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

Thursday, May 28, 1992

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

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

SUMMARY: On March 31, 1992, 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 0.05 percent ad valorem for all firms for the period January 1, 1990 through December 31, 1990. In accordance with 19 CFR 355.7, any rate less than 0.50 percent ad valorem is de minimis.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 28, 1992.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 March 31, 1992, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published in the Federal Register (57 FR 10885) 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 Act).

Scope of Review

Imports covered by this review 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, 8432.00.29.00, 8432.80.00 and 8432.90.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This HTS item numbers are provided for convenience and Customs purposes. The written description remains dispositive.
The review covers the period January 1, 1990 through December 31, 1990, four exporters and nine programs;
(1) Income Tax Exemption for Export Earnings;
(2) CACEX Preferential Working Capital Financing for Exports;
(3) Preferential Export Financing under CIC-OPCRE of the Banco do Brazil;
(4) Reductions of Taxes and Import Duties under Decree Law No. 77065 through BEFIEX and CIEX;
(5) Prefertential Financing for National Trading Companies under Resolution 883 of the Banco Central do Brasil;
(6) Preferential Financing for Industrial Enterprises by the Banco do Brasil (FST and EGF loans);
(7) Accelerated Depreciation for Brazilian-Made Capital Goods;
(8) Preferential Financing under PROEX (Formerly under Resolution 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 0.05 percent ad valorem for all firms for the period January 1, 1990 through December 31, 1990. In accordance with

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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 Brazil for all firms exported on or after January 1, 1990 and on or before December 31, 1990.
Because the only program used by the respondents during the review period, Income Tax Exemption for Export Earnings, has been terminated by the Government of Brazil, the Department will instruct the Customs Service to continue 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.
Dated: May 20, 1992.

Francis J. Sailer,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.