The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is no reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of desktop note counters and scanners from China, Korea, and the United Kingdom that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Marcia E. Miller, Jennifer A. Hillman, and Thelma J. Askey made negative determinations. Commissioner Lynn M. Bragg determined that there is a reasonable indication that the domestic industry is threatened with material injury by reason of the subject imports from the subject countries.

As a result of the Commission's negative determinations, the cases will end.

The Commission's public report Desktop Note Counters and Scanners from China, Korea, and the United Kingdom (Investigations Nos. 731-TA-885-887 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3348, September 2000) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after September 29, 2000, 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: For purposes of these investigations, desktop note counters and scanners are machines designed to count documents, such as currency notes, and provide an operator with the number of documents or notes counted. In the case of scanners, the machine has the ability to denominate currency (e.g., a one dollar bill, five dollar bill, twenty dollar bill, and so forth) using a scanning device located along the machine's paper path. A scanner may provide the operator with the total value of a stack of currency and the number of each denomination in the stack of notes in addition to the number of documents scanned. Counters can give a total amount if a single currency is used. Counters and scanners have an integrated keypad or keyboard and a display panel. Desktop note counters and scanners may be equipped with suspect document (i.e. counterfeit) detection capability, either with ultraviolet detection sensors or magnetic ink sensors or both. The merchandise subject to these investigations is provided for in the residual subheading 8472.90.95 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States. They are reported under HTS item 8472.90.9520 as "Coin and currency handling machines."

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping.
2. Petitioner:  Cummins-Allison Corp., Mt Prospect, IL. 
3. Investigations instituted by USITC:  July 17, 2000.
4. Conference:  August 7, 2000.
5. USITC vote:  August 30, 2000.
6. USITC determination to Department of Commerce:  August 31, 2000.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of U.S. firms in 1999:  Three.
2. Production during 1999:  (1).
3. Employment of production and related workers:  (1).
4. U.S. producers' U.S. shipments during 1999:  (1).
5. U.S. apparent consumption during 1999:  (1).
6. Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption during 1999 (percent):  (1).

U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject counters during 1999 (units): 5,904.
2. Value of subject counters during 1999 ($1,000): $2,166.
3. Quantity of subject scanners during 1999:  (1).
4. Value of subject scanners during 1999 ($1,000):  (1).

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.