Notice of a preliminary determination in an antidumping duty investigation of Low Melt Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea (A-580-895) and critical circumstances for -000 and -002

1. On 02/02/2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register (83 FR 4906) its affirmative preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value, preliminary affirmative determination of critical circumstances, in part, and postponement of the final determination in the antidumping duty investigation of low melt polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea (A-580-895). 2. The merchandise subject to this investigation is synthetic staple fibers, not carded or combed, specifically bi-component polyester fibers having a polyester fiber component that melts at a lower temperature than the other polyester fiber component. The scope includes bi-component polyester staple fibers of any denier or cut length. The subject merchandise may be coated, usually with a finish or dye, or not coated. Excluded from the scope of the investigation on low melt polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea are any products covered by the existing antidumping duty order on certain polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea. See Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value: Certain Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea and Antidumping Duty Orders: Certain Polyester Staple Fiber from the Republic of Korea and Taiwan, 65 FR 33807 (May 25, 2000). Low melt polyester staple fiber is classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 5503.20.0015. Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the merchandise under the investigation is dispositive. 3. This proceeding has been assigned case number A-580-895. 4. Because Commerce determined that critical circumstances exist for imports of low melt polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea from the producers and/or exporters listed below, CBP shall suspend liquidation of all appropriate entries of low melt polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea that are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 11/04/2017 which is 90 days before the date of publication of the preliminary determination in the Federal Register. Effective 11/04/2017, for entries of low melt polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea from the producer(s) and/or exporter(s) listed below, CBP shall require a cash deposit or the posting of a bond equal to the following dumping margins: Producer and/or Exporter: Toray Chemical Korea Inc. Case number: A-580-895-002 Cash deposit rate: 16.48% Producer and/or Exporter: All Others Case number: A-580-895-000 Cash deposit rate: 16.48% 5. Commerce found that a de minimis margin of 0.00 percent exists for imports of low melt polyester staple fiber from the Republic of Korea that was produced and exported by Huvis Corporation (A-580-895-001). Therefore, CBP shall not suspend liquidation of such shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 02/02/2018. 6. If any entries of this merchandise are exported by a firm other than the producer, then the following instructions apply: A. If the exporter of the subject merchandise does not have its own rate but the producer has its own rate, the cash deposit or bonding rate will be the producer's rate. B. Where neither the exporter nor the producer has its own rate or the producer is unknown, use the all-others rate of 16.48 percent to establish the cash deposit. 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 O2:AM) 8. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur