Notice of Initiation and Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review: Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada, 50299-50301 [E5-4702]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 165 / Friday, August 26, 2005 / Notices
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[FR Doc. E5–4675 Filed 8–25–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–122–838]
Notice of Initiation and Preliminary
Results of Antidumping Duty Changed
Circumstances Review: Certain
Softwood Lumber Products from
Canada
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
AGENCY:
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16:18 Aug 25, 2005
Jkt 205001
SUMMARY: In response to a request from
Produits Forestiers Arbec Inc. (Arbec),
the Department of Commerce is
initiating a changed circumstances
review of the antidumping duty order
on certain softwood lumber products
from Canada and preliminarily finds
that Arbec is the successor–in-interest to
ˆ
ˆ
Uniforet Inc. (Uniforet).
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 26, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Constance Handley or Saliha Loucif,
AD/CVD Operations, Office 1, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–0631or (202) 482–
1779, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background:
On May 22, 2002, the Department of
Commerce (Department) issued the
antidumping duty order on Certain
Softwood Lumber Products from
Canada. See Notice of Amended Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than
Fair Value and Antidumping Duty
Order: Certain Softwood Lumber
Products From Canada, 67 FR 36067
(May 22, 2002). On June 29, 2005, Arbec
requested that the Department initiate a
changed circumstances review, in
accordance with section 351.216 of the
Department’s regulations, to confirm
that Arbec is the successor–in-interest to
ˆ
Uniforet. In its request, Arbec stated that
it changed its name to Arbec from
ˆ
Uniforet on May 9, 2005, and provided
supporting documentation.
Scope of the Order
The products covered by this order
are softwood lumber, flooring and
siding (softwood lumber products).
Softwood lumber products include all
products classified under headings
4407.1000, 4409.1010, 4409.1090, and
4409.1020, respectively, of the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS), and any
softwood lumber, flooring and siding
described below. These softwood
lumber products include:
(1) coniferous wood, sawn or chipped
lengthwise, sliced or peeled,
whether or not planed, sanded or
finger–jointed, of a thickness
exceeding six millimeters;
(2) coniferous wood siding (including
strips and friezes for parquet
flooring, not assembled)
continuously shaped (tongued,
grooved, rabbeted, chamfered, v–
jointed, beaded, molded, rounded
or the like) along any of its edges or
faces, whether or not planed,
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50299
sanded or finger–jointed;
(3) other coniferous wood (including
strips and friezes for parquet
flooring, not assembled)
continuously shaped (tongued,
grooved, rabbeted, chamfered, v–
jointed, beaded, molded, rounded
or the like) along any of its edges or
faces (other than wood moldings
and wood dowel rods) whether or
not planed, sanded or finger–
jointed; and
(4) coniferous wood flooring
(including strips and friezes for
parquet flooring, not assembled)
continuously shaped (tongued,
grooved, rabbeted, chamfered, v–
jointed, beaded, molded, rounded
or the like) along any of its edges or
faces, whether or not planed,
sanded or finger–jointed.
Although the HTSUS subheadings are
provided for convenience and customs
purposes, the written description of the
merchandise under investigation is
dispositive. Preliminary scope
exclusions and clarifications were
published in three separate Federal
Register notices.
Softwood lumber products excluded
from the scope:
• trusses and truss kits, properly
classified under HTSUS 4418.90
• I–joist beams
• assembled box spring frames
• pallets and pallet kits, properly
classified under HTSUS 4415.20
• garage doors
• edge–glued wood, properly
classified under HTSUS
4421.90.97.40 (formerly HTSUS
4421.90.98.40)
• properly classified complete door
frames
• properly classified complete
window frames
• properly classified furniture
Softwood lumber products excluded
from the scope only if they meet
certain requirements:
• Stringers (pallet components used
for runners): if they have at least
two notches on the side, positioned
at equal distance from the center, to
properly accommodate forklift
blades, properly classified under
HTSUS 4421.90.97.40 (formerly
HTSUS 4421.90.98.40).
