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 Department of Commerce International Trade Administration [C-570-167]
 AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
 SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain epoxy resins (epoxy resins) from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period of investigation (POI) January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
 DATES: Applicable September 13, 2024.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nathan James, AD/CVD Operations, Office V, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5305.


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 countervailing duty (CVD) investigation on April 29, 2024.[1]
                    
                     On May 28, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination until September 3, 2024.[2]
                    
                     On July 22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in this administrative proceeding by seven days.[3]
                    
                     The deadline for the preliminary determination is now September 9, 2024. For a complete description of events that followed the initiation of this investigation, 
                    *see*
                     the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.[4]
                    
                     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 and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at 
                    *https://access.trade.gov.*
                     In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at 
                    *https://access.trade.gov/​public/​FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.* Scope of the Investigation The products covered by this investigation are epoxy resins. 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 
                    ( print page 74892)
                    coverage (
                    *i.e.,*
                     scope).[6]
                    
                     We received several comments concerning the scope of this investigation, as well as in the companion less-than-fair value (LTFV) and CVD investigations of epoxy resins, as it appeared in the 
                    *Initiation Notice.*
                     We are currently evaluating the scope comments filed by the interested parties. We intend to issue our preliminary decision regarding the scope of the LTFV and CVD investigations in the preliminary determinations of the companion LTFV investigations, the deadline for which is November 6, 2024.[7]
                    
                     We will incorporate the scope decisions from the LTFV investigations into the scope of the final CVD determination for this investigation after considering any relevant comments submitted in scope case and rebuttal briefs.[8] Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, Commerce preliminarily determines that there is a subsidy, 
                    *i.e.,*
                     a financial contribution by an “authority” that gives rise to a benefit to the recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.[9]
                    
                     Commerce notes that, in making these findings, it relied on facts available and, because it finds that the Government of China and both mandatory respondents did not act to the best of their abilities to respond to Commerce's requests for information, Commerce has drawn an adverse inference where appropriate in selecting from among the facts otherwise available. For a full description of the methodology underlying our preliminary conclusions, 
                    *see*
                     the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances In accordance with section 703(e)(1) of the Act, we preliminarily find that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of subject merchandise for Jiangsu Sanmu Group Co., Ltd. (Sanmu), Shandong Bluestar Dongda Chemical (Bluestar), and all other producers and/or exporters. For a full discussion of our preliminary critical circumstances determination, 
                    *see*
                     the “Critical Circumstances” section of 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 with the final determination in the companion LTFV investigation of epoxy resins from China based on a request made by the petitioner.[10]
                    
                     Consequently, the final CVD determination will be issued on the same date as the final LTFV determination, which is currently scheduled to be issued no later than January 21, 2025, unless postponed.[11] All-Others Rate Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that, in the preliminary determination, Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others rate for companies not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates established for those companies individually examined, excluding any rates that are zero, 
                    *de minimis,*
                     or based entirely under section 776 of the Act. Pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act, if the individual estimated countervailable subsidy rates established for all exporters and producers individually examined are zero, 
                    *de minimis,*
                     or determined based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use “any reasonable method” to establish the estimated subsidy rate for all other producers or exporters. In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily determined the individually estimated subsidy rate for each of the individually examined respondents based entirely on facts available under section 776 of the Act. This is the only rate available in this proceeding for deriving the all-others rate. Consequently, pursuant to sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act, Commerce established the all-others rate by applying the countervailable subsidy rate assigned to the mandatory respondents. Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates exist: Company
Subsidy rate
                             
                                (percent 
                                *ad valorem*)Jiangsu Sanmu Group Co., Ltd
* 108.64Shandong Bluestar Dongda Chemical
* 108.64All Others
* 108.64* Rate based on an adverse inference.
 Suspension of Liquidation In accordance with section 703(d)(1)(B) and (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 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. Section 703(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given an affirmative determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of: (a) the date which is 90 days before the date on which the suspension of liquidation was first ordered; or (b) the date on which notice of initiation of the investigation was published. Commerce preliminarily finds that critical circumstances exist for imports of subject merchandise produced and/or exported by Bluestar, Sanmu, and all other producers and/or exporters. In accordance with section 703(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise from the exporters/producers identified in this paragraph that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the publication of this notice. Disclosure Normally, Commerce discloses its calculations performed in connection with the preliminary determination to interested parties within five days of its public announcement, or if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of the notice, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). However, because Commerce preliminarily applied facts available 
                    ( print page 74893)
                    with adverse inferences in the assignment of a subsidy rate for Bluestar and Sanmu, there are no calculations to disclose. Verification Because the examined respondents in this investigation did not provide information Commerce requested and Commerce preliminarily determines that each of the examined respondents has been uncooperative, it will not conduct verification. Public Comment All interested parties will have the opportunity to submit scope case and rebuttal briefs on the preliminary decision regarding the scope of the LTFV and CVD investigations. The deadlines to submit scope case and rebuttal briefs will be provided in the preliminary scope decision memorandum. For all scope case and rebuttal briefs, parties must file identical documents simultaneously on the records of the ongoing LTFV and CVD epoxy resins investigations. No new factual information or business proprietary information may be included in either scope case or rebuttal briefs. Case briefs or other written comments on non-scope issues may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance at a time to be determined.[12]
                    
                     Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be submitted no later than five days after the deadline date for filing case briefs.[13]
                    
                     Interested parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.[14] 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 brief 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.[15]
                    
