[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3560-3563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1106]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-868]


Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the People's Republic of 
China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (``Department'') published its 
preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping 
duty order on folding metal tables and chairs (``FMTCs'') from the 
People's Republic of China (``PRC'') on July 14, 2008.\1\ The period of 
review (``POR'') is June 1, 2006, through May 31, 2007. We invited 
interested parties to comment on our preliminary results. Based on our 
analysis of the comments received, we have made changes to our margin 
calculations. Therefore, the final results differ from the preliminary 
results. The final dumping margins for this review are listed in the 
``Final Results of Review'' section below.
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    \1\ See Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the People's 
Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review and Intent to Revoke in Part, 73 FR 40285 
(July 14, 2008) (``Preliminary Results'').

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 21, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lilit Astvatsatrian or Charles Riggle, 
AD/CVD Operations, Office 8, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
6412 or (202) 482-0650, respectively.

[[Page 3561]]

Background

    On July 14, 2008, the Department published its preliminary results. 
On August 4, 2008, Meco Corporation (``Meco''), the petitioner in the 
underlying investigation, and Cosco Home and Office Products 
(``Cosco''), a U.S. importer of subject merchandise, provided 
additional comments on the appropriate surrogate values to use as a 
means of valuing the factors of production, including financial 
statements from Zuari Industries Limited (2006-2007) (``Zuari'') and 
Maximaa Systems Limited (2006-2007) (``Maximaa''), Indian producers of 
merchandise that is identical or comparable to the subject merchandise. 
On August 13, 2008, the Department received a request for a hearing 
from Meco. On August 14, 2008, Cosco and Feili Furniture Development 
Limited Quanzhou City, Feili Furniture Development Co., Ltd., Feili 
Group (Fujian) Co., Ltd., and Feili (Fujian) Co., Ltd. (collectively 
``Feili''), a respondent, submitted rebuttals to the surrogate value 
information. On August 19, 2008, Meco provided a rebutting exhibit to 
Cosco's August 14, 2008, rebuttal submission. As provided in section 
782(i) of the Act, we verified the information submitted by Feili for 
use in our final results.\2\ On October 1 and 3, 2008, the Department 
received case briefs from Meco and New-Tec Integration (Xiamen) Co., 
Ltd. and New-Tec Integration Co., Ltd. (collectively ``New-Tec''), a 
respondent, respectively. On October 6, 8, and 20, 2008, New-Tec, 
Cosco, Meco, and Feili submitted rebuttal briefs, respectively. On 
November 6, 2008, the Department held a public hearing. On November 10, 
2008, the Department extended the time period for completion of the 
final results until December 11, 2008.\3\ On December 17, 2008, the 
Department fully extended the time period of the final results until 
January 12, 2009.\4\
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    \2\ See ``Verification of the Sales and Factors Response of 
Feili in the Antidumping Review of Folding Metal Tables and Chairs 
from the Peoples Republic of China,'' (September 5, 2008).
    \3\ See Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the People's 
Republic of China: Extension of Time Limit for the Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR 66595 (November 10, 
2008).
    \4\ See Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the People's 
Republic of China: Extension of Time Limit for the Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 73 FR 76615 (December 17, 
2008).
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    We have conducted this administrative review in accordance with 
section 751 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), and 19 
CFR 351.213.

