[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15783-15786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8071]



[[Page 15783]]

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[(Invs. Nos. AA1921-143 (Review) and 731-TA-341, 343-345, 391-397, and 
399 (Review))]


Certain Bearings From China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, 
Japan, Rroania, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of five-year reviews concerning the antidumping 
duty orders on certain bearings from China, France, Germany, Hungary, 
Italy, Japan, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice that it has instituted 
reviews pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1675(c)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation of the antidumping 
duty orders on certain bearings from China, France, Germany, Hungary, 
Italy, Japan, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom would 
be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury. 
Pursuant to section 751(c)(2) of the Act, interested parties are 
requested to respond to this notice by submitting the information 
specified below to the Commission; 1 to be assured of 
consideration, the deadline for responses is May 21, 1999. Comments on 
the adequacy of responses may be filed with the Commission by June 14, 
1999.
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    \1\ No response to this request for information is required if a 
currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) number is not 
displayed; the OMB number is 3117-0016/USITC No. 99-5-002, 
expiration date June 30, 1999. Public reporting burden for the 
request is estimated to average 7 hours per response. Please send 
comments regarding the accuracy of this burden estimate to the 
Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20436.
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    For further information concerning the conduct of these reviews 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, D, E, and F (19 CFR part 207). Recent 
amendments to the Rules of Practice and Procedure pertinent to five-
year reviews, including the text of subpart F of part 207, are 
published at 63 FR 30599, June 5, 1998, and may be downloaded from the 
Commission's World Wide Web site at http://www.usitc.gov/rules.htm.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Messer (202-205-3193) or Vera 
Libeau (202-205-3176), 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

    On the dates listed below, antidumping duty orders were issued on 
the subject imports:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Order date                  Product/country                  Inv. No.                  F.R. cite
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8/18/76...................  Tapered roller bearings, 4''    AA1921-143                 41 F.R. 34974
                             and under/Japan.
6/15/87...................  Tapered roller bearings/China.  731-TA-344                 52 F.R. 22667
6/19/87...................  Tapered roller bearings/        731-TA-341                 52 F.R. 23319
                             Hungary.
6/19/87...................  Tapered roller bearings/        731-TA-345                 52 F.R. 23320
                             Romania.
10/6/87...................  Tapered roller bearings, over   731-TA-343                 52 F.R. 37352
                             4''/Japan.
5/15/89...................  Ball, cylindrical roller, and   731-TA-391                 54 F.R. 20900
                             spherical plain bearings/
                             Germany.
5/15/89...................  Ball, cylindrical roller, and   731-TA-392                 54 F.R. 20902
                             spherical plain bearings/
                             France.
5/15/89...................  Ball and cylindrical roller     731-TA-393                 54 F.R. 20903
                             bearings/Italy.
5/15/89...................  Ball, cylindrical roller, and   731-TA-394                 54 F.R. 20904
                             spherical plain bearings/
                             Japan.
5/15/89...................  Ball bearings/Romania.........  731-TA-395                 54 F.R. 20906
5/15/89...................  Ball bearings/Singapore.......  731-TA-396                 54 F.R. 20907
5/15/89...................  Ball and cylindrical roller     731-TA-397                 54 F.R. 20907
                             bearings/Sweden.
5/15/89...................  Ball and cylindrical roller     731-TA-399                 54 F.R. 20910
                             bearings/United Kingdom.
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    The Commission is conducting reviews to determine whether 
revocation of the orders would be likely to lead to continuation or 
recurrence of material injury to the domestic industry within a 
reasonably foreseeable time. It will assess the adequacy of interested 
party responses to this notice of institution to determine whether to 
conduct full reviews or expedited reviews. The Commission's 
determinations in any expedited reviews will be based on the facts 
available, which may include information provided in response to this 
notice.
    Definitions.--The following definitions apply to these reviews:
    (1) Subject Merchandise is the class or kind of merchandise that is 
within the scope of the five-year reviews, as defined by the Department 
of Commerce.

