[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 174 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 54299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23010]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-201-71]


Crabmeat From Swimming Crabs

Determination

    On the basis of the information in the investigation, the 
Commission determines,\1\ pursuant to section 202(b) of the Trade Act 
of 1974, that crabmeat from swimming crabs \2\ is not being imported 
into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a 
substantial cause of serious injury or the threat of serious injury to 
the domestic industry producing an article like or directly competitive 
with the imported article.
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    \1\ Chairman Stephen Koplan and Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun 
dissenting.
    \2\ For the purposes of this investigation, the subject 
merchandise is defined as crabmeat from swimming crabs (family 
Portunidae), in all its forms (except shelf-stable crabmeat in 
airtight containers), including frozen, fresh, and chilled crabmeat, 
however packed, preserved, pasteurized, or prepared, and of any 
grade or size (such as jumbo lump, lump, backfin, claw, select, and 
the like). Such crabmeat is generally classified in subheadings 
1605.10.20 and 1605.10.40 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTS), but may also be entering under HTS subheadings 
0306.14.20 and 0306.24.20. The petition and scope of investigation 
initially included shelf-stable crabmeat packed in airtight 
containers, which is produced using additives and a thermal 
manufacturing process so that it requires no refrigeration. However, 
in a letter to the Commission dated April 14, 2000, the petitioner 
requested the scope of the investigation be amended to exclude such 
shelf-stable crabmeat. On June 23, 2000, the Commission amended the 
scope of its investigation to exclude such shelf-stable crabmeat (65 
FR 40691, June 30, 2000).
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Background

    Following receipt of a petition filed on behalf of the Blue Crab 
Coalition, the Commission, effective March 2, 2000, instituted 
investigation No. TA-201-71, Crabmeat from Swimming Crabs, under 
section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 to determine whether crabmeat from 
swimming crabs is being imported into the United States in such 
increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury, or 
the threat thereof, to the domestic industry producing an article like 
or directly competitive with the imported article.
    Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigation and of 
the scheduling of public hearings to be held in connection therewith 
was given by posting copies of the notice in the Office of the 
Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by 
publishing the notice in the Federal Register of March 20, 2000 (65 FR 
15008). The hearing in connection with the injury phase of the 
investigation was held on June 15, 2000, in Washington, DC; all persons 
who requested the opportunity were permitted to appear in person or by 
counsel.
    The Commission transmitted its determination in this investigation 
to the President on August 29, 2000. The views of the Commission are 
contained in USITC Publication 3349 (August 2000), entitled Crabmeat 
from Swimming Crabs: Investigation No. TA-201-71.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: August 31, 2000.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-23010 Filed 9-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P