Sales at Less Than Fair Value; Determinations, Investigations, etc.: N-Cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-Sulfenamide

N-Cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-Sulfenamide From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

DATE:

Applicable November 6, 2026.

DATES:

Applicable November 6, 2026.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce published the notice of initiation of this investigation on June 2, 2026. ⁽¹⁾ On September 24, 2026, Commerce postponed the preliminary determination of this investigation and the revised deadline is now October 28, 2026. ⁽²⁾

For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. ⁽³⁾ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as Appendix II 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 https://access.trade.gov. In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at https://access.trade.gov/frnotices.

Scope of the Investigation

The product covered by this investigation is CBS from China. For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see Appendix I.

Scope Comments

In accordance with the preamble to Commerce's regulations, ⁽⁴⁾ the Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise issues regarding product coverage (scope). ⁽⁵⁾ No interested party commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the scope language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. See the scope in Appendix I to this notice.

Methodology

Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with sections 731 and 733(b) of the Act. Pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act, Commerce preliminarily has relied upon facts otherwise available, with adverse inferences, for the China-wide entity, which includes the companies that did not respond to Commerce's quantity and value questionnaire, separate rate application, or Commerce's initial questionnaire. For a full description of the methodology underlying Commerce's preliminary determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

In accordance with section 733(e) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.206, Commerce preliminarily determines that critical circumstances exist with respect to imports of CBS from China for the China-wide entity. For a full description of the methodology and results of Commerce's critical circumstances analysis, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.

Combination Rates

In the Initiation Notice, ⁽⁶⁾ Commerce stated that it would calculate producer/exporter combination rates for the respondents that are eligible for a separate rate in this investigation. Policy Bulletin 05.1 describes this practice. ⁽⁷⁾ In this case, because no respondent qualified for a separate rate, producer/exporter combination rates were not calculated.

Preliminary Determination

Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margins exist:

Suspension of Liquidation

In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation of subject merchandise as described in the scope of the investigation section entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register , as discussed below. Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash deposit equal to the weighted average amount by which normal value exceeds U.S. price, as indicated in the chart above as follows: (1) for all Chinese producers/exporters of merchandise under consideration that have not established eligibility for their own separate rates, the cash deposit rate will be equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for the China-wide entity; and (2) for all third-county exporters of merchandise under consideration not listed in the table above, the cash deposit rate is the cash deposit rate applicable to the China-wide entity that supplied that third-country exporter.

Section 733(e)(2) of the Act provides that, given an affirmative determination of critical circumstances, any suspension of liquidation shall apply to unliquidated entries of merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the later of: (a) the date which is 90 days before the date on which the suspension of liquidation was first ordered; or (b) the date on which notice of initiation of the investigation was published. Commerce preliminarily finds that critical circumstances exist for imports of subject merchandise from the China-wide entity. In accordance with section 733(e)(2)(A) of the Act, the suspension of liquidation shall apply to all unliquidated entries of merchandise from the producer/exporter combinations identified in this paragraph that were entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the publication of this notice.

To determine the cash deposit rate, Commerce normally adjusts the estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the amount of domestic subsidy pass-through and export subsidies determined in a companion countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding when CVD provisional measures are in effect. Accordingly, where Commerce has made a preliminary affirmative determination for domestic subsidy pass-through or export subsidies, Commerce has offset the calculated estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the appropriate rate(s). Any such adjusted rates may be found in the "Preliminary Determination" section's chart of estimated weighted-average dumping margins above.

Should provisional measures in the companion CVD investigation expire prior to the expiration of provisional measures in this LTFV investigation, Commerce will direct CBP to begin collecting cash deposits at a rate equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margins calculated in this preliminary determination unadjusted for the passed-through domestic subsidies or for export subsidies at the time the CVD provisional measures expire.

These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect until further notice.

Disclosure

Normally, Commerce discloses to interested parties the calculations performed in connection with a preliminary determination within five days of its 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). However, because Commerce preliminarily applied adverse facts available (AFA) to the China-wide entity in this investigation in accordance with section 776 of the Act, and the applied AFA rate is based solely on the petition, there are no calculations to disclose.

Verification

Because the mandatory respondents in this investigation did not provide information requested by Commerce, withdrew from participating in this proceeding, and Commerce preliminarily determines each of the mandatory respondents to have been uncooperative, verification will not be conducted.

Public Comment

Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than 14 days after the date of publication of the preliminary determination, unless the Secretary alters the time limit. 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. ⁽⁸⁾ 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. ⁽⁹⁾

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. ⁽¹⁰⁾ 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 determination in this investigation. 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). ⁽¹¹⁾

Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal briefs, 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. Requests should contain: (1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and (3) a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be determined.

Final Determination

Section 735(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1) provide that Commerce will issue the final determination within 75 days after the date of its preliminary determination. Accordingly, Commerce will make its final determination no later than 75 days after the signature date of this preliminary determination.

U.S. International Trade Commission Notification

In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary determination of sales at LTFV. If the final determination is affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final determination whether imports of the subject merchandise are materially injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.

Notification to Interested Parties

This determination is issued and published in accordance with sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

The product subject to this investigation is N-Cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-sulfenamide (CBS), an organic compound also known as N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazolesulfenamide, N-(1,3- benzothiazol-2-ylsulfanyl) cyclohexanamine and N-cyclohexylbenzothiazol-2-sulphenamide. It may additionally be termed Accelerator CZ, CBTS, Thiohexam, HIP4, Curax, DURAX, Conaca, Conach, Conacs, or Celacs. A CBS assay or sample most commonly reflects a concentration of 94 to 99 percent.

CBS is most commonly in the form of an off-white or light gray powder, oiled powder, or granule, though CBS imported in a different color or form is included in the scope. CBS typically has a melting point of 90 to 110°C and a molecular weight of 264.4 g/mol. CBS may be imported in a solution of benzene, ethanol, or acetone. CBS has the chemical formula C13H16N2S2 and is assigned the Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) registry No. 95-33-0.

The scope also includes CBS that is commingled with CBS from sources not subject to this investigation.

CBS powder, oiled powder, and granules are classified under subheading 2934.20.8000, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Imports of CBS may also be classified under subheadings 3812.10.1000 and 3812.10.5000, HTSUS. Although the HTSUS and CAS numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope is dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum

I. Summary

II. Background

III. Period of Investigation

IV. Discussion of the Methodology

V. Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances

VI. Adjustments to Cash Deposit Rates for Export Subsidies in the Companion Countervailing Duty Investigation

VII. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2026-22710 Filed 11-5-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

⁽¹⁾ See N-Cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-Sulfenamide from the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation, 91 FR 32941 (June 2, 2026) ( Initiation Notice ).

⁽²⁾ See N-Cyclohexylbenzothizole-2-Sulfenamide from the People's Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation, 91 FR 60600 (September 24, 2026).

⁽³⁾ See Memorandum, "Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of N- Cyclohexylbenzothiazole-2-Sulfenamide from the People's Republic of China," dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).

⁽⁴⁾ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).

⁽⁵⁾ See Initiation Notice, 91 FR at 32942.

⁽⁶⁾ See Initiation Notice, 91 FR at 32945.

⁽⁷⁾ See Enforcement and Compliance's Policy Bulletin No. 05.1, regarding, "Separate-Rates Practice and Application of Combination Rates in Antidumping Investigations involving Non-Market Economy Countries," (April 5, 2005) (Policy Bulletin 05.1), available on Commerce's website at https://www.trade.gov/enforcement-and-compliance-policy-bulletins-0.

⁽⁸⁾ 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 Final Rule ).

⁽⁹⁾ See 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).

⁽¹⁰⁾  We use the term "issue" here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

⁽¹¹⁾ See APO and Service Final Rule.