Notice2026-04882
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluorothane (R-134a) From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2024-2025
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
March 12, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that the single entity comprising Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Sanmei Chemicals Co., Ltd.; and Fujian Qingliu Dongying Chemical Ind. Co. Ltd (collectively, Sanmei), the only mandatory respondent in this administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period of review (POR) April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, and 23 additional companies under review are not eligible to receive a separate rate and are, therefore, preliminarily determined to be part of the China-wide entity. In addition, Commerce is rescinding this review with respect to three companies. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results of review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12142-12145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04882]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-044]
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluorothane (R-134a) From the People's Republic of
China: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review; 2024-2025
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds
that the single entity comprising Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry
Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Sanmei Chemicals Co., Ltd.; and Fujian Qingliu
Dongying Chemical Ind. Co. Ltd (collectively, Sanmei), the only
mandatory respondent in this administrative review of the antidumping
duty (AD) order on 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's
Republic of China (China) covering the period of review (POR) April 1,
2024, through March 31, 2025, and 23 additional companies under review
are not eligible to receive a separate rate and are, therefore,
preliminarily determined to be part of the China-wide entity. In
addition, Commerce is rescinding this review with respect to three
companies. Interested parties are invited to comment on these
preliminary results of review.
DATES: Applicable March 12, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Conniff, AD/CVD Operations,
Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1009.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On April 19, 2017, Commerce published in the Federal Register the
AD order on R-134a from China.\1\ On May 20, 2025, Commerce published
in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of administrative review
of the Order with respect to 27 exporters.\2\
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\1\ See 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's
Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order, 82 FR 18422 (April 19,
2017) (Order).
\2\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews, 90 FR 21459 (May 20, 2025) (Initiation
Notice).
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Due to the lapse in appropriations and Federal Government shutdown,
on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative
proceedings by 47 days.\3\ Additionally, due to a backlog of documents
that were electronically filed via Enforcement and Compliance's
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service
System (ACCESS) during the Federal Government shutdown, on November 24,
2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by an
additional 21 days.\4\ Accordingly, the
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deadline for these preliminary results is now March 9, 2026.
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\3\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the
Federal Government,'' dated November 14, 2025.
\4\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of all Case Deadlines,'' dated
November 24, 2025.
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For a complete description of the events that followed the
initiation of this review, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.\5\
The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file
electronically via ACCESS. ACCESS is available to registered users at
<a href="https://access.trade.gov">https://access.trade.gov</a>. In addition, a complete version of the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx">https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx</a>. A list of the topics
discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is attached in
Appendix I of this notice.
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\5\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: R-134a from the
People's Republic of China; 2024-2025,'' dated concurrently with,
and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision
Memorandum).
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Scope of the Order <SUP>6</SUP>
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\6\ See Order.
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The merchandise covered by the Order is 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane,
R-134a, or its chemical equivalent, regardless of form, type, or purity
level. A full description of the scope of the Order is provided in the
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Partial Rescission of Administrative Review
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3), it is Commerce's practice to
rescind an administrative review of an antidumping duty order where it
concludes that there were no suspended entries of subject merchandise
during the POR.\7\ Normally, upon completion of an administrative
review, the suspended entries are liquidated at the antidumping duty
assessment rate for the review period.\8\ Therefore, for an
administrative review to be conducted, there must be a reviewable,
suspended entry that Commerce can instruct CBP to liquidate at the
calculated antidumping duty assessment rate for the review period.\9\
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\7\ See, e.g., Certain Carbon and Alloy Steel Cut-to Length
Plate from the Federal Republic of Germany: Recission of Antidumping
Administrative Review; 2020-2021, 88 FR 4157 (January 24, 2023).
\8\ See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
\9\ See, e.g., Shanghai Sunbeauty Trading Co. v. United States,
380 F.Supp.3d 1328, 1335-36 (CIT 2019), at 12 (referring to section
751(a) of the Act, the CIT held: ``While the statute does not
explicitly require that an entry be suspended as a prerequisite for
establishing entitlement to a review, it does explicitly state the
determined rate will be used as the liquidation rate for the
reviewed entries. This result can only obtain if the liquidation of
entries has been suspended. . . . ;'' see also Certain Frozen Fish
Fillets from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final Determination of No
Shipments; 2018-2019, 86 FR 36102, and accompanying Issues and
Decision Memorandum at Comment 4; and Solid Fertilizer Grade
Ammonium Nitrate from the Russian Federation: Notice of Rescission
of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 77 FR 65532 (October 29,
2012) (noting that ``for an administrative review to be conducted,
there must be a reviewable, suspended entry to be liquidated at the
newly calculated assessment rate'').
