[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2000)] [Notices] [Pages 2115-2116] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 00-874] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [A-580-805] Final Results of Changed Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Industrial Nitrocellulose From Korea AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On October 26, 1999, the Department of Commerce (``the Department'') published the notice of initiation and preliminary results of its changed circumstances administrative review concerning whether Korea CNC Ltd. (``KCNC'') is the successor firm to Daesang Corporation (``Daesang'') under the order covering industrial nitrocellulose (``INC'') from Korea. We have now completed that review. We have determined that KCNC is the successor firm to Daesang. EFFECTIVE DATE: January 13, 2000. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Trentham or Thomas Futtner, 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) 482-6320 or (202) 482-3814, respectively. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 Agreement Act. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the Department's regulations are to the regulations codified at 19 CFR part 351 (1999). Background In a letter dated August 25, 1999, KCNC advised the Department that on April 1, 1999, China Nitrocellulose Co. (``CNC'') purchased Daesang's INC business, including Daesang's only manufacturing and research and development (``R&D'') facility for subject merchandise (``the Chonju factory''). [[Page 2116]] KCNC stated that CNC transferred Daesang's INC business to KCNC, which CNC had newly established for that purpose. KCNC requested that the Department conduct a changed circumstances administrative review pursuant to section 751(b) of the Act to determine whether KCNC should properly be considered the successor firm to Daesang. KCNC stated that it operates the Chonju factory without change. Production continues with the same equipment, the same workers, the same raw materials purchased from the same suppliers, and the same production process. KCNC stated that it continues to sell the same products to the same customers to which Daesang previously sold. Further, the organizational and management structure of Daesang's INC business has essentially remained intact, except that KCNC has appointed a new president. All management and employees at the plant manager level and below are the same as when the factory was managed by Daesang, while the managing director was formerly employed by Daesang in another capacity. In addition, KCNC provided a copy of the Closing of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement. KCNC also submitted a copy of the relevant schedules to the sales agreement between Daesang and CNC, showing the transfer to KCNC of Daesang's INC assets, contracts, customers, and suppliers. On October 26, 1999, the Department published in the Federal Register (63 FR 57628) the notice of initiation and preliminary results of its changed circumstances antidumping duty administrative review of INC from Korea. We have now completed this changed circumstances review in accordance with section 751(b) of the Act. On November 26, 1999, KCNC submitted comments with regard to the Department's October 26, 1999, preliminary results. KCNC stated that it believes that the Department's preliminary results are correct in all respects. No comments were filed by the petitioner or any other interested party. Scope of the Review Imports covered by this review are shipments of INC from Korea. INC is a dry, white amorphous synthetic chemical with a nitrogen content between 10.8 and 12.2 percent, and is produced from the reaction of cellulose with nitric acid. INC is used as a film-former in coatings, lacquers, furniture finishes, and printing inks. The scope of this order does not include explosive grade nitrocellulose, which has a nitrogen content of greater than 12.2 percent. INC is currently classified under Harmonized Tariff System (``HTS'') subheading 3912.20.00. While the HTS item number is provided for convenience and Customs purposes, the written description remains dispositive as to the scope of the product coverage. Successorship In considering questions involving successorship, the Department examines several factors including, but not limited to, changes in (1) management, (2) production facilities, (3) supplier relationships, and (4) customer base. See, e.g., Brass Sheet and Strip from Canada; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 57 FR 20460 (1992). While no one or several of these factors will necessarily provide a dispositive indication, the Department will generally consider the new company to be the successor to the previous company if its resulting operation is essentially the same as its predecessor. See, e.g., Industrial Phosphoric Acid from Israel; Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, 59 FR 6944 (February 14, 1994). Thus, if evidence demonstrates that, with respect to the production and sale of the subject merchandise, the new company operates as the same entity as the former company, the Department will treat the successor company the same as the predecessor for antidumping purposes, e.g., assign the same cash deposit rate or, if appropriate, apply any relevant revocation. We have examined the information provided by KCNC in its August 25, 1999, letter and determined that KCNC is the successor-in-interest to Daesang. The management and organizational structure of the former Daesang have essentially remained intact under KCNC, and there have been no changes in the production facilities, supplier relationships, or customer base. Therefore, we determine that KCNC has maintained essentially the same management, production facilities, supplier relationships, and customer bases as did Daesang. Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review We determine that KCNC is the successor-in-interest to Daesang for antidumping duty cash deposit purposes. KCNC, therefore, will be assigned Daesang's antidumping duty cash deposit rate of 2.10 percent. This deposit requirement will be effective upon publication of this notice of final results of administrative review for all shipments of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the publication date as provided by section 751(a)(2)(c) of the Act. This deposit rate shall remain in effect until publication of the final results of the next administrative review. This changed circumstances review and notice are in accordance with section 751(b) of the Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1675(b)), and 19 CFR 351.216. Dated: January 7, 2000. Robert S. LaRussa, Assistant Secretary, Import Administration. [FR Doc. 00-874 Filed 1-12-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P