[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 200 (Thursday, October 15, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65377-65379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22810]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-533-895]


Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet From India: 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 common alloy aluminum sheet (aluminum sheet) from India is being, 
or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value 
(LTFV). The period of investigation is January 1, 2019 through December 
31, 2019. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary 
determination.

DATES: Applicable October 15, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jasun Moy or Nicolas Mayora, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-8194 or (202) 482-3053, 
respectively.

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 April 7, 
2020.\1\ On July 29, 2020, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation, and the revised deadline is now 
October 6, 2020.\2\ 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. 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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    \1\ See Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from Bahrain, Brazil, 
Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Republic 
of Korea, Oman, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, 
Taiwan and the Republic of Turkey: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-
Value Investigations, 85 FR 19444 (April 7, 2020) (Initiation 
Notice).
    \2\ See Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from Bahrain, Brazil, 
Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Republic 
of Korea, Oman, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, 
Taiwan, and the Republic of Turkey: Postponement of Preliminary 
Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 85 FR 
45576 (July 29, 2020).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Common 
Alloy Aluminum Sheet from India,'' dated concurrently with, and 
hereby adopted by this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are aluminum sheet from 
India. 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 coverage (i.e., scope).\5\ Certain interested 
parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in 
the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments 
and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this investigation, 
and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely 
received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\6\ As 
discussed in the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, Commerce is 
preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the 
Initiation Notice. 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.
    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Investigations of Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from Bahrain, Brazil, 
Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Republic 
of Korea, Oman, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, 
Taiwan and Turkey: Scope Comments Decision Memorandum for the 
Preliminary Determinations,'' dated October 6, 2020 (Preliminary 
Scope Decision Memorandum).
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    The deadline to submit scope case briefs is established in the 
Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum. There will be no further 
opportunity for comments on scope-related issues.\7\
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    \7\ Case briefs, other written comments, and rebuttal briefs 
submitted in response to this preliminary LTFV determination should 
not include scope-related issues. See Preliminary Scope Decision 
Memorandum at 4; and the ``Public Comment'' section of this notice.
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in 
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value is calculated 
in accordance with section 773 of the Act. Furthermore, pursuant to 
sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied 
on partial facts otherwise available, with adverse inferences, for 
Hindalco Industries Limited (Hindalco). For a full description of the 
methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Section 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act provides that in the 
preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated all-
others rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. 
Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, 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.

[[Page 65378]]

    Commerce calculated an individual estimated weighted-average 
dumping margin for Hindalco. Additionally, Commerce preliminarily 
determined that the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for 
Manaksia Aluminium Company Limited (MALCO) is zero. Therefore, for 
purposes of determining the all-others rate, and pursuant to section 
735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, we are using the dumping margin calculated for 
Hindalco, which is not zero, de minimis, or determined entirely under 
section 776 of the Act. For a full description of the methodology 
underlying Commerce's analysis, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.

Preliminary Determination

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 Cash
                                                  Estimated    deposit
                                                  weighted-      rate
                Exporter/producer                  average    (adjusted
                                                   dumping   for subsidy
                                                    margin     offsets)
                                                  (percent)   (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hindalco Industries Limited.....................      47.92        44.59
Manaksia Aluminium Company Limited..............       0.00         0.00
All Others......................................      47.92        44.59
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Consistent with section 733(b)(3) of the Act, Commerce disregards 
de minimis rates. Accordingly, Commerce preliminarily determines that 
MALCO, an individually examined respondent with a zero rate, has not 
made sales of subject merchandise at LTFV.

