[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 150 (Monday, August 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36730-36731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16576]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-992]


Monosodium Glutamate From the People's Republic of China: 
Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 
2015-2016

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an 
administrative review of the antidumping duty order on monosodium 
glutamate (MSG) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) covering the 
period of review (POR) November 1, 2015, through October 31, 2016. This 
review covers 27 manufacturers/exporters (the companies) of the subject 
merchandise. Because none of these companies filed a separate rate 
application (SRA) and/or a separate rate certification (SRC), the 
Department preliminarily finds that the companies are part of the PRC-
wide entity. We invite interested parties to comment on these 
preliminary results.

DATES: Applicable August 7, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chien-Min Yang, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone at (202) 482-5484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 4, 2016, the Department published a notice of 
opportunity to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty 
order on MSG from the PRC.\1\ In response, on November 29, 2016, 
Ajinomoto North America, Inc. (the petitioner) requested a review of 27 
companies.\2\ The Department initiated a review of all 27 companies on 
January 13, 2017.\3\ For a list of these companies, please see Appendix 
I. The deadline for interested parties to submit an SRA or an SRC was 
February 13, 2017.\4\ No party timely submitted an SRA or an SRC. 
Thereafter, the petitioner submitted comments on the Department's 
selection of respondents, encouraging the Department to employ its 
customary policy to treat companies as a part of the country-wide 
entity in reviews where no party submits an SRA or SRC.\5\
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    \1\ See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or 
Suspended Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative 
Review, 81 FR 76920 (November 4, 2016).
    \2\ See Ajinomoto's letter, ``Monosodium Glutamate from China: 
Request for Administrative Review,'' (November 29, 2016), at 
attachment 1 which lists 27 companies for which Ajinomoto sought a 
review.
    \3\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Reviews, 82 FR 4294 (January 13, 2017) (Initiation 
Notice).
    \4\ See Initiation Notice.
    \5\ See Ajinomoto's letter, ``MSG from China: Comments on 
Respondent Selection,'' (February 15, 2017).
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Scope of the Order

    The product covered by this order is MSG, whether or not blended or 
in solution with other products. Specifically, MSG that has been 
blended or is in solution with other product(s) is included in this 
scope when the resulting mix contains 15 percent or more of MSG by dry 
weight. Products with which MSG may be blended include, but are not 
limited to, salts, sugars, starches, maltodextrins, and various 
seasonings. Further, MSG is included in this order regardless of 
physical form (including, but not limited to, in monohydrate or 
anhydrous form, or as substrates, solutions, dry powders of any 
particle size, or unfinished forms such as MSG slurry), end-use 
application, or packaging. MSG in monohydrate form has a molecular 
formula of C5H8NO4Na-H2O, a 
Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number of 6106-04-3, and a 
Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII) number of W81N5U6R6U. MSG in 
anhydrous form has a molecular formula of 
C5H8NO4Na, a CAS registry number of 
l42-47-2, and a UNII number of C3C196L9FG. Merchandise covered by the 
scope of this order is currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheading 2922.42.10.00. 
Merchandise subject to the order may also enter under HTS subheadings 
2922.42.50.00, 2103.90.72.00, 2103.90.74.00, 2103.90.78.00, 
2103.90.80.00, and 2103.90.90.91. The tariff classifications, CAS 
registry numbers, and UNII numbers are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes; however, the written description of the scope is 
dispositive.\6\
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    \6\ See Monosodium Glutamate from the People's Republic of 
China: Second Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value and Amended Antidumping Order, 80 FR 487 (January 6, 2015).
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Methodology

    The Department is conducting this review in accordance with section 
751(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and 19 
CFR 351.213.

Preliminary Results of Review

    The Department's policy regarding conditional review of the PRC-
wide entity applies to this administrative review.\7\ Under this 
policy, the PRC-wide entity will not be under review unless a party 
specifically requests, or the Department self-initiates, a review of 
the entity. The Department preliminarily determines that the 27 
companies subject to review are part of the PRC-wide entity. None of 
the 27 companies filed an SRA or an SRC. No review has been requested 
for the PRC-wide entity. Therefore, the Department preliminarily 
determines that these companies have not demonstrated their eligibility 
for separate rate status and are part of the PRC-wide entity. The PRC-
wide entity rate is 40.41 percent.\8\
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    \7\ See Antidumping Proceedings: Announcement of Change in 
Department Practice for Respondent Selection in Antidumping Duty 
Proceedings and Conditional Review of the Nonmarket Economy Entity 
in NME Antidumping Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 65963, 65970 (November 4, 
2013).
    \8\ See Monosodium Glutamate from the People's Republic of 
China: Second Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value and Amended Antidumping Duty Order, 80 FR 487 (January 6, 
2015).
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Public Comment