Scope of Order

    The products covered by this order consist of assembled and 
unassembled folding tables and folding chairs made primarily or 
exclusively from steel or other metal, as described below:
    1) Assembled and unassembled folding tables made primarily or 
exclusively from steel or other metal (folding metal tables). Folding 
metal tables include square, round, rectangular, and any other shapes 
with legs affixed with rivets, welds, or any other type of fastener, 
and which are made most commonly, but not exclusively, with a hardboard 
top covered with vinyl or fabric. Folding metal tables have legs that 
mechanically fold independently of one another, and not as a set. The 
subject merchandise is commonly, but not exclusively, packed singly, in 
multiple packs of the same item, or in five piece sets consisting of 
four chairs and one table. Specifically excluded from the scope of the 
order regarding folding metal tables are the following:
    Lawn furniture;
    Trays commonly referred to as ``TV trays;''
    Side tables;
    Child-sized tables;
    Portable counter sets consisting of rectangular tables 36'' high 
and matching stools; and, Banquet tables. A banquet table is a 
rectangular table with a plastic or laminated wood table top 
approximately 28'' to 36'' wide by 48'' to 96'' long and with a set of 
folding legs at each end of the table. One set of legs is composed of 
two individual legs that are affixed together by one or more cross-
braces using welds or fastening hardware. In contrast, folding metal 
tables have legs that mechanically fold independently of one another, 
and not as a set.
    2) Assembled and unassembled folding chairs made primarily or 
exclusively from steel or other metal (folding metal chairs). Folding 
metal chairs include chairs with one or more cross-braces, regardless 
of shape or size, affixed to the front and/or rear legs with rivets, 
welds or any other type of fastener. Folding metal chairs include: 
those that are made solely of steel or other metal; those that have a 
back pad, a seat pad, or both a back pad and a seat pad; and those that 
have seats or backs made of plastic or other materials. The subject 
merchandise is commonly, but not exclusively, packed singly, in 
multiple packs of the same item, or in five piece sets consisting of 
four chairs and one table. Specifically excluded from the scope of the 
order regarding folding metal chairs are the following:
    Folding metal chairs with a wooden back or seat, or both;
    Lawn furniture;
    Stools;
    Chairs with arms; and
    Child-sized chairs.
    The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under subheadings 
9401.71.0010, 9401.71.0030, 9401.79.0045, 9401.79.0050, 9403.20.015, 
9403.20.0030, 9403.70.8010, 9403.70.8020, and 9403.70.8030 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS''). Although 
the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the Department's written description of the merchandise is 
dispositive.
    Based on a request by RPA International Pty., Ltd. and RPS, LLC 
(collectively, ``RPA''), the Department ruled on January 13, 2003, that 
RPA's poly-fold metal folding chairs are within the scope of the order 
because they are identical in all material respects to the merchandise 
described in the petition, the initial investigation, and the 
determinations of the Secretary.
    On May 5, 2003, in response to a request by Staples, the Office 
Superstore Inc. (``Staples''), the Department issued a scope ruling 
that the chair component of Staples' ``Complete Office-To-Go,'' a 
folding chair with a tubular steel frame and a seat and back of 
plastic, with measurements of: height: 32.5 inches; width: 18.5 inches; 
and depth: 21.5 inches, is covered by the scope of the order because it 
is identical in all material respects to the scope description in the 
order, but that the table component, with measurements of: width (table 
top): 43 inches; depth (table top): 27.375 inches; and height: 34.875 
inches, has legs that fold as a unit and meets the requirements for an 
exemption from the scope of the order.
    On September 7, 2004, the Department found that table styles 4600 
and 4606 produced by Lifetime Plastic Products Ltd. are within the 
scope of the order because these products have all of the components 
that constitute a folding metal table as described in the scope.
    On July 13, 2005, the Department issued a scope ruling determining 
that ``butterfly'' chairs are not within the scope of the antidumping 
duty order because they do not meet the physical description of 
merchandise covered by the scope of the order as they do not have cross 
braces affixed to the front and/or rear legs, and the seat and back is 
one piece of cloth that is not affixed

[[Page 3562]]

to the frame with screws, rivets, welds, or any other type of fastener.
    On July 13, 2005, the Department issued a scope ruling determining 
that folding metal chairs imported by Korhani of America Inc. are 
within the scope of the antidumping duty order because the imported 
chair has a wooden seat, which is padded with foam and covered with 
fabric or polyvinyl chloride, attached to the tubular steel seat frame 
with screws, and has cross braces affixed to its legs.
    On May 1, 2006, the Department issued a scope ruling determining 
that ``moon chairs'' are not included within the scope of the 
antidumping duty order because moon chairs have different physical 
characteristics, different uses, and are advertised differently than 
chairs covered by the scope of the order.
    On October 4, 2007, the Department issued a scope ruling 
determining that International E-Z Up Inc.'s (``E-Z Up'') Instant Work 
Bench is not included within the scope of the antidumping duty order 
because its legs and weight do not match the description of the folding 
metal tables in the scope of the order.
    On April 18, 2008, the Department issued a scope ruling determining 
that the VIKA Twofold 2-in-1 Workbench/Scaffold (``Twofold Workbench/
Scaffold'') imported by Ignite USA, LLC from the PRC is not included 
within the scope of the antidumping duty order because its rotating leg 
mechanism differs from the folding metal tables subject to the order, 
and its weight is twice as much as the expected maximum weight for 
folding metal tables within the scope of the order.

Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in the post-preliminary comments by parties in 
this review are addressed in the memorandum from Gary Taverman, Acting 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, to Ronald K. 
Lorentzen, Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, 
``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 2006-2007 Administrative 
Review of Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the People's Republic of 
China'' (January 12, 2009) (``Issues and Decision Memorandum''), which 
is hereby adopted by this notice. A list of the issues that parties 
raised and to which we responded in the Issues and Decision Memorandum 
is attached to this notice as an appendix. The Issues and Decision 
Memorandum is a public document and is on file in the Central Records 
Unit (``CRU'') in room 1117 in the main Department building, and is 
also accessible on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn. The paper copy 
and electronic version of the memorandum are identical in content.

Changes Since the Preliminary Results

    Based on our analysis of comments received, we have made changes in 
the margin calculations for Feili, Dongguan Shichang Metals Factory 
Co., Ltd. (``Shichang''), a respondent, and New-Tec.

