[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 57856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19882]



[[Page 57856]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-583-604]


Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review of Countervailing Duty 
Order: Top-of-the-Stove Stainless Steel Cookware from Taiwan

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On March 1, 2005, the Department of Commerce (``the 
Department'') initiated a sunset review of the countervailing duty 
(``CVD'') order on top-of-the-stove stainless steel cookware from 
Taiwan pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(``the Act''). See Notice of Initiation of Five-year (``Sunset'') 
Reviews, 70 FR 9919 (March 1, 2005). On the basis of a notice of intent 
to participate and an adequate substantive response filed on behalf of 
the domestic interested parties and inadequate response from respondent 
interested parties (in this case, no response), the Department 
conducted an expedited sunset review of this CVD order pursuant to 
section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(B). As a 
result of this sunset review, the Department finds that revocation of 
the CVD order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of 
a countervailable subsidy at the level indicated in the ``Final Results 
of Review'' section of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 4, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tipten Troidl or David Goldberger, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1767 or (202) 
482-4136, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 1, 2005, the Department initiated a sunset review of the 
CVD order on top-of-the-stove stainless steel cookware from Taiwan 
pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act. See Notice of Initiation of 
Five-year (``Sunset'') Reviews, 70 FR 9919 (March 1, 2005). On March 
16, 2005, the Department received a notice of intent to participate 
from the following domestic interested parties: Paper Allied Industrial 
Chemical & Energy Workers, Local 7-0850 (``PACE''), and Vita Craft 
Corporation (``Vita''), which make up the Stainless Steel Cookware 
Committee (``Committee''), an ad hoc coalition of domestic producers 
and employees, and Regal Ware, Inc. (collectively ``domestic interested 
parties''), within the deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i). 
The domestic interested parties claimed interested party status under 
sections 771(9)(C), (D), (E) and (F) of the Act as an ad hoc 
association comprised of domestic producers of the subject merchandise.
    On March 31, 2005, the Department received a complete substantive 
response from the domestic interested parties within the 30-day 
deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3)(I). However, the Department 
did not receive a substantive response from any government or 
respondent interested party to this proceeding. As a result, pursuant 
to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), 
the Department conducted an expedited review of this CVD order.

Scope of the Order:

    The merchandise subject to this CVD order is top-of-the-stove 
stainless steel cookware (``cookware'') from Taiwan. The subject 
merchandise is all non-electric cooking ware of stainless steel which 
may have one or more layers of aluminum, copper or carbon steel for 
more even heat distribution. The subject merchandise includes skillets, 
frying pans, omelette pans, saucepans, double boilers, stock pots, 
dutch ovens, casseroles, steamers, and other stainless steel vessels, 
all for cooking on stove top burners, except tea kettles and fish 
poachers.
    Excluded from the scope of the orders are stainless steel oven ware 
and stainless steel kitchen ware. ``Universal pan lids'' are not within 
the scope of the order (57 FR 57420, December 4, 1992).
    Cookware is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
(HTS) item numbers 7323.93.00 and 9604.00.00. The HTS item numbers are 
provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written 
description remains dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received

    All issues raised in this review are addressed in the Issues and 
Decision Memorandum (``Decision Memorandum'') from Barbara E. Tillman, 
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, to Holly 
A. Kuga, Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, dated 
September 27, 2005, which is hereby adopted by this notice. Parties can 
find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this review and the 
corresponding recommendation in this public memorandum which is on file 
in the Central Records Unit room B-099 of the main Commerce building. 
In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memorandum can be 
accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn. The paper 
copy and electronic version of the Decision Memorandum are identical in 
content.

Final Results of Review

    The Department determines that revocation of the CVD order would be 
likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable 
subsidy at the rate listed below:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Net
                 Producers/Exporters                    Countervailable
                                                          Subsidy (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Manufacturers/Producers/Exporters...............                2.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order

    This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to 
administrative protective order (``APO'') of their responsibility 
concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information 
disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely 
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 a sanctionable violation.
    We are issuing and publishing the results and notice in accordance 
with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

    Dated: September 27, 2005.
Holly A. Kuga,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-19882 Filed 10-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S