2021-15662. Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin From the People's Republic of China and India: Final Results of the Expedited First Sunset Reviews of the Countervailing Duty Orders  

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    AGENCY:

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

    SUMMARY:

    As a result of these expedited sunset reviews, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) finds that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) orders on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin from the People's Republic of China (China) and India would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the levels as indicated in the “Final Results of Sunset Review” section of this notice.

    DATES:

    Applicable July 23, 2021.

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    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Joshua A. DeMoss, AD/CVD Operations, Office VI, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3362.

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    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Background

    On May 6, 2016, Commerce published the CVD orders on PET resin from China and India in the Federal Register.[1] On March 31, 2021, Commerce published the notice of initiation of the first sunset reviews of the Orders, pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).[2] Commerce received a notice of intent to participate from DAK Americas, LLC, Indorama Ventures USA Inc., and Nan Ya Plastics Corporation, America (collectively, domestic interested parties) within the deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i).[3] Each claimed interested party status under section 771(9)(C) of the Act as domestic producers engaged in the production of PET resin in the United States.

    On April 30, 2021, Commerce received a substantive response from the domestic interested parties within the 30-day deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3)(i).[4] On May 3, 2021, two respondent interested parties, CG Roxane, LLC (CG Roxane) and Niagara Bottling, LLC (Niagara), filed substantive responses pursuant to 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3), to the record of the China sunset review.[5] However, for the substantive responses of respondent interested parties to be considered adequate under this regulation, the respondents must account for, on average, more than 50 percent (volume or value) of total exports during the five-year period preceding the year of publication of the initiation notice, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(A). CG Roxane and Niagara failed to demonstrate this. We did not receive a substantive response from any other interested party in these proceedings.

    On May 21, 2021, Commerce notified the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that it did not receive an adequate substantive response from respondent interested parties.[6] As a result, pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), Commerce conducted expedited (120-day) sunset reviews of these Orders.

    Scope of the Orders

    The merchandise covered by these orders is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 0.70, but not more than 0.88, deciliters per gram. The scope includes blends of virgin PET resin and recycled PET resin containing 50 percent or more virgin PET resin content by weight, provided such blends meet the intrinsic viscosity requirements above. The scope includes all PET resin meeting the above specifications regardless of additives introduced in the manufacturing process. The merchandise subject to these orders is properly classified under subheading 3907.60.00.30 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise covered by these orders is dispositive.

    Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in these sunset reviews are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum, including the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies and the net countervailable subsidy likely to prevail if the Orders were revoked.[7] The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Services System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at http://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Issues and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://enforcement.trade.gov/​frn/​index.html. A list of the issues discussed in the decision memorandum is attached at the appendix to this notice.

    Final Results of Sunset Reviews

    Pursuant to sections 751(c)(1) and 752(b) of the Act, Commerce determines that revocation of the Orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of countervailable subsidies at the following rates:Start Printed Page 38983

    Manufacturer/producer/exporterNet countervailable subsidy rate (percent)
    PET Resin From China
    Xingyu7.53
    Dragon Group47.56
    All Others27.55
    PET Resin From India
    Dhunseri5.12
    JBF Industries Limited153.80
    All Others5.12

    Administrative Protective Order

    This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to the administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a). Timely written notification of the 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

    We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with sections 751(c), 752(b), and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

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    Dated: July 16, 2021.

    Christian Marsh,

    Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

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    Appendix

    List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum

    I. Summary

    II. Background

    III. Scope of the Orders

    IV. History of the Orders

    V. Legal Framework

    VI. Discussion of the Issues

    1. Likelihood of Continuation or Recurrence of a Countervailable Subsidy

    2. Net Countervailable Subsidy Rates Likely to Prevail

    3. Nature of the Subsidies

    VII. Final Results of Review

    VIII. Recommendation

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    Footnotes

    1.  See Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from India and the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order (India) and Amended Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Countervailing Duty Order (People's Republic of China), 81 FR 27977 (May 6, 2016) (Orders).

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    2.  See Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Review, 86 FR 16701 (March 31, 2021).

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    3.  See Domestic Interested Parties' Letters, “Five-Year (Sunset) Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from the People's Republic of China—Domestic Interested Parties' Notice of Intent to Participate,” dated April 15, 2021; and “Five-Year (Sunset) Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from India—Domestic Interested Parties' Notice of Intent to Participate,” dated April 15, 2021.

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    4.  See Domestic Interested Parties' Letters, “Five-Year (Sunset) Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from the People's Republic of China—Domestic Interested Parties' Substantive Response to Notice of Initiation,' dated April 30, 2021 (China Substantive Response); and “Five-Year (Sunset) Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from India—Domestic Interested Parties' Substantive Response to Notice of Initiation,” dated April 30, 2021 (India Substantive Response).

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    5.  See CG Roxane's Letter, “Sunset Review of Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from China and Oman: Response to Notice of Institution,” dated May 3, 2021; and Niagara's Letter, “Sunset Review of Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from China: Response to Notice of Institution,” dated May 3, 2021.

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    6.  See Commerce's Letter, “Sunset Review for April 2021,” dated May 21, 2021.

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    7.  See Memorandum, “Issues and Decision Memorandum for the Expedited First Sunset Review of the Countervailing Duty Orders of Polyethylene Terephthalate Resin from the People's Republic of China and India,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum).

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    [FR Doc. 2021-15662 Filed 7-22-21; 8:45 am]

    BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

Document Information

Published:
07/23/2021
Department:
International Trade Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
2021-15662
Dates:
Applicable July 23, 2021.
Pages:
38982-38983 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
C-570-025, C-533-862
PDF File:
2021-15662.pdf
Supporting Documents:
» Requests for Nominations: Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee
» Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Drawn Stainless Steel Sinks from the People's Republic of China; Recission
» Determinations of Sales at Less than Fair Value: Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate from Brazil, South Africa, and Republic of Turkey
» Meetings: United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board
» Investigations; Determinations, Modifications, and Rulings, etc.: Solid Fertilizer Grade Ammonium Nitrate from the Russian Federation
» Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Heavy Walled Rectangular Welded Carbon Steel Pipes and Tubes from Republic of Turkey
» Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to-Length Plate from People's Republic of China
» Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Pasta from Italy
» Determinations of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Truck and Bus Tires From People's Republic of China
» Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Investigations, Orders, or Reviews: Initiation of Five-Year (Sunset) Review