[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 229 (Friday, November 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76011-76014]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26230]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-971]


Multilayered Wood Flooring From the People's Republic of China: 
Final Results and Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review; 2017

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) continues to determine 
that Baroque Timber Industries (Baroque Timber) and its cross-owned 
affiliates (Riverside Plywood Corporation and Suzhou Times Flooring 
Co., Ltd.), and Jiangsu Guyu International Trading Co., Ltd. (Jiangsu 
Guyu) and its cross-owned affiliates (Jiangsu Shengyu Flooring Co., 
Ltd., Siyang County Shunyang Wood Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Woyuan 
Industrial Co., Ltd.), producers and/or exporters of multilayered wood 
flooring (wood flooring) from the People's Republic of China (China), 
received countervailable subsidies during the period of review (POR) 
January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

DATES: Applicable November 27, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Palmer or Suzanne Lam, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-9068 or (202) 
482-0783, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Commerce published the Preliminary Results of the administrative 
review in the Federal Register on February 6, 2020.\1\ We invited 
interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results.
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    \1\ See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of 
China: Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review, and Intent to Rescind Review, in Part; 2017, 85 FR 6908 
(February 6, 2020) (Preliminary Results), and accompanying 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

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[[Page 76012]]

    On March 13, 2020, we received case briefs from the following 
interested parties: Baroque Timber, Jiangsu Guyu, Fine Furniture 
(Shanghai) Limited and Double F Limited (collectively, Fine Furniture), 
the Government of the People's Republic of China (GOC), and the 
American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood Flooring. On March 24, 
2020, we received rebuttal case briefs from Baroque Timber, Jiangsu 
Guyu, the GOC and the American Manufacturers of Multilayered Wood 
Flooring. For a complete description of the events that occurred since 
the Preliminary Results, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.\2\
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    \2\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 
Final Results of the 2017 Countervailing Duty Administrative Review 
of Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of China,'' 
dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues 
and Decision Memorandum).
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    On April 24, 2020, Commerce exercised its discretion to toll all 
deadlines in administrative reviews by 50 days.\3\ On June 5, 2020, we 
extended the deadline for these final results to September 23, 2020.\4\ 
On July 21, 2020, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative 
reviews by an additional 60 days.\5\ Accordingly, the revised deadline 
for the final results of this review is now November 23, 2020.
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    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews in Response to 
Operational Adjustments Due to COVID-19,'' dated April 24, 2020.
    \4\ See Memorandum, ``Administrative Review of the 
Countervailing Duty Order on Multilayered Wood Flooring from the 
People's Republic of China: Extension of Deadline for Final 
Results,'' dated June 5, 2020. As the actual (tolled) deadline was 
Saturday, July 25, 2020, we extended the final results deadline 60 
days from this date.
    \5\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews,'' dated April 24, 2020.
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Scope of the Order

    The product covered by the Order \6\ is multilayered wood flooring 
from the PRC. For a complete description of the scope of the Order, see 
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
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    \6\ See Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of 
China: Countervailing Duty Order, 76 FR 76693 (December 8, 2011) 
(Order); see also Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's 
Republic of China: Amended Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Orders, 77 FR 5484 (February 3, 2012) (Amended Order); and 
Multilayered Wood Flooring from the People's Republic of China: 
Final Clarification of the Scope of the Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Orders, 82 FR 27799 (June 19, 2017).
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Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in the parties' briefs are addressed in the 
Issues and Decision Memorandum. A list of the issues addressed is 
attached to this notice at Appendix I. The Issues and 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 http://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete 
version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly 
at http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The signed Issues and Decision 
Memorandum and the electronic version of the Issues and Decision 
Memorandum are identical in content.

Changes Since the Preliminary Results

    Based on our analysis of the case and rebuttal briefs and the 
evidence on the record, we made certain changes from the Preliminary 
Results. Specifically, Commerce changed the plywood benchmark 
calculation for both respondents and adjusted the import duty rates to 
exclude import duties for HS categories not used in the plywood 
benchmark calculation. These changes are explained in the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum.

Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with section 
751(a)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). For each 
of the subsidy programs found countervailable, we find that there is a 
subsidy, i.e., a government-provided financial contribution that gives 
rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is 
specific.\7\ The Issues and Decision Memorandum contains a full 
description of the methodology underlying Commerce's conclusions, 
including any determination that relied upon the use of adverse facts 
available pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act.
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    \7\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding 
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding 
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
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Partial Rescission of Administrative Review

    As noted in the Preliminary Results, Commerce timely received no-
shipment certifications from Anhui Boya Bamboo Ltd., Anhui Yaolong 
Bamboo and Wood Products Co. Ltd., Armstrong Wood products (Kunshan) 
Co. Ltd., Changzhou Hawd Flooring Co. Ltd., Dalian Shengyu Science and 
Technology Development Co. Ltd., Hunchun Forest Wolf Wooden Industry 
Co. Ltd., Jiashan On-Line Lumber Co. Ltd., Kingman Floors Co. Ltd., 
Yingyi-Nature (Kunshan) Wood Industry Co. Ltd., and Zhejiang Shiyou 
Timber Co. Ltd. We inquired with U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
(CBP) whether these companies had shipped merchandise to the United 
States during the POR, and CBP provided no evidence to contradict the 
claims of no shipments made by these companies. Accordingly, in the 
Preliminary Results, Commerce stated its intention to rescind the 
review with respect to these companies in the final results. As the 
facts have remained the same since the Preliminary Results, we are 
rescinding the administrative review of these companies, pursuant to 19 
CFR 351.213(d)(3).

Final Results of Administrative Review

    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(5), we calculated a final 
countervailable subsidy rate for each of the mandatory respondents, 
Baroque Timber and Jiangsu Guyu. For the companies subject to this 
review which were not selected for individual examination, we followed 
Commerce's practice, which is to base the subsidy rates on an average 
of the subsidy rates calculated for those companies selected for 
individual examination, excluding de minimis rates or rates based 
entirely on adverse facts available. In this case, for the non-selected 
companies, we calculated a rate by weight-averaging the calculated 
subsidy rates of Baroque Timber and Jiangsu Guyu using their publicly-
ranged sales data for exports of subject merchandise to the United 
States during the POR. We find the countervailable subsidy rates for 
the producers/exporters under review to be as follows:
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    \8\ Cross-owned affiliates are Riverside Plywood Corp. and 
Suzhou Times Flooring Co., Ltd.
    \9\ Cross-owned affiliates are Jiangsu Shengyu Flooring Co., 
Ltd.; Siyang County Shunyang Wood Co., Ltd.; and Shanghai Woyuan 
Industrial Co., Ltd.
    \10\ See Appendix II.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Subsidy
                     Producer/exporter                           rate
                                                              (percent)
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Baroque Timber Industries (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd. and its            14.09
 Cross-Owned Affiliates \8\................................
Jiangsu Guyu International Trading Co., Ltd. and its Cross-       122.92
 Owned Affiliates \9\......................................
Non-Selected Companies Under Review \10\...................        20.75
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Assessment Rates

    Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.212(b)(2), Commerce will determine, and CBP 
shall assess, countervailing duties on all appropriate entries of 
subject merchandise in accordance with the final results of this 
review, for the above-listed companies at the applicable ad valorem 
assessment rates listed. We

[[Page 76013]]

intend to issue assessment instructions to CBP 15 days after the date 
of publication of these final results of review.
    For the companies for which this review is rescinded, Commerce will 
instruct CBP to assess countervailing duties on all appropriate entries 
at a rate equal to the cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties 
required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for 
consumption, during the POR in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(l)(i).

Cash Deposit Instructions

    Commerce also intends to instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of 
estimated countervailing duties in the amounts shown for each of the 
respective companies listed above on shipments of subject merchandise 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the 
date of publication of the final results of this administrative review. 
For all non-reviewed firms, we will instruct CBP to continue to collect 
cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties at the most recent 
company-specific or all-others rate applicable to the company, as 
appropriate. These cash deposit requirements, effective upon 
publication of these final results, shall remain in effect until 
further notice.

Administrative Protective Orders

    This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the destruction of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written 
notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or 
conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to 
comply with the regulations and terms of an APO is a sanctionable 
violation.
    We are issuing and publishing these final results in accordance 
with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: November 20, 2020.
Joseph A. Laroski Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations.

Appendix I--List of Topics Discussed in the Final Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Intent To Rescind the Review, In Part
V. Period of Review
VI. Subsidies Valuation Information
VII. Changes Since the Preliminary Results
VIII. Use of Facts Otherwise Available
IX. Analysis of Programs
X. Analysis of Comments
    Comment 1: Whether Commerce Properly Selected Jiangsu Guyu as a 
Mandatory Respondent
    Comment 2: Whether Jiangsu Guyu Is Affiliated With Jiangsu 
Shengyu Flooring Co., Ltd. and Siyang County Shunyang Wood Co., Ltd.
    Comment 3: Whether Poplar Core Sheets Are Veneers
    Comment 4: Whether Poplar Core Sheet Suppliers Are Authorities
    Comment 5: Whether To Apply Partial Adverse Facts Available to 
Jiangsu Guyu's Wood Products
    Comment 6: Whether To Adjust the Plywood Benchmark
    Comment 7: Whether To Adjust the Ocean Freight Benchmark
    Comment 8: Whether To Adjust the Electricity Calculation
    Comment 9: Whether To Apply Adverse Facts Available to the 
Export Buyer's Credit Program
    Comment 10: Whether To Limit Countervailability Findings to 
Subsidies Alleged in the Petition
XI. Recommendation

