Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection: Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection:

Comment Request

TITLE: Format for Petition Requesting Relief Under U.S. Antidumping

Duty Law.

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, invites the general public

and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the

continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 350(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of

[[Page 16963]]

Commerce, Room 5327, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

20230. Phone number: (202) 482-3272.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information or

copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should

be directed to: Andrew Stephens, Import Administration, Office of

Policy, Room 3713, 14th & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

20230; Phone number: (202) 482-3693, and fax number: (202) 482-2308.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The International Trade Administration, Import Administration,

Antidumping/Countervailing Enforcement, implements the U.S. antidumping

and countervailing duty law. Import Administration investigates

allegations of unfair trade practices by foreign governments and

producers and, in conjunction with the U.S. International Trade

Commission, can impose duties on the product in question to offset the

unfair practices. Form ITA-357P--Format for Petition Requesting Relief

Under the U.S. Antidumping Duty Law--is designed for U.S. companies or

industries that are unfamiliar with the antidumping law and the

petition process. The Form is designed for potential petitioners that

believe that an industry in the United States is being injured because

a foreign competitor is selling a product in the United States at less

than fair value. Since a variety of detailed information is required

under the law before initiation of an antidumping duty investigation,

the Form is designed to extract such information in the least

burdensome manner possible.

II. Method of Collection

Form ITA-357P is sent by request to potential U.S. petitioners and

completed in written form.

III. Data

OMB Number: 0625-0105.

Form Number: ITA-357P.

Type of Review: Revision-Regular Submission.

Affected Public: U.S. companies or industries that suspect the

presence of unfair competition from foreign firms selling merchandise

in the United States below fair value.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 38.

Estimated Time Per Response: 40 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,520 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Costs: The estimated annual cost for this

collection is $376,200 ($273,600 for respondents and $102,600 for

federal government).

IV. Request for Comments

Comments are invited on (a) whether the proposed collection of

information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of

the agency, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden

(including hours and costs) of the proposed collection of information;

(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the

information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on respondents, including through the use of

automated collection techniques or forms of information technology.

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information

collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Dated: April 1, 1998.

Linda Engelmeier,

Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and

Organization.

[FR Doc. 98-9010 Filed 4-6-98; 8:45 am]

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