(Cite as: 50 FR 43597)
NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[C-489-502]
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determinations: Certain Welded
Carbon Steel Pipe and Tube Products From Turkey
Monday, October 28, 1985
*43597 AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: We preliminarily determine that certain benefits which constitute subsidies within the meaning of the countervailing duty law are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in Turkey of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products (standard pipe and tube and line pipe). The estimated net subsidy is 26.18 percent ad valorem. However, we are taking into account several program-wide changes which occurred after our review period, but prior to these determinations, and we are adjusting the bonding rate accordingly. We preliminarily determine that "critical circumstances" exist with regard to standard pipe and tube, and that they do not exist with regard to line pipe.
We have notified the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) of our determinations. We are directing the U.S. Customs Service to suspend liquidation of all entries of standard pipe and tube from Turkey that are entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date which is 90 days before publication of this notice, and to require a cash deposit or bond on entries of standard pipe and tube in an amount equal to 23.64 percent ad valorem. We are also directing the U.S. Customs Service to suspend liquidation of all entries of line pipe from Turkey that are entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after the date of publication of this notice, and to require a cash deposit or bond on entries of line pipe in an amount equal to 23.64 percent ad valorem.
If these investigations proceed normally, we will make our final determinations by January 6, 1986.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 28, 1985.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Sultan or Mary Martin, Office of Investigations, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone: (202) 377-2815 or 377-3464.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Preliminary Determinations
Based upon our investigations, we preliminarily determine that there is reason to believe or suspect that certain benefits which constitute subsidies within the meaning of section 701 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in Turkey of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products. For purposes of these investigations, the following programs are found to confer subsidies:
- Export Tax Rebate and Supplemental Tax Rebate
- Preferential Export Financing
- Deduction from Taxable Income for Export Revenues
- Resource Utilization Support Fund
We preliminarily determine the estimated net subsidy to be 26.77 percent ad valorem for all manufacturers, producers or exporters in Turkey of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products. However, we are adjusting the bonding rate to reflect several program-wide changes that occurred after our review period. Thus, the cash deposit or bond on entries of these products will be 23.64 percent ad valorem.
Case History
On July 16, 1985, we received a petition in proper form from the Standard Pipe Subcommittee and Line Pipe Subcommittee of the Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI) and by each of its member companies which produce standard pipe and tube and line pipe. In compliance with the filing requirements of section 355.26 of our regulations (19 CFR 355.26), the petition alleged that manufacturers, producers, or exporters in Turkey of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products directly or indirectly receive benefits which constitute subsidies within the meaning of section 701 of the Act, and that these imports materially injure or threaten material injury to a U.S. industry.
We found that the petition contained sufficient grounds upon which to initiate countervailing duty investigations on certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products, and on August 5, 1985, we initiated such investigations (50 FR 32248). We stated that we expected to issue preliminary determinations by October 9, 1985.
On September 5, 1985, we received a request from petitioners that the preliminary determinations be postponed to October 21, 1985, and on September 12, 1985 we postponed these determinations (50 FR 37891).
*43598 On September 24, 1985, the petitioners alleged that critical circumstances exist with respect to certain welded carbon stell pipe and tube products from turkey.
Since Turkey is a "country under the Agreement" within the meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, an injury determination is required for these investigations. Therefore, we notified the ITC of our initiation. On August 30, 1985, the ITC determined that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products from Turkey (50 FR 37068).
We presented a questionnaire concerning the allegations to the government of Turkey in Washington, D.C. on August 15, 1985. Response to our questionnaire were received from the government of Turkey, and from the following producers in Turkey of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products: the Borusan group of companies, Mannesmann-Suemerbank, Yucel Boru ve Profil Endustrisi, Erkboru Profil Sanayi ve Ticaret, and Umran Spiral Welded Pipe Inc. Because the latter two companies did not export to the United States during 1984 and the first six months of 1985, we have not used their response for these determinations.