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, except for those 
entries of subject merchandise produced and exported by MALCO. Because 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for MALCO is zero, we are 
not directing CBP to suspend liquidation of entries of the subject 
merchandise it produced and exported.
    Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(d), where appropriate, 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 respondents 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. 
These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect 
until further notice.
    Because the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for MALCO is 
zero, entries of shipments of subject merchandise from this company 
will not be subject to suspension of liquidation or cash deposit 
requirements. In such situations, Commerce applies the exclusion from 
the provisional measures to the producer/exporter combination that was 
examined in the investigation. Accordingly, Commerce is directing CBP 
not to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise produced 
and exported by MALCO. Entries of shipments of subject merchandise from 
this company in any other producer/exporter combination, or by third 
parties that sourced subject merchandise from the excluded producer/
exporter combination, are subject to the provisional measures at the 
all-others rate.
    Should the final estimated weighted-average dumping margin be zero 
or de minimis for the producer/exporter combination identified above, 
entries of shipments of subject merchandise from this producer/exporter 
combination will be excluded from the potential antidumping duty order. 
Such exclusions are not applicable to merchandise exported to the 
United States by this respondent in any other producer/exporter 
combinations or by third parties that sourced subject merchandise from 
the excluded producer/exporter combination.
    Commerce normally adjusts cash deposits for estimated antidumping 
duties by the amount of export subsidies countervailed in a companion 
countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding when CVD provisional measures are 
in effect. Accordingly, where Commerce preliminarily made an 
affirmative determination for countervailable export subsidies (i.e., 
Advanced Authorization Program, Duty Drawback Program, Export Promotion 
of Capital Good Scheme, Merchandise Export from India Scheme, and 
Export-Oriented Unit Scheme), Commerce has offset the estimated 
weighted-average dumping margin by the appropriate CVD rate.\8\ Any 
such adjusted cash deposit rate may be found in the ``Preliminary 
Determination'' section above.
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    \8\ See Common Alloy Aluminum Sheet from India: Preliminary 
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, Preliminary Negative 
Critical Circumstances Determination, and Alignment of Final 
Determination with Final Antidumping Duty Determination, 85 FR 49631 
(August 14, 2020), and accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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    Should provisional measures in the companion CVD investigation 
expire prior to the expiration of provisional measures in this LTFV 
investigation, Commerce will direct CBP to begin collecting estimated 
antidumping duty cash deposits unadjusted for countervailed export 
subsidies at the time that the provisional CVD measures expire. These 
suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until 
further notice.

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

    Commerce is currently unable to conduct on-site verification of the 
information relied upon in making its final determination in this 
investigation. Accordingly, we intend to take additional steps in lieu 
of on-site verification. Commerce will notify interested parties of any 
additional documentation or information required.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. A timeline for the 
submission of case briefs and written comments on non-scope issues will 
be notified to interested parties at a later date. Rebuttal briefs, 
limited to issues raised in these case briefs, may be submitted no 
later than seven days after the deadline date for case briefs.\9\ 
Commerce has modified certain of its requirements for serving documents 
containing business proprietary information until further notice.\10\ 
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

[[Page 65379]]

argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the 
argument; and (3) a table of authorities.
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    \9\ See 19 CFR 351.309; and 19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing 
requirements).
    \10\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements 
Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 
10, 2020).
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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 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 September 7 and 18, 2020, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), MALCO 
and Hindalco requested, respectively, that Commerce postpone the final 
determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not 
to exceed six months.\11\ 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 exporters account 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, pursuant to 
section 735(a)(2) of the Act.
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    \11\ See MALCO's Letter, ``Common Alloy Aluminium Sheet from 
India: Request to Postpone the Final Determination,'' dated 
September 7, 2020; and Hindalco's Letter, ``Common Alloy Aluminum 
Sheet from India: Hindalco's Request for Postponement of Final 
Antidumping Determination,'' dated September 18, 2020.
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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, then 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 imports of aluminum sheet from India 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: October 6, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are common alloy 
aluminum 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. 
The use of a proprietary alloy or non-proprietary alloy that is not 
specifically registered by the Aluminum Association as a discrete 
1XXX-, 3XXX-, or 5XXX-series alloy, but that otherwise has a 
chemistry that is consistent with these designations, does not 
remove an otherwise in-scope product from the scope.
    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 other processing that would not otherwise remove the 
merchandise from the scope of this 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 an H-19, H-41, H-48, H-39, or H-391 temper. In 
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, 7606.12.3096, 7606.12.6000, 
7606.91.3095, 7606.91.6095, 7606.92.3035, and 7606.92.6095. Further, 
merchandise that falls within the scope of this investigation may 
also be entered into the United States under HTSUS subheadings 
7606.11.3030, 7606.12.3015, 7606.12.3025, 7606.12.3035, 
7606.12.3091, 7606.91.3055, 7606.91.6055, 7606.92.3025, 
7606.92.6055, 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.

Appendix II--List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Scope of Investigation
V. Scope Comments
VI. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inference
VII. Discussion of the Methodology
VIII. Currency Conversion
IX. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2020-22810 Filed 10-14-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P