[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64268-64276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-26283]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-913]


New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires From the People's Republic of 
China: Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) is conducting an 
administrative review of Hebei Starbright Tire Co., Ltd. (Starbright) 
under the countervailing duty order on certain new pneumatic off-the-
road tires (OTR Tires) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) for 
the period December 17, 2007, through December 31, 2008. We 
preliminarily determine that subsidies are being provided to Starbright 
for the production and export of certain new pneumatic off-the-road 
tires from the PRC. See ``Preliminary Results of Administrative 
Review'' section, below. If the final results remain the same as the 
preliminary results of this review, we will instruct U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection (CBP) to assess countervailing duties at the rate 
indicated below. Interested parties are invited to comment on the 
preliminary results of this administrative review. See ``Disclosure and 
Public Comments'' section below.

DATES: Effective Date: October 19, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Huston or Jun Jack Zhao, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office 6, Import Administration, International Trade

[[Page 64269]]

Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
4261 and (202) 482-1396, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 4, 2008, the Department published in the Federal 
Register the countervailing duty (CVD) order on OTR tires from the 
People's Republic of China. See Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road 
Tires from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 
73 FR 51627 (September 4, 2008). On September 1, 2009, the Department 
published a notice of opportunity to request an administrative review 
of the countervailing duty order on OTR Tires from the PRC. See 
Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended 
Investigation; Opportunity To Request Administrative Review, 74 FR 
45179 (September 1, 2009).
    On September 8, 2009, GPX International Tire Corporation (GPX) 
requested on a timely basis an administrative review of the 
countervailing duty order on OTR Tires from the PRC for the period 
December 17, 2007 through December 31, 2008 for the following 
companies: Aeolus Tyre Co., Ltd., Guizhou Tire Co., Ltd., Hanghzou 
Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd. (Zhongce), Starbright, Jiangsu Feichi Co., 
Ltd., Shandong Huitong Tyre Co., Ltd., Tianjin United Tire & Rubber 
International Co., Ltd. (TUTRIC), Tianjin Wanda Tyre Group, and 
Triangle Tyre Co., Ltd. On September 20, 2009, the Department received 
timely requests from Zhongce and TUTRIC for reviews of themselves and 
on September 28, 2009, Starbright requested a review of itself.
    In accordance with section 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended, (the Act) and 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), the Department 
published a notice initiating an administrative review of the 
countervailing duty order. See Initiation of Antidumping and 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Requests for Revocation 
in Part, 74 FR 54956 (October 26, 2009).
    On December 30, 2009, the Department rescinded the review with 
respect to the following six companies, pursuant to a timely withdrawal 
by GPX of its request for reviews of these companies: Aeolus Tyre Co. 
Ltd., Guizhou Tire Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Feichi Co., Ltd., Shandong Huitong 
Tyre Co., Ltd., Tianjin Wanda Tyre Co., Ltd., and Triangle Tyre Co., 
Ltd. See Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires From the People's 
Republic of China: Partial Rescission of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review, 75 FR 846 (December 30, 2009). On May 6, 2010, 
the Department rescinded the review of Zhongce and TUTRIC, pursuant to 
the timely withdrawal by GPX of its request for reviews of Zhongce and 
TUTRIC, and Zhongce and TUTRIC's timely withdrawal of their requests 
for reviews of themselves. See Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires 
From the People's Republic of China: Partial Rescission of 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, 75 FR 24884 (May 6, 2010).
    The Department issued questionnaires to Starbright and the 
Government of the PRC (GOC) on December 7, 2009. On January 6, 2010, 
Starbright requested an extension of time to submit its responses to 
the questionnaire. In response, the Department granted an extension for 
responses from all parties, originally due January 13, 2010, until 
January 29, 2010. See Memorandum to the File, ``Extension of Deadlines 
for Submission of December 7 `Initial' Questionnaire Response,'' 
(January 7, 2010).\1\ On January 25, 2010, Starbright requested a 
second extension to submit its questionnaire response. The Department 
granted an extension to Starbright until February 16, 2010. See 
Memorandum to the File, ``Extension of Deadlines for Submission of 
December 7 `Initial' Questionnaire Response'' (January 27, 2010).
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    \1\ A public version of all memoranda referenced in this notice 
is on file in the Department's Central Records Unit (CRU) in Room 
1117 of the main Department building.
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    On February 12, 2010, the Department exercised its discretion to 
toll Import Administration deadlines for the duration of the closure of 
the Federal Government from February 5 through February 12, 2010. See 
Memorandum to the Record from Ronald Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Import Administration, ``Tolling of Administrative 
Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure During the Recent 
Snowstorm,'' (February 12, 2010). Thus, Starbright's deadline was 
extended by seven days. On February 24, 2010, Starbright submitted its 
Questionnaire Response on a timely basis. On February 23, 2010, the GOC 
submitted a document, purportedly in response to the Department's 
original questionnaire, that was over three weeks past the extended 
January 29, 2010 deadline for that questionnaire response. The GOC did 
not answer any of the specific questions in the December 7, 2009 
questionnaire, but merely stated its objections to the conduct of this 
review. Due to the unique circumstances created by the bankruptcy 
proceedings of GPX in Federal court, during which a number of parties 
claimed they were prohibited from filing any submissions in this 
review, the Department offered the GOC an exceptional second 
opportunity to respond to the original questionnaire by May 7, 2010. 
See Letter from Barbara Tillman, ``New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires 
From the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Review (C-570-913),'' (April 30, 2010). On May 7, 2010, the GOC 
submitted a document in response to the Department's April 30, 2010 
letter which, again, did not answer any of the specific questions in 
the questionnaire.
    On April 1, 2010 the Department extended until further notice all 
regulatory deadlines in this review occurring on or after January 28, 
2010, due to the concerns of parties regarding the application of stay 
provisions of the U.S. bankruptcy code to matters involving GPX. See 
Memorandum to the File, ``Extension of Deadlines,'' (April 1, 2010). On 
May 3, 2010, the Department issued its first supplemental questionnaire 
to Starbright; Starbright responded on May 25, 2010. On April 30, 2010 
the Department issued a memorandum stating that the Department 
``believes parties' concerns have been addressed'' and that the 
Department required submissions due from domestic parties after January 
28, 2010 be submitted by May 10, 2010. See Memorandum to the File, 
``Due Date for Domestic Party Submissions,'' (April 30, 2010).
    On May 10, 2010, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. and its subsidiary, 
Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (collectively Bridgestone), a 
domestic interested party, submitted new subsidy allegations regarding 
the provision of nylon cord and carbon black for less than adequate 
remuneration (LTAR). Also on May 10, 2010, Titan Tire Corporation 
(Titan),\2\ submitted an allegation that Starbright was uncreditworthy 
during 2006, 2007 and 2008. On July 1, 2010, the Department initiated 
investigations of the provision of nylon cord and carbon black for 
LTAR, and Starbright's creditworthiness for 2006. See Memorandum to 
Barbara E. Tillman, ``Initiation Analysis of New Subsidy Allegation and 
Creditworthiness Allegation for Starbright,'' (July 1, 2010). On May 
10, 2010, Bridgestone and Titan each submitted timely requests for the

[[Page 64270]]

Department to conduct a verification of the questionnaire responses 
submitted by Starbright and the GOC.
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    \2\ Titan is one of the petitioners in the investigation along 
with United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy 
Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO-
CLC.
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    On June 7, 2010, the Department extended the time limit for the 
preliminary results of this administrative review until October 7, 
2010. See Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from the People's 
Republic of China: Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of 
Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, 75 FR 32159 (June 7, 2010).
    On June 18, 2010, the Department issued its second supplemental 
questionnaire to Starbright; Starbright submitted its timely response 
on July 6, 2010. On July 8, 2010, the Department issued a New Subsidy 
Allegation Questionnaire and Uncreditworthy Allegation Questionnaire to 
Starbright; Starbright submitted a timely response on July 29, 2010. On 
July 19, 2010, the Department issued a New Subsidy Allegation 
Questionnaire to the GOC; on August 9, 2010, the GOC submitted a 
document that did not respond to any of the specific questions in the 
questionnaire. On August 10, 2010, the Department informed parties that 
it would accept new information pertaining to prices for natural and 
synthetic rubber, nylon cord and carbon black sold outside the PRC for 
the types of these inputs purchased by Starbright. See Memorandum to 
the File, ``Accepting Information on Prices for Rubber Sold Outside the 
PRC,'' dated August 10, 2010. On August 19, 2010, Titan submitted 
information pertaining to prices for nylon cord sold outside the PRC 
(data had previously been submitted by both Titan and Bridgestone in a 
new factual information filing, submitted on the last day the record 
was open). On August 30, 2010, the Department issued a third 
supplemental questionnaire to Starbright. Starbright submitted a timely 
response on September 17, 2010. On September 21, 2010, the Department 
received pre-preliminary comments from Titan and Bridgestone arguing 
primarily that the Department should apply adverse facts available 
(AFA) in this review, continue to find countervailable the programs 
Starbright was found to benefit from in the original investigation, 
find Starbright uncreditworthy, and revise the benchmarks used in the 
original investigation.

Scope of the Order

    The products covered by the scope of this order are new pneumatic 
tires designed for off-the-road (OTR) and off-highway use, subject to 
exceptions identified below. Certain OTR tires are generally designed, 
manufactured and offered for sale for use on off-road or off-highway 
surfaces, including but not limited to, agricultural fields, forests, 
construction sites, factory and warehouse interiors, airport tarmacs, 
ports and harbors, mines, quarries, gravel yards, and steel mills. The 
vehicles and equipment for which certain OTR tires are designed for use 
include, but are not limited to: (1) Agricultural and forestry vehicles 
and equipment, including agricultural tractors,\3\ combine 
harvesters,\4\ agricultural high clearance sprayers,\5\ industrial 
tractors,\6\ log-skidders,\7\ agricultural implements, highway-towed 
implements, agricultural logging, and agricultural, industrial, skid-
steers/mini-loaders; \8\ (2) construction vehicles and equipment, 
including earthmover articulated dump products, rigid frame haul 
trucks,\9\ front end loaders,\10\ dozers,\11\ lift trucks, straddle 
carriers,\12\ graders,\13\ mobile cranes,\14\ compactors; and (3) 
industrial vehicles and equipment, including smooth floor, industrial, 
mining, counterbalanced lift trucks, industrial and mining vehicles 
other than smooth floor, skid-steers/mini-loaders, and smooth floor 
off-the-road counterbalanced lift trucks.\15\ The foregoing list of 
vehicles and equipment generally have in common that they are used for 
hauling, towing, lifting, and/or loading a wide variety of equipment 
and materials in agricultural, construction and industrial settings. 
Such vehicles and equipment, and the descriptions contained in the 
footnotes are illustrative of the types of vehicles and equipment that 
use certain OTR tires, but are not necessarily all-inclusive. While the 
physical characteristics of certain OTR tires will vary depending on 
the specific applications and conditions for which the tires are 
designed (e.g., tread pattern and depth), all of the tires within the 
scope have in common that they are designed for off-road and off-
highway use. Except as discussed below, OTR tires included in the scope 
of the proceeding range in size (rim diameter) generally but not 
exclusively from 8 inches to 54 inches. The tires may be either tube-
type \16\ or tubeless, radial or non-radial, and intended for sale 
either to original equipment manufacturers or the replacement market. 
The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 
4011.20.10.25, 4011.20.10.35, 4011.20.50.30, 4011.20.50.50, 
4011.61.00.00, 4011.62.00.00, 4011.63.00.00, 4011.69.00.00, 
4011.92.00.00, 4011.93.40.00, 4011.93.80.00, 4011.94.40.00, and 
4011.94.80.00. While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and 
customs purposes, our written description of the scope is dispositive.
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    \3\ Agricultural tractors are dual-axle vehicles that typically 
are designed to pull farming equipment in the field and that may 
have front tires of a different size than the rear tires.
    \4\ Combine harvesters are used to harvest crops such as corn or 
wheat.
    \5\ Agricultural sprayers are used to irrigate agricultural 
fields.
    \6\ Industrial tractors are dual-axle vehicles that typically 
are designed to pull industrial equipment and that may have front 
tires of a different size than the rear tires.
    \7\ A log-skidder has a grappling lift arm that is used to 
grasp, lift and move trees that have been cut down to a truck or 
trailer for transport to a mill or other destination.
    \8\ Skid-steer loaders are four-wheel drive vehicles with the 
left-side drive wheels independent of the right-side drive wheels 
and lift arms that lie alongside the driver with the major pivot 
points behind the driver's shoulders. Skid-steer loaders are used in 
agricultural, construction and industrial settings.
    \9\ Haul trucks, which may be either rigid frame or articulated 
(i.e., able to bend in the middle) are typically used in mines, 
quarries and construction sites to haul soil, aggregate, mined ore, 
or debris.
    \10\ Front loaders have lift arms in front of the vehicle. They 
can scrape material from one location to another, carry material in 
their buckets, or load material into a truck or trailer.
    \11\ A dozer is a large four-wheeled vehicle with a dozer blade 
that is used to push large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, etc., 
typically around construction sites. They can also be used to 
perform ``rough grading'' in road construction.
    \12\ A straddle carrier is a rigid frame, engine-powered machine 
that is used to load and offload containers from container vessels 
and load them onto (or off of) tractor trailers.
    \13\ A grader is a vehicle with a large blade used to create a 
flat surface. Graders are typically used to perform ``finish 
grading.'' Graders are commonly used in maintenance of unpaved roads 
and road construction to prepare the base course onto which asphalt 
or other paving material will be laid.
    \14\ i.e., ``on-site'' mobile cranes designed for off-highway 
use.
    \15\ A counterbalanced lift truck is a rigid framed, engine-
powered machine with lift arms that has additional weight 
incorporated into the back of the machine to offset or 
counterbalance the weight of loads that it lifts so as to prevent 
the vehicle from overturning. An example of a counterbalanced lift 
truck is a counterbalanced fork lift truck. Counterbalanced lift 
trucks may be designed for use on smooth floor surfaces, such as a 
factory or warehouse, or other surfaces, such as construction sites, 
mines, etc.
    \16\ While tube-type tires are subject to the scope of this 
proceeding, tubes and flaps are not subject merchandise and 
therefore are not covered by the scope of this proceeding, 
regardless of the manner in which they are sold (e.g. sold with or 
separately from subject merchandise).
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    Specifically excluded from the scope are new pneumatic tires 
designed, manufactured and offered for sale primarily for on-highway or 
on-road use, including passenger cars, race cars, station wagons, sport 
utility vehicles, minivans, mobile homes, motorcycles, bicycles, on-
road or on-highway trailers,