Scope of Investigation
The products covered by these investigations are:
(1) Welded carbon steel pipe and tube, with an outside diameter of .375 inch or more, but not over 16 inches, of any wall thickness, currently classifiable in the Tariff Schedules of the United States, Annotated (TSUSA), under items 610.3231, 610.3234, 610.3241, 610.3242, 610.3243, 610.3252, 610.3254, 610.3256, 610.3258, and 610.4925. These products, commonly referred to in the industry as standard pipe or tube, are produced to various ASTM specifications, most notably A-120, A-53 or A-135; and
(2) welded carbon steel line pipe with an outside diameter of .375 inch or more but not over 16 inches, and with a wall thickness of not less than .065 inch, currently classifiable in the TSUSA, under items 610.3208 and 610.3209. These products are produced to various American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications for line pipe, most notably API-5L or API-5LX.
Analysis of Programs
Throughout this notice, we refer to certain general principles applied to the facts of the current investigations. These principles are described in the "Subsidies Appendix" attached to the notice of "Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat- Rolled Products from Argentina; Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and Countervailing Duty Order," which was published in the April 26, 1984, issue of the Federal Register (49 FR 18006).
Consistent with our practice in preliminary determinations, where a response to an allegation denies the existence of a program, receipt of benefits under a program, or eligibility of a company or industry under a program, and the Department has no persuasive evidence showing that the response is incorrect, we accept the response for purposes of the preliminary determination. All such responses are subject to verification. If the response cannot be supported at verification, and the program is otherwise countervailable, the program will be considered a subsidy in the final determination.
It is the Department's policy to take into account program-wide changes where these are implemented after the review period, but before a preliminary determination, with the result that the rate for cash deposit or bonding purposes is raised or lowered, as appropriate. This policy is desirable because it promotes the expeditious elimination or curtailment of subsidies. The recognition of program-wide changes also permits the Department to adjust the bonding rate to correspond as nearly as possible to the eventual duty liability.
In these investigations we have discovered that, subsequent to the review period, but prior to these preliminary determinations, a number of programs have been either eliminated, newly instituted, or altered in such a way as to result in a fundamental change in the bestowal of benefits. Descriptions of these program-wide changes, and of our treatment of them, follow in the section of this notice entitled "Analysis of Programs."
For purposes of these preliminary determinations, the period for which we are measuring subsidization ("the review period") is calendar year 1984. The subsidy rates set forth in this notice are country-wide rates.
Although there were no imports of line pipe from Turkey into the United States during the review period, we believe that the circumstances of the production and exportation of standard pipe and tube are so similar to those of line pipe that the incidence of subsidization would be the same for both products.
Therefore, we are attributing the subsidy rates found on the production and exportation of standard pipe and tube to line pipe also.
Based upon our analysis of the petition and the responses to our questionnaire, we preliminarily determine the following:
I. Programs Preliminarily Determined To Confer Subsidies
We preliminarily determine that subsidies are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in Turkey of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products under the following programs:
A. Export Tax Rebate and Supplemental Tax Rebate
The government of Turkey provides tax rebates to exporters of certain products, pursuant to Law number 261 of July 1963, and Decree number 7/10624 of September 16, 1975, as amended by Decrees numbers 8/2625 (April 23, 1981), 8/4397 (April 22, 1982) and 83/7542 (December 29, 1983).
In its questionnaire response, the government of Turkey states that the objectives of this program are to expand the range of exportable products, to increase the competitiveness of those products in world markets, and to increase the variety and volume of industrial products among Turkey's exports. This program is administered by Turkey's State Planning Office and its Central Bank.
The State Planning Organization determines which products are eligible for these tax rebates by considering factors such as the tax burden in the costs of the product, the value added to the product, and the import content of the product. Eligible products are classified in ten lists, each list having a separate rebate rate. Rates of rebate are set by considering the incidence of a wide variety of taxes applicable to the exported product or inputs into it. Included among these are production, real estate and sales tax, customs duties on imported raw materials and other inputs used in the production of the product, income taxes on wages, and duties and fees connected with export procedures. The amount of rebate is calculated by applying the applicable rebate rate to the FOB value of the exported goods. (Where exports are transported on Turkish vessels, the CIF value of the exported goods is used.) The rates of rebate during 1984 for certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products were 20 percent from January 1 to April 1, 16 percent from April 1 to September 1, and 11 percent from September 1.
*43599 In addition to the basic export tax rebate described above, the government of Turkey also provides supplemental tax rebates to exporters that have annual exports of more than $2 million. The rates of these supplemental rebates were reduced during 1984. Effective September 1, 1984, the rates applicable to exports of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products were 3.3 percent for exports of between $2 million and $10 million, 6.6 percent for exports of between $10 million and $30 million, and 5.5 percent for those above $30 million.
In order to determine whether export payments, purportedly operating as a rebate of indirect taxes, are in fact a bona fide rebate of indirect taxes, the Department examines whether: (1) The program operates for the purpose of rebating indirect taxes; (2) there is a clear link between eligibility for export payments and indirect taxes paid; and (3) the government has reasonably calculated and documented the actual indirect tax inidence borne by the product concerned and has demonstrated a clear link between such tax incidence and the rebate amount paid on export. This test had not been met in these investigations. We have not been provided with any studies which would show that the actual indirect tax incidence on the production of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products, or in the steel sector, has been reasonably calculated and documented by the government of Turkey, or that there is a clear link between such tax incidence and the amount of rebate paid. Furthermore, among the taxes which are meant to be rebated, there are several that are either direct taxes or appear not to be related to the production of steel products.
Even if the above test had been satisfied, we have not been provided with any data which would allow us to assess the incidence of indirect taxes on the production and exportation of the subject merchandise. Consequently, for purposes of these preliminary determinations, we find that the entire amount of the basic and supplemental export tax rebate is countervailable. At verification, we will seek to determine whether the program meets the Department's test for rebating indirect taxes, as well as examine the indirect taxes, if any, borne by these products.
We calculated the benefit by weight-averaging the rates of rebate and supplemental rebate which applied during the review period. On this basis, we calculated an estimated net subsidy of 23.16 percent ad valorem. However, we recognize that the substantial reductions in the rates of rebate during 1984 have resulted in a significant change in benefit levels under this program. Accordingly, the bonding rate for this program reflects the rebate rates in effect since September 1, 1984. On this basis, the bonding rate is 16.62 percent ad valorem.
B. Preferential Export Financing
The response of the government of Turkey and the companies state that there were programs providing short- and medium-term export financing at preferential rates during 1984. Short-term export financing was available pursuant to Decree number 84/7557 of January 1984. Both short- and medium-term financing were classified as certificate and non-certificated. Certificated credits were those for which the exporter needed to have an incentive from the State Planning Organization. This preferentical export financing is obtained through commercial banks, with the Central Bank of Turkey supplying 90 percent and the commercial bank 10 percent of the loan amount. The questionnaire responses do not provide any further details on the operation of these financing programs. All three companies had loans with principal outstanding under this program during the review period. These loans were obtained at interest rates of between 28.5 and 54 percent. The cost of comparable commercial financing was between 57.3 and 70.5 percent during the review period. We preliminarily determine that this program is countervailable because it provided financing to exporters, at interest rates below those applicable to comparable commercial credits.
To calculate the benefit derived from this program, we compared the cost of the preferential financing to the cost of comparable commercial financing. Because these loans are related to exports, and because the loans reported relate to exports of all products to all markets, we allocated the benefits over the value of each company's total exports of all products during the review period. We then weight-averaged the resulting ad valorem benefit for each company by the company's proportion of the value of Turkish exports of the subject merchandise to the United States. On this basis, we calculated a subsidy of 2.61 percent ad valorem.
Short-term export financing under Decree number 84/7557 was abolished by Decree number 84/8661, which became effective on January 1, 1985. Pursuant to Decree number 84/8630, medium-term export loans ceased to be available after October 14, 1984. However, one company's response shows that its loans under this pogram will continue to be outstanding until the end of November 1985. Because the benefits from these loans will continue to accrue until then, we do not believe that it is appropriate to take the elimination of this program into account for purposes of these preliminary determinations.
C. Deduction From Taxable Income for Export Revenues
Article 8 of the Turkish Corporation Tax Law, as amended by Law No. 2362, permits producers that export industrial products valued in excess of $250,000 annually to deduct 20 percent of their export revenues from taxable corporate income. A 5 percent deduction is provided to exporters that are not producers.
However, under Article 94 of the Turkish Income Tax Law, as amended by Law No. 2772, these deductions are subject to an additional tax. If the income from the deduction is distributed to shareholders, the tax rate on the deduction is 25 percent; if the income is retained, the rate is 20 percent.
This program is countervailable because if provides a benefit which is contingent upon export performance.
All three companies used these deductions. The benefit is the amount of tax savings realized by using the deduction. Each company's benefits were allocated over the value of its total exports during the review period. By weight-averaging the resulting ad valorem benefit for each company by the company's proportion of the value of Turkish exports of the subject merchandise to the United States, we calculated an estimated net subsidy of 0.41 percent ad valorem.
D. Resource Utilization Support Fund (RUSF)
The Resource Utilization Support Fund was created by Decree number 84/8860 which was published in the Official Journal on December 15, 1984, and became effective January 1, 1985. The purpose of the fund is to orient bank sources by supporting exports and source utilization in investments that are consistent with the objectives of the Development Plan and annual implementation programs. The Central Bank sets the procedures for payments from the fund which are available for: (1) Exports subsequent to January 1, 1985; (2) investments covered by Investment Certificates granted since October 14, 1984; and (3) specialty credits opened since January 1, 1985. Exporters are eligible to receive payments in the amount of 4 percent of *43600 their exports. Because the first element of this program provides for payments on the basis of export performance, we preliminarily determine that it confers a countervailable benefit on exports. We intend to seek additional information on the remaining elements of this program for our final determinations.
This program did not exist during our review period. The responses indicated that, although one exporter had neither applied for nor received payments, the other exporters have applied for, and one exporter has received payments during the first six months of 1985. Because it appears as though these benefits are granted automatically for exports, we are adjusting the bonding rate to include an estimated subsidy in the amount of 4 percent ad valorem.
II. Programs Preliminarily Determined Not To Confer a Subsidy
We preliminarily determine that subsidies are not being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in Turkey of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products under the following programs:
The General Incentives Program is designed to implement the targets of Turkey's five-year development plan and annual development programs. The government of Turkey in its questionnaire response states that the goals of the General Incentives Program are to remove development disparities among different regions, to assure economically efficient investments by region and by sector, and to direct savings to the most economically suitable investment areas.
At least three distinct programs are available under the General Incentives Program. These are: (i) Income and corporation tax allowances; (2) exemptions from or deferrals of customs duties and other duties, fees and taxes; and (3) rebates of interest on medium-and long-term credits.
Prior to January 1, 1985, the sectors and industries which were eligible for benefits were listed on a General Incentives Table. Although the producers of all types of welded steel pipe and tube products were not specifically included on the General Incentives Table, the response of the government of Turkey states that some may have benefited indirectly. In order actually to receive benefits under any of the three programs, a company within an eligible sector or industry was required to obtain an incentive certificate from Turkey's State Planning Organization. Under the regime of the General Incentives Program during our review period, benefits were available to a wide variety of sectors and industries of the Turkish economy. Therefore, we preliminarily determine that this program is not limited to a specific enterprise or industry, or group of enterprises or industries, and thus, is not countervailable.
Pursuant to Decree No. 84/8630, effective January 1, 1985, the General Incentives Table was replaced by a list of sectors and industries which are not eligible to receive benefits. Producers of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products are among those sectors or industries no longer eligible to participate in the program. In addition, the response of the government of Turkey states that the producers of the products under investigation are not located in the development areas that would otherwise make them eligible for program participation. Therefore, we preliminarily determine that the program does not confer a subsidy on certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products.
The program providing income and corporation tax allowances is discussed in the section of this notice entitled "Programs Preliminarily Determined Not to be Used."
1. Interest Rebates. Pursuant to Decree number 83/7507, eligible companies with incentive certificates were able to receive low-interest medium- and long- term investment loans. These loans were disbursed by commercial banks, which received interest rebates of up to 7 percent. These rebates were passed along in the form of reduced interest to borrowers. The interest rebates were made from an Interest Spread Return Fund administered by the Central Bank of Turkey. We preliminarily determine that this program does not confer a subsidy because it is not limited to a specific enterprise or industry, or group of enterprises or industries.
