[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39056-39058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16897]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-073]
Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet 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,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is amending the
preliminary determination of the less-than-fair-value (LTFV)
investigation of common alloy aluminum sheet (aluminum sheet) from the
People's Republic of China (China) to correct a significant ministerial
error.
DATES: Applicable August 8, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Scott or Scott Hoefke, AD/CVD
Operations, Office VI, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2657 or (202) 482-4947,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On June 22, 2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register the
Preliminary Determination,\1\ and completed the disclosure of all
calculation materials to interested parties. On June 26, 2018, Henan
Mingtai Al Industrial Co., Ltd. and Zhengzhou Mingtai Industry Co.,
Ltd. (collectively, Mingtai), timely filed a ministerial error
allegation regarding the Preliminary Determination.\2\ Commerce did not
receive ministerial error allegations or comments from any other
interested party.
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\1\ See Antidumping Duty Investigation of Common Alloy Aluminum
Sheet from the People's Republic of China: Affirmative Preliminary
Determination of Sales at Less-Than-Fair Value, Preliminary
Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances, and
Postponement of Final Determination, 83 FR 29088 (June 22, 2018)
(Preliminary Determination).
\2\ See Letter from Mingtai, ``Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from
the People's Republic of China--Ministerial Error Allegation,''
dated June 26, 2018.
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Period of Investigation
The period of investigation is April 1, 2017 through September 30,
2017.
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is aluminum sheet from
China. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation,
see the Appendix to this notice.
Analysis of Significant Ministerial Error Allegation
Commerce 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.'' \3\ A
significant ministerial error is defined as a ministerial error, the
correction of which, singly or in combination with other errors, would
result in: (1) A change of at least five absolute percentage points in,
but not less than 25 percent of, the antidumping duty rate calculated
in the original 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.\4\
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\3\ See also section 735(e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act).
\4\ See 19 CFR 351.224(g).
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Amended Preliminary Determination
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.224(e) and (g)(1), Commerce is amending the
Preliminary Determination to reflect the correction of one ministerial
error made in the calculation of the estimated weighted-average dumping
margin for Mingtai.\5\ This error is a significant ministerial error
within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.224(g) because Mingtai's margin
decreases from 167.16 percent to 91.47 percent as a result of
correcting this ministerial error, exceeding the specified threshold,
i.e., a change of at least five absolute percentage points in, but not
less than 25 percent of, the antidumping duty rate calculated in the
original preliminary determination.\6\
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\5\ See Memorandum, ``Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of
Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from the People's Republic of China:
Allegation of Ministerial Error in the Preliminary Determination,''
dated concurrently with this notice (Ministerial Error Memorandum).
\6\ See Memorandum, ``Analysis for the Amended Preliminary
Determination of the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Common
Alloy Aluminum Sheet from the People's Republic of China for Henan
Mingtai Al Industrial Co., Ltd. and Zhengzhou Mingtai Industry Co.,
Ltd.,'' dated concurrently with this notice.
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Mingtai is the only mandatory respondent for which Commerce
calculated a weighted-average dumping margin in the Preliminary
Determination. For this reason, we assigned Mingtai's calculated rate
to the non-examined respondents that preliminarily received a separate
rate.\7\ Accordingly, as part of this amended preliminary
determination, Commerce will amend the estimated weighted-average
dumping margin to 91.47 percent for each non-examined respondent that
preliminarily received a separate rate.
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\7\ See Preliminary Determination, 83 FR at 29090.
