[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 179 (Monday, September 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63937-63938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20127]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-580-889]


Dioctyl Terephthalate From the Republic of Korea: Final Results 
of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: On July 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
published the notice of initiation and preliminary results of the 
changed circumstances review (CCR) of the antidumping duty (AD) order 
on dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP) from the Republic of Korea (Korea). 
Commerce preliminarily determined that Aekyung Chemical Co., Ltd. (AKC) 
is the successor-in-interest to Aekyung Petrochemical Co., Ltd. (AKP) 
and, as a result, should be accorded the same AD cash deposit rate as 
AKP with respect to subject merchandise. For these final results, 
Commerce continues to find that AKC is the successor-in-interest to AKP 
and is entitled to the same cash deposit rate as AKP under the AD order 
on DOTP from Korea.

DATES: Applicable September 18, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurel LaCivita, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4243.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 14, 2023, Commerce published the initiation and preliminary 
results \1\ of this CCR, in which Commerce preliminarily found that AKC 
is the successor-in-interest to AKP and, as such, that AKC is entitled 
to AKP's AD cash deposit rate with respect to entries of subject 
merchandise.\2\ In the Initiation and Preliminary Results, we provided 
all interested parties with an opportunity to comment on our 
determination and to request a public hearing. AKC submitted a letter 
in lieu of a case brief on July 28, 2023,\3\ agreeing with Commerce's 
conclusion that AKC's DOTP operations are materially similar to those 
of AKP under Commerce's successor-in-interest criteria; \4\ that AKC 
provided sufficient information to support its request for a CCR such 
that combining the notice of initiation and the notice of preliminary 
results was warranted; \5\ that AKC provided sufficient information for 
Commerce to determine that AKC is the successor-in-interest to AKP; \6\ 
and that the facts on the record of this proceeding are clear and 
unambiguous.\7\ No other party submitted a case or rebuttal brief, 
requested a hearing, or otherwise provided comments on the Initiation 
and Preliminary Results.
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    \1\ See Dioctyl Terephthalate from the Republic of Korea: Notice 
of Initiation and Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Changed 
Circumstances Review, 88 FR 45140 (July 14, 2023) (Initiation and 
Preliminary Results), and accompanying Memorandum, ``Decision 
Memorandum for Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed 
Circumstances Review: Dioctyl Terephthalate from the Republic of 
Korea,'' dated July 7, 2023 (PDM).
    \2\ Id.
    \3\ See AKC's Letter, ``Aekyung Chemical Co., Ltd.'s Letter in 
Lieu of Case Brief,'' dated July 28, 2023 (AKC's Letter in Lieu of 
Case Brief).
    \4\ Id. at 2 (citing Initiation and Preliminary Results PDM at 
4-7).
    \5\ Id. (citing Initiation and Preliminary Results PDM at 3).
    \6\ Id.
    \7\ See AKC's Letter in Lieu of Case Brief at 2.
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Scope of the Order \8\
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    \8\ See Dioctyl Terephthalate from the Republic of Korea: 
Antidumping Duty Order, 82 FR 39409 (August 18, 2017) (Order).
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    The merchandise covered by this Order is dioctyl terephthalate 
(DOTP), regardless of form. DOTP that has been blended with other 
products is included within this scope when such blends include 
constituent parts that have not been chemically reacted with each other 
to produce a different product. For such blends, only the DOTP 
component of the mixture is covered by the scope of this Order.
    DOTP that is otherwise subject to this Order is not excluded when 
commingled with DOTP from sources not subject to this Order. Commingled 
refers to the mixing of subject and non-subject DOTP. Only the subject 
component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of the 
Order.
    DOTP has the general chemical formulation C6H4(C8H17COO)2 and a 
chemical name of ``bis (2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate'' and has a 
Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number of 6422-86-2. 
Regardless of the label, all DOTP is covered by this Order.
    Subject merchandise is currently classified under subheading 
2917.39.2000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS). Subject merchandise may also enter under subheadings 
2917.39.7000 or 3812.20.1000 of the HTSUS. While the CAS registry 
number and HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the scope of this Order is 
dispositive.

Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review

    Having received no comments from interested parties and finding no 
information or evidence on the record that calls into question the 
preliminary results, we continue to find that AKC is the successor-in-
interest to AKP and, that AKC is entitled to AKP's AD cash deposit rate 
with respect to entries of subject merchandise for the reasons stated 
in the Initiation and Preliminary Results.\9\ As there are no changes 
from the Initiation and Preliminary Results, there is no decision 
memorandum accompanying this notice and the determination in the 
Initiation and Preliminary Results, is hereby adopted as the final 
results of this CCR.
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    \9\ See Initiation and Preliminary Results.
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    As a result of this determination and consistent with established 
practice, we find that AKC should receive the AD cash deposit rate 
previously assigned to AKP. Consequently, Commerce will instruct U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection to suspend liquidation of all shipments 
of subject merchandise produced and/or exported by AKC and entered, or 
withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication 
date of this notice in the Federal Register at the AD cash deposit rate 
in effect for AKP. This cash deposit requirement shall remain in effect 
until further notice.

Administrative Protective Order

    This notice serves as a final reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed 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 an APO is a sanctionable violation.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is published in accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and 
777(i) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and 19 CFR 351.216(e).


[[Page 63938]]


    Dated: August 28, 2023.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-20127 Filed 9-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P