[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7121-7122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3485]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration
[A-429-601]


Solid Urea From the Former German Democratic Republic: Initiation 
(Consideration of Revocation of Order) and Preliminary Results (Intent 
To Revoke Order) of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of initiation and preliminary results of changed 
circumstances antidumping duty review, and intent to revoke finding.

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SUMMARY: In response to a letter filed on January 26, 1998, by the Ad 
Hoc Committee of Domestic Nitrogen Producers (petitioners) indicating 
that they have no further interest in the importation or sale of solid 
urea from the former German Democratic Republic (G.D.R.), the 
Department of Commerce (the Department) is initiating a changed 
circumstances antidumping duty review and issuing a preliminary intent 
to revoke the antidumping duty finding on solid urea from the former 
G.D.R. Based on the fact that the petitioners have expressed no further 
interest in the importation or sale of solid urea produced in the 
former G.D.R., we intend to revoke this finding. Interested parties are 
invited to comment on these preliminary results.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 12, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Kinsella at (202) 482-4093 or 
Steven D. Presing at (202) 482-0194, AD/CVD Enforcement Group III, 
Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.

The Applicable Statute and Regulations

    Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the statute are 
references to the provisions effective January 1, 1995, the effective 
date of the amendments made to the Tariff Act of 1930 (the Act) by the 
Uruguay Round Agreements Act. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, 
all citations to the Department's regulations are to the regulations 
codified at 19 CFR 351 (62 FR 27296).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 26, 1998, petitioners informed the Department in writing 
that they do not object to a changed circumstances review and have no 
further interest in the importation or sale of solid urea produced in 
the former G.D.R.

Scope of Review

    Imports covered by this review are those of solid urea. At the time 
of the publication of the antidumping duty order, such merchandise was 
classifiable under item 480.30 of the Tariff Schedules of the United 
States Annotated (TSUSA). This merchandise is currently classified 
under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) item 
number 3102.10.00. These TSUSA and HTS item numbers are provided for 
convenience and Customs purposes only. The Department's written 
description of the scope remains dispositive for purposes of the order.

Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances 
Antidumping Duty Review

    Pursuant to section 751(d) of the Act, the Department may revoke an 
antidumping duty order based on a review under section 751(b) of the 
Act (i.e., a changed circumstances review). Section 751(b)(1) of the 
Act requires a changed circumstances review to be conducted upon 
receipt of a request containing information concerning changed 
circumstances sufficient to warrant a review.
    The Department's regulations at 19 CFR 351.222(g) permit the 
Department to conduct a changed circumstances review under 19 CFR 
351.216 based upon an affirmative statement of no interest from 
producers accounting for substantially all of the production of the 
domestic like product to which the order pertains. In addition, in the 
event that the Department concludes that expedited action is warranted, 
section 351.221(c)(3)(ii) of the regulations permits the Department to 
combine the notices of initiation and preliminary results. Therefore, 
in accordance with section 751(b) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.216, 
351.221, and 351.222 based on an affirmative statement of no interest 
in this proceeding by petitioners, we are initiating this changed 
circumstances review. Based on the fact that no other interested 
parties have objected to the position taken by petitioners that they 
have no further interest in the order regarding solid urea from the 
former G.D.R., we have determined that expedited action is warranted, 
and we are combining these notices of initiation and preliminary 
results. We have preliminarily determined that there are changed 
circumstances sufficient to warrant revocation of the finding on

[[Page 7122]]

solid urea from the former G.D.R. Therefore, we are hereby notifying 
the public of our intent to revoke the antidumping duty order as it 
relates to imports of solid urea from the former G.D.R.
    Interested parties may submit case briefs and/or written comments 
no later than 30 days after the date of publication of these 
preliminary results. Rebuttal briefs and rebuttals to written comments, 
limited to issues raised in such briefs or comments, may be filed no 
later than 37 days after the date of publication. The Department will 
publish the final results of this changed circumstances review, which 
will include the results of its analysis raised in any such written 
comments.
    If final revocation occurs, we intend to instruct the U.S. Customs 
Service (Customs) to end the suspension of liquidation of all 
unliquidated entries of solid urea from the former G.D.R. not subject 
to final results of review pursuant to section 751 of the Act and 
refund any estimated antidumping duties collected for such entries of 
solid urea in accordance with 19 CFR 351.222, with interest in 
accordance with section 778 of the Act. The current requirement for a 
cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties will continue until 
publication of the final results of this changed circumstances review.
    This initiation of review and notice are in accordance with section 
751(b) of the Act, (19 U.S.C. 1675(b)), and 19 CFR 351.216, 351.221, 
and 351.222.

    Dated: January 26, 1998.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-3485 Filed 2-11-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P