Notice2025-17129
High Purity Dissolving Pulp From Brazil and Norway: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 8, 2025
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 171 (Monday, September 8, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 171 (Monday, September 8, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43168-43173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17129]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-351-866, A-403-808]
High Purity Dissolving Pulp From Brazil and Norway: Initiation of
Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Applicable September 2, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Cossaart (Brazil) at (202) 482-
0462, and Rachel Jennings (Norway) at
[[Page 43169]]
(202) 482-1110, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Petitions
On August 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce)
received antidumping duty (AD) petitions concerning imports of high
purity dissolving pulp from Brazil and Norway filed in proper form on
behalf of Rayonier Advanced Materials, Inc. (RYAM) and the United
Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied
Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO (USW) (the
petitioners), a domestic producer of high purity dissolving pulp and a
certified union, which represents workers engaged in the production of
high purity dissolving pulp in the United States.\1\ The AD Petitions
were accompanied by a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning
imports of high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil.\2\
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\1\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Petitions,'' dated August 12, 2025 (Petitions).
\2\ Id.
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Between August 14 and 29, 2025, Commerce requested supplemental
information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petitions in
supplemental questionnaires.\3\ The petitioners responded to Commerce's
supplemental questionnaires between August 18 and September 2, 2025.\4\
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\3\ See Commerce's Letters, ``Supplemental Questions,'' dated
August 14, 2025 (First General Issues Questionnaire); see also First
Country-Specific AD Supplemental Questionnaires: Brazil Supplemental
and Norway Supplemental, dated August 15, 2025; ``Second General
Issues Supplemental Questions,'' dated August 21, 2025 (Second
General Issues Questionnaire); Country-Specific Memoranda,
``Teleconference with Counsel to the Petitioners,'' dated August 22,
2025; Norway-Specific Memoranda, ``Teleconference with Counsel to
the Petitioners,'' dated August 27, 2025; and Commerce's Letter,
``Fourth Norway Supplemental Questions,'' dated August 29, 2025.
\4\ See Petitioners' Letters, ``Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Supplemental Questionnaire Response,'' dated August 18, 2025
(First General Issues Supplement); see also First Country-Specific
AD Supplemental Responses: Brazil AD Supplement and Norway AD
Supplement, dated August 21, 2025; ``Response to Second General
Issues Supplemental Questions,'' dated August 22, 2025 (Second
General Issues Supplement); Second Country-Specific AD Supplemental
Responses: Second Brazil AD Supplement and Second Norway AD
Supplement, dated August 25, 2025; ``Third Antidumping Duty
Supplemental Questionnaire Response,'' dated August 28, 2025; and
``Fourth Antidumping Duty Supplemental Questionnaire Response,''
dated September 2, 2025.
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In accordance with section 732(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act), the petitioners allege that imports of high purity
dissolving pulp from Brazil and Norway are being, or are likely to be,
sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV) within the
meaning of section 731 of the Act, and that imports of such products
are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the high
purity dissolving pulp industry in the United States. Consistent with
section 732(b)(1) of the Act, the Petitions were accompanied by
information reasonably available to the petitioners supporting their
allegations.
Commerce finds that the petitioners filed the Petitions on behalf
of the domestic industry, because the petitioners are interested
parties, as defined in sections 771(9)(C) and (D) of the Act. Commerce
also finds that the petitioners demonstrated sufficient industry
support for the initiation of the requested LTFV investigations.\5\
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\5\ See section on ``Determination of Industry Support for the
Petitions,'' infra.
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Periods of Investigation
Because the Petitions were filed on August 12, 2025, pursuant to 19
CFR 351.204(b)(1), the period of investigation (POI) for the Brazil and
Norway LTFV investigations is July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Scope of the Investigations
The product covered by these investigations is high purity
dissolving pulp from Brazil and Norway. For a full description of the
scope of these investigations, see the appendix to this notice.
