[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 105 (Friday, June 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 30547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10605]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-507-601]


Certain In-shell Roasted Pistachios from the Islamic Republic of 
Iran: Notice of Initiation of Countervailing Duty New Shipper Review

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 1, 2007.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') has received a 
request to conduct a new shipper review of the countervailing duty 
(``CVD'') order on certain in-shell roasted pistachios from the Islamic 
Republic of Iran (``pistachios from Iran''). In accordance with section 
751(a)(2)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), and 
19 CFR 351.214(d), we are initiating a CVD new shipper review for 
Ahmadi's Agricultrual Productions, Processing, and Trade Complex 
(``Ahmadi'').

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Hargett, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14\th\ Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
4161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 21, 2007, the Department received a timely request from 
Ahmadi, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.214(c), for a new shipper review 
of the CVD order on pistachios from Iran, which has an October 
anniversary month.\1\
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    \1\ See Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and 
Countervailing Duty Order; Roasted In-Shell Pistachios From Iran, 51 
FR 35679 (October 7, 1986).
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    As required by 19 CFR 351.214(b)(2)(i) and (iii)(A), Ahmadi 
certified that it did not export subject merchandise to the United 
States during the period of investigation (``POI''), and that it has 
never been affiliated with any exporter or producer that exported 
subject merchandise during the POI.\2\ Pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.214(b)(2)(iv), the company submitted documentation establishing the 
date on which it first shipped the subject merchandise to the United 
States, the date of entry and volume of that first shipment, and the 
date of the first sale to an unaffiliated customer in the United 
States. Ahmadi also certified that, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.214(b)(2)(v), it has informed the Government of the Islamic 
Republic of Iran that it will be required to provide a full response to 
the Department's questionnaire.\3\ On April 30, 2007, and on May 23, 
2007, the Western Pistachio Association and Cal Pure Pistachios, Inc., 
respectively, submitted letters in opposition to the request urging the 
Department to decline to initiate the requested review.\4\
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    \2\ See the March 21, 2007, submission to the Department from 
Ali R. Ahmadi Kerman Corporation regarding Request for New Shipper 
CVD Review.
    \3\ Id.
    \4\ See the April 30, 2007, letter to the Department from the 
Western Pistachio Association in Opposition to Ahmadi's Agricultural 
Productions, Processing and Trade Complex's Request to Initiate a 
New Shipper Review of the Countervailing Duty Order on Roasted In-
Shell Pistachios from Iran, see also the May 23, 2007, letter to the 
Department from Cal Pure Pistachios Inc., in Opposition to 
Initiation of New Shipper Review Request.
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Initiation of Review

    In accordance with section 751(a)(2)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.214 (d), and based on information on the record, we are initiating 
a CVD new shipper review for Ahmadi. Consistent with section 
751(a)(2)(B)(iv) of the Act, we intend to issue the preliminary results 
of this new shipper review no later than 180 days after initiation of 
this review \5\ and the final results of this review no later than 90 
days after the date on which the preliminary results are issued.\6\
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    \5\ See 19 CFR 351.214(i).
    \6\ Id.

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         New Shipper Review Proceeding            Period To Be Reviewed
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Ahmadi.........................................  01/01/2006 - 12/31/2006
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Cash Deposit Requirements

    On August 17, 2006, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (H.R. 4) was 
signed into law. Section 1632 of H.R. 4 temporarily suspends the 
authority of the Department to instruct U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection to collect a bond or other security in lieu of a cash 
deposit in new shipper reviews during the period April 1, 2006, through 
June 30, 2009. Therefore, the posting of a bond or other security under 
section 751(a)(2)(B)(iii) of the Act in lieu of a cash deposit is not 
available in this case. Importers of subject merchandise manufactured 
and exported by Ahmadi must continue to pay a cash deposit of estimated 
antidumping duties on each entry of subject merchandise at the current 
all-others rate of 317.89[percnt].\7\
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    \7\ See Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and 
Countervailing Duty Order; Roasted In-Shell Pistachios From Iran, 51 
FR 35679 (October 7, 1986).
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    Interested parties may submit applications for disclosure of 
business proprietary information under administrative protective order 
in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305 and 351.306.
    This initiation and this notice are issued and published in 
accordance with section 751(a)(2)(B) of the Act of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.214(d) and 351.221(c)(1)(i).

    Dated: May 24, 2007.
Stephen J. Claeys,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-10605 Filed 5-31-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S