Fiberboards from Five Countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) under Anti-subsidy Investigation on Complaint of Greenply/ Greenpanel Inds., Century Plyboards and Rushil Décor

[DGTR Initiation Notification Case No. O1 (CVD)- 6/2019 dated 5 November 2019]

Subject: Initiation of Anti-Subsidy Investigation concerning imports of Fiberboards from Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

F.No. 6/17//2019- DGTR: Whereas Greenply Industries Limited/ Greenpanel Industries Limited, Century Plyboards (India) Ltd. and Rushil Decor Limited (hereinafter referred to as "petitioners" or "Domestic industry") have filed an application on behalf of Domestic industry before the Designated Authority, in accordance with the Customs Tariff Act 1975, as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the Act) and the Customs Tariff (Identification, Assessment and Collection of Countervailing Duty on Subsidized Articles and determination of injury) Rules, 1995, as amended from time to time, (hereinafter referred to as the Rules), alleging subsidization of Fiberboards (hereinafter referred to as the subject goods), from Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as the subject countries) and requested for initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation for levy of countervailing duties on the imports of the subject goods, originating in or exported from the subject countries.

A. Allegation of Subsidization

2. The petitioners have alleged that the producers/exporters of the subject goods in the subject countries have benefitted from the actionable subsidies provided at various levels by the Governments of the subject countries, including the government of different provinces and Municipalities in which producers/exporters are located, and other 'Public bodies'. The petitioners have relied upon the relevant Laws, Rules and Regulations and other Notifications of the relevant Government Agencies and Public Bodies as available in the public domain and in the determination of other investigating Authorities who had conducted comprehensive investigation of such schemes and concluded existence of countervailable subsidy programs.

B. Consultation

In terms of Article 13 of Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (ASCM), invitations for pre-initiation consultations were sent to the Government of Indonesia, Government of Malaysia, Government of Sri Lanka, Government of Thailand and Government of Vietnam. While consultations were held with the Government of Malaysia (GoM), Government of Indonesia (Gol) and Government of Vietnam (GoV) on 9th, 10th and 11th October 2019 respectively, the Government of Thailand did not avail the opportunity for consultations. The written submission of representatives of the responding Government of subject countries have been taken on record.

C. Subsidy Programs

3. The prima facie evidence provided by the petitioners shows that the producers and exporters of the subject goods in the subject countries have benefitted from a number of subsidy schemes/programs, granted by the Government of respective subject countries and/or their respective public bodies as listed below-

a. Schemes by Government of Indonesia-

i.        Program 1: Provision of Standing Timber for Less Than Adequate Remuneration

ii.        Program 2: Government prohibition of Log exports

iii.        Program 3: Benefits for export facilitation by Indonesia EXIM Bank

iv.        Program 4: Reduction of lncome tax

v.        Program 5: Exemption of import duty

vi.        Program 6: Exemption of import duty - Raw materials

vii.        Program 7: Exemption of VAT

viii.        Program 8: Accelerated depreciation or amortization

ix.        Program 9: Relief from Land and Building tax

b. Schemes by Government of Malaysia-

i.        Program No.1: The Market Development grant

ii.        Program No.2: Export Credit Refinancing

iii.        Program No 3: Buyer Credit Guarantee

iv.        Program No.4: Pioneer Status

v.        Program No.5: Investment Tax Policies

vi.        Program No.6: Reinvestment Allowance

vii.        Program No.7: Accelerated Capital Allowance

viii.        Program No.8: Tariff Related Incentives

ix.        Program No.9: Allowance for plants and Machinery

x.        Program No.10: Incentives for manufacturing and manufacturing related services in East Coast Economic Corridor

xi.        Program No. 11: Draw back on Import duty, Sales tax and Excise duty

xii.        Program No.l2: Sales Tax Exemption

xiii.        Program No.l3:  Exemption from Import Duty on Raw Materials/Components

xiv.        Program No.14: Double Deduction for Promotion of Exports

xv.        Program No.l6: Incentives for Small and Medium Enterprises

xvi.        Program No.17: Allowance for Increased Export

xvii.        Program No.18: Tax Exemptions for Exporters in Free Trade Zones

c. Schemes by Government of Sri Lanka -

i.        Program No 1: National Building Tax exemption (Indirect Tax)

ii.        Program No 2: Exemptions for custom duties on Capital and Intermediate Goods

iii.        Program No 3: Income Tax Concessions for Specified undertakings

iv.        Program No 4: Income tax exemptions for undertakings with high Investment

v.        Program No 5: National Fertilizer Subsidy Scheme

vi.        Program No 6: Subsidies for Rubber plantation

d. Schemes by Government of Thailand -

i.        Program No 1: Exemption/reduction of import duties on machinery

ii.        Program No. 2: Exemption of import duty on raw material imported for use in production for export

iii.        Program No 3: Reduction of import duty for raw or essential materials

iv.        Program No 4: Exemption of Corporate Income Tax for BOI-Promoted Activities

v.        Program No 5: Reduction of lncome tax in Investment Promotion Zones

vi.        Program No. 6: Additional 25 percent deduction of the cost of installation or construction of facilities

vii.        Program No 7: Double deduction available for companies in Investment Promotion Zones

viii.        Program No 8: Exemption of Income Tax - Dividends

ix.        Program No. 9: VAT exemption on exports

x.        Program No. 10: Short term Export Credit Insurance

xi.        Program No. 11: Medium and Long term Export credit Insurance

e. Schemes by Government of Vietnam-

i.        Program No 1: Import Duty Exemptions on Imports of Raw Materials for Exporting Goods

ii.        Program No 2: Import Duty Exemptions on Imported Raw Materials in non­tariff zones

iii.        Program No 3: Import Duty Exemption on Imports of Spare Parts and Accessories for Companies in Industrial Zones

iv.        Program No 4: Reduction of Corporate Income tax

v.        Program No 5: Exemption or Reduction of Import tax

vi.        Program No.6: Exemption and Reduction of Land & Water rent

vii.        Program No 8: Investment Credit by Vietnam Development Bank

viii.        Program No 9: Export Credit by Vietnam Development Bank

4. It has been alleged that the above schemes are actional subsidies since they involve a financial contribution from the Governments of the respective subject countries or other regional or local Governments of such respective countries, including public bodies and confer benefit on the recipient (s). They are also alleged to be limited to certain enterprises or groups of enterprises and/or products and/or regions and therefore specific and countervailable. They are also in some cases alleged to be contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods and/or contingent upon export performance.

5. The Designated Authority reserves the right to investigate other subsidies, which may be found to exist and availed by the producers and exporters of the subject goods, during the course of investigation.

D. Allegation of Injury and Casual Link

6. The petitioners have furnished information on various parameters relating to 'injury' to the domestic industry as prescribed under the Rules. The evidence provided by the petitioner's prima facie shows material injury to the domestic industry has been caused by the alleged subsidized imports from the subject countries.

E. Initiation of the Investigation

7. The Authority finds that there is prima facie evidence of existence of countervailable subsidies on production and export of the subject goods in the subject countries and such subsidized imports are causing material injury to the domestic industry through their volume and price effects.

8. In view of the above position, the Authority hereby initiates an investigation into the alleged subsidization and consequent material injury to the domestic industry in terms of Rule 6 of the Rules supra, to determine the existence, degree and effect of alleged subsidization and to recommend the amount of countervailing duty, which if levied, would be adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.

F. Domestic Industry

9. The application has been filed by Greenply Industries Limited/ Greenpanel Industries Limited, Century Plyboards (India) Ltd. and Rushil Decor Limited, as per the evidence available on record, production of the petitioners accounts for major proportion of the total domestic production. The Authority, therefore, determines that the constituent of domestic producers in the present application constitute domestic industry within the meaning of Rules 2(b) and the application satisfies the criteria of standing in terms of Rules 6(3) of the Rules supra.

G. Product Under Consideration

10. The product under consideration (PUC) in the present investigation is "Fibre board of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or not bonded with resins or other organic substances" (hereinafter referred to as subject goods).

11. Fibreboards is a type of engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers. Types of fibreboard include medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard (high-density fiberboard, HDF).

12. The product is classified under heading 44.11 of the First Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (51 of 1975). The scope of the product under consideration is the products classifiable under following HS codes:

4411

Fibre board of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or not bonded with

 

- Medium density fibre board (MDF)

4411 12

--Of a thickness not exceeding 5mm

4411 13

-- Of a thickness exceeding 5mm but not exceeding 9rnm

4411 14

-- Of a thickness exceeding 9rnm

 

- Other:

4411 92

--Of a density exceeding 0.8 grn/cm3

4411 93

--Of a density exceeding 0.5 gm/cm 3 but not exceeding 0.8 gm/cm 3

4411 94

--Of a density not exceeding 0.5 gm/cm

13. The PUC covers both HDF and MDF in laminated and non-laminated forms. The delineation of the PUC with respect to thickness/weight parameters is done under the relevant ITC (HS) as stated above.

14. The Authority proposes to consider the PUC as per the following PCNs:

4411 12

MDF of a thickness not exceeding 5mm

4411 13, 4411 93

MDF of a thickness exceeding 5mm but not exceeding 9mm and of a density exceeding 0.5 gm/cm3 but not exceeding 0.8 gm/cm3

4411 14

MDF of a thickness exceeding 9mm

4411 92

HDF of a density exceeding 0.8 gm/cm3

15. The interested parties are requested to furnish their comments on the proposed PCNs within 15 days from the date of this notification.

16. Following are excluded from the scope of the product under consideration-

a) Flooring boards

b) Sunmica

c) Insulation board d) Coir boards

e) Jute fibre board

H. Like Article

17. The petitioners have claimed that the goods produced by the domestic industry are like articles to the subject goods originating in or exported from the subject countries. It has been stated that there is no significant difference in the subject goods produced by the petitioners and those exported from subject countries. The petitioners claim that the two are technically and commercially substitutable. For the purpose of present investigation, the subject goods produced by the domestic industry are being treated as 'like articles' of the subject goods imported from the subject countries.

I. Countries Involved

18. The countries involved for the purpose of current investigation are Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

J. Period of Investigation

19. The period of investigation (POI) in the present investigation is April 2018 to March, 2019 (12 months). The injury investigation period will however cover the periods 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18 and the POI.

K. Procedure & Submission of Information

20. The exporters in the subject countries, importers and users in India known to be concerned with the product and the domestic industry are being informed separately to enable them to provide all information relevant in the form and manner prescribed. Any other party interested to participate in the present investigation may also write to:

The Designated Authority Directorate General of Trade Remedies Department of Commerce

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

4th Floor, Jeevan Tara Building,

5 Parliament Street, New Delhi -110001

21. As per Rule 7(5) of the Rules supra, the Designated Authority is also providing opportunity to the industrial users of the product under investigation, and to represent consumer organizations who can furnish information which is relevant to the investigation regarding subsidy, injury and casual link. Any other interested party may also make its submissions relevant to the investigation within the time limits set out below.

L. Time Limit

22. Any information relating to the present investigation should be sent in writing so as to reach the Authority at the address mentioned above not later than 40 (forty) days from the date of publication of this notification. The Government of subject countries, known exporters and importers, who are being addressed separately, are however required to submit the response to questionnaire within 40 (forty) days from the date of publication of this notification. If no information is received within the prescribed time limit or the submitted information is incomplete, the Authority may record its findings on the basis of the facts available on record in accordance with the Rules.

M. Submission of Information on Non-Confidential basis

23. In terms of Rule 8 of the Rules, the interested parties are required to submit non-confidential version of any confidential information provided to the Authority. In case confidentiality is claimed on any part of the questionnaire's response/submissions, the same must be submitted in two separate sets (a) marked as Confidential (with title, index, number of pages, etc.) and (b) other set marked as Non-Confidential (with title, index, number of pages, etc.). All the information supplied must be clearly marked as either "confidential" or "non-confidential" at the top of each page.

24. Information supplied without any mark as "Confidential" shall be treated as non- confidential and the Authority shall be at liberty to allow the other interested parties to inspect any such non-confidential information. Two (2) copies each of the confidential version and the non­confidential version must be submitted.

25. For information claimed as confidential; the supplier of the information is required to provide a good cause statement along with the supplied information as to why such information cannot be disclosed and/or why summarization of such information is not possible.

26. The non- confidential version is required to be a replica of the confidential version with the confidential information preferably indexed or blanked I summarized depending upon the information on which confidentiality is claimed. The non-confidential summary must be in sufficient detail to permit a reasonable understanding of the substance of the information furnished on confidential basis. However, in exceptional circumstances, party submitting the confidential information may indicate that such information is not susceptible to summary; a statement of reasons why summarization is not possible, must be provided to the satisfaction of the Authority.

27. The Authority may accept or reject the request for confidentiality on examination of the nature of the information submitted. If the Authority is satisfied that the request for confidentiality is not warranted or the supplier of the information is either unwilling to make the information public or to authorize its disclosure in generalized or summary form, it may disregard such information.

28. Any submission made without a meaningful non-confidential version thereof or without a good cause statement on the confidentiality claim may not be taken on record by the Authority. The Authority on being satisfied and accepting the need for confidentiality of the information provided; shall not disclose it to any party without specific authorization of the party providing such confidential information.

N. Non cooperation

29. In terms of Rule 7(8), in case where an interested party refuses access to or does not provide necessary information within a reasonable period, or significantly impedes the investigation, the Authority may record its findings on the basis of the facts available to it and make such recommendations to the Central Government as deemed fit.

0. Inspection of Public File

30. In terms of Rule 7(7), any interested party may inspect the public file containing non­confidential version of the evidence submitted by other interested parties.