Comments on the Scope of the Investigations
Between August 14 and 21, 2025, Commerce requested information and
clarification from the petitioners regarding the proposed scope to
ensure that the scope language in the Petitions is an accurate
reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking
relief.\6\ Between August 18 and 22, 2025, the petitioners provided
clarifications and revised the scope.\7\ The description of the
merchandise covered by these investigations, as described in the
appendix to this notice, reflects these clarifications.
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\6\ See First General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire at 3-4;
see also Second General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire at 3.
\7\ See First General Issues Supplement at 3-6 and Exhibits I-
Supp-2; see also Second General Issues Supplement at 2-6.
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As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding
product coverage (i.e., scope).\8\ Commerce will consider all scope
comments received from interested parties and, if necessary, will
consult with interested parties prior to the issuance of the
preliminary determinations. If scope comments include factual
information, all such factual information should be limited to public
information.\9\ Commerce requests that interested parties provide at
the beginning of their scope comments a public executive summary for
each comment or issue raised in their submission. Commerce further
requests that interested parties limit their public executive summary
of each comment or issue to no more than 450 words, not including
citations. Commerce intends to use the public executive summaries as
the basis of the comment summaries included in the analysis of scope
comments. To facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce
requests that scope comments be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(ET) on September 22, 2025, which is 20 calendar days from the
signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal comments must be filed by
5:00 p.m. ET on October 2, 2025, which is 10 calendar days from the
initial comment deadline.
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\8\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble); see also 19 CFR
351.312.
\9\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual
information'').
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Commerce requests that any factual information that parties
consider relevant to the scope of these investigations be submitted
during that period. However, if a party subsequently finds that
additional factual information pertaining to the scope of the
investigations may be relevant, the party must contact Commerce and
request permission to submit the additional information. All scope
comments must be filed simultaneously on the records of the concurrent
LTFV and CVD investigations.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), unless an exception
applies.\10\ An
[[Page 43170]]
electronically filed document must be received successfully in its
entirety by the time and date it is due.
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\10\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and
Compliance: Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046
(November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing
requirements, effective August 5, 2011. Information on using ACCESS
can be found at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx">https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx</a> and a handbook
can be found at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook_on_Electronic_Filing_Procedures.pdf">https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook_on_Electronic_Filing_Procedures.pdf</a>.
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Comments on Product Characteristics
Commerce is providing interested parties an opportunity to comment
on the appropriate physical characteristics of high purity dissolving
pulp to be reported in response to Commerce's AD questionnaires. This
information will be used to identify the key physical characteristics
of the subject merchandise in order to report the relevant cost of
production (COP) accurately, as well as to develop appropriate product
comparison criteria.
Interested parties may provide any information or comments that
they feel are relevant to the development of an accurate list of
physical characteristics. Specifically, they may provide comments as to
which characteristics are appropriate to use as: (1) general product
characteristics; and (2) product comparison criteria. We note that it
is not always appropriate to use all product characteristics as product
comparison criteria. We base product comparison criteria on meaningful
commercial differences among products. In other words, although there
may be some physical product characteristics utilized by manufacturers
to describe high purity dissolving pulp, it may be that only a select
few product characteristics take into account commercially meaningful
physical characteristics. In addition, interested parties may comment
on the order in which the physical characteristics should be used in
matching products. Generally, Commerce attempts to list the most
important physical characteristics first and the least important
characteristics last.
In order to consider the suggestions of interested parties in
developing and issuing the AD questionnaires, all product
characteristics comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on September 22,
2025, which is 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice.
Any rebuttal comments must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on October 2, 2025,
which is 10 calendar days from the initial comment deadline. All
comments and submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically using
ACCESS, as explained above, on the record of each of the LTFV
investigations.
Determination of Industry Support for the Petitions
Section 732(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 732(c)(4)(A) of the Act
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) at least
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 732(c)(4)(D) of
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i)
poll the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if
there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or
(ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling
method to poll the ``industry.''
Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute
directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce the
domestic like product. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC),
which is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry''
has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the
ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic
like product,\11\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\12\
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\11\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
\12\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F.Supp.2d 1, 8 (CIT
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688
F.Supp.639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United
States, 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the
petition).
With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioners do not
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope
of the investigations.\13\ Based on our analysis of the information
submitted on the record, we have determined that high purity dissolving
pulp, as defined in the scope, constitutes a single domestic like
product, and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that
domestic like product.\14\
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\13\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as
applied to these cases and information regarding industry support,
see Checklists, ``Antidumping Duty Investigation Initiation
Checklists: High Purity Dissolving Pulp from Brazil and Norway,''
dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice
(Country-Specific AD Initiation Checklists), at Attachment II,
Analysis of Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Petitions Covering High Purity Dissolving Pulp from Brazil and
Norway (Attachment II). These checklists are on file electronically
via ACCESS.
\14\ For further discussion, see Attachment II of the Country-
Specific AD Initiation Checklists.
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In determining whether the petitioners have standing under section
732(c)(4)(A) of the Act, we considered the industry support data
contained in the Petitions with reference to the domestic like product
as defined in the ``Scope of the Investigations,'' in the appendix to
this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioners provided
their own production of the domestic like product in 2024.\15\ The
petitioners identified RYAM as the sole remaining producer of the
domestic like product; therefore, the Petitions are supported by 100
percent of the U.S. industry.\16\ We relied on data provided by the
petitioners for purposes of measuring industry support.\17\
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\15\ Id.
\16\ Id.
\17\ Id.
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Our review of the data provided in the Petitions, the First General
Issues Supplement, and other information readily available to Commerce
indicates that the petitioners have established industry support for
the Petitions.\18\ First, the Petitions established support from
domestic producers (or workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product and, as such,
Commerce is not required to take further action in order to evaluate
industry support (e.g., polling).\19\ Second, the domestic producers
(or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry support under
section 732(c)(4)(A)(i) of the Act because the domestic producers (or
workers) who support the Petitions account for at least 25 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product.\20\ Finally, the
domestic
[[Page 43171]]
producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry
support under section 732(c)(4)(A)(ii) of the Act because the domestic
producers (or workers) who support the Petitions account for more than
50 percent of the production of the domestic like product produced by
that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to,
the Petitions.\21\ Accordingly, Commerce determines that the Petitions
were filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of
section 732(b)(1) of the Act.\22\
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\18\ Id.
\19\ Id.; see also section 732(c)(4)(D) of the Act.
\20\ See Attachment II of the Country-Specific AD Initiation
Checklists.
\21\ Id.
\22\ Id.
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Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation
The petitioners allege that the U.S. industry producing the
domestic like product is being materially injured, or is threatened
with material injury, by reason of the imports of the subject
merchandise sold at LTFV. In addition, the petitioners allege that
subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided for under
section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\23\
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\23\ For further information regarding negligibility and the
injury allegation, see Country-Specific AD Initiation Checklists at
Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material
Injury and Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Petitions Covering High Purity Dissolving Pulp from Brazil and
Norway.
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The petitioners contend that the industry's injured condition is
illustrated by the significant volume of subject imports; increased
market share of subject imports; underselling and price depression and/
or suppression; lost sales and revenue; negative impact on financial
performance; and adverse impact on production, capacity utilization,
U.S. shipments, and employment variables.\24\ We assessed the
allegations and supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat
of material injury, causation, cumulation, as well as negligibility,
and we have determined that these allegations are properly supported by
adequate evidence, and meet the statutory requirements for
initiation.\25\
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\24\ Id.
\25\ Id.
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Allegations of Sales at LTFV
The following is a description of the allegations of sales at LTFV
upon which Commerce based its decision to initiate LTFV investigations
of imports of high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil and Norway. The
sources of data for the deductions and adjustments relating to U.S.
price and normal value (NV) are discussed in greater detail in the
Country-Specific AD Initiation Checklists.
U.S. Price
For Brazil, the petitioners based export price (EP) on a
transaction-specific average unit value (AUV) (i.e., month- and port-
specific AUV) derived from official import statistics and tied to ship
manifest data.\26\ For Norway, the petitioners based EP on pricing
information for high purity dissolving pulp produced in Norway and sold
or offered for sale in the U.S. market during the POI.\27\ For each
country, the petitioners made certain adjustments to U.S. price to
calculate a net ex-factory U.S price, where applicable.\28\
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\26\ See Country-Specific AD Initiation Checklists.
\27\ Id.
\28\ Id.
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Normal Value <SUP>29</SUP>
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\29\ In accordance with section 773(b)(2) of the Act, for these
investigations, Commerce will request information necessary to
calculate the constructed value (CV) and COP to determine whether
there are reasonable grounds to believe or suspect that sales of the
foreign like product have been made at prices that represent less
than the COP of the product.
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For Brazil and Norway, the petitioners stated that they were unable
to obtain home market or third-county pricing information for high
purity dissolving pulp produced in the respective countries to use as
the basis for NV.\30\ Therefore, for both countries, the petitioners
calculated NV based on CV. For further discussion of CV, see the
section ``Normal Value Based on Constructed Value.''
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\30\ See Country-Specific AD Initiation Checklists.
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Normal Value Based on Constructed Value
As noted above for Brazil and Norway, the petitioners stated that
they were unable to obtain home market or third-country prices for high
purity dissolving pulp to use as a basis for NV. Therefore, for both
countries, the petitioners calculated NV based on CV.\31\
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\31\ Id.
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Pursuant to section 773(e) of the Act, the petitioners calculated
CV as the sum of the cost of manufacturing, selling, general, and
administrative (SG&A) expenses, financial expenses, and profit.\32\ In
calculating the cost of manufacturing, the petitioners relied on the
production experience and input consumption rates for a U.S. producer
of high purity dissolving pulp, valued using publicly available
information applicable to Brazil and Norway.\33\ For calculating SG&A
expenses, financial expenses, and profit ratios, the petitioners relied
on the financial statements of a producer of comparable or identical
merchandise domiciled in the respective countries.\34\
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\32\ Id.
\33\ Id.
\34\ Id.
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Fair Value Comparison
Based on the data provided by the petitioners, there is reason to
believe that imports of high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil and
Norway are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at
LTFV. Based on comparisons of EP to NV in accordance with sections 772
and 773 of the Act, the estimated dumping margins for high purity
dissolving pulp for each of the countries covered by this initiation
are as follows: (1) Brazil--62.08 percent; (2) Norway--110.04
percent.\35\
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\35\ Id.
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Initiation of LTFV Investigations
Based upon the examination of the Petitions and supplemental
responses, we find that they meet the requirements of section 732 of
the Act. Therefore, we are initiating LTFV investigations to determine
whether imports of high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil and Norway
are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at LTFV. In
accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.205(b)(1), unless postponed, we will make our preliminary
determinations no later than 140 days after the date of this
initiation.
Respondent Selection
Brazil and Norway
In the Petitions, the petitioners identified one company in Brazil
(i.e., Bracell Bahia Specialty Celulose SA (Bracell)), and one company
in Norway (i.e., Borregaard ASA (Borregaard)) as producers/exporters of
high purity dissolving pulp.\36\ We currently know of no additional
producers/exporters of high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil and
Norway.
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\36\ See Petitions at Volume I (page 11 and Exhibit I-4); see
also First General Issues Supplement at 1 and Exhibits I-Supp-1
through I-Supp-4.
