[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74551-74552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31777]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-588-046]


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

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Rescission of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances 
Review.

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SUMMARY: On July 31, 2003, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
published a notice of initiation of changed circumstances review of the 
antidumping duty finding on polychloroprene rubber (PR) from Japan to 
determine whether Showa Denko Elastomers, K.K. (SDEL) and Showa Denko 
K.K. (SDK) are the successor-in-interest companies to Showa DDE 
Manufacturing K.K. (SDEM) and DDE Japan Kabushiki Kaisha (DDE Japan). 
See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances 
Review: Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan, 68 FR 44924 (July 31, 2003) 
(Notice of Initiation). On October 24, 2003, we published a notice of 
preliminary results, determining that the restructured manufacturing 
and marketing joint venture, SDEL and SDK, are the successor-in-
interest companies to SDEM and DDE Japan, for purposes of determining 
antidumping liability in this proceeding. See Notice of Preliminary 
Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review: 
Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan, 68 FR 60913 (October 24, 2003) 
(Notice of Preliminary Results). Interested parties were invited to 
comment on these preliminary results. On December 5, 2003, SDEL and SDK 
withdrew their request for a changed circumstances review. The 
Department is now rescinding this changed circumstances antidumping 
duty administrative review.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 24, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zev Primor or Mark Manning, 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) 482-5253, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On December 6, 1973, the Treasury Department published in the 
Federal Register (38 FR 33593) the antidumping duty finding on PR from 
Japan. On June 17, 2003, SDEL and SDK submitted a letter stating that 
they are the successor-in-interest to SDEM and DDE Japan, and, as such, 
entitled to receive the same antidumping treatment as accorded these 
companies. On July 18, 2003, at the request of the Department, SDEL and 
SDK submitted additional information and documentation pertaining to 
their changed circumstances request. On July 31, 2003, the Department 
published a notice of

[[Page 74552]]

initiation of changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty 
finding on PR from Japan to determine whether SDEL and SDK are the 
successor-in-interest companies to SDEM and DDE Japan. See Notice of 
Initiation. On October 24, 2003, we published a notice of preliminary 
results, determining that the restructured manufacturing and marketing 
joint venture, SDEL and SDK, are the successor-in-interest companies to 
SDEM and DDE Japan, for purposes of determining antidumping liability 
in this proceeding. See Notice of Preliminary Results, 68 FR at 60913. 
In the same notice, the Department invited interested parties to 
comment on the preliminary results. Prior to receiving any comments, on 
December 5, 2003, SDEL and SDK petitioned the Department to withdraw 
their request for a changed circumstances review.

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 4002.41.00, 4002.49.00, 
4003.00.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTSUS). HTSUS item numbers are provided for convenience and customs 
purposes. The written description remains dispositive.

Rescission of Changed Circumstances Review

    On December 5, 2003, SDEL and SDK petitioned the Department to 
withdraw their request for a changed circumstances review. No 
interested parties, including the petitioner, objected to this 
withdrawal request. Consequently, the Department is now rescinding this 
antidumping duty changed circumstances review. The U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection will continue to suspend entries of subject 
merchandise at the appropriate cash deposit rate for all entries of PR 
from Japan.
    This notice also serves as a reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
the APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(a)(3). Timely written 
notification of the return or destruction of APO materials or 
conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to 
comply with regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable 
violation.
    This notice is in accordance with sections 751(b) and 777(i)(1) of 
the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.

    Dated: December 17, 2003.
Holly A. Kuga,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-31777 Filed 12-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S