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 Department of Commerce International Trade Administration [C-570-173]
 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 vanillin 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 November 18, 2024.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Pedersen, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2769.


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 July 1, 2024.[1]
                    
                     On July 22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in this administrative proceeding by seven days.[2]
                    
                     On August 13, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation until 
                    ( print page 90672)
                    November 12, 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 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 product covered by this investigation is vanillin 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]
                    
                     the 
                    *Initiation Notice*
                     set aside a period of time 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.* 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] 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 companion antidumping duty (AD) investigation of vanillin from China based on a request made by Solvay USA LLC (the petitioner).[9]
                    
                     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 March 24, 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 rates that are zero, 
                    *de minimis,*
                     or based entirely under section 776 of the Act. In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily calculated an individual estimated countervailable subsidy rate for Jiaxing Guihua Chemical Import and Export Co., Ltd. (Guihua), the only individually examined exporter/producer in this investigation. Because the only individually calculated rate is not zero, 
                    *de minimis,*
                     or based entirely on facts otherwise available, the estimated weighted-average rate calculated for Guihua is the rate preliminarily assigned to all other producers and exporters, pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(i) of the Act. Preliminary Determination Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated countervailable subsidy rates exist: Company
Subsidy rate
                             
                                (percent 
                                *ad valorem*)Jiaxing Guihua Chemical Import and Export Co., Ltd.10
27.33All Others
27.33
 Disclosure 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 publication of this notice in the 
                    **Federal Register**
                    , 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. 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 section 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 
                    ( print page 90673)
                    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 briefs 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 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).[14] Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, which is limited to covering 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 in the 
                    **Federal Register.**
                     Hearing requests should contain 1) the requestor'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. 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.[15]
                    
                     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 (ITC) Notification In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the 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 vanillin 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) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.205(c). Dated: November 12, 2024. Abdelali Elouaradia, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
 Appendix I Scope of the Investigation The merchandise covered by the investigation is vanillin, with the molecular formula C8
                        H8
                        O3
                         or C9
                        H10
                        O3. For purposes of this investigation, vanillin consists of natural vanillin, synthetic vanillin, bio-sourced synthetic vanillin (biovanillin) (each also known as 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde), and ethylvanillin (also known as 3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde). Vanillin covered by this investigation is a chemical compound with the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number 121-33-5 or 121-32-4. Vanillin is covered by the investigation regardless of whether it is in a crystalline powder or crystal form. Vanillin is covered by the scope of the investigation, irrespective of purity, particle size, or physical form. Merchandise subject to the investigation is specified within the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 2912.41.0000 and 2912.42.0000. The HTSUS subheadings and CAS registry numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of the merchandise covered by the investigation is dispositive. Appendix II List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum I. Summary II. Background III. Scope of the Investigation IV. Scope Comments 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 XII. Analysis of Programs XIII. Recommendation


# Footnotes

1.
    
                         
                        *See Vanillin from the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation,*89 FR 54421 (July 1, 2024) (
                        *Initiation Notice*). Back to Citation
 2.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,” dated July 22, 2024. Back to Citation
 3.
    
                         
                        *See Vanillin from the People's Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation,*89 FR 65845 (August 13, 2024). Back to Citation
 4.
    
                         
                        *See*
                         Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation of Vanillin 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,*
                         89 FR at 54421-22. 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*
                         Petitioner's Letter, “Request to Align Final Countervailing Duty Determination with the Companion Antidumping Duty Final Determination,” dated October 17, 2024. Back to Citation
 10.
    
                         As discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum, Commerce preliminarily finds Guihua to be cross owned with the following companies: Jiaxing Zhongua Chemical Co. Ltd., Zhejiang Zonghua Flavor Co., Ltd., and Jiaxing Zhonghua Thermal Power Development Co., Ltd. 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 CFR 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 APO and Service Final Rule.* Back to Citation
 15.
    
                         
                        *See*19 CFR 351.310(d). Back to Citation


[FR Doc. 2024-26770 Filed 11-15-24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P