Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order: Drafting Machines From Japan

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-811]

Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order: Drafting Machines From

Japan

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,

Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of continuation of antidumping duty order: Drafting

machines from Japan.

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SUMMARY: On October 5, 1999, the Department of Commerce (``the

Department''), pursuant to sections 751(c) and 752 of the Tariff Act of

1930, as amended (``the Act''), determined that revocation of the

antidumping duty order on drafting machines from Japan is likely to

lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping (64 FR 53996). On

November 15, 1999, the International Trade Commission (``the

Commission''), pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act, determined that

revocation of the antidumping duty order on drafting machines from

Japan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material

injury to an industry in the United States within a reasonably

foreseeable time (64 FR 61937). Therefore, pursuant to 19 CFR

351.218(e)(4), the Department is publishing notice of the continuation

of the antidumping duty order on drafting machines from Japan.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 24, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha V. Douthit or Melissa G.

Skinner, Office of Policy for Import Administration, International

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

Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5050

or (202) 482-1560, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

On June 1, 1999, the Department initiated, and the Commission

instituted, a sunset review (64 FR 29261 and 64 FR 29339, respectively)

of the antidumping duty order on drafting machines from Japan pursuant

to section 751(c) of the Act. As a result of its review, the Department

found that revocation of the antidumping duty order would likely lead

to continuation or recurrence of dumping and notified the Commission of

the magnitude of the margin likely to prevail were the order to be

revoked (see Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review: Drafting

Machines From Japan, 64 FR 53996 (October 5, 1999)).

On November 15, 1999, the Commission determined, pursuant to

section 751(c) of the Act, that revocation of the antidumping duty

order on drafting machines from Japan would be likely to lead to

continuation or recurrence of material injury to an industry in the

United States within a reasonably foreseeable time (see Drafting

Machines From Japan 64 FR 61937 (November 15, 1999) and USITC Pub.

3252, Investigation No. 731-TA-432 (Review) (November 1999).

Scope

The merchandise subject to this order includes drafting machines

that are finished, unfinished, assembled, or unassembled, and drafting

machine kits. The term ``drafting machine'' refers to ``track'' or

``elbow-type'' drafting machines used by designers, engineers,

architects, layout artists, and others. Drafting machines are devices

for aligning scales (or rulers) at a variety of angles anywhere on a

drawing surface, generally a drafting board. A protractor head allows

angles to be read and set and lines to be drawn. The machine is

generally clamped to the board. Also included within the scope are

parts of drafting machines. Parts include, but are not limited to,

horizontal and vertical tracks, parts of horizontal and vertical

tracks, band and pulley mechanisms, protractor heads, and parts of

protractor heads, destined for use in drafting machines. Accessories,

such as parallel rulers, lamps and scales are not subject to this

order. This merchandise is currently classifiable under the Harmonized

Tariff Schedule (``HTS'') item numbers 9017.10.00 and 9017.90.00. This

merchandise was previously classified under item number 710.8025 of the

Tariff Schedule of the United States. The HTS item numbers are provided

for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description

remains dispositive.

Determination

As a result of the determinations by the Department and the

Commission that revocation of this antidumping duty order would be

likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material

injury to an industry in the United States, pursuant to section

751(d)(2) of the Act, the Department hereby orders the continuation of

the antidumping duty order on drafting machines from Japan. The

Department will instruct the U.S. Customs Service to continue to

collect antidumping duty deposits at the rate in effect at the time of

entry for all imports of subject merchandise. The effective date of

continuation of this order will be the date of publication in the

Federal Register of this Notice of Continuation. Pursuant to section

751(c)(2) and 751 (c)(6) of the Act, the Department intends to initiate

the next five-year review of this order not later than October 2004.

Dated: November 18, 1999.

Joseph A. Spetrini,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-30673 Filed 11-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P