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In the Preliminary Determination, we found that Nanjie Resources
Co., Limited, Yong Jie New Material Co., Ltd., and Zhejiang Yongjie
Aluminum Co., Ltd. (collectively, the Yongjie Companies), Zhejiang GKO
Aluminium Stock Co., Ltd. (GKO Aluminium), and the China-wide entity
failed to cooperate by not acting to the best of their ability to
comply with requests for information and, thus, found that an adverse
inference was warranted in selecting from the facts otherwise
available.\8\ In an investigation, Commerce's practice with respect to
the assignment of a rate based on adverse facts available is to select
the higher of: (1) The highest dumping margin alleged in the petition
or (2) the highest calculated dumping margin of any respondent in the
investigation.\9\ In the Preliminary Determination, because the highest
margin in the initiation of this investigation (i.e., 59.72 percent)
was less than the 167.16 percent margin calculated for Mingtai, we
assigned the 167.16 percent rate to the Yongjie Companies, GKO
Aluminium, and the China-wide entity as adverse facts available.\10\
For this amended preliminary determination, we examined whether the
highest margin in the initiation of the investigation (i.e., 59.72
percent) was less than or equal to the highest calculated margin, and
determined that the highest calculated margin of 91.47 percent was the
higher of the two. Because this rate is a calculated rate based on a
mandatory respondent's data in this segment of the proceeding, it does
not constitute secondary information and, therefore, it does not need
to be corroborated. Therefore, for this amended preliminary
determination, as facts available based on an adverse inference, we
have assigned to the Yongjie Companies,
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GKO Aluminium, and the China-wide entity a dumping margin of 91.47
percent, which is the highest calculated rate in this proceeding.
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\8\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Determination in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of Common Alloy
Aluminum Sheet from the People's Republic of China,'' dated June 15,
2018 (Preliminary Decision Memorandum), at 20-26.
\9\ See, e.g., Certain Uncoated Paper from Indonesia: Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 81 FR 3101 (January
20, 2016).
\10\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum, at 26.
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Amended Cash Deposits and Suspension of Liquidation
The collection of cash deposits and suspension of liquidation will
be revised according to the rates calculated in this amended
preliminary determination. Because these amended rates result in
reduced cash deposits, the amended rate for Mingtai will be effective
retroactively to June 22, 2018, the date of publication of the
Preliminary Determination. As Commerce preliminarily found that
critical circumstances exist for imports of subject merchandise from
the non-examined respondents that preliminarily received a separate
rate, the Yongjie Companies, GKO Aluminium, and the China-wide
entity,\11\ the amended rates for these entities will be effective
retroactively to March 24, 2018, i.e., 90 days before the publication
of the Preliminary Determination. Parties will be notified of this
determination, in accordance with section 733(d) and (f) of the Act.
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\11\ See Preliminary Determination, 83 FR at 29089 and
Preliminary Decision Memorandum, at 4-7.
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Amended Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated
weighted-average antidumping duty margins exist:
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Weighted- Cash deposit
average adjusted for
Exporter Producer margin subsidy offset
(percent) (percent)
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Henan Mingtai Al Industrial Co., Ltd./ Henan Mingtai Al Industrial Co., 91.47 91.47
Zhengzhou Mingtai Industry Co., Ltd.\12\. Ltd./Zhengzhou Mingtai Industry
Co., Ltd.
Alcha International Holdings Limited....... Jiangsu Alcha Aluminium Co., Ltd... 91.47 91.47
Alumax Composite Material (Jiangyin) Co., Chalco Ruimin Co., Ltd............. 91.47 91.47
Ltd.
Granges Aluminum (Shanghai) Co., Ltd....... Granges Aluminum (Shanghai) Co., 91.47 91.47
Ltd.
Henan Founder Beyond Industry Co., Ltd..... Henan Xintai Aluminum Industry Co., 91.47 91.47
Ltd.
Huafon Nikkei Aluminium Corporation........ Huafon Nikkei Aluminium Corporation 91.47 91.47
Jiangsu Lidao New Material Co., Ltd........ Henan Jinyang Luyue Co., Ltd....... 91.47 91.47
Jiangsu Lidao New Material Co., Ltd........ Jiangsu Zhong He Aluminum Co., Ltd. 91.47 91.47
Jiangyin Litai Ornamental Materials Co., Jiangyin Litai Ornamental Materials 91.47 91.47
Ltd. Co., Ltd.
Jiangyin New Alumax Composite Material Co. Chalco Ruimin Co., Ltd............. 91.47 91.47
Ltd.
Shandong Fuhai Industrial Co., Ltd......... Shandong Fuhai Industrial Co., Ltd. 91.47 91.47
Tianjin Zhongwang Aluminium Co., Ltd....... Tianjin Zhongwang Aluminium Co., 91.47 91.47
Ltd.
