[Federal Register: September 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 188)]
[Notices]               
[Page 52525-52526]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29se99-88]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigations Nos. 731-TA-857-858 (Preliminary)]

 
Certain Paintbrushes From China and Indonesia

Determinations

    On the basis of the record <SUP>1</SUP> developed in the subject 
investigations, the United States International Trade Commission 
determines,<SUP>2</SUP> pursuant to section 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 
1930,<SUP>3</SUP> that there is no reasonable indication that an 
industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with 
material injury, or that the establishment of an industry in the United 
States is materially retarded, by reason of imports of synthetic 
filament paintbrushes from China,<SUP>4</SUP> and imports of natural 
bristle and synthetic filament paintbrushes from Indonesia,<SUP>5</SUP> 
that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair 
value (LTFV).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The record is defined in Sec. 207.2(f) of the Commission's 
rules of practice and procedure (19 CFR 207.2(f)).
    \2\ Commissioner Crawford voting in the affirmative with respect 
to imports of the subject merchandise from China.
    \3\ 19 U.S.C. 1673b(a).
    \4\ The products covered by the investigation concerning China 
include all paintbrushes and paintbrush heads that are used to apply 
paint, stain, varnish, shellac, or any other type of protective 
coating, other than natural bristle paintbrushes and paintbrush 
heads that are classifiable under statistical reporting number 
9603.40.4040 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States 
(HTS). The scope includes paintbrushes and paintbrush heads with a 
blend of natural bristle and synthetic filaments, provided that 
synthetic filaments comprise over 50 percent of the total filler 
material in the finished paintbrush or paintbrush head. The 
merchandise subject to this investigation is classifiable under 
statistical reporting number 9603.40.4060 of the HTS. Excluded from 
the scope are artists' brushes classified under statistical 
reporting numbers 9603.30.2000, 9603.30.4000, or 9603.30.6000 of the 
HTS, or other non-paintbrush products classified under statistical 
reporting number 9603.40.4060 of the HTS such as foam applicators, 
sponge applicators, or any other type of non-brush paint applicator.
    \5\ The products covered by the investigation concerning 
Indonesia include all paintbrushes and paintbrush heads that are 
used to apply paint, stain, varnish, shellac, or any other type of 
protective coating, including natural bristle paintbrushes and 
paintbrush heads, synthetic filament paintbrushes and paintbrush 
heads, and paintbrushes and paintbrush heads made with a blend of 
natural bristle and synthetic filament. The merchandise subject to 
this investigation is classifiable under statistical reporting 
numbers 9603.40.4040 and 9603.40.4060 of the HTS. Excluded from the 
scope are artists' brushes classified under statistical reporting 
numbers 9603.30.2000, 9603.30.4000, or 9603.30.6000 of the HTS, or 
other non-paintbrush products classified under statistical reporting 
number 9603.40.4060 of the HTS such as foam applicators, sponge 
applicators, or any other type of non-brush paint applicator.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background

    On August 2, 1999, a petition was filed with the Commission and the 
Department of Commerce by the Paintbrush Trade Action Coalition (PATAC) 
whose member firms include EZ Paintr Corp., St. Francis, WI; Bestt 
Liebco, Philadelphia, PA; The Wooster Brush Co., Wooster, OH; Purdy 
Corp., Portland, OR; and TruServ Manufacturing, Cary, IL, alleging that 
an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened 
with material injury by reason of LTFV imports of synthetic filament

[[Page 52526]]

paintbrushes from China and imports of natural bristle and synthetic 
filament paintbrushes from Indonesia. Accordingly, effective August 2, 
1999, the Commission instituted antidumping investigations Nos. 731-TA-
857-858 (Preliminary).
    Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigations and of 
a public conference to be held in connection therewith was given by 
posting copies of the notice in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by publishing the 
notice in the Federal Register of August 11, 1999.<SUP>6</SUP> The 
conference was held in Washington, DC, on August 23, 1999, and all 
persons who requested the opportunity were permitted to appear in 
person or by counsel.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 64 FR 43715.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission transmitted its determinations in these 
investigations to the Secretary of Commerce on September 23, 1999. The 
views of the Commission are contained in USITC Publication 3237 
(September 1999), entitled Certain Paintbrushes from China and 
Indonesia: Investigations Nos. 731-TA-857-858 (Preliminary).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: September 23, 1999.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-25346 Filed 9-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P