89 FR 154 pgs. 65317-65319 - Certain Glass Wine Bottles From Mexico: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Preliminary Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
Type: NOTICEVolume: 89Number: 154Pages: 65317 - 65319
Pages: 65317, 65318, 65319Docket number: [A-201-862]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2024-17755 Filed 8-8-24; 8:45 am]
Agency: Commerce Department
Sub Agency: International Trade Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-201-862]
Certain Glass Wine Bottles From Mexico: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Preliminary Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
AGENCY:
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY:
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain glass wine bottles (wine bottles) from Mexico are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.
DATES:
Applicable August 9, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth Bremer or Maria Teresa Aymerich, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4987 or (202) 482-0499, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on January 25, 2024. 1 On May 15, 2024, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation to July 26, 2024. 2 On July 22, 2024, Commerce tolled certain deadlines in this administrative proceeding by seven days. 3 The deadline for the preliminary determination is now August 2, 2024.
Footnotes:
1 ? See Certain Glass Wine Bottles from Chile, the People's Republic of China, and Mexico: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 89 FR 4911 (January 25, 2024) ( Initiation Notice ).
2 ? See Certain Glass Wine Bottles from Chile, the People's Republic of China, and Mexico: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 89 FR 42426 (May 15, 2024).
3 ?See Memorandum, "Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings," dated July 22, 2024.
For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. 4 A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS). ACCESS is available to registered users at https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.
Footnotes:
4 ? See Memorandum, "Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Affirmative Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Certain Glass Wine Bottles from Mexico," dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are wine bottles from Mexico. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations, 5 the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage ( i.e., scope). 6 Certain interested parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this preliminary determination, and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum. 7 Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the scope in Appendix I to this notice.
Footnotes:
5 ? See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
6 ? See Initiation Notice.
7 ? See Memorandum, "Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum," dated May 28, 2024 (Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum).
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Constructed export prices have been calculated in accordance with section 772(b) of the Act. Normal value is calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. Furthermore, pursuant to section 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce has preliminarily relied upon facts otherwise available, with adverse inferences for Glass & Glass S.A. de C.V., JOCOGLASS, and Pavisa Group. For a full description of the methodology underlying the preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Preliminary Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances
In accordance with section 733(e) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206, Commerce preliminarily finds that critical circumstances do not exist for Fevisa Industrial S.A. de C.V. (Fevisa), Owens América S. de R.L. de C.V. (Owens América), and the non-individually investigated companies. For a full description of the methodology and results of Commerce's critical circumstances analysis, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
All-Others Rate
Sections 733(d)(1)(ii) and 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that in the preliminary determination Commerce shall determine an estimated all-others rate for all exporters and producers not individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins established for exporters and producers individually investigated, excluding any zero and de minimis margins, and any margins determined entirely under section 776 of the Act.
In this investigation, Commerce calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margins for Fevisa and Owens América that are not zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available. Commerce calculated the all-others rate using a weighted average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged values for the merchandise under consideration. 8
Footnotes:
8 ? See Memorandum, "All-Others Rate Calculation," dated concurrently with this notice (All-Others Rate Calculation Memorandum). With two respondents under examination, Commerce normally calculates: (A) a weighted-average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents; (B) a simple average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents; and (C) a weighted-average of the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated for the examined respondents using each company's publicly-ranged U.S. sales values for the merchandise under consideration. Commerce then compares (B) and (C) to (A) and selects the rate closest to (A) as the most appropriate rate for all other producers and exporters. See, e.g., Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, Final Results of Changed-Circumstances Review, and Revocation of an Order in Part, 75 FR 53661, 53662 (September 1, 2010), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum at Comment 1. As complete publicly ranged sales data were available, Commerce based the all-others rate on the publicly ranged sales data of the mandatory respondents. For a complete analysis of the data, see the All-Others Rate Calculation Memorandum.
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Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margins exist:
Footnotes:
9 ?Commerce preliminarily determines that the following companies are a single entity: Fevisa Industrial S.A. de C.V.; Fevisa Comercial S.A. de C.V.; Fabrica de Envases de Vidrio S.A. de C.V.; and Fabrica de Envases de Vidrio del Potosi, S.A. de C.V. See the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
| Exporter and/or producer | Estimated weighted- average dumping margin (percent) |
|---|---|
| Fevisa Industrial S.A. de C.V./Fevisa Comercial S.A. de C.V./Fábrica de Envases de Vidrio S.A. de C.V./Fábrica de Envases de Vidrio del Potosi, S.A. de C.V.? 9 | 14.96 |
| Glass & Glass S.A. de C.V. | *?96.95 |
| JOCOGLASS | *?96.95 |
| Owens América S. de R.L. de C.V | 18.08 |
| Pavisa Group | ?*96.95 |
| All Others | 15.96 |
| *?Rate based on adverse facts available. | |
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise, as described in Appendix I, entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register . Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin or the estimated all-others rate, as follows: (1) The cash deposit rate for the respondents listed above will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margins determined in this preliminary determination; (2) if the exporter is not a respondent identified above, but the producer is, then the cash deposit rate will be equal to the company-specific estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for that producer of the subject merchandise; and (3) the cash deposit rate for all other producers and exporters will be equal to the all-others estimated weighted-average dumping margin.
