[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2002-2003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-694]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-421-5]


Innersprings from China

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution and scheduling of an investigation under section 
421(b) of the

[[Page 2003]]

Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2451(b)) (the Act).

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a petition filed on January 6, 2004, on 
behalf of the U.S. member companies of The American Innerspring 
Manufacturers (AIM),\1\ Memphis, TN, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. TA-421-5, Innersprings from China, under section 
421(b) of the Act to determine whether uncovered innerspring units 
(innersprings) \2\ from China are being imported into the United States 
in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause or 
threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like 
or directly competitive products.
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    \1\ Petitioning firms include Atlas Spring, Gardena, CA; Hickory 
Springs Manufacturing Co., Hickory, NC; Leggett & Platt, Carthage, 
MO; and Joseph Saval Spring & Wire Co., Inc., Taylor, MI.
    \2\ Uncovered innerspring units are composed of a series of 
individual metal springs wired together and fitted to an outer wire 
frame and are suitable for use as the innerspring component in the 
manufacture of innerspring mattresses. The imported products are 
provided for in statistical reporting number 9404.29.9010 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). Although the 
HTS category is provided for convenience and Customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise under investigation is 
dispositive.
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    For further information concerning the conduct of this 
investigation, hearing procedures, 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 206, subparts A and E 
(19 CFR part 206), as amended, 68 FR 65164 (Nov. 19, 2003).

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 6, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Allen (202-708-4728), 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 this investigation may be 
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Participation in the investigation and 
service list. Persons wishing to participate in the investigation as 
parties must file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the 
Commission, as provided in section 201.11 of the Commission's rules, 
not later than seven days after publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register. The Secretary will prepare a service list containing 
the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who 
are parties to this investigation upon the expiration of the period for 
filing entries of appearance.
    Limited disclosure of confidential business information (CBI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and CBI service list. Pursuant 
to section 206.47 of the Commission's rules, the Secretary will make 
CBI gathered in this investigation available to authorized applicants 
under the APO issued in the investigation, 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 CBI 
under the APO.
    Hearing. The Commission has scheduled a hearing in connection with 
this investigation beginning at 9:30 a.m. on February 19, 2004, at the 
U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Subjects related to both 
market disruption or threat thereof and remedy may be addressed at the 
hearing. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing 
with the Secretary to the Commission on or before February 10, 2004. 
All persons desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral 
presentations should attend a prehearing conference to be held at 9:30 
a.m. on February 13, 2004, at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building. Oral testimony and written materials to be submitted at the 
hearing are governed by sections 201.6(b)(2) and 201.13(f) of the 
Commission's rules.
    Written submissions. Each party is encouraged to submit a 
prehearing brief to the Commission. The deadline for filing prehearing 
briefs is February 12, 2004. Parties may also file posthearing briefs. 
The deadline for filing posthearing briefs is February 24, 2004. In 
addition, any person who has not entered an appearance as a party to 
the investigation may submit a written statement of information 
pertinent to the consideration of market disruption or threat thereof 
and/or remedy on or before February 24, 2004. Parties may submit final 
comments on market disruption on March 4, 2004, and on remedy on March 
11, 2004. All written submissions must conform with the provisions of 
section 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain 
CBI must also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 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 section 201.8 of the Commission's rules, as 
amended, 67 FR 68036 (November 8, 2002).
    In accordance with section 201.16(c) of the Commission's rules, 
each document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on 
all other parties to the investigation (as identified by the 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.
    Remedy. Parties are reminded that no separate hearing on the issue 
of remedy will be held. Those parties wishing to present arguments on 
the issue of remedy may do so orally at the hearing or in their 
prehearing briefs, posthearing briefs, or final comments on remedy.

    Authority: This investigation is being conducted under the 
authority of section 421 of the Trade Act of 1974; this notice is 
published pursuant to section 206.3 of the Commission's rules.

    Issued: January 8, 2004.
    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-694 Filed 1-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-U