General Issues

    We have revised the surrogate value for electricity. For the final 
results, we find that the best available information with which to 
value electricity is the electricity price data for small, medium, and 
large industries, as published by the Central Electricity Authority of 
the Government of India in its publication titled Electricity Tariff & 
Duty and Average Rates of Electricity Supply in India, dated July 
2006.\5\ These electricity rates represent actual country-wide, 
publicly-available information on tax-exclusive electricity rates 
charged to industries in India. Since the rates are contemporaneous 
with the POR, we have not inflated the values.
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    \5\ See Memorandum to the File, ``Final Results of the 2006-2007 
Administrative Review of Folding Metal Tables and Chairs from the 
People's Republic of China: Surrogate Value Memorandum,'' at 2 
(January 12, 2009) (``Final Surrogate Value Memorandum''), and 
attachment to Letter to All Interested Parties, titled ``Source for 
Electricity Valuation and Final Briefing Schedule,'' September 15, 
2008.
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    We excluded the financial statement of Godrej and Boyce 
Manufacturing Co. Ltd. for the year ending March 31, 2007, and used the 
2007 financial statement of Maximaa Systems Limited for the calculation 
of surrogate financial ratios.\6\
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    \6\ See Final Surrogate Value Memorandum, at 2 and Attachment 
III, and Issues and Decision Memorandum, at Comment 1.
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Feili

    In light of the Department's pending anti-circumvention 
investigation, we find that Feili has not satisfied all three 
requirements for revocation under 19 CFR 351.222. Accordingly, we are 
not revoking the antidumping order with respect to Feili.

Final Results of Review

    We determine that the following dumping margins exist for the POR:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Weighted-Average
                Exporter/Manufacturer                  Margin Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feili[ast]..........................................                0.02
New-Tec[ast]........................................                0.06
Shichang[ast].......................................                0.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ast] This rate is de minimis.

Assessment

    The Department will determine, and U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (``CBP'') shall assess, antidumping duties on all 
appropriate entries of subject merchandise in accordance with the final 
results of this review. For assessment purposes, we calculated 
exporter/importer- (or customer) -specific assessment rates for 
merchandise subject to this review. Where appropriate, we calculated an 
ad valorem rate for each importer (or customer) by dividing the total 
dumping margins for reviewed sales to that party by the total entered 
values associated with those transactions. For duty-assessment rates 
calculated on this basis, we will direct CBP to assess the resulting ad 
valorem rate against the entered customs values for the subject 
merchandise. Where appropriate, we calculated a per-unit rate for each 
importer (or customer) by dividing the total dumping margins for 
reviewed sales to that party by the total sales quantity associated 
with those transactions. For duty-assessment rates calculated on this 
basis, we will direct CBP to assess the resulting per-unit rate against 
the entered quantity of the subject merchandise. Where an importer- (or 
customer) -specific assessment rate is de minimis (i.e., less than 0.50 
percent), the Department will instruct CBP to assess that importer (or 
customer's) entries of subject merchandise without regard to 
antidumping duties. We intend to instruct CBP to liquidate entries 
containing subject merchandise exported by the PRC-wide entity at the 
PRC-wide rate we determine in the final results of this review. The 
Department intends to issue appropriate assessment instructions 
directly to CBP 15 days after publication of the final results of this 
review.

Cash-Deposit Requirements

    The following cash-deposit requirements will be effective upon 
publication of these final results of this administrative review for 
all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date, as 
provided for by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) for subject 
merchandise exported by Feili, New-Tec, and Shichang, the final 
weighted-average margins are below de minimis; therefore, no cash 
deposit of estimated antidumping duties will be required; (2) for 
previously reviewed or investigated exporters not listed above that 
have separate rates, the cash-deposit rate will continue to be the 
exporter-specific rate

[[Page 3563]]

published for the most recent period; (3) for all PRC exporters of 
subject merchandise, which have not been found to be entitled to a 
separate rate, the cash-deposit rate will be the PRC-wide rate of 70.71 
percent; and (4) for all non-PRC exporters of subject merchandise that 
have not received their own rate, the cash-deposit rate will be the 
rate applicable to the PRC exporter that supplied that non-PRC 
exporter. These deposit requirements shall remain in effect until 
further notice.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice serves as a final reminder to importers of their 
responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate 
regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation 
of the relevant entries during the review period. Pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.402(f)(3), failure to comply with this requirement could result in 
the Department's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties 
occurred and the subsequent assessment of doubled antidumping duties.
    This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (``APO'') of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO as explained in the administrative protective order itself. Timely 
written notification of the return/destruction of APO materials or 
conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to 
comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable 
violation.
    This notice of the final results of this administrative review is 
issued and published in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i) 
of the Act.

    Dated: January 12, 2009.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretaryfor Import Administration.

Appendix

List of Comments and Issues in the Issues and Decision Memorandum
Comment 1: Use of the Appropriate Financial Statements for Calculation 
of Surrogate Financial Ratios
Comment 2: Use of Market Economy Purchase Prices for Certain New-Tec 
Factors of Production
Comment 3A: Likelihood of Future Dumping as a Result of Raw Material 
Price Increases if the Order is Revoked, in Part
Comment 3B: Whether to Revoke Order in Part While the Circumvention 
Inquiry is Pending
[FR Doc. E9-1106 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S