Antidumping Proceedings: Calculation of the Weighted Average Dumping Margin and Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping Duty Proceedings

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION:

Proposed Rule; Proposed Modification; Request for Comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce (“the Department”) is requesting comments regarding the calculation of the weighted average dumping margin and antidumping duty assessment rate in certain antidumping duty proceedings. Currently, in a review of an antidumping duty order conducted under 19 CFR 351.213 (administrative review), 351.214 (new shipper review), and 351.215 (expedited antidumping review) (collectively “reviews”), the Department usually makes comparisons between transaction-specific export prices and average normal values and does not offset any dumping that is found with the results of comparisons for which the transaction-specific export price exceeds the average normal value. In addition, in the most recent original antidumping duty investigation in which the Department calculated the weighted average margins of dumping using transaction-to-transaction comparisons, the Department did not grant offsets for non-dumped comparisons. Several World Trade Organization (“WTO”) dispute settlement reports have found that the United States application of these methodologies was inconsistent with our WTO obligations. In response to these reports, the Department proposes modification of its methodologies, including changes to certain provisions of the Department's regulations.

DATES:

To be assured of consideration, comments must be received no later than January 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

All comments must be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov,, Docket No. ITA-2010-0011, unless the commenter does not have access to the internet. Commenters that do not have access to the internet may submit the original and two copies of each set of comments by mail or hand delivery/courier to Ronald K. Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Room 1870, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20230. The comments should also be identified by Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 0625-AA87.

The Department will consider all comments received before the close of the comment period. The Department will not accept comments accompanied by a request that part or all of the material be treated confidentially because of its business proprietary nature or for any other reason. All comments responding to this notice will be a matter of public record and will be available for inspection at Import Administration's Central Records Unit (Room 7046 of the Herbert C. Hoover Building) and on the Department's Web site at http://www.trade.gov/ia/ .

Any questions concerning file formatting, document conversion, access on the Internet, or other electronic filing issues should be addressed to Andrew Lee Beller, Import Administration Webmaster, at (202) 482-0866, e-mail address: webmaster-support@ita.doc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Quentin M. Baird, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In antidumping proceedings, the Department determines margins of dumping by comparing normal value with the export price of comparable merchandise. Pursuant to 19 CFR 414(c)(2), in a review, the Department normally will compare normal value and export price using the average-to-transaction method, which involves a comparison of the weighted average normal value to export price of individual transactions for comparable merchandise. When determining the weighted average margin of dumping in a review, the Department aggregates the results of these comparisons and has not allowed the results of the comparisons for which export price exceeds normal value to offset the results of comparisons for which export price is less than normal value. When determining importer-specific assessment rates in a review, the Department similarly aggregates the results of importer-specific comparisons and has not allowed the results of the comparisons for which export price exceeds normal value to offset the result of comparisons for which export price is less than normal value.

Pursuant to section 777A(d)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (“the Act”), in an investigation, the Department may determine whether the subject merchandise is being sold at less than fair value by comparing normal values of individual transactions to the export prices of individual transactions for comparable merchandise (the transaction-to-transaction comparison method). The Department's regulations state that Department will use the transaction-to-transaction method only in unusual situations, such as when there are very few sales of subject merchandise and the merchandise sold in each market is identical or very similar or is custom-made. 19 CFR 351.414(c)(1). The Department has rarely applied the transaction-to-transaction comparison method in investigations. In the most recent investigation in which the Department calculated the weighted average margins of dumping using transaction-to-transaction comparisons, the Department did not grant offsets for non-dumped comparisons.

The above methodologies have been challenged as being inconsistent with the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (“GATT 1994”) and the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994 (“Antidumping Agreement”). In several disputes, the WTO Dispute Settlement Body has adopted dispute settlement panel reports, as modified by the WTO Appellate Body, which found denial of offsets for non-dumped comparisons in reviews to be inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations. The WTO Appellate Body also found denial of offsets for non-dumped comparisons in original investigations using transaction-to-transaction comparisons to be inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations. In addition, certain of the Department's determinations made pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act (five-year reviews) were found to be inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations insofar as those determinations relied on weighted average margins of dumping calculated using the methodologies found to be inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations.