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On July 8, 2025, we notified parties of our intent to rescind this
administrative review, in part, with respect to the three companies
identified in Appendix II because there were no reviewable, suspended
entries of subject merchandise from these companies during the POR and
invited interested parties to comment.\10\ No interested party
submitted comments. Accordingly, in the absence of any suspended
entries of subject merchandise from these three companies during the
POR, we are rescinding this administrative review for the companies
listed in Appendix II in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(3).
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\10\ See Memorandum, ``Notice of Intent to Rescind Review, in
Part,'' dated July 8, 2025.
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Separate Rates
On August 14, 2025, Sanmei \11\ submitted a letter notifying
Commerce of its intention to not participate in the administrative
review as a mandatory respondent.\12\ As discussed in the Preliminary
Decision Memorandum, Commerce preliminarily finds that Sanmei did not
establish its eligibility for a separate rate because it failed to
provide a complete response to Commerce's initial questionnaire.
Moreover, none of the other 23 companies remaining under review
submitted any evidence of eligibility for separate-rate status. As
such, we preliminarily find that the Sanmei single entity and the other
23 companies are part of the China-wide entity.
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\11\ Commerce has previously found Zhejiang Sanmei, Jiangsu
Sanmei Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd., and Fujian Qingliu Dongying Chemical
Ind. Co. Ltd. to comprise a single entity. See, e.g., 1,1,1,2-
Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a) from the People's Republic of China:
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final
Determination of No Shipments; 2021-2022, 88 FR 60639 (September 5,
2023).
\12\ See Zhejiang Sanmei's Letter, ``Withdrawal of
Participation,'' dated August 14, 2025 (Intent to Not Participate
Letter).
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China-Wide Entity
Commerce's policy regarding conditional review of the China-wide
entity applies to this administrative review.\13\ Commerce no longer
considers the China-wide entity as an exporter conditionally subject to
administrative review.\14\ Under this policy, the China-wide entity
will not be under review unless a party specifically requests, or
Commerce self-initiates, a review of the entity. Moreover, as stated
above, we preliminarily determine that the Sanmei single entity and 23
other companies under review are not eligible for a separate rate and
are part of the China-wide entity because they did not provide the
requisite documentation to establish separate-rate eligibility.
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\13\ See Antidumping Proceedings: Announcement of Change in
Department Practice for Respondent Selection in Antidumping Duty
Proceedings and Conditional Review of the Nonmarket Economy Entity
in NME Antidumping Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 65963 (November 4, 2013).
\14\ Id.
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Because no party requested a review of the China-wide entity, the
entity is not under review, and the entity's rate, i.e., 167.02
percent, is not subject to change.\15\ All companies determined to be
part of the China-wide entity are listed in Appendix III to this
notice.\16\
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\15\ See Order, 82 FR at 18423.
\16\ See Initiation Notice, 90 FR at 21460 (``All firms listed
below that wish to qualify for separate rate status in the
administrative reviews involving NME countries must complete, as
appropriate, either a separate rate application or certification, as
described below.'').
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Preliminary Results of Review
Commerce finds all companies for which a review was requested, and
which are not being rescinded from the review, to be part of the China-
wide entity and subject to the China-wide entity rate of 167.02
percent.
Disclosure
Normally, Commerce discloses to interested parties the calculations
performed in preliminary results within five days of any public
announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days
of the date of publication of the notice of preliminary results in the
Federal Register, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b). However,
because Commerce has not performed any calculations for any respondents
in this review, there are no calculations to disclose.
Public Comment
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Pursuant to 19 CFR
351.309(c)(1)(ii), we have modified the deadline for interested parties
to submit case briefs to Commerce to no later than 21 days after the
date of the publication of this notice.\17\ Rebuttal briefs, limited to
issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days
after the
[[Page 12144]]
date for filing case briefs.\18\ Interested parties who submit case
briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table
of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.\19\ All
briefs must be filed electronically using ACCESS.\20\ An electronically
filed document must be received successfully in its entirety in ACCESS
by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the established deadline.
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\17\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c); see also Administrative Protective
Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29,
2023) (APO and Service Final Rule).
\18\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d).
\19\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
\20\ See 19 CFR 351.303.
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As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iii), we
request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their
briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their
briefs.\21\ Further, we request that interested parties limit their
executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not
including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the
basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision
memorandum that will accompany the final results in this administrative
review. We request that interested parties include footnotes for
relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that
Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the
service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\22\
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\21\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
\22\ See APO and Service Final Rule.
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Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to
request a hearing must submit a written request to the Assistant
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce,
within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Hearing
requests should contain: (1) the party's name, address and telephone
number; (2) the number of participants; (3) whether any participant is
a foreign national; and (4) a list of issues to be discussed. Issues
raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective
case briefs. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce will inform
interested parties of the scheduled date for the hearing.\23\
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\23\ See 19 CFR 351.310(d).