Pursuant to Decree number 84/8860, the provisions of Decree number 83/7507 pertaining to interest rebates were repealed and this program was abolished as of January 1, 1985. However, the decree which abolished the program specifically provides that interest rebates will continue to be paid for the duration of loans which were disbursed before January 1, 1985.
2. Exemptions from or Deferrals of Customs Duties and Other Duties, Fees and Taxes. Under the General Incentives Program eligible companies with incentive certificates are exempt from customs duties and other taxes on imports of raw materials and capital equipment during 1984. The responses stated that deferrals of duties were discontinued.
All three companies reported having used the exemptions from customs duties and other taxes on imports of raw materials during the review period, and not having used them on imports of capital equipment. We preliminarily determine that this program does not confer a subsidy because it is not limited to a specific enterprise or industry, or group of enterprises or industries.
B. Customs Duty Exemption Under Decree Number 84/8861
Under Decree number 84/8861, which became effective on January 1, 1985, exporters in Turkey may obtain a customs duty exemption on the importation of raw materials used in the manufacture and packaging of exported goods. To be eligible for this exemption, exporters must obtain an export incentive certificate from Turkey's State Planning Organization.
Because the non-excessive drawback, rebate or remission of customs duties on imported items physically incorporated in the final product is not a subsidy, we preliminarily determine that this program is not countervailable.
III. Programs Preliminarily Determined Not To Be Used
We preliminarily determine that manufacturers, producers or exporters in Turkey of certain carbon steel pipe and tube products did not use the following programs:
A. Income and Corporation Tax Allowances
This program provides investment deductions to companies with an incentive certificate which are eligible under the General Incentives Program. These are deductions from taxable income on account of investments in new assets. The amount of the deduction varies from 30 percent to 100 percent of the cost of the investment, depending on the region and the economic sector in which it is made.
The responses of all companies indicated that they did not use this program.
In our notice of initiation, we identified a $25 per ton back-up fund as possibly being part of the RUSF program. The government of Turkey has stated that this fund is not part of the RUSF, and that it is not used by producers or exporters of the subject merchandise.
*43601 Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Critical Circumstances With Regard to Standard Pipe and Tube and Preliminary Negative Determination of Critical Circumstances With Regard to Line Pipe
Petitioners alleged that "critical circumstances" exist with respect to imports of both products that are subject to these investigations. Under section 703(e)(1) of the Act, critical circumstances exist when there is a reasonable basis to believe or suspect that: "(A) the alleged subsidy is inconsistent with the Agreement on Interpretation and Application of Articles VI, XVI, and XXIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade ("the Subsidies Code"); and (B) there have been massive imports of the class of kind of merchandise which is the subject of the investigation over a relatively short period."
A. Consistency With the Subsidies Code
We have preliminarily determined that the government of Turkey provides export subsidies on the products under investigation.
Although Article 9 of the Subsidies Code prohibits the use of export subsidies on non-primary products, Article 14 provides an exception for developing countires, provided they do not use "export subsidies on their industrial products * * * in a manner which causes serious prejudice to the trade or production of another signatory" (Article 14.3) For a developing country like Turkey, then, the issue is whether we find export subsidies causing "serious prejudice" to U.S. standard pipe and tube and line pipe trade or production. Under section 771(7)(C)(iii) of the Act, the ITC evaluates all relevant economic factors bearing on the state of the industry, including actual and potential decline in output, sales, market share, profits, productivity, return on investment, and capacity utilization. Thus, in making its preliminary and final injury determinations, the ITC considers trade and production in the United States. We conclude that serious prejudice can exist where material injury to a U.S. industry occurs by reason of imports benefiting from export subsidies.
Based on information in the record and the ITC's preliminary determination of August 30, 1985, we conclude that serious prejudice exists within the meaning of Article 14.3. Therefore, we find Turkey's export subsidies on certain carbon steel pipe and tube products are inconsistent with the Subsidies Code.
