[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18422-18423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07913]



[[Page 18422]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-044]


1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's Republic of 
China: Antidumping Duty Order

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: Based on an affirmative final determination by the Department 
of Commerce (``Department'') and the International Trade Commission 
(``ITC''), the Department is issuing the antidumping duty order on 
1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) (``R134a'') from the People's 
Republic of China (``PRC'').

DATES: Effective April 19, 2017.

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: In accordance with section 735(d) and 
777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the ``Act''), and 19 
CFR 351.210(c), on March 1, 2017, the Department published its 
affirmative final determination in the less than fair value (``LTFV'') 
investigation of R134a from the PRC.\1\ On April 5, 2017, the ITC 
notified the Department of its final determination pursuant to section 
735(d) of the Act, 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 imports of R134a from the PRC.\2\ In addition, in its final 
determination, the ITC did not make an affirmative critical 
circumstances finding with respect to imports of subject merchandise 
from the PRC that are subject to the Department's final affirmative 
critical circumstances finding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See 1,1,1,2 Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's 
Republic of China: Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value and Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, in 
Part, 82 FR 12192 (March 1, 2017) (``Final Determination'').
    \2\ See Letter to Ronald Lorentzen, Acting Assistant Secretary 
of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance, from Rhonda K 
Schmidtlein, Chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 
regarding R134a from China (April 5, 2017) (ITC Letter).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Order

    The product covered by the scope 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 
registry number is CAS 811-97-2.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Merchandise subject to the scope 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.

Antidumping Duty Order

    On April 5, 2017, in accordance with sections 735(d) of the Act, 
the ITC notified the Department of its final determination in this 
investigation, in which it found that imports of R134a from the PRC are 
materially injuring a U.S. industry.\4\ Therefore, in accordance with 
section 735(c)(2) of the Act, we are publishing this antidumping duty 
order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See ITC Letter.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the ITC determined that imports of R134a from the PRC are 
materially injuring a U.S. industry, unliquidated entries of such 
merchandise from the PRC, entered or withdrawn for consumption, are 
subject to the assessment of antidumping duties.
    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 R134a from the PRC. 
Antidumping duties will be assessed on unliquidated entries of R134a 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 
October 7, 2016, the date on which the Department published 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ 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'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 735(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we will 
instruct CBP to continue to suspend liquidation on entries of subject 
merchandise from the PRC. These instructions suspending liquidation 
will remain in effect until further notice.
    We will also instruct CBP to require cash deposits at rates equal 
to the estimated weighted-average dumping margins indicated in the 
chart below.\6\ Accordingly, effective on the date of publication of 
the ITC's final affirmative injury determination, CBP will require, at 
the same time as importers would normally deposit estimated duties on 
this subject merchandise, a cash deposit at the rates listed below.\7\ 
The rate for the PRC-wide entity applies to all exporters not 
specifically listed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See section 736(a)(3) of the Act.
    \7\ See sections 736(a)(3), 772(c)(1)(C) and 777A(f) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., 
a mandatory respondent in this investigation, the Department extended 
the four-month period to six months.\8\ In the underlying 
investigation, the Department published the Preliminary Determination 
on October 7, 2017.\9\ Therefore, the six-month period beginning on the 
date of the publication of the Preliminary Determination ended on April 
4, 2017. 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See the Preliminary Determination, 81 FR at 69788.
    \9\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, in accordance with section 733(d) of the Act and our 
practice, we will instruct CBP to terminate the suspension of 
liquidation and to liquidate, without regard to antidumping duties, 
unliquidated entries of R134a from the PRC entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption after April 4, 2017 the date the provisional 
measures expired, and through the day preceding the date of

[[Page 18423]]

publication of the ITC's final injury determination in the Federal 
Register.\10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from China, 82 FR 
17280 (April 10, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated Weighted-Average Dumping Margins

    The Department determines that the estimated final weighted-average 
dumping margins are as follow:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Weighted-
                                                              average
            Exporter                     Producer             margin
                                                             (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical         Zhejiang Sanmei                  148.79
 Industry Co., Ltd.               Chemical Industry Co.,
                                  Ltd and Jiangsu Sanmei
                                  Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Jiangsu Bluestar Green           Jiangsu Bluestar Green           148.79
 Technology Co., Ltd.             Technology Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....  Electrochemical Factory          148.79
                                  of Zhejiang Juhua Co.,
                                  Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....  Sinochem Environmental           148.79
                                  Protection Chemicals
                                  (Taicang) Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....  Zhejiang Quzhou                  148.79
                                  Lianzhou Refrigerants
                                  Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....  Zhejiang Sanmei                  148.79
                                  Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd.
T.T. International Co., Ltd....  Zhejiang Zhonglan                148.79
                                  Refrigeration
                                  Technology Co., Ltd.
Weitron International            Sinochem Environmental           148.79
 Refrigeration Equipment          Protection Chemicals
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.\11\          (Taicang) Co., Ltd.
Weitron International            Weitron International            148.79
 Refrigeration Equipment          Refrigeration
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.              Equipment (Kunshan)
                                  Co., Ltd.
Weitron International            Zhejiang Organic Fluor-          148.79
 Refrigeration Equipment          Chemistry Plant,
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.              Zhejiang Juhua Co.,
                                  Ltd.
Weitron International            Zhejiang Quhua Fluor-            148.79
 Refrigeration Equipment          Chemistry Co., Ltd.
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
Weitron International            Zhejiang Quhua Juxin             148.79
 Refrigeration Equipment          Fluorochemical
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.              Industry Co., Ltd.
Weitron International            Zhejiang Sanmei                  148.79
 Refrigeration Equipment          Chemical Industry Co.,
 (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.              Ltd.
PRC-Wide Entity \12\...........  .......................          167.02
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\11\ Though the Final Determination refers to Weitron International
  Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd., the correct name of the company is
  Weitron International Refrigeration Equipment (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
\12\ The PRC-Wide Entity includes Zhejiang Quzhou Lianzhou Refrigerants
  Co., Ltd., a mandatory respondent, as well as separate rate applicants
  Zhejiang Quhua Fluor-Chemistry Co., Ltd., and Sinochem Environmental
  Protection Chemicals (Taicang) Co. Ltd.

Critical Circumstances

    In its final determination, the ITC did not make an affirmative 
critical circumstances finding with respect to imports of subject 
merchandise from the PRC that were subject to the Department's final 
affirmative critical circumstances determination. Accordingly, the 
Department 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 the merchandise entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after July 9, 2016 (i.e., 90 days 
prior to the date of publication of the preliminary determination), but 
before October 7, 2016, the publication date of the Preliminary 
Determination.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice constitutes the antidumping duty order with respect to 
R134a 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://www.trade.gov/enforcement/.
    This order is issued and published in accordance with sections 
736(a) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.211(b).

    Dated: April 13, 2017.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-07913 Filed 4-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P