Notice of Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation: Disposable Pocket Lighters From Thailand

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[C-549-811]

Notice of Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation:

Disposable Pocket Lighters From Thailand

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 7, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Elizabeth A. Graham or Kristin M. Heim, Office of Countervailing

Investigations, Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce,

Washington, D.C. 20230; (202) 482-4105 or 482-3798, respectively.

The Petition

On May 9, 1994, we received a petition in proper form filed by the

BIC Corporation on behalf of the United States disposable pocket

lighter (``disposable lighters'') industry. In accordance with 19 CFR

355.12, petitioner alleges that manufacturers, producers, or exporters

of the subject merchandise in Thailand receive benefits which

constitute bounties or grants within the meaning of section 303 of the

Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

Injury Test

Although Thailand is not a ``country under the Agreement'' within

the meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, the merchandise being

investigated is non-dutiable under the Generalized System of

Preferences and Thailand is a contracting party to the General

Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Therefore, the U.S. International Trade

Commission (ITC) is required to determine whether imports of the

subject merchandise from Thailand materially injure, or threaten

material injury to, a U.S. industry.

Standing

Petitioner has stated that it is an interested party, as defined in

section 771(9)(C) of the Act, and that it has filed the petition on

behalf of the U.S. industry producing disposable lighters. If any

interested party, as described under paragraphs (C), (D), (E), or (F)

of section 771(9) of the Act, wishes to register support for, or

opposition to, this petition, such party should file a written

notification with the Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, in

accordance with 19 CFR 355.31.

Exclusion Requests

Under the Department's regulations, any producer or reseller

seeking exclusion from a potential countervailing duty order must

submit its request for exclusion within 30 days of the date of

publication of this notice. The procedures and requirements regarding

the filing of such requests are contained in 19 CFR 355.14.

Scope of Investigation

The products covered by this investigation are disposable pocket

lighters, whether or not refillable, whose fuel is butane, isobutane,

propane, or other liquified hydrocarbon, or a mixture containing any of

these, whose vapor pressure at 75 degrees fahrenheit (24 degrees

celsius) exceeds a gage 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 descriptions of the

scope of this proceeding is dispositive.

Initiation of Investigation

The Department has examined the petition on disposable lighters

from Thailand and found that it complies with the requirements of

section 702(b) of the Act. Therefore, in accordance with section 702 of

the Act, we are initiating a countervailing duty investigation to

determine whether manufacturers, producers or exporters of disposable

lighters receive countervailable bounties or grants. The following

programs are included in our investigation.

1. Industrial Estates/Export Processing Zones

2. Preferential Short-term Loans Under the Export Packing Credit

Program

3. Tax and Duty Exemptions Under the Investment Promotion Act

4. Tax Certificates for Exporters

5. Rediscount of Industrial Bills

6. International Trade Promotion Fund

This notice is published pursuant to section 702(c)(2) of the Act

and 19 CFR 355.13(b).

Dated: May 31, 1994.

Susan G. Esserman,

Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-13807 Filed 6-6-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M