The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on certain industrial belts from Germany, Italy, Japan, and Singapore would not be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

As a result of the Commission's negative determinations, the existing antidumping duty orders on these products will be revoked.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Marcia E. Miller, Jennifer A. Hillman, and Thelma J. Askey voted in the negative with respect to all four countries. Commissioner Lynn M. Bragg voted in the affirmative with respect to Italy, Japan, and Singapore, and in the negative with respect to Germany.

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 Certain Industrial Belts from Germany, Italy, Japan, and Singapore (Invs. Nos. 731-TA-413-415 and 419 (Review), USITC Publication 3341, August 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after September 8, 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 Certain Industrial Belts from Germany, Italy, Japan, and Singapore were instituted on June 1, 1999.

On September 3, 1999, the Commission voted to conduct full reviews. With regard to industrial belts from Singapore, Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Carol T. Crawford, Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, and Thelma J. Askey concluded that both the domestic and the respondent group responses were adequate and voted for a full review. With regard to industrial belts from Germany, Chairman Bragg and Commissioners Crawford and Askey concluded that both the domestic and the respondent group responses were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Vice Chairman Miller and Commissioners Hillman and Koplan concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. With regard to all v-type power transmission belts and all synchronous power transmission belts from Italy, Chairman Bragg, Vice Chairman Miller, and Commissioners Crawford, Hillman, Koplan, and Askey concluded that the domestic group responses were adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted full reviews. With regard to industrial belts from Japan, Chairman Bragg and Commissioners Crawford and Askey concluded that the domestic group responses concerning all industrial belts excluding automotive belts, all v-type power transmission belts, and all synchronous power transmission belts were adequate; but that the domestic group response concerning all other types of power transmission belts was inadequate; and that the respondent group responses for all four like products were adequate; and voted for a full review. Vice Chairman Miller and Commissioners Hillman and Koplan concluded that both the domestic and the respondent group responses for all four like products were adequate and voted for a full review.

Information concerning the reasons for the Commission's votes to conduct full reviews was published in the Federal Register on September 15, 1999. That notice and a record of the Commission's votes are posted on the ITC's Internet server at www.usitc.gov (under "Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews"/"Industrial Synchronous and V Belts from Italy," "Industrial V Belts from Singapore," "Industrial Belts from Japan," and "Industrial Belts Except Synchronous and V from Germany").

In addition, a record of the Commission's votes to conduct full 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.