Drafting Machines and Parts Thereof from Japan: Revocation of Antidumping Duty Order

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY:

On October 1, 2004, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) initiated a second sunset review of the antidumping duty order on drafting machines and parts thereof from Japan. See Initiation of Five-year (“Sunset”) Reviews, 69 FR 58890 (October 1, 2004). However, on October 27, 2004, the only domestic interested party, Vemco Drafting Products Corporation (“Vemco”), withdrew its interest in this proceeding. Therefore, the Department is revoking the antidumping duty order on drafting machines and parts thereof from Japan.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

November 24, 2004

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Martha V. Douthit, Office of Policy, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-5050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Scope

The scope of this order includes drafting machines that are finished, unfinished,assembled, or unassembled, and drafting machine kits. For purposes of this sunset review, “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 of this order 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 investigation. This merchandise is currently classifiable under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) item 9017.10.00 and 9017.90.00. (This merchandise was previously classified under HTSUS item 710.8025.) Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description remains dispositive.

Background

On December 29, 1989, the Department issued an antidumping duty order on drafting machines and parts thereof from Japan. See Antidumping Duty Order: Drafting Machines and Parts Thereof from Japan, 54 FR 53671 (December 29, 1989). Following the first sunset review of the order, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.218(f)(4), the Department published a notice of continuation in the Federal Register. See Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order: Drafting Machines and Parts Thereof From Japan, 64 FR 66166 (November 24, 1999).

On October 1, 2004, the Department initiated a second sunset review of the order pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (“the Act”), and 19 CFR part 351, in general. See Initiation of Five-year (“Sunset”) Review, 69 FR 58890 (October 1, 2004). 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 October 18, 2004, within the applicable deadline, the Department received a Notice of Intent to Participate from Vemco, the only domestic interested party in this proceeding. See 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i). On October 27, 2004, the Department received a response from the sole producer or exporter, Mutoh Industries Ltd. (“Mutoh”), indicating that it would not participate in the sunset review on drafting machines and parts thereof from Japan because Mutoh was not an interested party within the meaning of section 771(9)(A) of the Act.

On November 3, 2004, Vemco withdrew its Notice of Intent to Participate and withdrew its interest in maintaining the antidumping duty order on drafting machines and parts thereof from Japan. Because Vemco (the only domestic interested party in the sunset proceeding) withdrew its interest in this sunset proceeding, the Department has determined to treat this situation as if no domestic interested party responded to the notice of initiation. Therefore, the Department is revoking the antidumping duty orders on drafting machines and parts thereof from Japan.

Determination to Revoke

Pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(iii)(B)(3), if no domestic interested parties respond to the notice of initiation, the Department shall make a final determination no later than 90 days after the initiation of the sunset review, revoking the order.

Because the only domestic interested party withdrew its interest in this sunset review (see 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i) and 351.218(e)(1)(i)(C)(1)), consistent with the provision of section 751(c)(3)(A) of the Act, we are revoking the antidumping duty order on drafting machines and parts thereof from Japan.

Effective Date of Revocation

Pursuant to sections 751(c)(3)(A) and 751(d)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.222(i)(2)(i), the Department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to terminate the suspension of liquidation of the merchandise subject to this order entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, on or after November 24, 2004, the fifth anniversary of the date of the determination to continue the order. 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.

This five-year (“sunset”) review and notice are in accordance with sections 751(c), 751(d)(2), and 777(i)(1) of the Act.