Preliminary scope determination - antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain hardwood plywood products and veneered panels from the People's Republic of China (A-570-051 and C-570-052).

1. On 07/29/2022, in response to a request by the Coalition for Fair Trade in Hardwood Plywood, Commerce published a preliminary scope determination and affirmative preliminary determination of circumvention for certain hardwood plywood products and veneered panels (hardwood plywood) assembled in Vietnam under the production scenarios identified below (87 FR 45753) (Preliminary Determination). 1. Face veneer, back veneer, and assembled core components (e.g., veneer core platforms) (see note below) manufactured in China and assembled in Vietnam; 2. Fully assembled veneer core platforms manufactured in China that are combined in Vietnam with face and/or back veneers produced in Vietnam or third countries; 3. Multi-ply panels of glued core veneers manufactured in China that are combined in Vietnam to produce veneer core platforms and combined with either a face and/or back veneer produced in China, Vietnam, or a third country; 4. Face veneer, back veneer, and individual core veneers produced in China and assembled into hardwood plywood in Vietnam; and 5. Individual core veneers manufactured in China and processed into a veneer core platform in Vietnam and combined with a face and/or back veneer produced in Vietnam or other third country. Note to CBP: A veneer core platform is defined as two or more wood veneers that form the core of an otherwise completed hardwood plywood product (i.e., a hardwood plywood product to which the outer (face and back) veneers have not yet been affixed). 2. Commerce preliminarily found hardwood plywood assembled in Vietnam under production scenarios 1, 2, or 3, as identified above, to be within the scope of the orders because these products involve inputs that are first glued in China and, thus, are in-scope Chinese country-of-origin merchandise. In addition, Commerce found that even when combined with face and back veneers that are not from China, the processing occurring in Vietnam is minor and does not transform the inputs such that the country of origin would change. Importers should report entries that were produced under production scenarios 1, 2, or 3 under the case numbers established for the orders on hardwood plywood from China, A-570-051/C-570-052. Note to CBP: On 07/29/2022, concurrently with this scope ruling, Commerce preliminarily determined that hardwood plywood assembled in Vietnam under production scenarios 4 and 5 identified above, and exported to the United States, is circumventing the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on hardwood plywood from China. The preliminary cash deposit instructions for Commerce's circumvention determination will be issued separately from these instructions. 3. Suspension of Liquidation Continue to suspend liquidation of entries of hardwood plywood from China, including entries of hardwood plywood assembled in Vietnam under production scenarios 1, 2, or 3, as described above, that do not meet the certification requirements described in paragraphs 4 through 4c.(iii) . 4. Certification Requirements If an importer imports hardwood plywood from Vietnam and claims that the hardwood plywood was completed in Vietnam using a production scenario other than those identified in paragraph 1, the importer and exporter are required to meet the certification and documentation requirements described below in order for no suspension of liquidation and no cash deposit to be required for such entries 4a. Eligibility for Certification 4a.(i) Except for the companies listed in paragraph 4a(ii), importers and exporters of hardwood plywood from Vietnam are eligible for the certification process detailed below and in the Preliminary Determination (87 FR 45753). 4a.(ii) The companies listed below are currently not eligible to certify that their hardwood plywood is assembled in Vietnam using a production scenario other than those identified in paragraph 1. An An Plywood Joint Stock Company Arrow Forest International Co., Ltd. BAC Son Woods Processing Joint Stock Company Bao Yen MDF Joint Stock Company BHL Thai Nguyen Corp. BHL Vietnam Investment and Development Dong Tam Production Trading Company Limited Eagle Industries Company Limited Golden Bridge Industries Pte. Ltd. Govina Investment Joint Stock Company Greatriver Wood Co., Ltd. Greatwood Company Limited Greatwood Hung Yen Joint Stock Company Groll Ply and Cabinetry Hai Hien Bamboo Wood Joint Stock Company Her Hui Wood (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. Hoang LAM Plywood Joint Stock Co. Huong Son Wood Group Co., Ltd. Innovgreen Thanh Hoa Co., Ltd. Lechenwood Viet Nam Company Limited Linwood Vietnam Co., Ltd Long LUU Plywood Production Co., Ltd. Long Phat Construction Investment and Trade Joint Stock Company Plywood Sunshine Ltd. Co. Quang Phat Woods JSC Quoc Thai Forestry Import Export Limited Company Rongjia Woods Vietnam Company Limited Sumec Huongson Wood Group Co., Ltd. Tan Tien Co., Ltd. TEKCOM Corporation Thang Long Wood Panel Company Ltd. Thanh Hoa Stone Export Company Truong Son North Construction JSC Vietind Co. Ltd. Vietnam Golden Timber Company Limited Win Faith Trading 4b. Certification Requirements for Importers and Exporters 4b.