Appendix II--Non-Selected Companies Under Review

1. A&W (Shanghai) Woods Co., Ltd.
2. Anhui Longhua Bamboo Product Co., Ltd.
3. Anhui Suzhou Dongda Wood Co., Ltd.
4. Baishan Huafeng Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
5. Baiying Furniture Manufacturer Co., Ltd.
6. Benxi Flooring Factory (General Partnership)
7. Benxi Wood Company
8. Changbai Mountain Development And Protection Zone Hongtu Wood 
Industrial Co., Ltd.
9. Cheng Hang Wood Co., Ltd.
10. Chinafloors Timber (China) Co., Ltd.
11. Dalian Dajen Wood Co., Ltd.
12. Dalian Deerfu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
13. Dalian Huade Wood Product Co., Ltd.
14. Dalian Huilong Wooden Products Co., Ltd.
15. Dalian Jaenmaken Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
16. Dalian Jiahong Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
17. Dalian Jinda Wood Products Corporation
18. Dalian Jiuyuan Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
19. Dalian Kemian Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
20. Dalian Meisen Woodworking
21. Dalian Penghong Floor Products Co., Ltd.
22. Dalian Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
23. Dalian Shumaike Floor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
24. Dalian T-Boom Wood Products Co., Ltd.
25. Dalian Xinjinghua Wood Co., Ltd.
26. Dongtai Fuan Universal Dynamics, LLC
27. Dongtai Zhangshi Wood Industry Co. Ltd.
28. Dun Hua Sen Tai Wood Co., Ltd.
29. Dunhua City Dexin Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
30. Dunhua City Hongyuan Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
31. Dunhua City Jisen Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
32. Dunhua City Wanrong Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
33. Dunhua Shengda Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
34. Fine Furniture (Shanghai) Limited
35. Fu Lik Timber (HK) Co., Ltd.
36. Fujian Wuyishan Werner Green Industry Co., Ltd.
37. Furnco International Shanghai Company
38. Fusong Jinlong Wooden Group Co., Ltd.
39. Fusong Jinqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
40. Fusong Qianqiu Wooden Product Co., Ltd.
41. Gaotang Weilong Industry and Trade
42. Gold Seagull Shanghai Flooring
43. GTP International Ltd.
44. Guangdong Fu Lin Timber Technology Limited
45. Guangdong Yihua Timber Industry Co., Ltd.
46. Guangzhou Homebon Timber Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
47. Guangzhou Panyu Kangda Board Co., Ltd.
48. Guangzhou Panyu Southern Star Co., Ltd.
49. HaiLin LinJing Wooden Products, Ltd.
50. HaiLin XinCheng Wooden Products, Ltd.
51. Hangzhou Dazhuang Floor Co., Ltd. (DBA Dasso Industrial Group 
Co., Ltd.)
52. Hangzhou Hanje Tee Company Limited
53. Hangzhou Huahi Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
54. Hangzhou Zhengtian Industrial Co., Ltd.
55. Henan Xingwangjia Technology Co., Ltd.
56. Hong Kong Chuanshi International
57. Hong Kong Easoon Wood Technology Co., Ltd.
58. Huaxin Jiasheng Wood Co., Ltd.
59. Huber Engineering Wood Corp.
60. Houzhou Chenchang Wood Co., Ltd.
61. Hunchun Xingja Wooden Flooring Inc.
62. Huzhou City Nanxun Guangda Wood Co., Ltd.
63. Huzhou Daruo Import and Export
64. Huzhou Fulinmen Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
65. Huzhou Fuma Wood Co., Ltd.
66. Huzhou Jesonwood Co., Ltd.
67. Huzhou Laike Import and Export Co
68. Huzhou Muyun Wood Co., Ltd.
69. Huzhou Sunergy World Trade Co., Ltd.
70. Innomaster Home (Zhongshan) Co., Ltd.
71. Jesonwood Forest Products ZJ
72. Jiafeng Wood (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.
73. Jiangsu Kentier Wood Co., Ltd.
74. Jiangsu Keri Wood Co., Ltd.
75. Jiangsu Mingle Flooring Co., Ltd.
76. Jiangsu Senmao Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
77. Jiangsu Simba Flooring Co., Ltd.
78. Jiangsu Yuhui International Trade Co., Ltd.
79. Jiashan Fengyun Timber Co., Ltd.
80. Jiashan HuiJiaLe Decoration Material Co., Ltd.
81. Jiaxing Hengtong Wood Co., Ltd.
82. Jilin Forest Industry Jinqiao Flooring Group Co., Ltd.
83. Jilin Xinyuan Wooden Industry Co., Ltd.
84. Karly Wood Product Limited
85. Kember Flooring, Inc.
86. Kemian Wood Industry (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
87. Kornbest Enterprises Limited
88. Kunming Alston (AST) Wood Products Co., Ltd.
89. Les Planchers Mercier, Inc.
90. Liaoning Daheng Timber Group
91. Linyi Anying Wood Co., Ltd.
92. Linyi Bonn Flooring Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
93. Linyi Youyou Wood Co., Ltd.
94. Logwin Air and Ocean Hong Kong
95. Max Choice Wood Industry

