[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 231 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86699-86701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28823]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-044]


1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) From the People's Republic of 
China; Amended Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less-
Than-Fair Value

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is amending 
the preliminary determination of the less-than-fair-value (``LTFV'') 
investigation of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (``R-134a'') from the 
People's Republic of China (``PRC'') to correct significant ministerial 
errors with respect to our preliminary determination.

DATES: Effective December 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Haynes or Paul Stolz, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5139 or, (202) 482-
4474, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 7, 2016, the Department published its Preliminary 
Determination.\1\ On October 14, 2016, the Department disclosed to 
interested parties its calculations for the Preliminary Determination. 
On October 19, 2016, the Department received timely filed allegations 
of ministerial errors in the Preliminary Determination.\2\ On October 
20, and October 24, 2016, the Department received timely filed reply 
comments.\3\
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    \1\ See 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) From the People's 
Republic of China: Preliminary Determination of Sales at Less-Than-
Fair Value and Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, 
in Part, and Postponement of Final Determination, 81 FR 69786 
(October 7, 2016) (``Preliminary Determination'').
    \2\ See the ministerial error allegations from Petitioners and 
Sanmei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (``Sanmei''), dated October 19, 
2016.
    \3\ See the reply comments from Petitioners and Sanmei, dated 
October 20, 2016, and October 24, 2016, respectively. However, 
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(c)(3), the Department has not considered 
the rebuttal comments in its analysis.
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Period of Investigation

    The period of investigation is July 1, 2015, through December 31, 
2015.

Scope of the Investigation

    The product subject to this investigation is 1,1,1,2-
Tetrafluoroethane, R-134a, or its chemical equivalent, regardless of 
form, type, or purity level. The chemical formula for 1,1,1,2-
tetrafluoroethane is CF3-CH2F, and the Chemical 
Abstracts Service (``CAS'') registry number is CAS 811-97-2.\4\
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    \4\ 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane is sold under a number of trade 
names including Klea 134a and Zephex 134a (Mexichem Fluor); Genetron 
134a (Honeywell); FreonTM 134a, Suva 134a, Dymel 134a, 
and Dymel P134a (Chemours); Solkane 134a (Solvay); and Forane 134a 
(Arkema). Generically, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane has been sold as 
Fluorocarbon 134a, R-134a, HFC-134a, HF A-134a, Refrigerant 134a, 
and UN3159.
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    Merchandise covered by the scope of this investigation is currently 
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(``HTSUS'') at subheading 2903.39.2020. Although the HTSUS subheading 
and CAS registry number are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.

Analysis of Significant Ministerial Error Allegation

    The Department will analyze any comments received and, if 
appropriate, correct any significant ministerial error by amending the 
preliminary determination according to 19 CFR 351.224(e). A ministerial 
error is defined in 19 CFR 351.224(f) as ``an error in addition, 
subtraction, or other arithmetic function, clerical error resulting 
from inaccurate copying, duplication, or the like, and any other 
similar type of unintentional error which the Secretary considers 
ministerial.'' \5\ A significant ministerial error is defined as an 
error, the correction of which, singly or in combination with other 
errors, would result in: (1) A change of at least five

[[Page 86700]]

absolute percentage points in, but not less than 25 percent of, the 
antidumping duty rate calculated in the original (erroneous) 
preliminary determination; or (2) a difference between an antidumping 
duty rate of zero (or de minimis) and an antidumping duty rate of 
greater than de minimis or vice versa.\6\
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    \5\ See Section 735(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(the ``Act'').
    \6\ See 19 CFR 351.224(g).
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    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(e) and (g)(1), the Department is 
amending the Preliminary Determination to reflect the correction of six 
ministerial errors it made in the calculation of the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin for Sanmei, a mandatory respondent \7\ 
These errors are significant ministerial errors within the meaning of 
19 CFR 351.224(g) because Sanmei's margin increases from 137.23 percent 
to 232.30 percent as a result of correcting these ministerial errors, 
exceeding the significant threshold with a change of at least five 
absolute percentage points and more than 25 percent of the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin.
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    \7\ See Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, from 
Erin Begnal, Director, Office III, ``Antidumping Duty Investigation 
of 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluorethane (R134a) from the People's Republic of 
China: Allegation of Ministerial Errors in the Preliminary 
Determination,'' dated concurrently with this notice for the 
analysis performed (``Ministerial Error Memorandum''). The 
Department is also correcting an additional error made by Sanmei, as 
the error is related to one of the ministerial errors that the 
Department made and has corrected.
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    Because Sanmei is the only mandatory respondent eligible for a 
separate rate, Sanmei is the only respondent for which we individually 
calculated an estimated weighted-average dumping margin. For this 
reason, we assigned Sanmei's calculated rate to all non-examined 
separate rate respondents. With this amended preliminary determination, 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for each non-examined 
separate rate respondent is also amended to 232.30 percent.
    In the Preliminary Determination, in order to determine the 
probative value of the dumping margin alleged in the petition for 
assigning an adverse facts available (``AFA'') rate, we examined the 
information on the record. When we compared the highest petition 
dumping margin of 220.90 percent to the transaction-specific dumping 
margins calculated for Sanmei, we found that the highest petition 
dumping margin was higher than each of the transaction-specific dumping 
margins calculated for Sanmei. Therefore, we were unable to corroborate 
the highest dumping margin contained in the petition for use as AFA, 
which was applied to the PRC-wide entity.\8\ Because Sanmei's amended 
preliminary estimated weighted-average dumping margin is now higher 
than the highest dumping margin alleged in the petition, the AFA rate 
applied to the PRC-wide entity is also 232.30 percent.
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    \8\ See Preliminary Determination and accompanying Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum at 20-21.
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    Because we are relying on information obtained in the course of 
this investigation on which to base this rate, not on secondary 
information, it is not necessary to corroborate this calculated rate as 
AFA.\9\
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    \9\ See, e.g., 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluroethane From the People's 
Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value, 79 FR 62597 (October 20, 2014), and accompanying Issues and 
Decision Memorandum at 3. See also section 776(c) of the Act and 19 
CFR 351.308(c) and (d).
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Amended Cash Deposits and Suspension of Liquidation

    The collection of cash deposits and suspension of liquidation will 
be revised accordingly, in accordance with section 733(d) and (g)(1) of 
the Act and 19 CFR 351.224. Because it is an increase from the 
Preliminary Determination, the amended cash deposit rate will be 
effective on the date of publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. This suspension of liquidation will remain in effect until 
further notice.

Amended Preliminary Determination

    The Department preliminarily determines that the following 
estimated weighted-average antidumping duty margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Weighted-
             Exporter                     Producer        average margin
                                                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry   Zhejiang Sanmei               232.30
 Co., Ltd.                           Chemical Industry
                                     Co., Ltd. and
                                     Jiangsu Sanmei
                                     Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu Bluestar Green Technology   Jiangsu Bluestar              232.30
 Co., Ltd.                           Green Technology
                                     Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd.......  Electrochemical               232.30
                                     Factory of Zhejiang
                                     Juhua Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd.......  Sinochem                      232.30
                                     Environmental
                                     Protection
                                     Chemicals (Taicang)
                                     Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd.......  Zhejiang Quzhou               232.30
                                     Lianzhou
                                     Refrigerants Co.,
                                     Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd.......  Zhejiang Sanmei               232.30
                                     Chemical Ind. Co.,
                                     Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd.......  Zhejiang Zhonglan             232.30
                                     Refrigeration
                                     Technology Co., Ltd.
Weitron International               Sinochem                      232.30
 Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd.   Environmental
                                     Protection
                                     Chemicals (Taicang)
                                     Co., Ltd.
Weitron International               Weitron                       232.30
 Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd.   International
                                     Refrigeration
                                     Equipment Co., Ltd.
Weitron International               Zhejiang Organic              232.30
 Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd.   Fluor-Chemistry
                                     Plant, Zhejiang
                                     Juhua Co., Ltd.
Weitron International               Zhejiang Quhua Fluor-         232.30
 Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd.   Chemistry Co., Ltd.
Weitron International               Zhejiang Quhua Juxin          232.30
 Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd.   Fluorochemical
                                     Industry Co., Ltd.
Weitron International               Zhejiang Sanmei               232.30
 Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd.   Chemical Industry
                                     Co., Ltd.
PRC-Wide Entity...................  ....................          232.30
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Disclosure

    We intend to disclose the calculations performed to parties in this 
proceeding within five days after publication of the notice of amended 
preliminary determination in the Federal Register in accordance with 19 
CFR 351.224(b).

International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, we will notify the 
International

[[Page 86701]]

Trade Commission of our determination.
    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.224(e).

    Dated: November 25, 2016.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-28823 Filed 11-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P