[[Page 64271]]

light trucks, and trucks and buses. Such tires generally have in common 
that the symbol ``DOT'' must appear on the sidewall, certifying that 
the tire conforms to applicable motor vehicle safety standards. Such 
excluded tires may also have the following designations that are used 
by the Tire and Rim Association:
    Prefix letter designations:
    <bullet> P--Identifies a tire intended primarily for service on 
passenger cars;
    <bullet> LT--Identifies a tire intended primarily for service on 
light trucks; and,
    <bullet> ST--Identifies a special tire for trailers in highway 
service.
    Suffix letter designations:
    <bullet> TR--Identifies a tire for service on trucks, buses, and 
other vehicles with rims having specified rim diameter of nominal plus 
0.156'' or plus 0.250'';
    <bullet> MH--Identifies tires for Mobile Homes;
    <bullet> HC--Identifies a heavy duty tire designated for use on 
``HC'' 15'' tapered rims used on trucks, buses, and other vehicles. 
This suffix is intended to differentiate among tires for light trucks, 
and other vehicles or other services, which use a similar designation.
    <bullet> Example: 8R17.5 LT, 8R17.5 HC;
    <bullet> LT--Identifies light truck tires for service on trucks, 
buses, trailers, and multipurpose passenger vehicles used in nominal 
highway service; and
    <bullet> MC--Identifies tires and rims for motorcycles.
    The following types of tires are also excluded from the scope: 
Pneumatic tires that are not new, including recycled or retreaded tires 
and used tires; non-pneumatic tires, including solid rubber tires; 
tires of a kind designed for use on aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, and 
vehicles for turf, lawn and garden, golf and trailer applications. Also 
excluded from the scope are radial and bias tires of a kind designed 
for use in mining and construction vehicles and equipment that have a 
rim diameter equal to or exceeding 39 inches. Such tires may be 
distinguished from other tires of similar size by the number of plies 
that the construction and mining tires contain (minimum of 16) and the 
weight of such tires (minimum 1500 pounds).

Period of Review

    The period for which we are measuring subsidies, i.e., the period 
of review (POR), is December 17, 2007 through December 31, 2008. See 
351.213(e)(2)(ii). Since there are only 15 days of 2007 entries covered 
in the review, the Department has decided to calculate a single rate 
for subsidies received in calendar year 2008 and apply this rate to 
entries made from December 17, 2007 through December 31, 2007 for 
assessment purposes.

Subsidies Valuation Information

Allocation Period

    In the investigation, consistent with 19 CFR 351.524(d)(2), we used 
an average useful life (AUL) of assets as the allocation period for 
non-recurring subsidies provided on or after December 11, 2001, the 
date the Department determined subsidies in the PRC became identifiable 
and measurable (i.e., the ``cutoff'' date). The AUL applicable to the 
OTR tires industry is 14 years according to the U.S. Internal Revenue 
Service's 1977 Class Life Asset Depreciation Range System. No party in 
this proceeding has disputed this allocation period. Thus, we continue 
to use a 14-year AUL for these preliminary results of review.

Sales Denominator

    After considering the basis for Starbright's receipt of a benefit 
under each program at issue, we have determined to use its total sales 
value as the denominator in our calculations for these preliminary 
results of review, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.525(b)(3), except for VAT and 
Import Duty Exemptions for Imported Materials discussed below. For that 
program, we have determined that Starbright benefitted by its status as 
an exporter, and thus we have used total export sales as the 
denominator in calculating the countervailable subsidy rate for this 
program.

