95-2353. Notice of Postponement of Final Antidumping Duty Determination: Disposable Pocket Lighters From the People's Republic of China  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 31, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 5899-5900]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-2353]
    
    
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
    (A-570-834)
    
    
    Notice of Postponement of Final Antidumping Duty Determination: 
    Disposable Pocket Lighters From the People's Republic of China
    
    AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
    Department of Commerce.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: January 31, 1995.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Anne Osgood or Todd Hansen, 
    Office of Countervailing Investigations, Import 
    [[Page 5900]] Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
    Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW., 
    Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone (202) 482-0167 or 482-1276, 
    respectively.
    
    Case History
    
        Since our preliminary determination in this investigation on 
    December 5, 1994 (59 FR 64191, December 13, 1994), the following events 
    have occurred.
        On December 9 and 19, 1994, counsel for Cli-Claque Company, Ltd. 
    (``Cli-Claque'') and counsel for Gao Yao (HK) Hua Fa Industrial Co., 
    Ltd. (``Gao Yao''), China National Overseas Trading Corporation 
    (``COTCO'') and Guangdong Light Industrial Products Import & Export 
    Corporation (``GLIP''), respectively, requested a postponement of 60 
    days of the final determination in this investigation due to the 
    complex nature of this investigation, the need for additional time to 
    gather records and information for verification, and the scheduling 
    conflicts resulting from respondents' observance of Chinese New Year.
        On December 16, 1994, PolyCity Industrial, Ltd. (``PolyCity'') 
    filed its objection to a full extension of the final determination, 
    stating it believes that its margin will decrease dramatically in the 
    Department's final determination and that a postponement disadvantages 
    it by delaying proceedings. PolyCity had previously requested an 
    extension until March 8, 1995.
    
    Postponement of Final Antidumping Determination
    
        Under Section 735(a)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 
    (``the Act'') (19 U.S.C. 1673(a)(2)), and section 353.20(b) of the 
    Department's regulations (19 CFR 353.20(b)), if, subsequent to an 
    affirmative preliminary determination, the Department receives a 
    request for postponement of the final determination from the producers 
    or resellers of a significant proportion of subject merchandise, the 
    Department will postpone the final determination absent compelling 
    reasons for denial.
        Cli-Claque, COTCO, Gao Yao and GLIP collectively account for a 
    significant portion of sales to the United States of merchandise under 
    investigation and have preliminarily been found to constitute 
    independent companies entitled to rates separate from the country-wide 
    rate for PRC manufacturers, producers and/or exporters of the subject 
    merchandise. Although PolyCity, which also has preliminarily been found 
    to be an independent company entitled to a separate rate, has objected 
    to a full postponement, given the complicated nature of this 
    investigation, and to ensure a complete and thorough verification of 
    all responses, we are postponing our final determination until no later 
    than April 27, 1995.
    
    Scope of the Investigation
    
        The products covered by this investigation are disposable pocket 
    lighters, whether or not refillable, whose fuel is butane, isobutane, 
    propane, or other liquefied hydrocarbon, or a mixture containing any of 
    these, whose vapor pressure at 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees 
    Celsius) exceeds a gauge pressure of 15 pounds per square inch. Non-
    refillable pocket lighters are imported under subheading 9613.10.0000 
    of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS''). 
    Refillable, disposable pocket lighters would be imported under 
    subheading 9613.20.0000. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided 
    for convenience and Customs purposes, our written description of the 
    scope of this proceeding is dispositive.
    
    Suspension of Liquidation
    
        On January 4, 1995, we published in the Federal Register (60 FR 
    436) our preliminary affirmative determination of critical 
    circumstances with regard to imports of subject merchandise from Cli-
    Claque and COTCO, and with respect to manufacturers, producers and/or 
    exporters that have not established their independence from central 
    government control and to which the PRC country-wide rate will apply. 
    Therefore, we have directed the U.S. Customs Service to suspend 
    liquidation of any unliquidated entries of disposable pocket lighters 
    exported from the PRC by the above-mentioned companies (i.e., any 
    exporter of subject merchandise other than Gao Yao, GLIP and PolyCity) 
    that are entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on or 
    after September 14, 1994, which is 90 days prior to the date of 
    publication of our preliminary determination in this proceeding. The 
    Customs Service shall require a cash deposit or posting of a bond equal 
    to the estimated dumping margins, as published in our preliminary 
    determination for this investigation. This suspension of liquidation 
    will remain in effect until further notice.
    
    Public Comment
    
        In accordance with 19 CFR 353.38, case briefs or other written 
    comments in at least six copies must be submitted to the Assistant 
    Secretary no later than March 27, 1995, and rebuttal briefs no later 
    than April 3, 1995. A hearing will be held on April 10, 1995, at 9:00 
    am at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Room 1412. Parties should 
    confirm by telephone the time, date, and place of the hearing 48 hours 
    prior to the scheduled time. In accordance with 19 CFR 353.38(b), oral 
    presentations will be limited to issues raised in the briefs.
        We will make our final determination not later than April 27, 1995, 
    135 days after the date of publication of our preliminary affirmative 
    determination of sales at less than fair value.
        This notice is published pursuant to section 735(a) of the Act and 
    19 CFR 353.20(b)(2).
    
        Dated: January 20, 1995.
    Susan G. Esserman,
    Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
    [FR Doc. 95-2353 Filed 1-30-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/31/1995
Published:
01/31/1995
Department:
Commerce Department
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
95-2353
Dates:
January 31, 1995.
Pages:
5899-5900 (2 pages)
PDF File:
95-2353.pdf