Structural Steel Beams From South Korea and Japan; Notice of Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in Antidumping Duty Investigations

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-580-841 and A-588-852]

Structural Steel Beams From South Korea and Japan; Notice of

Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in Antidumping Duty

Investigations

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of postponement of preliminary determinations for

antidumping duty investigations of structural steel beams from South

Korea and Japan.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') is postponing

the preliminary determinations in the antidumping duty investigations

of structural steel beams from South Korea and Japan. These

investigations cover nine manufacturers and exporters of the subject

merchandise (two from South Korea and seven from Japan) during the

period July 1, 1998 through June 30, 1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 24, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Doyle (Japan), at (202) 482-0159

and Rick Johnson (South Korea), at (202) 482-3818, Import

Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of

Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

20230.

Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

On August 3, 1999, the Department initiated antidumping duty

investigations of imports of structural steel beams from Germany,

Spain, Japan and South Korea. The notice of initiation stated that we

would issue our preliminary determinations by December 14, 1999. See 64

FR 42084 (August 3, 1999).

On September 1, 1999, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled

that there was no reasonable indication that an industry in the United

States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or

that the establishment of an industry in the United States is

materially injured or threatened with material injury, or that the

establishment of an industry in the United States is materially

retarded, by reason of imports from Germany and Spain of certain

structural steel beams. See Certain Structural Steel Beams From

Germany, Japan, Korea, and Spain, 64 FR 47866 (September 1, 1999).

Hence, in accordance with section 351.207(d) of the Department's

regulations, the investigations regarding structural steel beam imports

from Germany and Spain are automatically terminated.

On November 2, 1999, petitioners made a timely request pursuant to

19 CFR 351.205(e) for a 50 day postponement, pursuant to section

733(c)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act''), as amended by the

Uruguay Round Agreements Act. Petitioners stated that a postponement of

the preliminary determinations is necessary in order to give the

Department time to address the complicated issues in the Korean

investigations. Also, petitioners requested that the Department

postpone the preliminary determination for Japan to keep the

investigations aligned.

Therefore, the Department is postponing the preliminary

determinations of the Japanese and Korean investigations by 50 days, to

February 2, 2000.

This notice is published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) of the Act

and 19 CFR 351.205(f).

Dated: November 16, 1999.

Joseph A. Spetrini,

Deputy Assistant Secretary, AD/CVD Enforcement Group III.

[FR Doc. 99-30669 Filed 11-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P