(i) For entries of hardwood plywood from Vietnam entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 06/17/2020 (the date of initiation of this scope inquiry) for which the importer claims that the hardwood plywood was assembled in Vietnam using a production scenario other than those identified in paragraph 1, the importer and exporter are required to meet the certification and documentation requirements detailed in the certification below in order for no suspension of liquidation and no cash deposit to be required for such entries. 4b.(ii) The exporter is further required to provide the importer a copy of the exporter certification, and the importer is required to maintain a copy of the exporter certification. 4b.(iii) The importer and exporter are required to maintain sufficient documentation supporting the importer and exporter certifications (e.g., production records, invoices, etc.). The importer and exporter are required to maintain the certification and supporting documentation for the later of (1) a period of five years from the date of entry or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in United States courts regarding such entries. 4b.(iv) Although the importer will not be required to submit the certification or supporting documentation to CBP as part of the entry process, the importer and the exporter will be required to present the certification and supporting documentation to Commerce and/or CBP, as applicable, upon request by the respective agency. 4b.(v) Agents of the importer, such as brokers, are not permitted to make this certification. Where the importer uses a broker to facilitate the entry process, it should obtain the entry number and date of entry from the broker. 4b.(vi) The exporter certification should be completed by the party selling the merchandise manufactured in Vietnam to the United States, which may not necessarily be the producer of the product. 4b.(vii) The claims made in the importer and exporter certifications and any supporting documentation are subject to verification by Commerce and/or CBP. 4c. Certification Timing Requirements for Importers and Exporters 4c.(i) For entries of hardwood plywood (1) shipped and/or (2) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period 06/17/2020 through 07/28/2022 for which certifications are required, importers and exporters have the option to complete: (a) a blanket certification covering multiple entries, (b) individual certifications for each entry, or (c) a combination thereof. Importer and exporter certifications for these entries should be completed, signed, and dated no later than 09/12/2022 (within 45 days of publication of the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register). Accordingly, the relevant bullet in the certification should be edited to reflect that the certification was completed within this time frame. For example, the bullet in the importer certification that reads, "This certification was completed by the time of filing the entry summary," could be edited as follows: "The imports referenced herein entered before 07/29/2022, the date on which Commerce published notice of its preliminary scope and circumvention findings in the Federal Register. This certification was completed on mm/dd/yyyy, within 45 days of the Federal Register notice publication." Similarly, exporters should complete the language in paragraph E in the exporter certification that reads: "The shipments/products referenced herein shipped before 07/29/2022, the date on which Commerce published notice of its preliminary scope and anti-circumvention findings in the Federal Register. This certification was completed on mm/dd/yyyy, within 45 days of the Federal Register notice publication." Additionally, the exporter must provide the importer a copy of the exporter certification and supporting documents within 45 days of the Preliminary Determination publication. 4c.(ii) For subject merchandise (1) shipped and/or (2) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 07/29/2022, for which certifications are required: -- the importer certification must be completed, signed, and dated by the time of filing of the entry summary for the relevant importation; and -- the exporter certification must be completed, signed, dated and provided to the importer by the time of shipment. Note: For merchandise shipped within 30 days of 07/29/2022, the certification requirements should be met as soon as practicable, but no later than 45 days of the Preliminary Determination publication. 4c.(iii) For unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) of merchandise entered as non-AD/CVD type entries (e.g., type 01) that were (1) shipped and/or (2) entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period 06/17/2020 through 07/29/2022, for which a conversion from non-AD/CVD to AD/CVD type is required; importers should file a Post Summary Correction with CBP (in accordance with CBP's regulations) using the case number associated with the order on plywood from China, A-570-051/C-570-052 . Similarly, the importer should pay cash deposits on those entries consistent with the regulations governing post summary corrections that require payment of additional duties. 