[[Page 15784]]

    (2) The Subject Countries in these reviews are China, France, 
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, and the 
United Kingdom.
    (3) The Domestic Like Product is the domestically produced product 
or products which are like, or in the absence of like, most similar in 
characteristics and uses with, the Subject Merchandise. In its original 
determination concerning tapered roller bearings, 4 inches & under from 
Japan (Inv. No. AA1921-143), the Commission did not specifically define 
the Domestic Like Product; however, in its original determinations 
concerning tapered roller bearings, over 4 inches from Japan (Inv. No. 
731-TA-343) and tapered roller bearings from Hungary, China, and 
Romania (Invs. Nos. 341, 344, and 345), the Commission found one 
Domestic Like Product: tapered roller bearings and parts thereof--
finished or unfinished; flange, take-up cartridge, and hanger units 
incorporating tapered roller bearings, and tapered roller housings 
(except pillow blocks) incorporating tapered rollers, with or without 
spindles, and whether or not for automotive use. In its original 
determinations concerning antifriction bearings (other than tapered 
roller bearings) and parts thereof from Germany, France, Italy, Japan, 
Romania, Singapore, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (Investigations Nos. 
731-TA-391-397 and 399), the Commission made affirmative determinations 
with respect to each of the following three Domestic Like Products: (1) 
ball bearings, (2) cylindrical roller bearings, and (3) spherical plain 
bearings. One Commissioner defined the Domestic Like Product 
differently. For purposes of this notice, you should report information 
separately on each of the following six Domestic Like Products: (1) 
tapered roller bearings, (2) tapered roller bearings, 4 inches and 
under, (3) tapered roller bearings, over 4 inches, (4) ball bearings, 
(5) cylindrical roller bearings, and (6) spherical plain bearings.
    (4) The Domestic Industry is the U.S. producers as a whole of the 
Domestic Like Product, or those producers whose collective output of 
the Domestic Like Product constitutes a major proportion of the total 
domestic production of the product. In its original determination 
concerning tapered roller bearings, 4 inches & under from Japan (Inv. 
No. AA1921-143), the Commission did not specifically define the 
Domestic Industry; however, in its original determinations concerning 
tapered roller bearings, over 4 inches from Japan (Inv. No. 731-TA-343) 
and tapered roller bearings from Hungary, China, and Romania (Invs. 
Nos. 341, 344, and 345), the Commission found one Domestic Industry 
devoted to the production of the Domestic Like Product, as defined 
above. In its original determinations concerning antifriction bearings 
(other than tapered roller bearings) and parts thereof from Germany, 
France, Italy, Japan, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, and the United 
Kingdom (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-391-397 and 399), the Commission 
made affirmative determinations with respect to three Domestic 
Industries, each devoted to the production of one of the three Domestic 
Like Products, as defined above. One Commissioner defined the Domestic 
Industry differently. For purposes of this notice, you should report 
information on six Domestic Industries, each devoted to the production 
of one of the following six Domestic Like Products: (1) tapered roller 
bearings, (2) tapered roller bearings, 4 inches and under, (3) tapered 
roller bearings, over 4 inches, (4) ball bearings, (5) cylindrical 
roller bearings, and (6) spherical pl ain bearings.
    (5) The Order Dates are the dates that the antidumping duty orders 
under review became effective. In these reviews, the Order Dates are as 
shown in the preceding tabulation.
    (6) An Importer is any person or firm engaged, either directly or 
through a parent company or subsidiary, in importing the Subject 
Merchandise into the United States from a foreign manufacturer or 
through its selling agent.

Participation in the Reviews and Public Service List

    Persons, including industrial users of the Subject Merchandise and, 
if the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the reviews as parties must 
file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as 
provided in section 201.11(b)(4) of the Commission's rules, no later 
than 21 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 
The Secretary will maintain a public service list containing the names 
and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties 
to the reviews.

Limited Disclosure of Business Proprietary Information (BPI) Under 
an Administrative Protective Order (APO) and APO Service List

    Pursuant to section 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the 
Secretary will make BPI submitted in these reviews available to 
authorized applicants under the APO issued in the reviews, provided 
that the application is made no later than 21 days after publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register. Authorized applicants must 
represent interested parties, as defined in 19 U.S.C. 1677(9), who are 
parties to the reviews. A separate service list will be maintained by 
the Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the 
APO.

