[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 16 (Friday, January 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4229-4231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01350]


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 OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Dispute No. WTO/DS471]


WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding Certain Methodologies 
and Their Application to Anti-Dumping Proceedings Involving China

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative 
(``USTR'') is providing notice that on December 3, 2013, the People's 
Republic of China (``China'') requested consultations with the United 
States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization (``WTO Agreement'') concerning antidumping measures on the 
following products from China: certain coated paper suitable for high-
quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses, certain oil country 
tubular goods, high pressure steel cylinders, polyethylene 
terephthalate film, sheet, and strip, aluminum extrusions, certain 
frozen and canned warmwater shrimp,\1\ certain new pneumatic off-the-
road tires, crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not 
assembled into modules, diamond sawblades and parts thereof, 
multilayered wood flooring, narrow woven ribbons with woven selvedge, 
polyethylene retail carrier bags, and wooden bedroom furniture.
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    \1\ Although China describes this measure as relating to 
``frozen and canned warmwater shrimp,'' the relevant antidumping 
duty order does not cover canned warmwater shrimp, following the 
International Trade Commission's negative material injury 
determination with respect to canned warmwater shrimp. See Amended 
Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping 
Duty Order: Certain Frozen Warmwater Shrimp From the People's 
Republic of China, 70 FR 5149, 5150 (Feb. 1, 2005).
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    That request may be found at www.wto.org in a document designated 
as WT/DS471/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning 
the issues raised in this dispute.

DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the 
course of the dispute settlement proceedings, comments should be 
submitted on or before February 14, 2014, to be assured of timely 
consideration by USTR.

ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted electronically to 
www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2014-0001. If you are unable to 
provide submissions by www.regulations.gov, please contact Sandy 
McKinzy at (202) 395-9483 to arrange for an alternative method of 
transmission.
    If (as explained below) the comment contains confidential 
information, then the comment should be submitted by fax only to Sandy 
McKinzy at (202) 395-3640.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. Daniel Stirk, Associate General 
Counsel, or Mayur Patel, Assistant General Counsel, Office of the 
United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20508, (202) 395-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: USTR is providing notice that consultations 
have been requested pursuant to the WTO Understanding on Rules and 
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (``DSU''). If such 
consultations should fail to resolve the matter and a dispute 
settlement panel is established pursuant to the DSU, the panel would 
hold its meetings in Geneva, Switzerland.

Major Issues Raised by China

    On December 3, 2013, China requested consultations concerning 
antidumping measures on a number of products from China, including 
certain coated paper suitable for high-quality

[[Page 4230]]

print graphics using sheet-fed presses (coated paper), certain oil 
country tubular goods (OCTG), high pressure steel cylinders (steel 
cylinders), polyethylene terephthalate film, sheet, and strip (PET 
film), aluminum extrusions, certain frozen and canned warmwater shrimp 
(shrimp), certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires (tires), crystalline 
silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules 
(solar cells), diamond sawblades and parts thereof (sawblades), 
multilayered wood flooring (flooring), narrow woven ribbons with woven 
selvedge (ribbons), polyethylene retail carrier bags (bags), and wooden 
bedroom furniture (furniture).
    With respect to the antidumping measures on coated paper, OCTG, and 
steel cylinders, China challenges the application by the Department of 
Commerce (``Commerce'') in investigations of what China describes as a 
``targeted dumping methodology'' and the use of ``zeroing'' in 
connection with the application of such methodology. China's challenge 
includes Commerce's final determinations in the antidumping 
investigations of these products, any modification, replacement, or 
amendment of such final determinations, and ``any closely connected, 
subsequent measures'' that involve the ``targeted dumping 
methodology.''
    With respect to the antidumping measure on PET film, China 
challenges Commerce's application in an administrative review of what 
China describes as a ``targeted dumping methodology'' and the use of 
``zeroing'' in connection with the application of such methodology. 
China's challenge includes Commerce's final determination in the 
antidumping duty administrative review of PET film, any modification, 
replacement, or amendment of such final determination, and ``any 
closely connected, subsequent measures'' that involve the ``targeted 
dumping methodology.''
    With respect to the antidumping measures on aluminum extrusions, 
coated paper, shrimp, tires, OCTG, solar cells, sawblades, steel 
cylinders, wood flooring, ribbons, bags, PET film, and furniture, China 
challenges Commerce's application in investigations and administrative 
reviews of what China describes as a ``single rate presumption for non-
market economies.'' China's challenge includes Commerce's final 
determinations, any modification, replacement, or amendment of such 
final determinations, and ``any closely connected, subsequent 
measures'' that involve the application of the ``single rate 
presumption.'' China also challenges the ``single rate presumption'' 
``as such,'' and alleges that it has been consistently applied pursuant 
to the regulation set forth in 19 CFR 351.107(d), Import Administration 
Policy Bulletin Number 05.1 of 5 April 2005, and the Import 
Administration Antidumping Manual, 2009, Chapter 10.
    With respect to the antidumping measures on aluminum extrusions, 
coated paper, shrimp, tires, OCTG, solar cells, sawblades, steel 
cylinders, wood flooring, ribbons, bags, PET film, and furniture, China 
challenges Commerce's application in investigations and administrative 
reviews of what China describes as a ``NME-wide methodology,'' which 
includes as ``features'' the ``failure to request information,'' the 
``failure to provide rights of defense,'' and the ``recourse to facts 
available.'' China's challenge includes Commerce's final 
determinations, any modification, replacement, or amendment of such 
final determinations, and ``any closely connected, subsequent 
measures'' that involve the application of the ``NME-wide 
methodology.''
    Finally, with respect to the antidumping measures on aluminum 
extrusions, coated paper, shrimp, tires, OCTG, solar cells, sawblades, 
steel cylinders, wood flooring, ribbons, bags, PET film, and furniture, 
China challenges Commerce's application in investigations and 
administrative reviews of what China describes as ``adverse facts 
available.'' China's challenge includes Commerce's final 
determinations, any modification, replacement, or amendment of such 
final determinations, and ``any closely connected, subsequent 
measures'' that involve the application of the ``NME-wide 
methodology.'' China also challenges the use of ``adverse facts 
available'' ``as such,'' and alleges that it has been consistently 
applied pursuant to section 776(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, codified 
at 19 U.S.C. 1677e(b) and regulations set forth in 19 CFR 351.308.
    China alleges inconsistencies with Articles 2.4.2, 6.1, 6.8, 6.10, 
9.2, 9.3, 9.4, and Annex II of the AD Agreement and Article VI:2 of the 
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994.

Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions

    Interested persons are invited to submit written comments 
concerning the issues raised in this dispute. Persons may submit public 
comments electronically to www.regulations.gov docket number USTR-2014-
0001. If you are unable to provide submissions by www.regulations.gov, 
please contact Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-9483 to arrange for an 
alternative method of transmission.
    To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number 
USTR-2014-0001 on the home page and click ``search''. The site will 
provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with 
this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ``Notice'' 
under ``Document Type'' on the left side of the search-results page, 
and click on the link entitled ``Submit a Comment.'' (For further 
information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult 
the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This 
Site'' on the left side of the home page.)
    The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments 
by filling in a ``Type Comments'' field, or by attaching a document 
using an ``Upload File'' field. It is expected that most comments will 
be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is 
sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comments'' field.
    A person requesting that information contained in a comment that 
he/she submitted be treated as confidential business information must 
certify that such information is business confidential and would not 
customarily be released to the public by the submitter. Confidential 
business information must be clearly designated as such and the 
submission must be marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' at the top and 
bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page. Any comment 
containing business confidential information must be submitted by fax 
to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640. A non-confidential summary of the 
confidential information must be submitted to www.regulations.gov. The 
non-confidential summary will be placed in the docket and will be open 
to public inspection.
    USTR may determine that information or advice contained in a 
comment submitted, other than business confidential information, is 
confidential in accordance with Section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of 
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that information 
or advice may qualify as such, the submitter--
    (1) Must clearly so designate the information or advice;
    (2) Must clearly mark the material as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE'' 
at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page; and

[[Page 4231]]

    (3) Must provide a non-confidential summary of the information or 
advice.
    Any comment containing confidential information must be submitted 
by fax. A non-confidential summary of the confidential information must 
be submitted to www.regulations.gov. The non-confidential summary will 
be placed in the docket and will be open to public inspection.
    Pursuant to section 127(e) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 
U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will maintain a docket on this dispute settlement 
proceeding, docket number USTR-2014-0001, accessible to the public at 
www.regulations.gov. The public file will include non-confidential 
comments received by USTR from the public regarding the dispute. If a 
dispute settlement panel is convened, or in the event of an appeal from 
such a panel, the following documents will be made available to the 
public at www.ustr.gov: the United States' submissions, any non-
confidential submissions received from other participants in the 
dispute, and any non-confidential summaries of submissions received 
from other participants in the dispute.
    In the event that a dispute settlement panel is convened, or in the 
event of an appeal from such a panel, the report of the panel, and, if 
applicable, the report of the Appellate Body, will also be available on 
the Web site of the World Trade Organization, at www.wto.org. Comments 
open to public inspection may be viewed at www.regulations.gov.

Juan Millan,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and 
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2014-01350 Filed 1-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F4-P