Final affirmative determination of circumvention, final affirmative covered merchandise determination, and rescission of certification process - antidumping duty order on monosodium glutamate from the People's Republic of China (A-570-992, Third-Country Case Number: A-557-992)

1. On 05/22/2025, Commerce issued a final determination that monosodium glutamate (MSG) finished in Malaysia using glutamic acid produced in China, and subsequently exported from Malaysia to the United States is circumventing the antidumping duty order on monosodium glutamate from the People's Republic of China (A-570-992). See 90 FR 22702. On 01/14/2025, in response to a covered merchandise referral from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Commerce published notice that it intended to address the covered merchandise referral within the ongoing circumvention inquiry and would determine whether MSG finished in Malaysia using glutamic acid produced in China, and subsequently exported from Malaysia to the United States is covered by the scope of the antidumping duty order on MSG from China. See 90 FR 3183. 2. Specifically, Commerce determined that MSG finished in Malaysia using glutamic acid produced in China, and subsequently exported from Malaysia to the United States is covered by the scope of the order based on the totality of the circumstances with respect to the criteria described in section 781(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. 3. This final circumvention determination is applicable on a country-wide basis, regardless of foreign producer, exporter, or importer. 4a. Continue to suspend liquidation of entries of MSG finished in Malaysia using glutamic acid produced in China, and subsequently exported from Malaysia to the United States that are already subject to the suspension of liquidation under the antidumping duty order on monosodium glutamate from the People's Republic of China in accordance with message 4144409, dated 05/23/2024, and message 5080401, dated 03/21/2025 (as corrected by message 5094416, dated 04/04/2025). 4b. For all entries of MSG finished in Malaysia using glutamic acid produced in China and subsequently exported from Malaysia to the United States not already subject to the suspension of liquidation, CBP should suspend liquidation, of (i) shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 05/15/2024, and (ii) shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption prior to 05/15/2024 but no earlier than November 4, 2021. CBP shall require, for such entries, a cash deposit at the applicable rate(s) in effect on the date of entry. Commerce established a third-country case number to allow MSG completed/assembled in Malaysia to be properly reported as subject to the order on monosodium glutamate from the People's Republic of China (A-570-992) upon entry. Third Country: Malaysia Case Number: A-557-992 Producer and/or Exporter: All Others Case Number: A-557-992-000 Cash Deposit Rate: 56.54% The third country AD/CVD case number above has been assigned for CBP purposes. 4c. Entries of products covered by subparagraphs 4a and 4b should not be liquidated until specific liquidation instructions are issued. Any entries which are set for liquidation must be unset immediately. 5. Rescission of Certification Process - In message 5080401, dated 03/21/2025 (as corrected by message 5094416, dated 04/04/2025), Commerce notified CBP of a certification process for certain entries of MSG from Malaysia that were produced using non-Chinese origin glutamic acid. In the final determination, Commerce rescinded this certification process. See 90 FR 22702. Accordingly, effective 05/29/2025, the certification identified in message 5080401 (as corrected by message 5094416) cannot be submitted to CBP. 6. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.226(l)(5), this instruction does not affect or otherwise limit CBP's independent authority to take any additional action with respect to the suspension of liquidation or related measures. 7. 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 OVII: TC.) 8. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur