[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21520-21521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09302]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-815, A-533-806, C-533-807]


Sulfanilic Acid From India and the People's Republic of China: 
Continuation of Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty Orders

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

SUMMARY: As a result of determinations by the Department of Commerce 
(Department) and the International Trade Commission (ITC) that 
revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) orders on sulfanilic acid from 
the People's Republic of China (PRC) and India and the countervailing 
duty (CVD) order on sulfanilic acid from India would likely lead to 
continuation or recurrence of dumping and a countervailable subsidy and 
material injury to an industry in the United States, the Department is 
publishing this notice of continuation of these AD and CVD orders.

DATES: Effective May 9, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mandy Mallott (India and PRC AD 
Orders), John Conniff (India CVD Order), 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) 482-6430 or (202) 482-1009, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 1, 2016, the Department 
initiated the fourth sunset reviews of the AD orders on sulfanilic acid 
from the PRC and India and the CVD order on sulfanilic acid from India 
pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(Act).\1\
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    \1\ See Initiation of Five-Year (``Sunset'') Reviews, 81 FR 
60386 (September 1, 2016) (``Notice of Initiation'').
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    As a result of its reviews, pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752(b) 
of the Act, the Department determined that revocation of the AD orders 
on sulfanilic acid from India and the PRC and the CVD order on 
sulfanilic acid from India would be likely to lead to a continuation or 
recurrence of dumping and a countervailable subsidy, and, therefore, 
notified the ITC of the magnitude of the margins and net

[[Page 21521]]

countervailable subsidy likely to prevail should the orders be 
revoked.\2\
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    \2\ See Sulfanilic Acid from India and the People's Republic of 
China: Final Results of Expedited Fourth Sunset Reviews of 
Antidumping Duty Orders, 82 FR 1321 (January 5, 2017); Sulfanilic 
Acid From India: Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review of the 
Countervailing Duty Order, 82 FR 1693 (January 6, 2017).
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    On April 21, 2017, the ITC published its determination, pursuant to 
section 751(c) of the Act, that revocation of the existing AD orders on 
sulfanilic acid from India and the PRC and the CVD order on sulfanilic 
acid from India would be likely to lead to a continuation or recurrence 
of material injury to an industry in the United States within a 
reasonably foreseeable time.\3\
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    \3\ See USITC Publication USITC Publication 4680, April 2017, 
Sulfanilic Acid from China and India: Inv. Nos. 701-TA-318 and 731-
TA-538 and 561 (Fourth Review). See also Sulfanilic Acid from China 
and India, 82 FR 18776 (April 21, 2017).
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Scope of the Orders

    The merchandise covered by the AD and CVD orders is all grades of 
sulfanilic acid, which include technical (or crude) sulfanilic acid, 
refined (or purified) sulfanilic acid and sodium salt of sulfanilic 
acid.
    Sulfanilic acid is a synthetic organic chemical produced from the 
direct sulfonation of aniline with sulfuric acid. Sulfanilic acid is 
used as a raw material in the production of optical brighteners, food 
colors, specialty dyes, and concrete additives. The principal 
differences between the grades are the undesirable quantities of 
residual aniline and alkali insoluble materials present in the 
sulfanilic acid. All grades are available as dry, free flowing powders.
    Technical sulfanilic acid, classifiable under the subheading 
2921.42.22 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS), contains 96 percent 
minimum sulfanilic acid, 1.0 percent maximum aniline, and 1.0 percent 
maximum alkali insoluble materials. Refined sulfanilic acid, also 
classifiable under the subheading 2921.42.22 of the HTS, contains 98 
percent minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline and 0.25 
percent maximum alkali insoluble materials.
    Sodium salt (sodium sulfanilate), classifiable under the HTS 
subheading 2921.42.90, is a powder, granular or crystalline material 
which contains 75 percent minimum equivalent sulfanilic acid, 0.5 
percent maximum aniline based on the equivalent sulfanilic acid 
content, and 0.25 percent maximum alkali insoluble materials based on 
the equivalent sulfanilic acid content.
    Although the HTS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, our written description of the scope of these orders 
is dispositive.\4\
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    \4\ In response to a request from 3V Corporation, on May 5, 
1999, the Department clarified that sodium sulfanilate processed in 
Italy from sulfanilic acid produced in India is within the scope of 
the AD and CVD orders on sulfanilic acid from India. See Notice of 
Scope Rulings, 65 FR 41957 (July 7, 2000).
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Continuation of the Orders

    As a result of the determinations by the Department and the ITC 
that revocation of the AD orders on sulfanilic acid from the PRC and 
India and the CVD order from India would be likely to lead to a 
continuation or recurrence of dumping and a countervailable subsidy and 
material injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to 
section 751(d)(2) of the Act, the Department hereby orders the 
continuation of the AD orders on sulfanilic acid from the PRC and 
India, and the CVD order on sulfanilic acid from India. U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection will continue to collect cash deposits at the 
rates in effect at the time of entry for all imports of subject 
merchandise. The effective date of the continuation of the orders will 
be the date of publication in the Federal Register of this notice of 
continuation. Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act, the Department 
intends to initiate the next five-year review of the orders not later 
than 30 days prior to the fifth anniversary of the effective date of 
this continuation.
    These five-year (sunset) reviews and this notice are in accordance 
with section 751(c) of the Act and published pursuant to section 
777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4).

    Dated: May 2, 2017.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-09302 Filed 5-8-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P