China Frozen Warmwater Shrimp: Final Results of AD Admin Review; No Revocation for Hilltop
The International Trade Administration decided not to partially revoke the antidumping duty order on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from China (A-570-893) with respect to Hilltop International in the final results of its administrative review, and instead assigned the company to the China-wide entity because of an alleged transshipment scheme by the company to avoid AD duties. The ITA also set an AD rate of zero for Zhanjiang Regal Integrated Marine Resources Co., Ltd. These rates, which are effective Sept. 4, are expected to be implemented by CBP soon.
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ITA Reverses Course, Denies Hilltop Revocation because of Transshipment Scheme
In the preliminary results of this administrative review, the ITA preliminarily assigned a zero rate to Hilltop, and announced its intent to revoke the AD order with respect to Hilltop because of three consecutive reviews with zero AD rates. But following the preliminary results, the petitioner submitted information concerning recent criminal convictions of entities/persons affiliated with Hilltop and allegations of a transshipment scheme of shrimp through Cambodia during the first and second administrative reviews of this proceeding, the ITA said. The ITA sent Hilltop supplemental questionnaires regarding the allegations and Hilltop’s potentially undisclosed Cambodian affiliations.
In response, Hilltop said it is improper for the ITA to investigate transshipment allegations in an administrative review, and refused to answer questions regarding activities prior to the previous two review periods (the revocation period). Hilltop also said it had no undisclosed Cambodian affiliates. But Hilltop later admitted it did have a previously undisclosed Cambodian affiliate when new information was placed on the record.
As a result, the ITA applied adverse facts available to place Hilltop in the China-wide entity for its lack of cooperation, it said. It also denied Hilltop’s request for partial revocation. “The deficiencies on the record of this review, which also implicate prior reviews, preclude the Department from granting Hilltop’s revocation request, in part due to Hilltop’s material misrepresentations in this review and its refusal to provide information regarding activities relevant to the proceeding,” the ITA said.
| Exporter | AD Rate |
|---|---|
| Zhanjiang Regal Integrated Marine Resources Co., Ltd. | zero |
| China-wide entity1 | 112.81% |
(The review period is 02/01/10 -- 01/31/11. See ITA's notice for more information, including the scope of the order, detailed cash deposit and assessment instructions, changes since preliminary results, etc. See ITT's Online Archives 12030144 for summary of the preliminary results of this administrative review.)
ITA Contact -- Bob Palmer (202) 482-9068
1Includes Hilltop International and affiliates Yangjiang City Yelin Hoitat Quick Frozen Seafood Co., Ltd.; Fuqing Yihua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd.; Ocean Duke Corporation; and Kingston Foods Corporation. Also includes the following 81 companies: Allied Pacific Aquatic Products Zhanjiang Co Ltd.; Allied Pacific Food (Dalian) Co., Ltd.; Asian Seafoods (Zhanjiang) Co., Ltd.; Beihai Evergreen Aquatic Product Science And Technology Co Ltd.; Beihai Qinguo Frozen Foods Co., Ltd.; Capital Prospect; Dalian Hualian Foods Co., Ltd.; Dalian Shanhai Seafood Co., Ltd.; Dalian Z&H Seafood Co. Ltd.; Ever Hope International Co., Ltd.; Everflow Ind. Supply; Flags Wins Trading Co., Ltd.; Fuchang Aquatic Products Freezing; Fujian Chaohui International Trading; Fuqing Minhua Trade Co., Ltd.; Fuqing Yihua Aquatic Food Co., Ltd.; Fuqing Yiyuan Trading Co., Ltd.; Gallant Ocean (Nanhai), Ltd.; Guangdong Jiahuang Foods; Guangdong Jinhang Foods Co., Ltd.; Guangdong Wanya Foods Fty. Co., Ltd.; Hai Li Aquatic Co. Ltd.; Hainan Brich Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.; Hainan Golden Spring Foods Co., Ltd.; Hainan Hailisheng Food Co., Ltd.; Hainan Seaberry Seafoods Corporation; Hainan Xiangtai Fishery Co., Ltd.; Haizhou Aquatic Products Co. Ltd.; Hua Yang (Dalian) International; Jet Power International Ltd.; Jin Cheng Food Co., Ltd.; Leizhou Yunyuan Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.; Maple Leaf Foods International; North Seafood Group Co.; Panasonic Mfg. Xiamen Co Phoenix Intl.; Rizhao Smart Foods; Rui'an Huasheng Aquatic Products Processing Factory; Savvy Seafood Inc.; Sea Trade International Inc.; Shanghai Linghai Fisheries Trading Co. Ltd.; Shanghai Smiling Food Co., Ltd.; Shanghai Zhoulian Foods Co., Ltd.; Shantou Jiazhou Foods Industry; Shantou Jin Cheng Food Co., Ltd.; Shantou Longfeng Foodstuff Co., Ltd.; Shantou Longsheng Aquatic Product Foodstuff Co., Ltd.; Shantou Ruiyuan Industry Company Ltd.; Shantou Wanya Foods Fty. Co., Ltd.; Shantou Xinwanya Aquatic Product Ltd Company; Shantou Yue Xiang Commercial Trading Co., Ltd.; Shengsi Huali Aquatic Co., Ltd.; SLK Hardware; Thai Royal Frozen Food Zhanjiang Co., Ltd.; Tongwei Hainan Aquatic Products Co. Ltd.; Top One Intl.; Xiamen Granda Import & Export Co., Ltd.; Xinjiang Top Agricultural Products Co., Ltd.; Xinxing Aquatic Products Processing Factory; Yancheng Hi-king Agriculture Developing Co., Ltd.; Yangjiang Wanshida Seafood Co., Ltd.; Yelin Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Zhangzhou Xinwanya Aquatic Product; Zhanjiang East Sea Kelon Aquatic Products Co. Ltd.; Zhanjiang Evergreen Aquatic Product Science and Technology Co., Ltd.; Zhanjiang Fuchang Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.; Zhanjiang Go Harvest Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.; Zhanjiang Haizhou Aquatic Product Co. Ltd.; Zhanjiang Jinguo Marine Foods Co., Ltd.; Zhanjiang Longwei Aquatic Products Industry Co., Ltd.; Zhanjiang Universal Seafood Corp.; Zhejiang Daishan Baofa Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Industrial Group Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Shaoxing Green Vegetable Instant Freezing Co., Ltd.; Zhejiang Zhoufu Food Co., Ltd.; Zhongshan Foodstuffs & Aquatic Imp. & Exp. Group Co. Ltd. of Guangdong; Zhoushan City Shengtai Aquatic Co.; Zhoushan Junwei Aquatic Product Co. Ltd.; Zhoushan Lianghong Aquatic Foods Co. Ltd.; Zhoushan Mingyu Aquatic Product Co. Ltd.; and Zhoushan Putuo Huafa Sea Products Co., Ltd.