5. Certifications 5a. IMPORTER CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that: (A) My name is {IMPORTING COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME} and I am an official of {NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY}, located at {ADDRESS OF IMPORTING COMPANY}. (B) I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the importation into the Customs territory of the United States of the hardwood plywood completed in Vietnam that entered under entry summary number(s), identified below, and are covered by this certification. "Direct personal knowledge" refers to facts the certifying party is expected to have in its own records. For example, the importer should have "direct personal knowledge" of the importation of the product (e.g., the name of the exporter) in its records; (C) I have personal knowledge of the facts regarding the production of the imported products covered by this certification. "Personal knowledge" includes facts obtained from another party, (e.g., correspondence received by the importer (or exporter) from the producer regarding the source of the hardwood plywood inputs used to produce the imported products); (D) This certification applies to the following entries (repeat this block as many times as necessary): Entry Summary #: Entry Summary Line Item #: Foreign Seller: Foreign Seller's Address: Foreign Seller's Invoice #: Foreign Seller's Invoice Line Item #: Country of Origin of core veneers/veneered panels/veneer core platforms: (E) The hardwood plywood completed in Vietnam was not produced under any of the production scenarios subject to these certifications: 1. Face veneer, back veneer, and assembled core components (e.g., veneer core platforms (see note below)) manufactured in China and assembled in Vietnam; 2. Fully assembled veneer core platforms manufactured in China that are combined in Vietnam with face and/or back veneers produced in Vietnam or third countries; 3. Multi-ply panels of glued core veneers manufactured in China that are combined in Vietnam to produce veneer core platforms and combined with either a face and/or back veneer produced in China, Vietnam, or a third country; 4. Face veneer, back veneer, and individual core veneers produced in China and assembled into hardwood plywood in Vietnam; and 5. Individual core veneers manufactured in China and processed into a veneer core platform in Vietnam and combined with a face and/or back veneer produced in Vietnam or other third country; Note: A veneer core platform is defined as two or more wood veneers that form the core of an otherwise completed hardwood plywood product (i.e., a hardwood plywood product to which the outer (face and back) veneers have not yet been affixed). (F) I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation supporting this certification (i.e., documents maintained in the normal course of business, or documents obtained by the certifying party, for example, certificates of origin, production records, invoices, USDA Plant and Plant Product Declaration Form etc.) for the later of (1) a period of five years from the date of entry or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding such entries; (G) I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to provide this certification and supporting records, upon request, to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or the Department of Commerce (Commerce); (H) I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of the exporter's certification (attesting to the production and/or export of the imported merchandise identified above) and supporting documentation, for the later of (1) a period of five years from the date of entry or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in United States courts regarding such entries; (I) I understand that {IMPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain and provide a copy of the exporter's certification and supporting documentation, upon request, to CBP and/or Commerce; (J) I understand that the claims made herein, and the substantiating documentation, are subject to verification by CBP and/or Commerce; (K) I understand that failure to maintain the required certification and supporting documentation and/or failure to substantiate the claims made herein and/or failure to allow CBP and/or Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de facto determination that all entries to which this certification applies are within the scope of the antidumping/countervailing duty orders on hardwood plywood from China. I understand that such finding will result in: (i) suspension of liquidation of all unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements were not met; (ii) the requirement that the importer post applicable antidumping duty and/or countervailing duty cash deposits (as appropriate) equal to the rates determined by Commerce; and (iii) the revocation of {NAME OF IMPORTING COMPANY}'s privilege to certify that future imports of hardwood plywood are not produced under any of the production scenarios subject to these certifications. (L) I understand that agents of the importer, such as brokers, are not permitted to make this certification; (M) This certification was completed by the time of filing the entry summary or within 45 days of the date on which Commerce published notice of its preliminary scope and anti-circumvention findings in the Federal Register; and (N) I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. Section1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government. Signature {NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} {TITLE} {DATE} 5b. EXPORTER CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that: (A) My name is {COMPANY OFFICIAL'S NAME} and I am an official of {NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY}, located at {ADDRESS OF EXPORTING COMPANY}. (B) I have direct personal knowledge of the facts regarding the production and exportation in the Customs territory of the United States of the hardwood plywood identified below. "Direct personal knowledge" refers to facts the certifying party is expected to have in its own books and records. For example, an exporter should have "direct personal knowledge" of the producer's identity and location; (C) The hardwood plywood completed in Vietnam was not produced under any of the following production scenarios: 1. Face veneer, back veneer, and assembled core components (e.g., veneer core platforms (see note below) manufactured in China and assembled in Vietnam; 2. Fully assembled veneer core platforms manufactured in China that are combined in Vietnam with face and/or back veneers produced in Vietnam or third countries; 3. Multi-ply panels of glued core veneers manufactured in China that are combined in Vietnam to produce veneer core platforms and combined with either a face and/or back veneer produced in China, Vietnam, or a third country; 4. Face veneer, back veneer, and individual core veneers produced in China and assembled into hardwood plywood in Vietnam; and 5. Individual core veneers manufactured in China and processed into a veneer core platform in Vietnam and combined with a face and/or back veneer produced in Vietnam or other third country; Note: A veneer core platform is defined as two or more wood veneers that form the core of an otherwise completed hardwood plywood product (i.e., a hardwood plywood product to which the outer (face and back) veneers have not yet been affixed). (D) This certification applies to the following sales to {NAME OF U.S. CUSTOMER}, located at {ADDRESS OF U.S. CUSTOMER} (repeat this block as many times as necessary): Foreign Seller's Invoice # to U.S. Customer: Foreign Seller's Invoice to U.S. Customer Line item #: Producer's Invoice # to Foreign Seller: (If the foreign seller and the producer are the same party, put NA here.) Producer's Invoice # Foreign Seller: (If the foreign seller and the producer are the same party, put NA here.) Name of core veneers/veneered panel/veneer core platform producer: (E) The hardwood plywood products covered by this certification were shipped to {NAME OF U.S. PARTY TO WHOM MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED}, located at {U.S. ADDRESS TO WHICH MERCHANDISE WAS SHIPPED}. (F) I understand that {NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY} is required to maintain a copy of this certification and sufficient documentation supporting this certification (i.e., documents maintained in the normal course of business, or documents obtained by the certifying party, for example, production records, invoices, etc.) for the later of: (1) a period of five years from the date of entry; or (2) a period of three years after the conclusion of any litigation in the United States courts regarding such entries; (G) I understand that {NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY} must provide this Exporter Certification to the U.S. importer by the time of shipment. {Or} The shipments/products referenced herein shipped before the 07/29/2022, the date on which Commerce published notice of its preliminary scope and anti-circumvention findings in the Federal Register. This certification was completed on mm/dd/yyyy, within 45 days of the Federal Register notice publication; (H) I understand that failure to maintain the required certification and supporting documentation, failure to substantiate the claims made herein, and/or failure to allow CBP and/or Commerce to verify the claims made herein, may result in a de facto determination that all entries to which this certification applies are within the scope of the antidumping (AD)/countervailing duty (CVD) orders on hardwood plywood from China. I understand that such a finding will result in: (i) suspension of all unliquidated entries (and entries for which liquidation has not become final) for which these requirements were not met; (ii) the requirement that the importer post applicable AD and/or CVD cash deposits (as appropriate) equal to the rates as determined by Commerce; and (iii) the revocation of {NAME OF EXPORTING COMPANY}'s privilege to certify that future imports of hardwood plywood are not produced under any of the production scenarios subject to these certifications. (J) This certification was completed at time of shipment or within 45 days of the date on which Commerce published notice of its preliminary scope and anti-circumvention findings in the Federal Register; (K) I am aware that U.S. law (including, but not limited to, 18 U.S.C. Section1001) imposes criminal sanctions on individuals who knowingly and willfully make material false statements to the U.S. government. Signature {NAME OF COMPANY OFFICIAL} {TITLE} {DATE} 6. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, 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 OV: SF.) 7. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur