[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 116 (Monday, June 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33989-33991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13506]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-580-839]


Notice of Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed 
Circumstances Antidumping Duty Review: Certain Polyester Staple Fiber 
From the Republic of Korea

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (``Department'') received a request 
for

[[Page 33990]]

initiation of a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty 
order on polyester staple fiber (``PSF'') from the Republic of Korea 
(``Korea'') from Woongjin Chemical Co. Ltd. (``Woongjin''). After 
reviewing this request, we preliminarily determine that Woongjin is the 
successor-in-interest to Saehan Industries Inc. (``Saehan''), and as a 
result, should be accorded the same treatment previously accorded 
Saehan with regard to the antidumping duty order on PSF from Korea. 
Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 16, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Devta Ohri, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
1, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington DC 20230; telephone (202) 482-3853.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 25, 2000, the Department of Commerce issued an antidumping 
duty order on certain PSF from Korea. See Notice of Amended Final 
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty 
Order: Certain Polyester Staple Fiber from Republic of Korea, 65 FR 
33807 (May 25, 2000).
    On April 23, 2008, Woongjin requested that the Department initiate 
a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on PSF 
from Korea to determine that, for purposes of the antidumping law, 
Woongjin is the successor-in-interest to Saehan. See April 23, 2008, 
letter from Woongjin.
    Saehan was a producer and exporter of PSF from Korea that 
participated in the administrative review covering the period May 1, 
2002, through April 30, 2003. As a result of this review, Saehan 
received a cash deposit rate of 2.13 percent. See Certain Polyester 
Staple Fiber From Korea: Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Review and Final Determination To Revoke the Order in 
Part, 69 FR 61341 (October 18, 2004); amended by Notice of Amended 
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Certain 
Polyester Staple Fiber from Korea, 69 FR 67891 (November 22, 2004). 
Saehan has not participated in any other administrative reviews of PSF 
from Korea.

Scope of the Review

    For the purposes of this order, the product covered is PSF. PSF is 
defined as synthetic staple fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise 
processed for spinning, of polyesters measuring 3.3 decitex (3 denier, 
inclusive) or more in diameter. This merchandise is cut to lengths 
varying from one inch (25 mm) to five inches (127 mm). The merchandise 
subject to this order may be coated, usually with a silicon or other 
finish, or not coated. PSF is generally used as stuffing in sleeping 
bags, mattresses, ski jackets, comforters, cushions, pillows, and 
furniture. Merchandise of less than 3.3 decitex (less than 3 denier) 
currently classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (``HTSUS'') at subheading 5503.20.00.25 is specifically excluded 
from this order. Also specifically excluded from this order are 
polyester staple fibers of 10 to 18 denier that are cut to lengths of 6 
to 8 inches (fibers used in the manufacture of carpeting). In addition, 
low-melt PSF is excluded from this order. Low-melt PSF is defined as a 
bi-component fiber with an outer sheath that melts at a significantly 
lower temperature than its inner core.
    The merchandise subject to this order is currently classifiable in 
the HTSUS at subheadings 5503.20.00.45 and 5503.20.00.65. Although the 
HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, 
the written description of the merchandise under the order is 
dispositive.

Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Review

    Pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended 
(``the Act''), and 19 CFR 351.216, the Department will conduct a 
changed circumstances review upon receipt of information concerning, or 
a request from an interested party for review of, an antidumping duty 
order which shows changed circumstances sufficient to warrant a review 
of the order. In this case, the Department finds that the information 
submitted by the respondent provides sufficient evidence of changed 
circumstances to warrant a review to determine whether Woongjin is the 
successor-in-interest to Saehan. Thus, in accordance with section 
751(b) of the Act, the Department is initiating a changed circumstances 
review to determine whether Woongjin is the successor-in-interest to 
Saehan for purposes of determining antidumping duty liability with 
respect to imports of PSF from Korea.
    Furthermore, 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(ii) permits the Department to 
combine the notice of initiation of a changed circumstances review and 
the notice of preliminary results in a single notice if the Department 
concludes that expedited action is warranted. In this case, we find 
that the evidence provided by Woongjin is sufficient to preliminarily 
determine that its change of corporate name from Saehan to Woongjin, 
resulting from a change in stock ownership along with a change of some 
of the board of directors, did not affect the company's operations.
    In making a successor-in-interest determination, the Department 
examines several factors including, but not limited to, changes in: (1) 
Management; (2) production facilities; (3) supplier relationships; and 
(4) customer base. See, e.g., Notice of Final Results of Changed 
Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Polychloroprene 
Rubber From Japan, 67 FR 58 (January 2, 2002); Brass Sheet and Strip 
from Canada: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 
57 FR 20460, 20462 (May 13, 1992). While no single factor or 
combination of factors will necessarily provide a dispositive 
indication of a successor-in-interest relationship, the Department will 
generally consider the new company to be the successor to the previous 
company if the new company's resulting operation is not materially 
dissimilar to that of its predecessor. See, e.g., Fresh and Chilled 
Atlantic Salmon from Norway; Final Results of Changed Circumstances 
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 64 FR 9979 (March 1, 1999); 
Industrial Phosphoric Acid from Israel; Final Results of Changed 
Circumstances Review, 59 FR 6944 (February 14, 1994). Thus, if the 
evidence demonstrates that, with respect to the production and sale of 
the subject merchandise, the new company operates as the same business 
entity as the former company, the Department will accord the new 
company the same antidumping treatment as its predecessor.
    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(c)(3)(ii), we preliminarily 
determine that Woongjin is the successor-in-interest to Saehan. In its 
April 23, 2008 submission, Woongjin provided evidence supporting its 
claim to be the successor-in-interest to Saehan. Documentation attached 
to Woongjin's April 23, 2008, submission shows that the purchase of 50 
percent of Saehan's shares by the Woongjin Group, and the subsequent 
name change to Woongjin resulted in little or no change in management, 
production facilities, supplier relationships, or customer base. This 
documentation consists of:
    (1) A list of major shareholders along with their percentage 
holdings before and after the name change;
    (2) A list of the board of directors before and after the name 
change

[[Page 33991]]

demonstrating that those members of the board involved in the day-to-
day activities of the company, including the President, the Business 
Administration Division Director, and the Auditor, have all remained 
the same;
    (3) Saehan shareholder meeting minutes regarding the name change;
    (4) Saehan's and Woongjin's business registration certificate which 
demonstrates that despite the name change, the business registration 
number remained the same;
    (5) Certificate of corporate registration that demonstrated the 
name change from Saehan to Woongjin;
    (6) Announcement to Saehan's customers of the name change;
    (7) Corporate organizational charts demonstrating that the 
organizational structure remained unchanged despite the name change;
    (8) Organizational charts of the PSF production and sales divisions 
demonstrating that the organizational structure remained unchanged 
before and after the name change;
    (9) Woongjin's Internet Web site demonstrating that Saehan is now 
Woongjin;
    (10) A list of suppliers before and after the name change 
demonstrating that Woongjin has maintained Saehan's supplier 
relationships with only some minor variations (which Woongjin explains 
are due to timing changes and normal business turnover); and
    (11) A list of customers before and after the name change 
demonstrating that Woongjin has maintained Saehan's customer base with 
only some minor variations (which Woongjin explains are due to timing 
changes and normal business turnover).
    The documentation described above demonstrates that there was 
little or no change in management structure, supplier relationships, 
production facilities, or customer base. Therefore, we determine that 
expedited action is warranted and we preliminarily find that Woongjin 
is the successor-in-interest to Saehan and, thus, should receive the 
same antidumping duty treatment with respect to PSF from Korea. Because 
we have concluded that expedited action is warranted, we are combining 
these notices of initiation and preliminary results.

Public Comment

    Any interested party may request a hearing within 30 days of 
publication of this notice. Any hearing, if requested, will be held no 
later than 44 days after the date of publication of this notice, or the 
first workday thereafter. Persons interested in attending the hearing, 
if one is requested, should contact the Department for the date and 
time of the hearing.
    Case briefs from interested parties may be submitted not later than 
30 days after the date of publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs, 
limited to the issues raised in those comments, may be filed not later 
than 37 days after the date of publication of this notice. All written 
comments shall be submitted in accordance with 19 CFR 351.303. The 
Department will publish the final results of this changed circumstances 
review, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(e).
    The current requirement for a cash deposit of estimated antidumping 
duties on all subject merchandise will continue unless and until it is 
modified pursuant to the final results of this changed circumstances 
review.
    We are issuing and publishing these results and notice in 
accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and 777(i)(1) and (2) of the Act and 
19 CFR 351.216.

    Dated: June 6, 2008.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
 [FR Doc. E8-13506 Filed 6-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P