[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4761-4762]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2101]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-501]


Notice of Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of 
Administrative Review: Natural Bristle Paint Brushes and Brush Heads 
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 for the 
preliminary results of the administrative review of the antidumping 
duty order on natural bristle paint brushes and brush heads from the 
People's Republic of China until no later than February 28, 2003. The 
period of review is February 1, 2001, through January 31, 2002. This

[[Page 4762]]

extension is made pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as amended.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 30, 2003.

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, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3782 or (202) 482-3964, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 bushes 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 the Paint Applicator Division 
of the American Brush Manufacturers Association, the 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, 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 Review and Requests for Revocations 
in Part, 67 FR 14696 (March 27, 2002).
    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 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 From the People's Republic of China; Notice of Rescission, 
In Part, of Antidumping Administrative Review, 67 FR 58018 (September 
13, 2002). On November 1, the Department extended the preliminary 
results of the review of Hunan by 84 days, until January 23, 2003 (67 
FR 66614).
    Pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) 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, including analysis of recently submitted supplemental 
questionnaire responses. 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 
an additional 36 days. The preliminary results will now be due no later 
than February 28, 2003. The final results continue to be done within 
120 days of the preliminary results.
    This notice is published pursuant to sections 751(a)(3)(A) and 
777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: January 23, 2003.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Group III.
[FR Doc. 03-2101 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M