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Final Results of Review
Unless the deadline is extended pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of
the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2), Commerce intends to issue the final
results of this administrative review, including the results of our
analysis of the issues raised in any case briefs, not later than 120
days after the date of publication of this notice.
Assessment
For the companies listed in Appendix II for which we are rescinding
the review, Commerce will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on
all appropriate entries. Antidumping duties shall be assessed at rates
equal to the cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties required at
the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue
assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days after the date
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register. If a timely
summons is filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade, the
assessment instructions will direct CBP not to liquidate relevant
entries until the time for parties to file a request for a statutory
injunction that has expired (i.e., within 90 days of publication).
For the companies listed in Appendix III, upon issuance of the
final results of this review, Commerce will determine, and CBP shall
assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject
merchandise covered by this review.\24\ We intend to instruct CBP to
liquidate entries containing subject merchandise exported by the
companies under review that we determine in the final results to be
part of the China-wide entity at the China-wide entity rate of 167.02
percent. Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP no
earlier than 35 days after the date of publication of the final results
of this review in the Federal Register. If a timely summons is filed at
the U.S. Court of International Trade, the assessment instructions will
direct CBP not to liquidate relevant entries until the time for parties
to file a request for a statutory injunction has expired (i.e., within
90 days of publication).
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\24\ See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
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Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit requirements will be effective for
shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from
warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date, as
provided for by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) for previously
examined exporters for which a review was not requested that received a
separate rate in a prior segment of this proceeding, the cash deposit
rate will continue to be the existing exporter-specific rate published
for the most recently-completed segment of this proceeding; (2) for all
Chinese exporters of subject merchandise that have not been found to be
entitled to a separate rate, the cash deposit rate will be that for the
China-wide entity (i.e., 167.02 percent); and (3) for all non-Chinese
exporters of subject merchandise which have not received their own
rate, the cash deposit rate will be the rate applicable to the Chinese
exporter(s) that supplied that non-Chinese exporter. These cash deposit
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further
notice.
Notification to Importers
This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their
responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f) to file a certificate regarding
the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation of the
relevant entries during this POR. Failure to comply with this
requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement
of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double
antidumping duties.
Notification to Interested Parties
This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections
751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.213(d)(4) and 19 CFR
351.221(b)(4).
Dated: March 9, 2026.
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 I
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Discussion of the Methodology
V. Recommendation
Appendix II
Companies Rescinded From Review
1. Jiangsu Bluestar Green Technology Co., Ltd
2. T.T. International Co., Ltd.
3. Weitron International Refrigeration Equipment (Kunshan) Co. Ltd.
Appendix III
Companies Determined To Be Part of the China-Wide Entity
1. Bestcool Inc., Ltd.
2. Electrochemical Factory of Zhejiang Juhua Co., Ltd.
3. Hongkong Richmax Ltd.
4. Huantai Dongyue International Trade Co. Ltd.
5. ICOOL Chemical Co., Ltd.
6. Jinhua Binglong Chemical Technology Co., Ltd.
7. Jinhua Yonghe Fluorochemical Co., Ltd.
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8. Ningbo FTZ ICOOL Prime International
9. Quzhou Jinyan Hongtai Refrigerant Co., Ltd.
10. Shandong Dongyue Chemical Co., Ltd.
11. Shandong Huaan New Material Co., Ltd.
12. Sinochem Environmental Protection Chemicals (Taicang) Co., Ltd.
13. Weichang Refrigeration Equipment (Kunshan) Co., Ltd.
14. Zhejiang Juhua Co., Ltd.
15. Zhejiang Morita New Materials Co., Ltd.
16. Zhejiang Organic Fluor-Chemistry Plant, Zhejiang Juhua Co., Ltd.
17. Zhejiang Quhua Fluor-Chemistry Co., Ltd.
18. Zhejiang Quhua Juxin Fluorochemical Industry Co., Ltd.
19. Zhejiang Quzhou Juxin Fluorine Chemical Co., Ltd.
20. Zhejiang Quzhou Lianzhou Refrigerants Co., Ltd.
21. Zhejiang Sanmei Chemical Industry Co. Ltd.; Jiangsu Sanmei
Chemicals Co., Ltd.
22. Fujian Qingliu Dongying Chemical Ind. Co., Ltd.
23. Zhejiang Yonghe Refrigerant Co., Ltd.
24. Zhejiang Zhonglan Refrigeration Technology Co., Ltd.
25. Zibo Feiyuan Chemical Co., Ltd.
[FR Doc. 2026-04882 Filed 3-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 12, 2026.
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