Creditworthiness

    Titan alleged that Starbright was uncreditworthy from 2006 through 
2008 due to its poor financial ratios and lack of long-term commercial 
loans. The Department found the allegation sufficient and indicated an 
uncreditworthy condition for the years 2006 through 2008. Because we 
have preliminarily determined that the only non-recurring subsidies 
were received in 2006 we have limited our analysis to that year. 
According to 19 CFR 351.505(a)(4)(i), a firm is considered 
uncreditworthy if it could not have obtained long-term loans from 
conventional commercial sources. Given that Starbright did not have 
long-term commercial loans in 2006 from conventional commercial 
sources, the next step in the Department's analysis, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.505(a)(4)(i)(B)-(C), would typically be to examine the past and 
present financial health of the firm and its recent past and present 
ability to meet its costs and financial obligations with its cash flow. 
In 2006, Starbright had just been created from the assets of Hebei 
Tire, a company that was laden with unpaid debts, as indicated by the 
debt forgiveness decisions in the investigation. See Certain New 
Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires From the People's Republic of China: Final 
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Final Negative 
Determination of Critical Circumstances, 73 FR 40480 (July 15, 2008), 
Issues and Decision Memorandum (OTR Final IDM) at ``Analysis of 
Programs.'' In this first year of operations under its new form, the 
company had high startup costs, a low sales volume, and liquid assets 
on hand to cover a relatively small fraction of its immediate 
obligations; facts that served as the basis for the creditworthiness 
allegation.
    However, despite the poor state of its past and present finances in 
2006, its acquisition in that same year created the possibility of a 
much healthier future. Such a prospective view is relevant, given 19 
CFR 351.505(a)(4)(i)(D), which states that we may examine ``evidence of 
the firm's future financial position, such as market studies, country 
and industry economic forecasts, and project and loan appraisals. * * * 
'' There are no such evaluations on the record regarding Starbright per 
se. However, in preparing to acquire Hebei Tire's productive assets in 
2006, Starbright's parent, GPX, commissioned legal and financial due 
diligence analyses of those assets. Among these were evaluations from 
commercial lenders outside China, which imply profitable employment of 
those assets after acquisition by GPX. The favorable projections attest 
not only to positive prospects for GPX overall, but, by extension, for 
the new business operation formed solely by GPX to employ those assets, 
namely Starbright. See Starbright's April 5, 2008 questionnaire 
response in the investigation, at Exhibit V-CVD-1, placed on the record 
of this review by the Department on May 7, 2010. The content of these 
evaluations is business proprietary and the details cannot be discussed 
within this public document. They are discussed more fully in the 
Memorandum to the File, ``Preliminary Calculation Memorandum for Hebei 
Starbright Tire Co., Ltd.,'' (October 7, 2010) (Preliminary Calculation 
Memorandum) in which we discuss in greater detail the statements we 
find to be indicative of Starbright's positive prospects in 2006. 
Finally, our regulations refer not just to evidence of the firm's 
future financial position, but to ``market studies, country and 
industry

[[Page 64272]]

economic forecasts.'' In this regard, the propriety record indicates 
strong demand, insufficient capacity, and increasing price levels in 
its description of the global OTR tire industry. Id.
    Thus, Starbright's purchase by GPX creates the unique situation in 
which a company performing poorly historically and in the recent past, 
is transformed into a new producer with a radically different 
prospective financial outlook. Such is the result of the CIO resulting 
from the GPX takeover, which, according to the details of the BPI data 
cited above, involved plans for a significant retooling of GPX's 
facilities into a modern, first class producer consistent with GPX's 
global standards.
    On these bases, we find that Starbright was not uncreditworthy for 
the year 2006.

Benchmarks and Discount Rates

    As discussed below, we are countervailing short-term lending to 
Starbright in the form of a loan from a State-owned commercial bank. To 
calculate the benchmark interest rate used in determining the benefit 
provided by this program, we used a regression-based methodology 
identical to that used in the investigation in all respects, except 
that the data used for this review is contemporaneous with the POR. The 
resulting short-term lending rate for the POR is identical to that 
calculated for several recent PRC investigations with periods of 
investigations equal to calendar year 2008. See, e.g., Certain Coated 
Paper Suitable for High-Quality Print Graphics Using Sheet-Fed Presses 
From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative Countervailing 
Duty Determination, 75 FR 59212 (September 27, 2010).
    The only non-recurring programs countervailed in these preliminary 
results are the same non-recurring programs countervailed in the 
investigation. Therefore, in determining the benefits for those 
programs allocable to this POR, we took the discount rate calculated in 
the investigation and modified it only to reflect agency-wide changes 
in the calculation methodology developed in an investigation concluded 
subsequent to the OTR Tires investigation, Citric Acid and Certain 
Citrate Salts From the People's Republic of China: Final Affirmative 
Countervailing Duty Determination, 74 FR 16836 (April 13, 2009) (Citric 
Acid from the PRC). Specifically, in Citric Acid from the PRC we 
determined that the spread used to convert short-term rates to long-
term rates should be based on the spread between a 2-year BB bond and 
an ``N''-year BB bond, where N is the AUL, or as close to the AUL in 
years as can be obtained in available bond rates, and that this spread 
should be applied as an addition to the short-term rate, not as a 
multiplicative factor. See Citric Acid from the PRC, ``Issues and 
Decision Memorandum'' at Comments 13 and 14. In Citric Acid from the 
PRC we determined these changes were not merely preferable to the older 
method, but were necessary to correct errors in the prior method. For 
the remainder of the benefit calculation for these programs, we relied 
on the information from the investigation without changes.

Application of Facts Available, and Use of Adverse Inferences

A. Standards

    Sections 776(a)(1) and (2) of the Act provide that the Department 
shall apply ``facts otherwise available'' if necessary information is 
not on the record or an interested party or any other person: (A) 
Withholds information that has been requested; (B) fails to provide 
information within the deadlines established, or in the form and manner 
requested by the Department, subject to subsections (c)(1) and (e) of 
section 782 of the Act; (C) significantly impedes a proceeding; or (D) 
provides information that cannot be verified as provided by section 
782(i) of the Act.
    Section 776(b) of the Act further provides that the Department may 
use an adverse inference in applying the facts otherwise available--
i.e., adverse facts available (AFA)--when a party has failed to 
cooperate by not acting to the best of its ability in complying with a 
request for information. As explained in more detail in ``Programs to 
Which AFA is Being Applied'' below, we find that the GOC has not acted 
to the best of its ability to comply with the Department's repeated 
requests for information necessary to analyze fully certain of the 
subsidy programs under review.

