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 Department of Commerce International Trade Administration [C-570-169]
 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 alkyl phosphate esters (alkyl phosphate esters) from the People's Republic of China (China). The period of investigation is January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
 DATES: Applicable October 4, 2024.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Benjamin Nathan or Gregory Taushani, 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) 482-3834 or (202) 482-1012, 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 May 13, 2024.[1]
                    
                     On July 5, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation until September 20, 2024.[2]
                    
                     On July 22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in this proceeding by seven days.[3]
                    
                     The deadline for the preliminary determination is now September 27, 2024. For a complete description of the 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 alkyl phosphate esters from China. 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]
                    
                     in the 
                    *Initiation Notice*
                     Commerce set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (
                    *i.e.,*
                     scope).[6]
                    
                     Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations as it appeared in the 
                    *Initiation Notice.*
                     Commerce intends to issue its preliminary decision regarding comments concerning the scope of the AD and CVD investigation on or before the preliminary determination of the companion AD investigation. 
 
 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.[7]
                    
                     For a full description of the methodology underlying our preliminary determination, 
                    *see*
                     the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Commerce notes that, in making these findings, it relied, in part, on facts available, and, because it finds that one or more respondents did not act to the best of their ability to respond to Commerce's requests for information, it drew an adverse inference where appropriate in selecting from among the facts otherwise available.[8]
                    
                     For further information, 
                    *see*
                     the “Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences” section in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. Alignment 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 concurrent less than fair value (LTFV) investigation of alkyl phosphate esters from China based on a request made by ICL-IP America, Inc., the petitioner.[9]
                    
                     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 February 9, 2025, unless postponed. 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 zero and 
                    *de minimis*
                     rates and any rates based entirely under section 776 of the Act. In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily calculated individual estimated countervailable subsidy rates for Anhui RunYue Technology Co., Ltd. (Anhui) and Zhejiang Wansheng Co., Ltd. (Zhejiang Wansheng) 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.[10] Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates exist: Company
Subsidy rate
                             
                                (percent 
                                *ad valorem*)Anhui RunYue Technology Co., Ltd.11
96.83Zhejiang Wansheng Co., Ltd.12
35.47Zhejiang Wanda Tools Group Corp
* 564.13All Others
50.15* Rate is based on facts available with adverse inferences.
 Disclosure 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. 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. 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 no later than five days after the 
                    ( print page 80872)
                    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 public 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 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 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 a date, time, and location to be determined. Parties should confirm by telephone the date, time, and location of the hearing two days before the scheduled date. All submissions, including case and rebuttal briefs, as well as hearing requests, should be filed using ACCESS. An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the established deadline. 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 alkyl phosphate esters from China are materially injuring, or threaten material injury, to the U.S. industry. Notification to Interested Parties This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 703(f) and 777(i) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: September 27, 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 products covered by this investigation are alkyl phosphate esters, which are halogenated and non-halogenated phosphorus-based esters with a phosphorus content of at least 6.5 percent (per weight) and a viscosity between 1 and 2000 mPa.s (at 20-25 °C). Merchandise subject to this investigation primarily includes Tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP), Tris (1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCP), and Triethyl Phosphate (TEP)). TCPP is also known as Tris (1-chloro-2- propyl) phosphate, Tris (1-chloropropan-2-yl) phosphate, Tris (monochloroisopropyl) phosphate (TMCP), and Tris (2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIP). TCPP has the chemical formula C9
                        H18
                        Cl3
                        O4
                        P and the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Nos. 1244733-77-4 and 13674-84-5. It may also be identified as CAS No. 6145-73-9. TDCP is also known as Tris (1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate, Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, Chlorinated tris, tris {2- chloro-1-(chloromethyl ethyl)} phosphate, TDCPP, and TDCIPP. TDCP has the chemical formula C9
                        H15
                        Cl6
                        O4
                        P and the CAS No. 13674-87-8. TEP is also known as Phosphoric acid triethyl ester, phosphoric ester, flame retardant TEP, Tris(ethyl) phosphate, Triethoxyphosphine oxide, and Ethyl phosphate (neutral). TEP has the chemical formula (C2
                        H5
                        O)3
                        PO and the CAS No. 78-40-0. Imported alkyl phosphate esters are not excluded from the scope of this investigation even if the imported alkyl phosphate ester consists of a single isomer or combination of isomers in proportions different from the isomers ordinarily provided in the market. Also included in this investigation are blends including one or more alkyl phosphate esters, with or without other substances, where the alkyl phosphate esters account for 20 percent or more of the blend by weight. Alkyl phosphate esters are classified under subheading 2919.90.5050, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Imports may also be classified under subheadings 2919.90.5010 and 3824.99.5000, HTSUS. The HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry numbers 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. New Subsidy Allegations IV. Post-Preliminary Decision Memorandum V. Alignment VI. Injury Test VII. Analysis of China's Financial System VIII. Diversification of China's Economy IX. Use of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences X. Subsidies Valuation XI. Benchmarks and Interest Rates XII. Analysis of Programs XIII. Recommendation


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         
                        *See Certain Alkyl Phosphate Esters from the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation,*89 FR 43821 (May 20, 2024) (
                        *Initiation Notice*). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         
                        *See Alkyl Phosphate Esters from the People's Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation,*89 FR 55585 (July 5, 2024). Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Tolling of Deadlines,” dated July 22, 2024. Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination of the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Alkyl Phosphate Esters 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*
                         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
 8.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. Back to Citation
 9.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Petitioners' Letter, “Request for Alignment of the Countervailing Duty Investigation with the Concurrent Antidumping Duty Investigation,” dated September 13, 2024. Back to Citation
 10.
    
                         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. sales values 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. As complete publicly ranged sales data were available, Commerce based the all-others rate on the publicly ranged sales data of the mandatory respondents. For a complete analysis of the data, 
                        *see*
                         Memorandum, “Calculation of Subsidy Rate for All Others,” dated concurrently with this notice. Back to Citation
 11.
    
                         As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce preliminarily finds Anhui to be cross owned with the following company: Yixing RunYue Enterprise Management Co., Ltd. 12.
    
                         As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce preliminarily finds Zhejiang Wansheng to be cross-owned with two companies. Because all information pertaining to these cross-owned companies is business proprietary information, the calculated subsidy rate is only applicable to Zhejiang Wansheng. Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination within five days of its public announcement, or if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). 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*
                         19 351.309(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.* Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2024-22940 Filed 10-3-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P