Countervailing duty order on certain uncoated paper from the People's Republic of China (PRC) (C-570-023)

1. On 03/03/2016, Commerce published in the Federal Register its countervailing duty order on certain uncoated paper from the PRC (81 FR 11187). 2. The merchandise covered by the investigation includes uncoated paper in sheet form; weighing at least 40 grams per square meter but not more than 150 grams per square meter; that either is a white paper with a GE brightness level {footnote 1} of 85 or higher or is a colored paper; whether or not surface-decorated, printed (except as described below), embossed, perforated, or punched; irrespective of the smoothness of the surface; and irrespective of dimensions (Certain Uncoated Paper). Certain Uncoated Paper includes (a) uncoated free sheet paper that meets this scope definition; (b) uncoated ground wood paper produced from bleached chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP) that meets this scope definition; and (c) any other uncoated paper that meets this scope definition regardless of the type of pulp used to produce the paper. Specifically excluded from the scope are (1) paper printed with final content of printed text or graphics and (2) lined paper products, typically school supplies, composed of paper that incorporates straight horizontal and/or vertical lines that would make the paper unsuitable for copying or printing purposes. For purposes of this scope definition, paper shall be considered “printed with final content” where at least one side of the sheet has printed text and/or graphics that cover at least five percent of the surface area of the entire sheet. Imports of the subject merchandise are provided for under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) categories 4802.56.1000, 4802.56.2000, 4802.56.3000, 4802.56.4000, 4802.56.6000, 4802.56.7020, 4802.56.7040, 4802.57.1000, 4802.57.2000, 4802.57.3000, and 4802.57.4000. Some imports of subject merchandise may also be classified under 4802.62.1000, 4802.62.2000, 4802.62.3000, 4802.62.5000, 4802.62.6020, 4802.62.6040, 4802.69.1000, 4802.69.2000, 4802.69.3000, 4811.90.8050 and 4811.90.9080. While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive. Footnote 1: One of the key measurements of any grade of paper is brightness. Generally speaking, the brighter the paper the better the contrast between the paper and the ink. Brightness is measured using a GE Reflectance Scale, which measures the reflection of light off a grade of paper. One is the lowest reflection, or what would be given to a totally black grade, and 100 is the brightest measured grade. “Colored paper” as used in this scope definition means a paper with a hue other than white that reflects one of the primary colors of magenta, yellow, and cyan (red, yellow, and blue) or a combination of such primary colors.   3. For imports of certain uncoated paper from the PRC, CBP shall suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 02/26/2016 (date of publication of the International Trade Commission final determination in the Federal Register). Effective 02/26/2016, CBP shall require a cash deposit equal to the percentages identified below. Producer and/or Exporter: Asia Symbol (Guangdong) Paper Co., Ltd. Case number: C-570-023-001 Cash Deposit Rate: 7.23% Note: The rate above also applies to the following companies: Asia Symbol (Shandong) Pulp & Paper Co., Ltd., Asia Symbol (Guangdong) Omya Minerals Co., Ltd., and Greenpoint Global Trading (Macao Commercial Offshore) Limited. Producer and/or Exporter: Shandong Sun Paper Industry Joint Stock Co., Ltd. Case number: C-570-023-002 Cash Deposit Rate: 176.75% Note: The rate above also applies to Sun Paper (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. Producer and/or Exporter: UPM (China) Co. Ltd. Case number: C-570-023-003 Cash Deposit Rate: 176.75% Note: The rate above also applies to UPM Changshu. Producer and/or Exporter: All Others Case number: C-570-023-000 Cash Deposit Rate: 7.23% 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, 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 OIII:JZ.) 5. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur