[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 61 (Thursday, March 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21487-21488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06600]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-071, C-570-072]


Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid, and Derivative Products From the 
People's Republic of China Continuation of Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Orders

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

SUMMARY: As a result of the determinations by the U.S. Department of 
Commerce (Commerce) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) 
that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty 
(CVD) orders on sodium gluconate, gluconic acid, and derivative 
products from the People's Republic of China would likely lead to the 
continuation or recurrence of dumping and countervailable subsidies, 
and material injury to an industry in the United States, Commerce is 
publishing a notice of continuation of these AD and CVD orders.

DATES: Applicable March 20, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Trejo, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4390

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On November 13, 2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register 
the AD and CVD orders on sodium gluconate, gluconic acid, and 
derivative products from the People's Republic of China.\1\ On October 
2, 2023, the ITC instituted,\2\ and Commerce initiated,\3\ the first 
sunset review of the Orders, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff 
Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). As a result of its reviews, Commerce 
determined that revocation of the Orders, would likely lead to the 
continuation or recurrence of dumping and countervailable subsidies, 
and therefore, notified the ITC of the magnitude of the margins of 
dumping

[[Page 21488]]

and subsidy rates likely to prevail should the Orders be revoked.\4\
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    \1\ See Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid, and Derivative Products 
From the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty and 
Countervailing Duty Orders, 83 FR 56299 (November 13, 2018) 
(Orders).
    \2\ See Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid, and Derivative Products 
From China; Institution of Five-Year Reviews, 88 FR 67807 (October 
2, 2023).
    \3\ See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews, 88 FR 67729 
(October 2, 2023).
    \4\ See Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid, and Derivative Products 
From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the Expedited 
First Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Orders, 89 FR 7369 
(February 2, 2024), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum 
(IDM); see also Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid, and Derivative 
Products From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of the 
Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Order, 89 
FR 7375 (February 2, 2024), and accompanying IDM.
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    On March 20, 2024, the ITC published its determination, pursuant to 
sections 751(c) and 752(a) of the Act, that revocation of the Orders) 
would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury to 
an industry in the United States within a reasonably foreseeable 
time.\5\
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    \5\ See Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid, and Derivative Products 
From China; Determinations, 89 FR 19876 (March 20, 2024).
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Scope of the Orders

    The scope of the orders covers all grades of sodium gluconate, 
gluconic acid, liquid gluconate, and glucono delta lactone (GDL) 
(collectively GNA Products), regardless of physical form (including, 
but not limited to substrates; solutions; dry granular form or powders, 
regardless of particle size; or as a slurry). The scope also includes 
GNA Products that have been blended or are in solution with other 
product(s) where the resulting mix contains 35 percent or more of 
sodium gluconate, gluconic acid, liquid gluconate, and/or GDL by dry 
weight. Sodium gluconate has a molecular formula of 
NaC6H11O7. Sodium gluconate has a 
Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry number of 527-07-1, and can 
also be called ``sodium salt of gluconic acid'' and/or sodium 2, 3, 4, 
5, 6 pentahydroxyhexanoate. Gluconic acid has a molecular formula of 
C6H12O7. Gluconic acid has a CAS 
registry number of 526-95-4, and can also be called 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 
pentahydroxycaproic acid. Liquid gluconate is a blend consisting only 
of gluconic acid and sodium gluconate in an aqueous solution. Liquid 
gluconate has CAS registry numbers of 527-07-1, 526-95-4, and 7732-18-
5, and can also be called 2, 3, 4, 5, 6-pentahydroxycaproic acid-
hexanoate. GDL has a molecular formula of 
C6H10O6. GDL has a CAS registry number 
of 90-80-2, and can also be called d-glucono-1,5-lactone.
    The merchandise covered by the scope of the orders is currently 
classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS) under subheadings 2918.16.1000, 2918.16.5010, and 2932.20.5020. 
Merchandise covered by the scope may also enter under HTSUS subheadings 
2918.16.5050, 3824.99.2900, and 3824.99.9397. Although the HTSUS 
subheadings and CAS registry numbers are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is 
dispositive.

Continuation of the Orders

    As a result of the determinations by Commerce and the ITC that 
revocation of the Orders would likely lead to continuation or 
recurrence of dumping, countervailable subsidies, and material injury 
to an industry in the United States, pursuant to section 751(d)(2) of 
the Act, Commerce hereby orders the continuation of the Orders. U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection will continue to collect AD and CVD cash 
deposits at the rates in effect at the time of entry for all imports of 
subject merchandise.
    The effective date of the continuation of the Orders is March 20, 
2024.\6\ Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.218(c)(2), Commerce intends to initiate the next five-year reviews 
of the Orders not later than 30 days prior to fifth anniversary of the 
date of the last determination by the ITC.
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    \6\ Id.
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Administrative Protective Order (APO)

    This notice also serves as a final reminder to parties subject to 
an APO of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of 
proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.305(a)(3), which continues to govern business proprietary 
information in this segment of the proceeding. 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 violation which 
is subject to sanction.

Notification to Interested Parties

    These five-year (sunset) reviews and this notice are in accordance 
with sections 751(c) and 751(d)(2) of the Act and published in 
accordance with section 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4).

    Dated: March 22, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024-06600 Filed 3-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P