[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 45 (Monday, March 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10753-10755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5160]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 731-TA-1047 (Final)]


Ironing Tables and Certain Parts Thereof from China

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Scheduling of the final phase of an antidumping investigation.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the 
final phase of antidumping investigation No. 731-TA-1047 (Final) under 
section 735(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)) (the Act) 
to determine whether 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 
less-than-fair-value imports from China of ironing tables and certain 
parts thereof, provided for in subheadings 9403.20.00 and 9403.90.80

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of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.\1\
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    \1\ For purposes of this investigation, the Department of 
Commerce has defined the subject merchandise as ``* * * floor-
standing, metal-top ironing tables, assembled or unassembled, 
complete or incomplete, and certain parts thereof. The subject 
tables are designed and used principally for the hand ironing or 
pressing of garments or other articles of fabric. The subject tables 
have full-height leg assemblies that support the ironing surface at 
an appropriate (often adjustable) height above the floor. The 
subject tables are produced in a variety of leg finishes, such as 
painted, plated, or matte, and they are available with various 
features, including iron rests, linen racks, and others. The subject 
ironing tables may be sold with or without a pad and/or cover. All 
types and configurations of floor-standing, metal-top ironing tables 
are covered by this investigation.
    Furthermore, this investigation specifically covers imports of 
ironing tables, assembled or unassembled, complete or incomplete, 
and certain parts thereof. For purposes of this investigation, the 
term ``unassembled'' ironing table means a product requiring the 
attachment of the leg assembly to the top or the attachment of an 
included feature such as an iron rest or linen rack. The term 
``complete'' ironing table means a product sold as a ready-to-use 
ensemble consisting of the metal-top table and a pad and cover, with 
or without additional features, e.g. iron rest or linen rack. The 
term ``incomplete'' ironing table means a product shipped or sold as 
a ``bare board''--i.e., a metal-top table only, without the pad and 
cover--with or without additional features, e.g. iron rest or linen 
rack. The major parts or components of ironing tables that are 
intended to be covered by this investigation under the term 
``certain parts thereof'' consist of the metal top component (with 
or without assembled supports and slides) and/or the leg components, 
whether or not attached together as a leg assembly. The 
investigation covers separately shipped metal top components and leg 
components, without regard to whether the respective quantities 
would yield an exact quantity of assembled ironing tables.
    Ironing tables without legs (such as models that mount on walls 
or over doors) are not floor-standing and are specifically excluded. 
Additionally, tabletop or counter top models with short legs that do 
not exceed 12 inches in length (and which may or may not collapse or 
retract) are specifically excluded.
    The subject ironing tables were previously classified under 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 
9403.20.0010. Effective July 1, 2003, the subject ironing tables are 
classified under the new HTSUS subheading 9403.20.0011. The subject 
metal top and leg components are classified under HTSUS subheading 
9403.90.8040. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for 
convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the 
scope remains dispositive.''
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    For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the 
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 207, subparts A and C 
(19 CFR part 207).

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 3, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Spellacy (202-205-3190), 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: Background. The final phase of this 
investigation is being scheduled as a result of an affirmative 
preliminary determination by the Department of Commerce that imports of 
ironing tables and certain parts thereof from China are being sold in 
the United States at less than fair value within the meaning of section 
733 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673b). The investigation was requested in a 
petition filed on June 30, 2003, by Home Products International, Inc. 
(HPI), Chicago, IL.
    Participation in the investigation and public service list. 
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if 
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of this 
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, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date 
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance 
during the preliminary phase of the investigation need not file an 
additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary 
will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses 
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the 
investigation.
    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 the final phase of this investigation available to 
authorized applicants under the APO issued in the investigation, 
provided that the application is made no later than 21 days prior to 
the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized applicants must 
represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 1677(9), who are 
parties to the investigation. A party granted access to BPI in the 
preliminary phase of the investigation need not reapply for such 
access. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary for 
those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Staff report. The prehearing staff report in the final phase of 
this investigation will be placed in the nonpublic record on June 1, 
2004 and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to 
section 207.22 of the Commission's rules.
    Hearing. The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the 
final phase of this investigation beginning at 9:30 a.m. on June 15, 
2004 at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Requests to 
appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary to 
the Commission on or before June 8, 2004. A nonparty who has testimony 
that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to 
present a short statement at the hearing. All parties and nonparties 
desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral presentations should 
attend a prehearing conference to be held at 9:30 a.m. on June 10, 
2004, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Oral 
testimony and written materials to be submitted at the public hearing 
are governed by sections 201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 207.24 of the 
Commission's rules. Parties must submit any request to present a 
portion of their hearing testimony in camera no later than 7 days prior 
to the date of the hearing.
    Written submissions. Each party who is an interested party shall 
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must 
conform with the provisions of section 207.23 of the Commission's 
rules; the deadline for filing is June 8, 2004. Parties may also file 
written testimony in connection with their presentation at the hearing, 
as provided in section 207.24 of the Commission's rules, and 
posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of section 
207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for filing posthearing 
briefs is June 22, 2004; witness testimony must be filed no later than 
three days before the hearing. 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 subject of the 
investigation on or before June 22, 2004. On July 9, 2004, the 
Commission will make available to parties all information on which they 
have not had an opportunity to comment. Parties may submit final 
comments on this information on or before July 13, 2004, but such final 
comments must not

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contain new factual information and must otherwise comply with section 
207.30 of the Commission's rules. All written submissions must conform 
with the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any 
submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the requirements of 
sections 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 section 201.8 of the Commission's rules, as amended, 67 FR 
68036 (November 8, 2002).
    In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 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 
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: This investigation is being conducted under authority 
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published 
pursuant to section 207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    Issued: March 3, 2004.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-5160 Filed 3-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P