[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33219-33239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14027]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-938]


Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from the People's Republic 
of China: Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is conducting an administrative 
review of the countervailing duty order on citric acid and certain 
citrate salts from the People's Republic of China for the period 
September 19, 2008, through December 31, 2009. We preliminarily find 
that RZBC Co., Ltd. (``RZBC Co.''); RZBC Import & Export Co., Ltd. 
(``RZBC I&E''); RZBC (Juxian) Co., Ltd. (``RZBC Juxian''); and RZBC 
Group Co., Ltd. (``RZBC Group'') (collectively, ``RZBC''), and Yixing 
Union Biochemical Co., Ltd. (``Yixing Union Co.) and Yixing Union 
Cogeneration Co., Ltd. (``Cogeneration'') (collectively, ``Yixing 
Union'') received countervailable subsidies during the period of 
review. If these preliminary results are adopted in our final results 
of this review, we will instruct U.S.

[[Page 33220]]

Customs and Border Protection to assess countervailing duties as 
detailed in the ``Preliminary Results of Review'' section of this 
notice. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary 
results.

DATES: Effective Date: June 8, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Layton, Seth Isenberg, or Austin 
Redington, Office of AD/CVD Operations, Office 1, Import 
Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Room 3069, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0371, (202) 482-0588, and 
(202) 482-1664, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 29, 2009, the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') 
published a countervailing duty order on citric acid and certain 
citrate salts (``citric acid'') from the People's Republic of China 
(``PRC''). See Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From the People's 
Republic of China: Notice of Countervailing Duty Order, 74 FR 25705 
(May 29, 2009) (``CVD Order''). On May 3, 2010, we published a notice 
of ``Opportunity to Request Administrative Review'' for this 
countervailing duty order. See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty 
Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request 
Administrative Review, 75 FR 23236 (May 3, 2010). On May 18, 2010, we 
received a request for administrative review from the RZBC; on May 24, 
2010, we received a request for administrative review from Yixing 
Union. On June 1, 2010, we received a request from Archer Daniels 
Midland Company; Cargill, Incorporated; and Tate & Lyle Americas 
(collectively, ``Petitioners'') to conduct an administrative review of 
56 companies, including RZBC and Yixing Union. In accordance with 19 
CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we published a notice of initiation of the review 
on June 30, 2010. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews and Requests for Revocation in Part, 75 FR 37759 
(June 30, 2010). On August 17, 2010, the Department issued a respondent 
selection memorandum selecting RZBC and Yixing Union as mandatory 
respondents. See Memorandum to Susan H. Kuhbach from Patricia M. Tran, 
regarding Respondent Selection: Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review-Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts (August 17, 2010).
    On September 27, 2010, Petitioners timely withdrew their request 
for an administrative review for 54 companies. On November 22, 2010, 
the Department published a partial rescission of review for these 54 
companies, continuing the review with respect to RZBC and Yixing Union. 
See Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts From People's Republic of 
China: Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, 
75 FR 71078 (November 22, 2010).
    On September 17, 2010, we issued countervailing duty questionnaires 
to the Government of the PRC (``GOC''), RZBC, and Yixing Union. We 
received responses to these questionnaires from RZBC and Yixing Union 
on November 9, 2010, and from the GOC on November 15, 2010. On February 
28, 2011, we issued supplemental questionnaires to the GOC, RZBC, and 
Yixing Union. We received responses to the first supplemental 
questionnaires from each of the three respondents on March 28, 2011. On 
April 21, 2011, we issued second supplemental questionnaires, which 
also included some questions concerning the new subsidy allegations 
discussed below, to the GOC, RZBC, and Yixing Union. We received 
responses to the second supplemental questionnaire from the GOC on May 
5, May 9, and May 10, 2011. We received responses to the second 
supplemental questionnaire from RZBC on May 9, and May 10, 2011, and 
from Yixing Union on May 9, 2011. The Department issued a third 
supplemental questionnaire to Yixing Union and RZBC on May 11, and May 
16, 2011, respectively. Yixing Union responded to the third 
supplemental questionnaire on May 17, 2011, and RZBC responded to this 
questionnaire on May 19, 2011.
    On August 16, 2010, Petitioners submitted new subsidy allegations 
requesting the Department examine two alleged subsidy programs that it 
had deferred examining in the investigation and one additional program, 
national policy lending. On December 2, 2010, Petitioners requested 
that the Department extend the deadline to submit new subsidy 
allegations. In response to Petitioners' request, the Department 
extended the deadline to submit new subsidy allegations until December 
10, 2010. See Department's Letter to Petitioners granting their 
extension request (December 3, 2010), which is on file in the Central 
Records Unit (``CRU'') in room 7046 in the main Department building. On 
December 10, 2010, Petitioners submitted new subsidy allegations 
requesting the Department expand its countervailing duty administrative 
review to include five additional subsidy programs, and separately 
requesting that the Department investigate Yixing Union's 
creditworthiness. The Department rejected the new subsidy allegations 
because the Petitioners failed to adequately identify the originators 
of the business proprietary information included in the submission, and 
it provided Petitioners with the opportunity to resubmit these 
allegations by December 15, 2010. The Petitioners resubmitted the 
allegations on December 15, 2010.
    In response to Petitioners' new subsidy allegations, RZBC, the GOC, 
and Yixing Union (collectively, ``Respondents'') submitted comments on 
December 27, December 28, and December 30, 2010, respectively. 
Petitioners submitted a rebuttal to these comments on January 25, 2011. 
The Department removed the Petitioners' January 25 rebuttal submission 
from the record on February 17, 2011, because it contained untimely new 
factual information. Petitioners submitted a revised rebuttal to 
Respondents' comments on the new subsidy allegation on February 18, 
2011, which excluded the untimely new factual information. On February 
22, 2011, the Department issued a memorandum recommending investigating 
four of the five new subsidy allegations, as well as investigating 
Yixing Union's creditworthiness for long-term loans outstanding during 
the POR that originated between 2004 and 2009 and non-recurring 
subsidies for which we need to calculate a discount rate. See 
Memorandum to Susan H. Kuhbach, Director, Office 1 from David Layton 
and Seth Isenberg, International Trade Compliance Analysts, Office 1, 
``Analysis of New Subsidy Allegations'' (February 10, 2011) (``NSA 
Memorandum''). On February 22, 2011, we issued questionnaires on the 
new subsidy allegations to the GOC, RZBC, and Yixing Union. We received 
responses to these new subsidy allegation questionnaires from the GOC, 
Yixing Union and RZBC on March 18, 2011. The Department issued first 
supplemental questionnaires on the new subsidy allegations to RZBC and 
Yixing Union on March 28, 2011, and to the GOC on April 14, 2011. RZBC 
and Yixing Union responded to the first supplemental questionnaires on 
April 4, 2011. We received responses to the first new subsidy 
allegation supplemental questionnaire from the GOC on April 27 and May 
4, 2011. The Department issued second supplemental questionnaires on 
the new subsidy allegations to RZBC and Yixing Union

[[Page 33221]]

on April 14, 2011, and to the GOC on May 3, 2011. RZBC responded to its 
second new subsidy allegation supplemental questionnaire on May 3, 
2011, and Yixing Union responded to its second new subsidy allegation 
supplemental questionnaire on May 3 and May 6, 2011.
    On January 14, 2011, we published a postponement of the preliminary 
results in this review until May 31, 2011. See Citric Acid and Certain 
Citrate Salts from People's Republic of China: Extension of Time Limit 
for the Preliminary Results of the Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review, 76 FR 2648 (January 14, 2011).
    On April 27, 2011, Petitioners filed an allegation that RZBC Co., 
RZBC I&E, and RZBC Juxian were uncreditworthy from 2006 to 2009. We 
intend to address this allegation after issuance of these preliminary 
results.
    On May 18, 2011, the GOC filed information to supplement its May 
17, 2011, response to the Department's second new subsidy allegation 
supplemental questionnaire. The GOC did not request an extension for 
the deadline to submit this information. Therefore, in accordance with 
19 CFR 351.302(d), the Department will return the May 18, 2011, filing 
to the GOC as untimely filed.
    On May 13, 2011, Petitioners submitted information to rebut RZBC's 
May 3, 2011, new subsidy allegation supplemental questionnaire 
response. This submission included an alternate financial statement 
that RZBC allegedly filed with the Chinese Administrative Bureau of 
Industry and Commerce (``AIC''), as well as a sworn statement from a 
chemical expert that disputes RZBC's reported sulfuric acid 
consumption. On May 19, 2011, Petitioners submitted information to 
rebut Yixing Union's May 9, 2011, supplemental questionnaire response. 
This submission included an alternate financial statement that Yixing 
Union allegedly filed with the AIC. On May 24, 2011, Petitioners 
submitted comments arguing that the Department should apply total 
adverse facts available (``AFA'') to both RZBC and Yixing Union due to 
the alleged existence of alternate financial statements. Further, 
Petitioners' submission argued that the Department should find the 
provision of steam coal for less than adequate remuneration (``LTAR'') 
to be a countervailable subsidy and that a tier-two benchmark should be 
used to calculate the subsidy rate.
    On May 24, 2011, Yixing Union requested that the Department reject 
Petitioners' May 19, 2011 comments as containing untimely filed new 
factual information or deny Petitioners' request for proprietary 
treatment of certain foreign market research included in the May 19, 
2011, comments. Further, Yixing Union noted that it is unable to 
comment on the substance of Petitioners' allegations because of Yixing 
Union's inability to view the May 19, 2011, comments. Yixing Union 
asserts that the information contained in Petitioners' May 19, 2011, 
comments is not authentic.
    These comments submitted by Petitioners and Yixing Union in May 
2011, were filed too late for the Department's consideration in these 
preliminary results.

Scope of the Order

    The scope of the order includes all grades and granulation sizes of 
citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate in their unblended 
forms, whether dry or in solution, and regardless of packaging type. 
The scope also includes blends of citric acid, sodium citrate, and 
potassium citrate; as well as blends with other ingredients, such as 
sugar, where the unblended form(s) of citric acid, sodium citrate, and 
potassium citrate constitute 40 percent or more, by weight, of the 
blend. The scope of the order also includes all forms of crude calcium 
citrate, including dicalcium citrate monohydrate, and tricalcium 
citrate tetrahydrate, which are intermediate products in the production 
of citric acid, sodium citrate, and potassium citrate. The scope of the 
order does not include calcium citrate that satisfies the standards set 
forth in the United States Pharmacopeia and has been mixed with a 
functional excipient, such as dextrose or starch, where the excipient 
constitutes at least 2 percent, by weight, of the product. The scope of 
the order includes the hydrous and anhydrous forms of citric acid, the 
dihydrate and anhydrous forms of sodium citrate, otherwise known as 
citric acid sodium salt, and the monohydrate and monopotassium forms of 
potassium citrate. Sodium citrate also includes both trisodium citrate 
and monosodium citrate, which are also known as citric acid trisodium 
salt and citric acid monosodium salt, respectively. Citric acid and 
sodium citrate are classifiable under 2918.14.0000 and 2918.15.1000 of 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), 
respectively. Potassium citrate and crude calcium citrate are 
classifiable under 2918.15.5000 and 3824.90.9290 of the HTSUS, 
respectively. Blends that include citric acid, sodium citrate, and 
potassium citrate are classifiable under 3824.90.9290 of the HTSUS. 
Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

Scope Rulings

    On November 2, 2010, Aceto Corporation (``Aceto'') requested that 
the Department find its calcium citrate USP to be outside the scope of 
the CVD Order and the antidumping duty orders on citric acid and 
certain citrate salts from the PRC and Canada. See Citric Acid and 
Certain Citrate Salts from Canada and the People's Republic of China: 
Antidumping Duty Orders, 74 FR 25703 (May 29, 2009). On February 14, 
2011, the Department issued a final scope ruling, finding that Aceto's 
product is within the scope of those orders. See Memorandum from 
Christopher Siepmann, International Trade Analyst, to Christian Marsh, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, ``Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts: Scope Ruling for 
Calcium Citrate USP'' (February 14, 2011).
    On July 26, 2010, Global Commodity Group LLC (``GCG'') requested 
that the Department find a blend of citric acid it imports containing 
35 percent citric acid from the PRC and 65 percent citric acid from 
other countries is outside the scope of the CVD Order and the 
antidumping duty order on citric acid and certain citrate salts from 
the PRC. On May 2, 2011, the Department issued a final scope ruling, 
finding that GCG's product is within the scope of those orders. See 
Memorandum from Christopher Siepmann, International Trade Analyst, to 
Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Operations, ``Citric Acid and Certain Citrate 
Salts: Final Determination on Scope Inquiry for Blended Citrate Acid 
from the People's Republic of China and Other Countries (May 2, 2011). 
Pursuant to this ruling, we have instructed U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (``CBP'') that the quantity of citric acid from the PRC in 
the commingled merchandise is subject to the CVD and AD orders. We have 
also instructed the CBP that if the quantity of citric acid from the 
PRC in a commingled shipment cannot be accurately determined, then the 
entire commingled quantity is subject to the orders.

Period of Review

    The period for which we are measuring subsidies, i.e., the period 
of review (``POR''), is September 19, 2008,

[[Page 33222]]

through December 31, 2009.\1\ Because the POR spans two calendar years, 
we are calculating separate countervailing duty rates for September 19, 
2008, through December 31, 2008; and January 1, 2009, through December 
31, 2009.
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    \1\ For the purposes of the final results, we intend to analyze 
data for the period January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, to 
determine the subsidy rate for exports of subject merchandise made 
during the period in 2008 when liquidation of entries was suspended. 
In addition, we have analyzed data for the period January 1, 2009, 
through December 31, 2009, to determine the subsidy rate for exports 
during that period. The 2009 subsidy rate will serve as the cash 
deposit rate for exports of subject merchandise subsequent to the 
publication of the final results of this administrative review. See 
``Programs for Which More Information Is Required,'' below.
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Application of the Countervailing Duty Law to Imports From the PRC

    On October 25, 2007, the Department published Coated Free Sheet 
Paper from the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative 
Countervailing Duty Determination, 72 FR 60645 (October 25, 2007) 
(``CFS from the PRC''), and the accompanying Issues and Decision 
Memorandum (``CFS Decision Memorandum''). In CFS from the PRC, the 
Department found that

    given the substantial difference between the Soviet-style 
economies and China's economy in recent years, the Department's 
previous decision not to apply the CVD law to these Soviet-style 
economies does not act as {a{time}  bar to proceeding with a CVD 
investigation involving products from China.