[[Page 76014]]

96. Metropolitan Hardwood Floors, Inc.
97. Mudanjiang Bosen Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
98. Nakahiro Jyou Sei Furniture (Dalian) Co., Ltd.
99. Nanjing Minglin Wooden Industry Co., Ltd.
100. Ningbo Tianyi Bamboo and Wood Products Co., Ltd.
101. Pinge Timber Manufacturing (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd.
102. Power Dekor Group Co., Ltd.
103. Power Dekor North America Inc.
104. PT. Tanjung Kreasi Parquet Industry
105. Qingdao Barry Flooring Co., Ltd.
106. Qingdao Wisdom International
107. Samling Elegant Living Trading (Labuan) Ltd.
108. Samling Riverside Co., Ltd.
109. Scholar Home (Shanghai) New Material Co. Ltd.
110. Shandong Kaiyuan Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
111. Shandong Longteng Wood Co., Ltd.
112. Shandong Puli Trading Co., Ltd.
113. Shanghai Anxin (Weiguang) Timber Co., Ltd.
114. Shanghai Demeija Timber Co., Ltd.
115. Shanghai Eswell Timber Co., Ltd.
116. Shanghai Lairunde Wood Co., Ltd.
117. Shanghai Lizhong Wood Products Co., Ltd. (aka The Lizhong Wood 
Industry Limited Company of Shanghai)
118. Shanghai New Sihe Wood Co., Ltd.
119. Shanghai Shenlin Corporation
120. Shanghaifloor Timber (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
121. Shenyang Haobainian Wooden Co., Ltd.
122. Shenyang Sende Wood Co., Ltd.
123. Shenzhenshi Huanwei Woods Co., Ltd.
124. Sino-Maple (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
125. Suifenhe Chengfeng Trading Co., Ltd.
126. Sunyoung Wooden Products
127. Suzhou Anxin Weiguang Timber Co., Ltd.
128. Suzhou Dongda Wood Co., Ltd.
129. Tak Wah Building Material (Suzhou) Co.
130. Tech Wood International Ltd.
131. The Greenville Flooring Co., Ltd.
132. Tongxiang Jisheng Import and Export Co., Ltd.
133. Topocean Consolidation Service
134. Vicwood Industry (Suzhou) Co. Ltd.
135. Xiamen Yung De Ornament Co., Ltd.
136. Xuzhou Antop International Trade Co., Ltd.
137. Xuzhou Shenghe Wood Co., Ltd.
138. Yekalon Industry, Inc.
139. Yihua Lifestyle Technology Co., Ltd.
140. Yixing Lion-King Timber Industry
141. Zhejiang Anji Xinfeng Bamboo and Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
142. Zhejiang Biyork Wood Co., Ltd.
143. Zhejiang Dadongwu Auto Elect Motor
144. Zhejiang Dadongwu Green Home Wood Co., Ltd.
145. Zhejiang Desheng Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
146. Zhejiang Fudeli Timber Industry Co., Ltd.
147. Zhejiang Fuerjia Wooden Co., Ltd.
148. Zhejiang Fuma Warm Technology Co., Ltd.
149. Zhejiang Haoyun Wooden Co., Ltd.
150. Zhejiang Jesonwood Co., Ltd.
151. Zhejiang Jiaye Flooring
152. Zhejiang Jiechen Wood Industry Co., Ltd.
153. Zhejiang Longsen Lumbering Co., Ltd.
154. Zhejiang Shuimojiangnan New Material Technology Co., Ltd.
155. Zhejiang Simite Wooden Co., Ltd.
156. Zhejiang Tianzhen Bamboo & Wood Development Co., Ltd.
157. Zhejiang Yongyu Bamboo Joint-Stock Co., Ltd.

[FR Doc. 2020-26230 Filed 11-25-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P