Xiamen Xiashun Aluminum Foil Co., Ltd...... Xiamen Xiashun Aluminum Foil Co., 91.47 91.47
Ltd.
Yantai Jintai International Trade Co., Ltd. Shandong Nanshan................... 91.47 91.47
Aluminium Co., Ltd.................
Yinbang Clad Material Co., Ltd............. Yinbang Clad Material Co., Ltd..... 91.47 91.47
Zhengzhou Silverstone Limited.............. Henan Zhongyuan Aluminum Co., Ltd.. 91.47 91.47
Zhengzhou Silverstone Limited.............. Luoyang Xinlong Aluminum Co., Ltd.. 91.47 91.47
Zhengzhou Silverstone Limited.............. Shanghai Dongshuo Metal Trade Co., 91.47 91.47
Ltd.
Zhengzhou Silverstone Limited.............. Zhengzhou Mingtai Industry Co., Ltd 91.47 91.47
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China-Wide Entity 91.47 91.47
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Disclosure
We intend to disclose the calculations performed to parties in this
proceeding within five days after public announcement of the amended
preliminary determination, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224.
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\12\ We preliminarily determined that Henan Mingtai Al
Industrial Co., Ltd. and Zhengzhou Mingtai Industry Co., Ltd. are a
single entity. See Preliminary Decision Memorandum, at 17-19; see
also Memorandum, ``Preliminary Affiliation and Collapsing Memorandum
for Henan Mingtai Al Industrial Co., Ltd. and Zhengzhou Mingtai
Industry Co., Ltd.,'' dated June 15, 2018.
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International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, we will notify the
International Trade Commission of our amended preliminary
determination.
This amended preliminary determination is issued and published
pursuant to sections 733(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.224(e).
Dated: July 31, 2018.
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
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this investigation is aluminum common
alloy sheet (common alloy sheet), which is a flat-rolled aluminum
product having a thickness of 6.3 mm or less, but greater than 0.2
mm, in coils or cut-to-length, regardless of width. Common alloy
sheet within the scope of this investigation includes both not clad
aluminum sheet, as well as multi-alloy, clad aluminum sheet. With
respect to not clad aluminum sheet, common alloy sheet is
manufactured from a 1XXX-, 3XXX-, or 5XXX-series alloy as designated
by the Aluminum Association. With respect to multi-alloy, clad
aluminum sheet, common alloy sheet is produced from a 3XXX-series
core, to which cladding layers are applied to either one or both
sides of the core.
Common alloy sheet may be made to ASTM specification B209-14,
but can also be made to other specifications. Regardless of
specification, however, all common alloy sheet meeting the scope
description is included in the scope. Subject merchandise includes
common alloy sheet that has been further processed in a third
country, including but not limited to annealing, tempering,
painting, varnishing, trimming, cutting, punching, and/or slitting,
or any otherprocessing that would not otherwise remove the
merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the
country of manufacture of the common alloy sheet.
Excluded from the scope of this investigation is aluminum can
stock, which is suitable for use in the manufacture of aluminum
beverage cans, lids of such cans, or tabs used to open such cans.
Aluminum can stock is produced to gauges that range from 0.200 mm to
0.292 mm, and has anH-19, H-41, H-48, or H-391 temper. In
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addition, aluminum can stock has a lubricant applied to the flat
surfaces of the can stock to facilitate its movement through
machines used in the manufacture of beverage cans. Aluminum can
stock is properly classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) subheadings 7606.12.3045 and 7606.12.3055.
Where the nominal and actual measurements vary, a product is
within the scope if application of either the nominal or actual
measurement would place it within the scope based on the definitions
set for the above.
Common alloy sheet is currently classifiable under HTSUS
subheadings 7606.11.3060, 7606.11.6000, 7606.12.3090, 7606.12.6000,
7606.91.3090, 7606.91.6080, 7606.92.3090, and 7606.92.6080. Further,
merchandise that falls within the scope of this investigation may
also be entered into the United States under HTSUS subheadings
7606.11.3030, 7606.12.3030, 7606.91.3060, 7606.91.6040,
7606.92.3060, 7606.92.6040, 7607.11.9090. Although the HTSUS
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of this investigation is
dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2018-16897 Filed 8-7-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P