DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[C-351-406]

Certain Round-Shaped Agricultural Tillage Tools From Brazil; Final Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review

Tuesday, July 16, 1991

---PAGE 32403---

AGENCY: International Trade Administration/Import Administration; Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of final results of countervailing duty administrative review.

SUMMARY: On May 28, 1991, the Department of Commerce published the preliminary results of its administrative review of the countervailing duty order on certain round-shaped agricultural tillage tools from Brazil. We have now completed this review and determine the net subsidy to be 0.25 percent ad valorem for Semeato and 1.15 percent ad valorem for all other firms for the period January 1, 1989 through December 31, 1989. In accordance with 19 CFR 355.7, any rate less than 0.50 percent ad valorem is de minimis.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 16, 1991.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Anne Driscoll, Elizabeth Levy or Michael Rollin, Office of Countervailing Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 377-2786.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On May 28, 1991, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the Federal Register (56 FR 24058) the preliminary results of its administrative review of the countervailing duty order on certain round-shaped agricultural tillage tools from Brazil (50 FR 42743; October 22, 1985). The Department has now completed this administrative review in accordance with section 751 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Tariff Act).

Scope of Review

Imports covered by this reveiw are shipments of certain round-shaped agricultural tillage tools (discs) with plain or notched edge, such as colters and furrow-opener blades. During the review period, such merchandise was classifiable under item numbers 8432.21.00, 8432.29.00, 8432.80.00 and 8432.90.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The HTS item numbers are provided for convenience and Customs purposes. The written description remains dispositive.
The review covers the period January 1, 1989 through December 31, 1989, and nine programs: (1) CACEX Preferential

---PAGE 32404---

Working Capital Financing for Exports; (2) Income Tax Exemption for Export Earnings; (3) Preferential Export Financing under CIC-OPCRE of the Banco do Brasil; (4) Preferential Financing for Industrial Enterprises by the Banco do Brasil (FST and EGF loans); (5) Reductions of Taxes and Import Duties under Decree Law No. 77065 through BEFIEX and CIEX; (6) Preferential Financing for National Trading Companies under Resolution 883 of the Banco Central do Brasil; (7) Accelerated Depreciation for Brazilian-made Capital Goods; (8) Preferential Financing under Resolutions 68 and 509 through FINEX; and (9) Preferential Financing under FINEP.

Analysis of Comments Received

We gave interested parties an opportunity to comment on the preliminary results. We received no comments.

Final Results of Review

As a result of our review, we determine the net subsidy to be 0.25 percent ad valorem for Semeato, and 1.15 percent ad valorem for all other firms for the period January 1, 1989 through December 31, 1989. In accordance with 19 CFR 355.7, any rate less than 0.50 percent ad valorem is de minimis.
Therefore, the Department will instruct the Customs Service to liquidate, without regard to countervailing duties, shipments of this merchandise from Semeato, and to assess countervailing duties of 1.15 percent of the f.o.b. invoice price on all other shipments of the subject merchandise exported on or after January 1, 1989 and on or before December 31, 1989.
Because the only two programs used by the respondents during the review period, the CACEX Preferential Working Capital Financing for Exports and the Income Tax Exemption for Export Earnings, have been terminated by the Government of Brazil, the Department will instruct the Customs Service to waive the collection of cash deposits of estimated countervailing duties on all shipments of the subject merchandise from Brazil entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the final results of this administrative review.
This administrative review and notice are in accordance with section 751(a)(1) of the Tariff Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(a)(1)) and 19 CFR 355.22.

Eric I. Garfinkel,

Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.