[Federal Register: April 9, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 68)] [Notices] [Page 17443-17444] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09ap98-115] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigations Nos. 731-TA-794-796 (Preliminary)] Certain Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene Rubber From Brazil, Korea, and Mexico AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission. ACTION: Institution of antidumping investigations and scheduling of preliminary phase investigations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping investigations Nos. 731-TA-794-796 (Preliminary) under section 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673b(a)) (the Act) to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports from Brazil, Korea, and Mexico of certain emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber,\1\ provided for in subheading 4002.19.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value. Unless the Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation pursuant to section 732(c)(1)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673a(c)(1)(B)), the Commission must reach a preliminary determination in antidumping investigations in 45 days, or in this case by May 18, 1998. The Commission's views are due at the Department of Commerce within five business days thereafter, or by May 26, 1998. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ For purposes of these investigations, emulsion styrene- butadiene rubber (ESBR) is a synthetic polymer made via free radical cold emulsion copolymerization of styrene and butadiene monomers in reactors with water, initiator system, emulsifier system and molecular weight modifiers consisting of cold non-pigmented rubbers and cold oil extended non-pigmented rubbers and containing at least 1 percent of organic acids from the emulsion polymerization process. Only the 1500 and 1700 series types of synthetic rubbers under the IISRP numbering system are covered by the term ``emulsion styrene- butadiene rubber'' or ``ESBR'' in these investigations. ESBR is covered by statistical reporting number 4002.19.0010 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For further information concerning the conduct of these investigations and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 207). EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Ruggles (202-205-3187), Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205- 1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background.--These investigations are being instituted in response to a petition filed on April 1, 1998, by Ameripol Synpol Corporation of Akron, OH, and DSM Copolymer of Baton Rouge, LA. Participation in the investigations and public service list.-- Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as provided in sections 201.11 and 207.10 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users and (if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level) representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as parties in Commission antidumping investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to this investigation upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance. Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.-- Pursuant to section 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary will make BPI gathered in these investigations available to authorized applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO issued in the investigation, provided that the application is made not later than seven days after the publication of 3 this notice in the Federal Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO. Conference.--The Commission's Director of Operations has scheduled a conference in connection with this investigation for 9:30 a.m. on April 22, 1998, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. Parties wishing to participate in the conference should contact Fred Ruggles (202-205-3187) not later than April 20, 1998, to arrange for their appearance. Parties in support of the imposition of antidumping duties in these investigations and parties in opposition to the imposition of such duties will each be collectively allocated one hour within which to make an oral presentation at the conference. A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request permission to present a short statement at the conference. Written submissions.--As provided in sections 201.8 and 207.15 of the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or before April 27, 1998, a written brief containing information and arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigations. Parties may file written testimony in connection with their presentation at the conference no later than three days before the conference. If briefs or written testimony contain BPI, they must conform with the requirements of sections 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's rules. In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, each document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on all other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service. Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published pursuant to section 207.12 of the Commission's rules. Issued: April 2, 1998. [[Page 17444]] By order of the Commission. Donna R. Koehnke, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-9266 Filed 4-8-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7020-02-P