                     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).[16] 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, via ACCESS 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 a list of the issues to be discussed. Oral presentations at the hearing will be limited to issues raised in the briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, parties will be notified of the time and date for the hearing.[17]
                    
                     Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. U.S. International Trade Commission Notification In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its 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 imports of epoxy resins from China are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry. Notification to Interested Parties This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 703(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: September 9, 2024. Abdelali Elouaradia, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
 Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The merchandise subject to this investigation is fully or partially uncured epoxy resins, also known as epoxide resins, polyepoxides, oxirane resins, ethoxyline resins, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol, (chloromethyl)oxirane, or aromatic diglycidyl, which are polymers or prepolymers containing epoxy groups (
                        *i.e.,*
                         three-membered ring structures comprised of two carbon atoms and one oxygen atom). Epoxy resins range in physical form from low viscosity liquids to solids. All epoxy resins are covered by the scope of this investigation irrespective of physical form, viscosity, grade, purity, molecular weight, or molecular structure, and packaging. Epoxy resins may contain modifiers or additives, such as hardeners, curatives, colorants, pigments, diluents, solvents, thickeners, fillers, plasticizers, softeners, flame retardants, toughening agents, catalysts, Bisphenol F, and ultraviolet light inhibitors, so long as the modifier or additive has not chemically reacted so as to cure the epoxy resin or convert it into a different product no longer containing epoxy groups. Such epoxy resins with modifiers or additives are included in the scope where the epoxy resin component comprises no less than 30 percent of the total weight of the product. The scope also includes blends of epoxy resins with different types of epoxy resins, with or without the inclusion of modifiers and additives, so long as the combined epoxy resin component comprises at least 30 percent of the total weight of the blend. Epoxy resins that enter as part of a system or kit with separately packaged co-reactants, such as hardeners or curing agents, are within the scope. The scope does not include any separately packaged co-reactants that would not fall within the scope if entered on their own. The scope includes merchandise matching the above description that has been processed in a third country, including by commingling, diluting, introducing, or removing modifiers or additives, or performing any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the investigation if performed in the subject country. The scope also includes epoxy resin that is commingled or blended with epoxy resin from sources not subject to this investigation. Only the subject component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of this investigation. Excluded from the scope are phenoxy resins, which are polymers with a weight greater than 11,000 Daltons, a Melt Flow Index (MFI) at 200 °C (392 °F) no less than 4 grams and no greater than 70 grams per 10 min, Glass-Transition Temperatures (Tg) no less than 80 °C (176 °F) and no greater than 100 °C (212 °F), and which contain no epoxy groups other than at the terminal ends of the molecule. Excluded from the scope are certain paint and coating products, which are blends, mixtures, or other formulations of epoxy resin, curing agent, and pigment, in any form, packaged in one or more containers, wherein (1) the pigment represents a minimum of 10 percent of the total weight of the product, (2) the epoxy resin represents a maximum of 80 percent of the total weight of the product, 
                        ( print page 74894)
                        and (3) the curing agent represents 5 to 40 percent of the total weight of the product. Excluded from the scope are preimpregnated fabrics or fibers, often referred to as “pre-pregs,” which are composite materials consisting of fabrics or fibers (typically carbon or glass) impregnated with epoxy resin. This merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 3907.30.0000. Subject merchandise may also be entered under subheadings 3907.29.0000, 3824.99.9397, 3214.10.0020, 2910.90.9100, 2910.90.9000, 2910.90.2000, and 1518.00.4000. The HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Injury Test IV. Analysis of China's Financial System V. Diversification of China's Economy VI. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences VII. Critical Circumstances VIII. Recommendation


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         
                        *See Certain Epoxy Resins from the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations,*89 FR 33319 (April 29, 2024) (
                        *Initiation Notice*). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         
                        *See Certain Epoxy Resins from the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Countervailing Duty Investigations,*89 FR 46061 (May 28, 2024). Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,” dated July 22, 2024. Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Certain Epoxy Resins from the People's Republic of China,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum). Back to Citation
 5.
    
                         
                        *See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties; Final Rule,*62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (
                        *Preamble*). Back to Citation
 6.
    
                         
                        *See Initiation Notice.* Back to Citation
 7.
    
                         
                        *See Certain Epoxy Resins from the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations,*89 FR 65583 (August 12, 2024) (
                        *LTFV Preliminary Postponement*). Back to Citation
 8.
    
                         The deadline for interested parties to submit scope case and rebuttal briefs will be established in the preliminary scope decision memorandum. Back to Citation
 9.
    
                         
                        *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
 10.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Petitioner's Letter, “Petitioner's Request to Align Countervailing Duty Investigation Final Determination with Antidumping Duty Investigation Final Determination,” dated August 15, 2024. The petitioner is the U.S. Epoxy Resin Producers Ad Hoc Coalition. Back to Citation
 11.
    
                         
                        *LTFV Preliminary Postponement.* Back to Citation
 12.
    
                         
                        *See*19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(i); 
                        *see also*19 CFR 351.303 (for general filing requirements). Back to Citation
 13.
    
                         
                        *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*). Back to Citation
 14.
    
                         
                        *See*19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2). Back to Citation
 15.
    
                         We use the term “issue” here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum. Back to Citation
 16.
    
                         
                        *See APO and Service Final Rule,*
                         88 FR at 67069. Back to Citation
 17.
    
                         
                        *See*19 CFR 351.310(d). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2024-20888 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P