[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 161 (Friday, August 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55436-55438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19873]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-028]


Hydrofluorocarbon Blends From the People's Republic of China: 
Antidumping Duty Order

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: Based on affirmative final determinations by the Department of 
Commerce (the Department) and the International Trade Commission (the 
ITC), the Department is issuing an antidumping duty order on 
hydrofluorocarbon blends from the People's Republic of China (PRC).

DATES: Effective August 19, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Eastwood or Dennis McClure, 
AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
3874 or (202) 482-5973.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In accordance with sections 735(d) and 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act 
of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.210(c), on June 29, 2016, 
the Department published its affirmative final determination in the 
less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) 
blends and components thereof from the PRC.\1\ On August 5, 2016, the 
ITC notified the Department of: Its affirmative determination that an 
industry in the United States is materially injured within the meaning 
of section 735(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, by reason of the LTFV imports of 
HFC blends from the PRC; its negative determination that an industry in 
the United States is not materially injured or threatened with material 
injury by reason of imports of HFC components from the PRC; and its 
determination that critical circumstances do not exist with respect to 
imports of HFC blends that are subject to the Department's affirmative 
critical circumstances finding.\2\
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    \1\ See Hydrofluorocarbon Blends and Components Thereof from the 
People's Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less 
Than Fair Value and Final Affirmative Determination of Critical 
Circumstances; 81 FR 42314 (June 29, 2016) (Final Determination).
    \2\ See Letter to Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance, from Irving Williamson, 
Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission, regarding 
hydrofluorocarbon blends and components thereof from China (August 
5, 2016) (ITC Letter). See also Hydrofluorocarbon Blends and 
Components from China (Investigation No. 731-TA-1279 (Final), USITC 
Publication 4629, August 2016).
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Scope of the Order

    The products subject to this order are HFC blends. HFC blends 
covered by the scope are R-404A, a zeotropic mixture consisting of 52 
percent 1,1,1 Trifluoroethane, 44 percent Pentafluoroethane, and 4 
percent 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane; R-407A, a zeotropic mixture of 20 
percent Difluoromethane, 40 percent Pentafluoroethane, and 40 percent 
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane; R-407C, a zeotropic mixture of 23 percent 
Difluoromethane, 25 percent Pentafluoroethane, and 52 percent 1,1,1,2-
Tetrafluoroethane; R-410A, a zeotropic mixture of 50 percent 
Difluoromethane and 50 percent Pentafluoroethane; and R-507A, an 
azeotropic mixture of 50 percent Pentafluoroethane and 50 percent 
1,1,1-Trifluoroethane also known as R-507. The foregoing percentages 
are nominal percentages by weight. Actual percentages of single 
component refrigerants by weight may vary by plus or minus two percent 
points from the nominal percentage identified above.\3\
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    \3\ R-404A is sold under various trade names, including 
Forane[supreg] 404A, Genetron[supreg] 404A, Solkane[supreg] 404A, 
Klea[supreg] 404A, and Suva[supreg]404A. R-407A is sold under 
various trade names, including Forane[supreg] 407A, Solkane[supreg] 
407A, Klea[supreg]407A, and Suva[supreg]407A. R-407C is sold under 
various trade names, including Forane[supreg] 407C, Genetron[supreg] 
407C, Solkane[supreg] 407C, Klea[supreg] 407C and Suva[supreg] 407C. 
R-410A is sold under various trade names, including EcoFluor R410, 
Forane[supreg] 410A, Genetron[supreg] R410A and AZ-20, 
Solkane[supreg] 410A, Klea[supreg] 410A, Suva[supreg] 410A, and 
Puron[supreg]. R-507A is sold under various trade names, including 
Forane[supreg] 507, Solkane[supreg] 507, Klea[supreg]507, 
Genetron[supreg]AZ-50, and Suva[supreg]507. R-32 is sold under 
various trade names, including Solkane[supreg]32, Forane[supreg]32, 
and Klea[supreg]32. R-125 is sold under various trade names, 
including Solkane[supreg]125, Klea[supreg]125, Genetron[supreg]125, 
and Forane[supreg]125. R-143a is sold under various trade names, 
including Solkane[supreg]143a, Genetron[supreg]143a, and 
Forane[supreg]125.
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    Any blend that includes an HFC component other than R-32, R-125, R-
143a, or R-134a is excluded from the scope of this order.
    Excluded from this order are blends of refrigerant chemicals that 
include products other than HFCs, such as blends including 
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), 
hydrocarbons (HCs), or hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs).
    Also excluded from this order are patented HFC blends, including, 
but not limited to, ISCEON[supreg] blends, including MO99TM 
(R-438A), MO79 (R-422A), MO59 (R-417A), MO49PlusTM (R-437A) 
and MO29TM (R-4 22D), Genetron[supreg] 
PerformaxTM LT (R-407F), Choice[supreg] R-421A, and 
Choice[supreg] R-421B.

