Notice2026-20899
Xanthan Gum From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results and Rescission, in Part, 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
October 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that exporters subject to this review made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review (POR), July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. In addition, we are rescinding the review with respect to CP Kelco (Shandong) Biological Company Limited (CP Kelco Shandong), Deosen Biochemical Ltd., Langfang Meihua Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Meihua Group International Trading (Hong Kong), Meihua Group International Trading (Hong Kong) Limited, and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results of review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65171-65174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20899]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-985]
Xanthan Gum From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary
Results and Rescission, in Part, 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
determines that exporters subject to this review made sales of subject
merchandise at less than normal value during the period of review
(POR), July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. In addition, we are
rescinding the review with respect to CP Kelco (Shandong) Biological
Company Limited (CP Kelco Shandong), Deosen Biochemical Ltd., Langfang
Meihua Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Meihua Group International Trading
(Hong Kong), Meihua Group International Trading (Hong Kong) Limited,
and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd. Interested parties are invited
to comment on these preliminary results of review.
DATES: Applicable October 14, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Molokwu or Paul Kebker, 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 or (202) 482-2254,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On August 22, 2025, based on timely requests for review, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(1)(i), we initiated an administrative
review of the antidumping duty Order on xanthan gum from the People's
Republic of China (China).\1\ On August 25, 2025, CP
[[Page 65172]]
Kelco Shandong timely withdrew its request for review.\2\ On February
20, 2026, Commerce selected Deosen Biochemical (Ordos) Ltd. (Deosen
Ordos) and Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (aka Inner
Mongolia Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.), Shandong Fufeng
Fermentation Co., Ltd./Xinjiang Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.
(collectively, Fufeng) as the mandatory respondents in this review.\3\
On March 9, 2026, Commerce issued an Intent to Rescind memorandum and
invited parties to comment.\4\ No parties commented on the Intent to
Rescind Memorandum.
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\1\ See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Administrative Reviews, 90 FR 41043, (August 22, 2025) (Initiation
Notice); see also Xanthan Gum from the People's Republic of China:
Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Antidumping Duty Order, 78 FR 43143 (July 19, 2013) (Order).
\2\ See CP Kelco Shandong's Letter, ``Withdrawal of Request for
Administrative Review,'' dated August 25, 2025.
\3\ See Memorandum, ``Respondent Selection,'' dated February 20,
2026.
\4\ See Memorandum, ``Notice of Intent to Rescind Review, In
Part,'' dated March 9, 2026 (Intent to Rescind Memorandum).
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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.\5\ 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.\6\ On April 15, 2026, we extended the preliminary
results of this review to September 30, 2026.\7\ On September 25, 2026,
we extended the preliminary results of this review to no later than
October 7, 2026.\8\
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\5\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the
Federal Government,'' dated November 17, 2025.
\6\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of all Case Deadlines,'' dated
November 24, 2025.
\7\ See Memorandum, ``Extension of Deadline for Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,'' dated April 15,
2026.
\8\ See Memorandum, ``Extension of Deadline for Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,'' dated September
25, 2026.
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For a complete description of the events that followed the
initiation of this review, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.\9\
A list of the topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
is attached as an Appendix to this notice. The Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (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/frnotices">https://access.trade.gov/frnotices</a>.
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\9\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Results of the Administrative Review of the Antidumping Duty Order
of Xanthan Gum 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
The merchandise covered by the scope of this Order is xanthan gum
from China. For a complete description of the scope of the Order, see
the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Rescission of Administrative Review, in Part
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an
administrative review, in whole or in part, if a party who requested a
review withdraws its request within 90 days of the date of publication
of notice of initiation. As noted above, the following company timely
withdrew their review request and no other party requested an
administrative review of this company: CP Kelco Shandong. Therefore, we
are rescinding this administrative review with respect to this company,
pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1).
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.\10\ Normally, upon completion of an administrative
review, the suspended entries are liquidated at the antidumping duty
assessment rate for the review period.\11\ 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.\12\
Commerce notified all interested parties of its intent to rescind the
instant review regarding the companies listed below because there were
no reviewable, suspended entries of subject merchandise from these
companies during the POR and invited interested parties to comment.\13\
Based on our analysis of CBP information and the no-shipment
certifications submitted by Deosen Biochemical Ltd., Jilin Meihua Amino
Acid Co., Ltd, Meihua Hong Kong,\14\ Commerce preliminarily determines
that these companies had no shipments of subject merchandise during the
POR.
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\10\ 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 4154 (January 24, 2023).