B. Programs to Which AFA Is Being Applied

Provision of Rubber, Carbon Black, and Nylon Cord for LTAR
    The Department is investigating the provision of rubber, carbon 
black and nylon cord for LTAR by the GOC. We requested information from 
the GOC about the PRC's rubber, carbon black and nylon cord industries 
in general as well as the specific companies that produced the rubber, 
carbon black and nylon cord purchased by Starbright. In both respects, 
the GOC has withheld the requested information, in effect refusing to 
provide it. In response to the Department's first questionnaire the GOC 
submitted a document that was argumentative and which merely stated 
that ``it makes little sense to submit detailed answers to the 
questions set forth in the Commerce Department Questionnaire at this 
time.'' When given a second, extraordinary opportunity to respond to 
the Department's initial questionnaire, the GOC again decided not to 
answer any questions and only referred to its previous arguments for 
not responding. In response to the Department's New Subsidy Allegation 
questionnaire, rather than answer any specific questions, the GOC 
merely stated that it ``strongly opposes the Department's presumption 
that government ownership is a dispositive factor in determining the 
`authority' status of entities, as well as the enormous documentary 
burdens imposed by the Department in examining the status of various 
input suppliers and the input industry in question as a whole,'' and 
requested that the Department terminate the proceedings. These 
submissions by the GOC amount to little more than the venting of 
grievances against the Department and cannot reasonably be considered 
proper questionnaire responses. They are, in fact, outright refusals 
even to attempt to respond to the Department's requests for 
information.
    Based on the above, we preliminarily find that necessary 
information is not available on the record, that the GOC has withheld 
information requested by the Department, and, thus, that the Department 
must rely on ``facts available'' in making its preliminary 
determination. See sections 776(a)(1) and (a)(2)(A) of the Act. 
Moreover, we preliminarily find that the GOC has failed to cooperate by 
not acting to the best of its ability in complying with our request for 
information. Consequently, an adverse inference is warranted in the 
application of facts available. See section 776(b) of the Act.
    Regarding the GOC's failure to provide certain requested ownership 
and control information about the producers of inputs purchased by the 
respondent, we are assuming adversely that all of the producers of 
rubber, carbon black and nylon cord purchased by Starbright are 
``authorities'' within the meaning of section 771(5)(B) of the Act. 
While Starbright has given us some information concerning the ownership 
of three of the producers, given the GOC's lack of a response, we have 
no information concerning government control of any of the producers, 
beyond the immediate owners of these three producers. With respect to 
the GOC's failure to provide requested information about the production 
and consumption

[[Page 64273]]

of rubber, carbon black and nylon cord generally, we are assuming 
adversely that the GOC's dominance of the market in the PRC for these 
inputs results in significant distortion of domestic prices and, hence, 
that the use of external benchmarks is warranted. For details on the 
calculation of the subsidy rate for Starbright, see below under the 
``Analysis of Programs'' section.
VAT and Import Duty Exemptions on Imported Material
    In the investigation, we determined that certain respondents ``used 
imported rubber to produce tires sold in the PRC and, therefore, such 
imports would not have been entitled to VAT and import duty 
exemptions.'' See OTR Final IDM at 12. We then concluded: ``Therefore, 
if a CVD order is issued and an administrative review requested, the 
Department intends to examine the GOC's import duty and VAT exemption 
programs.'' Id. Consequently, we included several questions in our 
initial questionnaire to the GOC concerning the operation and 
administration of the program by which companies are exempt from paying 
VAT and import duties on imports used in the production of exported 
products. Specifically, the questions were designed to determine 
whether a system was in place that ensures all exempted materials are 
consumed in exported products, based on the actual experience of 
companies using the program. Given that the GOC did not respond to 
these questions, we are unable to evaluate whether the GOC's system 
meets the criteria for non-countervailability set forth in 19 CFR 
351.519(a). As such the decision by the GOC not to respond to any of 
our questions leaves the Department with no choice but to find the 
entire amount of the exemptions ``extends to inputs that are not 
consumed in the production of the exported product, making normal 
allowances for waste.'' See 19 CFR 351.519(a). For details on the 
calculation of the subsidy rate for the respondent, see below under the 
``Analysis of Programs'' section.

C. Corroboration of AFA

    Section 776(c) of the Act provides that, when the Department relies 
on secondary information rather than on information obtained in the 
course of an investigation or review, it shall, to the extent 
practicable, corroborate that information from independent sources that 
are reasonably at its disposal. Secondary information is defined as 
``information derived from the petition that gave rise to the 
investigation or review, the final determination concerning the subject 
merchandise, or any previous review under section 751 of the Act 
concerning the subject merchandise.''
    The facts available decisions described above do not rely on 
secondary information. While Bridgestone and Titan have submitted 
information regarding the status of rubber producers and suppliers 
relevant to this review, our determination that these producers are 
public entities is based on the unwillingness of the GOC to provide 
necessary information on the status of these entities. Likewise, our 
determinations that the domestic rubber market in the PRC is distorted 
through government intervention, and that the PRC's bonding system does 
not ensure that imports exempted from duties are solely consumed in 
exported products, are based on the GOC's refusal to address either of 
these issues, or to provide any information that would lead us to a 
different conclusion. The corroboration requirement of section 776(c) 
of the Act is therefore not applicable to the use of facts available in 
this review.

