Sulfanilic Acid From India; Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review of Countervailing Duty Order

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Federal RegisterJun 8, 2011
76 Fed. Reg. 33243 (Jun. 8, 2011)

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY:

On April 1, 2011, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) initiated the third sunset review of the countervailing duty (“CVD”) order on sulfanilic acid from India pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”). On the basis of a notice of intent to participate and an adequate substantive response filed on behalf of a domestic interested party and an inadequate response (in this case, no response) from respondent interested parties, the Department conducted an expedited sunset review of this CVD order pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(B). As a result of this review, the Department finds that revocation of the CVD order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the level indicated the “Final Results of Review” section of this notice.

DATES:

Effective Date: June 8, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Eric Greynolds, AD/CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6071.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Background

On April 1, 2011, the Department initiated the third sunset review of the CVD order on sulfanilic acid from India pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act. See Initiation of Five-Year (“Sunset”) Review, 76 FR 18163 (April 1, 2011). The Department received a notice of intent to participate on behalf of National Ford Chemical Company (“NFC”), within the deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i). NFC claimed interested party status under section 771(9)(C) of the Act, as a domestic producer of sulfanilic acid.

The Department received an adequate substantive response from NFC within the 30-day deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3)(i). However, the Department did not receive a substantive response from the Government of India or any respondent interested party to this proceeding. As a result, pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), the Department conducted an expedited review of the order.

Scope of the Order

The merchandise covered by the CVD order are all grades of sulfanilic acid, which include technical (or crude) sulfanilic acid, refined (or purified) sulfanilic acid and sodium salt of sulfanilic acid (sodium sulfanilate).

Sulfanilic acid is a synthetic organic chemical produced from the direct sulfonation of aniline with sulfuric acid. Sulfanilic acid is used as a raw material in the production of optical brighteners, food colors, specialty dyes, and concrete additives. The principal differences between the grades are the undesirable quantities of residual aniline and alkali insoluble materials present in the sulfanilic acid. All grades are available as dry free flowing powders.

Technical sulfanilic acid contains 96 percent minimum sulfanilic acid, 1.0 percent maximum aniline, and 1.0 percent maximum alkali insoluble materials. Refined sulfanilic acid contains 98 percent minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline, and 0.25 percent maximum alkali insoluble materials. Sodium salt of sulfanilic acid (sodium sulfanilate) is a granular or crystalline material containing 75 percent minimum sulfanilic acid, 0.5 percent maximum aniline, and 0.25 percent maximum alkali insoluble materials based on the equivalent sulfanilic acid content.

In response to a request from 3V Corporation, on May 5, 1999, the Department determined that sodium sulfanilate processed in Italy from sulfanilic acid produced in India is within the scope of the order. See Notice of Scope Rulings and Anticircumvention Inquiries, 65 FR 41957 (July 7, 2000).

The merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) subheadings 2921.42.22 and 2921.42.90. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, our written description of the scope of the order is dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received

All issues raised in this review are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum (“Decision Memorandum”) from Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, to Ronald K. Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, dated concurrently with this notice, which is hereby adopted by this notice. The issues discussed in the accompanying Decision Memorandum include the likelihood of continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy if the order was revoked, the net countervailable subsidy likely to prevail, and the nature of the subsidy. Parties can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this review and the corresponding recommendation in this public memorandum which is on file in the Central Records Unit room 7046 of the main Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn. The paper copy and electronic version of the Decision Memorandum are identical in content.

Final Results of Review

The Department determines that revocation of the countervailing duty order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the rate listed below:

Producers/exporters Net countervailable subsidy (percent)
All Manufacturers/Producers/Exporters 43.71

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order

This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (“APO”) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

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

Dated: May 31, 2011.

Ronald K. Lorentzen,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 2011-14187 Filed 6-7-11; 8:45 am]

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