[[Page 55437]]

    HFC blends covered by the scope of this order are currently 
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) at subheadings 3824.78.0020 and 3824.78.0050. Although the 
HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, 
the written description of the scope is dispositive.

Antidumping Duty Order

    As stated above, on August 5, 2016, in accordance with section 
735(d) of the Act, the ITC notified the Department of its final 
determination in this investigation. In its determination, the ITC 
found two domestic like products: (1) HFC blends, and (2) HFC 
components. The ITC notified the Department of: Its affirmative 
determination that an industry in the United States is materially 
injured within the meaning of section 735(b)(1)(A)(i) of the Act, by 
reason of the LTFV imports of HFC blends from the PRC; its negative 
determination that an industry in the United States is not materially 
injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of HFC 
components from the PRC; and its determination that critical 
circumstances do not exist with respect to imports of HFC blends that 
are subject to the Department's affirmative critical circumstances 
finding.\4\ Therefore, in accordance with section 735(c)(2) of the Act, 
we are issuing this antidumping duty order with respect to HFC blends 
as identified in the ``Scope of the Order'' section above. Because the 
ITC determined that imports of HFC blends from the PRC are materially 
injuring a U.S. industry, unliquidated entries of such merchandise from 
the PRC, entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, are 
subject to the assessment of antidumping duties.
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    \4\ See ITC Letter.
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    Therefore, in accordance with section 736(a)(1) of the Act, the 
Department will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to 
assess, upon further instruction by the Department, antidumping duties 
equal to the amount by which the normal value of the merchandise 
exceeds the export price (or constructed export price) of the 
merchandise, for all relevant entries of HFC blends from the PRC. 
Antidumping duties will be assessed on unliquidated entries of HFC 
blends from the PRC entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after February 1, 2016, the date of publication of 
the preliminary determination,\5\ but will not include entries 
occurring after the expiration of the provisional measures period and 
before publication of the ITC's final injury determination as further 
described below.
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    \5\ See Hydrofluorocarbon Blends and Components Thereof from the 
People's Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value, Affirmative Preliminary Determination of 
Critical Circumstances, in Part, and Postponement of Final 
Determination; 81 FR 5098 (February 1, 2016) (Preliminary 
Determination).
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Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we will 
instruct CBP to continue to suspend liquidation on all relevant entries 
of HFC blends from the PRC. These instructions suspending liquidation 
will remain in effect until further notice.
    We will also instruct CBP to require cash deposits equal to the 
amounts as indicated below. Accordingly, effective on the date of 
publication of the ITC's final affirmative injury determination,\6\ CBP 
will require, at the same time as importers would normally deposit 
estimated duties on this subject merchandise, a cash deposit equal to 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margins listed below.\7\ The 
``PRC-wide'' rate applies to all producers or exporters not 
specifically listed, as appropriate.
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    \6\ See Hydrofluorocarbon Blends and Components From China; 
Determination, 81 FR 53157 (August 11, 2016).
    \7\ See section 736(a)(3) of the Act.
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    With respect to the ITC's negative determination with respect to 
imports of HFC components from the PRC, we will instruct CBP to 
terminate the suspension of liquidation for entries of HFC components 
from the PRC and to refund any cash deposits made to secure the payment 
of estimated antidumping duties.

Provisional Measures

    Section 733(d) of the Act states that instructions issued pursuant 
to an affirmative preliminary determination may not remain in effect 
for more than four months, except where exporters representing a 
significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise request 
the Department to extend that four-month period to no more than six 
months. At the request of exporters that account for a significant 
proportion of HFC blends from the PRC, the Department extended the 
four-month period to six months in each case.\8\ In the underlying 
investigation, the Department published the preliminary determination 
on February 1, 2016. Therefore, the extended period, beginning on the 
date of publication of the preliminary determination, ended on July 30, 
2016.
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    \8\ See Preliminary Determination.
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    Furthermore, section 737(b) of the Act states that definitive 
duties are to begin on the date of publication of the ITC's final 
injury determination. Therefore, in accordance with section 733(d) of 
the Act and our practice,\9\ we will instruct CBP to terminate the 
suspension of liquidation and to liquidate, without regard to 
antidumping duties, unliquidated entries of HFC blends from the PRC 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after July 
30, 2016, the date on which the provisional measures expired, until and 
through the day preceding the date of publication of the ITC's final 
injury determination in the Federal Register. Suspension of liquidation 
will resume on the date of publication of the ITC's final determination 
in the Federal Register.
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    \9\ See Certain Corrosion-Resistant Steel Products From India, 
Italy, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea and 
Taiwan: Amended Final Affirmative Antidumping Determination for 
India and Taiwan, and Antidumping Duty Orders, 81 FR 48390 (July 25, 
2016).
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Critical Circumstances

