[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26011-26013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09849]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-880]


Thermal Paper From Japan: 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 thermal paper from Japan is being, or is likely to be, sold in the 
United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of 
investigation is October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020. 
Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary 
determination.

DATES: Applicable May 12, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex Wood, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, 
DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1959.

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 November 3, 
2020.\1\ On February 25, 2021, Commerce postponed the preliminary 
determination of this investigation; the revised deadline is now May 5, 
2021.\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 discussed in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum is included in 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/.
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    \1\ See Thermal Paper from Germany, Japan, the Republic of 
Korea, and Spain: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 
85 FR 69580 (November 3, 2020) (Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Thermal Paper from Germany, Japan, the Republic of 
Korea, and Spain: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the 
Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 86 FR 11502 (February 25, 
2021).
    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Thermal 
Paper from Japan,'' 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 thermal paper from 
Japan. 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 on the record for this investigation, 
and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely 
received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\6\ Commerce is 
not preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the 
Initiation Notice. See the 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, ``Thermal Paper from Germany, Japan, the 
Republic of Korea, and Spain: Scope Comments Decision Memorandum for 
the Preliminary Determinations,'' dated concurrently with this 
notice (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum).
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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. Constructed export prices 
have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. 
Normal value is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. 
In addition, Commerce has relied on partial facts available under 
section 776(a)(1) 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

[[Page 26012]]

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 Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (NPI), the only 
individually examined exporter/producer in this investigation. 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 NPI is the margin 
assigned to all other producers and exporters, pursuant to section 
735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:
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    \7\ Commerce preliminarily determines that Nippon Paper 
Industries Co, Ltd. and Nippon Paper Papylia Co., Ltd. are a single 
entity. See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Estimated
                                                               weighted-
                                                                average
                      Exporter/producer                         dumping
                                                                margin
                                                               (percent)
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Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd./Nippon Paper Papylia Co.,        35.71
 Ltd 7......................................................
All-Others..................................................       35.71
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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 margin 
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. 
Normally, Commerce verifies information using standard procedures, 
including an on-site examination of original accounting, financial, and 
sales documentation. However, due to current travel restrictions in 
response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Commerce is unable to conduct 
on-site verification in this investigation. Accordingly, we intend to 
verify the information relied upon in making the final determination 
through alternative means in lieu of an on-site verification.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments on non-scope issues may be 
submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. 
Interested parties will be notified of the timeline for the submission 
of case briefs and written comments at a later date. Rebuttal briefs, 
limited to issues raised in case briefs on non-scope issues, may be 
submitted no later than seven days after the deadline date for case 
briefs.\8\ The deadlines for submitting case and rebuttal briefs on 
scope issues are identified in the Preliminary Scope Decision 
Memorandum. Note that Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its 
requirements for serving documents containing business proprietary 
information, until further notice.\9\ 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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    \8\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
    \9\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due 
to COVID-19, 85 FR 17006 (March 26, 2020); and 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, and a list of the issues to be discussed. Oral 
presentations at the hearing will be limited to issues raised in the 
briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, parties will be notified of 
the time and date for the hearing.\10\
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    \10\ See 19 CFR 351.310(d).
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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 petitioners.\11\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), Commerce 
requires that requests by respondents for postponement of a final AD 
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.
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    \11\ The petitioners are Appvion Operations, Inc., and Domtar 
Corporation.
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    On April 19, 2021, NPI requested that Commerce postpone the final 
determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not 
to exceed six months.\12\ 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

[[Page 26013]]

publication of this preliminary determination.
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    \12\ See NPI's Letter, ``NPI's Request to Postpone the Final 
Determination,'' dated April 19, 2021.
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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: May 5, 2021.
Christian Marsh,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation

    The scope of this investigation covers thermal paper in the form 
of ``jumbo rolls'' and certain ``converted rolls.'' The scope covers 
jumbo rolls and converted rolls of thermal paper with or without a 
base coat (typically made of clay, latex, and/or plastic pigments, 
and/or like materials) on one or both sides; with thermal active 
coating(s) (typically made of sensitizer, dye, and co-reactant, and/
or like materials) on one or both sides; with or without a top coat 
(typically made of pigments, polyvinyl alcohol, and/or like 
materials), and without an adhesive backing. Jumbo rolls are defined 
as rolls with an actual width of 4.5 inches or more, an actual 
weight of 65 pounds or more, and an actual diameter of 20 inches or 
more (jumbo rolls). All jumbo rolls are included in the scope 
regardless of the basis weight of the paper. Also included in the 
scope are ``converted rolls'' with an actual width of less than 4.5 
inches, and with an actual basis weight of 70 grams per square meter 
(gsm) or less.
    The scope of this investigation covers thermal paper that is 
converted into rolls with an actual width of less than 4.5 inches 
and with an actual basis weight of 70 gsm or less in third countries 
from jumbo rolls produced in the subject countries.
    The merchandise subject to this investigation may be classified 
in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under 
subheadings 4811.90.8030 and 4811.90.9030. Although 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 Comments
V. Scope of the Investigation
VI. Discussion of the Methodology
VII. Application of Facts Available
VIII. Date of Sale
IX. Product Comparisons
X. Export Price and Constructed Export Price
XI. Normal Value
XII. Currency Conversion
XIII. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2021-09849 Filed 5-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P