2024-23696. Lightweight Thermal Paper From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023

Document Headings

Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following:

1. the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document
2. the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to
3. the agency docket number / agency internal file number
4. the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details.

Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

1. [A-570-920]

AGENCY:

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

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that certain companies subject to the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on lightweight thermal paper (paper) from the People's Republic of China (China), are not eligible for separate rates and are, therefore, part of the China-wide entity. The period of review (POR) is November 1, 2022, through October 31, 2023.

DATES:

Applicable October 15, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alex Cipolla, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On June 18, 2024, Commerce published the preliminary results of the 2022-2023 administrative review of the antidumping duty order ^[1] on lightweight thermal paper from China in the Federal Register and invited interested parties to comment.^[2] We received no comments from interested parties on the Preliminary Results, and we have made no changes to the Preliminary Results. Accordingly, there is no decision memorandum accompanying this notice and the final results are unchanged from the Preliminary Results. Commerce conducted this administrative review in accordance with section 751(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

Scope of the Order

The products covered by this Order includes certain lightweight thermal paper, which is thermal paper with a basis weight of 70 grams per square meter (g/m2) (with a tolerance of ±4.0 g/m2) or less; irrespective of dimensions; ^[3] with or without a base coat ^[4] on one or both sides; with thermal active coating(s) ^[5] on one or both sides that is a mixture of the dye and the developer that react and form an image when heat is applied; with or without a top coat; ^[6] and without an adhesive backing. Certain lightweight thermal paper is typically (but not exclusively) used in point-of-sale applications such as ATM receipts, credit card receipts, gas pump receipts, and retail store receipts. The merchandise subject to this order may be classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) ( print page 82982) under subheadings 3703.10.60, 4811.59.20, 4811.90.8040, 4811.90.9090, 4820.10.20, 4823.40.00, 4811.90.8030, 4811.90.8050, 4811.90.9030, and 4811.90.9050.^[7 8] Although HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this Order is dispositive.

Final Results of Review

Because we received no comments, we made no changes from the Preliminary Results. We continue to find that: (1) Guangdong Guanhao High-Tech (Guangdong Guanhao); (2) Guangdong Polygon New Materials (Guangdong Polygon); (3) and Henan Jianghe Paper (Henan Jianghe) did not file separate rate applications or certifications and, thus, did not demonstrate their eligibility for separate rate status and, therefore, are part of the China-wide entity. As stated in the Preliminary Results, no party requested a review of the China-wide entity.^[9] Moreover, we did not self-initiate a review of the China-wide entity. Because no review of the China-wide entity is being conducted, the China-wide entity's entries are not subject to the review, and the weighted-average dumping margin for the China-wide entity ( i.e., 115.29 percent) is not subject to change.^[10]

Disclosure

Normally, Commerce discloses to interested parties the calculations of the final results of an administrative review within five days of a public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of the notice of final results in the Federal Register , in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). However, because we have made no changes from the Preliminary Results, there are no calculations to disclose.

Assessment

Consistent with section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.212(b), upon completion of the administrative review, Commerce shall determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise covered this review. Because Commerce finds the three companies subject to this review, Guangdong Guanhao, Guangdong Polygon, and Henan Jianghe are part of the China-wide entity in the final results, Commerce will instruct CBP to liquidate entries containing subject merchandise exported by the companies under review at the China-wide entity rate of 115.29 percent.

Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the Federal Register . If a timely summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired ( i.e., within 90 days of publication).

Cash Deposit Requirements

The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication as provided for by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) for previously investigated or reviewed Chinese and non-Chinese exporters for which a review was not requested and that received a separate rate in a prior segment of this proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the existing exporter-specific rate; (2) for all Chinese exporters of subject merchandise that have not been found to be entitled to a separate rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate for the China-wide entity (115.29 percent); ^[11] and (3) for all non-Chinese exporters of subject merchandise that have not received their own rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate applicable to the Chinese exporter that supplied that non-Chinese exporter. These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.

Notification to Importers

This notice serves as a final reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during the POR. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.

Notification to Interested Parties

Commerce is issuing and publishing the final results of this review in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(5).

Dated: October 8, 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.

Footnotes

1.   See Antidumping Duty Orders: Lightweight Thermal Paper from Germany and the People's Republic of China,73 FR 70959 (November 24, 2008) ( Order).

2.   See Lightweight Thermal Paper from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2022-2023,89 FR 51499 (June 18, 2024) ( Preliminary Results).

3.  LWTP is typically produced in jumbo rolls that are slit to the specifications of the converting equipment and then converted into finished slit rolls. Both jumbo and converted rolls (as well as LWTP in any other form, presentation, or dimension) are covered by the scope of these orders.

4.  A base coat, when applied, is typically made of clay and/or latex and like materials and is intended to cover the rough surface of the paper substrate and to provide insulating value.

5.  A thermal active coating is typically made of sensitizer, dye, and co-reactant.

6.  A top coat, when applied, is typically made of polyvinyl acetone, polyvinyl alcohol, and/or like materials and is intended to provide environmental protection, an improved surface for press printing, and/or wear protection for the thermal print head.

7.  HTSUS subheading 4811.90.8000 was a classification used for LWTP until January 1, 2007. Effective that date, subheading 4811.90.8000 was replaced with 4811.90.8020 (for gift wrap, a non-subject product) and 4811.90.8040 (for “other” including LWTP). HTSUS subheading 4811.90.9000 was a classification for LWTP until July 1, 2005. Effective that date, subheading 4811.90.9000 was replaced with 4811.90.9010 (for tissue paper, a non-subject product) and 4811.90.9090 (for “other,” including LWTP).

8.  As of January 1, 2009, the ITC deleted HTSUS subheadings 4811.90.8040 and 4811.90.9090 and added HTSUS subheadings 4811.90.8030, 4811.90.8050, 4811.90.9030, and 4811.90.9050 to the HTSUS (2009). See Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (2009), available at https://www.usitc.gov. These HTSUS subheadings were added to the scope of the order in lightweight thermal paper's LTFV investigation.

9.   See Preliminary Results, 89 FR at 51500.

10.   See Order, 73 FR at 70959.

11.   See Order, 73 FR at 70959.