These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties in this preliminary determination within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(e), Commerce will analyze and, if appropriate, correct any timely allegations of significant ministerial errors by amending the preliminary determination. However, consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(d), Commerce will not consider incomplete allegations that do not address the significance standard under 19 CFR 351.224(g) following the preliminary determination. Instead, Commerce will address such allegations in the final determination together with issues raised in the case briefs or other written comments.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to verify the information relied upon in making its final determination.
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than seven days after the date on which the last verification report is issued in this investigation. Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for filing case briefs. 10 Interested parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities. 11
Footnotes:
10 ? See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023) ( APO and Service Final Rule ).
11 ? See 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2), in prior proceedings we have encouraged interested parties to provide an executive summary of their brief that should be limited to five pages total, including footnotes. In this investigation, we instead request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs. 12 Further, we request that interested parties limit their executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final determination in this investigation. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). 13
Footnotes:
12 ?We use the term "issue" here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
13 ? See APO and Service Final Rule.
[top] Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days after the date
Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional Measures
Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by the petitioner. Section 351.210(e)(2) of Commerce's regulations requires that a request by exporters for postponement of the final determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months in duration.
On July 24, 2024, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), Fevisa and Owens América requested that Commerce postpone the final determination and that provisional measures be extended to a period not to exceed six months. 14 In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) the preliminary determination is affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter(s) account(s) for a significant proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date of publication of this preliminary determination.
Footnotes:
14 ? See Fevisa's Letter, "Request for Postponement of Final Determination," dated July 24, 2024; and Owens América's Letter, "Glass Wine Bottles from Mexico-Owens América, S. de R.L. de C.V.'s Request to Extend the Final Determination," dated July 24, 2024.
U.S. International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary determination. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination whether these imports are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).
Dated: August 2, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The merchandise covered by this investigation is certain narrow neck glass bottles, with a nominal capacity of 740 milliliters (25.02 ounces) to 760 milliliters (25.70 ounces); a nominal total height between 24.8 centimeters (9.75 inches) to 35.6 centimeters (14 inches); a nominal base diameter between 4.6 centimeters (1.8 inches) to 11.4 centimeters (4.5 inches); and a mouth with an outer diameter of between 25 millimeters (.98 inches) to 37.9 millimeters (1.5 inches); frequently referred to as a "wine bottle." In scope merchandise may include but is not limited to the following shapes: Bordeaux (also known as "Claret"), Burgundy, Hock, Champagne, Sparkling, Port, Provence, or Alsace (also known as "Germanic"). In scope glass bottles generally have an approximately round base and have shapes including but not limited to, straight-sided, a tapered slope from shoulder ( i.e., the sloping part of the bottle between the neck and the body) to base, or a long neck with sloping shoulders to a wider base. The scope includes glass bottles, whether or not clear, whether or not colored, with or without a punt ( i.e., an indentation on the underside of the bottle), and with or without design or functional enhancements (including, but not limited to, embossing, labeling, or etching). In scope merchandise is made of non-"free blown" glass, i.e., in scope merchandise is produced with the use of a mold and is distinguished by mold seams, joint marks, or parting lines. In scope merchandise is unfilled and may be imported with or without a closure, including a cork, stelvin (screw cap), crown cap, or wire cage and cork closure.
Excluded from the scope of this investigation are: (1) glass containers made of borosilicate glass, meeting United States Pharmacopeia requirements for Type 1 pharmaceutical containers; and (2) glass containers without a "finish" ( i.e., the section of a container at the opening including the lip and ring or collar, threaded or otherwise compatible with a type of closure, including but not limited to a cork, stelvin (screw cap), crown cap, or wire cage and cork closure).
Glass bottles subject to this investigation are specified within the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) under subheading 7010.90.5019. The HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Affiliation and Single Entity Treatment
V. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inference
VI. Discussion of the Methodology
VII. Preliminary Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances
VIII. Currency Conversion
IX. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2024-17755 Filed 8-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P