Proposal for Calculating the Weighted Average Dumping Margin and Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping Duty Proceedings and Request for Comment

Pursuant to section 123(g)(1) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (“the URAA”), “[i]n any case in which a dispute settlement panel or the Appellate Body finds in its report that a regulation or practice of a department or agency of the United States is inconsistent with any of the Uruguay Round Agreements,” certain requirements must be met before “that regulation or practice” may be “amended, rescinded, or otherwise modified * * * .” Section 123(g)(1)(C) of the URAA requires that the Department provide opportunity for public comment by publishing “the proposed modifications and the explanation of the modification” in the Federal Register.

Pursuant to section 123(g)(1) of the URAA, by this notice the Department is proposing modifications to its practice in response to the following WTO dispute settlement findings. The WTO Appellate Body in US-Zeroing (EC), US-Zeroing (Japan), US-Stainless Steel (Mexico), US-Continued Zeroing (EC) found denial of offsets for non-dumped comparisons in antidumping duty administrative reviews to be inconsistent with Article 9.3 of the Antidumping Agreement and Article VI:2 of the GATT 1994, either “as such,” or “as applied” in certain administrative reviews, or both. In US-Zeroing (Japan), the WTO Appellate Body also found denial of offsets for non-dumped comparisons in antidumping duty original investigations using transaction-to-transaction comparisons was inconsistent with Articles 2.4 and 2.4.2 of the Antidumping Agreement. In addition, in US-Zeroing (Japan), the WTO Appellate Body found denial of offsets for non-dumped comparisons in antidumping duty new shipper reviews was inconsistent with Articles 2.4 and 9.5 of the Antidumping Agreement. Finally, in US-Zeroing (EC), US-Zeroing (Japan), and US-Continued Zeroing (EC), the WTO Appellate Body found reliance on weighted average margins of dumping calculated without granting offsets for non-dumped comparisons as the basis for determinations made in certain five-year (sunset) reviews was inconsistent with Article 11.3 of the Antidumping Agreement.

In response to prior findings of inconsistency with respect to the Department's calculation of weighted average margins of dumping in original investigations, the Department previously modified its methodology such that it now provides offsets for non-dumped comparisons when using average-to-average comparisons in original investigations. In response to the findings of inconsistency identified above, the Department now proposes to modify its methodology for calculating weighted average margins of dumping and assessment rates to provide offsets for non-dumped comparisons while using monthly average-to-average comparisons in reviews in a manner that parallels the WTO-consistent methodology the Department currently applies in original investigations. In particular, except where the Department determines that application of a different comparison method is more appropriate, in reviews, the Department proposes to compare monthly weighted average export prices with monthly weighted average normal values and to grant an offset for such comparisons that show export price exceeds normal value in the calculation of the weighted average margin of dumping and assessment rate. Where the weighted average margin of dumping is zero or de minimis, no antidumping duties will be assessed. In addition, to the extent that any prior original antidumping duty investigations using transaction-to-transaction comparisons could be considered as establishing a practice of the Department with respect to the granting or denial of offsets for non-dumped comparisons when calculating the weighted average margin of dumping, the Department proposes to withdraw any such practice. With respect to the findings of inconsistency in certain of the Department's five-year (sunset) reviews, the Department notes that the underlying issue is the methodology for calculating weighted average dumping margins in investigations and reviews, which is addressed by the modifications the Department has made with respect to investigations and is proposing herein to make with respect to reviews. Moreover, the Department recognizes that while section 752(c) of the Act provides that the Department shall consider the weighted average dumping margins determined in the investigation and subsequent reviews, among other factors, the Act does not require the Department to rely on the weighted average dumping margins, or any particular weighted average dumping margin, as the basis for its determinations in five-year (sunset) reviews where such reliance would render the determination inconsistent with the United States' international obligations.

