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 Department of Commerce International Trade Administration [A-518-001]
 AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.
 SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that melamine from Qatar is not being, or is not 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 September 24, 2024.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Hart, AD/CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1058.


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 in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                     on March 11, 2024.[1]
                    
                     On June 24, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline was September 11, 2024.[2]
                    
                     On July 22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in this proceeding by seven days until September 18, 2024.[3]
                    
                     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 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 product covered by this investigation is melamine from Qatar. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, 
                    *see*
                     Appendix I. Scope Comments In accordance with the 
                    *Preamble*
                     to Commerce's regulations,[5]
                    
                     we set aside a period of time, as stated in the 
                    *Initiation Notice,*
                     for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (
                    *i.e.,*
                     scope).[6]
                    
                     No interested party commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the 
                    *Initiation Notice.*
                     Commerce is not modifying the scope language as it appeared in the 
                    *Initiation Notice. See*
                     the complete description of the scope in Appendix I to this notice. Methodology Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Commerce calculated export prices in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, 
                    *see*
                     the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margin exists for the period, January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023: [7] 
 
 Exporter/producer
Weighted-
                             average 
                             dumping margin 
                             (percent)
Cash
                             deposit rate 
                             (adjusted for subsidy 
                             offset(s)) 
                             (percent)Qatar Melamine Company; Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat) Q.P.J.S.C.; Qatar Fertiliser Company (P.S.C.)
*0.80
Not Applicable.* 
                        *de minimis.*
 For this preliminary determination, Commerce calculated a 
                    *de minimis*
                     estimated weighted-average dumping margin for the only individually examined respondent, the single entity consisting of QMC, Muntajat, and QAFCO. Consistent with section 733(b)(3) of the Act, Commerce disregards 
                    *de minimis*
                     rates and preliminarily determines that the single entity with a 
                    *de minimis*
                     rate has not made sales of subject merchandise at LTFV. Consistent with section 733(d) of the Act, Commerce has not calculated an estimated weighted-average dumping margin for all other producers and exporters because it has not made an affirmative preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. Critical Circumstances Allegation On June 17, 2024, the petitioner alleged that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of melamine from Qatar.[8]
                    
                     Commerce issued a questionnaire to the respondents requesting information regarding their exports of melamine to the United States from October 2022 to February 2024 and establishing an ongoing requirement for the respondents to provide monthly data during the investigation.[9]
                    
                     On June 24, 2024 and August 15, 2024, the respondents provided a timely response.[10]
                    
                     Section 733(e)(1) of the Act provides that Commerce, upon receipt of a timely-filed allegation of critical circumstances, will determine whether there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that: (A)(i) there is a history of dumping and material injury by reason of dumped imports in the United States or elsewhere of the subject merchandise; or (ii) the person by whom, or for whose account, the merchandise was imported knew or should have known that the exporter was selling the subject merchandise at LTFV and that there was likely to be material injury by reason of such sales; and (B) there have been massive imports of the subject merchandise over a relatively short period. However, as stated above, because Commerce preliminarily calculated a 
                    *de minimis*
                     rate for the sole mandatory respondent, single entity consisting of QMC, Muntajat, and QAFCO, the entity has not made sales of subject merchandise at LTFV. Therefore, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.204(e), the respondent will not be subject to provisional measures under sections 703(d) or section 733(d) of the Act. Consequently, Commerce has not conducted a critical circumstances analysis for this preliminary determination. Suspension of Liquidation Because Commerce has made a negative preliminary determination of sales at LTFV with regard to subject merchandise, Commerce will not direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to suspend liquidation or to require a cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties for entries of melamine from Qatar. Disclosure Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed in connection with this preliminary determination to interested parties 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 the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    *,*
                     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 briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.[12] 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.[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 public 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 public executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the 
                    ( print page 77826)
                    service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).[14] Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, filed electronically via ACCESS. Requests should contain: (1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and (3) a list of the issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective case briefs. An electronically filed hearing request must be received successfully in its entirety via ACCESS by 5 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Final Determination Section 735(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1) provide that Commerce will issue the final determination within 75 days after the date of its preliminary determination. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final determination no later than 75 days after the signature date of this preliminary determination. 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 of melamine from Qatar are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry. Notification to Interested Parties This preliminary determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: September 18, 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 merchandise subject to this investigation is melamine (Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number 108-78-01, molecular formula C3
                         H6
                         N6). Melamine is also known as 2,4,6-triamino-s-triazine; 1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triamine; Cyanurotriamide; Cyanurotriamine; Cyanuramide; and by various brand names. Melamine is a crystalline powder or granule. All melamine is covered by the scope of this investigation irrespective of purity, particle size, or physical form. Melamine that has been blended with other products is included within this scope when such blends include constituent parts that have been intermingled, but that have not been chemically reacted with each other to produce a different product. For such blends, only the melamine component of the mixture is covered by the scope of this investigation. Melamine that is otherwise subject to this investigation is not excluded when commingled with melamine from sources not subject to this investigation. Only the subject component of such commingled products is covered by the scope of this investigation. The subject merchandise is provided for in subheading 2933.61.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading and CAS registry number 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. Period of Investigation IV. Affiliation and Single Entity Treatment V. Discussion of the Methodology VI. Particular Market Situation VII. Currency Conversion VIII. Recommendation


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         
                        *See Melamine from Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Qatar, and Trinidad and Tobago: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value investigations,*89 FR 17413 (March 11, 2024) (
                        *Initiation Notice*). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         
                        *See Melamine from Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Qatar, and Trinidad and Tobago: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations,*89 FR 52437 (June 24, 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 Negative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Melamine from Qatar,” 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). Back to Citation
 6.
    
                         
                        *See Initiation Notice,*
                         89 FR at 17413. Back to Citation
 7.
    
                         As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce preliminarily collapsed the following companies and treated them as a single entity: Qatar Melamine Company (QMC); Qatar Chemical and Petrochemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat) Q.P.J.S.C. (Muntajat); and Qatar Fertiliser Company P.S.C. (QAFCO). Back to Citation
 8.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Petitioner's Letter, “Petitioner's Allegation of Critical Circumstances,” dated June 17, 2024 (Critical Circumstances Allegation). Back to Citation
 9.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Commerce's Letter, “Request for Monthly Quantity and Value Shipment Data,” dated June 17, 2024. Back to Citation
 10.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         QMC's and Muntajat's Letter, “Response to Request for Monthly Quantity and Value Shipment Data,” dated June 24, 2024, and August 15, 2024. Back to Citation
 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*). Back to Citation
 12.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2). Back to Citation
 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. Back to Citation
 14.
    
                         
                        *See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings; Final Rule,*88 FR 67069 (September 29, 2023). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2024-21828 Filed 9-23-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P