    Interested parties are invited to comment on the preliminary 
results and may submit case briefs and/or written comments, filed 
electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), 
within 30 days after the date of publication of these preliminary 
results of review.\9\ ACCESS is available to registered users at http://access.trade.gov and is available to all

[[Page 36731]]

parties in the Central Records Unit in Room B8024 of the main Commerce 
building. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, 
must be filed within five days after the time limit for filing case 
briefs.\10\ Parties who submit case or rebuttal briefs in this 
proceeding are requested to submit with each argument a statement of 
the issue, a brief summary of the argument, and a table of 
authorities.\11\
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    \9\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii).
    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d)(1) and (2).
    \11\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c) and (d); see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for 
general filing requirements).
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    Interested parties who wish to request a hearing, or to participate 
if one is requested, must submit a written request to the Department 
within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice.\12\ Requests 
should contain: (1) The party's name, address and telephone number; (2) 
The number of participants; and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. 
Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the 
respective case and rebuttal briefs. If a request for a hearing is 
made, parties will be notified of the time and date for the hearing to 
be held at the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington DC 20230.\13\ The Department intends to issue the final 
results of this administrative review, which will include the results 
of our analysis of all issues raised in the case briefs, within 120 
days of publication of these preliminary results in the Federal 
Register, unless extended, pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.
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    \12\ See 19 CFR 351.310(c)
    \13\ See 19 CFR 310(d).
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Assessment Rates

    Upon issuance of the final results of this review, the Department 
will determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall 
assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject 
merchandise covered by this review.\14\ We intend to instruct CBP to 
liquidate entries containing subject merchandise exported by the 
companies under review that we determine in the final results to be 
part of the PRC-wide entity at the PRC-wide rate of 40.41 percent. The 
Department intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP 15 days 
after the date of publication of this review in the Federal 
Register.\15\
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    \14\ See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
    \15\ For a full discussion of this practice, see Non-Market 
Economy Antidumping Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties, 
76 FR 65694 (October 24, 2011).
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Cash Deposit Requirements

    The following cash deposit requirements will be effective upon 
publication of the final results of this review for shipments of the 
subject merchandise from the PRC entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, 
for consumption on or after the publication date, as provided by 
sections 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) For companies that have a 
separate rate, the cash deposit rate will be that established in the 
final results of this review (except, if the rate is zero or de 
minimis, then zero cash deposit will be required); (2) for previously 
investigated or reviewed PRC and non-PRC exporters not listed above 
that received a separate rate in a prior segment of this proceeding, 
the cash deposit rate will continue to be the existing exporter-
specific rate; (3) for all PRC exporters of subject merchandise that 
have not been found to be entitled to a separate rate, the cash deposit 
rate will be that for the PRC-wide entity (i.e., 40.41 percent); and 
(4) for all non-PRC exporters of subject merchandise which have not 
received their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate 
applicable to the PRC exporter that supplied that non-PRC exporter. 
These deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until 
further notice.

Notification to Importers

    This notice also serves as a reminder to importers of their 
responsibility under 19 CFR 315.402(f)(2) to file a certificate 
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation 
of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply 
with this requirement could result in the Department's presumption that 
reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent 
assessment of double antidumping duties.
    We are issuing and publishing these preliminary results in 
accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 
351.213(h) and 351.221(b)(4).

    Dated: August 1, 2017.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix



List of Companies Covered by This Review

1. Anhui Fresh Taste International Trade Co., Ltd.
2. Baoji Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.
3. Blu Logistics (China) Co., Ltd.
4. Bonroy Group Limited
5. Forehigh Trade and Industry Co., Ltd.
6. Fujian Province Jianyang Wuyi MSG Co., Ltd.
7. Golden Banyan Foodstuffs Industry Co., Ltd.
8. Henan Lotus Flower Gourmet Powder Co.
9. Hong Kong Sungiven International Food Co., Limited
10. Hulunbeier Northeast Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.
11. K&S Industry Limited
12. King Cheong Hong International
13. Langfang Meihua Bio-Technology Co., Ltd.
14. Liangshan Linghua Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
15. Lotus Health Industry Holding Group
16. Meihua Group International Trading (Hong Kong) Limited
17. Meihua Holdings Group Co., Ltd., Bazhou Branch
18. Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.
19. Pudong Prime Int'l Logistics, Inc.
20. Qinhuangdao Xingtai Trade Co., Ltd.
21. S.D. Linghua M.S.G. Incorporated Co.
22. Shandong Linghua Monosodium Glutamate Incorporated Company
23. Shanghai Totole Food Ltd.
24. Shijiazhuang Standard Imp & Exp Co., Ltd.
25. Sunrise (HK) International Enterprise Limited
26. Tongliao Meihua Biological Sci-Tech Co., Ltd.
27. Zhejiang Medicines & Health

[FR Doc. 2017-16576 Filed 8-4-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P