Titanium Sponge From Kazakhstan; Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[A-834-803]

Titanium Sponge From Kazakhstan; Preliminary Results of

Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY: International Trade Administration/Import Administration/

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of preliminary results of antidumping duty

administrative review.

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SUMMARY: In response to a request from the petitioner, Oregon

Metallurgical Corporation (OREMET), the Department of Commerce (the

Department) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping

finding on titanium sponge from Kazakhstan. The review covers exports

of the subject merchandise to the United States from Kazakhstan during

the period from August 1, 1992, through July 31, 1993. The review

indicates that no shipments of the subject merchandise took place

during the period of review. Interested parties are invited to comment

on these preliminary results.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 11, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Genovese or Laurel LaCivita,

Office of Antidumping Compliance, International Trade Administration,

U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202)482-

5254.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On August 28, 1968, the Department of the Treasury published an

antidumping finding on titanium sponge from the Union of Soviet

Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.)(33 FR 12138). In December 1991, the

U.S.S.R. divided into fifteen independent states. To conform to these

changes, the Department changed the original antidumping finding into

fifteen findings applicable to the Baltic states and the former

Republics of the Soviet Union (57 FR 36070, August 12, 1992).

On August 3, 1993, the Department published a notice of

``Opportunity to Request an Administrative Review'' (58 FR 41239) of

the antidumping finding on titanium sponge from Kazakhstan (57 FR

36070, August 12, 1992). On August 30, 1993, OREMET requested an

administrative review. The Department initiated the review on September

30, 1993 (58 FR 51053), covering the period August 1, 1992, through

July 31, 1993. The Department is conducting this review in accordance

with section 751 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act).

Scope of the Review

The merchandise covered by this review is all imports of titanium

sponge from Kazakhstan. Titanium sponge is chiefly used for aerospace

vehicles, specifically, in the construction of compressor blades and

wheels, stator blades, rotors, and other parts in aircraft gas turbine

engines.

Imports of titanium sponge are currently classifiable under the

harmonized tariff schedule (HTS) subheading 8108.10.50.10. The HTS

subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes; our

written description of the scope of this finding is dispositive.

This review covers sales and entries by Kazakh exporters,

producers, sellers, and resellers of the subject merchandise during the

period August 1, 1992, through July 31, 1993.

Preliminary Results of Review

The Kazakh government reported, and Census documents confirmed,

that there were no exports of titanium sponge to the United States

during the period of review. Therefore, we preliminarily determine to

set the cash deposit rate at 83.96 percent, which is the rate

established in the final results of the last review of the antidumping

finding on titanium sponge from the U.S.S.R. (see 52 FR 9323, March 24,

1987).

Furthermore, the following deposit requirement will be effective

for all shipments of the subject merchandise, entered or withdrawn from

warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date of the

final results of this administrative review, as provided by section

751(a)(1) of the Act: The cash deposit rate for entries of titanium

sponge from Kazakhstan will be that rate established in the final

results of this administrative review.

These deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect

until publication of the final results of the next administrative

review.

This notice also serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of

their responsibility under 19 CFR 353.26 to file a certificate

regarding the reimbursement of antidumping duties prior to liquidation

of the relevant entries during this review period. Failure to comply

with this requirement could result in the Secretary's presumption that

reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent

assessment of double antidumping duties.

This administrative review and notice are in accordance with

section 751(a)(1) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(a)(1)) and 19 CFR 353.22.

Dated: February 3, 1994.

Joseph A. Spetrini,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-3183 Filed 2-10-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P