[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 105 (Thursday, June 3, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29746-29748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11632]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-549-843]


Polyester Textured Yarn From Thailand: Preliminary Affirmative 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final 
Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines 
that polyester textured yarn from Thailand is being, or is likely to 
be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The 
period of investigation is October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020. 
Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary 
determination.

DATES: Applicable June 3, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Berger, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2483.

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 
initiated this LTFV investigation on November 17, 2020.\1\ On April 2, 
2021, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination in this 
investigation and the revised deadline is now May 26, 2021.\2\
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    \1\ See Polyester Textured Yarn from Indonesia, Malaysia, 
Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Less-
Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 85 FR 74680 (November 23, 2020) 
(Initiation Notice).
    \2\ See Polyester Textured Yarn from Indonesia, Malaysia, 
Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair Value 
Investigations, 86 FR 17362 (April 2, 2021).
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    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.\3\ 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 http://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/.
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    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary 
Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Polyester 
Textured Yarn from Thailand,'' dated concurrently with, and hereby 
adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation

    The product covered by this investigation is polyester textured 
yarn from Thailand. For a complete description of the scope of this 
investigation, see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    In accordance with the Preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the 
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise 
issues regarding product coverage (i.e., scope).\5\ Certain interested 
parties commented on the scope of this investigation as it appeared in 
the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments 
and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this investigation, 
and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely 
received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\6\ As 
discussed in the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum, Commerce is 
preliminarily not modifying the scope language as it appeared in the 
Initiation Notice. See the scope in Appendix I to this notice.
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    \4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
    \5\ See Initiation Notice, 85 FR at 74681.
    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Antidumping Duty Investigations of 
Polyester Textured Yarn from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and 
Vietnam: Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum,'' dated concurrently 
with this notice (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum).
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    The Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum establishes the deadline 
to submit scope case briefs.\7\ There will be no further opportunity 
for comments on scope-related issues.
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    \7\ Case briefs, other written comments, and rebuttal briefs 
submitted by in response to this preliminary LTFV determination 
should not include scope-related issues. See Preliminary Scope 
Decision Memorandum, and ``Public Comment'' section of this notice.
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Methodology

    Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with 
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in 
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Normal value is calculated 
in accordance with section 773 of the Act. In addition, pursuant to 
sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied 
upon facts otherwise available, with adverse inferences, for Jong Stit 
Co., Ltd. (Jong Stit). For a full description of the methodology 
underlying the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Sections 733(d)(1)(A)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that 
in the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated 
all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually 
examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of 
the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for 
exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero 
and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under 
section 776 of the Act.
    In this investigation, Commerce preliminarily assigned a rate based 
entirely on facts available to Jong Stit. Therefore, the only rate that 
is not zero, de minimis or based entirely on facts otherwise available 
is the rate calculated for Sunflag Thailand Ltd. (Sunflag). 
Consequently, the rate calculated for Sunflag is also assigned as the 
rate for all other producers and exporters in Thailand, pursuant to 
section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination

    Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated 
weighted-average dumping margins exist:

[[Page 29747]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Estimated
                                                               weighted-
                                                                average
                    Exporter or producer                        dumping
                                                                margin
                                                               (percent)
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Sunflag Thailand Ltd........................................       14.80
Jong Stit Co., Ltd..........................................       56.80
All Others..................................................       14.80
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Suspension of Liquidation

    In accordance with section 733(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 Appendix I, entered, 
or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal 
to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-
others rate, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents 
listed above will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-
average dumping margins determined in this preliminary determination; 
(2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the 
producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-
specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that 
producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for 
all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others 
estimated weighted-average dumping margin. These suspension of 
liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose to interested parties any calculations 
performed in connection with 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 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Verification

    As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to 
verify the information relied upon in making its final determination. 
Normally, Commerce verifies information using standard procedures, 
including an on-site examination of original accounting, financial, and 
sales documentation. However, due to current travel restrictions in 
response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Commerce is unable to conduct 
on-site verification in this investigation. Accordingly, we intend to 
verify the information relied upon in making the final determination 
through alternative means in lieu of an on-site verification.

Public Comment

    Case briefs or other written comments on non-scope issues may be 
submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. A 
timeline for the submission of case briefs and written comments on non-
scope issues will be notified to interested parties at a later date. 
Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in these case briefs, may be 
submitted no later than seven days after the deadline date for case 
briefs.\8\ The deadlines for submitting case and rebuttal briefs on 
scope issues are in the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.\9\ 
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. Note that 
Commerce has temporarily modified certain of its requirements for 
serving documents containing business proprietary information until 
further notice.\10\
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    \8\ See 19 CFR 351.309; see also 19 CFR 351.303 (for general 
filing requirements).
    \9\ See Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum.
    \10\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements 
Due to COVID-19, 85 FR 17006 (March 26, 2020); and Temporary Rule 
Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements Due to COVID-19; Extension of 
Effective Period, 85 FR 41363 (July 10, 2020) (collectively, 
Temporary Rule).
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    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, 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 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 of the hearing.

Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional 
Measures

    Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination 
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the 
publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register 
if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, a request 
for such postponement is made by exporters who account for a 
significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, or in the 
event of a negative preliminary determination, a request for such 
postponement is made by the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of 
Commerce's regulations requires that a request by exporters for 
postponement of the final determination be accompanied by a request for 
extension of provisional measures from a four-month period to a period 
not more than six months in duration.
    On April 28, 2021, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), Sunflag requested 
that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional 
measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months.\11\ In 
accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) The preliminary determination is 
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant 
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling 
reason for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final determination 
and extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a 
period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce will make its 
final determination no later than 135 days after the date of 
publication of this preliminary determination in the Federal Register.
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    \11\ See Sunflag's Letter, ``Polyester Textured Yarn from 
Thailand: Request to Postpone Final Determination and to Extend 
Provisional Measures,'' dated April 28, 2021.
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International Trade Commission Notification

    In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the 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 imports of polyester textured yarn from Thailand 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 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, 19 CFR 351.205(c) and 19 CFR 
351.210(g).


[[Page 29748]]


    Dated: May 26, 2021.
Christian Marsh,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I--Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation, polyester 
textured yarn, is synthetic multifilament yarn that is manufactured 
from polyester (polyethylene terephthalate). Polyester textured yarn 
is produced through a texturing process, which imparts special 
properties to the filaments of the yarn, including stretch, bulk, 
strength, moisture absorption, insulation, and the appearance of a 
natural fiber. This scope includes all forms of polyester textured 
yarn, regardless of surface texture or appearance, yarn density and 
thickness (as measured in denier), number of filaments, number of 
plies, finish (luster), cross section, color, dye method, texturing 
method, or packaging method (such as spindles, tubes, or beams).
    The merchandise subject to this investigation is properly 
classified under subheadings 5402.33.3000 and 5402.33.6000 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although 
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.

Appendix II--List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision 
Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Scope of Investigation
V. Scope Comments
VI. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inferences
VII. Discussion of the Methodology
VIII. Currency Conversion
IX. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2021-11632 Filed 6-2-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P