    With regard to the ITC's negative critical circumstances 
determination on imports of HFC blends from the PRC, we will instruct 
CBP to lift suspension and to refund any cash deposits made to secure 
the payment of estimated antidumping duties with respect to entries of 
HFC blends from the PRC entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after November 3, 2015 (i.e., 90 days prior to the 
date of publication of the Preliminary Determination), but before 
February 1, 2016 (i.e., the date of publication of the Preliminary 
Determination).

Estimated Weighted-Average Dumping Margins

    The weighted-average antidumping duty margin percentages are as 
follows:

[[Page 55438]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Weighted-
                                                                average
             Exporter                       Producer             margin
                                                                  (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T.T. International Co., Ltd \10\.  Sinochem Environmental         101.82
                                    Protection Chemicals
                                    (Taicang) Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd......  Zhejiang Lantian               101.82
                                    Environmental Protection
                                    Fluoro Material Co. Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd......  Jinhua Yonghe                  101.82
                                    Fluorochemical Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd......  Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical       101.82
                                    Industry Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd......  Shandong Huaan New             101.82
                                    Material Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd......  Zhejiang Zhonglan              101.82
                                    Refrigeration Technology
                                    Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd......  Dongyang Weihua                101.82
                                    Refrigerants Co., Ltd.
Daikin Fluorochemicals (China)     Daikin Fluorochemicals         101.82
 Co., Ltd.                          (China) Co., Ltd.
Daikin Fluorochemicals (China)     Arkema Daikin Advanced         101.82
 Co., Ltd.                          Fluorochemicals (Changsu)
                                    Co., Ltd. (Arkema Daikin).
Jinhua Yonghe Fluorochemical Co.,  Zhejiang Yonghe                101.82
 Ltd.                               Refrigerant Co., Ltd.
Shandong Huaan New Material Co.,   Shandong Huaan New             101.82
 Ltd.                               Material Co., Ltd.
Weitron International              Zhejiang Lantian               101.82
 Refrigeration Equipment            Environmental Protection
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.                Fluoro Material Co., Ltd.
Weitron International              Sinochem Environmental         101.82
 Refrigeration Equipment            Protection Chemicals
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.                (Taicang) Co., Ltd.
Weitron International              Zhejiang Quzhou Lianzhou       101.82
 Refrigeration Equipment            Refrigerants Co., Ltd.
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
Weitron International              Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical       101.82
 Refrigeration Equipment            Industry Co., Ltd.
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang Yonghe Refrigerant Co.,   Jinhua Yonghe                  101.82
 Ltd.                               Fluorochemical Co., Ltd.
Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry  Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical       101.82
 Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang Sanmei         Industry Co., Ltd.
 Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd.).          (Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical
                                    Ind. Co., Ltd.).
Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry  Jiangsu Sanmei Chemicals       101.82
 Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang Sanmei         Co., Ltd.
 Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.).
PRC-Wide Entity..................  ..........................     216.37
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    This notice constitutes the antidumping duty order with respect to 
HFC blends from the PRC pursuant to section 736(a) of the Act. 
Interested parties can find a list of antidumping duty orders currently 
in effect at http://enforcement.trade.gov/stats/iastats1.html.
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    \10\ In this investigation, the Department determined to treat 
T.T. International, Ltd. (Dalian) and T.T. International Ltd. (Hong 
Kong) as a single entity (i.e., T.T. International Co., Ltd. or TTI) 
for purposes of this antidumping duty proceeding. See Memorandum to 
Melissa G. Skinner, Director, Office II, from Dennis McClure, 
International Trade Analyst, entitled, ``Antidumping Duty 
Investigation of Hydrofluorocarbons from the People's Republic of 
China: Affiliation and Single Entity Status,'' dated June 21, 2016.
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    This order is published in accordance with section 736(a) of the 
Act and 19 CFR 351.211(b).

    Dated: August 15, 2016.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-19873 Filed 8-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P