February 1999 Sunset Review: Final Results and Revocation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

February 1999 Sunset Review: Final Results and Revocation

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Final Results of Sunset Review and Revocation of

Antidumping Duty Order: Fresh Cut Flowers from Ecuador (A-331-602).

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SUMMARY: On February 1, 1999, the Department of Commerce (``the

Department'') initiated a sunset review of the antidumping duty order

on fresh cut flowers from Ecuador. Because the domestic interested

parties have

[[Page 48347]]

withdrawn, in full, their participation in the ongoing sunset review,

the Department is revoking this order.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darla A. Brown or Melissa G. Skinner,

Office of Policy, Import Administration, International Trade

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

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone (202) 482-

5050 or (202) 482-1560, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The Department issued an antidumping duty order on fresh cut

flowers from Ecuador (52 FR 8494, March 18, 1987). Pursuant to section

751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), the

Department initiated a sunset review of this order by publishing notice

of the initiation in the Federal Register (64 FR 4840, February 1,

1999). In addition, as a courtesy to interested parties, the Department

sent letters, via certified and registered mail, to each party listed

on the Department's most current service list for this proceeding to

inform them of the automatic initiation of a sunset review on this

order.

In the sunset review of the antidumping duty order on fresh cut

flowers from Ecuador, we received a notice of intent to participate

from Mr. Timothy Haley, President of Pikes Peak Greenhouses, the Floral

Trade Council (``FTC''), the FTC's Committee on Standard Carnations,

Committee on Standard Chrysanthemums, and Committee on Pompom

Chrysanthemums (collectively, ``the FTC and its Committees'') by the

February 16, 1999, deadline. We also received a complete substantive

response from the FTC and its Committees by the March 3, 1999, deadline

(see section 351.218(d)(1)(i) of Procedures for Conducting Five-year

(``Sunset'') Reviews of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Orders, 63

FR 13520 (March 20, 1998) (``Sunset Regulations'')).

On August 27, 1999, we received a notice from the FTC and its

Committees withdrawing in full their participation in the five-year

(sunset) review of the antidumping duty order on fresh cut flowers from

Ecuador. The FTC and its Committees further expressed that they no

longer have an interest in maintaining the antidumping duty order. As a

result, the Department determined that no domestic party intends to

participate in the sunset review and, on August 30, 1999, we notified

the International Trade Commission that we intended to issue a final

determination revoking this antidumping duty order.

Determination To Revoke

Pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(A) of the Act and section

351.218(d)(1)(iii)(B)(3) of the Sunset Regulations, if no domestic

interested party responds to the notice of initiation, the Department

shall issue a final determination, within 90 days after the initiation

of the review, revoking the finding or order or terminating the

suspended investigation. Because the FTC and its Committees withdrew

both their notice of intent to participate and their complete

substantive response from the review process, and no other domestic

interested party filed a substantive response (see sections

351.218(d)(1)(i) and 351.218(d)(3) of the Sunset Regulations), we are

revoking this antidumping duty order.

Effective Date of Revocation and Termination

Pursuant to section 751(c)(6)(A)(iv) of the Act, the Department

will instruct the United States Customs Service to terminate the

suspension of liquidation of the merchandise subject to this order

entered, or withdrawn from warehouse from warehouse, on or after

January 1, 2000. Entries of subject merchandise prior to the effective

date of revocation will continue to be subject to suspension of

liquidation and antidumping duty deposit requirements. The Department

will complete any pending administrative reviews of this order and will

conduct administrative reviews of subject merchandise entered prior to

the effective date of revocation in response to appropriately filed

requests for review.

Dated: August 30, 1999.

Robert S. LaRussa,

Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-23036 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M