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 Department of Commerce International Trade Administration [C-552-824]
 AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
 SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of laminated woven sacks (LWS) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam). The period of investigation is January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2017. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
 DATES: Applicable August 13, 2018.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Martin or Ariela Garvett, AD/
                        ( print page 39984)
                        CVD Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202-482-3936 or 202-482-3609, respectively.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Background This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on April 3, 2018.[1]
                    
                     On May 17, 2018, Commerce published its postponement of the deadline for the preliminary determination of the investigation for the full 130 days permitted under section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(2) until August 6, 2018.[2] For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, 
                    *see*
                     the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.[3]
                    
                     A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping (AD) and Countervailing Duty (CVD) Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at 
                    *http://access.trade.gov,*
                     and is available to all parties in the Central Records Unit, Room B8024 of the main Department of Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at 
                    *http://enforcement.trade.gov/​frn/​.*
                     The signed and electronic versions of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum are identical in content. Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are laminated woven sacks from Vietnam. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, 
                    *see*
                     Appendix I. Scope Comments In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations, we set aside a period of time in our 
                    *Initiation Notice*
                     for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage and encouraged all parties to submit comments within 20 calendar days of the signature date of that notice. We received several comments concerning the scope of the AD and CVD investigations of LWS from Vietnam. We are currently evaluating the scope comments filed by interested parties. We intend to issue our preliminary decision regarding the scope of the AD and CVD investigations in the preliminary determination of the companion AD investigation, which is due for signature on October 3, 2018. We will incorporate the scope decisions from the AD investigation into the scope of the final CVD determination after considering any relevant comments submitted in case and rebuttal briefs. Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, we preliminarily determine that there is a subsidy, 
                    *i.e.,*
                     a financial contribution by an “authority” that confers a benefit on the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.[4]
                    
                     For a full description of the methodology underlying our preliminary conclusions, 
                    *see*
                     the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Alignment As noted in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, in accordance with section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce is aligning the final CVD determination in this investigation with the final determination in the companion AD investigation of LWS from Vietnam, based on a request made by Laminated Woven Sacks Fair Trade Coalition (the Coalition) and its individual members Polytex Fibers Corporation and ProAmpac Holdings Inc., (the petitioners).[5]
                    
                     Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same date as the final AD determination, which is currently scheduled to be issued no later than December 17, 2018.[6] All-Others Rate and Preliminary Determination With respect to the all-others rate, section 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provides that if the countervailable subsidy rates established for all exporters and producers individually investigated are determined entirely in accordance with section 776 of the Act, Commerce may use any reasonable method to establish an all-others rate for exporters and producers not individually investigated. In this investigation, Commerce calculated individual estimated countervailable subsidy rates for Duong Vinh Hoa Packaging Company Ltd (DVH) and Xinsheng Plastic Industry Co Ltd (Xinsheng) that are not zero, 
                    *de minimis,*
                     or based entirely on facts otherwise available. Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted average of the individual estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged values for the merchandise under consideration.[7] Commerce summarizes its preliminary countervailable subsidy rates in the table below: Producer/exporter
Subsidy rate
                             (percent)Duong Vinh Hoa Packaging Company Limited
3.24Xinsheng Plastic Industry Co., Ltd.
6.15All-Others
5.19
 Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and 
                    ( print page 39985)
                    Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of all entries of LWS from Vietnam as described in the scope of the investigation entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    . Further, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the rates indicated above. Public Comment Interested parties may submit case and rebuttal briefs, as well as request a hearing. 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 case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for case briefs.[8]
                    
                     Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this investigation are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) A statement of the issue; (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. 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, 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 the U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230, 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. International Trade Commission Notification In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the International Trade Commission (ITC) of its determination. If Commerce's final determination is affirmative, the ITC will make its final determination before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after Commerce's final determination. Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Orders In the event that the ITC issues a final negative injury determination, this notice will serve as the only reminder to parties subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/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. This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: August 6, 2018. James Maeder, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations performing the duties of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.
 Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by this investigation is laminated woven sacks. Laminated woven sacks are bags consisting of one or more plies of fabric consisting of woven polypropylene strip and/or woven polyethylene strip, regardless of the width of the strip; with or without an extrusion coating of polypropylene and/or polyethylene on one or both sides of the fabric; laminated by any method either to an exterior ply of plastic film such as biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyester (PET), polyethylene (PE), nylon, or any film suitable for printing, or to an exterior ply of paper; printed; displaying, containing, or comprising three or more visible colors (
                        *e.g.,*
                         laminated woven sacks printed with three different shades of blue would be covered by the scope), not including the color of the woven fabric; regardless of the type of printing process used; with or without lining; with or without handles; with or without special closing features (including, but not limited to, closures that are sewn, glued, easy-open (
                        *e.g.,*
                         tape or thread), re-closable (
                        *e.g.,*
                         slider, hook and loop, zipper), hot-welded, adhesive-welded, or press-to-close); whether finished or unfinished (
                        *e.g.,*
                         whether or not closed on one end and whether or not in roll form, including, but not limited to, sheets, lay-flat, or formed in tubes); not exceeding one kilogram in actual weight. Laminated woven sacks produced in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam are subject to the scope regardless of the country of origin of the fabric used to make the sack. Subject laminated woven sacks are currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 6305.33.0040. If entered with plastic coating on both sides of the fabric consisting of woven polypropylene strip and/or woven polyethylene strip, laminated woven sacks may be classifiable under HTSUS subheadings 3923.21.0080, 3923.21.0095, and 3923.29.0000. If entered not closed on one end or in roll form (including, but not limited to, sheets, lay-flat tubing, and sleeves), laminated woven sacks may be classifiable under other HTSUS subheadings, including 3917.39.0050, 3921.90.1100, 3921.90.1500, and 5903.90.2500. If the polypropylene strips and/or polyethylene strips making up the fabric measure more than 5 millimeters in width, laminated woven sacks may be classifiable under other HTSUS subheadings including 4601.99.0500, 4601.99.9000, and 4602.90.0000. Although HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Scope Comments IV. Scope of the Investigation V. Alignment VI. Injury Test VII. Application of the CVD Law to Imports from Vietnam VIII. Subsidies Valuation IX. Analysis of Programs X. Calculation of the All-Others Rate XI. ITC Notification XII. Recommendation


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         
                        *See Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation,*83 FR 14253 (April 3, 2018) 
                        *(Initiation Notice).* Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         
                        *See Countervailing Duty Investigation of Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of Preliminary Determination,*83 FR 22953 (May 17, 2018). Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination: Countervailing Duty Investigation of Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (
                        *Preliminary Decision Memorandum*). Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity. Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Letter from the petitioners, “Investigation of Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Petitioners' Alignment Request,” dated July 13, 2018. Back to Citation
 6.
    
                         
                        *See Laminated Woven Sacks from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation,*83 FR 36876 (July 31, 2018). Back to Citation
 7.
    
                         With two respondents under examination, Commerce normally calculates (A) a weighted-average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents; and (C) a weighted-average of the estimated subsidy rates calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged U.S. sale quantities for the merchandise under consideration. Commerce then compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all other producers and exporters. 
                        *See, e.g., Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, Final Results of Changed-Circumstances Review, and Revocation of an Order in Part,*75 FR 53661, 53663 (September 1, 2010). As complete publicly ranged sales data was available, Commerce based the all-others rate on the publicly ranged sales data of the mandatory respondents. For a complete analysis of the data, please see the All-Others' Rate Calculation Memorandum. Back to Citation
 8.
    
                         
                        *See*19 CFR 351.309; 
                        *see also*19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2018-17287 Filed 8-10-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P