Analysis of Programs

A. Programs Previously Determined To Be Countervailable

1. Government Debt Forgiveness and the Provision of Land to Starbright 
Pursuant to Its Change in Ownership
    On July 7, 2008, the Department issued a change in ownership 
memorandum, analyzing Starbright's 2006 purchase of the assets of Hebei 
Tire. See Memorandum to the File, ``Countervailing Duty Investigation 
of Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires (OTR Tires) From the 
People's Republic of China; Analysis of Change in Ownership, Final 
Determination'' (July 7, 2008) (CIO Memorandum) determining that debt 
and land provided to Hebei Tire benefitted Starbright. Applying the 
Department's CIO methodology we concluded that the 2006 transaction did 
not extinguish any non-recurring subsidies provided to Hebei Tire prior 
to the transaction, including debt forgiveness, because Starbright had 
not demonstrated the transaction was at arm's length and for fair 
market value. We also determined that Starbright had been the direct 
recipient of land use rights provided at less than adequate 
remuneration. No new information or evidence of changed circumstances 
has been submitted in this review that leads us to reconsider these 
determinations. Therefore for the preliminary results of this review, 
we are maintaining our determination that the 2006 transaction did not 
extinguish prior non-recurring subsidies to Hebei Tire.
a. Debt Forgiveness From State-Owned Banks to Hebei Tire
    Consistent with our prior determination, the Department continues 
to find that the forgiveness of certain loans from State-owned banks to 
Hebei Tire is countervailable. This debt forgiveness constitutes a 
financial contribution under section 771(5)(D)(i) of the Act, and is 
specific under section 771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act, as it was limited 
to a specific enterprise (i.e., to Hebei Tire only). A benefit exists 
equal to the amount of principal and accrued interest forgiven within 
the meaning of 19 CFR 351.508(a). In determining this benefit, we have 
taken the amount of the debt forgiveness from the investigation 
calculations placed on the record on May 7, 2010. We then reallocated 
this amount using the revised discount rate methodology discussed above 
in the ``Benchmarks and Discount Rate'' section, using an allocation 
table beginning in 2006, just as in the investigation. We then divided 
the benefit amount allocated to the POR by Starbright's total sales 
during the POR to calculate a countervailable subsidy rate of 1.52 
percent ad valorem.
b. Debt Forgiveness of Hebei Tire's Loan Guarantee Obligations
    In the investigation, the Department found that obligations arising 
from the provision of loan guarantees represented a form of debt 
forgiveness to Hebei Tire and that this debt forgiveness was 
countervailable. In its initial questionnaire response, Starbright 
submitted new information regarding this program. Specifically, 
Starbright claimed that under Article 219 of the Civil Procedures Law 
of the PRC, Starbright's debt guarantees were extinguished. Starbright 
further argues that that the debt was extinguished through the 
bankruptcy of the primary debtor. Given that the record indicates 
clearly that at least two of the obligations survived the bankruptcy 
proceeding,\17\ and were not, in fact, extinguished by the Civil 
Procedures Law, and Starbright's failure to provide direct evidence 
that any of the debt guarantees were extinguished, the Department 
continues to find this program countervailable. This debt forgiveness 
constitutes a financial contribution under section 771(5)(D)(i) of the 
Act, and is specific under section 771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act, as it 
was limited to specific enterprises (i.e., Hebei Tire, co-guarantors, 
primary

[[Page 64274]]

borrower). A benefit exists equal to the amount of principal and 
accrued interest forgiven under 19 CFR 351.508(a). In determining this 
benefit, we have taken the amount of the debt forgiveness from the 
investigation calculations placed on the record on May 7, 2010. We then 
reallocated this amount using the revised discount rate methodology 
discussed above in the ``Benchmarks and Discount Rate'' section, using 
an allocation table beginning in 2006, just as in the investigation. We 
divided the benefit amount allocated to the POR by Starbright's total 
sales during the POR to calculate a countervailable subsidy rate of 
5.39 percent ad valorem.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ See CIO Memorandum at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

c. Government Provision of Land to SOEs for Less Than Adequate 
Remuneration--Starbright's Granted Land Use Rights
    Consistent with our prior determination, the Department continues 
to find that Starbright's granted land use rights are countervailable. 
We previously determined that this subsidy was specific in accordance 
with section 771(5A)(D)(i) of the Act, because Starbright obtained its 
granted land use rights as part of a government policy of SOE reform. 
We also found a financial contribution under section 771(5)(D)(iii) of 
the Act and a benefit under section 771(5)(E)(iv) of the Act, because 
we determined the granted land use rights were a provision of a good or 
service for LTAR. In determining this benefit, we have taken the amount 
of the benefit from the granted land use rights from the investigation 
calculations placed on the record on May 7, 2010. We then reallocated 
this amount using the revised discount rate discussed above, using an 
allocation table beginning in 2006, just as in the investigation. We 
divided the benefit amount allocated to the POR by Starbright's total 
sales during the POR to calculate a countervailable subsidy rate of 
0.43 percent ad valorem.
d. Government Provision of Land to SOEs for Less Than Adequate 
Remuneration--Starbright's Land Leased From Local Villages
    Consistent with our prior determination, the Department continues 
to find that the land Starbright leases from local villages is 
countervailable.\18\ In the investigation, we found that the local 
village committees are authorities within the meaning of section 
771(5)(B) of the Act. Accordingly, we found a financial contribution 
under section 771(5)(D)(iii) of the Act because the provision of land 
is a provision of a good or service. We also found that the provision 
of leased land is specific in accordance with section 771(5A)(D)(i) of 
the Act because Starbright assumed the leases for these village tracts 
as part of its asset purchase of Hebei Tire, which was part of a 
government program to reform SOEs. With respect to benefit, we 
determined that a benefit exists under 19 CFR 351.511(a) to the extent 
that the leased land was provided at LTAR. No information was placed on 
the record of this review that would cause us to change these findings 
from the investigation. In determining the amount of the benefit, we 
have updated the benchmark from the investigation, using 2008 quarterly 
industrial rental values in Thailand. This is the same source of 
information used in the investigation, but updated with values 
contemporaneous with the POR. See Preliminary Calculation Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ The GOC was asked to provide information regarding changes 
to this program in the initial questionnaire. Starbright provided 
rent payment information in response to the May 25, 2010 
supplemental questionnaire.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We then compared the rental payments made by Starbright during the 
POR with the amount of rent Starbright would have at the benchmark 
rate; we divided the benefit amount by Starbright's total sales during 
the POR to calculate a countervailable subsidy rate of 0.76 percent ad 
valorem.
2. Government Policy Lending
    In the investigation, we found that policy lending was de jure 
specific within the meaning of section 771(5A)(D)(i) of the Act, 
constitutes financial contributions by ``authorities'' (i.e., State-
owned commercial banks) within the meaning of sections 771(5)(B) and 
771(5)(D)(i) of the Act, and provides benefits within the meaning of 
section 771(5)(E)(ii) of the Act equal to the difference between what 
the recipients paid on loans from government-owned banks and the amount 
they would have paid on comparable commercial loans. In our initial 
questionnaire to the GOC, we noted our intention to rely on our 
findings in the investigation regarding the countervailability of this 
program. We noted: ``However, if there were any changes to the 
operation of the program since it was last reviewed, please answer all 
relevant appendices.'' As noted above, the GOC did not respond to this 
questionnaire and thus no information has been placed on the record of 
this review that would cause us to change our findings from the 
investigation. Therefore we are continuing to find government policy 
lending countervailable.
    In its response to the Department's initial questionnaire, 
Starbright provided a loan spreadsheet indicating it had received a 
loan under this program during the POR from a State-owned commercial 
bank. Using a benchmark interest rate, we compared Starbright's actual 
interest payments during the POR to the State-owned commercial bank to 
the payments it would have been required to make on ``comparable 
commercial loans.'' In doing so, we made adjustments for inflation, 
following the standard PRC loan methodology used in the investigation. 
In calculating the benchmark for ``comparable commercial loans,'' we 
relied on the same regression analysis used in the investigation for 
calculating PRC lending rates absent the distortive effects of 
government interference in the banking sector, revised only to reflect 
data contemporaneous with the POR. We divided the total benefit amount 
by Starbright's total sales during the POR, and determined a 
countervailable subsidy rate of 0.20 percent ad valorem.
3. Government Provision of Rubber for Less Than Adequate Remuneration
    We preliminarily find the government provision of natural and 
synthetic rubber inputs to Starbright to be countervailable. In the 
investigation we found the provision of rubber to be specific within 
the meaning of section 771(5A)(D)(iii)(I) of the Act, because the 
rubber is provided to a limited number of industries. See OTR Final IDM 
at 9-12. As discussed above, due to the GOC's failure to respond to our 
initial questionnaire, the Department is unable to determine the extent 
of government control over the producers of rubber purchased by 
Starbright. Also as noted above, we find that an adverse inference is 
warranted, and, as such, we conclude that all domestic producers from 
whom Starbright purchased natural and synthetic rubber are ``public 
entities'' and therefore ``authorities'' within the meaning of section 
771(5)(B) of the Act. Without GOC participation, the Department is 
unable to determine the extent of GOC ownership of, and involvement in, 
the domestic market for natural and synthetic rubber, and we are unable 
to determine the extent of domestic price distortion caused through GOC 
involvement in the production of rubber. Therefore, we are also 
determining as AFA that a world benchmark is warranted pursuant to 19 
CFR 351.511(a)(2)(ii). Using average purchase prices by month and type 
of rubber, we calculated benefit amounts equal to the differences 
between what Starbright paid for the domestically

[[Page 64275]]

sourced rubber and these benchmarks, multiplied by the relevant 
quantities at LTAR. We calculated separate benchmarks for natural and 
synthetic rubber on a quarterly basis. We added amounts for ocean 
freight, inland freight, and VAT and import duties, calculated in 
accordance with the standard PRC VAT and duty rates for these products, 
before comparing these benchmarks to the delivered prices paid by 
Starbright. We then divided the total amount of these benefits by 
Starbright's total sales during the POR and preliminarily determined a 
countervailable subsidy rate of 1.44 percent ad valorem.

B. New Subsidy Programs Initiated in the Review

Provision of Carbon Black and Nylon Cord for LTAR
    Bridgestone alleged that the GOC provides producers of nylon cord 
and carbon black with numerous subsidies and preferences, causing 
distortion in the markets for those two products, and that the GOC 
otherwise exerts considerable control on the market for carbon black 
and nylon cord through SOEs. Bridgestone further alleged that the 
provision of carbon black and nylon cord by SOEs constitutes a 
financial contribution, that Starbright receives a benefit to the 
extent that it purchases carbon black and nylon cord from SOEs at LTAR, 
and that this subsidy is specific because the tire industry is the 
predominant user of these inputs in the PRC. As discussed above, under 
the ``Application of Facts Available, and Use of Adverse Inferences'' 
section, the GOC did not respond to the Department's questionnaire 
regarding these programs. Accordingly, we are applying AFA for parts of 
our decision with respect to these programs. Based on AFA, we determine 
that the producers of the nylon cord and carbon black purchased by 
Starbright are owned or otherwise controlled by the GOC and therefore 
are ``public entities'' and ``authorities'' within the meaning of 
section 771(5)(B) of the Act. Moreover, without GOC participation, the 
Department is unable to determine the extent of GOC ownership of, and 
involvement in, the domestic market for nylon cord and carbon black, 
and we are unable to determine the extent of domestic price distortion 
caused through GOC involvement in the production of these two products. 
Therefore, we are also determining as AFA that a world benchmark is 
warranted pursuant to 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2)(ii). Finally, we find that 
the provision of nylon cord and carbon black is specific within the 
meaning of section 771(5A)(D)(iii)(II) of the Act because, according to 
information included in the allegations, uncontested by respondents, 
the tire industry is the predominant user of both those products.
    In determining the benefit, we have relied on benchmarks calculated 
from the Global Trade Atlas (GTA) for both products. While Bridgestone 
and Titan provided possible benchmark data for nylon cord reported by 
Chemical Markets Associates, Inc., we are unable to use this data 
because it covers only one month of the POR, or covers months not in 
the POR. Using the GTA data, we calculated monthly average unit value 
benchmarks for each product based on exports from all countries other 
than China. We added amounts for ocean freight, inland freight, and VAT 
and import duties, calculated in accordance with the standard PRC VAT 
and duty rates for these products in order to derive delivered prices. 
Using average purchase prices by month, we calculated benefit amounts 
equal to the differences between what Starbright paid for the 
domestically sourced nylon cord and carbon black and these benchmarks, 
multiplied by the relevant quantities at LTAR. We then summed the 
benefits calculated in this manner to derive a total benefit amount 
under each program. After dividing the total benefit amounts by total 
sales, we determined countervailable subsidy rates of 2.32 percent and 
9.10 percent ad valorem for nylon cord and carbon black, respectively.