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Accordingly, Commerce intends to individually examine the only
known producers/exporters in the investigations from Brazil and Norway
(i.e., the companies cited above). We invite interested parties to
comment on this issue. Such comments may include factual information
within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21). Parties wishing to comment
must do so within three business days of the publication of this notice
in the Federal Register. Comments must be filed electronically using
ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be received successfully
in its entirety via ACCESS by 5:00 p.m.
[[Page 43172]]
ET on the specified deadline. Because we intend to examine the only
known producers/exporters in Brazil and Norway, if no comments are
received, or if comments received further support the existence of only
these producers/exporters, we do not intend to conduct respondent
selection and will proceed to issuing the initial AD questionnaires to
the identified companies. However, if comments are received which
create a need for a respondent selection process, we intend to finalize
our decision regarding respondent selection for Brazil and Norway
within 20 days of publication of this notice.
Distribution of Copies of the Petitions
In accordance with section 732(b)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petitions has been
provided to the governments of Brazil and Norway via ACCESS. To the
extent practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public
version of the Petitions to each exporter named in the Petitions, as
provided under 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).
ITC Notification
Commerce will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by
section 732(d) of the Act.
Preliminary Determinations by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date
on which the Petitions were filed, whether there is a reasonable
indication that imports of high purity dissolving pulp from Brazil and/
or Norway are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a
U.S. industry.\37\ A negative ITC determination for any country will
result in the investigation being terminated with respect to that
country.\38\ Otherwise, these LTFV investigations will proceed
according to statutory and regulatory time limits.
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\37\ See section 733(a) of the Act.
\38\ Id.
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Submission of Factual Information
Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i)
evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence
placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual
information described in (i)-(iv). Section 351.301(b) of Commerce's
regulations requires any party, when submitting factual information, to
specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information
is being submitted \39\ and, if the information is submitted to rebut,
clarify, or correct factual information already on the record, to
provide an explanation identifying the information already on the
record that the factual information seeks to rebut, clarify, or
correct.\40\ Time limits for the submission of factual information are
addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, which provides specific time limits based
on the type of factual information being submitted. Interested parties
should review the regulations prior to submitting factual information
in these investigations.
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\39\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
\40\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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Particular Market Situation Allegation
Section 773(e) of the Act addresses the concept of particular
market situation (PMS) for purposes of CV, stating that ``if a
particular market situation exists such that the cost of materials and
fabrication or other processing of any kind does not accurately reflect
the cost of production in the ordinary course of trade, the
administering authority may use another calculation methodology under
this subtitle or any other calculation methodology.'' When an
interested party submits a PMS allegation pursuant to section 773(e) of
the Act (i.e., a cost-based PMS allegation), the submission must be
filed in accordance with the requirements of 19 CFR 351.416(b), and
Commerce will respond to such a submission consistent with 19 CFR
351.301(c)(2)(v). If Commerce finds that a cost-based PMS exists under
section 773(e) of the Act, then it will modify its dumping calculations
appropriately.
Neither section 773(e) of the Act, nor 19 CFR 351.301(c)(2)(v),
sets a deadline for the submission of cost-based PMS allegations and
supporting factual information. However, in order to administer section
773(e) of the Act, Commerce must receive PMS allegations and supporting
factual information with enough time to consider the submission. Thus,
should an interested party wish to submit a cost-based PMS allegation
and supporting new factual information pursuant to section 773(e) of
the Act, it must do so no later than 20 days after submission of a
respondent's initial section D questionnaire response.
We note that a PMS allegation filed pursuant to sections
773(a)(1)(B)(ii)(III) or 773(a)(1)(C)(iii) of the Act (i.e., a sales-
based PMS allegation) must be filed within 10 days of submission of a
respondent's initial section B questionnaire response, in accordance
with 19 CFR 351.301(c)(2)(i) and 19 CFR 351.404(c)(2).
