[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 110 (Wednesday, June 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33243-33244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14187]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-807]


Sulfanilic Acid From India; Final Results of Expedited Sunset 
Review of Countervailing Duty Order

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: On April 1, 2011, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated the third sunset review of the countervailing 
duty (``CVD'') order on sulfanilic acid from India pursuant to section 
751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''). On the 
basis of a notice of intent to participate and an adequate substantive 
response filed on behalf of a domestic interested party and an 
inadequate response (in this case, no response) from respondent 
interested parties, the Department conducted an expedited sunset review 
of this CVD order pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 
CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(B). As a result of this review, the Department 
finds that revocation of the CVD order would be likely to lead to 
continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the level 
indicated the ``Final Results of Review'' section of this notice.

DATES: Effective Date: June 8, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Greynolds, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6071.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Background

    On April 1, 2011, the Department initiated the third sunset review 
of the CVD order on sulfanilic acid from India pursuant to section 
751(c) of the Act. See Initiation of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Review, 76 
FR 18163 (April 1, 2011). The Department received a notice of intent to 
participate on behalf of National Ford Chemical Company (``NFC''), 
within the deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i). NFC claimed 
interested party status under section 771(9)(C) of the Act, as a 
domestic producer of sulfanilic acid.
    The Department received an adequate substantive response from NFC 
within the 30-day deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3)(i). 
However, the Department did not receive a substantive response from the 
Government of India or any respondent interested party to this 
proceeding. As a result, pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), the Department conducted an 
expedited review of the order.

Scope of the Order

    The merchandise covered by the CVD order are all grades of 
sulfanilic acid, which include technical (or crude) sulfanilic acid, 
refined (or purified) sulfanilic acid and sodium salt of sulfanilic 
acid (sodium sulfanilate).
    Sulfanilic acid is a synthetic organic chemical produced from the 
direct sulfonation of aniline with sulfuric acid. Sulfanilic acid is 
used as a raw material in the production of optical brighteners, food 
colors, specialty dyes, and concrete additives. The principal 
differences between the grades are the undesirable quantities of 
residual aniline and alkali insoluble materials present in the 
sulfanilic acid. All grades are available as dry free flowing powders.
    Technical sulfanilic acid contains 96 percent minimum sulfanilic 
acid, 1.0 percent maximum aniline, and 1.0 percent maximum alkali 
insoluble materials. Refined sulfanilic acid contains 98 percent 
minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline, and 0.25 percent 
maximum alkali insoluble materials. Sodium salt of sulfanilic acid 
(sodium sulfanilate) is a granular or crystalline material containing 
75 percent minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline, and 
0.25 percent maximum alkali insoluble materials based on the equivalent 
sulfanilic acid content.
    In response to a request from 3V Corporation, on May 5, 1999, the 
Department determined that sodium sulfanilate processed in Italy from 
sulfanilic acid produced in India is within the scope of the order. See 
Notice of Scope Rulings and Anticircumvention Inquiries, 65 FR 41957 
(July 7, 2000).
    The merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS'') subheadings 2921.42.22 and 
2921.42.90. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience 
and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of the order 
is dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in this review are addressed in the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum (``Decision Memorandum'') from Christian Marsh, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, to Ronald K. Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Import Administration, dated concurrently with this notice, which is 
hereby adopted by this notice. The issues discussed in the accompanying 
Decision Memorandum include the likelihood of continuation or 
recurrence of a countervailable subsidy if the order was revoked, the 
net countervailable subsidy likely to prevail, and the nature of the 
subsidy. Parties can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in 
this review and the corresponding recommendation in this public 
memorandum which is on file in the Central Records Unit room 7046 of 
the main Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the 
Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn. The paper copy and electronic version of the 
Decision Memorandum are identical in content.

Final Results of Review

    The Department determines that revocation of the countervailing 
duty order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a 
countervailable subsidy at the rate listed below:

[[Page 33244]]



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                                                               Net
                                                         countervailable
                  Producers/exporters                        subsidy
                                                            (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Manufacturers/Producers/Exporters..................           43.71
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order

    This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (``APO'') of their responsibility 
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information 
disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely 
notification of return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to 
judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with 
the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.
    We are issuing and publishing the results and notice in accordance 
with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: May 31, 2011.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-14187 Filed 6-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P