[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53164-53165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-4866]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

(A-533-806, A-570-815)


Sulfanilic Acid from India and the People's Republic of China; 
Notice of Final Results of Expedited Sunset Reviews of Antidumping Duty 
Orders

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On May 2, 2005, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated sunset reviews of the antidumping duty orders 
on sulfanilic acid from India and the People's Republic of China 
(``China'') pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (``the Act''). On the basis of a Notice of Intent to 
Participate, adequate substantive responses filed on behalf of domestic 
interested parties, and lack of response from respondent interested 
parties, the Department conducted expedited (120-day) sunset reviews. 
As a result of these sunset reviews, the Department finds that 
revocation of the antidumping duty orders would be likely to lead to 
continuation or recurrence of dumping. The dumping margins are 
identified in the Final Results of Reviews section of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 7, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hilary E. Sadler, Esq. or Maureen 
Flannery, Office 8, AD/CVD Enforcement, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 
(202) 482-4340.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background:

    On May 2, 2005, the Department published the notice of initiation 
of the sunset reviews of the antidumping duty orders on sulfanilic acid 
from India and

[[Page 53165]]

China.\1\ On May 12, 2005, the Department received a Notice of Intent 
to Participate from Nation Ford Chemical Company (``NFC''), the 
domestic interested party, within the deadline specified in section 
315.218(d)(1)(i) of the Department's regulations. NFC claimed 
interested party status under section 771(9)(C) of the Act, as a 
producer of the domestic-like product in the United States. On May 31, 
2005, the Department received a complete substantive response from NFC 
within the deadline specified in section 351.218(d)(3)(i) of the 
Department's regulations. We did not receive responses from any 
respondent interested parties to this proceeding. As a result, pursuant 
to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and section 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2) 
of the Department's regulations, the Department determined to conduct 
expedited reviews of these orders.
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    \1\ See Initiation of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Reviews, 70 FR 
22632 (May 2, 2005) (``Initiation Notice'').
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Scope of the Orders:

    Imports covered by this antidumping duty order are all grades of 
sulfanilic acid, which include technical (or crude) sulfanilic acid, 
refined (or purified) sulfanilic acid and sodium salt of sulfanilic 
acid.
    Sulfanilic acid is a synthetic organic chemical produced from the 
direct sulfonation of aniline with sulfuric acid. Sulfanilic acid is 
used as a raw material in the production of optical brighteners, food 
colors, specialty dyes, and concrete additives. The principal 
differences between the grades are the undesirable quantities of 
residual aniline and alkali insoluble materials present in the 
sulfanilic acid. All grades are available as dry, free flowing powders.
    Technical sulfanilic acid, classifiable under the subheading 
2921.42.22 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), contains 96 percent 
minimum sulfanilic acid, 1.0 percent maximum aniline, and 1.0 percent 
maximum alkali insoluble materials. Refined sulfanilic acid, also 
classifiable under the subheading 2921.42.22 of the HTS, contains 98 
percent minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline and 0.25 
percent maximum alkali insoluble materials.
    Sodium salt (sodium sulfanilate), classifiable under the HTS 
subheading 2921.42.90, is a powder, granular or crystalline material 
which contains 75 percent minimum equivalent sulfanilic acid, 0.5 
percent maximum aniline based on the equivalent sulfanilic acid 
content, and 0.25 percent maximum alkali insoluble materials based on 
the equivalent sulfanilic acid content.
    The Department conducted a scope ruling regarding 3V Corporation 
and determined that sodium sulfanilate processed in Italy from 
sulfanilic acid from India was within the scope of this order. See 
Notice of Scope Rulings and Anticircumvention Inquiries, 65 FR 41957 
(July 7, 2000).
    Although the HTS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, our written description of the scope of this 
proceeding is dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received:

    All issues raised in these reviews are addressed in the ``Issues 
and Decision Memorandum'' (``Decision Memorandum'') from Barbara E. 
Tillman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, 
to Joseph A. Spetrini, Acting Assistant Secretary for Import 
Administration, dated August 30, 2005, which is hereby adopted by this 
notice. The issues discussed in the Decision Memorandum include the 
likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping and the magnitude 
of the margins likely to prevail if the orders were revoked. Parties 
can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in these reviews 
and the corresponding recommendations in this public memorandum which 
is on file in room B-099 of the main Commerce Building.
    In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memorandum can be 
accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn/index.html, 
under the heading ``September 2005.'' The paper copy and electronic 
version of the Decision Memorandum are identical in content.

Final Results of Reviews:

    We determine that revocation of the antidumping duty orders on 
sulfanilic acid from India and China would likely lead to continuation 
or recurrence of dumping at the following weighted-average percentage 
margins:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Weighted Average
          Manufacturers/Exporters/Producers            Margin (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
India...............................................
All Indian Manufacturers and Exporters..............           114.80\2\
China...............................................
China National Chemicals I&E Corporation, Hebei                    19.14
 Branch.............................................
China-wide rate.....................................               85.20
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\2\ The Department published its final affirmative determination of
  sales at less than fair value (``LTFV'') with respect to imports of
  sulfanilic acid from India on January 8, 1993 (58 FR 3251). In this
  determination, the Department published a weighted-average dumping
  margin for all manufacturers/producers/exporters of 114.8 percent.

    This notice also serves as the only reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective orders (``APO'') of their responsibility 
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information 
disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305 of the 
Department's regulations. Timely notification of the return or 
destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order 
is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms 
of an APO is a violation which is subject to sanction.
    We are issuing and publishing the results and notice in accordance 
with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.\\
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    \\ However, consistent with section 772(d)(1)(D) of the Act, 
which prohibits assessing antidumping duties on the portion of the 
margin attributable to an export subsidy, we established an 
estimated antidumping duty deposit rate of 71.09 percent for duty 
deposit purposes. The Department issued its antidumping duty order 
on sulfanilic acid from India on March 2, 1993. See Notice of 
Antidumping Duty Order; Sulfanilic Acid from India, 58 FR 12025 
(March 2, 1993). The Department has not conducted an administrative 
review of this order since its imposition.

    Dated: August 30, 2005.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E5-4866 Filed 9-6-05; 8:45 am]
Billing Code: 3510-DS-S