89 FR 215 pgs. 88004-88007 - Ferrosilicon From Brazil: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
Type: NOTICEVolume: 89Number: 215Pages: 88004 - 88007
Pages: 88004, 88005, 88006, 88007Docket number: [A-351-860]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2024-25794 Filed 11-5-24; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: International Trade Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-351-860]
Ferrosilicon From Brazil: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
AGENCY:
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that ferrosilicon from Brazil is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
DATES:
Applicable November 6, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jaron Moore or Noah Wetzel, AD/CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3640 or (202) 482-7466, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on April 24, 2024. 1 On July 23, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in this investigation by seven days. 2 On August 16, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation until October 31, 2024. 3
Footnotes:
1 ? See Ferrosilicon from Brazil, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and the Russian Federation: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 89 FR 31137 (April 24, 2024) ( Initiation Notice ).
2 ? See Memorandum, "Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings," dated July 23, 2024.
3 ? See Ferrosilicon from Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Malaysia: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 89 FR 66678 (August 16, 2024).
[top] For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 4 A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision
Footnotes:
4 ? See Memorandum, "Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Ferrosilicon from Brazil," dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
Scope of the Investigation
The product covered by this investigation is ferrosilicon from Brazil. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations, 5 the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage ( i.e., scope). 6 As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce is correcting a minor clerical error in the language of the scope. 7 See the revised scope in appendix I to this notice.
Footnotes:
5 ? See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
6 ? See Initiation Notice, 89 FR 31137.
7 ? See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. Pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied upon facts otherwise available, with adverse inferences, for Ligas de Aluminio S.A. (LIASA). For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
All-Others Rate
Sections 733(d)(1)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that, in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act.
In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily calculated a de minimis rate for Minasligas S.A. (Minasligas) and calculated a rate based entirely under section 776 of the Act for LIASA. Therefore, the only rate that is not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available is the rate calculated for Companhia de Ferro Ligas da Bahia S.A. (Ferbasa). Consequently, the preliminary rate calculated for Ferbasa is also the preliminary rate assigned to all other producers and exporters.
Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margins exist:
| Exporter/producer | Estimated weighted-average dumping margin (percent) | Cash deposit rate (adjusted for subsidy offset(s)) (percent) |
|---|---|---|
| Minasligas S.A | *?1.18 | 8 ?1.06 |
| Companhia de Ferro Ligas da Bahia S.A | 13.13 | 9 ?13.03 |
| Ligas de Aluminio S.A | **?21.78 | 10 ?0.00 |
| All Others | 13.13 | 13.03 |
| *? de minimis. | ||
| **?Rate based on facts available with adverse inferences. | ||
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise, as described in appendix I, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register . Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: (1) the cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above (except for Minasligas) will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margins determined in this preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin.
Footnotes:
8 ? See Memorandum, "Preliminary Determination Margin Calculation for Minasligas S.A.," dated October 31, 2024.
9 ? See Memorandum, "Preliminary Results Margin Calculation for Ferbasa," dated October 31, 2024.
10 ? See Memorandum, "Preliminary Calculation of Export Subsidy Offset for LIASA," dated October 31, 2024.
Because the estimated weighted-average dumping margin for Minasligas is de minimis, entries of shipments of subject merchandise from Minasligas will not be subject to suspension of liquidation or cash deposit requirements during the provisional measures period. In such situations, Commerce applies the exclusion to the provisional measures to the producer/exporter combination that was examined in the investigation. Accordingly, Commerce is directing CBP not to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise produced and exported by Minasligas. Entries of shipments of subject merchandise from these companies in any other producer/exporter combination, or by third parties that sourced subject merchandise from the excluded producer/exporter combination, are subject to the provisional measures at the all-others rate.
[top] Should the final estimated weighted-average dumping margin be zero or de minimis for the Minasligas, entries of shipments of subject merchandise from Minasligas will be excluded from the potential antidumping duty (AD) order. Such exclusion is not applicable to merchandise exported to the United States by this respondent in any other producer/exporter combinations or by third parties that sourced subject merchandise from the excluded producer/exporter combination.
Commerce normally adjusts cash deposits for estimated antidumping duties by the amount of export subsidies countervailed in a companion countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding, when CVD provisional measures are in effect. Accordingly, where Commerce preliminarily made an affirmative determination for countervailable export subsidies, Commerce has offset the estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the appropriate CVD rate. Any such adjusted cash deposit rate may be found in the "Preliminary Determination" section above.
Should provisional measures in the companion CVD investigation expire prior to the expiration of provisional measures in this LTFV investigation, Commerce will direct CBP to begin collecting estimated AD cash deposits unadjusted for countervailed export subsidies at the time that the provisional CVD measures expire.
These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(e), Commerce will analyze and, if appropriate, correct any timely allegations of significant ministerial errors by amending the preliminary determination. However, consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(d), Commerce will not consider incomplete allegations that do not address the significance standard under 19 CFR 351.224(g) following the preliminary determination. Instead, Commerce will address such allegations in the final determination together with issues raised in the case briefs or other written comments.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to verify the information relied upon in making its final determination.
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for filing case briefs. 11 Interested parties who submit case or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities. 12
Footnotes:
11 ? See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023) ( APO and Service Final Rule ).
12 ? See 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior proceedings we have encouraged interested parties to provide an executive summary of their briefs that should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes. In this investigation, we instead request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs. 13 Further, we request that interested parties limit their executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final determination in this investigation. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). 14
Footnotes:
13 ?We use the term "issue" here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
14 ? See APO and Service Final Rule.
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain the party's name, address, and telephone number, the number of participants and whether any participant is a foreign national, and a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date.
Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures
Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations requires that a request by exporters for postponement of the final determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months in duration.
On October 16 and 23, 2024, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), Minasligas, Ferbasa, and the petitioner requested that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months, respectively. 15 In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) the preliminary determination is affirmative; (2) the requesting exporters account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of this preliminary determination.
Footnotes:
15 ? See Minasligas' Letter, "Request for Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures," dated October 16, 2024; see also Ferbasa's Letter, "Request for Extension of Final Determination," dated October 23, 2024; and Petitioner's Letter, "Petitioner's Request to Postpone the Final Antidumping Duty Determinations," dated October 23, 2024.
U.S. International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary determination. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.
Notification to Interested Parties
[top] This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections
Dated: October 31, 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.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The scope of this investigation covers all forms and sizes of ferrosilicon, regardless of grade, including ferrosilicon briquettes. Ferrosilicon is a ferroalloy containing by weight four percent or more iron, more than eight percent but not more than 96 percent silicon, three percent or less phosphorus, 30 percent or less manganese, less than three percent magnesium, and 10 percent or less of any other element. The merchandise covered also includes product described as slag, if the product meets these specifications.
Subject merchandise includes material matching the above description that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed in a third country, including by performing any grinding or any other finishing, packaging, or processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the country of manufacture of the ferrosilicon.
Ferrosilicon is currently classifiable under subheadings 7202.21.1000, 7202.21.5000, 7202.21.7500, 7202.21.9000, 7202.29.0010, and 7202.29.0050 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). While the HTSUS numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope remains dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inferences
V. Discussion of the Methodology
VI. Currency Conversion
VII. Adjustments to Cash Deposit Rates for Export Subsidies in the Companion Countervailing Duty Investigation
VIII. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2024-25794 Filed 11-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P