[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44924-44925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19515]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-046]


Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances 
Review: Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan

AGENCY:  Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY:  In accordance with section 751(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, 
as amended, (the Act) and 19 CFR 351.216 (2003), Showa Denko Elastomers 
K.K. (SDEL) and Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) requested that the Department of 
Commerce (the Department) conduct an expedited changed circumstances 
review of the antidumping duty finding on polychloroprene rubber (PR) 
from Japan. In response to this request, the Department is initiating a 
changed circumstances review of the above-referenced finding.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 31, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Zev Primor or Ronald Trentham, AD/CVD 
Enforcement, Group II, Office 4, Import Administration, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-4114 
or (202) 482-6320, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 6, 1973, the Department of Treasury published in the 
Federal Register (38 FR 33593) the antidumping finding on PR from 
Japan. On June 17, 2003, SDEL and SDK submitted a letter stating that 
they are the successor-in-interest to Showa DDE Manufacturing KK (SDEM) 
and DDE Japan Kabushiki Kaisha (DDE Japan) and, as such, entitled to 
receive the same antidumping treatment as these companies have been 
accorded. Accordingly, SDEL/SDK requested that the Department conduct 
an expedited changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty 
finding on PR from Japan pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Act and 
19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(ii) of the Department's regulations.

Scope of Review

    Imports covered by this review are shipments of PR, an oil 
resistant synthetic rubber also known as polymerized chlorobutadiene or 
neoprene, currently classifiable under items 4002.42.00, 4002.49.00, 
4003.00.00, 4462.15.21 and 4462.00.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (HTSUS). HTSUS item numbers are provided for 
convenience and for U.S. Burea of Customs and Border Protection (BCBP). 
The Department's written descriptions of the scope remain dispositive.

Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review

    Pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Act, the Department will 
conduct a changed circumstances review upon receipt of information 
concerning, or a request from an interested party for a review of, an 
antidumping duty finding which shows changed circumstances sufficient 
to warrant a review of the order. Information submitted by SDEL/SDK 
regarding a change in ownership of the prior SDEM/DDE Japan joint 
venture shows changed circumstances sufficient to warrant a review. See 
19 CFR 351.216(c) (2003).
    In antidumping duty changed circumstances reviews involving a 
successor-in-interest determination, the Department typically examines 
several factors including, but not limited to, changes in: (1) 
management; (2) production facilities; (3) supplier relationships; and 
(4) customer base. See Brass Sheet and Strip from Canada: Notice of 
Final Results of Antidumping Administrative Review, 57 FR 20460, 20462 
(May 13, 1992) (Canadian Brass). While no single factor or combination 
of factors will necessarily be dispositive, the Department generally 
will consider the new company to be the successor to the predecessor 
company if the resulting operations are essentially the same as those 
of the predecessor company. See, e.g., Industrial Phosphoric Acid from 
Israel: Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review, 59 FR 6944, 6945 
(February 14, 1994), and Canadian Brass, 57 FR 20460. Thus, if the 
record evidence demonstrates that, with respect to the production and 
sale of the subject merchandise, the new company operates as the same 
business entity as the predecessor company, the Department may assign 
the new company the cash deposit rate of its predecessor. See, e.g., 
Fresh and Chilled Atlantic Salmon from Norway: Final Results of Changes 
Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 64 FR 9979, 9980 
(March 1, 1999). Although SDEL/SDK submitted information indicating, 
allegedly, that with respect to subject merchandise, it operates in the 
same manner as its predecessor, SDEM/DDE Japan, that information is 
lacking any supporting documents. See Memoranda from Zev Primor to The 
File ``Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan: Request for Additional 
Information for Changed Circumstances Review'' dated June 30 and July 
15, 2003.
    Concerning SDEL/SDK's request that the Department conduct an 
expedited antidumping duty changed circumstances review, the Department 
has determined that it would be inappropriate to expedite this action 
by combining the preliminary results of review with this notice of 
initiation, as permitted under 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(ii). Because of the 
absence of evidence to support SDEL/SDK's claims, the Department finds 
that an expedited proceeding is impracticable. Therefore, the 
Department is not issuing the preliminary results of its antidumping 
duty changed circumstances review at this time.
    The Department will publish in the Federal Register a notice of 
preliminary results of antidumping duty changed circumstances review, 
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4) and 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(I). 
This notice will set forth the factual and legal conclusions upon which 
our preliminary results are based and a description of any action 
proposed based on those results. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(ii), 
interested parties will have an opportunity to comment on the 
preliminary results of review. In accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(e), 
the Department will issue the final results of its antidumping duty 
changed circumstances review not later than 270 days after the date on 
which the review is initiated.
    During the course of this antidumping duty changed circumstances 
review, we will not change the cash deposit requirements for the 
merchandise

[[Page 44925]]

subject to review. The cash deposit will only be altered, if warranted, 
pursuant to the final results of this review.
    This notice of initiation is in accordance with sections 751(b)(1) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(1) of the Department's regulations.

    Dated: July 24, 2003.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Grant Aldonas, Under Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-19515 Filed 7-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S