[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 198 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55696-55697]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26723]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration
[A-588-804]


Antifriction Bearings (Other Than Tapered Roller Bearings) and 
Parts Thereof from Japan; Final Results of Changed-Circumstances Review

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

ACTION: Notice of final results of changed-circumstances review.

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SUMMARY: On August 10, 1999, the Department of Commerce published the 
notice of initiation and preliminary results of its changed-
circumstances review concerning its examination of whether Tsubaki-
Nakashima Co., Ltd. is the successor-in-interest to Tsubakimoto 
Precision Products, Co., Ltd. for purposes of determining antidumping 
liability. We have now completed that review and determine that 
Tsubaki-Nakashima Co., Ltd. is the successor-in-interest to Tsubakimoto 
Precision Products, Co., Ltd. for antidumping duty law purposes and, as 
such, receives the antidumping duty cash deposit rate previously 
assigned to Tsubakimoto Precision Products, Co., Ltd. of 7.77 percent 
ad valorem.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 14, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J. David Dirstine or Richard 
Rimlinger, Office of AD/CVD Enforcement, Import Administration, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th 
Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone 
(202) 482-4733.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In a letter dated July 16, 1999, Tsubaki-Nakashima Co., Ltd. 
(Tsubaki-Nakashima) advised the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
that, effective April 1, 1996, Tsubakimoto Precision Products, Co., 
Ltd. (Tsubakimoto) merged with Nakashima Manufacturing Co., Ltd. 
(Nakashima). According to the submission, Tsubakimoto was the surviving 
company and is currently operating under the name Tsubaki-Nakashima. 
Tsubaki-Nakashima stated that the former President of Tsubakimoto is 
now the President of Tsubaki-Nakashima, that the former Executive Vice 
President of Tsubakimoto is now one of three Executive Vice Presidents 
of Tsubaki-Nakashima (two additional Executive Vice Presidents were 
added following the merger), that the sole Managing Director of 
Tsubaki-Nakashima was one of two Managing Directors of Tsubakimoto, 
and, further, that all the current Directors of Tsubaki-Nakashima were 
Directors of Tsubakimoto. Tsubaki-Nakashima also stated that its 
production facilities are substantially similar to Tsubakimoto. 
Specifically, Tsubaki-Nakashima stated that three of its four 
production facilities were operated previously by Tsubakimoto. Finally, 
Tsubaki-Nakashima stated that its supplier relationships and customer 
base are substantially similar to those of Tsubakimoto. Tsubaki-
Nakashima submitted exhibits listing the management, production 
faciliites, major suppliers, and customers of both Tsubaki-Nakashima 
and Tsubakimoto.
    On August 10, 1999, the Department published in the Federal 
Register (64 FR 43341) the notice of initiation and preliminary results 
of its antidumping duty changed circumstances review of the antidumping 
duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from Japan. We now have 
completed this changed-circumstances review in accordance with section 
751(b) of the Tariff Act, as amended (the Act).

Scope of the Review

    The products covered by this review are ball bearings and parts 
thereof. These products include all ball bearings that employ balls as 
the rolling element. Imports of these products are classified

[[Page 55697]]

under the following categories: antifriction balls, ball bearings with 
integral shafts, ball bearings (including radial ball bearings) and 
parts thereof, and housed or mounted ball bearing units and parts 
thereof.
    Imports of these products are classified under the following 
Harmonized Tariff Schedules (HTS) subheadings: 3926.90.45, 4016.93.00, 
4016.93.10, 4016.93.50, 6909.19.5010, 8431.20.00, 8431.39.0010, 
8482.10.10, 8482.10.50, 8482.80.00, 8482.91.00, 8482.99.05, 
8482.99.2580, 8482.99.35, 8482.99.6595, 8483.20.40, 8483.20.80, 
8483.50.8040, 8483.50.90, 8483.90.20, 8483.90.30, 8483.90.70, 
8708.50.50, 8708.60.50, 8708.60.80, 8708.70.6060, 8708.70.8050, 
8708.93.30, 8708.93.5000, 8708.93.6000, 8708.93.75, 8708.99.06, 
8708.99.31, 8708.99.4960, 8708.99.50, 8708.99.5800, 8708.99.8080, 
8803.10.00, 8803.20.00, 8803.30.00, 8803.90.30, and 8803.90.90.
    The size or precision grade of a bearing does not influence whether 
the bearing is covered by the order. For a further discussion of the 
scope of the order being reviewed, including recent scope 
determinations, see Antifriction Bearings (Other Than Tapered Roller 
Bearings) and Parts Thereof from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
Romania, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom; Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, 63 FR 33320 (June 18, 1998). 
Although the HTS item numbers are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes, the written description of the scope of this proceeding 
remains dispositive.

Successorship

    According to its July 16, 1999 submission, Tsubakimoto was the 
surviving company of its merger with Nakashima and is currently 
operating under the name Tsubaki-Nakashima Co. Since December 17, 1996, 
Tsubakimoto has been assigned a 7.77 percent antidumping duty cash 
deposit rate (see Antifriction Bearings (Other Than Tapered Roller 
Bearings) and Parts Thereof from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
Romania, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom; Final Results of 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Reviews, 61 FR 66472 (December 17, 
1996)). Thus Tsubaki-Nakashima requested that the Department make a 
determination that Tsubaki-Nakashima should receive the same 
antidumping duty treatment as the former Tsubakimoto with respect to 
ball bearings.
    Upon examining the factors of: (1) Management; (2) production 
facilities; (3) supplier relationships; and (4) customer base, the 
Department has determined that the resulting operation of Tsubaki-
Nakashima is the same as that of its predecessor, Tsubakimoto, and thus 
the Department has determined that Tsubaki-Nakashima is the successor-
in-interest to Tsubakimoto for purposes of determining antidumping duty 
liability. For a complete discussion of the basis for this decision, 
see Antifriction Bearings (Other Than Tapered Roller Bearings) and 
Parts Thereof From Japan; Initiation and Preliminary Results of 
Changed-Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 64 FR 
43341 (August 10, 1999).

Comments

    Although we gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on 
the preliminary results, none were submitted.

Final Results of Review

    We determine that Tsubaki-Nakashima is successor-in-interest to 
Tsubakimoto and, accordingly, Tsubaki-Nakashima will receive the same 
antidumping duty treatment as the former Tsubakimoto, i.e., 7.77 
percent antidumping duty cash deposit rate. We will instruct the U.S. 
Customs Service accordingly.
    We are issuing and publishing this determination and notice in 
accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and section 
351.216 of the Department's regulations.

    Dated: September 29, 1999.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Assistant Secretary For Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-26723 Filed 10-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P