Multilayered Wood Flooring From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2021
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of multilayered wood flooring (w...
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily
( printed page 89665)
determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of multilayered wood flooring (wood flooring) 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 of review.
DATES:
Applicable December 28, 2023.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Matney or Jonathan Schueler, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2429 or (202) 482-9175, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On December 8, 2011, Commerce issued a countervailing duty order on wood flooring from China.[1]
The American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood Flooring (the petitioner) and other interested parties requested that Commerce conduct an administrative review of the
Order.
On February 2, 2023, Commerce published in the
Federal Register
a notice of initiation of an administrative review of the
Order.[2]
We initiated an administrative review with respect to 86 producers/exporters of wood flooring from China for the POR.
For events that occurred since the
Initiation Notice, see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.[3]
The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at
https://access.trade.gov.
In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed at
https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix I to this notice.
Scope of the Order
The product covered by the
Order
is wood flooring from China. For a complete description of the scope of the
Order, see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Final Rescission of Review, in Part
On September 27, 2023, Commerce notified interested parties that we intended to rescind this administrative review with respect to the companies listed in Appendix II, in the absence of suspended entries during the POR.[4]
No party commented on our Intent to Rescind Memorandum. As a result, we are rescinding this review, in part, with respect to the 70 companies listed in Appendix II, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3) and (4).
In addition, the following parties submitted no-shipment certifications: Anhui Longhua Bamboo Product Co., Ltd.; Benxi Flooring Factory (General Partnership); Dalian Jiahong Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; Dalian Shengyu Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd.; Dongtai Fuan Universal Dynamics, LLC; Dunhua City Dexin Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; Dunhua Shengda Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; HaiLin LinJing Wooden Products Co., Ltd.; Jiangsu Keri Wood Co., Ltd.; Jiangsu Mingle Flooring Co., Ltd.; Jiangsu Simba Flooring Co., Ltd.; Jiashan On-Line Lumber Co., Ltd.; Kingman Wood Industry Co., Ltd.; Pinge Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. (Pinge Timber); Power Dekor Group Co. Ltd.; Sino-Maple (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.; Suzhou Dongda Wood Co., Ltd.; Tongxiang Jisheng Import and Export Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Dadongwu Green Home Wood Co., Ltd.; and Zhejiang Shiyou Timber Co., Ltd. All of these companies were included in the Intent to Rescind Memorandum with the exception of Pinge Timber.[5]
Therefore, as explained above, we are rescinding the review with regard to all these companies, except for Pinge Timber. Our analysis of the U.S. Customs and Border (CBP) information placed on the record shows that Pinge Timber made shipments of subject merchandise during the POR.[6]
Therefore, we are preliminarily treating Pinge Timber as a non-selected company under review. For further discussion on the decision not to rescind the review with respect to Pinge Timber's entry,
see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each of the subsidy programs found to be countervailable, we preliminarily determine that there is a subsidy,
i.e.,
a financial contribution by an “authority” that confers a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.[7]
For a full description of the methodology underlying our preliminary conclusions, including our reliance, in part, on adverse facts available pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act,
see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Preliminary Rate for Non-Selected Companies Under Review
As discussed above, Commerce initiated this administrative review with respect to 86 producers/exporters. We are rescinding the review for 70 companies listed in Appendix II that had no suspended entries during the POR. As discussed above, this group includes 19 companies that certified no shipments during the POR. In addition, Commerce selected two mandatory respondents, Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd. (Jiangsu Senmao) and Riverside Plywood Corp. (Riverside Plywood) for individual examination.[8]
For the remaining 12 companies subject to this review, but not selected for individual examination, because the rates calculated for mandatory respondents Jiangsu Senmao and Riverside Plywood were above
de minimis
and not based entirely on facts available, we applied a subsidy rate based on a weighted-average of the subsidy rates calculated for these mandatory respondents using the publicly ranged sales data they submitted on the record. This methodology is consistent with our practice for establishing an all-others subsidy rate pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act. For further information on the calculation of the non-selected respondent rate,
see
the
( printed page 89666)
section in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum entitled “Non-Selected Companies Under Review.” For a list of the non-selected companies,
see
Appendix III to this notice.