\11\ See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
\12\ See, e.g., Shanghai Sunbeauty Trading Co. v. United States,
380 F.Supp.3d 1328, 1337 (CIT 2019), at 12 (referring to section
751(a) of the Act, the U.S. Court of International Trade held that
``{w{time} hile 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 (July 8,
2021), 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'').
\13\ See Intent to Rescind Memorandum.
\14\ Meihua Hong Kong refers to the collapsed entity Meihua
Group International Trading (Hong Kong) Limited, Langfang Meihua
Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang Meihua Amino Acid Co., Ltd.;
see also Xanthan Gum from the People's Republic of China:
Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,
and Preliminary Determination of No Shipments; 2018-2019, 85 FR
74686 (November 23, 2020), and accompanying Preliminary Decision
Memorandum, unchanged in Xanthan Gum from the People's Republic of
China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review;
2018-2019, 86 FR 16189 (March 26, 2021), and accompanying Issues and
Decisions Memorandum.
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In the absence of any suspended entries of subject merchandise from
these companies during the POR, we are rescinding this administrative
review for the companies listed above, in accordance with 19 CFR
351.213(d)(3).
Methodology
Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with section
751(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Because
China is a non-market economy country within the meaning of section
771(18) of the Act, we calculated normal value in accordance with
section 773(c) of the Act. For a full description of the methodology
underlying our preliminary results, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.
Separate Rates
We preliminarily determine that, in addition to Deosen Ordos and
Fufeng, one company not individually examined is eligible for separate
rate in this administrative review, Jianlong Biotechnology Co. Ltd.
(Jianlong).\15\ The Act does not address the establishment of a
separate rate for non-examined
[[Page 65173]]
companies when Commerce limits its examination in an administrative
review covering a nonmarket economy pursuant to section 777A(c)(2) of
the Act. However, Commerce's regulation at 19 CFR 351.109(g) states
that Commerce will determine the separate rate by following the process
set forth in 19 CFR 351.109(f)(1)-(2), which generally parallels the
process for determining the all-others rate in an investigation under
section 735(c)(5) of the Act. Section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.109(f) state that for non-examined companies, in general, we
will determine an all-others rate by weight averaging the estimated
weighted average dumping margins established for each of the
individually examined companies, excluding zero and de minimis rates or
any rates based entirely on facts available. Accordingly, to determine
the rate for non-examined separate rate companies, Commerce's practice
is to weight average the weighted-average dumping margins for the
selected mandatory respondents, excluding rates that are zero, de
minimis, or based entirely on facts available.
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\15\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum at the ``Separate Rate
Determinations'' section for more details.
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For the preliminary results of this administrative review, we
calculated rates for Deosen Ordos and Fufeng that are not zero, de
minimis, or based entirely on facts available. Therefore, the rates of
Deosen Ordos and Fufeng are applicable to Jianlong, the company not
selected for individual examination but eligible for a separate rate.
Accordingly, for the preliminary results, we are assigning to Jianlong
an estimated weighted-average dumping margin based on the average of
the two individually examined respondents' rates weighted by their
publicly available ranged U.S. sales values.\16\
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\16\ See Memorandum, ``Preliminary Separate Rate for Respondents
Not Selected for Individual Examination,'' dated concurrently with
this memorandum.
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The China-Wide Entity
Commerce's policy regarding conditional review of the China-wide
entity applies to this administrative review.\17\ 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. Because no party requested a review of the China-wide entity,
the entity is not under review, and the entity's rate (i.e., 154.07
percent) \18\ is not subject to change.
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\17\ 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).
\18\ See Order, 78 FR at 43144.
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Preliminary Results of Review
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following weighted-
average dumping margins exist for the period July 1, 2024, through June
30, 2025:
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Weighted-average
Exporter dumping margin
(percent)
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Deosen Biochemical (Ordos) Ltd...................... 70.21
Neimenggu Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (aka 51.82
Inner Mongolia Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd.)/
Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd./Xinjiang
Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd \19\...............
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Non-Individually Examined Companies Receiving a Separate Rate
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Jianlong Biotechnology Co., Ltd..................... 56.20
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Disclosure
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\19\ Commerce continues to find that Neimenggu Fufeng
Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. (aka Inner Mongolia Fufeng Biotechnologies
Co., Ltd.), Shandong Fufeng Fermentation Co., Ltd., and Xinjiang
Fufeng Biotechnologies Co., Ltd. are a single entity. See Xanthan
Gum from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review and Preliminary Determination
of No Shipments; 2013-2014, 80 FR 47464 (August 7, 2015), and
accompanying PDM at 6, unchanged in Xanthan Gum from the People's
Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review; 2013-2014, 82 FR 11428 (February 23, 2017).
