Initiation of antidumping duty investigation of Xanthan Gum from Austria (A-433-811)

1. ON 07/02/2012, COMMERCE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ITS INITIATION OF THE ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF XANTHAN GUM FROM AUSTRIA (77 FR 39210). 2. THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION COVERS DRY XANTHAN GUM, WHETHER OR NOT COATED OR BLENDED WITH OTHER PRODUCTS. FURTHER, XANTHAN GUM IS INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION REGARDLESS OF PHYSICAL FORM, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SOLUTIONS, SLURRIES, DRY POWDERS OF ANY PARTICLE SIZE, OR UNGROUND FIBER. XANTHAN GUM THAT HAS BEEN BLENDED WITH OTHER PRODUCT(S) IS INCLUDED IN THIS SCOPE WHEN THE RESULTING MIX CONTAINS 15 PERCENT OR MORE OF XANTHAN GUM BY DRY WEIGHT. OTHER PRODUCTS WITH WHICH XANTHAN GUM MAY BE BLENDED INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, SUGARS, MINERALS, AND SALTS. XANTHAN GUM IS A POLYSACCHARIDE PRODUCED BY AEROBIC FERMENTATION OF XANTHOMONAS CAMPESTRIS. THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURE OF THE REPEATING PENTASACCHARIDE MONOMER UNIT CONSISTS OF A BACKBONE OF TWO P-1,4-D-GIUCOSE MONOSACCHARIDE UNITS, THE SECOND WITH A TRISACCHARIDE SIDE CHAIN CONSISTING OF P-D-MANNOSE-(1,4)- P-DGIUCURONIC ACID-(1,2) - A-D-MANNOSE MONOSACCHARIDE UNITS. THE TERMINAL MANNOSE MAY BE PYRUVYLATED AND THE INTERNAL MANNOSE UNIT MAY BE ACETYLATED. MERCHANDISE COVERED BY THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLASSIFIED IN THE HARMONIZED TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES AT SUBHEADING 3913.90.20. THIS TARIFF CLASSIFICATION IS PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE AND CUSTOMS PURPOSES; HOWEVER, THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE IS DISPOSITIVE. 3. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN ASSIGNED INVESTIGATION NUMBER A-433-811. 4. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS BY THE IMPORTING PUBLIC REGARDING THIS MESSAGE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CALL CENTER FOR THE OFFICE OF AD/CVD OPERATIONS, IMPORT ADMINISTRATION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AT (202) 482-0984. CBP PORTS SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR INQUIRIES THROUGH AUTHORIZED CBP CHANNELS ONLY. (THIS MESSAGE WAS GENERATED BY O4:KG.) 5. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION. MICHAEL B. WALSH