[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66614-66615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27856]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-501]


Notice of Extension of Time Limit of Preliminary Results of 
Administrative Review: Natural Bristle Paint Brushes From the People's 
Republic of China

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is extending the time limit of the 
preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping 
duty order on natural bristle paint brushes from the People's Republic 
of China until no later than January 23, 2003. The period of review is 
February 1, 2001, through January 31, 2002. This extension is made 
pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 1, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Kirby or Sean Carey, AD/CVD 
Enforcement, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., 
Washington D.C. 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3782 or (202) 482-3964, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Applicable Statutes and Regulations

    Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the statute are 
references to the provisions of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the 
Act). In addition, unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the 
Department's regulations are to the provisions codified at 19 CFR Part 
351 (2002).

Statutory Time Limits

    Section 351.213(h)(1) of the Department's regulations requires the 
Department to issue the preliminary results of an administrative review 
within 245 days after the last day of the anniversary month of the 
order or suspension agreement for which the administrative review was 
requested, and final results of review within 120 days after the date 
on which notice of the preliminary results was published in the Federal 
Register. However, if the Department determines that it is not 
practicable to complete the review within this time period, section 
351.213(h)(2) of the Regulations allows the Department to extend the 
245-day period to 365 days and may extend the 120-day period to 180 
days.

Background

    On February 1, 2002, the Department published a notice of 
opportunity to request an administrative review of the antidumping duty 
order on natural bristle paint brushes and brush heads from the 
People's Republic of China (PRC) (67 FR 4945). On February 28, 2002, 
the Department received a timely request from petitioner for 
administrative reviews of Hunan Provincial Native Produce and Animal 
By-Products Import and Export Corporation (Hunan) and Hebei Founder 
Import and Export Company (Hebei). On March 27, 2002, the Department 
initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on 
natural bristle paintbrushes and brush heads, for the period from 
February 1, 2001 through January 31, 2002, in order to determine 
whether merchandise imported into the United States is being sold at 
less than fair value with respect to these two companies. See 
Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Reviews and Requests for Revocations in Part (67 FR 14696).
    On May 1, 2002 the Department issued antidumping questionnaires to 
Hebei and Hunan. In its reply to Section A of the questionnaire, Hebei 
stated that it had made no sales or shipments of subject merchandise to 
the United States during the POR. The Department also performed a U.S. 
Customs Service (Customs) query for entries of natural bristle 
paintbrushes and brush heads, classified under the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) item number 9603.40.40.40, from 
the PRC during the POR. We found no entries or shipments from Hebei 
during the POR. Thus, the Department rescinded the review with respect 
to Hebei. See Natural Bristle Paintbrushes and Brush Heads From the 
People's Republic of China; Notice of Rescission, In Part, of 
Antidumping Administrative Review, 67 FR 58018 (September 13, 2002). 
The Department's preliminary results in the review of Hunan are 
currently due October 31, 2002.

Extension of Time Limits for Preliminary Results

    Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(B) of the Act, the Department may 
extend the deadline for completion of the preliminary results of an 
administrative review if it determines that it is not practicable to 
complete the review within the time specified in section 351.213(h)(2) 
of the Department's regulations. The Department has determined that the 
preliminary results of this administrative review cannot be completed 
within the statutory time limit of 245 days. The Department finds that 
it is not practicable to complete the preliminary results of this 
administrative review because there are a number of issues that must be 
addressed. For example, the Department has prepared a supplemental 
questionnaire requesting additional information on the respondent's 
questionnaire responses concerning affiliation and date of sale. Given 
the issues in this case, the Department may find it necessary to 
request even more information in this administrative

[[Page 66615]]

review, as well as to conduct verification. Therefore, in accordance 
with section 351.213(h)(2) of the Department's regulations, the 
Department is extending the time limit for the completion of 
preliminary results by 85 days. The preliminary results will now be due 
no later than January 23, 2003. The final results continue to be due 
within 120 days of the publication of the preliminary results.
    This notice is published pursuant to sections 751(a)(2)(B) and 
777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: October 25, 2002.
Richard O. Weible,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Group III.
[FR Doc. 02-27856 Filed 10-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S