[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 92 (Tuesday, May 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27989-27991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10128]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-357-820]


Biodiesel From Argentina: Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Changed Circumstances Review

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On July 9, 2019, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
published the preliminary results of the changed circumstances review 
(CCR) of the antidumping duty (AD) order on biodiesel from Argentina. 
For these final results, Commerce continues to find that there are 
insufficient changed circumstances to warrant any revisions under the 
AD order.

DATES: Applicable May 12, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Hoadley, 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) 482-3148.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On April 26, 2018, Commerce published the AD order on biodiesel 
from Argentina.\1\ On November 13, 2018, in response to a request 
submitted by the Government of Argentina (GOA), joined by Vicentin 
S.A.I.C. (Vicentin) and LDC Argentina (LDC), Commerce initiated a CCR 
for both the AD and countervailing duty (CVD) orders.\2\ Commerce 
exercised its discretion to toll all deadlines affected by the partial 
federal government closure from December 22, 2018 through the 
resumption of operations on January 29, 2019.\3\ On July 1, 2019, 
Commerce issued the Preliminary Results and placed additional 
information on the record of the CCR, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.301(c)(4).\4\ Commerce preliminarily found that the ``particular 
market situation'' regarding the price of soybeans as an element of the 
cost of production of biodiesel in Argentina still existed,\5\ and that 
no changes under the AD order were warranted as a result of the changed 
circumstances presented by the GOA. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.309, 
Commerce invited parties to comment on the Preliminary Results. On July 
5, 2019, Commerce provided interested parties until July 12, 2019 to 
place additional information on the record in order to ``rebut, 
clarify, or correct'' the information placed on the record by 
Commerce.\6\
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    \1\ See Biodiesel from the Republic of Argentina and Indonesia: 
Antidumping Duty Orders, 83 FR 18279 (April 26, 2018) (Order).
    \2\ See Biodiesel from Argentina: Initiation of Changed 
Circumstances Reviews of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Orders, 83 FR 56300 (November 13, 2018).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Partial Shutdown 
of the Federal Government,'' dated January 28, 2019.
    \4\ See Biodiesel from Argentina: Preliminary Results of Changed 
Circumstances Reviews of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Orders, 84 FR 32714 (July 9, 2019) (Preliminary Results); see also 
Memorandum, ``Additional Information Concerning the Preliminary 
Changed Circumstances Reviews of Biodiesel,'' dated July 1, 2019.
    \5\ See Preliminary Results, 84 FR at 32716-17.
    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Additional Information Concerning the 
Preliminary Changed Circumstances Reviews of Biodiesel,'' dated July 
5, 2019.
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    On July 12, 2019, the National Biodiesel Board Fair Trade Coalition 
(the petitioner), and LDC and Vicentin submitted additional factual 
information.\7\ On August 2, 2019,

[[Page 27990]]

Commerce put a hold on the deadlines for case and rebuttal briefs.\8\ 
On September 5, 2019, Commerce reinstated deadlines for case and 
rebuttal briefs.\9\
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    \7\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Biodiesel from Argentina: Factual 
Information Pursuant to 19 CFR 301(c)(4),'' dated July 12, 2019; see 
also LDC Argentina and Vicentin's Letter, ``Biodiesel from 
Argentina: Additional Information Concerning the Preliminary Changed 
Circumstances Reviews of Biodiesel,'' dated July 12, 2019.
    \8\ See Memorandum, ``Changed Circumstances Reviews of the 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders on Biodiesel from 
Argentina: Holding of Deadlines,'' dated August 2, 2019.
    \9\ See Memorandum, ``Changed Circumstances Reviews of the 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders on Biodiesel from 
Argentina: Publication of Verification Report and Reinstatement of 
Deadlines,'' dated September 5, 2019.
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    On September 11, 2019, the petitioner requested an indefinite 
suspension of the deadlines for briefs and the final determination.\10\ 
On September 12, 2019, the GOA responded, stating that a short 
extension of the deadlines would be acceptable.\11\ On September 12, 
2019, Commerce issued a short extension of the deadlines.\12\ The 
petitioner and the GOA submitted case briefs on September 17, 2019.\13\ 
On September 23, 2019, the petitioner and the GOA submitted rebuttal 
briefs.\14\
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    \10\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Biodiesel from Argentina: 
Request for Meeting and Extension of Briefing Schedule,'' dated 
September 11, 2019.
    \11\ See GOA's Letter, ``Biodiesel from Argentina: Response from 
the GOA to Petitioner's Request for Meeting and Extension of 
Briefing Schedule,'' dated September 12, 2019.
    \12\ See Memorandum, ``Changed Circumstances Reviews of the 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders on Biodiesel from 
Argentina: Deadline for Case and Rebuttal Briefs and Hearing 
Requests; Rejection of New Factual Information,'' dated September 
12, 2019.
    \13\ See Petitioner's Case Brief, ``Biodiesel from Argentina: 
Petitioner's Case Brief,'' dated September 17, 2019 (Petitioner's 
Case Brief); see also GOA's Case Brief, ``Biodiesel from Argentina 
Changed Circumstances Review: Government of Argentina Case Brief and 
Statement with Respect to Public Hearing,'' dated September 17, 2019 
(GOA's Case Brief).
    \14\ See Petitioner's Rebuttal Brief, ``Biodiesel from 
Argentina: Rebuttal Brief on Behalf of the National Biodiesel Board 
Fair Trade Coalition,'' dated September 23, 2019 (Petitioner's 
Rebuttal Brief); see also GOA's Rebuttal Brief, ``Biodiesel from 
Argentina: Rebuttal Brief in AD Changed Circumstances Review,'' 
dated September 23, 2019 (GOA's Rebuttal Brief).
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    On October 16, 2019, Commerce placed additional factual information 
on the record of this proceeding.\15\ In response, the petitioner 
placed additional factual information on the record on October 24, 
2019.\16\ Between the time Commerce released its Preliminary Results 
and the publication of these final results, Commerce has held numerous 
phone calls and meetings with parties.\17\
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    \15\ See Memorandum, ``Ex Parte Meeting with the National 
Biodiesel Board and the American Soybean Association,'' dated 
October 16, 2019.
    \16\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Biodiesel from Argentina: 
Petitioners' Submission to Rebut, Clarify, or Correct Information 
Placed on the Record,'' dated October 24, 2019.
    \17\ Memorandum, ``Email Exchange with Governor Kim Reynolds,'' 
dated July 16, 2019, Memorandum, ``Ex Parte Discussion with Governor 
Kim Reynolds,'' dated July 25, 2019, Memorandum, ``Ex Parte 
Discussion with Congressman Darin LaHood,'' dated July 25, 2019, 
Memorandum, ``Ex Parte Discussion with Senator Alexander's Office,'' 
dated July 30, 2019, Memorandum, ``Correspondence with Minister 
Dante Sica,'' dated August 15, 2019, Memorandum, ``Correspondence 
with Several U.S. Senators,'' dated August 15, 2019, Memorandum, 
``Ex Parte Discussions with the Government of Argentina,'' dated 
August 28, 2019, Memorandum, ``Ex Parte Discussion with National 
Biodiesel Board,'' dated September 12, 2019, Memorandum, ``Ex Parte 
Meeting with Senator Grassley's Staff Regarding Biodiesel Changed 
Circumstances Reviews,'' dated September 27, 2019, Memorandum, ``Ex 
Parte Meeting with National Biodiesel Board,'' dated September 30, 
2019, Memorandum, ``Ex Parte Meeting with the National Biodiesel 
Board and the American Soybean Association,'' dated October 16, 
2019, Memorandum, ``Ex Parte Meeting with the Petitioners,'' dated 
October 18, 2019, Memorandum, ``Ex Parte Meeting with the Government 
of Argentina,'' dated October 18, 2019, Memorandum, ``Telephone call 
with Argentine Embassy Official Regarding Changed Circumstances 
Reviews (CCR) of Biodiesel from Argentina,'' dated December 9, 2019, 
Memorandum, ``Telephone call with Representative Darin LaHood to 
discuss Changed Circumstances Review (CCR) of Biodiesel from 
Argentina,'' dated November 26, 2019, Memorandum, ``Telephone call 
with Senator Chuck Grassley to discuss Changed Circumstances Reviews 
(CCR) of Biodiesel from Argentina,'' dated November 26, 2019, 
Memorandum, ``Telephone call with Ambassador Fernando Oris de Roa to 
discuss Changed Circumstances Reviews (CCR) of Biodiesel from 
Argentina,'' dated December 5, 2019, Memorandum, ``Telephone call 
with the National Biodiesel Board to discuss Changed Circumstances 
Reviews of Biodiesel from Argentina,'' dated December 19, 2019, 
Memorandum, ``Telephone call with Senator Chuck Grassley to discuss 
Changed Circumstances Reviews of Biodiesel from Argentina,'' dated 
December 19, 2019, and Memorandum, ``Telephone call with Congressman 
Darin LaHood,'' dated March 19, 2020.
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Scope of the Order

