INITIATION OF ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATIONS OF CERTAIN STILBENIC OPTICAL BRIGHTENING AGENTS FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (A-570-972)

1. ON APRIL 27, 2011, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ITS NOTICE OF INITIATION OF THE ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN STILBENIC OPTICAL BRIGHTENING AGENTS FROM THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) (76 FR 23554). 2. THE CERTAIN STILBENIC OPTICAL BRIGHTENING AGENTS (“OBA”) COVERED BY THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ALL FORMS (WHETHER FREE ACID OR SALT) OF COMPOUNDS KNOWN AS TRIAZINYLAMINOSTILBENES (I.E., ALL DERIVATIVES OF 4,4'-BIS [1,3,5- TRIAZIN-2-YL] AMINO-2,2'-STILBENEDISULFONIC ACID), EXCEPT FOR COMPOUNDS LISTED IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH. THE CERTAIN STILBENIC OBAS COVERED BY THE INVESTIGATIONS INCLUDE FINAL STILBENIC OBA PRODUCTS, AS WELL AS INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS THAT ARE THEMSELVES TRIAZINYLAMINOSTILBENES PRODUCED DURING THE SYNTHESIS OF FINAL STILBENIC OBA PRODUCTS. EXCLUDED FROM THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE ALL FORMS OF 4,4'-BIS[4-ANILINO-6-MORPHOLINO-1,3,5-TRIAZIN-2-YL] AMINO-2,2'-STILBENEDISULFONIC ACID, C40H40N12O8S2 (“FLUORESCENT BRIGHTENER 71”). THE INVESTIGATIONS COVER THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED COMPOUNDS IN ANY STATE (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO POWDER, SLURRY, OR SOLUTION), OF ANY CONCENTRATIONS OF ACTIVE CERTAIN STILBENIC OBA INGREDIENT, AS WELL AS ANY COMPOSITIONS REGARDLESS OF ADDITIVES (I.E., MIXTURES OR BLENDS, WHETHER OF CERTAIN STILBENIC OBAS WITH EACH OTHER, OR OF CERTAIN STILBENIC OBAS WITH ADDITIVES THAT ARE NOT CERTAIN STILBENIC OBAS), AND IN ANY TYPE OF PACKAGING. THESE STILBENIC OBAS ARE CLASSIFIABLE UNDER SUBHEADING 3204.20.8000 OF THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES (“HTSUS”), BUT THEY MAY ALSO ENTER UNDER SUBHEADINGS 2933.69.6050, 2921.59.4000 AND 2921.59.8090. ALTHOUGH THE HTSUS SUBHEADINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE AND CUSTOMS PURPOSES, THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE MERCHANDISE IS DISPOSITIVE. 3. FOR FURTHER REPORTING PURPOSES THESE CASES HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED INVESTIGATION NUMBERS A-570-972 (PRC). 4. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER BY CBP OFFICERS, THE IMPORTING PUBLIC OR INTERESTED PARTIES, PLEASE CONTACT DAVINA HASHMI OR RON TRENTHAM AT THE OFFICE OF AD/CVD OPERATIONS, IMPORT ADMINISTRATION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AT (202) 482-0984 OR (202) 482-3577, RESPECTIVELY (GENERATED BY O4: SMH). 5. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION. MICHAEL B. WALSH