,
see
“Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences” in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Rescission of Administrative Review, in Part
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the parties that requested a review withdraw the request within 90 days of the date of publication of the notice of initiation. Commerce received timely-filed withdrawal of review requests with respect to 12 companies, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1).[9]
Because the withdrawal requests were timely filed and no other parties requested a review of these companies, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce is rescinding
( printed page 29085)
this review of the
Order
for the 12 companies listed in appendix II.[10]
Intent To Rescind Administrative Review, in Part
It is Commerce's practice to rescind an administrative review of a countervailing duty order, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3), when there are no reviewable entries of subject merchandise during the POR for which liquidation is suspended.[11]
Normally, upon completion of an administrative review, the suspended entries are liquidated at the countervailing duty assessment rate calculated for the review period.[12]
Therefore, for an administrative review of a company to be conducted, there must be a reviewable, suspended entry that Commerce can instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to liquidate at the calculated countervailing duty assessment rate calculated for the review period.[13]
According to the CBP import data on the record, there are seven companies, KM Cabinetry Co, Ltd., Shanghai Zifeng International Trading Co., Ltd, Sheen Lead International Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shouguang Fushi Wood Co., Ltd., Taishan Oversea Trading Company Ltd., Taizhou Overseas Int'l Ltd., Xiamen Adler Cabinetry Co., Ltd., subject to this review that did not have reviewable entries of subject merchandise during the POR for which liquidation is suspended. Accordingly, in the absence of reviewable, suspended entries of subject merchandise during the POR, we intend to rescind this administrative review with respect to these seven companies, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3).
Preliminary Results of Administrative Review
As a result of this administrative review, we preliminarily find that the following net countervailable subsidy rates exist for the period January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021:
Company
Subsidy rate
(percent
ad valorem)
Fujian Dushi Wooden Industry Co., Ltd
14.60
Jiangsu Sunwell Cabinetry Co., Ltd
7.47
Review-Specific Average Rate Applicable to the Following Companies14
KM Cabinetry Co, Ltd
12.69
Nantong Aershin Cabinet Co., Ltd
12.69
Shanghai Zifeng International Trading Co., Ltd
12.69
Sheen Lead International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd
12.69
Shouguang Fushi Wood Co., Ltd
12.69
Taishan Oversea Trading Company Ltd
12.69
Taizhou Overseas Int'l Ltd
12.69
Weifang Fuxing Wood Co., Ltd
12.69
Xiamen Adler Cabinetry Co., Ltd
12.69
Yixing Pengjia Technology Co., Ltd
12.69
Yixing Pengjia Cabinetry Co., Ltd
12.69
Zaozhuang New Sharp Import & Export Trading Co., Ltd
12.69
Zhoushan For-strong Wood Co., Ltd
12.69
Preliminary Rate for Non-Selected Companies Under
Review
There are 13 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. The statute and Commerce's regulations do not directly address the establishment of rates to be applied to companies not selected for individual examination where 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 rule, to calculate an all-others rate equal to the weighted average of the countervailable subsidy rates established for exporters and/or producers individually examined, excluding any rates that are zero,
de minimis,
or based entirely on facts available. In this review, the preliminary rates calculated for Dushi and Sunwell were above
de minimis
and not based entirely on facts available. Therefore, we are applying to the non-selected companies the average of the net subsidy rates calculated for Dushi and Sunwell, which we calculated using the publicly-ranged sales data submitted by Dushi and Sunwell.[15]
This methodology to establish the rate for the non-selected companies uses section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act, which governs the calculation of the “all-others” rate in an investigation, as guidance. For further information on the calculation of the non-selected respondent rate, refer to the section in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum entitled “Non-Selected Companies Under Review.”
( printed page 29086)
Cash Deposit Requirements
Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act, Commerce intends, upon publication of the final results, to instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties in the amounts calculated in the final results of this review for 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. If the rate calculated in the final results is zero or
de minimis,
no cash deposit will be required on shipments of the subject merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the final results of this review. For all non-reviewed companies, CBP will continue to collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties at the all-others rate (
i.e.,
41.17 percent) [16]
or the most recent company-specific rate applicable to the company, as appropriate. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.
Assessment Rates
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(i), we preliminarily assigned subsidy rates in the amounts shown above for the producers/exporters shown above. Consistent with section 751(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.212(b)(2), upon issuance of the final results, Commerce shall determine, and CBP shall assess, countervailing duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review. We intend to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the
Federal Register
. 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).
