[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38385-38386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16362]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigations Nos. 731-TA-1043-1045 (Preliminary)]


Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags From China, Malaysia, and 
Thailand

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of antidumping investigations and scheduling of 
preliminary phase investigations.

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

SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of 
investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping 
investigations No. 731-TA-1043-1045 (Preliminary) under section 733(a) 
of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673b(a)) (the Act) to determine 
whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United 
States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the 
establishment of an industry in the United States is materially 
retarded, by reason of imports from China, Malaysia, and Thailand of 
polyethylene retail carrier bags, provided for in subheading 3923.21.00 
of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are 
alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value. Unless 
the Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation pursuant to 
section 732(c)(1)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673a(c)(1)(B)), the 
Commission must reach preliminary determinations in antidumping 
investigations in 45 days, or in this case by August 4, 2003. The 
Commission's views are due at Commerce within five business days 
thereafter, or by August 11, 2003.
    For further information concerning the conduct of these 
investigations and rules of general application, consult the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A 
through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR 
part 207).

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 20, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Reavis (202-205-3185), Office of 
Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information 
on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-
1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special 
assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the 
Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning 
the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these investigations may 
be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    These investigations are being instituted in response to a petition 
filed on June 20, 2003, by the Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bag 
Committee, an ad hoc coalition of U.S. polyethylene retail carrier bag 
producers, consisting of PCL Packaging, Inc., Barrie, Ontario, Canada; 
Sonoco Products Company, Hartsville, SC; Superbag Corp., Houston, TX; 
Vanguard Plastics, Inc., Farmers Branch, TX; and Inteplast Group, Ltd., 
Livingston, NJ.

Participation in the Investigations and Public Service List

    Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec. Sec.  201.11 and 
207.10 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users 
and (if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail 
level) representative consumer organizations have the right to appear 
as parties in Commission antidumping investigations. The Secretary will 
prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all 
persons, or their representatives, who are parties to these 
investigations upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of 
appearance.

Limited Disclosure of Business Proprietary Information (BPI) Under an 
Administrative Protective Order (APO) and BPI Service List

    Pursuant to section 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the 
Secretary will make BPI gathered in these investigations available to 
authorized applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 
U.S.C. 1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO 
issued in the investigations, provided that the application is made not 
later than seven days after the publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the 
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.

Conference

    The Commission's Director of Operations has scheduled a conference 
in connection with these investigations for 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 
11, 2003, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E 
Street SW., Washington, DC. Parties wishing to participate in the 
conference should contact Larry Reavis (202-205-3185) and provide a 
witness list for their appearance not later than Wednesday, July 9, 
2003. Parties in support of the imposition of antidumping duties in 
these investigations and parties in opposition to the imposition of 
such duties will each be collectively allocated one hour within which 
to make an oral presentation at the conference. A nonparty who has 
testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request 
permission to present a short statement at the conference.

Written Submissions

    As provided in sections 201.8 and 207.15 of the Commission's rules, 
any person may submit to the Commission on or before July 16, 2003, a 
written brief containing information and arguments pertinent to the 
subject matter of the investigations. Parties may file written 
testimony in connection

[[Page 38386]]

with their presentation at the conference no later than three days 
before the conference. If briefs or written testimony contain BPI, they 
must conform with the requirements of Sec. Sec.  201.6, 207.3, and 
207.7 of the Commission's rules. The Commission's rules do not 
authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or 
electronic means, except to the extent permitted by Sec.  201.8 of the 
Commission's rules, as amended, 67 FR 68036 (November 8, 2002).
    In accordance with Sec. Sec.  201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, 
each document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on 
all other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the 
public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be 
timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing 
without a certificate of service.

    Authority: These investigations are being conducted under 
authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is 
published pursuant to Sec.  207.12 of the Commission's rules.

    Issued: June 24, 2003.

    By order of the Commission.

Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-16362 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P