[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 121 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36563-36565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-3298]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-357-813]


Honey from Argentina: Final Results of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On December 21, 2004, the Department of Commerce (the 
Department) published in the Federal Register its preliminary results 
of administrative review of the countervailing duty order on honey from 
Argentina for the period January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003. 
Honey from Argentina: Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty 
Administrative Review, 68 FR 69660 (December 21, 2004) (Preliminary 
Results). We received no comments from interested parties; therefore, 
we have made no changes to the net countervailable subsidy rates for 
the POR. The final net countervailable subsidy rates are listed below 
in the section entitled ``Final Results of Administrative Review.''

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 24, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dara Iserson and Thomas Gilgunn, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 6, Import Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Room 7866, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-4052 or (202) 482-4236, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In response to requests for an administrative review of the 
countervailing duty (CVD) order on honey from Argentina from the 
Government of Argentina (GOA) (respondents) and the American Honey 
Producers Association and Sioux Honey

[[Page 36564]]

Association (petitioners), the Department initiated an administrative 
review for the period January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003. See 
Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative 
Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 69 FR 3117 (January 22, 
2004) (Initiation Notice).
    On December 21, 2004, the Department published in the Federal 
Register the preliminary results of the administrative review of the 
countervailing duty order on honey from Argentina. See Preliminary 
Results. From April 18 through April 20, 2005, the Department conducted 
verification of the responses of the GOA. On May 9, 2005, the 
Department released the verification report to interested parties. See 
Second Administrative Review of Honey from Argentina: Verification 
Report for the Government of Argentina (May 9, 2005) (Honey 
Verification Report). The Department invited comments on the 
preliminary results and the verification report. Neither the 
petitioners nor the respondents submitted comments. Therefore, the 
Department has not made changes to the Preliminary Results.

Scope of the Order

    The merchandise covered by this order is artificial honey 
containing more than 50 percent natural honeys by weight, preparations 
of natural honey containing more than 50 percent natural honeys by 
weight, and flavored honey. The subject merchandise includes all grades 
and colors of honey whether in liquid, creamed, combs, cut comb, or 
chunk form, and whether packaged for retail or in bulk form.
    The merchandise subject to this order is currently classifiable 
under subheadings 0409.00.00, 1702.90, and 2106.90.99 of the Harmonized 
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) purposes, the Department's written description of the 
merchandise covered by this order is dispositive.

Final Results of Administrative Review

    Neither the petitioners nor respondents commented on the 
preliminary results or on the verification reports and we found that no 
changes were warranted based on the results of verification. See Honey 
Verification Report. Therefore, we have made no changes to the net 
countervailable subsidy rates for the POR.
    Listed below are the programs we examined in the review and our 
findings with respect to each of these programs. For a complete 
analysis of the programs found to be countervailable, not used, and 
terminated, see Preliminary Results.

I. Programs Determined to be Countervailable

A. Federal Programs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Programs Determined to be Countervailable         Ad Valorem Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regional Productive Revitalization Program..........       0.010 percent
BNA Financing for the Acquisition of Goods of              0.005 percent
 Argentine Origin...................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Provincial Programs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Programs Determined to be Countervailable         Ad Valorem Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Province of San Luis Honey Development Program......       0.015 percent
Province of Chaco Line of Credit Earmarked for the         0.015 percent
 Honey Sector.......................................
Buenos Aires Honey Program..........................       0.038 percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Programs Determined to be Not Used

A. Federal Programs
    1. Argentine Internal Tax Reimbursement/Rebate Program (Reintegro)
    2. BICE Norm 001: Financing of Production of Goods Destined for 
Export
    3. BICE Norm 007: Line of Credit Offered to Finance Industrial 
Investment Projects to Restructure and Modernize the Argentine Industry
    4. BNA Line of Credit to the Agricultural Producers of the 
Patagonia
    5. BNA Pre-Financing of Exports Regime for the Agricultural Sector
    6. Production Pole Program for Honey Producers
    7. Enterprise Restructuring Program
    8. SGRs - Government Backed Loans Guarantees
    9. Fundacion Export AR
    10. PROAPI
B. Provincial Programs
    1. Buenos Aires Honey Program
    a. The Line of Credit for Working Capital
    b. Technical Assistance
    2. Province of Entre Rios Honey Program
    3. Province of Chubut: Province of Chubut Law No. 4430/98
    4. Province of Santiago del Estero Creditos de Confinanzas (Trust 
Credits)

III. Program Determined to be Terminated

    Factor de Convergencia (Convergence Factor)
    We will disclose our calculations to the interested parties in 
accordance with section 351.224(b) of the regulations.

Assessment and Cash Deposit Instructions

    In accordance with section 777A(e)(2)(B) of the Act, we have 
calculated the net countervailable subsidy rates on an aggregate or 
industry-wide basis for exports of subject merchandise in this 
administrative review. Accordingly, we determine the total net 
countervailable subsidy rate to be 0.08 percent ad valorem for the POR. 
This rate is de minimis within the meaning of 19 CFR 351.106(c)(1).
    Because the countervailable subsidy rate is de minimis, the 
Department will instruct CBP to liquidate shipments of honey from 
Argentina entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or 
after January 1, 2003, and on or before December 31, 2003 without 
regard to countervailing duties. The Department will issue appropriate 
assessment instructions directly to the CBP within 15 days of 
publication of these final results of review. Further, since the 
countervailable subsidy rate is de minimis, the Department will 
instruct CBP to continue to suspend liquidation of entries but to 
collect no cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties for all 
shipments of honey from Argentina entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, 
for consumption on or after the date of publication of these final 
results of administrative review.

Return or Destruction of Propriety Information

    This notice serves as a reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (APO) of their responsibility 
concerning the disposition of proprietary information disclosed under 
APO in accordance with 19 CFR Sec.  351.305. Timely written 
notification of return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to 
judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with 
the regulations and the terms of an APO is sanctionable violation.
    This administrative review and notice are issued and published in 
accordance with section 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.


[[Page 36565]]


    Dated: June 17, 2005.
Joseph A. Spetrini,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E5-3298 Filed 6-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S