[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 68 (Thursday, April 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17443-17444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9266]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigations Nos. 731-TA-794-796 (Preliminary)]


Certain Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber From Brazil, Korea, and 
Mexico

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of antidumping investigations and scheduling of 
preliminary phase investigations.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of 
investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping 
investigations Nos. 731-TA-794-796 (Preliminary) under section 733(a) 
of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673b(a)) (the Act) to determine 
whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United 
States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the 
establishment of an industry in the United States is materially 
retarded, by reason of imports from Brazil, Korea, and Mexico of 
certain emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber,\1\ provided for in 
subheading 4002.19.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than 
fair value. Unless the Department of Commerce extends the time for 
initiation pursuant to section 732(c)(1)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 
1673a(c)(1)(B)), the Commission must reach a preliminary determination 
in antidumping investigations in 45 days, or in this case by May 18, 
1998. The Commission's views are due at the Department of Commerce 
within five business days thereafter, or by May 26, 1998.
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    \1\ For purposes of these investigations, emulsion styrene-
butadiene rubber (ESBR) is a synthetic polymer made via free radical 
cold emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butadiene monomers in 
reactors with water, initiator system, emulsifier system and 
molecular weight modifiers consisting of cold non-pigmented rubbers 
and cold oil extended non-pigmented rubbers and containing at least 
1 percent of organic acids from the emulsion polymerization process. 
Only the 1500 and 1700 series types of synthetic rubbers under the 
IISRP numbering system are covered by the term ``emulsion styrene-
butadiene rubber'' or ``ESBR'' in these investigations. ESBR is 
covered by statistical reporting number 4002.19.0010 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS).
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    For further information concerning the conduct of these 
investigations and rules of general application, consult the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A 
through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR 
part 207).

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Ruggles (202-205-3187), Office of 
Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information 
on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-
1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special 
assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the 
Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning 
the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Background.--These investigations are being instituted in response 
to a petition filed on April 1, 1998, by Ameripol Synpol Corporation of 
Akron, OH, and DSM Copolymer of Baton Rouge, LA.
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in sections 201.11 and 207.10 
of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication 
of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users and (if the 
merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level) 
representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as 
parties in Commission antidumping investigations. The Secretary will 
prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all 
persons, or their representatives, who are parties to this 
investigation upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of 
appearance.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to section 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in these investigations available to authorized 
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO issued in 
the investigation, provided that the application is made not later than 
seven days after the publication of 3 this notice in the Federal 
Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary 
for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Conference.--The Commission's Director of Operations has scheduled 
a conference in connection with this investigation for 9:30 a.m. on 
April 22, 1998, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 
500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. Parties wishing to participate in the 
conference should contact Fred Ruggles (202-205-3187) not later than 
April 20, 1998, to arrange for their appearance. Parties in support of 
the imposition of antidumping duties in these investigations and 
parties in opposition to the imposition of such duties will each be 
collectively allocated one hour within which to make an oral 
presentation at the conference. A nonparty who has testimony that may 
aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to present a 
short statement at the conference.
    Written submissions.--As provided in sections 201.8 and 207.15 of 
the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or 
before April 27, 1998, a written brief containing information and 
arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigations. 
Parties may file written testimony in connection with their 
presentation at the conference no later than three days before the 
conference. If briefs or written testimony contain BPI, they must 
conform with the requirements of sections 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of 
the Commission's rules.
    In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, each 
document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on all 
other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the public 
or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely 
filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a 
certificate of service.

    Authority: These investigations are being conducted under 
authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is 
published pursuant to section 207.12 of the Commission's rules.

    Issued: April 2, 1998.


[[Page 17444]]


    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-9266 Filed 4-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P