The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on forged stainless steel flanges from India and Taiwan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations and the Department of Commerce's recent affirmative findings, the existing orders on imports of forged stainless steel flanges from India and Taiwan will remain in place.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Lynn M. Bragg, Marcia E. Miller, Jennifer A. Hillman, and Thelma J. Askey found that revoking the existing orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission's public report Forged Stainless Steel Flanges from India and Taiwan (Invs. Nos. 731-TA-639-640 (Review), USITC Publication 3329, July 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after August 16, 2000, by calling 202-205-1809 or by contacting the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.

BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (ITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time. Reviews of outstanding antidumping and countervailing duty orders in existence as of January 1, 1995, began in July 1998.

The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the ITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury determination, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Forged Stainless Steel Flanges from India and Taiwan were instituted on December 1, 1999.

On March 3, 2000, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, Thelma J. Askey, and Deanna Tanner Okun concluded that the domestic group response for this review was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.

Information concerning the reasons for the Commission's vote to conduct expedited reviews was published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2000. That notice and a record of the Commission's votes is posted on the ITC's Internet site at www.usitc.gov (under "Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews"/"Forged Stainless Steel Flanges from India" and "Forged Stainless Steel Flanges from Taiwan").

In addition, a record of the Commission's votes to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.