Certification

    Pursuant to section 207.3 of the Commission's rules, any person 
submitting information to the Commission in connection with these 
reviews must certify that the information is accurate and complete to 
the best of the submitter's knowledge. In making the certification, the 
submitter will be deemed to consent, unless otherwise specified, for 
the Commission, its employees, and contract personnel to use the 
information provided in any other reviews or investigations of the same 
or comparable products which the Commission conducts under Title VII of 
the Act, or in internal audits and investigations relating to the 
programs and operations of the Commission pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Appendix 
3.

Written Submissions

    Pursuant to section 207.61 of the Commission's rules, each 
interested party response to this notice must provide the information 
specified below. The deadline for filing such responses is May 21, 
1999. Pursuant to section 207.62(b) of the Commission's rules, eligible 
parties (as specified in Commission rule 207.62(b)(1)) may also file 
comments concerning the adequacy of responses to the notice of 
institution and whether the Commission should conduct expedited or full 
reviews. The deadline for filing such comments is June 14, 1999. All 
written submissions must conform with the provisions of sections 201.8 
and 207.3 of the Commission's rules and any submissions that contain 
BPI must also conform with the requirements of sections 201.6 and 207.7 
of the Commission's rules. The Commission's rules do not authorize 
filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic 
means. Also, in accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the 
Commission's rules, each document filed by a party to the reviews must 
be served on all other parties to the reviews (as identified by either 
the public or APO service list as appropriate), and a certificate of 
service must accompany the document (if you

[[Page 15785]]

are not a party to the reviews you do not need to serve your response).

Inability To Provide Requested Information

    Pursuant to section 207.61(c) of the Commission's rules, any 
interested party that cannot furnish the information requested by this 
notice in the requested form and manner shall notify the Commission at 
the earliest possible time, provide a full explanation of why it cannot 
provide the requested information, and indicate alternative forms in 
which it can provide equivalent information. If an interested party 
does not provide this notification (or the Commission finds the 
explanation provided in the notification inadequate) and fails to 
provide a complete response to this notice, the Commission may take an 
adverse inference against the party pursuant to section 776(b) of the 
Act in making its determinations in the reviews.

Information To Be Provided in Response to This Notice of 
Institution

    Please provide the requested information separately for each 
Domestic Like Product, as defined above, and for each of the products 
identified by Commerce as Subject Merchandise. If you are a domestic 
producer, union/worker group, or trade/business association; import/
export Subject Merchandise from more than one Subject Country; or 
produce Subject Merchandise in more than one Subject Country, you may 
file a single response. If you do so, please ensure that your response 
to each question includes the information requested for each pertinent 
Subject Country. As used below, the term ``firm'' includes any related 
firms.