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Commerce intends to disclose its calculations performed to
interested parties for these 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 this notice in accordance with
19 CFR 351.224(b).
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.\20\ Rebuttal briefs, limited to
issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days
after the date for filing case briefs.\21\ 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.\22\
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\20\ See 19 CFR 351.309.
\21\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d); 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 Procedures).
\22\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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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.\23\ Further, we request that interested parties limit their
public, executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not
including citations. We intend to use the public, 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 public, 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).\24\
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\23\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
\24\ See APO and Service Procedures.
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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, filed electronically via
ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of
publication of this notice. Requests should contain: (1) the party's
name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants;
and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. Oral presentations at the
hearing will be limited to issues raised in the briefs. If a request
for a hearing is made,
[[Page 65174]]
Commerce will inform parties of the scheduled date for the hearing.\25\
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\25\ See 19 CFR 351.310(d).
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Assessment Rates
Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.212(b)(1), Commerce will determine, and CBP shall assess,
antidumping duties on all appropriate entries of subject merchandise in
accordance with the final results of this review.
If Deosen Ordos and Fufeng's weighted-average dumping margin is not
zero or de minimis (i.e., less than 0.50 percent) in the final results
of this review, Commerce intends to calculate importer-specific
assessment rates on the basis of the ratio of the total amount of
dumping calculated for each importer's examined sales to the total
entered value of those sales. Where we do not have entered values for
all U.S. sales to a particular importer, we will calculate an importer-
specific, per-unit assessment rate on the basis of the ratio of the
total amount of dumping calculated for the importer's examined sales to
the total quantity of those sales.\26\ To determine whether an
importer-specific, per-unit assessment rate is de minimis, in
accordance with 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2), we also will calculate an
importer-specific ad valorem ratio based on estimated entered values.
If Deosen Ordos and Fufeng's weighted-average dumping margin is zero or
de minimis or where an importer-specific ad valorem assessment rate is
zero or de minimis, we will instruct CBP to liquidate appropriate
entries without regard to antidumping duties.\27\
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\26\ See 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1).
\27\ See 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2); see also Antidumping Proceeding:
Calculation of the Weighted-Average Dumping Margin and Assessment
Rate in Certain Antidumping Proceedings; Final Modification, 77 FR
8101, 8103 (February 14, 2012).
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For the respondents that were not selected for individual
examination in this administrative review but qualified for a separate
rate, the assessment rate will be equal to the weighted-average dumping
margins calculated for the mandatory respondents consistent with
section 735(c)(5)(B) of the Act. Consequently, the rate established for
the non-individually examined companies is an ad valorem rate of 56.21
percent.
For entries that were not reported in the U.S. sales database
submitted by the mandatory respondents during this review, Commerce
will instruct CBP to liquidate such entries at the China-wide rate.
For the companies listed above for which the review is being
rescinded, Commerce will instruct CBP to assess antidumping duties on
all appropriate entries. Antidumping duties shall be assessed at rates
equal to the cash deposit rate for 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 rescission instructions to CBP no earlier than 35 days
after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
The final results of this review shall be the basis for the
assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by
the final results of this review and for future deposits of estimated
duties, where applicable.
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).
Cash Deposit Requirements
The following cash deposit requirements will be effective upon
publication of the final results of this administrative review for
shipments of the subject merchandise from China entered, or withdrawn
from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date, as
provided by sections 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) for the companies
listed above, which have a separate rate, the cash deposit rate will be
that established in the final results of this review (except, if the
rate is zero or de minimis, then zero cash deposit will be required);
(2) for previously investigated or reviewed Chinese and non-Chinese
exporters not listed above 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; (3) 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 the existing rate for the
China-wide entity of 154.07 percent; and (4) 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 that supplied that non-Chinese exporter. These deposit
requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further
notice.
Notification to Importers
This notice also 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 review period. 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
We are issuing and publishing these preliminary results of review
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: October 7, 2026.
Scot Fullerton,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Operations.
Appendix
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the Order
IV. Application of Facts Available and Use of Adverse Inferences
V. Rescission of Review, in Part
VI. Single Entity Treatment
VII. Discussion of the Methodology
VIII. Currency Conversion
IX. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2026-20899 Filed 10-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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