Extensions of Time Limits
Parties may request an extension of time limits before the
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as
otherwise specified by Commerce. In general, an extension request will
be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the time
limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as otherwise specified by
Commerce.\41\ For submissions that are due from multiple parties
simultaneously, an extension request will be considered untimely if it
is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. Under certain
circumstances, Commerce may elect to specify a different time limit by
which extension requests will be considered untimely for submissions
which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such a case, we
will inform parties in a letter or memorandum of the deadline
(including a specified time) by which extension requests must be filed
to be considered timely. An extension request must be made in a
separate, standalone submission; under limited circumstances we will
grant untimely filed requests for the extension of time limits, where
we determine, based on 19 CFR 351.302, that extraordinary circumstances
exist. Parties should review Commerce's regulations concerning the
extension of time limits and the Time Limits Final Rule prior to
submitting factual information in these investigations.\42\
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\41\ See 19 CFR 351.301; see also Extension of Time Limits;
Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 (September 20, 2013) (Time Limits Final
Rule), available at <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm">https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm</a>.
\42\ See 19 CFR 351.302; see also, e.g., Time Limits Final Rule.
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Certification Requirements
Any party submitting factual information in an AD or countervailing
duty proceeding must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that
information.\43\ Parties must use the certification formats provided in
19 CFR 351.303(g).\44\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions
if the submitting party does not comply with the applicable
certification requirements.
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\43\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
\44\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule). Additional
information regarding the Final Rule is available at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/Resources/filing/index.html">https://access.trade.gov/Resources/filing/index.html</a>.
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[[Page 43173]]
Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Parties wishing to participate
in these investigations should ensure that they meet the requirements
of 19 CFR 351.103(d) (e.g., by filing the required letter of
appearance). Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements
pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\45\
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\45\ See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other
Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR
67069 (September 29, 2023).
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This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 732(c)(2)
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).
Dated: September 2, 2025.
Christopher Abbott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix
Scope of the Investigations
The merchandise subject to these investigations is high purity
dissolving pulp, which is a dissolving pulp with an alpha cellulose
percentage of 90 percent by weight or higher on an oven dry basis,
as calculated by: alpha cellulose percentage = (100-S10) + 0.5 *
(S10-S18) where S10 and S18 values are determined by International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) 692:1982, and having a
brightness level of 90 percent or higher, as measured by ISO 2470-
1:2016. High purity dissolving pulp may be derived from any virgin
or recycled cellulose fiber source (including, but not limited to,
those sourced from hardwoods, softwoods, woody crops, agricultural
crops/byproducts/residue, and agricultural/industrial/other waste).
High purity dissolving pulp may be produced from a chemical pulping
process including without limitation a kraft (sulfate) pulping and/
or sulfite pulping process.
High purity dissolving pulp can be shipped in any form,
including, but not limited to, a liquid slurry or in any dried form
such as flakes, powder, granules, pellets, shreds, rolls and sheets.
The scope includes merchandise matching the above description
that has been finished, packaged, or otherwise processed in a third
country, including but not limited to processes such as commingling,
blending, diluting, repackaging, or any other process that would not
otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of the
investigations if performed in the subject country. The scope also
includes high purity dissolving pulp that is commingled or blended
with high purity dissolving pulp from sources not subject to these
investigations. Only the subject component of such commingled or
blended products is covered by the scope of these investigations.
Excluded from the scope is high purity dissolving pulp with an
intrinsic viscosity under 455 milliliters per gram (mL/g), as
measured by ISO 5351:2010.
Also excluded from the scope is cotton linters pulp that
consists of at least 90 percent by weight, on an oven-dried basis,
of cotton linters fibers.
High purity dissolving pulp products are classified under
subheadings 4702.00.0020 and 4702.00.0040, of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). High purity dissolving pulp
products may also enter under subheadings 4706.30.0000 or
4706.92.0100. Reference to the HTSUS classifications is provided for
convenience and customs purposes, and the written description of the
merchandise under investigation is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2025-17129 Filed 9-5-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 8, 2025.
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