[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69793-69794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28219]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-475-819]


Certain Pasta From Italy; Final Results of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review; 2010

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

SUMMARY: On August 1, 2012, the Department of Commerce (the 
``Department'') published in the Federal Register its preliminary 
results of administrative review of the countervailing duty order on 
certain pasta from Italy for the period January 1, 2010, through 
December 31, 2010. We received no comments on those preliminary results 
and we continue to determine that Molino e Pastificio Tomasello S.p.A. 
(``Tomasello'') received countervailable subsidies during the period of 
review.

DATES: Effective Date: November 21, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Shuler, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office 1, Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone 
(202) 482-1293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Department published the preliminary results of this 
administrative review on August 1, 2012. See Certain Pasta From Italy: 
Preliminary Results of the 15th (2010) Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review and Rescission, In Part, 77 FR 45582 (August 1, 
2012) (``Preliminary Results''). We invited interested parties to file 
comments following the release of the Preliminary Results. No comments 
were received.

Period of Review

    The period for which we are measuring subsidies is January 1, 2010, 
through December 31, 2010.

Certification of Organic Pasta

    As discussed further under ``Scope of the Order,'' pasta from Italy 
that is certified as organic by European Union authorized agents and 
accompanied by a U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic 
Program import certificate is excluded from the order.

Scope of the Order

    Imports covered by the order are shipments of certain non-egg dry 
pasta in packages of five pounds four ounces or less, whether or not 
enriched or fortified or containing milk or other optional ingredients 
such as chopped vegetables, vegetable purees, milk, gluten, diastasis, 
vitamins, coloring and flavorings, and up to two percent egg white. The 
pasta covered by the scope of the order is typically sold in the retail 
market, in fiberboard or cardboard cartons, or polyethylene or 
polypropylene bags of varying dimensions.
    Excluded from the scope of the order are refrigerated, frozen, or 
canned pastas, as well as all forms of egg pasta, with the exception of 
non-egg dry pasta containing up to two percent egg white. Also excluded 
are imports of organic pasta from Italy that are certified by a 
European Union authorized body and accompanied by a National Organic 
Program import certificate for organic products. See Memorandum from 
Yasmin Nair to Susan Kuhbach, entitled ``Recognition of EU Organic 
Certifying Agents for Certifying Organic Pasta from Italy,'' dated 
October 10, 2012, which is on file in the Department's CRU. Pursuant to 
the Department's May 12, 2011 changed circumstances review, effective 
January 1, 2009, gluten-free pasta is also excluded from the scope of 
the countervailing duty order. See Certain Pasta From Italy: Final 
Results of Countervailing Duty Changed Circumstances Review and 
Revocation, In Part, 76 FR 27634 (May 12, 2011).
    The merchandise subject to review is currently classifiable under 
items 1901.90.90.95 and 1902.19.20 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (``HTSUS''). Although the HTSUS subheadings are 
provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description 
of the merchandise subject to the order is dispositive.

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.
    As explained in our Preliminary Results, we find that the 
Government of Italy (``GOI'') failed to respond to our request for 
usage information regarding Measure 3.14 of the POR Sicilia 2000/2006. 
Therefore, consistent with section 776(a)(2)(B) of the Act, we have 
relied on facts otherwise available. Furthermore, because the GOI 
failed to provide this information, which was in its possession, we 
determine that the GOI did not act to the best of its ability. 
Consequently, an adverse inference is warranted in accordance with 
section 776(b) of the Act. As adverse facts available, we determine 
that the assistance received by Tomasello under Measure 3.14 of the POR 
Sicilia 2000/2006 is specific within the meaning of section 771(5A) of 
the Act. See Preliminary Results, 77 FR at 45585.

Final Results of Review

    We have made no changes to our findings announced in the 
Preliminary Results. See Preliminary Results, 77 FR at 45586; see also 
Memorandum from Joseph Shuler, International Trade Analyst, to the 
File, ``2010 Preliminary Results Calculation Memorandum for Molino e 
Pastificio Tomasello, S.p.A.,'' dated July 24, 2012.
    For the period January 1, 2010, through December 31, 2010, we find 
that the ad valorem net subsidy rate for Tomasello to be:

[[Page 69794]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Net subsidy
                   Producer/Exporter                     rate  (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Molino e Pastificio Tomasello S.p.A....................            2.49
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Assessment Rates

    Consistent with 19 CFR 351.212(b), the Department intends to issue 
assessment instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') 
fifteen days after the date of publication of these final results. For 
Tomasello, the Department will instruct CBP to assess countervailing 
duties at the net subsidy rate listed above.
    For all other companies that were not reviewed (except Barilla G. e 
R. F.lli S.p.A., and Gruppo Agricoltura Sana S.r.l., which are excluded 
from the order, and Pasta Lensi S.r.l., which was revoked from the 
order), the Department has directed CBP to assess countervailing duties 
on all entries between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010, at the 
rates in effect at the time of entry.

Cash Deposit Instructions

    For Tomasello, the Department intends to instruct CBP to collect 
cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties in the amounts shown 
above.
    For all non-reviewed firms (except Barilla G. e R. F.lli S.p.A. and 
Gruppo Agricoltura Sana S.r.l., which are excluded from the order, and 
Pasta Lensi S.r.l. which was revoked from the order), 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. The cash deposit rates for all companies not covered by this 
review are not changed by the results of this review.

Administrative Protective Order

    This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (``APO'') of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written 
notification of return or 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 these results in accordance with 
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: November 13, 2012.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-28219 Filed 11-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P