However, the ITC made its preliminary affirmative injury determination based on the cumulation of imports of certain welded carbon steel pipe and tube products, and not solely on imports of these products from Turkey. We would welcome any comments on relevant factors in determining the standard for "serious prejudice" particularly in instances where the ITC's injury determination is made on a cumulative basis.
We stress that this finding is limited to the facts of these cases and the application of Article 14.3 of the Subsidies Code. This finding draws no conclusion, and none should be inferred, with respect to the commitment made by the government of Turkey under Article 14.5 of the Subsidies Code. Under Article 14.5, developing countries are urged to "enter into a commitment to reduce or eliminate export subsidies when the use of such export subsidies is inconsistent with their competitive and development needs" Article 14.6 precludes any signatory from taking countermeasures pursuant to the provisions of Part II and VI of the Subsidies Code against any export subsidies of such developing country, to the extent that the subsidies in question are covered by a commitment made under Article 14.5.
Part II and VI of the Subsidies Code concern notification of subsidies and international dispute settlement. Significantly, Article 14.6 does not affect actions taken under Part I of the Subsidies Code, concerning domestic countervailing duty proceedings.
We conclude that, as a matter of law, we may find a developing country's export subsidies that cause "serious prejudice" to be inconsistent with Article 14.3 and, therefore, the Subsidies Code, for purposes of our critical circumstances determination.
B. Massive Imports
To determine whether there have been massive imports of the products under investigation over a relatively short period of time, we considered: (1) Whether imports have surged recently; (2) whether recent import penetration ratios have increased significantly; and (3) whether recent imports are significantly above the average calculated over the last three years. Based upon our analysis of the information, we preliminarily determine that imports of standard pipe and tube do, and imports of line pipe do not, appear massive over a relatively short period.
Finally, since massive imports of standard pipe and tube exist over a relatively short period of time and since massive imports of line pipe do not exist over a relatively short period of time, we preliminarily determine that critical circumstances exist with respect to standard pipe and tube from Turkey, and do not exist with respect to line pipe from Turkey.
Verification
In accordance with section 776(a) of the Act, we will verify all data used in making our final determinations.
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 703(d) of the Act, we are directing the U.S. Customs Service to suspend liquidation of all unliquidated entries of standard pipe and tube from Turkey which are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date which is 90 days before the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, and to require a cash deposit or bond on entries of standard pipe and tube in an amount equal to 23.64 percent ad valorem. We are also directing the U.S. Customs Service to suspend liquidation of all unliquidated entries of line pipe from Turkey which are entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of this notice, and to require an ad valorem cash deposit or bond for all such entries of these products at 23.64 percent ad valorem.
This suspension will remain in effect until further notice.
ITC Notification
In accordance with section 703(f) of the Act, we will notify the ITC of our determinations. In addition, we are making available to the ITC all non- privileged and non-confidential information relating to these investigations. We will allow the ITC access to all privileged and confidential information in our files, provided the ITC confirms that it will not disclose such information, either publicly or under an administrative protective order, without the written consent of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
The ITC will determine whether these imports materially injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry 120 days after the Department makes its preliminary affirmative determinations or 45 days after its final affirmative determinations, whichever is latest.
Public Comment
In accordance with s 355.35 of our regulations, we will hold a public hearing, if requested, to afford interested parties an opportunity to comment on *43602 these preliminary determinations at 10:00 a.m. on December 2, 1985, at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 6802, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230. Individuals who wish to participate in the hearing must submit a request to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Room B-099, at the above address within 10 days of the publication of this notice.
Requests should contain: (1) The party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; (3) the reason for attending; and (4) a list of the issues to be discussed. In addition, at least 10 copies of pre-hearing briefs must be submitted to the Deputy Assistant Secretary by November 25, 1985. Oral presentations will be limited to issues raised in the briefs.
In accordance with 19 CFR 355.33(d) and 19 CFR 355.34, written views will be considered if received not less than 30 days before the final determinations or, if a hearing is held, within 10 days after the hearing transcript is available.
This notice is published pursuant to section 703(f) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b(f)).
John L. Evans,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
October 21, 1985.
[FR Doc. 85-25614 Filed 10-25-85; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M