October 13, 1999
News Release 99-142
Invs. Nos. 731-TA-125-126

ITC MAKES FINAL DETERMINATIONS IN FIVE-YEAR (SUNSET) REVIEWS
CONCERNING POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE FROM CHINA AND SPAIN

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on potassium permanganate from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time, while revoking the existing antidumping duty order on this product from Spain 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 determination and the Department of Commerce's recent affirmative finding, the existing antidumping duty order on potassium permanganate from China will remain in place. As a result of the Commission's negative determination concerning the existing antidumping duty order on potassium permanganate from Spain, that order will be revoked, effective January 1, 2000.

Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, and Thelma J. Askey found that revoking the existing order on potassium permanganate from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time, but that revoking the existing order on potassium permanganate from Spain would not be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. Commissioner Carol T. Crawford found that revoking the existing orders on potassium permanganate from China and Spain would not 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 Potassium Permanganate from China and Spain (Invs. Nos. 731- TA-125-126 (Review), USITC Publication 3245, October 1999) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

Copies may be requested after November 3, 1999, 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 Potassium Permanganate from China and Spain were instituted on November 2, 1998.

On February 4, 1999, the Commission voted to conduct full reviews in these cases. With regard to potassium permanganate from China, Chairman Lynn M. Bragg, Vice Chairman Marcia E. Miller, and Commissioners Jennifer A. Hillman, Stephen Koplan, and Thelma J. Askey concluded that domestic group responses for this review were adequate and respondent group responses were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review. Commissioner Carol T. Crawford concluded that domestic group responses for this review were adequate and respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for an expedited review.

With regard to potassium permanganate from Spain, Chairman Bragg, Vice Chairman Miller, and Commissioners Crawford, Hillman, Koplan, and Askey determined that both domestic and respondent group responses for this review 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 February 24, 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"/"Potassium Permanganate from China" and "Potassium Permanganate from Spain").

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.

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