[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 59 (Monday, March 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14107-14108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7018]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-427-801]


Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from France: Initiation of 
Antidumping Duty Changed-Circumstances Review

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: In response to a request from SKF Aeroengine France S.A.S.U., 
the Department of Commerce is initiating a changed-circumstances review 
of the antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from 
France.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 30, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Case or Richard Rimlinger, AD/
CVD Operations, Office 5, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; (202) 482-3174 or (202) 
482-4477, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Department of Commerce (the Department) published an 
antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from France 
on May 15, 1989. See Antidumping Duty Orders: Ball Bearings, 
Cylindrical Roller Bearings, Spherical Plain Bearings, and Parts 
Thereof From France, 54 FR 20902 (May 15, 1989). On August 11, 2000, 
the Department revoked the order, effective May 1, 1999, with respect 
to sales of ball bearings by SNFA S.A. (SNFA). See Antifriction 
Bearings (Other Than Tapered Roller Bearings) and Parts Thereof From 
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, and the 
United Kingdom; Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative 
Reviews and Revocation of Orders in Part, 65 FR 49219 (August 11, 
2000).
    On March 2, 2007, pursuant to a request from SNFA, SKF France S.A., 
and SKF Aerospace France S.A.S., we initiated a changed-circumstances 
review in order to determine whether SNFA was a successor-in-interest 
to SKF France S.A. following SNFA's acquisition by that company or, 
alternatively, that post-acquisition SNFA was the successor-in-interest 
to the pre-acquisition SNFA. See Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from 
France: Initiation of an Antidumping Duty Changed-Circumstances Review, 
72 FR 9513 (March 2, 2007). During the course of the changed-
circumstances review, the companies informed the Department that SNFA 
would be changing its name to SKF Aeroengine France S.A.S.U. (SKF 
Aeroengine).
    On June 29, 2007, we initiated an administrative review of the 
antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from France 
for the period May 1, 2006, through April 30, 2007, with respect to SKF 
France S.A. and SKF Aerospace France S.A.S. See Initiation of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, Request for 
Revocation in Part and Deferral of Administrative Review, 72 FR 35690 
(June 29, 2007). On October 26, 2007, we rescinded the changed-
circumstances review and explained that, because we had initiated an 
administrative review with respect to SKF France S.A. and SKF Aerospace 
France S.A.S., we would address any issues that had arisen during the 
course of the changed-circumstances review in the context of the 
administrative review. See Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof from France 
and Italy: Rescission of Antidumping Duty Changed-Circumstances 
Reviews, 72 FR 60798 (October 26, 2007). In the final results of the 
2006/07 administrative review, we determined that post-acquisition SNFA 
was the successor-in-interest to pre-acquisition SNFA and that, during 
the period of review, SNFA had not changed its name to SKF Aeroengine. 
See Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof From France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
and the United Kingdom: Final Results of Antidumping Duty 
Administrative Reviews and Rescission of Reviews in Part, 73 FR 52823 
(September 11, 2008), and accompanying Issues and Decision Memorandum 
at comment 12 (AFBs Final Results).
    On February 6, 2009, SKF Aeroengine requested that, because the 
Department appeared to have left open the effect of the name change on 
its determination in AFBs Final Results, the Department either confirm 
that its determination encompassed the name change or, in the 
alternative, the Department initiate a changed-circumstances review to 
determine whether SKF Aeroengine is the successor-in-interest to SNFA.
    No other party submitted comments.

Scope of the Order

    The products covered by the order are ball bearings (other than 
tapered roller bearings) and parts thereof. These products include all 
bearings that employ balls as the rolling element. Imports of these 
products are classified under the following categories: antifriction 
balls, ball bearings with integral shafts, ball bearings (including 
radial ball bearings) and parts thereof, and housed or mounted ball 
bearing units and parts thereof.
    Imports of these products are classified under the following 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 
3926.90.45, 4016.93.00, 4016.93.10, 4016.93.50, 6909.19.5010, 
8431.20.00, 8431.39.0010, 8482.10.10, 8482.10.50, 8482.80.00, 
8482.91.00, 8482.99.05, 8482.99.2580, 8482.99.35, 8482.99.6595, 
8483.20.40, 8483.20.80, 8483.50.8040, 8483.50.90, 8483.90.20, 
8483.90.30, 8483.90.70, 8708.50.50, 8708.60.50, 8708.60.80, 
8708.70.6060, 8708.70.8050, 8708.93.30, 8708.93.5000, 8708.93.6000, 
8708.93.75, 8708.99.06, 8708.99.31, 8708.99.4960, 8708.99.50, 
8708.99.5800, 8708.99.8080, 8803.10.00, 8803.20.00, 8803.30.00, 
8803.90.30, and 8803.90.90.
    Although the HTSUS item numbers above are provided for convenience 
and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of the order 
is dispositive.

Initiation of Changed-Circumstances Review

    Pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (the Act), 
as amended, 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 a review of, an antidumping duty 
order which shows changed circumstances sufficient to warrant a review 
of the order. SKF Aeroengine claims that it has satisfied the criteria 
to warrant such a review. We agree that the information submitted by 
SKF Aeroengine demonstrates changed circumstances sufficient to warrant 
a

[[Page 14108]]

review. Therefore, in accordance with the above-referenced regulation, 
the Department is initiating a changed-circumstances review.
    SKF Aeroengine claims that the information contained in its 
February 6, 2009, request demonstrates that SKF Aeroengine is the 
successor-in-interest to SNFA and requests that the Department thus 
refrain from issuing a changed-circumstances questionnaire. In 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(2) and (4) and 19 CFR 
351.221(c)(3)(i), we may issue a questionnaire requesting factual 
information for the review and will publish a notice of preliminary 
results of the antidumping duty changed-circumstances review in the 
Federal Register. The notice will set forth the factual and legal 
conclusions upon which our preliminary results are based. Pursuant to 
19 CFR 351.221(b)(4)(ii), interested parties will have an opportunity 
to comment on the preliminary results of review. We will issue our 
final results of review no later than the regulatory deadline in 
accordance with 19 CFR 351.216(e). During the course of this 
antidumping duty changed-circumstances review, we will not change the 
cash-deposit requirements for the subject merchandise. The cash-deposit 
rate will be altered, if warranted, pursuant only to the final results 
of this changed-circumstances review.
    This notice of initiation is in accordance with section 751(b)(1) 
of the Act, 19 CFR 351.216(b) and (d), and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(1).

    Dated: March 23, 2009.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-7018 Filed 3-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S