Request for Monitoring of Helical Spring Lock Washers From Russia and Mexico

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Request for Monitoring of Helical Spring Lock Washers From Russia

and Mexico

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments; request for monitoring of

helical spring lock washers from Russia and Mexico.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 19, 1994, Shakeproof Industrial

Products Division of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (SIP), a domestic

producer of helical spring lock washers (HSLW), submitted a request

that the Secretary of Commerce monitor imports of HSLWs from Russia and

Mexico under section 732(a)(2) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended

(the Act), and section 353.11(c) of the Department's regulations. In

response to the Department's requests for clarification, SIP

subsequently supplemented its request on October 24, 1994, November 30,

1994, and January 16, 1995. The monitoring request applies to circular

washers of carbon steel, of carbon alloy steel, or of stainless steel,

heat-treated or non-heat-treated, plated or non-plated, with ends that

are off-line. HSLWs are designed to: (1) Function as a spring to

compensate for developed looseness [[Page 8631]] between the component

parts of a fastened assembly; (2) distribute the load over a larger

area for screws or bolts; and (3) provide a hardened bearing surface.

The scope does not include internal or external tooth washers, nor does

it include spring lock washers made of other metals, such as copper.

HSLWs are included under item number 7318.21.0000 of the Harmonized

Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS

subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the

written description of the scope is dispositive. SIP requests that the

Secretary monitor imports of these products from Russia and Mexico,

alleging that circumstances which allow the Department to monitor

imports currently exist. Under section 732(a)(2) of the Act, the

requirements for the Secretary to monitor imports are: (a) more than

one antidumping duty order for the same class or kind of merchandise

must be in effect; (b) the Department must have a reason to believe or

suspect that there exists an extraordinary pattern of persistent

injurious dumping with respect to shipments from one or more additional

supplier countries; and (c) this extraordinary pattern of persistent

injurious dumping is causing a serious commercial problem for the

domestic industry.

COMMENTS: Interested parties wishing to comment upon this request must

send written comments not later than March 17, 1995. Comments should be

sent to the Secretary of Commerce, Attention: Import Administration,

Central Records Unit, Room B-099, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th

Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230. Interested

parties may file replies to any comments submitted. All replies must be

filed not later than seven days after March 17, 1995. Any interested

parties submitting business proprietary information must do so in

accordance with section 353.32(b) of the Department's regulations and

submit a public version or summary of that information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helen Kramer or Holly Vineyard, Office

of Agreements Compliance, Import Administration, International Trade

Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 7866, 14th Street and

Constitution Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230, telephone (202) 482-

3793 or telefax (202) 482-1388.

Dated: February 8, 1995.

Susan G. Esserman,

Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 95-3777 Filed 2-14-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P