(1) The name and address of your firm or entity (including World Wide 
Web address if available) and name, telephone number, fax number, and 
E-mail address of the certifying official.
(2) A statement indicating whether your firm/entity is a U.S. producer 
of the Domestic Like Product to which your response pertains, a U.S. 
union or worker group, a U.S. importer of the Subject Merchandise, a 
foreign producer or exporter of the Subject Merchandise, a U.S. or 
foreign trade or business association, or another interested party 
(including an explanation). If you are a union/worker group or trade/
business association, identify the firms in which your workers are 
employed or which are members of your association.
(3) A statement indicating whether your firm/entity is willing to 
participate in these reviews by providing information requested by the 
Commission.
(4) A statement of the likely effects of the revocation of the 
antidumping duty orders on each Domestic Industry for which you are 
filing a response in general and/or your firm/entity specifically. In 
your response, please discuss the various factors specified in section 
752(a) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1675a(a)) including the likely volume of 
subject imports, likely price effects of subject imports, and likely 
impact of imports of Subject Merchandise on the Domestic Industry.
(5) A list of all known and currently operating U.S. producers of each 
Domestic Like Product for which you are filing a response. Identify any 
known related parties and the nature of the relationship as defined in 
section 771(4)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1677(4)(B)).
(6) A list of all known and currently operating U.S. importers of the 
Subject Merchandise and producers of the Subject Merchandise in the 
Subject Countries that currently export or have exported Subject 
Merchandise to the United States or other countries since the years the 
petitions were filed. The Subject Merchandise, the Subject Countries, 
and the years the petitions were filed are listed below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Subject merchandise/ Subject country                Years
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Tapered roller bearings, 4'' & under/Japan.....................     1973
Tapered roller bearings/China, Hungary, and Romania............     1986
Tapered roller bearings, over 4'' Japan........................     1986
Ball, cylindrical roller, and spherical plain bearings/France..     1988
Ball, cylindrical roller, and spherical plain bearings/Germany.     1988
Ball and cylindrical roller bearings/Italy.....................     1988
Ball, cylindrical roller, and spherical plain bearings/Japan...     1988
Ball bearings/Romania..........................................     1988
Ball bearings/Singapore........................................     1988
Ball and cylindrical roller bearings/Sweden....................     1988
Ball and cylindrical roller bearings/United Kingdom............     1988
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(7) If you are a U.S. producer of a Domestic Like Product, provide the 
following information separately on your firm's operations on each 
product during calendar year 1998 (report quantity data in thousands of 
units and value data in thousands of U.S. dollars, f.o.b. plant). If 
you are a union/worker group or trade/business association, provide the 
information, on an aggregate basis, for the firms in which your workers 
are employed/which are members of your association.
    (a) Production (quantity) and, if known, an estimate of the 
percentage of total U.S. production of each Domestic Like Product 
accounted for by your firm's(s') production; and
    (b) the quantity and value of U.S. commercial shipments of each 
Domestic Like Product produced in your U.S. plant(s).
(8) If you are a U.S. importer or a trade/business association of U.S. 
importers of the Subject Merchandise from the Subject Countries, 
provide the following information on your firm's(s') operations on that 
product during calendar year 1998 (report quantity data in thousands of 
units and value data in thousands of U.S. dollars). If you are a trade/
business association, provide the information, on an aggregate basis, 
for the firms which are members of your association.
    (a) The quantity and value (landed, duty-paid but not including 
antidumping or countervailing duties) of U.S. imports and, if known, an 
estimate of the percentage of total U.S. imports of Subject Merchandise 
from the Subject Countries accounted for by your firm's(s') imports; 
and
    (b) the quantity and value (f.o.b. U.S. port, including antidumping 
and/or countervailing duties) of U.S. commercial shipments of Subject 
Merchandise imported from the Subject Countries.
(9) If you are a producer, an exporter, or a trade/business association 
of producers or exporters of the Subject Merchandise in the Subject 
Countries, provide the following information on your firm's(s') 
operations on that product during calendar year 1998 (report quantity 
data in thousands of units and value data in thousands of U.S. dollars, 
landed and duty-paid at the U.S. port but not including antidumping or 
countervailing duties). If you are a trade/business association, 
provide the information, on an aggregate basis, for the firms which are 
members of your association.
    (a) Production (quantity) and, if known, an estimate of the

[[Page 15786]]

percentage of total production of Subject Merchandise in the Subject 
Countries accounted for by your firm's(s') production; and
    (b) the quantity and value of your firm's(s') exports to the United 
States of Subject Merchandise and, if known, an estimate of the 
percentage of total exports to the United States of Subject Merchandise 
from the Subject Countries accounted for by your firm's(s') exports.
(10) Identify significant changes, if any, in the supply and demand 
conditions or business cycle for each Domestic Like Product that have 
occurred in the United States or in the market for the Subject 
Merchandise in the Subject Countries since the Order Dates, and 
significant changes, if any, that are likely to occur within a 
reasonably foreseeable time. Supply conditions to consider include 
technology; production methods; development efforts; ability to 
increase production (including the shift of production facilities used 
for other products and the use, cost, or availability of major inputs 
into production); and factors related to the ability to shift supply 
among different national markets (including barriers to importation in 
foreign markets or changes in market demand abroad). Demand conditions 
to consider include end uses and applications; the existence and 
availability of substitute products; and the level of competition among 
the Domestic Like Product produced in the United States, Subject 
Merchandise produced in the Subject Countries, and such merchandise 
from other countries.
(11) A statement of whether you agree with the above definitions of the 
Domestic Like Product and Domestic Industry; if you disagree with 
either or both of these definitions, please explain why and provide 
alternative definitions.

    Authority: These reviews are being conducted under authority of 
title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published 
pursuant to section 207.61 of the Commission's rules.

    Issued: March 25, 1999.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-8071 Filed 3-31-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P