Notice of a preliminary determination in an antidumping duty investigation of certain uncoated groundwood paper from Canada (A-122-861)

1. On 03/19/2018, Commerce published in the Federal Register its affirmative preliminary determination of sales at less than fair value and postponement of the final determination in the antidumping duty investigation of certain uncoated groundwood paper from Canada (83 FR 11960). 2. The merchandise covered by this investigation includes certain paper that has not been coated on either side and with 50 percent or more of the cellulose fiber content consisting of groundwood pulp, including groundwood pulp made from recycled paper, weighing not more than 90 grams per square meter. Groundwood pulp includes all forms of pulp produced from a mechanical pulping process, such as thermo-mechanical process (TMP), chemi-thermo mechanical process (CTMP), bleached chemi-thermo mechanical process (BCTMP) or any other mechanical pulping process. The scope includes paper shipped in any form, including but not limited to both rolls and sheets. Certain uncoated groundwood paper includes but is not limited to standard newsprint, high bright newsprint, book publishing, and printing and writing papers. The scope includes paper that is white, off-white, cream, or colored. Specifically excluded from the scope are imports of certain uncoated groundwood paper printed with final content of printed text or graphic. Also excluded are papers that otherwise meet this definition, but which have undergone a supercalendering process.^ Additionally, excluded are papers that otherwise meet this definition, but which have undergone a creping process over the entire surface area of the paper. Also excluded are uncoated groundwood construction paper and uncoated groundwood manila drawing paper in sheet or roll format. Excluded uncoated groundwood construction paper and uncoated groundwood manila drawing paper: (a) have a weight greater than 61 grams per square meter; (b) have a thickness greater than 6.1 caliper, i.e., greater than .0061” or 155 microns; (c) are produced using at least 50 percent thermomechanical pulp; and (d) have a shade, as measured by CIELAB, as follows: L* less than or 75.0 or b* greater than or equal to 25.0. Also excluded is uncoated groundwood directory paper that: (a) has a basis weight of 34 grams per square meter or less; and (b) has a thickness of 2.6 caliper mils or 66 microns or less. Certain uncoated groundwood paper is classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) in several subheadings, including 4801.00.0120, 4801.00.0140, 4802.61.1000, 4802.61.2000, 4802.61.3110, 4802.61.3191, 4802.61.6040, 4802.62.1000, 4802.62.2000, 4802.62.3000, 4802.62.6140, 4802.69.1000, 4802.69.2000, and 4802.69.3000. Subject merchandise may also be imported under several additional subheadings including 4805.91.5000, 4805.91.7000, and 4805.91.9000.^^ Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive. ^ Supercalendering imparts a glossy finish produced by the movement of the paper web through a supercalender which is a stack of alternating rollers of metal and cotton (or other softer material). The supercalender runs at high speed and applies pressure, heat, and friction which glazes the surface of the paper, imparting gloss to the surface and increasing the paper's smoothness and density. ^^ The following HTSUS numbers are no longer active as of January 1, 2017: 4801.00.0020, 4801.00.0040, 4802.61.3010, 4802.61.3091, and 4802.62.6040. 3. This proceeding has been assigned case number A-122-861. 4. For imports of certain uncoated groundwood paper from Canada, CBP shall suspend liquidation of such shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 03/19/2018. Effective 03/19/2018, CBP shall require, for such entries, a cash deposit equal to the margins for the producers and/or exporters listed below: Producer and/or Exporter: Catalyst Pulp and Paper Sales, Inc./Catalyst Paper General Partnership Case number: A-122-861-001 Cash deposit rate: 22.16% All Others Case Number: A-122-861-000 Cash Deposit Rate: 22.16% 5. Commerce found that a de minimis margin of 0.00 percent exists for imports of uncoated groundwood paper from Canada that was produced and exported by: 1) Resolute FP Canada Inc./ Donohue Malbaie Inc. (A-122-861-002); and 2) White Birch Paper Canada Company/Papier Masson WB LP/FF Soucy WB LP/Stadacona WB LP (A-122-861-003). Therefore, CBP shall not suspend liquidation of such shipments entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 03/19/2018. 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 22.16 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 OII:TKS.) 8. There are no restrictions on the release of this information. Alexander Amdur