    See CFS Decision Memorandum, at Comment 6. The Department has 
affirmed its decision to apply the CVD law to the PRC in subsequent 
final determinations. See, e.g., Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel 
Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative 
Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Affirmative Determination 
of Critical Circumstances, 73 FR 31966 (June 5, 2008) (``CWP from the 
PRC''), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (``CWP Decision 
Memorandum''), at Comment 1.
    Additionally, for the reasons stated in the CWP Decision 
Memorandum, we are using the date of December 11, 2001, the date on 
which the PRC became a member of the World Trade Organization 
(``WTO''), as the date from which the Department will identify and 
measure subsidies in the PRC. See CWP Decision Memorandum, at Comment 
2.

Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences

    Sections 776(a)(1) and (2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(``the Act''), provide that the Department shall apply ``facts 
otherwise available'' if necessary information is not on the record or 
an interested party or any other person: (A) Withholds information that 
has been requested; (B) fails to provide information within the 
deadlines established, or in the form and manner requested by the 
Department, subject to subsections (c)(1) and (e) of section 782 of the 
Act; (C) significantly impedes a proceeding; or (D) provides 
information that cannot be verified as provided by section 782(i) of 
the Act.
    Section 776(b) of the Act further provides that the Department may 
use an adverse inference in applying the facts otherwise available when 
a party has failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its 
ability to comply with a request for information.
    The Department's practice when selecting an adverse rate from among 
the possible sources of information is to ensure that the result is 
sufficiently adverse ``as to effectuate the statutory purposes of the 
adverse facts available rule to induce respondents to provide the 
Department with complete and accurate information in a timely manner.'' 
See Notice of Final Determination of Sales at Less than Fair Value: 
Static Random Access Memory Semiconductors From Taiwan, 63 FR 8909, 
8932 (February 23, 1998). The Department's practice also ensures ``that 
the party does not obtain a more favorable result by failing to 
cooperate than if it had cooperated fully.'' See Statement of 
Administrative Action (``SAA'') accompanying the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act, H.R. Doc. No. 103-316, vol. 1 at 870 (1994)

RZBC--Sulfuric Acid

    We requested the respondent companies to provide detailed 
information on all of their purchases of sulfuric acid during the POR, 
including the identities of the producers of the sulfuric acid. See, 
e.g., RZBC new subsidy questionnaire issued by the Department on 
February 22, 2011, and again in a supplemental questionnaire issued on 
April 14, 2011. RZBC identified certain producers of the sulfuric acid 
it purchased. However, for some sulfuric acid purchases, RZBC failed to 
provide the requested producer information.
    We preliminarily determine that RZBC withheld necessary information 
that was requested of it and, thus, that the Department must rely on 
``facts available'' for these preliminary results. See section 
776(a)(2)(A) of the Act. Moreover, we preliminarily determine that RZBC 
failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability to comply 
with our request for information. Consequently, an adverse inference is 
warranted in the application of facts available. See section 776(b) of 
the Act.
    Due to RZBC's failure to identify the producers of certain sulfuric 
acid it purchased, we are assuming adversely that these suppliers of 
sulfuric acid are ``authorities'' within the meaning of section 
771(5)(B) of the Act.

GOC--Sulfuric Acid

    On February 22, April 14, and May 3, 2011, we requested information 
from the GOC about the specific companies that produced the sulfuric 
acid purchased by the mandatory respondents. Specifically, we asked the 
GOC to provide particular ownership information for these producers so 
that we could determine whether the producers are ``authorities'' 
within the meaning of section 771(5)(B) of the Act. Although the GOC 
provided some of the requested information, it failed to provide 
certain necessary information. In particular, for certain suppliers, no 
information was submitted; for certain other suppliers that had some 
direct corporate ownership, the GOC failed to provide articles of 
association for each level of ownership, information as to whether any 
of the owners, members of the boards of directors or managers were also 
government officials or Chinese Communist Party (``CCP'') officials, or 
whether operational and strategic decisions made by the management or 
boards of directors are subject to government review or approval; and 
for other suppliers that were directly owned by individuals, the GOC 
generally failed to address whether any of the owners, members or the 
boards of directors or managers were also government officials or CCP 
officials, or whether operational and strategic decisions made by the 
management or boards of directors are subject to government review or 
approval.
    We preliminarily determine that the GOC has withheld necessary 
information that was requested of it and, thus, that the Department 
must rely on ``facts available'' for these preliminary results. See 
section 776(a)(2)(A) of the Act. Moreover, we preliminarily determine 
that the GOC has failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its 
ability to comply with our request for information. The GOC is well 
aware of the Department's reporting requirements by now, yet, despite 
being given multiple opportunities, it either stated that it had 
contacted local authorities for the information or it simply did not 
submit requested information. Consequently, an adverse inference is 
warranted in the application of facts available. See section 776(b) of 
the Act.

[[Page 33223]]

    Due to the GOC's failure to provide the requested ownership 
information about the producers of the sulfuric acid purchased by the 
respondents, we are assuming adversely that all of the respondents' 
suppliers of sulfuric acid are ``authorities.''

GOC--Steam Coal

    On February 22, April 14, and May 3, 2011, we requested information 
from the GOC about the specific companies that produced the steam coal 
purchased by Yixing Union Co.'s parent, Cogeneration. Specifically, we 
asked the GOC to provide particular ownership information for these 
producers so that we could determine whether the producers are 
``authorities'' within the meaning of section 771(5)(B) of the Act. 
Although the GOC provided some of the requested information, it failed 
to provide certain necessary information. In particular, for certain 
suppliers, no information was submitted; for certain other suppliers 
that had some direct corporate ownership, the GOC failed to provide 
articles of association for each level of ownership, information as to 
whether any of the owners, members of the boards of directors or 
managers were also government officials or CCP officials, or whether 
operational and strategic decisions made by the management or boards of 
directors are subject to government review or approval; and for other 
suppliers that were directly owned by individuals, the GOC generally 
failed to address whether any of the owners, members or the boards of 
directors or managers were also government officials or CCP officials, 
or whether operational and strategic decisions made by the management 
or boards of directors are subject to government review or approval. 
For one coal supplier directly owned by individuals, the GOC responded 
that none of the owners was a government or CCP official, but did not 
address whether managers or board members were.
    We preliminarily determine that the GOC has withheld necessary 
information that was requested of it and, thus, that the Department 
must rely on ``facts available'' for these preliminary results. See 
section 776(a)(2)(A) of the Act. Moreover, we preliminarily determine 
that the GOC has failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its 
ability to comply with our request for information. The GOC is well 
aware of the Department's reporting requirements by now, yet, despite 
being given multiple opportunities, it simply did not submit requested 
information. Consequently, an adverse inference is warranted in the 
application of facts available. See section 776(b) of the Act.
    Due to the GOC's failure to provide the requested ownership 
information about the producers of the steam coal purchased by 
Cogeneration, we are assuming adversely that all of that company's 
suppliers of steam coal are ``authorities.''

GOC--RZBC's and Yixing Union's ``Other Subsidies''

    The financial statements and tax returns submitted by the 
responding companies indicated that they received potentially 
countervailable subsidies in the form of grants. Consequently, we 
sought further information from the responding companies about these 
grants, and also asked the GOC to provide information about the 
programs under which these grants were given. See, e.g., supplemental 
questionnaires issued to Respondents on February 28, 2011, and the 
supplemental questionnaire issued to the GOC on April 21, 2011.
    For certain programs identified below under ``Programs 
Preliminarily Determined to be Countervailable: Other Subsidies,'' 
information submitted by the GOC and/or the company respondents showed 
that the grants were specific and countervailable. We normally rely on 
information from the government to assess program specificity, however, 
the GOC did not submit this information in all instances. Where Yixing 
Union or RZBC have submitted information about the specificity of 
programs included in ``other subsidies,'' we have relied upon this 
information to make our determinations. However, for the remaining 
grants, addressed under ``Programs Preliminarily Determined to 
Countervailable: Other Subsidies'', the GOC did not provide the 
requested information about the programs under which they were given 
and the company-provided information was limited to the amount given, 
the date of the grant, and the granting authority. Where none of the 
Respondents has provided information that would allow us to determine 
the specificity of the ``other subsidies'' we have relied upon AFA for 
our determination.
    For certain additional programs identified below under ``Programs 
Preliminarily Determined Not to Confer a Measurable Benefit During the 
POR,'' the subsidy did not result in a measurable benefit, or the 
benefit was expensed prior to the POR (see 19 CFR 351.524(a)(2)).
    We preliminarily determine that the GOC has withheld necessary 
information that was requested of it and, thus, that the Department 
must rely on ``facts available'' for these preliminary results. See 
section 776(a)(2)(A) of the Act. Moreover, we preliminarily determine 
that the GOC has failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of its 
ability to comply with our request for information. Consequently, an 
adverse inference is warranted in the application of facts available. 
See section 776(b) of the Act.
    Due to the GOC's failure to provide the requested information about 
the programs under which the grants received by RZBC and Yixing Union 
were provided, we are assuming adversely that these grants are being 
provided to a specific enterprise or industry, or group of enterprises 
or industries. See section 771(5A) of the Act.
Subsidies Valuation Information

Allocation Period

    The average useful life (``AUL'') period in this proceeding, as 
described in 19 CFR 351.524(d)(2), is 9.5 years according to the U.S. 
Internal Revenue Service's 1977 Class Life Asset Depreciation Range 
System for assets used to manufacture the subject merchandise. 
Consistent with the Department's practice, we have rounded the 9.5 
years up to 10 years for purposes of setting the AUL. See Polyethylene 
Terephthalate Film, Sheet, and Strip From India: Preliminary Results 
and Rescission, in Part, of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, 
72 FR 43607, 43608 (August 6, 2007), unchanged in final, 72 FR at 
43608.

Attribution of Subsidies

    The Department's regulations at 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(i) state that 
the Department will normally attribute a subsidy to the products 
produced by the corporation that received the subsidy. However, 19 CFR 
351.525(b)(6)(ii)-(iv) direct the Department to attribute subsidies 
received by certain other companies to the combined sales of those 
companies if (1) cross-ownership exists between the companies, and (2) 
the cross-owned companies produce the subject merchandise, are a 
holding or parent company of the subject company, or produce an input 
that is primarily dedicated to the production of the downstream 
product. In the case of a transfer of a subsidy between cross-owned 
companies, 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(v) directs the Department to attribute 
the subsidy to the sales of the company that receives the transferred 
subsidy.
    According to 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(vi), cross-ownership exists

[[Page 33224]]

between two or more corporations where one corporation can use or 
direct the individual assets of the other corporation(s) in essentially 
the same ways it can use its own assets. This regulation states that 
this standard will normally be met where there is a majority voting 
interest between two corporations or through common ownership of two 
(or more) corporations.
    The Court of International Trade (``CIT'') has upheld the 
Department's authority to attribute subsidies based on whether a 
company could use or direct the subsidy benefits of another company in 
essentially the same way it could use its own subsidy benefits. See 
Fabrique de Fer de Charleroi v. United States, 166 F. Supp. 2d 593, 
600-604 (CIT 2001).

RZBC

    RZBC Co. responded to the Department's original and supplemental 
questionnaires on behalf of itself, RZBC Group, RZBC Juxian and RZBC 
I&E. RZBC Co., RZBC Juxian, and RZBC I&E are wholly owned by RZBC Group 
and, hence, are cross-owned within the meaning of 19 CFR 
351.525(b)(6)(vi). RZBC Co. and RZBC Juxian are both producers of 
subject merchandise; RZBC I&E is an exporter of subject merchandise; 
and RZBC Group is a headquarters company and does not produce any 
merchandise. Consequently, the subsidies received by these companies 
are being attributed according to the rules established in 19 CFR 
351.525(b)(6)(ii), (c), and (b)(6)(iii), respectively. Moreover, 
different cross-owned affiliates among RZBC Co., RZBC Juxian, and RZBC 
I&E sell merchandise produced by RZBC Co. and RZBC Juxian to 
unaffiliated parties for both export and domestic sales. Therefore, to 
attribute properly the benefit from subsidies to RZBC Co. or RZBC 
Juxian we are preliminarily using the sales of RZBC Co.--or RZBC 
Juxian--produced merchandise by any of the three cross-owned affiliates 
to unaffiliated companies.
    In its questionnaire responses, RZBC also identified prior owners 
of the company, i.e., companies that owned RZBC Co. prior to the POR, 
but since the cut-off date of December 11, 2001. Given the level of 
these companies' ownership in RZBC Co., we asked that RZBC also respond 
on their behalf. These responses were submitted on May 10, 2011.
    Based on the information provided by RZBC, we preliminarily 
determine that these prior owners are ``cross-owned'' with the RZBC 
companies (see 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(vi)). However, for these 
preliminary results we do not have the correct sales data to attribute 
certain subsidies the prior owners may have received. Moreover, we will 
provide the GOC an opportunity to submit information on the programs 
under which possible subsidies may have been granted. Therefore, with 
the exception of Shandong Province Policy Loans (for which no further 
information is required), we intend to address assistance to RZBC's 
prior owners in a post-preliminary analysis.
    Also, RZBC I&E reported that it exports subject merchandise 
produced by other, unaffiliated companies, but that this merchandise 
was not exported to the United States during the POR. Although any 
subsidies to the unaffiliated producers would normally be cumulated 
with those of the trading company that sold their merchandise pursuant 
to 19 CFR 351.525(c), the Department has, in some instances, limited 
the number of producers it examines where their merchandise was not 
exported to the United States during the POR or accounted for a very 
small share of respondent's exports to the United States. See, e.g., 
Certain Pasta from Italy: Final Results of the Fourth Countervailing 
Duty Administrative Review, 66 FR 64214 (December 12, 2001), and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at ``Attribution.'' In this 
review, we have not sent CVD questionnaires to the unaffiliated 
producers of citric acid whose merchandise was exported by RZBC I&E 
because their merchandise was not exported to the United States during 
the POR. Also, we have removed the sales of these products from RZBC 
I&E's sales for purposes of calculating countervailable subsidy rates 
for RZBC.

Yixing Union

    Yixing Union Co. responded to the Department's original and 
supplemental questionnaires on behalf of itself and its parent and 
electricity supplier, Cogeneration. Yixing Union Co. and Cogeneration 
were found to be cross-owned in the investigation. See Citric Acid and 
Certain Citrate Salts From the People's Republic of China: Final 
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 74 FR 16836 (April 9, 
2009) (``Citric Acid from the PRC'' or ``Investigation''), and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (``Citric Acid Decision 
Memorandum'') at 9-10 and Comment 27.
    We continue to find that Yixing Union Co. and Cogeneration are 
cross-owned within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(vi). Further, 
because Cogeneration is the parent of Yixing Union Co., we are 
attributing the subsidies received by Cogeneration according to the 
rule established in 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(iii).

Benchmarks and Discount Rates

    The Department is investigating loans received by RZBC and Yixing 
Union from Chinese policy banks and state-owned commercial banks 
(``SOCBs''), as well as non-recurring, allocable subsidies (see 19 CFR 
351.524(b)(1)). The derivation of the benchmark and discount rates used 
to value these subsidies is discussed below. Benchmark for Short-Term 
Renminbi (``RMB'') Denominated Loans: Section 771(5)(E)(ii) of the Act 
explains that the benefit for loans is the ``difference between the 
amount the recipient of the loan pays on the loan and the amount the 
recipient would pay on a comparable commercial loan that the recipient 
could actually obtain on the market.'' Normally, the Department uses 
comparable commercial loans reported by the company for benchmarking 
purposes. See 19 CFR 351.505(a)(3)(i). If the firm did not have any 
comparable commercial loans during the period, the Department's 
regulations provide that we ``may use a national interest rate for 
comparable commercial loans.'' See 19 CFR 351.505(a)(3)(ii).
    As noted above, section 771(5)(E)(ii) of the Act indicates that the 
benchmark should be a market-based rate. However, for the reasons 
explained in CFS from the PRC, loans provided by Chinese banks reflect 
significant government intervention in the banking sector and do not 
reflect rates that would be found in a functioning market. See CFS 
Decision Memorandum at Comment 10. Because of this, any loans received 
by respondents from private Chinese or foreign-owned banks in the PRC 
would be unsuitable for use as benchmarks under 19 CFR 
351.505(a)(2)(i). Similarly, because of the Chinese government's 
significant presence in the banking sector, we cannot use a national 
interest rate for commercial loans as envisaged by 19 CFR 
351.505(a)(3)(ii). Therefore, because of the special difficulties 
inherent in using a Chinese benchmark for loans, the Department is 
selecting an external, market-based benchmark interest rate. The use of 
an external benchmark is consistent with the Department's practice. For 
example, in Softwood Lumber from Canada, the Department used U.S. 
timber prices to measure the benefit for government-provided timber in 
Canada. See Notice of Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty 
Determination and Final Negative Critical Circumstances Determination: 
Certain Softwood Lumber Products From Canada, 67 FR 15545 (April 2, 
2002) (``Softwood Lumber from

[[Page 33225]]

Canada''), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (``Softwood 
Lumber Decision Memorandum'') at ``Analysis of Programs, Provincial 
Stumpage Programs Determined to Confer Subsidies, Benefit.''
    We are calculating the external benchmark using the regression-
based methodology first developed in CFS from the PRC and more recently 
updated in LWTP from the PRC. See CFS Decision Memorandum at Comment 
10; Lightweight Thermal Paper from the People's Republic of China: 
Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 73 FR 57323 
(October 2, 2008) (``LWTP from the PRC''), and accompanying Issues and 
Decision Memorandum (``LWTP Decision Memorandum''). See also LWTP 
Decision Memorandum at ``Benchmarks and Discount Rates.'' This 
benchmark interest rate is based on the inflation-adjusted interest 
rates of countries with per capita gross national incomes (``GNIs'') 
similar to the PRC. The benchmark interest rate takes into account a 
key factor involved in interest rate formation (i.e., the quality of a 
country's institutions), which is not directly tied to the state-
imposed distortions in the banking sector discussed above.
    Following the methodology developed in CFS from the PRC, we first 
determined which countries are similar to the PRC in terms of GNI, 
based on the World Bank's classification of countries as: low income; 
lower-middle income; upper-middle income; and high income. The PRC 
falls in the lower-middle income category, a group that includes 55 
countries.\2\ As explained in CFS from the PRC, this pool of countries 
captures the broad inverse relationship between income and interest 
rates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See The World Bank Country Classification, http://econ.worldbank.org/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Many of these countries reported lending and inflation rates to the 
International Monetary Fund and are included in that agency's 
international financial statistics (``IFS''). With the exceptions noted 
below, we have used the interest and inflation rates reported in the 
IFS for the countries identified as ``low middle income'' by the World 
Bank. First, we did not include those economies that the Department 
considered to be non-market economies for antidumping duty purposes for 
any part of the years in question, for example: Armenia, Azerbaijan, 
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Turkmenistan. Second, the pool 
necessarily excludes any country that did not report both lending and 
inflation rates to IFS for those years. Third, we removed any country 
that reported a rate that was not a lending rate or that based its 
lending rate on foreign-currency denominated instruments. For example, 
Jordan reported a deposit rate, not a lending rate, and the rates 
reported by Ecuador and Timor L'Este are dollar-denominated rates; 
therefore, the rates for these three countries have been excluded. 
Finally, for the calculation of the inflation-adjusted short-term 
benchmark rate, we also excluded any countries with aberrational or 
negative real interest rates for the year in question.
    Because these are inflation-adjusted benchmarks, it is necessary to 
adjust the respondent's interest payments for inflation. This was done 
using the PRC inflation rate as reported in the IFS.
    Benchmark for Long-Term RMB Denominated Loans: The lending rates 
reported in the IFS represent short- and medium-term lending, and there 
are no sufficient publicly available long-term interest rate data upon 
which to base a robust long-term benchmark. To address this problem, 
the Department has developed an adjustment to the short- and medium-
term rates to convert them to long-term rates using Bloomberg U.S. 
corporate BB-rated bond rates. See LWTP Decision Memorandum at 
``Benchmarks and Discount Rates.'' In Citric Acid from the PRC, this 
methodology was revised by switching from a long-term mark-up based on 
the ratio of the rates of BB-rated bonds to applying a spread which is 
calculated as the difference between the two-year BB bond rate and the 
n-year BB bond rate, where n equals or approximates the number of years 
of the term of the loan in question. See Citric Acid Decision 
Memorandum at Comment 14. Finally, because these long-term rates are 
net of inflation as noted above, we adjusted the benchmark to include 
an inflation component.
    Benchmarks for Foreign Currency-Denominated Loans: For foreign 
currency-denominated short-term loans, the Department used as a 
benchmark the one-year dollar interest rates for the LIBOR, plus the 
average spread between LIBOR and the one-year corporate bond rates for 
companies with a BB rating. See LWTP Decision Memorandum at 10. For 
long-term foreign currency-denominated loans, the Department added the 
applicable short-term LIBOR rate to a spread which is calculated as the 
difference between the one-year BB bond rate and the n-year BB bond 
rate, where n equals or approximates the number of years of the term of 
the loan in question.
    Uncreditworthiness Benchmark: As discussed below, the Department is 
preliminarily finding that Yixing Union was uncreditworthy in 2009. To 
construct the uncreditworthy benchmark rate for those years, we used 
the long-term rates described above as the ``long-term interest rate 
that would be paid by a creditworthy company'' in the formula presented 
in 19 CFR 351.505(a)(3)(iii).
    Discount Rates: Consistent with 19 CFR 351.524(d)(3)(i)(A), we have 
used, as our discount rate, the long-term interest rate calculated 
according to the methodology described above for the year in which the 
government agreed to provide the subsidy.
    For the calculated benchmark and discount rates, see Memorandum to 
the File from Shane Subler, International Trade Compliance Analyst, 
Office 1, AD/CVD Operations, regarding ``Benchmark Interest Rates'' 
(March 28, 2011).

Creditworthiness

    The examination of creditworthiness is an attempt to determine if 
the company in question could obtain long-term financing from 
conventional commercial sources. See 19 CFR 351.505(a)(4). According to 
19 CFR 351.505(a)(4)(i), the Department will generally consider a firm 
to be uncreditworthy if, based on information available at the time of 
the government-provided loan, the firm could not have obtained long-
term loans from conventional commercial sources. In making this 
determination, according to 19 CFR 351.505(a)(4)(i)(A)-(D), the 
Department normally examines the following four types of information: 
(1) Receipt by the firm of comparable commercial long-term loans; (2) 
present and past indicators of the firm's financial health; (3) present 
and past indicators of the firm's ability to meet its costs and fixed 
financial obligations with its cash flow; and (4) evidence of the 
firm's future financial position. If a firm has taken out long-term 
loans from commercial sources, this will normally be dispositive of the 
firm's creditworthiness. However, if the firm is government-owned, the 
existence of commercial borrowings is not dispositive of the firm's 
creditworthiness. This is because, in the case of a government-owned 
firm, a bank is likely to consider that the government will repay the 
loan in the event of a default. See Countervailing Duties; Final Rule, 
63 FR 65348, 65367 (November 25, 1998). For government-owned firms, we 
will make our creditworthiness determination by examining receipt by 
the firm of comparable commercial long-term loans

[[Page 33226]]

and the other factors listed in 19 CFR 351.505 (a)(4)(i).

Yixing Union

    Petitioners alleged that Yixing Union was uncreditworthy for the 
period 2004 through 2009. For purposes of these preliminary results, we 
have limited our analysis to 2009. As discussed below, the Department 
has preliminarily determined that Yixing Union received countervailable 
national policy loans in that year. During the years 2006--2008, 
neither Yixing Union Co. nor Cogeneration received countervailable 
loans or allocable subsidies. For 2004 and 2005, as discussed below in 
the ``Programs for Which More Information is Required'' section, the 
Department requires additional information related to Cogeneration in 
order to complete its creditworthiness analysis.
    Based on our analysis of the information described in 19 CFR 
351.505(a)(4)(i)(A)-(D), we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
Co. was uncreditworthy in 2009. Yixing Union Co. did not receive 
commercial long-term loans in that year; its financial information 
indicated that the company could have problems meeting its costs and 
financial obligations with its cash flow, making it a significant 
credit risk to lenders; and there was no record evidence to suggest 
that the health of the citric acid industry or Yixing Union was due to 
improve in the near future. For further analysis, see Memorandum from 
Austin Redington, International Trade Compliance Analyst, through 
Yasmin Nair, Program Manager, to Susan Kuhbach, Senior Office Director, 
``Preliminary Creditworthiness Determination for Yixing-Union 
Biochemical Co., Ltd. and Yixing-Union Cogeneration Co., Ltd.,'' dated 
May 31, 2011.

RZBC

    As noted above in the ``Background'' section, Petitioners filed an 
allegation that RZBC Co., RZBC I&E, and RZBC Juxian were uncreditworthy 
in years 2006 through 2009. We intend to address this allegation 
following the issuance of these preliminary results and will provide 
the parties with an opportunity to comment on our finding.

I. Programs Preliminarily Determined To Be Countervailable

A. Government Policy Lending
    In the Investigation, the Department found that the Shandong 
Provincial government supported its citric acid industry with policy 
loans, i.e., that loans made by policy banks and SOCBs in Shandong 
province conferred a subsidy on citric acid producers in Shandong. We 
also found that there was not a national program or a Jiangsu Province 
program of policy lending to citric acid producers. See Citric Acid 
Decision Memorandum at Comment 5. In this review, Petitioners provided 
new evidence that caused the Department to examine again allegations of 
national and Jiangsu provincial policy lending programs. See NSA 
Memorandum (February 10, 2011).
    As explained below, we preliminarily determine that a national 
level policy lending program exists for citric acid as part of China's 
``light industry'' and that there is not a Jiangsu Province policy 
lending program for citric acid. Because no information has been 
provided that would cause us to reach a different determination from 
the Investigation for Shandong Province, we preliminarily determine 
that the Shandong government's policy lending program continues.
National Policy Lending
    In the Investigation, the Department concluded that there was not 
substantial evidence of policy lending to the citric acid industry at 
the national level because record evidence indicated that citric acid 
was not considered to be a ``new biochemical product'' targeted for 
support in the Decision No. 40 and the Catalogue on Readjustment of 
Industrial Structural Adjustment. See Citric Acid Decision Memorandum 
at Comment 5, pages 52-53. In their new subsidy allegations for this 
administrative review, Petitioners provided evidence in the form of the 
USDA report concerning GOC support of industrial corn processors and 
GOC key product and high and new technology enterprise certificates 
held by a citric acid respondent company. Petitioners argue that the 
USDA report identifies industrial corn processors, including citric 
acid producers as a ``key industry'' for government support in 2000 and 
also indicates that ``the industry was singled out for support in 
China's five-year plans for 2000-05 and 2009-10.'' Petitioners also 
argue that the special certificates held by RZBC that recognize it as a 
producer of a national key new product and recognize RZBC as a high and 
new technology enterprise reinforce the Petitioners' arguments from the 
investigation that citric acid is part of the encouraged new 
biochemical and food additive product categories. See Petitioners' 
Additional Subsidy Allegation (December 15, 2010) (``PNSA2'') at 18-19.
    In its initial new subsidy allegation questionnaire response, dated 
March 18, 2011 (``GNSAQR''), the GOC states that citric acid is not 
considered a ``new biochemical product'' in the PRC, but instead ``is 
classified as light industry product as most citric acid is consumed by 
the food and beverage industry with``{o{time} nly 10% of citric acid 
produced is used in the chemical industry''.\3\ See GNSAQR at 17. In 
response to further questions on what constitutes a ``new biochemical 
product,'' the GOC stated that there are no official criteria that the 
National Development and Reform Commission (``NDRC'') uses to determine 
what constitutes a, ``new biochemical product,'' other than it is not 
citric acid. The GOC provided a letter from the NDRC reiterating the 
preceding points and stating that ``citric acid does not constitute a 
`new biochemical product.' '' See GOC New Subsidy Allegation First 
Supplemental Questionnaire Response (Part 1), (April 27, 2011) 
(``GNSASQR1, Part 1'') at 6-7 and Exhibit 1. The NDRC letter also 
stated that ``{g{time} iven that China's citric acid manufacturing 
technology is well-developed and the production capacity is redundant, 
relevant government agencies have placed constraints on the development 
of the industry since 2005.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ We have requested that GOC clarify what is included in the 
10% portion of citric acid used by the chemical industry, but to 
date the GOC has not responded to this.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The GOC also dismissed Petitioners' claims regarding the responding 
company's certificates, stating that RZBC's ``national key new 
product'' certificate was specific to the production of a specialized 
medical grade citric acid, and that it expired at the end of 2008. See 
GOC Comments on Petitioners' Additional New Subsidy Allegation, 
(December 27, 2010) (``GOC NSA Comments'') at 11-12. With regard to 
RZBC's high and new technology designation, the GOC has reported that 
this certificate was provided under the auspices of the program for 
``Reduced Income Tax Rate for High or New Technology Enterprises,'' 
also addressed in the GOC's responses. See GOC Questionnaire Response 
(November 15, 2010) (``GQR''), at 16-24 and Exhibits I-8 and I-9; GOC 
Supplemental Questionnaire Response (February 28, 2011) (``GSQR''), at 
6.
    To document citric acid's classification as a light industry, the 
GOC provided a copy of the Notice of the State Council on Light 
Industry Adjustment and Revitalization Plan (``Light Industry Plan'') 
and the Guiding Category for Phasing-out outdated manufacturing devices 
and Products of Certain Industries (2010 edition) (``2010 Phase-out 
Plan''). See GNSAQR (March

[[Page 33227]]

18, 2011) at Exhibits 11 and 12. The GOC argues that Chinese government 
planners consider citric acid to be a developed industry with redundant 
and outdated production capacity and, thus, it is counterintuitive that 
it would also be included with the encouraged industry categories in 
the plans and catalogues. The GOC points to specific statements in the 
Light Industry Plan, the 2010 Phase-out Plan, the 2007 On Healthy 
Development of the Corn Industrial Processing Industry (``Corn 
Processor Plan''), at GNSAQR (March 18, 2011) at Exhibit 8, and 2006 
Urgent Strengthening the Administration of Corn Deep Processing 
Projects, which note overcapacity in citric acid production and which 
mandate the elimination of outdated citric acid operations and the 
reduction of citric acid development projects.
    As in the Investigation, we do not have any government plans or 
other policy directives on the record that lay out objectives or goals 
for developing the citric acid industry per se. In particular, while 
the GOC reports that citric acid production is a light industry, that 
product is not specifically named in the Light Industry Plan. 
Nonetheless, the evidence on the record supports the GOC's statement.
    A central guideline of the Light Industry Plan, which reflects 
general objectives from the national 11th Five Year Plan for Economic 
and Social Development,\4\ is to ``focus on promoting structural 
adjustment and industrial upgrading by accelerating self-directed 
innovation implementing technological reform, building our own brand 
and eliminating the backward productions.'' See GNSAQR (March 18, 2011) 
at Exhibit 11 (Light Industry Plan at Section 2.A). As a basic 
principle, the Light Industry Plan states that it will ``focus on key 
industries'' and ``nurture key enterprises''. See Light Industry Plan 
at 2(B)b. Under the section outlining the ``main tasks'' of the plan, 
the GOC states it will ``promote technological innovation and 
industrialization'' by establishing a ``public service platform for 
technological innovation of key sectors'' including ``the technology 
innovation alliance of paper, fermentation, wine, sugar and leather 
industries.'' (emphasis added)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Guidelines of the 11th Five Year Plan for Economic and 
Social Development at Chapter 3, ``Major Objectives of Economic and 
Social Development. These major objectives include 
``{o{time} ptimization and upgrading of industrial structure.'' See 
Memorandum To File from David Layton: Placement of Guidelines of the 
11th Five Year Plan for Economic and Social Development on the 
Record, (May 26, 2011), attached English translation of the 
guidelines at 4-5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We know from the Corn Processor Plan that the GOC considers citric 
acid producers to be part of the fermentation industry. See GNSAQR 
(March 18, 2011) at Exhibit 8 (hereafter citations are to the page 
numbers of the English translation in Exhibit 8). The Corn Processor 
Plan includes two different tables in which citric acid is specifically 
referenced as one of several ``fermented goods'' or as part of the 
``fermentation'' industry. See Corn Processor Plan at 14, ``Box2''; 16, 
``Box3.''; and 22 at item 2 of ``Notes of related terms.''
    To accomplish the objectives of the Light Industry Plan, the GOC 
states in the ``Policies and Measures'' section that it will 
``{i{time} ncrease financial support,'' and ``encourage financial 
institutions to increase credit support for light industry 
enterprises.'' See Light Industry Plan at 4(F). It will also 
``encourage guarantee institutions to provide credit guarantee and 
financing services for small and medium sized light industry 
enterprises and ``help light industry enterprises to facilitate trade 
finance * * *.'' Id.
    Finally, the Light Industry Plan states that it will 
``{s{time} trengthen guidance of industrial policy. Develop industrial 
policy and access condition of fermentation, grain, oil, leather, 
batteries, lighting appliances, household glass, plastic sheeting and 
others as soon as possible'' and ``{a{time} djust the `Guiding 
Catalogue of Industrial Structural Adjustment' and `Catalogue for the 
Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries' at appropriate times.'' The 
Department reviewed the 2005 edition of Structural Adjustment Catalogue 
in force during the POR and found no pre-existing specific reference to 
the fermentation industry. However, this section of the Light Industry 
Plan suggests that the GOC would consider adjustment of the Structural 
Adjustment Catalogue to recognize industries encouraged by that 
plan.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ We understand that a new edition of the Structural 
Adjustment Catalogue was published in March 2011. See GNSASQR1, Part 
1 at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In response to our request for additional ``Light Industry Plans'' 
that cover the periods before 2009-2011 (the period covered by the 
Light Industry Plan submitted on this record), the GOC stated that no 
previous light industry plans exist. Accordingly, we have examined the 
2007 Corn Processor Plan to determine whether it lays out objectives or 
goals for developing the citric acid industry and calls for lending to 
support these objectives or goals in the period prior to 2009. We found 
that while the Corn Processor Plan clearly articulates national 
government support for the measured development of industrial corn 
processors (or the ``corn deep processing industry'' as it is 
translated), and is equally clear that citric acid producers are part 
of this group, the plan does not provide a mandate for lending to 
support these objectives. Without a directive to support the plan's 
objectives through credit or loans, this document does not provide a 
basis for finding a program of national policy lending to the citric 
acid industry.
    Therefore, we preliminarily determine that the GOC has a policy in 
place to encourage and support the restructuring and updating of the 
fermentation industry, as one of a limited number of selected key 
sectors of light industry specifically identified in the Light Industry 
Plan. The Light Industry Plan expressly outlines a number of measures 
to support the fermentation industry, including the encouragement of 
financial institutions to provide credit. Moreover, consistent with CFS 
from the PRC, we preliminarily determine that loans from policy banks 
and SOCBs in the PRC constitute a direct financial contribution from 
the government under section 771(5)(D)(i) of the Act and that they 
provide a benefit equal to the difference between what the recipients 
paid on their loans and the amount they would have paid on comparable 
commercials loans. Finally, we preliminarily determine that the loans 
are de jure specific because of the GOC's policy, as illustrated in the 
Light Industry Plan, to encourage and support the restructuring and 
updating of the fermentation industry of which citric acid is a part. 
As the Light Industry Plan became effective in 2009, the Department 
will only consider loans provided on or after January 1, 2009, to be 
provided pursuant to the GOC's national policy lending program.
    To calculate the benefit, we used the benchmarks described in the 
``Benchmarks and Discount Rates'' section above and the methodology 
described in 19 CFR 351.505(c)(1) and (2). We divided the benefit by 
Yixing Union Co.'s total sales and Yixing Union's consolidated sales, 
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(iii).
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 1.65 percent ad valorem in 2009. 
We are treating RZBC's loans as having been given under the Shandong 
Policy Loan Program discussed next.
Shandong Province Policy Loans Program
    As explained in the Investigation, the Shandong Province 
Development Plan

[[Page 33228]]

of Chemical Industry during ``Tenth Five-Year Plan'' Period (``Shandong 
Province Tenth Five-Year Chemical Plan'') identifies objectives and 
goals for development of the citric acid industry and calls for lending 
to support these objectives and goals. Moreover, loan documents 
reviewed by the Department stated that because the food-use citric acid 
industry ``has characteristics of capital and technology concentration 
and belongs to high and new technology * * * the State always takes 
positive policy to encourage its development.'' See Memorandum to File: 
Placing Government of China Verification Reports from the CVD 
Investigation of Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from People's 
Republic of China into the Record of the First Administrative Review, 
(February 28, 2011) and attached ``Government of the People's Republic 
of China, Anqiu City and Shandong Province Verification Report, at 8.
    In this administrative review, the GOC claims that no policy loan 
program was in effect in Shandong Province during the POR. See GQR 
(November 15, 2010) at 8. Specifically, the GOC argues that the 
Shandong Province Tenth Five-Year Chemical Plan has been replaced by 
the Shandong Province Eleventh Five-Year Petro-Chemical Plan 
(``Shandong Eleventh Five-Year Chemical Plan''). Additionally, the GOC 
maintains that the Shandong Eleventh Five-Year Chemical Plan is not 
government policy because it was compiled by the Shandong Province 
Petro-Chemical Industry Association, which the GOC identifies as a 
``non-governmental organization.'' Id. at 9.
    The Shandong Eleventh Five-Year Chemical Plan (covering the period 
2006-2010) was on the Investigation record. Despite the fact that the 
period covered by the Investigation (2007), fell within the time span 
covered by the Shandong Eleventh Five-Year Chemical Plan, the 
Department concluded that actual loan documentation supported a finding 
of a policy lending program in Shandong Province.\6\ Accordingly, the 
GOC has not provided us with new evidence on the record of this review 
that demonstrates that the Shandong Policy Loan Program has changed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Id. at 2-7.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Consistent with the Investigation, we preliminarily determine that 
the Shandong Province policy loans constitute a direct financial 
contribution from the government under section 771(5)(D)(i) of the Act 
and that they provide a benefit equal to the difference between what 
the recipients paid on their loans and the amount they would have paid 
on comparable commercial loans. We also preliminarily determine that 
the loans are de jure specific because of the Government of Shandong's 
policy to develop the citric acid industry.
    To calculate the benefit, we used the benchmarks described in the 
``Benchmarks and Discount Rates'' section above and the methodology 
described in 19 CFR 351.505(c)(1) and (2). Because of the manner in 
which the RZBC companies reported their loans, we are not able to 
calculate separate rates for the periods September 19, 2008, through 
December 31, 2008, and January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009, 
except for the loans received by RZBC Co.'s prior owners, Shandong 
Province High-Tech Investment Co. Ltd. (``HTI'') and Sisha Co., Ltd. 
(``Sisha''). Therefore, we are calculating a single rate for the loans 
received by the RZBC companies and applying it to both years, while the 
loans to HTI and Sisha are being added to the rate for 2008, the year 
in which their ownership of RZBC Co. ended.
    For loans to Sisha, we divided the benefit by the sum of Sisha's 
consolidated 2008 sales and the 2008 sales denominator for RZBC Co. (as 
described above in the ``Subsidies Valuation Information'' section), in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(iii). For loans to HTI, we divided 
the benefit by the sum of HTI's 2008 consolidated sales, Sisha's 2008 
consolidated sales, and the 2008 sales denominator for RZBC Co., in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(iii).
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.69 percent ad valorem in 2008 and 0.42 
percent in 2009.
B. Export Seller's Credit for High- and New-Technology Products
    RZBC reported receiving loans from the Export-Import Bank of China 
(``EXIM'') under the Export Seller's Credit Program. The supporting 
loan documentation for the loans shows that they were provided under 
EXIM's ``Export Seller's Credit for High- and New Tech Products.''
    In the Investigation, the Department found that loans under this 
program conferred a countervailable subsidy and the GOC has responded 
that that there were no changes to this program during the POR. 
Therefore, consistent with the Investigation, we preliminarily 
determine that the loans provided by the GOC under this program 
constitute financial contributions under sections 771(5)(B)(i) and 
771(5)(D)(i) of the Act. The loans also provide a benefit under 
771(5)(E)(ii) of the Act in the amount of the difference between the 
amounts the recipient paid and would have paid on comparable commercial 
loans. Finally, the receipt of loans under this program is tied to 
actual or anticipated exportation or export earnings and, therefore, 
this program is specific pursuant to sections 771(5A)(A)-(B) of the 
Act.
    To calculate the subsidy, we used the benchmark interest rates 
described in the ``Benchmarks and Discount Rates'' section above and 
the methodology described in 19 CFR 351.505(c)(1) and (2). We divided 
the benefit by RZBC Co's and RZBC I&E's export sales during the POR.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.82 percent ad valorem in 2008 and 0.82 in 
2009.
C. Reduced Income Tax Rates to FIEs Based on Location
    This program was created June 15, 1988, pursuant to the Provisional 
Rules on Exemption and Reduction of Corporate Income Tax and Business 
Tax of FIEs in Coastal Economic Development Zone issued by the Ministry 
of Finance. The March 18, 1988 Circular of State Council on Enlargement 
of Economic Areas enlarged the scope of the coastal economic areas and 
the July 1, 1991 FIE Tax Law continued this policy.
    In the Investigation, the Department found that Yixing Union Co. 
paid a reduced tax rate under this program. Yixing Union Co.'s 2007 tax 
return (filed in 2008) indicates that it continued to pay the reduced 
rate in that year. The program was not used by any responding company 
for the tax returns filed in 2009.
    Consistent with our finding in the Investigation, we preliminarily 
determine that the reduced tax rates paid by FIEs under this program 
confer a countervailable subsidy. The reduced rate is a financial 
contribution in the form of revenue foregone by the GOC and it provides 
a benefit to the recipient in the amount of the tax savings. See 
section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.509(a)(1). We further 
determine preliminarily that the reduction afforded by this program is 
limited to enterprises located in designated geographic regions and, 
hence, is specific under section 771(5A)(D)(iv) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we treated the income tax savings enjoyed 
by Yixing Union Co. as a recurring benefit, consistent with 19 CFR 
351.524(c)(1),

[[Page 33229]]

and divided the company's tax savings received during the POR by Yixing 
Union Co.'s sales during the POR, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(i). 
To compute the amount of the tax savings, we compared the tax rate 
Yixing Union Co. paid to what it would have paid in the absence of the 
program (30 percent).
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.21 percent ad valorem under 
this program in 2008.
D. ``Two Free, Three Half'' Program
    Under Article 8 of the FIE Tax Law, an FIE that is productive and 
scheduled to operate for more than 10 years may be exempted from income 
tax in the first two years of profitability and pay income taxes at 
half the standard rate for the next three years.
    In the Investigation, the Department found that Yixing Union Co. 
paid a reduced tax rate under this program. Yixing Union Co.'s 2007 tax 
return (filed in 2008) indicates that it continued to pay the reduced 
rate in that year. The program was not used by any responding company 
for the tax returns filed in 2009.
    Consistent with our finding in the Investigation, we preliminarily 
determine that the reduced tax rates paid by FIEs under this program 
confer a countervailable subsidy. The reduced rate is a financial 
contribution in the form of revenue foregone by the GOC and it provides 
a benefit to the recipient in the amount of the tax savings. See 
section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.509(a)(1). We further 
determine preliminarily that the exemption/reduction afforded by this 
program is limited as a matter of law to certain enterprises, 
``productive'' FIEs and, hence, is specific under section 771(5A)(D)(i) 
of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we treated the income tax savings enjoyed 
by Yixing Union Co. as a recurring benefit, consistent with 19 CFR 
351.524(c)(1), and divided the company's tax savings received during 
the POR by Yixing UnionCo. 's sales during the POR, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.525(b)(6)(i). To compute the amount of the tax savings, we compared 
the tax rate Yixing Union Co. paid to what it would have paid in the 
absence of the program.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.41 percent ad valorem under 
this program in 2008.
E. Local Income Tax Exemption/Reduction Program for ``Productive'' FIEs
    Under Article 9 of the FIE Tax Law, the provincial governments have 
the authority to exempt FIEs from the local income tax of three percent 
or to reduce the rate applicable to them. Yixing Union Co.'s and 
Cogeneration's 2007 tax returns (filed in 2008) indicate that they used 
this program. The program was not used by any responding company for 
the tax returns filed in 2009.
    Consistent with prior determinations,\7\ we preliminarily determine 
that the exemptions/reduced rates afforded to FIEs under this program 
confer a countervailable subsidy. The exemptions/reduced rates are a 
financial contribution in the form of revenue foregone by the GOC and 
provide a benefit to the recipient in the amount of the tax savings. 
See section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.509(a)(1). We 
further determine preliminarily that the exemption/reduction afforded 
by this program is limited as a matter of law to certain enterprises, 
``productive'' FIEs and, hence, is specific under section 771(5A)(D)(i) 
of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See, e.g., Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, 
Line, and Pressure Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Final 
Affirmative Countervailing Determination, Final Affirmative Critical 
Circumstances Determination, 75 FR 57444 (September 21, 2010) 
(``Seamless Pipe from the PRC''), and accompanying Issues and 
Decision Memorandum (``Seamless Pipe Decision Memorandum'') at 26-
27; Certain Coated Paper Suitable for High-Quality Print Graphics 
Using Sheet-Fed Presses From the People's Republic of China: Final 
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 75 FR 59212 
(September 27, 2010) (``Certain Coated Paper from the PRC''), and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (``Certain Coated Paper 
Decision Memorandum'') at 14-15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To calculate the benefit, we treated the income tax savings enjoyed 
by Yixing Union Co. and Cogneration as a recurring benefit, consistent 
with 19 CFR 351.524(c)(1), and divided the companies' tax savings 
received during the POR by Yixing Union Co.'s sales during the POR, 
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(i), and by Yixing Union's consolidated 
sales during the POR, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(iii). To compute 
the amount of the tax savings, we compared the tax rate Yixing Union 
Co. and Cogeneration paid to what they would have paid in the absence 
of the program (3 percent).
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.34 percent ad valorem under 
this program in 2008.
F. Reduced Income Tax Rate for Technology or Knowledge Intensive FIEs
    Under Article 7.3 of the FIE Tax Law and Article 73 of the 
Implementation Rules for the Foreign Invested Enterprise and Foreign 
Enterprise Income Tax Law, FIEs located in designated areas and meeting 
technology-intensive and knowledge-intensive criteria could enjoy a 
reduced income tax rate of 15 percent. This program terminated when the 
Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People's Republic of China (``EITL'') 
came into effect on January 1, 2008. However, pursuant to Article 57 of 
the EITL and the Notice of the State Council on the Implementation of 
the Transitional Preferential Policies in Respect of Enterprise Income 
Tax (GUOFA {2007{time}  Number 39), enterprises that enjoyed a reduced 
income tax rate of 15 percent under the terminated program are 
permitted a five-year grace period to transition to the new EITL rate 
of 25 percent. Thus, for example, companies that faced the 15 percent 
rate on their 2007 tax return (filed in 2008) would pay 18 percent on 
their 2008 return (filed in 2009).
    In the Investigation, the Department found that Cogeneration 
received benefits under this program. Cogeneration's 2007 tax return 
(filed in 2008) indicates that it continued to pay the reduced rate in 
that year. For the 2008 tax return (filed in 2009), Cogeneration paid 
income tax at a rate of 18 percent. We continue to find that this 
program provides a financial contribution in the form of revenue 
foregone and provides a benefit to the recipient in the amount of the 
tax savings. See section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.509(a). Further, the program is limited to enterprises located in 
designated geographic regions and, hence, is specific under section 
771(5A)(D)(iv) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we treated the income tax savings enjoyed 
by Cogeneration as a recurring benefit, consistent with 19 CFR 
351.524(c)(1) and divided the company's tax savings received during the 
POR by Yixing Union's consolidated sales during the POR, pursuant to 19 
CFR 351.525(b)(6)(iii). To compute the amount of the tax savings, we 
compared the rate Cogeneration would have paid in the absence of the 
program (30 percent in 2008 for the 2007 return and 25 percent in 2009 
for the 2008 return).
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 1.20 percent ad valorem under 
this program in 2008 and 0.18 in 2009.
G. Reduced Income Tax Rate for High or New Technology Enterprises
    Article 28.2 of the EITL authorizes a reduced income tax rate of 15 
percent for high- and new-technology enterprises (``HNTEs''). The 
criteria and procedures for identifying eligible

[[Page 33230]]

HTNEs are provided in Measures on Recognition of High and New 
Technology Enterprises (GUOKEFAHUO {2008{time}  No. 172) (``Measures on 
Recognition of HNTEs'') and the Guidance on Administration of 
Recognizing High and New Technology Enterprises (GUOKEFA HUO 
{2008{time}  No.362). Article 8 of the Measures on Recognition of HNTEs 
provides that the science and technology administrative departments of 
each province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the 
central government or cities under separate state planning shall 
collaborate with the finance and taxation departments at the same level 
to recognize HTNEs in their respective jurisdictions. Article 10 of the 
Measures on Recognition of HNTEs outlines the general requirements for 
recognition as a HNTE qualified for this tax reduction. Among these 
requirements, applicant enterprises must have the following: (1) 
Independent intellectual property of core technologies in its key 
products or services obtained in the past three years; (2) products 
that fall in the categories prescribed in the ``High and New Technology 
Field under Key Support of the State;'' (3) scientific and technical 
personnel with a junior college education or higher that account for 30 
percent of the employees at the enterprise; (4) research and 
development personnel that account for at least ten percent of the 
employees; (5) an active research and development program aimed at 
substantially improving products during the past three years (the 
proportion of minimum R&D expenditure to sales depends on the overall 
size of the enterprise's sales); and (6) the percentage of total 
revenue represented by sales of new and high technology products must 
be at least 60 percent during the current year.
    The annex of the Measures on Recognition of HNTEs lists eight high- 
and new-technology areas selected for the State's ``primary support:'' 
(1) Electronics and Information Technology; (2) Biology and New 
Medicine Technology; (3) Aerospace Industry; (4) New Materials 
Technology; (5) High-tech Service Industry; (6) New Energy and Energy-
Saving Technology; (7) Resources and Environmental Technology; and (8) 
High-tech Transformation of Traditional Industries.
    RZBC Co. reported that it paid the reduced income tax rate of 15 
percent on its 2008 tax return (filed in 2009) under this program. The 
GOC contends that the eight high- and new-technology areas designated 
for support cover wide-ranging, diverse and non-conforming areas of the 
Chinese economy.
    We preliminarily determine that the reduced income tax rate applied 
to RZBC Co. is a financial contribution in the form of revenue foregone 
by the GOC, and it provides a benefit to the recipient in the amount of 
the tax savings. See section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.509(a)(1). We also determine that the reduction afforded by this 
program is limited as a matter of law to certain new and high 
technology companies selected by the government pursuant to legal 
guidelines specified in Measures on Recognition of HNTEs, and, hence, 
is specific under section 771(5A)(D)(i) of the Act. Both the number of 
targeted industries (eight) and the narrowness of the identified 
project areas under those industries support a finding that the 
legislation expressly limits access to the program to a specific group 
of enterprises or industries.
    To calculate the benefit, we treated the income tax savings enjoyed 
by RZBC Co. as a recurring benefit, consistent with 19 CFR 
351.524(c)(1) and divided the company's tax savings received during the 
POR by RZBC Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales during the POR, 
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.525(b)(6)(iii) and 19 CFR 351.525(c). To compute 
the amount of the tax savings, we compared the rate RZBC Co. would have 
paid in the absence of the program (25 percent).
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.29 percent ad valorem under this program 
in 2009.
H. Income Tax Credits on Purchases of Domestically Produced Equipment
    According to the Provisional Measures on Enterprise Income Tax 
Credit for Investment in Domestically Produced Equipment for Technology 
Renovation {Projects{time}  (CAI SHU ZI {1999{time}  No. 290), a 
domestically invested company may claim tax credits on the purchase of 
domestic equipment if the project is compatible with the industrial 
policies of the GOC. Specifically, a tax credit up to 40 percent of the 
purchase price of the domestic equipment may apply to the incremental 
increase in tax liability from the previous year.
    The GOC reported that this program terminated when the EITL came 
into effect on January 1, 2008, but pursuant to Article 57 of the EITL, 
enterprises that were previously eligible for income tax credits under 
this program may continue to claim the credits for five years after the 
EITL's effective date.
    RZBC Co. claimed credits under this program on the 2007 and 2008 
tax returns filed respectively in 2008 and 2009. RZBC Juxian claimed 
credits under this program on the 2008 tax return filed in 2009. No 
other companies used this program during the POR.
    Consistent with prior determinations,\8\ we preliminarily determine 
that income tax credits for the purchase of domestically produced 
equipment are countervailable subsidies. The tax credits are a 
financial contribution in the form of revenue foregone by the 
government and provide a benefit to the recipients in the amount of the 
tax savings. See section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.509(a)(1). We further preliminarily determine that these tax 
credits are contingent upon use of domestic over imported goods and, 
hence, are specific under section 771(5A)(C) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See, e.g., Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods From the 
People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty 
Determination, Final Negative Critical Circumstances Determination, 
74 FR 64045 (December 7, 2009) (``OCTG from the PRC''), and 
accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (``OCTG Decision 
Memorandum'') at 18; see also Circular Welded Carbon Quality Steel 
Line Pipe from the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative 
Countervailing Duty Determination, 73 FR 70961 (November 24, 2008), 
and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at 25-26.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To calculate the benefit, we treated the income tax savings enjoyed 
by RZBC Co. and RZBC Juxian as a recurring benefit, consistent with 19 
CFR 351.524(c)(1), and divided the companies' tax savings by RZBC Co's, 
RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales during the POR, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.525(b)(6)(iii) and 19 CFR 351.525(c).
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.20 percent ad valorem under this program 
in 2008 and 1.38 percent in 2009.
I. Value-Added Tax (``VAT'') and Duty Exemptions on Imported Equipment
    Enacted in 1997, the Circular of the State Council on Adjusting Tax 
Policies on Imported Equipment (GUOFA No. 37) exempts both FIEs and 
certain domestic enterprises from the VAT and tariffs on imported 
equipment used in production so long as the equipment does not fall 
into prescribed lists of non-eligible items. Qualified enterprises 
receive a certificate either from the NDRC or its provincial branch. 
The objective of the program is to encourage foreign investment and to 
introduce foreign advanced technology equipment and industry technology 
upgrades. To receive the exemptions, qualified enterprises must 
adequately document both the product eligibility and the

[[Page 33231]]

eligibility of the imported article to the local Customs.
    The GOC states that this program has been partially terminated. 
Pursuant to Announcement No. 103 of the General Administration of 
Customs {2008{time} , since January 1, 2009, enterprises importing 
equipment that is eligible for preferential import tax treatment under 
Circular of the State Council on Adjusting Tax Policies on Imported 
Equipment (GUOFA No. 37) can no longer import equipment free of VAT, 
though they may continue to import equipment free of duties. However 
the GOC reports that there is a transitional arrangement for projects 
that were certified under Certificate for State Encouraged Projects on 
or before November 19, 2008, which permits equipment related to those 
projects to be exempted from original VAT and customs duties provided 
the equipment is declared to customs on or before June 30, 2009.
    RZBC Co., RZBC Juxian, Yixing Union Co. and Cogeneration received 
VAT and duty exemptions in various years since December 11, 2001.
    In the Investigation, the Department found that the VAT and duty 
exemptions under this program conferred a countervailable subsidy. 
Therefore, consistent with the Investigation, we preliminarily 
determine that the VAT and duty exemptions provided by the GOC under 
this program constitute financial contributions in the form of revenue 
foregone under section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act, and that they confer a 
benefit in the amount of the exemption (see 19 CFR 351.510(a)(1)). We 
further determine preliminarily that the VAT and duty exemptions under 
this program are specific under section 771(5A)(D)(i) because the 
program is limited to FIEs and certain domestic enterprises.
    Normally, we treat exemptions from indirect taxes and import 
charges as recurring benefits, consistent with 19 CFR 351.524(c)(1), 
and allocate these benefits to the year in which they were received. 
However, when an indirect tax or import charge exemption is provided 
for, or tied to, the capital structure or capital assets of a firm, the 
Department may treat it as a non-recurring benefit and allocate the 
benefit to the firm over the AUL. See 19 CFR 351.524(c)(2)(iii) and 19 
CFR 351.524(d)(2).
    Where the VAT and duty exemptions in a given year were less than 
0.5 percent of the companies' sales, we expensed the exemptions in the 
year in which they were received, consistent with 19 CFR 351.524(a). 
For those years in which the VAT and duty exemptions were greater than 
0.5 percent of the companies' sales for that year, we are treating the 
exemptions as non-recurring benefits, consistent with 19 CFR 
351.524(c)(2)(iii), and allocating the benefits over the AUL.
    To calculate the benefit, we used the methodology for non-recurring 
benefits described in 19 CFR 351.524(b). Specifically, we used the 
discount rate described above in the ``Benchmarks and Discount Rates'' 
section to calculate the amount of the benefit for the POR. Next, we 
divided the amount allocated to the POR by the relevant sales in that 
period. VAT and duty exemptions received by RZBC Co. and RZBC Juxian 
were divided by the combined sales of RZBC Co., RZBC Juxian, and RZBC 
I&E. The exemptions received by Cogeneration were divided by Yixing 
Union's consolidated sales and, the exemptions received by Yixing Union 
Co. were divided by Yixing Union Co.'s total sales.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.01 percent ad valorem in 2008. Yixing 
Union's countervailable subsidies in those years were 0.74 percent and 
0.29 percent, respectively.
J. Provision of Sulfuric Acid for LTAR
    The Department is investigating whether the PRC government provided 
sulfuric acid to producers of the subject merchandise for LTAR. As 
discussed under ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse 
Inferences,'' above, we are preliminarily relying on AFA to determine 
that the producers of the sulfuric acid purchased by RZBC and Yixing 
Union were ``authorities'' within the meaning of section 771(5)(B) of 
the Act. Therefore, we preliminarily determine that citric acid 
producers have received a financial contribution from the government in 
the form of the provision of a good. See section 771(5)(D)(iii) of the 
Act.
    To determine whether the government's provision of sulfuric acid 
conferred a benefit within the meaning of section 771(5)(E)(iv) of the 
Act, we relied on 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2) to identify an appropriate, 
market-determined benchmark for measuring the adequacy of remuneration. 
Potential benchmarks are listed in hierarchical order by preference: 
(1) Market prices from actual transactions within the country under 
investigation (e.g., actual sales, actual imports or competitively run 
government auctions) (tier one); (2) world market prices that would be 
available to purchasers in the country under investigation (tier two); 
or (3) an assessment of whether the government price is consistent with 
market principles (tier three). As we explained in Softwood Lumber from 
Canada, the preferred benchmark in the hierarchy is an observed market 
price from actual transactions within the country under investigation 
because such prices generally would be expected to reflect most closely 
the prevailing market conditions of the purchaser under investigation. 
See Softwood Lumber Decision Memorandum at ``Market-Based Benchmark'' 
section.
    Beginning with tier-one, we must determine whether the prices from 
actual sales transactions involving Chinese buyers and sellers are 
significantly distorted. As explained in the Preamble:

    Where it is reasonable to conclude that actual transaction 
prices are significantly distorted as a result of the government's 
involvement in the market, we will resort to the next alternative 
{tier two{time}  in the hierarchy.
See Preamble to Countervailing Duty Regulations, 63 FR 65377, (November 
25, 1998) (``Preamble''). The Preamble further recognizes that 
distortion can occur when the government provider constitutes a 
majority or, in certain circumstances, a substantial portion of the 
market. Id.

    In the instant review, the GOC reported that Chinese state-
controlled and collectively- controlled sulfuric acid producers 
accounted for 56 percent of sulfuric acid production volume in 2008 and 
54 percent of domestic sulfuric acid production in 2009.\9\ See GOC New 
Subsidy Allegation First Supplemental Questionnaire Response (Part 2) 
(May 4, 2011) (``GNSASQR1, Part 2'') at 3. In addition, the GOC reports 
that in 2008 and 2009, respectively, Chinese domestic production 
accounted for 97.09 and 95.47 percent of domestic consumption of 
sulfuric acid. See GNSAQR (March 18, 2011) at 3. The fact that Chinese 
SOEs were responsible for such a large percentage of domestic 
production volume and that imports accounted for such a small share of 
domestic consumption, makes it reasonable to conclude that actual 
transaction prices are significantly distorted as a result of the 
government's involvement in the market. See Preamble, 63 FR at 65337. 
As further evidence of the government's involvement in the Chinese 
sulfuric acid market, the GOC reports that it imposed a temporary 
export tax on

[[Page 33232]]

sulfuric acid from February 2008 to June 2009. See GNSASQR1, (Part 2) 
(May 8, 2011) at 8. Such an export restraint can discourage exports and 
increase the supply of sulfuric acid in the domestic market, and 
possibly result in domestic prices that are lower than they would be 
otherwise. See Certain Kitchen Shelving and Racks from the People's 
Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 
74 FR 37012 (July 27, 2009) (``Racks from the PRC''), and accompanying 
Issues and Decision Memorandum (``Racks Decision Memorandum'') at 15. 
For these reasons, we preliminarily determine that domestic prices in 
the PRC cannot serve as viable, tier-one benchmark prices. For the same 
reasons, we determine that import prices into the PRC cannot serve as a 
benchmark.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ As we have explained elsewhere, these reported ownership 
percentages may understate the share of production accounted for by 
SOEs and collectives because of the GOC's method of classifying 
possible SOEs as FIEs. See, e.g., Certain Coated Paper Decision 
Memorandum at 22.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Turning to tier two benchmarks, i.e., world market prices available 
to purchasers in the PRC, Petitioners have placed on the record export 
values for sulfuric acid from Canada, the European Union, Thailand, 
India, and the United States in 2009 taken from trade statistics 
compiled by Canadian Customs, Eurostat, Thai Customs, the Department, 
the U.S. International Trade Commission, and Global Trade Atlas. See 
PNSA2 at 7-8 and Exhibit 18; see also Petitioners' Submission: 
Submission of Factual Information (April 15, 2011) (``Benchmark 
Submission'') at 3 and Exhibit 4. The average of the export prices 
provided by the Petitioners represents an average of commercially-
available world market prices for sulfuric acid that would be available 
to purchasers in the PRC. We note that the Department has relied on 
similar pricing data from export statistics in other recent CVD 
proceedings involving the PRC.\10\ Also, 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2)(ii) 
states that where there is more than one commercially available world 
market price, the Department will average the prices to the extent 
practicable. Therefore, we have averaged the prices to calculate a 
single benchmark by month.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See, e.g., Certain Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel 
Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe From the People's Republic of 
China: Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 
Preliminary Affirmative Critical Circumstances Determination 
Seamless Pipe, 75 FR 9163, 9174 (March 1, 2010); OCTG from the PRC, 
CWP Decision Memorandum at 11, and LWRP Decision Memorandum at 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2)(iv), when measuring the adequacy of 
remuneration under tier one or tier two, the Department will adjust the 
benchmark price to reflect the price that a firm actually paid or would 
pay if it imported the product, including delivery charges and import 
duties. Regarding delivery charges, we averaged the international 
freight rates from Canada, the European Union, Thailand, India and the 
United States to Shanghai, submitted by Petitioners. See PNSA2 at 6 and 
Exhibit 18, and Benchmark Submission at 4 and Exhibits 2 and 5. We also 
added inland freight in the PRC based on RZBC respondents' sulfuric 
acid purchase information,\11\ import duties as reported by the GOC, 
and the VAT applicable to imports of sulfuric acid into the PRC,\12\ as 
both RZBC and Yixing Union reported their prices to the Department 
inclusive of inland freight and VAT.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ See RZBC Respondents' New Subsidy Allegation Supplemental 
Questionnaire Response (May 3, 2011) at 3-4 and Exhibits 5 and 6.
    \12\ See GNSASQR at A5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In deriving the benchmark we did not include marine insurance. In 
prior CVD investigations involving the PRC, the Department has found 
that while the PRC customs authorities impute an insurance cost on 
certain imports for purposes of levying duties and compiling 
statistical data, there is no evidence to suggest that PRC customs 
authorities require importers to pay insurance charges. See, e.g., Pre-
Stressed Concrete Steel Wire Strand from the People's Republic of 
China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 75 FR 28557 
(May 21, 2010) (``PC Strand from the PRC''), and accompanying Issues 
and Decision Memorandum (``PC Strand Decision Memorandum'') at Comment 
13. Further, we have not added separate brokerage, handling, and 
documentation fees to the benchmark because we find that such costs are 
already reflected in the ocean freight cost from Maersk Line that is 
being used in these preliminary results. See Petitioners' Benchmark 
Submission at Exhibit 4.
    The submitted benchmarks covered calendar year 2009. Therefore, we 
used the benchmark calculated for January 2009 in our calculations for 
2008.
    Comparing the adjusted benchmark prices to the prices paid by the 
respondents for their sulfuric acid, we preliminarily determine that 
the GOC provided sulfuric acid for less than adequate remuneration, and 
that a benefit exists in the amount of the difference between the 
benchmark and what the respondents paid. See 19 CFR 351.511(a).
    Finally, with respect to specificity, the third subsidy element 
specified under the Act, the GOC has provided a list of industries that 
purchase sulfuric acid directly. Using the Industrial Classification 
for National Economic Activities published by the National Bureau of 
Statistics, the GOC identifies users in three major industrial 
categories: Mining, Manufacturing and Electric Power, Gas and Water 
Production and Supply. See GNSAQR at Exhibit 2. The three major 
industrial categories include 44 more specific categories, 37 of which 
fall under Manufacturing. These more specific product categories 
include such items as special chemical manufacturing and manufacture of 
household chemicals. While numerous companies may comprise the listed 
industries, section 771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act clearly directs the 
Department to conduct its analysis on an industry or enterprise basis. 
Based on our review of the data and consistent with our past practice, 
we determine that the industries named by the GOC are limited in number 
and, hence, the subsidy is specific, within the meaning of section 
771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act. See Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and 
Tube from the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the 2008-
2009 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 75 FR 57456 (September 21, 
2010) (``LWRP from the PRC''), and accompanying Issues and Decision 
Memorandum (``LWRP Decision Memorandum'') at Comment 7; see also Racks 
Decision Memorandum at ``Provision of Wire Rod for Less Than Adequate 
Remuneration.''
    Based on the above, we preliminarily determine that the GOC 
conferred a countervailable subsidy on RZBC and Yixing Union through 
the provision of sulfuric acid for less than adequate remuneration. To 
calculate the subsidy, we took the difference between the delivered 
world market price and what each respondent paid for sulfuric acid, 
including delivery charges, during the POR.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 4.83 percent ad valorem in 2008 and 0.59 
percent ad valorem in 2009. Yixing Union's countervailable subsidies in 
those years were 10.05 percent and 12.17 percent, respectively.
    As explained below under ``Programs for Which More Information is 
Required,'' we will be requesting RZBC's and Yixing Union's purchases 
of sulfuric acid for the period January 2008-August 2008 in order to 
calculate a subsidy rate for 2008 using annual data.
K. Provision of Steam Coal for LTAR
    The Department is investigating whether Chinese government provided 
steam coal to producers of the subject merchandise for LTAR. As 
discussed

[[Page 33233]]

under ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences,'' 
above, we are preliminarily relying on AFA to determine that the 
producers of the steam coal purchased by Cogeneration were 
``authorities'' within the meaning of section 771(5)(B) of the Act.\13\ 
Therefore, we preliminarily determine that citric acid producers have 
received a financial contribution from the government in the form of 
the provision of a good. See section 771(5)(D)(iii) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ The RZBC companies did not purchase steam coal during the 
POR.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To determine whether the government's provision of steam coal 
conferred a benefit within the meaning of section 771(5)(E)(iv) of the 
Act we relied on 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2) to identify an appropriate, 
market-determined benchmark for measuring the adequacy of remuneration. 
Potential benchmarks are listed in hierarchical order by preference: 
(1) Market prices from actual transactions within the country under 
investigation (e.g., actual sales, actual imports or competitively run 
government auctions) (tier one); (2) world market prices that would be 
available to purchasers in the country under investigation (tier two); 
or (3) an assessment of whether the government price is consistent with 
market principles (tier three). As we explained in Softwood Lumber from 
Canada, the preferred benchmark in the hierarchy is an observed market 
price from actual transactions within the country under investigation 
because such prices generally would be expected to reflect most closely 
the prevailing market conditions of the purchaser under investigation. 
See Softwood Lumber Decision Memorandum at ``Market-Based Benchmark'' 
section.
    Beginning with tier-one, we must determine whether the prices from 
actual sales transactions involving Chinese buyers and sellers are 
significantly distorted. As explained in the Preamble:

    Where it is reasonable to conclude that actual transaction 
prices are significantly distorted as a result of the government's 
involvement in the market, we will resort to the next alternative 
{tier two{time}  in the hierarchy.

See Preamble, 63 FR 65377, (November 25, 1998). The Preamble further 
recognizes that distortion can occur when the government provider 
constitutes a majority or, in certain circumstances, a substantial 
portion of the market. Id.
    In the instant review, the GOC reported that Chinese wholly state-
owned or state controlled coal producers accounted for 60.59 and 61.94 
percent of gross industry revenue in 21008 and 2009, respectively. The 
GOC also reported that domestic coal production accounted for 98.47 and 
96.11 percent of all domestic consumption respectively in 2008 and 
2009. The fact that Chinese SOEs were responsible for such a large 
percentage of domestic production volume, as reflected in their share 
of gross industry revenue, and that imports accounted for such a small 
share of domestic consumption, makes it reasonable to conclude that 
actual transaction prices are significantly distorted as a result of 
the government's involvement in the market. See Preamble, 63 FR at 
65337. As further evidence of the government's involvement in the 
Chinese steam coal market, the GOC reported that the GOC imposed export 
quotas and export taxes on all types of coal, including steam coal 
during the POR. Such export restraints can discourage exports and 
increase the supply of steam coal in the domestic market, and result in 
domestic prices that are lower than they would be otherwise. See, e.g., 
Racks Decision Memorandum at 15. The GOC also reported that it imposed 
a temporary price ceiling on steam coal for power plant use over six 
months of 2008, including the 3 [frac12] months included in the POR, 
which would also tend to make domestic prices lower than they would be 
otherwise.\14\ For these reasons, we preliminarily determine that 
domestic prices charged by privately-owned steam coal producers based 
in the PRC may not serve as viable, tier-one benchmark prices. For the 
same reasons, we determine that import prices into the PRC cannot serve 
as a benchmark.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See GNSAQR at 15.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Turning to tier two benchmarks, i.e., world market prices available 
to purchasers in the PRC, we received benchmark data from Petitioners 
and from Yixing Union. Petitioners submitted monthly steam coal data 
published by the International Monetary Fund (``IMF'') for Australia 
and South Africa, as well as data from Platts International Coal 
Report, Issue 986 at 1 (August 30, 2010) (``Platts Report'') for 
Colombia, Poland, Russia, Australia, Japan and Korea. See Benchmark 
Submission and Yixing Union Submission. These monthly benchmark data 
cover the entire 2009 calendar year. Yixing Union placed on the record 
monthly steam coal export data for Indonesia obtained from the World 
Trade Atlas, which covers the entire POR. Regarding the IMF and Platts 
price data, we note that the Department has relied on pricing data from 
industry publications in prior CVD proceedings involving the PRC. See, 
e.g., Seamless Pipe from the PRC, OCTG from the PRC, CWP Decision 
Memorandum at 11, and LWRP Decision Memorandum at 9.
    Our regulations at 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2)(ii) state that where there 
is more than one commercially available world market price, the 
Department will average the prices to the extent practicable. 
Therefore, where more than one benchmark price was submitted for a 
given month, we averaged those prices to calculate the single benchmark 
price for that month. For the remaining months where only one benchmark 
price was on the record, we used that price for that month.
    Under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2)(iv), when measuring the adequacy of 
remuneration under tier one or tier two, the Department will adjust the 
benchmark price to reflect the price that a firm actually paid or would 
pay if it imported the product, including delivery charges and import 
duties. Accordingly, in deriving the benchmark prices, we ensured that 
ocean freight and inland freight were included. The ocean freight rates 
we used were an average of the freight rates submitted on the record by 
both Yixing Union and Petitioners. Yixing Union provided estimated 
ocean freight rates for steam coal from Indonesia to Guangzhou, China. 
See Yixing Union's April 15, 2011 submission (``Yixing Union April 
Submission'') at Exhibit 7. Petitioners placed on the record ocean 
freight pricing data from Platts and the Baltic Exchange pertaining to 
shipments of steam coal from Australia to China. See PNSA2 at 14 and 
Exhibit 29. We averaged the two sets of freight rates to derive the 
amount included in our benchmark. For inland freight, we relied on 
information submitted by Petitioners and Yixing Union. Petitioners 
provided inland freight charges based on the transportation costs 
calculated from the Shanghai Deepwater Port (``SDP'') to Yixing. In 
deriving these monthly inland freight charges, Petitioners used data 
collected from Haver Analytics Report, China National Bureau of 
Statistics, freight costs of another energy producer in China, and 
Google Maps. See Benchmark Submission at Exhibit 3. Yixing Union 
disputed the distance between the SDP and Yixing provided by 
Petitioners and submitted its own value to represent this distance. We 
averaged the two distances for our calculation and added the applicable 
VAT rate to arrive at the total inland shipping charge. We also 
included import duties and the VAT applicable to

[[Page 33234]]

imports of steam coal into the PRC as reported by the GOC.
    In deriving the benchmark we did not include marine insurance. In 
prior CVD investigations involving the PRC, the Department has found 
that while the PRC customs authorities impute an insurance cost on 
certain imports for purposes of levying duties and compiling 
statistical data, there is no evidence to suggest that PRC customs 
authorities require importers to pay insurance charges. See, e.g., PC 
Strand Decision Memorandum at Comment 13. Further, we have not added 
separate brokerage, handling, and documentation fees to the benchmark 
because we find that such costs are already reflected in the ocean 
freight costs submitted by Petitioners and Yixing Union.
    Comparing the adjusted benchmark prices to the prices paid by 
Cogeneration for its steam coal, we preliminarily determine that the 
GOC provided steam coal for less than adequate remuneration, and that a 
benefit exists in the amount of the difference between the benchmark 
and what the respondent paid. See 19 CFR 351.511(a).
    Finally, with respect to specificity, the third subsidy element 
specified under the Act, the GOC provided a list of industries that 
purchase steam coal directly. Using the Industrial Classification for 
National Economic Activities published by the National Bureau of 
Statistics, the GOC identifies users in the PRC that purchase steam 
coal directly in the six major industrial categories of Mining; 
Manufacturing; Electric Power, Gas and Water Production and Supply; 
Construction; Transport, Storage and Post; and finally Wholesale and 
Resale Trades, Hotels and Catering Services. Distributed among the 
first three major categories are 40 more specific categories including 
Production and Supply of Electric Power and Heat Power under the major 
category of Electric Power, Gas and Water Production and Supply. While 
numerous companies may comprise the listed industries, section 
771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act clearly directs the Department to conduct 
its analysis on an industry or enterprise basis. Based on our review of 
the data and consistent with our past practice, we determine that the 
industries named by the GOC are limited in number and, hence, the 
subsidy is specific. See section 771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act. See 
LWRP Decision Memorandum at Comment 7; see also Racks Decision 
Memorandum at ``Provision of Wire Rod for Less Than Adequate 
Remuneration.''
    Based on the above, we preliminarily determine that the GOC 
conferred a countervailable subsidy on Yixing Union through the 
provision of steam coal for less than adequate remuneration. To 
calculate the subsidy, we took the difference between the delivered 
world market price and what Cogeneration paid for steam coal, including 
delivery charges, during the POR.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.78 percent ad valorem in 2008 
and 21.51 percent ad valorem in 2009.
    As explained below under ``Programs for Which More Information is 
Required,'' we will be requesting Cogeneration's purchases of steam 
coal for the period January 2008-August 2008 in order to calculate a 
subsidy rate for 2008 using annual data.
L. Land-Use Rights Extension in Yixing City
    In 1996, Yixing Heat and Power Plant (``HPP'') (Cogeneration's 
predecessor) contributed land-use rights as part of its investment in 
the establishment of a joint venture, Cogeneration. HPP received its 
shares in the company and continued to hold the land-use rights. In 
2003, Cogeneration applied to the Land Resources Bureau to have the 
land-use rights transferred and received a granted land-use rights 
certificate. The certificate that was issued set the term of the land-
use rights as 50-years from 2003 (i.e., until 2053) rather than 50 
years from 1996, the year in which the land-use rights were contributed 
to the joint venture.
    In the Investigation, the Department found the additional seven 
years of land-use rights conferred a countervailable subsidy on 
Cogeneration. In this review, Yixing Union and the GOC responded that 
there have not been any changes in the operation of this program since 
it was last analyzed. See Cogeneration's November 8, 2011, Initial 
Questionnaire Response at 14, and GQR at 15. Therefore, consistent with 
the Investigation, we preliminarily determine that Cogeneration 
received a financial contribution in the form of revenue foregone by 
the GOC on the seven additional years included on the land-use rights 
certificates, and a benefit in the amount of the foregone revenue. See 
section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act. Further, because industrial land-use 
rights in the PRC are granted for 50 years and Cogeneration received 
its rights for 57 years, we preliminarily determine the additional 
seven years to be specific to Cogeneration within the meaning of 
section 771(5A)(D)(i) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the initial value of the land 
by 50 years to derive a per-year amount paid for the land-use rights. 
We then multiplied this amount by seven years and treated the result as 
the amount of the revenue foregone. In accordance with 19 CFR 
351.524(b)(2), we conducted the ``expense'' test by dividing the grant 
amount by Yixing Union Co.'s and Cogeneration's total sales in 2003, 
and found that the benefit was greater than 0.5 percent.\15\ 
Accordingly, we are allocating the benefit over the ten-year AUL, using 
the discount rate described in the ``Benchmarks and Discount Rates'' 
section above. We divided the allocated amount by Yixing Union's 
consolidated sales during the POR, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.525(b)(6)(iii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ We note that we did not have inter-company sales between 
Yixing Union and Cogeneration in 2003 to subtract. However, the 
result would not have changed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.07 percent ad valorem in 2008 
and 0.06 percent in 2009.
Other Subsidies Received by RZBC
    As discussed above under ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and 
Adverse Inferences: GOC--RZBC's and Yixing Union's Other Subsidies,'' 
the financial statements and tax returns submitted by the responding 
companies indicated that they received grants. Further, for certain of 
the programs, information submitted by the GOC and/or the responding 
companies was sufficient to analyze the programs' specificity. Where 
the information was not sufficient, we are employing an adverse 
inference and preliminarily determining the programs to be specific.
    For RZBC, we identified 16 different grant programs with measurable 
benefits during the POR among these ``other subsidies.''
    We preliminarily determine that these grants are direct transfers 
of funds within the meaning of section 771(5)(D)(i) of the Act and that 
they providing a benefit in the amount of the grant. See 19 CFR 
351.504(a). Our specificity findings are described below.
M. Fund for Optimizing Import and Export Structure of Mechanical 
Electronics and High and New Technology Products
    This program was established on July 25, 2007, pursuant to the 
Provisional Measures on the Fund for Optimizing Import and Export 
Structure of Mechanical Electronics and High and New Technology 
Products. The purpose of the program is to optimize the import

[[Page 33235]]

and export structure of high and new technology products. According to 
the GOC, the program is administered by the national Ministries of 
Finance and Commerce.
    Although the GOC responded that export performance or potential is 
not considered, the implementing measures state, inter alia, that they 
(the measures) are being formulated ``to improve the quality and 
benefits of exports. Also, RZBC's March 28, 2011 response states with 
respect to the two grants it received under this program that ``the 
company must be an exporting company and have export products'' (at 
first Section III, App 1). Therefore, we preliminarily determine that 
the program is specific within the meaning of section 771(5A)(B) of the 
Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the grants by RZBC Co. and 
RZBC I&E's export sales in the year of approval and found that the 
amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the subsidy to the 
year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.03 percent ad valorem in 2008 and a 
subsidy of 0.02 percent ad valorem in 2009.
N. International Market Development Fund Grants for Small and Medium 
Enterprises (``SMEs'')
    This program was established on October 24, 2000, pursuant to the 
Measures for Administration of International Market Developing Funds of 
Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (Cai Qi No. 467 of 2000) and 
implemented under the Rules for the Implementation of the Measures for 
Administration of International Market Developing Funds of Small- and 
Medium-sized Enterprises (Wai Jing Mao Ji Cai Fa (2001) No. 270). The 
program provides funds for supporting the international market 
exploration of small- and medium-sized enterprises. According to the 
GOC, the program is administered by the national Ministries of Finance 
and Commerce.
    Although the GOC responded that the export performance or potential 
are not considered, the establishing measures clearly include export 
promotion: ``to encourage small- and medium-sized enterprises to join 
in the competition of international markets'' and the funds are to be 
``used to help the small- and medium-sized enterprises open up the 
international markets.'' Moreover, the Department found this program to 
be a countervailable export subsidy in Narrow Woven Ribbons from the 
PRC. See Narrow Woven Ribbons with Woven Selvedge from the People's 
Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 
75 FR 41801 (July 19, 2010). Therefore, we preliminarily determine that 
the program is specific within the meaning of section 771(5A)(B) of the 
Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s and RZBC I&E's export sales in the year of receipt and found that 
the amount was less than 0.005 percent. Therefore, the subsidy yields 
no measurable benefit.
O. Shandong Province: Special Fund for the Establishment of Key 
Enterprise Technology Centers
    The fund was established pursuant to Development Guidelines of 
Shandong on New Type Industrialization and Opinion on Incubation of One 
Hundred Key Enterprises' Technical Centers and Improvement of their 
Initiatives, with distributions occurring under the Interim Measures on 
the Special Fund for the Establishment of Key Enterprise Technology 
Centers in Shandong Province. It is administered by the Shandong 
Finance Department and the Shandong Economic and Trade Commission. The 
fund's purpose is to support the establishment of technical centers by 
key enterprises by providing funds for the purchase of equipment, 
training, technical cooperation and communication.
    Because the fund is limited to ``key enterprises,'' with the 
establishing legislation indicating there would only be 100, we 
preliminarily determine that the program is specific within the meaning 
of section 771(5A)(D)(i) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's combined sales in the year of 
approval and found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. 
Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating 
the total amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.13 percent ad valorem in 2008.
P. Special Fund for Pollution Control of Three Rivers, Three Lakes, and 
the Songhua River
    This program was established pursuant to the State Council's 
Comprehensive Work Plan on Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction 
(Guo Fa 2007 No. 7115) and the State Council's mandate to ``strengthen 
pollution control of Three Rivers, Three Lakes, and the Songhua 
River.'' It was implemented under the Provisional Measure on Special 
Fund for Pollution Control of Three Rivers, Three Lakes and the Songhua 
River promulgated by the Ministry of Finance on November 23, 2007. 
According to the GOC, the program is administered by the Shandong 
Finance Department and the Shandong Environmental Protection Bureau. 
The purpose of the program is to enhance pollution control efforts by 
financing projects affecting the Huaihe River, Haihe River, Liaohe 
River, Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake, Dianchi Lake and the Songhua River.
    Because the fund is limited to enterprises located in these 
designated areas, we preliminarily determine that the program is 
specific within the meaning of section 771(5A)(D)(iv) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year of approval and 
found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total 
amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.31 percent ad valorem in 2009.
Q. Rizhao City: Subsidies to Encourage Enterprise Expansion
    According to RZBC it received grants from Rizhao City the purpose 
of which is to encourage enterprise expansion in order to increase tax 
revenues. Each grant is linked to a specific area of achievement and 
the approval documents name the companies that received the grants.
    Because the grants were given to a limited number of enterprises, 
we preliminarily determine that the program is specific within the 
meaning of section 771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit for 2008, for RZBC Group, we divided the 
amount approved by the combined sales of RZBC in the year of approval 
and found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. For 2008, for RZBC 
Co., we divided the amount approved by RZBC Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC 
Juxian's sales in the year of approval and found that the amount was 
less than 0.5 percent. For 2009, for RZBC Co., we divided the amount 
approved by RZBC Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year 
of approval and found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. 
Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating 
the total amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.

[[Page 33236]]

    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.05 percent ad valorem in 2008 and 0.04 in 
2009.
R. Rizhao City: Subsidy for Antidumping Investigations
    According to RZBC, it received grants from Rizhao City due to 
RZBC's involvement in foreign antidumping investigations. RZBC's 
response indicates that in awarding the grants, the government 
considered whether the company made export sales and cooperated in the 
antidumping investigations. In its March 28, 2011 supplemental 
questionnaire response at Exhibit CVDS2-40, RZBC submitted an approval 
document from a local authority that demonstrates this program targets 
firms that cooperate in antidumping investigations.
    Because the grants were contingent upon exportation, we 
preliminarily determine that this program is specific within the 
meaning of section 771(5A)(B) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s and RZBC I&E's export sales in the year of approval and found 
that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance 
with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the 
subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.01 percent ad valorem in 2008.
S. Shandong Province: Subsidy for Antidumping Investigations
    As with the Rizhao City program relating to antidumping 
investigations, RZBC stated that that in awarding the grants, the 
government considered whether the company made export sales and 
cooperated in the antidumping investigations. In its March 28, 2011, 
supplemental questionnaire response at Exhibit CVDS2-24, RZBC submitted 
an approval document from a local authority that demonstrates this 
program targets firms that cooperate in antidumping investigations.
    Because the grants were contingent upon exportation, we 
preliminarily determine that this program is specific within the 
meaning of section 771(5A)(B) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s and RZBC I&E's export sales in the year of approval and found 
that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance 
with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the 
subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.04 percent ad valorem in 2008.
T. Subsidy for Technique Improvement
    The grant approval documents describing this program are 
proprietary information. See Memorandum from Seth Isenberg to File: 
RZBC Preliminary Calc Memo, dated May 31, 2011, for further discussion.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s and RZBC I&E's relevant sales in the year of approval and found 
that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance 
with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the 
subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.04 percent ad valorem in 2008.
    For the programs listed below, the submitted information was not 
sufficient to conduct a specificity analysis.
U. Fund for Energy-Saving Technological Innovation
    This program was established on August 10, 2007, pursuant to the 
Circular on the Issuance of Interim Measures on Financial Award Funds 
to Energy-saving Technological Innovation. Under the program, 
enterprises whose energy-saving innovation project results in energy 
savings that exceed 10,000 tons of coal will receive an award. The 
standard award is RMB 200 per ton of coal for the eastern Chinese 
provinces and RMB 250 per ton of saved coal for the mid-western 
provinces. The purpose of the program is to encourage reduced energy 
consumption. According to the Circular, the program was set to 
terminate on December 31, 2010. The program is administered by the 
national Ministry of Finance and the NDRC.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year of approval and 
found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total 
amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.10 percent ad valorem in 2009.
V. Shandong Province: Award Fund for Industrialization of Key Energy-
saving Technology
    This program was established pursuant to the Provisional Measures 
Shandong Special Fund for Energy and Water Saving, and implemented on 
November 8, 2007, under the Circular of the Shandong Finance Department 
and Shandong Economic and Trade Commission establishing Provisional 
Measures on Shandong Award Fund for Industrialization of Key Energy-
saving Technology (Lu Cai Jian {2007{time}  No. 68). The purpose of the 
program is to encourage reductions in energy consumption and to 
accelerate the industrialization of key energy-saving technologies in 
Shandong Province. According to the GOC, the program is administered by 
the Shandong Finance Department.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year of approval and 
found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total 
amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.07 percent ad valorem in 2008.
W. Shandong Province: Environmental Protection Industry R&D Funds
    This program was established on September 24, 2007, under the 
Circular on the Issuance of Administrative Rules on Special Funds for 
Technology R&D Projects of the Environmental Protection Industry of 
Shandong Province. It is administered by Shandong Province Finance 
Department and Shandong Environmental Protection Bureau. The purpose of 
the program is to promote pollution-preventing technologies and 
environmental product development, and to strengthen the innovation 
capability and market competitiveness of the environmental protection 
industry in Shandong Province.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year of approval and 
found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total 
amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.03 percent ad valorem in 2008.

[[Page 33237]]

X. Rizhao City: Special Fund for Enterprise Development
    No further descriptive information was submitted.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year of approval and 
found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total 
amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.04 percent ad valorem in 2009.
Y. Rizhao City: Technological Innovation Grants
    No further descriptive information was submitted.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year of approval and 
found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total 
amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.01 percent ad valorem in 2008.
Z. Rizhao City: Technology Research and Development Fund
    No further descriptive information was submitted.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by RZBC 
Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales in the year of approval and 
found that the amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total 
amount of the subsidy to the year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.01 percent ad valorem in 2009.
AA. Shandong Province: Waste Water Treatment Subsidies
    No further descriptive information was submitted.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amounts approved for each 
year by the RZBC Co.'s, RZBC I&E's, and RZBC Juxian's sales for each 
the year of approval. We found that for all years but 2009, each amount 
was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the subsidy to the 
year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that RZBC received a 
countervailable subsidy of 0.02 percent ad valorem in 2009.
    Other Subsidies Received by Yixing Union
    As discussed above under ``Use of Facts Otherwise Available and 
Adverse Inferences: GOC--RZBC's and Yixing Union's Other Subsidies,'' 
the financial statements and tax returns submitted by the responding 
companies indicated that they received grants. Further, for certain of 
the programs, information submitted by the GOC and/or the responding 
companies was sufficient to analyze the programs' specificity. Where 
the information was not sufficient, we are employing an adverse 
inference and preliminarily determining the programs to be specific.
    For Yixing Union, we identified three different grant programs with 
measurable benefits during the POR among these ``other subsidies.''
    We preliminarily determine that these grants are direct transfers 
of funds within the meaning of section 771(5)(D)(i) of the Act and that 
they provide a benefit in the amount of the grant. See 19 CFR 
351.504(a). Our specificity findings are described below.
BB. Yixing City: Leading Enterprise Program
    According to Yixing Union, it received grants from Yixing City 
because it is a leading enterprise.
    Because the grants were given to ``leading'' enterprises, we 
preliminarily determine that the program is specific within the meaning 
of section 771 (5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by Yixing 
Union Co.'s sales in the year of approval and found that the amount was 
less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the subsidy to the 
year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.01 percent ad valorem in 2009.
CC. Yixing City: Tai Lake Water Improvement Program
    According to Yixing Union, grants under this program are limited to 
companies located around Tai Lake.
    Because the grants under this program are limited to enterprises 
located in a designated geographic area, we preliminarily determine 
that the programs is specific within the meaning of section 
771(5)(D)(iv).
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by Yixing 
Union's consolidated sales in the year of approval and found that the 
amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the subsidy to the 
year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.01 percent ad valorem in 2009.
    For the program listed below, the submitted information was not 
sufficient to conduct a specificity analysis.
DD. Jiangsu Province Energy Conservation and Emissions Reduction 
Program
    No further descriptive information was provided.
    To calculate the benefit, we divided the amount approved by Yixing 
Union's consolidated sales in the year of approval and found that the 
amount was less than 0.5 percent. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.524(b)(2), we are allocating the total amount of the subsidy to the 
year of receipt.
    On this basis, we preliminarily determine that Yixing Union 
received a countervailable subsidy of 0.05 percent ad valorem in 2009.

II. Programs Preliminarily Determined To Be Not Countervailable

Jiangsu Province Policy Lending
    In this administrative review, the Department has re-examined an 
allegation made in the investigation that a program of policy lending 
to the citric acid exists in Jiangsu Province. As with their allegation 
of a national policy lending program, Petitioners contend that the GOC 
itself considers citric acid to be a ``new biochemical product'' or 
otherwise among food additive and fine chemical products encouraged by 
various plans. With regard to lending in Jiangsu Province, Petitioners 
claim that citric acid is among the ``biochemical products'' and 
``special fine chemicals'' encouraged in the Jiangsu Province 11th Five 
Year Plan--Chemical (``Jiangsu Chemical FYP'').
    The GOC and Yixing Union deny that there is preferential lending 
program in Jiangsu Province that benefits citric acid producers. As 
discussed above regarding the national policy lending program, the GOC 
states that while there are no official criteria that the NDRC uses to 
determine what constitutes a ``new biochemical product,'' the NDRC has 
indicated that citric acid ``is not considered a new biochemical 
product because it has been in existence for years.'' See GNSASQR1, 
Part 1 (April 27, 2011) at 6. The GOC states that if the

[[Page 33238]]

NDRC expressly interprets plans in a certain way, the local authorities 
must follow the interpretation. However, if no NDRC interpretation 
exists, the GOC indicates that local officials might make their own 
interpretation of what is covered in plan. Id.
    With respect to the question of how the Jiangsu provincial 
government classifies citric acid, we asked Yixing Union to report any 
product certifications it had received from either local or national 
governments. Yixing Union reported receiving a ``High Technology 
Product Certificate'' in 2009. See Supplemental Questionnaire Response 
of Yixing Union Biochemical Co., Ltd. and Yixing Union Cogeneration 
Co., Ltd. (May 16, 2011) at 1-2 and Exhibit 1. Yixing Union stated that 
it did not receive any benefit as a result of receiving the certificate 
other than the intangible benefits of improving its reputation. Id.
    Moreover, because of possible ambiguity in the product coverage of 
the Jiangsu Chemical FYP, we examined closely a sample of loan 
documentation obtained from Yixing Union. These documents provide no 
indication that any of the provincial plans were a factor in awarding 
the loans to Yixing Union.
    Accordingly, we preliminarily determine that Jiangsu Province does 
not provide policy loans to the citric acid industry there.
    We note that beginning in 2009, we are countervailing loans 
received by Yixing Union based on our preliminary determination that a 
national policy lending program exists for the fermentation industry 
(see ``National-Level Government Preferential Lending Program,'' 
above).

III. Programs Preliminarily Determined Not to Confer a Measurable 
Benefit During the POR

    Regarding programs listed below, benefits from these programs 
result in net subsidy rates that are less than 0.005 percent ad valorem 
or constitute benefits that were fully expensed prior to the POR. 
Consistent with our past practice, we therefore have not included these 
programs in our net countervailing duty rate calculations. See, e.g., 
CFS Decision Memorandum at ``Analysis of Programs, Programs Determined 
Not To Have Been Used or Not To Have Provided Benefits During the POI 
for GE.''

A. Special Funds for Energy Saving and Recycling Program (Yixing Union) 
\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Yixing SQR1 at 9 and Exhibit SS-8.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Water Resource Expense Reimbursement Program (Cogeneration) \17\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ Yixing SQR1 at 10 and Exhibit SS-14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Shandong Province: Energy-Saving Award

IV. Programs Preliminarily Determined Not To Be Used\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ In this section we refer to programs preliminarily 
determined to be not used by the two participating respondent 
companies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Discounted Loans for Export-Oriented Industries
B. Loans Provided to the Northeast Revitalization Program
C. State Key Technology Renovation Project Fund
D. National Level Grants to Loss-Making SOEs
E. Income Tax Exemption Program for Export-Oriented FIEs
F. Tax Benefits to FIEs for Certain Reinvestment of Profits
G. Preferential Income Tax Rate for Research and Development at FIEs
H. Preferential Tax Programs for Encouraged Industries
I. Preferential Tax Policies for Township Enterprises
J. Reduced Income Tax Rates for Encouraged Industries in Anhui Province
K. Income Tax Exemption for FIEs Located in Jiangsu Province
L. VAT Rebate on Purchases by FIEs of Domestically Produced Equipment
M. Provincial Level Grants to Loss-Making SOEs
N. ``Famous Brands'' Program--Yixing City
O. Funds for Outward Expansion of Industries in Guangdong Province
P. Administration Fee Exemption in the Yixing Economic Development Zone 
(``YEDZ'')
Q. Tax Grants, Rebates, and Credits in the YEDZ
R. Provision of Construction Services in the YEDZ for LTAR
S. Grants to FIEs for Projects in the YEDZ
T. Provision of Land in the YEDZ for LTAR
U. Provision of Electricity in the YEDZ for LTAR
V. Provision of Water in the YEDZ for LTAR
W. Provision of Land in the Zhuqiao Key Open Park for LTAR
X. Provision of Land in Anhui Province for LTAR
Y. Provision of Land to SOEs for LTAR
Z. Exemption from Land-use Fees and Provision of Land for LTAR in 
Jiangsu Province for LTAR
AA. Torch Program--Grant
BB. Anqui City Energy and Water Savings Grant
CC. Provision of Land in the Anqui Economic Development Zone (``AEDZ'') 
for LTAR
V. Programs for Which More Information Is Required
    In our questionnaires, we requested partial data for 2008 for the 
various lending programs and the sulfuric and steam coal LTAR programs. 
For the final results, we intend to request and analyze full-year data 
for 2008, consistent with the Department's practice in this regard. 
See, e.g., Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review: 
Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India, 69 FR 26549 
(May 13, 2004), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at page 
1, footnote 1. We will also request that Respondents report separately 
their interest payments for 2008 and 2009.
    Further, as discussed above, the Department is investigating RZBC's 
creditworthiness and will be seeking information from the RZBC. The 
Department also intends to seek additional information regarding 
potential subsidies to RZBC Co.'s prior parent companies, the ownership 
of Cogeneration during the 2004 and 2005 calendar years, and further 
clarification regarding the responding companies' notes payable. 
Finally, for the Shandong Province: Construction Fund for Promotion of 
Key Industries program, RZBC reported that it received assistance from 
fund aimed at ``key enterprises.'' We need additional sales information 
from RZBC to calculate the subsidy conferred by this program.
    The Department plans to issue a post-preliminary analysis, as 
warranted, presenting its analysis of issues not addressed in these 
preliminary results.

Preliminary Results of Review

    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(i), we calculated 
individual subsidy rates for RZBC and Yixing Union, the producers 
covered by this administrative review. We preliminarily determine that 
the total estimated net countervailable subsidy rate for RZBC for 2008 
is 6.96 percent ad valorem and for 2009 is 4.04 percent ad valorem. We 
preliminarily determine that the total estimated net countervailable 
subsidy rate for Yixing Union for 2008 is 13.80 percent ad valorem and 
for 2009 is 35.93 percent ad valorem.
    If these preliminary results are adopted in our final results of 
this review, 15 days after publication of the final results of this 
review the Department will instruct CBP to liquidate shipments of 
citric acid by RZBC and Yixing Union entered or

[[Page 33239]]

withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption from September 19, 2008, 
through Jan 16, 2009, and May 29, 2009, through December 31, 2009, at 
the applicable rates. Entries during the period January 17, through May 
29, 2009, were not suspended for CVD purposes due to the termination of 
provisional measures.

Cash Deposit Instructions

    The Department also intends to instruct CBP to collect cash 
deposits of estimated countervailing duties in the amounts calculated 
for year 2009. For all non-reviewed firms, we will instruct CBP to 
collect cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties at the most 
recent company-specific or all-others rate applicable to the company. 
These rates shall apply to all non-reviewed companies until a review of 
a company assigned these rates is requested. These cash deposit 
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further 
notice.

Public Comment

    Interested parties may submit written arguments in case briefs 
within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice. Rebuttal 
briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, may be filed not later 
than five days after the date of filing the case briefs. Parties who 
submit briefs in this proceeding should provide a summary of the 
arguments not to exceed five pages and a table of statutes, 
regulations, and cases cited. Copies of case briefs and rebuttal briefs 
must be served on interested parties in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.303(f).
    Interested parties may request a hearing within 30 days after the 
date of publication of this notice. Unless otherwise specified, the 
hearing, if requested, will be held two days after the scheduled date 
for submission of rebuttal briefs.
    The Department will publish a notice of the final results of this 
administrative review within 120 days from the publication of these 
preliminary results.
    We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with 
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: May 31, 2011.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-14027 Filed 6-6-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P