    The product covered by the Order is biodiesel from Argentina. For a 
complete description of the scope of the Order, see Appendix I of this 
notice.

Analysis of Comments Received

    We addressed all issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs by 
parties to this review in the Issues and Decision Memorandum (I&D 
Memo).\18\ Attached to this notice, in Appendix II, is a list of the 
issues which parties raised. The I&D Memo is a public document and on 
file in the Central Records Unit (CRU), Room B8024 of the main Commerce 
building, as well as electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service 
System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at http://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the I&D Memo can 
be accessed directly on the internet at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/index.html. The signed I&D Memo and the electronic versions of the 
I&D Memo are identical in content.
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    \18\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review: 
Biodiesel from Argentina,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby 
adopted by, this notice.
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Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review

    Pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(the Act), and 19 CFR 351.216, Commerce determines that there are 
insufficient changed circumstances to warrant any changes under the AD 
Order.

Cash Deposit Requirements and Assessment

    In light of our final results, Commerce is not issuing instructions 
to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Administrative Protective Order (APO)

    This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to APO of 
their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary 
information disclose under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). 
Timely written notification of the return/destruction of APO materials 
or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure 
to comply with the regulations and terms of APO is a sanctionable 
violation.

Notification to Interested Parties

    We are issuing and publishing these final results and notice in 
accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 
351.216 and 19 CFR 351.222.

    Dated: May 5, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Order

    The product covered by this order is biodiesel, which is a fuel 
comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived 
from vegetable oils or animal fats, including biologically-based 
waste oils or greases, and other biologically-based oil or fat 
sources. The order covers biodiesel in pure form (B100) as well as 
fuel mixtures containing at least 99 percent biodiesel by volume 
(B99). For fuel mixtures containing less than 99 percent biodiesel 
by volume, only the biodiesel component of the mixture is covered by 
the scope of the order.
    Biodiesel is generally produced to American Society for Testing 
and Materials International (ASTM) D6751 specifications, but it can 
also be made to other specifications. Biodiesel commonly has one of 
the following Chemical Abstracts Service

[[Page 27991]]

(CAS) numbers, generally depending upon the feedstock used: 67784-
80-9 (soybean oil methyl esters); 91051-34-2 (palm oil methyl 
esters); 91051-32-0 (palm kernel oil methyl esters); 73891-99-3 
(rapeseed oil methyl esters); 61788-61-2 (tallow methyl esters); 
68990-52-3 (vegetable oil methyl esters); 129828-16-6 (canola oil 
methyl esters); 67762-26-9 (unsaturated alkylcarboxylic acid methyl 
ester); or 68937-84-8 (fatty acids, C12-C18, methyl ester).
    The B100 product subject to the order is currently classifiable 
under subheading 3826.00.1000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTSUS), while the B99 product is currently 
classifiable under HTSUS subheading 3826.00.3000. Although the HTSUS 
subheadings, ASTM specifications, and CAS numbers are provided for 
convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the 
scope is dispositive.

Attachment II

List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Final Results of Review
IV. Discussion of the Issues
    Comment 1: Relevance of the GOA's Changes after the Preliminary 
Results
    Comment 2: Whether Commerce Properly Initiated the CCR
    Comment 3: Whether a Particular Market Situation Still Exists
V. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2020-10128 Filed 5-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P