[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 44 (Friday, March 7, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11511-11512]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03715]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-972, A-583-848]


Stilbenic Optical Brightening Agents From the People's Republic 
of China and Taiwan: Continuation of Antidumping 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) orders on certain 
stilbenic optical brightening agents (OBAs) from the People's Republic 
of China (China) and Taiwan would likely lead to the continuation or 
recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United 
States, Commerce is publishing a notice of continuation of these AD 
orders.

DATES: Applicable February 27, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Weiner, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3902.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 10, 2012, Commerce published in the Federal Register the AD 
orders on OBAs from China and Taiwan.\1\ On July 1, 2024, Commerce 
initiated the second sunset review of the Orders, pursuant to section 
751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).\2\ As a result 
of its review, Commerce determined that revocation of the Orders would 
likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping, and 
therefore, notified the ITC of the magnitude of the margins of dumping 
likely to prevail should the Orders be revoked.\3\
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    \1\ See Certain Stilbenic Optical Brightening Agents from the 
People's Republic of China: Amended Final Determination of Sales at 
Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 27423 (May 
10, 2012); and Certain Stilbenic Optical Brightening Agents from 
Taiwan: Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value 
and Antidumping Duty Order, 77 FR 27419 (May 10, 2012) 
(collectively, Orders).
    \2\ See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews, 89 FR 54435 
(July 1, 2024).
    \3\ See Stilbenic Optical Brightening Agents from the People's 
Republic of China and Taiwan: Final Results of the Expedited Second 
Sunset Review of the Antidumping Duty Orders, 89 FR 88729 (November 
8, 2024), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum (IDM).

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[[Page 11512]]

    On February 27, 2025, 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.\4\
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    \4\ See Certain Stilbenic Optical Brightening Agents from China 
and Taiwan, 90 FR 10830 (February 27, 2025) (ITC Final 
Determination).
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Scope of the Orders

    The OBAs covered by the Orders are all forms (whether free acid or 
salt) of compounds known as triazinylaminostilbenes (i.e., all 
derivatives of 4,4'-bis [1,3,5-triazin-2-yl] \5\ amino-2,2'-
stilbenedisulfonic acid), except for compounds listed in the following 
paragraph. The stilbenic OBAs covered by the Orders include final 
stilbenic OBA products, as well as intermediate products that are 
themselves triazinylaminostilbenes produced during the synthesis of 
stilbenic OBA products.
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    \5\ The brackets in this sentence are part of the chemical 
formula.
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    Excluded from the Orders are all forms of 4,4'-bis[4-anilino-6-
morpholino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl] \6\ amino-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid, 
C40H40N12O8S2 
(``Fluorescent Brightener 71''). The Orders cover the above-described 
compounds in any state (including but not limited to powder, slurry, or 
solution), of any concentrations of active stilbenic OBA ingredient, as 
well as any compositions regardless of additives (i.e., mixtures or 
blends, whether of stilbenic OBAs with each other, or of stilbenic OBAs 
with additives that are not stilbenic OBAs), and in any type of 
packaging.
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    \6\ Id.
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    These OBAs are classifiable under subheading 3204.20.8000 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), but they may 
also enter under subheadings 2933.69.6050, 2921.59.4000, and 
2921.59.8090. Although the HTSUS subheadings 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 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 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 will be 
February 27, 2025.\7\ 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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    \7\ See ITC Final Determination.
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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 3, 2025.
Christopher Abbott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2025-03715 Filed 3-6-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P