[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 91 (Thursday, May 11, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27449-27450]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-7228]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

(A-570-815, A-533-806, C-533-807)


Continuation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders: 
Sulfanilic Acid from the People's Republic of China and India

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: As a result of the determinations by the Department of 
Commerce (the ``Department'') and the International Trade Commission 
(the ``ITC'') that revocation of the antidumping duty (``AD'') orders 
on sulfanilic acid from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') and 
India would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping, that 
revocation of the countervailing duty (``CVD'') order on sulfanilic 
acid from India would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of a 
countervailable subsidy, and that revocation of these AD and CVD orders 
would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of material injury to 
an industry in the United States, the Department is publishing this 
notice of the continuation of these AD and CVD orders.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 11, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Bolling (PRC Order), Tipten 
Troidl (Indian AD/CVD Orders), AD/CVD Operations, Import 
Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; 
telephone: (202) 482-3434 and (202) 482-1767, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 2, 2005, the Department initiated and the ITC instituted 
sunset reviews of the AD and CVD orders on sulfanilic acid from the PRC 
and India, pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended (the ``Act''), respectively. See Notice of Initiation 
of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Reviews, 70 FR 22632 (May 2, 2005). As a 
result of its reviews, the Department found that revocation of the AD 
orders would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and 
that revocation of the CVD order would

[[Page 27450]]

likely lead to continuation or recurrence of subsidization, and 
notified the ITC of the margins of dumping and the subsidy rates likely 
to prevail were the orders revoked. See Sulfanilic Acid from India and 
the People's Republic of China; Notice of Final Results of Expedited 
Sunset Reviews of Antidumping Duty Orders, 70 FR 53164 (September 7, 
2005) and Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review of Countervailing 
Duty Order: Sulfanilic Acid from India, 70 FR 53168 (September 7, 2005) 
(collectively, ``Final Results'').
    On April 27, 2006, the ITC determined that revocation of the AD and 
CVD orders on sulfanilic acid from the PRC and India would likely lead 
to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably 
foreseeable time. See Sulfanilic Acid from China and India, 71 FR 24860 
(April 27, 2006) (``ITC Determination'') and USITC Publication 3849 
(April 2006), entitled Sulfanilic Acid from China and India (Inv. Nos. 
701-TA-318 and 731-TA-538 and 561 (Second Review)).

Scope of the Orders

    The merchandise covered by the AD and CVD orders is all grades of 
sulfanilic acid, which include technical (or crude) sulfanilic acid, 
refined (or purified) sulfanilic acid and sodium salt of sulfanilic 
acid (sodium sulfanilate).
    Sulfanilic acid is a synthetic organic chemical produced from the 
direct sulfonation of aniline with sulfuric acid. Sulfanilic acid is 
used a a raw material in the production of optical brighteners, food 
colors, specialty dyes, and concrete additive. 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 contains 96 percent minimum sulfanilic 
acid, 1.0 percent maximum aniline, and 1.0 percent maximum alkali 
insoluble materials. Refined sulfanilic acid contains 98 percent 
minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline, and 0.25 percent 
maximum alkali insoluble materials. Sodium salt of sulfanilic acid 
(sodium sulfanilate) is a granular or crystalline material containing 
75 percent minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline, and 
0.25 percent maximum alkali insoluble materials based on the equivalent 
sulfanilic acid content.
    In response to a request from 3V Corporation, on May 5, 1999, the 
Department clarified that sodium sulfanilate processed in Italy from 
sulfanilic acid produced in India is within the scope of the AD and CVD 
orders on sulfanilic acid from India. See Notice of Scope Rulings, 65 
FR 41957 (July 7, 2000).
    The merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS'') subheadings 2921.42.22 and 
2921.42.24.90. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for 
convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope 
of the order is dispositive.

Determination

    As a result of the determinations by the Department and the ITC 
that revocation of these AD and CVD orders would likely lead to 
continuation or recurrence of dumping or a countervailable subsidy, and 
of material injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to 
section 751(d)(2) of the Act, the Department hereby orders the 
continuation of the AD and CVD orders on sulfanilic acid from the PRC 
and India. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to collect 
cash deposits at the rates in effect at the time of entry for all 
imports of subject merchandise. The effective date of the continuation 
of these orders is the date of publication in the Federal Register of 
this Notice of Continuation.
    Pursuant to sections 751(c)(2) and 751(c)(6) of the Act, the 
Department intends to initiate the next five-year review of these 
orders not later than April 2011.
    These five-year (sunset) reviews and notice are in accordance with 
section 751(c) of the Act and published pursuant to section 777(i)(1) 
of the Act.

    Dated: May 4, 2006.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-7228 Filed 5-10-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S