Preliminary Results of the Review
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(i), we calculated a countervailable subsidy rate for each of the mandatory respondents, Jiangsu Senmao and Riverside Plywood, and their cross-owned affiliates, where applicable. We preliminarily find the following countervailable subsidy rates to exist:
Producer/exporter
Subsidy rate
(percent
ad valorem)
Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd
5.12
Riverside Plywood Corp. and its Cross-Owned Affiliates 9
23.65
Non-Selected Companies Under Review 10
17.18
Disclosure and Public Comment
We intend to disclose the calculations performed to parties within five days after the date of publication of this notice.[11]
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii), interested parties may submit case briefs to Commerce no later than 30 days after the date of the publication of this notice.[12]
Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for filing case briefs.[13]
Interested parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.[14]
As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior proceedings we have encouraged interested parties to provide an executive summary of their brief that should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes. In this review, we instead request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs.[15]
Further, we request that interested parties limit their executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final results in this administrative review. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).[16]
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically via ACCESS. 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. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective case briefs. An electronically filed hearing request must be received successfully in its entirety by Commerce's electronic records system, ACCESS, by 5 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice.
Final Results
Unless the deadline is 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 the case briefs, within 120 days 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).
Assessment Rates
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(i), we are preliminarily assigning subsidy rates in the amounts shown above for the producer/exporters subject to review. Upon completion of the administrative review, consistent with section 751(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.212(b)(2), Commerce shall determine, and CBP shall assess, countervailing duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review.
For the companies for which this review is rescinded, Commerce 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 January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(l)(i). Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the preliminary results of this review in the
Federal Register
.
For the companies for which this review is not rescinded, Commerce intends 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).
Cash Deposit Requirements
In accordance with section 751(a)(1) 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 shown for each of the respective companies listed above and in Appendix III on shipments of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the final results of this administrative review. For all non-reviewed firms, we will instruct CBP to continue to collect cash deposits at the most recent company-specific or all-others rate applicable to the company. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.
Notification to Interested Parties
These preliminary results are issued and published pursuant to sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: December 20, 2023.
James Maeder,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.
Appendix I
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Non-Selected Companies Under Review
IV. Scope of the
Order
V. Diversification of China's Economy
VI. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Application of Adverse Inferences
VII. Subsidies Valuation
VIII. Interest Rate Benchmarks, Discount Rates, Inputs, Land-Use Benchmarks,
( printed page 89667)
and Electricity Benchmarks
IX. Analysis of Programs
X. Recommendation
Appendix II
Companies with Respect to Which Commerce Is Rescinding Its Review
1. Anhui Boya Bamboo & Wood Products Co., Ltd.
2. Anhui Longhua Bamboo Product Co., Ltd.
3. Anhui Yaolong Bamboo & Wood Products Co. Ltd.
4. Armstrong Wood Products (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
5. Benxi Flooring Factory (General Partnership)
6. Benxi Wood Company
7. Changzhou Hawd Flooring Co., Ltd.
8. Dalian Guhua Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
9. Dalian Huilong Wooden Products Co., Ltd.
10. Dalian Jaenmaken Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
11. Dalian Jiahong Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
12. Dalian Kemian Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
13. Dalian Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
14. Dalian Shengyu Science and Technology Development Co., Ltd.
11. Pinge Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd.
12. Zhejiang Fuerjia Wooden Co., Ltd.
Footnotes
1.
See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order,76 FR 76693 (December 8, 2011); and
Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of China: Amended Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders,77 FR 5484 (February 3, 2012), wherein the scope of the order was modified (collectively,
Order).
3.
See
Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results in the Countervailing Duty Administrative Review of Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of China; 2021,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (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.
13.
See 19 CFR 351.309(d);
see also Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023) (
APO and Final Service Rule).
17.
Commerce previously found Great Wood (Tonghua) Ltd. and Fine Furniture Plantation (Shishou) Ltd. to be cross-owned with Fine Furniture (Shanghai) Limited.
See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination,76 FR 64313 (October 18, 2011).
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
88 FR 89664
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Multilayered Wood Flooring From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review; 2021,” thefederalregister.org (December 28, 2023), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2023-28630/multilayered-wood-flooring-from-the-people-s-republic-of-china-preliminary-results-and-partial-rescission-of-countervail.