The modified methodology for reviews requires the Department to revise certain provisions of the Department's regulations. In particular, 19 CFR 351.414(a) and (c) indicate a preference for making “average-to-transaction” comparisons in administrative reviews. This proposed rule would revise these provisions to permit application of average-to-average comparisons in reviews in a manner that parallels the comparison methods used in original investigations. In addition, § 351.414(d)(3) and (e) of the Department's regulations set forth the time periods over which weighted averages are calculated. Section 351.414(d)(3) provides that when applying the “average-to-average” method, the weighted averages will normally be calculated over the entire period of investigation or review, unless another averaging period is deemed appropriate. Section 351.414(e) provides that when applying the preferred “average-to transaction” method in a review, the Department will calculate weighted average normal values on a monthly basis. The Department proposes to modify § 351.414(d)(3) to permit weighted averages to normally be calculated on a monthly basis in reviews, regardless of the comparison method used. Conforming changes to § 351.414(e) will ensure § 351.414(d)(3) and (e) do not contain redundant language. Proposed language for the modified provisions is set forth at the end of this notice.

Submission of Comments

As specified above, to be assured of consideration, comments must be received no later than January 27, 2011.

The Department will consider all comments received before the close of the comment period. The Department will not accept comments accompanied by a request that part or all of the material be treated confidentially because of its business proprietary nature or for any other reason. All comments responding to this notice will be a matter of public record and will be available for inspection at Import Administration's Central Records Unit (Room 7046 of the Herbert C. Hoover Building) and on the Department's Web site at http://www.trade.gov/ia/ .

Any questions concerning file formatting, document conversion, access on the Internet, or other electronic filing issues should be addressed to Andrew Lee Beller, Import Administration Webmaster, at (202) 482-0866, e-mail address: webmaster-support@ita.doc.gov.

Timetable

After considering all comments received, the Department intends to publish in the Federal Register a Final Rule and Final Modification regarding the calculation of the weighted average dumping margin and assessment rate in certain antidumping duty proceedings. See section 123(g)(1)(F) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3533(g)(1)(F)). Any changes in methodology will be applicable in any determinations made pursuant to section 129 of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3538) in connection with the above-referenced WTO disputes, and in all reviews pending before the Department for which a preliminary results is issued more than 60 business days after the date of publication of the Department's Final Rule and Final Modification.

Classification

Executive Order 12866

The proposed rule has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Chief Counsel for Regulation has certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) under the provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that the proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities. An explanation of the provisions that would be implemented by this rule is provided in the preamble and is not repeated here. The entities that could be impacted by this rulemaking include U.S. importers of merchandise subject to antidumping duty orders. Currently, the Department is not able to estimate the number of small entities that will be impacted by this proposed rule, but the Department anticipates that some of the entities affected by the proposed rule may be considered small entities under the SBA small business standard. However, the Department has determined that the proposed rule will not adversely impact small business entities. The proposed rule, by granting offsets in the calculation of the dumping margin and assessment rate, will not increase antidumping duty liability. Thus no Initial Regulatory Flexibility Act statement is required, nor has one been prepared.

Paperwork Reduction Act

The proposed rule does not contain a collection of information for purposes of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, as amended (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 351

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Antidumping
• Business and industry
• Cheese
• Confidential business information
• Countervailing duties
• Freedom of information
• Investigations
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

For the reasons stated, ITA proposes to amend 19 CFR part 351 as follows:

PART 351—ANTIDUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING DUTIES

1. The authority citation for part 351 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 19 U.S.C. 1202 note; 19 U.S.C. 1303 note; 19 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.; and 19 U.S.C. 3538.

2. Section 351.414 is revised to read as follows: