Skip to main content
Notice2026-10627

Xanthan Gum From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Court Decision Not in Harmony With the Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results

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
May 28, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration

Abstract

On May 12, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) issued its final judgment in Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd., and Meihua Group International (Hong Kong) Limited and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd., v. United States, Court No. 23-00068, sustaining the U.S. Department of Commerce's (Commerce) second remand results pertaining to the administrative review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on xanthan gum from the People's Republic of China (China) covering the period July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's final judgment is not in harmony with Commerce's final results of the administrative review, and that Commerce is amending the final results with respect to the dumping margin assigned to Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (aka Inner Mongolia Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.), Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (collectively, Fufeng), and Meihua Group International Trading (Hong Kong) Limited, Langfang Meihua Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd. (collectively, Meihua).

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 102 (Thursday, May 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31701-31702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10627]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-985]


Xanthan Gum From the People's Republic of China: Notice of Court 
Decision Not in Harmony With the Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review; Notice of Amended Final Results

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY: On May 12, 2026, the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) 
issued its final judgment in Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., 
Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Fufeng 
Biotechnologies Co., Ltd., and Meihua Group International (Hong Kong) 
Limited and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd., v. United States, 
Court No. 23-00068, sustaining the U.S. Department of Commerce's 
(Commerce) second remand results pertaining to the administrative 
review of the antidumping duty (AD) order on xanthan gum from the 
People's Republic of China (China) covering the period July 1, 2020, 
through June 30, 2021. Commerce is notifying the public that the CIT's 
final judgment is not in harmony with Commerce's final results of the 
administrative review, and that Commerce is amending the final results 
with respect to the dumping margin assigned to Fufeng Biotechnologies 
Co., Ltd. (aka Inner Mongolia Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.), 
Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Fufeng 
Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (collectively, Fufeng), and Meihua Group 
International Trading (Hong Kong) Limited, Langfang Meihua 
Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd. 
(collectively, Meihua).

DATES: Applicable May 21, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Molokwu, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-8043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 15, 2023, Commerce published its Final Results in the 
2020-2021 AD administrative review of xanthan gum from China.\1\ 
Commerce calculated a weighted average dumping margin of 17.36 percent 
for its sole mandatory respondent, Fufeng.\2\ Commerce also assigned 
Fufeng's weighted average dumping margin to eligible separate rate 
entities (i.e., Meihua).\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Xanthan Gum from the People's Republic of China: Final 
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Final 
Determination of No Shipments; 2020-2021, 88 FR 9861 (February 
15,2023) (Final Results).
    \2\ Id.
    \3\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Fufeng and Meihua appealed Commerce's Final Results. On December 
16, 2024, the CIT remanded the Final Results to Commerce, ordering 
Commerce to: (1) explain its determination to directly value energy; 
and (2) failure to address arguments regarding the Harmonized System 
(HS) subheading for coal.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ See Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co. v. United States, 
741 F.Supp.3d 1354 (CIT 2024) (First Remand Order).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In its first remand redetermination, issued on May 5, 2025, 
Commerce found that: (1) its direct valuation of Fufeng's energy 
factors of production was appropriate; and (2) Commerce's decision to 
value coal using HS 2701.12.9000 was proper.\5\ The CIT sustained 
Commerce's direct valuation of energy and remanded Commerce's decision 
to value coal using HS 2701.12.9000 for a second time.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court 
Remand, Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co. v. United States, 741 
F.Supp.3d 1354 (CIT 2024), dated May 5, 2025, available at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx">https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx</a>.
    \6\ See Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co. v. United States, 
816 F. Supp. 3d 1356 (January 30, 2026) (CIT 2026) (Second Remand 
Order).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In its final remand redetermination, issued on April 30, 2026, 
Commerce found HS 2701.19 rather than 2701.12.9000 was the proper HS 
subheading for valuing Fufeng's coal

[[Page 31702]]

factor of production (FOP).\7\ Commerce's application of HS 2701.19 
when valuing the coal factor of production (FOP) reduced Fufeng's 
weighed average dumping margin to 0.00 percent.\8\ The CIT sustained 
Commerce's final redetermination.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See Final Results of Redetermination Pursuant to Court 
Remand, Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co. v. United States, 816 
F.Supp.3d 1356, dated April 30, 2026, available at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx">https://access.trade.gov/public/FinalRemandRedetermination.aspx</a>.
    \8\ Id.
    \9\ See Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co. v. United States, 
Consol. Court No. 23-00068, Slip Op. 26-49 (CIT May 12, 2026).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Timken Notice

    In its decision in Timken,\10\ as clarified by Diamond 
Sawblades,\11\ the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held 
that, pursuant to section 516A(c) and (e) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), Commerce must publish a notice of court decision 
that is not ``in harmony'' with a Commerce determination and must 
suspend liquidation of entries pending a ``conclusive'' court decision. 
The CIT's May 12, 2026, judgment constitutes a final decision of the 
CIT that is not in harmony with Commerce's Final Results. Thus, this 
notice is published in fulfillment of the publication requirements of 
Timken.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir. 
1990) (Timken).
    \11\ See Diamond Sawblades Manufacturers Coalition v. United 
States, 626 F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (Diamond Sawblades).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amended Final Results

    Because there is now a final court judgment, Commerce is amending 
its Final Results with respect to Fufeng, and Meihua as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Weighted-average
                      Exporter                          dumping margin
                                                           (percent)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (aka                     0.00
 Inner Mongolia Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.)/
 Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd./Xinjiang
 Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Non-Individually Examined Companies Receiving a Separate Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meihua Group International Trading (Hong Kong)                      0.00
 Limited/Langfang Meihua Biotechnology Co., Ltd.,/
 Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We note that Jianlong Biotechnology Co., Ltd.'s (formerly, Inner 
Mongolia Jianlong Biochemical Co., Ltd) (Jianlong), and Deosen 
Biochemical (Ordos) Ltd.'s, Deosen Biochemical Ltd.'s (collectively, 
Deosen) rates of 17.36 percent remain unchanged from the Final Results 
as their rates were not subject to litigation.

Cash Deposit Requirements

    Because Fufeng and Meihua have a superseding cash deposit rate, 
i.e., there have been final results published in a subsequent 
administrative review, we will not issue revised cash deposit 
instructions to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This notice 
will not affect the current cash deposit rate.

Liquidation of Suspended Entries

    At this time, Commerce remains enjoined by CIT order from 
liquidating entries that: were exported by Fufeng, and Meihua and were 
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption during the period 
July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. These entries will remain enjoined 
pursuant to the terms of the injunction during the pendency of any 
appeals process.
    In the event the CIT's ruling is not appealed, or, if appealed, 
upheld by a final and conclusive court decision, Commerce intends to 
instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on unliquidated entries of 
subject merchandise exported by Fufeng and Meihua in accordance with 19 
CFR 351.212(b). We will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on 
all appropriate entries covered by this review when the importer-
specific ad valorem assessment rate is not zero or de minimis. Where an 
import-specific ad valorem assessment rate is zero or de minimis,\12\ 
we will instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries without 
regard to antidumping duties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \12\ See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections 
516A(c) and (e) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: May 22, 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.
[FR Doc. 2026-10627 Filed 5-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P


</pre></body>
</html>
Indexed from Federal Register on May 28, 2026.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.