[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49999-50001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20562]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-423-814]


Acetone From Belgium: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of 
Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and 
Extension of Provisional Measures

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that acetone from Belgium is being, or is likely to be, sold in the 
United States at less than fair value. The period of investigation is 
January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

DATES: Applicable September 24, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Cipolla, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4956.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 
733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce 
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on March 11, 
2019.\1\ On July 15, 2019, Commerce postponed the deadline for the 
preliminary determination of this investigation.\2\ As a result, the 
revised deadline for the preliminary determination of this 
investigation is now September 17, 2019.
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    \1\ See Acetone from Belgium, the Republic of Korea, the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the Republic of South Africa, and Spain: 
Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 84 FR 9766 (March 
18, 2019) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Acetone from Belgium, the Republic of Korea, and the 
Republic of South Africa: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations 
in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 84 FR 33739 (July 15, 
2019).
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    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary 
Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically 
via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to 
registered users at https://access.trade.gov, and to all parties in the 
Central Records Unit, room B8024 of the main Commerce building. In 
addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can 
be accessed directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed 
and the electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are 
identical in content.
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    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Acetone 
from Belgium,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this 
notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is acetone from 
Belgium. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product

[[Page 50000]]

coverage (i.e., scope).\5\ For a summary of the product coverage 
comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this 
preliminary determination, and accompanying discussion and analysis of 
all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision 
Memorandum. After evaluating the comments, Commerce is preliminarily 
modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice to 
clarify certain provisions and include a minimum acetone component of 
five percent. See the revised scope in Appendix I to this notice.
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    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice.
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated constructed export 
prices in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Normal value (NV) 
is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full 
description of the methodology underlying the preliminary 
determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Sections 733(d)(1)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in 
the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated 
all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually 
examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for 
exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero 
and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under 
section 776 of the Act. Commerce calculated an individual estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin for INEOS Phenol Belgium NV and INEOS 
Europe AG (collectively, INEOS Europe, which we preliminarily determine 
to be a single entity), the only individually examined exporter/
producer in this investigation.\6\ Because the only individually 
calculated dumping margin is not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on 
facts otherwise available, the estimated weighted-average dumping 
margin calculated for INEOS Europe is the margin assigned to all other 
producers and exporters, pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.
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    \6\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum at 6-7.
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Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Estimated
                                                               weighted-
                                                                average
                      Exporter/producer                         dumping
                                                                margin
                                                               (percent)
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INEOS Europe AG/INEOS Phenol Belgium NV (collectively, INEOS       28.17
 Europe)....................................................
All Others..................................................       28.17
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will 
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation 
of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Further, pursuant 
to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will 
instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-
average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: 
(1) The cash deposit rate for the respondent listed above will be equal 
to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margins 
determined in this preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is 
not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, then the cash 
deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-
average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject 
merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and 
exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average 
dumping margin.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis 
performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination 
within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public 
announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this 
notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to 
verify the information relied upon in making its final determination.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven 
days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in 
this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case 
briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline 
date for case briefs.\7\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), 
parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation 
are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the 
issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of 
authorities.
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    \7\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
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    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to 
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal 
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days 
after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain 
the party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of 
participants, whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list 
of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, 
Commerce intends to hold the hearing at the U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, at a time 
and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the 
date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled 
date.

Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an 
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement 
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of 
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative 
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by 
the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations 
requires that a request by exporters for postponement of the final 
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional 
measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months 
in duration.
    On August 22, 2019, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), the petitioner 
requested that Commerce postpone the final determination until not 
later than 135 days after the publication of this preliminary 
determination.\8\ On August 23, 2019, INEOS Europe requested that

[[Page 50001]]

Commerce postpone the final determination until not later than 135 days 
after the publication of this notice.\9\ INEOS Europe also requested 
that Commerce extend provisional measures to a period not more than 6 
months.\10\ In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 
CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) The preliminary determination is 
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant 
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling 
reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final 
determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month 
period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce 
will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date 
of publication of this preliminary determination.
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    \8\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Acetone from Belgium, Korea, and 
South Africa: Petitioner's Consent to Postponement of Final 
Determination,'' dated August 22, 2019.
    \9\ See INEOS Europe's Letter, ``Acetone from Belgium: Request 
for Postponement of Final Determination and Provisional Measures 
Period,'' dated August 23, 2019.
    \10\ Id.
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International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary 
determination. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will 
determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this 
preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination 
whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material 
injury to, the U.S. industry.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published in accordance with 
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

    Dated: September 17, 2019.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation is all grades of 
liquid or aqueous acetone. Acetone is also known under the 
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name 
propan-2-one. In addition to the IUPAC name, acetone is also 
referred to as [szlig]-ketopropane (or beta-ketopropane), ketone 
propane, methyl ketone, dimethyl ketone, DMK, dimethyl carbonyl, 
propanone, 2-propanone, dimethyl formaldehyde, pyroacetic acid, 
pyroacetic ether, and pyroacetic spirit. Acetone is an isomer of the 
chemical formula C3H6O, with a specific 
molecular formula of CH3COCH3 or 
(CH3)2CO.
    The scope covers both pure acetone (with or without impurities) 
and acetone that is combined or mixed with other products, 
including, but not limited to, isopropyl alcohol, benzene, diethyl 
ether, methanol, chloroform, and ethanol. Acetone that has been 
combined with other products is included within the scope, 
regardless of whether the combining occurs in third countries.
    The scope also includes acetone that is commingled with acetone 
from sources not subject to this investigation.
    For combined and commingled products, only the acetone component 
is covered by the scope of this investigation. However, when acetone 
is combined with acetone components from sources not subject to this 
investigation, those third country acetone components may still be 
subject to other acetone investigations.
    Notwithstanding the foregoing language, an acetone combination 
or mixture that is transformed through a chemical reaction into 
another product, such that, for example, the acetone can no longer 
be separated from the other products through a distillation process 
(e.g., methyl methacrylate (MMA) or Bisphenol A (BPA)), is excluded 
from this investigation.
    A combination or mixture is excluded from these investigations 
if the total acetone component (regardless of the source or sources) 
comprises less than 5 percent of the combination or mixture, on a 
dry weight basis.
    The Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number for acetone 
is 67-64-1.
    The merchandise covered by this investigation is currently 
classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) subheadings 2914.11.1000 and 2914.11.5000. Combinations or 
mixtures of acetone may enter under subheadings in Chapter 38 of the 
HTSUS, including, but not limited to, those under heading 
3814.00.1000, 3814.00.2000, 3814.00.5010, and 3814.00.5090. The list 
of items found under these HTSUS subheadings is non-exhaustive. 
Although these HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry number are 
provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written 
description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures
V. Scope Comments
VI. Single Entity Analysis
VII. Discussion of the Methodology
VIII. Date of Sale
IX. Product Comparisons
X. Export Price and Constructed Export Price
XI. Particular Market Situation
XII. Normal Value
XIII. Currency Conversion
XIV. Verification
XV. Conclusion

[FR Doc. 2019-20562 Filed 9-23-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P