C. VAT and Import Duty Exemptions on Imported Material

    As noted above, because the GOC did not respond to our 
questionnaire, which contained several questions aimed at evaluating 
whether VAT and import duty exemptions received by Starbright on 
materials imported under bond were countervailable, we have determined 
it is appropriate to find that all such exemptions are countervailable 
under 19 CFR 351.519(a). The program provides a financial contribution 
pursuant to section 771(5)(D)(ii) of the Act in the form of revenue 
foregone by the GOC, and is specific as an export subsidy pursuant to 
section 771(5A)(B) of the Act, as only exporters can qualify. To 
calculate the amount of the benefit, we calculated the total amount of 
VAT and duties that would otherwise have been paid on the exempted 
material, using the VAT and duty rates for the different types of 
material reported by Starbright. We then divided this total benefit 
amount by total export sales in order to determine a countervailable 
subsidy rate of 9.71 percent ad valorem.

D. Programs Determined To Be Not Used

    1. Loan Forgiveness For SOEs.
    2. Foreign Currency Retention Scheme.
    3. Preferential Tax Policies For Enterprises With Foreign 
Investment (Two Free, Three Half Income Tax Program).
    4. Preferential Tax Policies For Export-Oriented Foreign Invested 
Enterprises (FIEs).
    5. Corporate Income Tax Refund Program For Reinvestment Of FIE 
Profits In Export-Oriented Enterprises.
    6. Tax Benefits For FIEs In Encouraged Industries That Purchase 
Domestic Origin Machinery.
    7. VAT Rebate For FIE Purchases Of Domestically Produced Equipment.
    8. Funds For Outward Expansion Of Industries In Guangdong Province.
    9. Export Interest Subsidy Funds For Enterprises Located In 
Guangdong And Zhejiang Provinces.
    10. Grants To Loss-Making SOEs.
    11. Exemption For SOEs From Distributing Dividends To The State.
    12. Preferential Tax Policies For Advanced Technology FIEs.
    13. Preferential Tax Policies For Knowledge Or Technology Intensive 
FIEs.
    14. Preferential Tax Policies For High Or New Technology FIEs.
    15. Preferential Tax Policies For Research And Development By FIEs.
    16. Provincial Support In Antidumping Proceedings.
    17. Grants To The Tire Industry For Electricity.
    18. Discounted Loans For Export-Oriented Enterprises.
    19. Stamp Tax Exemption on Share Transfers under the Non-Tradeable 
Share Reform (NTSR) Program.
    20. State Key Technology Renovation Project Fund.
    21. Special Fund for Environmental Protection of 2004.
    22. Provision of Land for LTAR to FIEs.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ The Department is finding the provision of land for LTAR 
countervailable, see section ``Programs Previously Determined to be 
countervailable,'' however the Department does not find provision of 
Land for LTAR countervailable as a result of a company's FIE status.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    23. Tax Subsidies to FIEs in Specially Designated Geographic Areas.
    24. Local Income Tax Exemption and Reduction Program for 
``Productive'' FIEs.
    25. Tax and Tariff Exemption for FIEs and Certain Domestic 
Enterprises Using Imported Equipment in Encouraged Industries.
    26. Provincial/Municipal Technology Programs.

[[Page 64276]]

    27. Municipal Major Technical Innovation Program.

Preliminary Results of Administrative Review

    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(i), we have calculated an 
individual subsidy rate for Starbright for the POR. We preliminarily 
determine the total countervailable subsidy to be 30.87 percent ad 
valorem.

Assessment Rates/Cash Deposits

    If these preliminary results are adopted in our final results of 
this review, 15 days after publication of the final results of this 
review the Department will instruct CBP to liquidate shipments of OTR 
Tires by Starbright entered or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption from December 17, 2007 through December 31, 2008, at 30.87 
percent ad valorem of the entered value. In keeping with the Agreement 
on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures of the World Trade 
Organization, shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for 
consumption on or after April 15, 2008, and on or before September 4, 
2008, the period between the expiration of ``provisional measures'' and 
the publication of the final affirmative injury determination of the 
U.S. International Trade Commission, will be liquidated without regard 
to countervailing duties.
    The Department will also instruct CBP to collect cash deposits of 
estimated countervailing duties at the rate of 30.87 percent ad valorem 
of the entered value on shipments of the subject merchandise produced 
by Starbright, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on 
or after the date of publication of the final results of this review. 
We will instruct CBP to continue to collect cash deposits for non-
reviewed companies at the applicable company-specific or all-others 
rate established in the investigation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Net subsidy rate
                  Producer/exporter                        (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hebei Starbright Tire Co., Ltd......................               30.87
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Disclosure and Public Comment

    We will disclose the calculations used in our analysis to parties 
to this segment of the proceeding within five days of the publication 
of this notice. See 19 CFR 351.224(b). Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309, 
interested parties may submit written comments in response to these 
preliminary results. Unless the time period is extended by the 
Department, case briefs are to be submitted within 30 days of the date 
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. See 19 CFR 
351.309(c). Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in case briefs, 
may be filed not later than five days after the date of the filing of 
case briefs. Parties who submit briefs in this proceeding should 
provide a summary of the arguments not to exceed five pages and a table 
of statutes, regulations, and cases cited. Copies of case briefs and 
rebuttal briefs must be served on interested parties in accordance with 
19 CFR 351.303(f).
    Interested parties may request a hearing within 30 days after the 
date of publication of this notice. Unless otherwise specified, the 
hearing, if requested, will be held two days after the scheduled date 
for submission of rebuttal briefs. The Department will publish a notice 
of the final results of this administrative review within 120 days from 
the publication of these preliminary results.
    We are issuing and publishing these results in accordance with 
sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: October 7, 2010.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-26283 Filed 10-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P