With regard to imports of this product from Korea, the Commission made a finding of negligibility. Imports are generally deemed "negligible" if they amounted to less than 3 percent of all such merchandise imported into the United States in the most recent 12-month period for which data are available preceding the filing of the petition. The Commission's negligibility finding with respect to Korea resulted from a 6-0 vote.
With regard to imports of this product from Japan, the Commission made a negative determination. The negative determination means that there is not a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain aperture masks from Japan that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value. The negative determination regarding imports from Japan resulted from a 4-2 vote. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman and Thelma J. Askey voted in the negative. Commissioners Carol T. Crawford and Stephen Koplan voted in the affirmative.
As a result of the Commission's finding of negligibility regarding imports from Korea and its negative determination regarding imports from Japan, these investigations are terminated.
The Commission's public report Certain Aperture Masks from Japan and Korea (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-823-824 (Preliminary)), USITC Publication 3185, April 1999) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
Copies of the report are expected to be available after May 10, 1999, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.
Product Description:
The products covered by these investigations are all aperture masks (also known as "shadow masks") made from aluminum-killed, open-coil annealed steel (decarburized) (known generally as "AK steel") for color picture tubes ("CPTs") used in television sets. AK steel includes the following types of steel: low carbon, AF (annealing-free) steel, AK type A steel (commonly referred to as AKM steel), AK type B steel, and general AK steel. The aperture masks covered by the scope generally have a vertical pitch (distance between the centers of two apertures) of greater than 0.28 mm. Specifically excluded from the scope are the following products: (1) aperture masks made from FeNi 36 alloy (whether sold under the brand names Invar, Inovar or LLTE); (2) aperture masks that have a vertical pitch of less than 0.28 mm that are generally used for color display tubes ("CDTs") used in computer monitors; and (3) grille masks (a grille mask replaces the slots in an aperture mask with an array of finely tensioned vertical wires). The merchandise subject to these investigations is provided for in subheading 8540.91.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). Although the HTS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise is dispositive.
Status of Proceedings: 1. Type of investigations: Preliminary antidumping 2. Petitioner: BMC Industries, Inc. 3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: February 24, 1999. 4. Commission's conference: March 17, 1999. 5. Commission's vote: April 12, 1999. 6. Commission's notification of the U.S. Department of Commerce: April 12, 1999. U.S. Industry: 1. Number of producers in 1998: One. 2. Location of producer's plants: New York. 3. Employment of production and related workers in 1998: 1/ 4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 1998: 1/ 5. Ratio of quantity of imports to U.S. consumption in 1998: 1/ U.S. Imports: 1. From the subject countries during 1998: 1/ 2. From other countries during 1998: 1/ 3. Leading sources of imports during 1998: Japan, Korea. __________________________ 1/ Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.