For the companies for which this review is rescinded with these preliminary results, we will instruct CBP to assess countervailing duties on all appropriate entries at a rate equal to the cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, during the period July 13, 2020, through December 31, 2021, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(l)(i).
Disclosure and Public Comment
We will disclose the calculations performed for these preliminary results to parties in this proceeding within five days after public announcement of the preliminary results in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c), interested parties may submit case briefs no later than 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed no later than seven days after the date for filing case briefs.[17]
Parties who submit case or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) a statement of the issue, (2) a brief summary of the argument, and (3) a table of authorities.[18]
Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for serving documents containing business proprietary information.[19]
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically via ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by Commerce's electronic records system, ACCESS, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice.[20]
Requests should contain: (1) The party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, we will inform parties of the scheduled date and time for the hearing.
Unless extended, we intend to issue the final results of this administrative review, which will include the results of our analysis of the issues raised in case briefs, within 120 days after the date of publication of these preliminary results in the
Federal Register
, pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h).
Notification to Interested Parties
These preliminary results and notice are issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213 and 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: April 28, 2023.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the
Order
IV. Non-Selected Companies Under Review
V. Intent to Rescind Administrative Review, In Part
VI. Partial Rescission of Administrative Review
VII. Diversification of China's Economy
VIII. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Application of Adverse Inferences
IX. Subsides Valuation
X. Interest Rate, Discount Rate, Input, Electricity, and Land Benchmarks
XI. Analysis of Programs
XII. Recommendation
Appendix II
List of Companies for Which Requests for Review Were Timely Withdrawn
1. Anhui Xinyuanda Cupboard Co., Ltd
2. Guangzhou Nuolande Import and Export Co., Ltd.
3. Jiang Su Rongxin Wood Industry Co., Ltd
4. Jiang Su Rongxin Cabinets Ltd
5. Jiangsu Weisen Houseware Co., Ltd
6. Linyi Bomei Furniture Co., Ltd
7. Linyi Kaipu Furniture Co., Ltd.
8. Qufu Xinyu Furniture Co., Ltd.
9. Senke Manufacturing Company
10. Shandong Longsen Woods Co., Ltd.
11. The Ancientree Cabinet Co., Ltd.
12. Yichun Dongmeng Wood Co., Ltd
Footnotes
1.
See Wooden Cabinets and Vanities and Components Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order,85 FR 22134 (April 21, 2020) (
Order).
2.
See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews,87 FR 35165, 35176 (June 9, 2022). Although we received a request for review from Vivaldi Commercial, LLC d/b/a Superior Granite and Marble by Vivaldi, and Vivaldi Interiors, LLC (collectively, Vivaldi) with respect to Grand Supremacy Sdn. Bhd. (Grand Supremacy) a Malaysian producer and exporter of wooden cabinets, we did not initiate an administrative review of Grand Supremacy because it is located in Malaysia not China, as in the
Order. See
Vivaldi's Letter, “Request for Administrative Review,” dated May 1, 2022.
3.
See
Ancientree's Letter, “Withdrawal of Requests for Administrative Review,” dated August 30, 2022 (Ancientree Companies Withdrawal);
see also
Senke Manufacturing Company's Letter, “Withdrawal of Requests for 2021 Administrative Review,” dated September 7, 2022 (Senke Companies Withdrawal).
6.
See
Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of the Administrative Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Wooden Cabinets and Vanities and Components Thereof from the People's Republic of China; 2021,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
7.
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.
10.
See, e.g., Lightweight Thermal Paper from the People's Republic of China: Notice of Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2015,82 FR 14349 (March 20, 2017); and
Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2017,84 FR 14650 (April 11, 2019).
14.
This rate is based on the rate for the respondents that were selected for individual review, excluding rates that are zero,
de minimis,
or based entirely on facts available.
See
section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act.
15.
With two respondents under examination, Commerce normally calculates: (A) a weighted-average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents; and (C) a weighted-average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged U.S. sale quantities for the merchandise under consideration. Commerce then compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all other producers and exporters.
See, e.g., Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, Final Results of Changed-Circumstances Review, and Revocation of an Order in Part,75 FR 53661, 53663 (September 1, 2010).
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
88 FR 29084
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Wooden Cabinets and Vanities and Components Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, Rescission of Administrative Review in Part, and Intent To Rescind in Part; 2021,” thefederalregister.org (May 5, 2023), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2023-09571/wooden-cabinets-and-vanities-and-components-thereof-from-the-people-s-republic-of-china-preliminary-results-of-counterva.