• Box–spring frame kits: if they
contain the following wooden
pieces - two side rails, two end (or
top) rails and varying numbers of
slats. The side rails and the end
rails should be radius–cut at both
ends. The kits should be
individually packaged, they should
contain the exact number of
wooden components needed to
make a particular box spring frame,
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
26AUN1
50300
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 165 / Friday, August 26, 2005 / Notices
with no further processing required.
None of the components exceeds 1’’
in actual thickness or 83’’ in length.
• Radius–cut box–spring-frame
components, not exceeding 1’’ in
actual thickness or 83’’ in length,
ready for assembly without further
processing. The radius cuts must be
present on both ends of the boards
and must be substantial cuts so as
to completely round one corner.
• Fence pickets requiring no further
processing and properly classified
under HTSUS 4421.90.70, 1’’ or less
in actual thickness, up to 8’’ wide,
6’ or less in length, and have finials
or decorative cuttings that clearly
identify them as fence pickets. In
the case of dog–eared fence pickets,
the corners of the boards should be
cut off so as to remove pieces of
wood in the shape of isosceles right
angle triangles with sides
measuring 3/4 inch or more.
• U.S. origin lumber shipped to
Canada for minor processing and
imported into the United States, is
excluded from the scope of this
order if the following conditions are
met: 1) the processing occurring in
Canada is limited to kiln–drying,
planing to create smooth–to-size
board, and sanding, and 2) the
importer establishes to U.S.
Customs and Border Protection’s
(CBP) satisfaction that the lumber is
of U.S. origin.1
• Softwood lumber products
contained in single family home
packages or kits,2 regardless of tariff
classification, are excluded from the
scope of the orders if the following
criteria are met:
1. The imported home package or kit
constitutes a full package of the
number of wooden pieces specified
in the plan, design or blueprint
necessary to produce a home of at
least 700 square feet produced to a
specified plan, design or blueprint;
2. The package or kit must contain all
necessary internal and external
doors and windows, nails, screws,
glue, subfloor, sheathing, beams,
posts, connectors and, if included
in purchase contract, decking, trim,
drywall and roof shingles specified
in the plan, design or blueprint;
3. Prior to importation, the package or
kit must be sold to a retailer of
1 For further clarification pertaining to this
exclusion, see the additional language concluding
the scope description below.
2 To ensure administrability, we clarified the
language of this exclusion to require an importer
certification and to permit single or multiple entries
on multiple days, as well as instructing importers
to retain and make available for inspection specific
documentation in support of each entry.
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:18 Aug 25, 2005
Jkt 205001
complete home packages or kits
pursuant to a valid purchase
contract referencing the particular
home design plan or blueprint, and
signed by a customer not affiliated
with the importer;
4. The whole package must be
imported under a single
consolidated entry when permitted
by CBP, whether or not on a single
or multiple trucks, rail cars or other
vehicles, which shall be on the
same day except when the home is
over 2,000 square feet;
5. The following documentation must
be included with the entry
documents:
• a copy of the appropriate home
design, plan, or blueprint matching
the entry;
• a purchase contract from a retailer
of home kits or packages signed by
a customer not affiliated with the
importer;
• a listing of inventory of all parts of
the package or kit being entered that
conforms to the home design
package being entered;
• in the case of multiple shipments on
the same contract, all items listed
immediately above which are
included in the present shipment
shall be identified as well.
We have determined that the
excluded products listed above are
outside the scope of this order provided
the specified conditions are met.
Lumber products that CBP may classify
as stringers, radius cut box–spring-frame
components, and fence pickets, not
conforming to the above requirements,
as well as truss components, pallet
components, and door and window
frame parts, are covered under the scope
of this order and may be classified
under HTSUS subheadings
4418.90.40.90, 4421.90.70.40, and
4421.90.98.40. Due to changes in the
2002 HTSUS whereby subheading
4418.90.40.90 and 4421.90.98.40 were
changed to 4418.90.45.90 and
4421.90.97.40, respectively, we are
adding these subheadings as well.
In addition, this scope language has
been further clarified to now specify
that all softwood lumber products
entered from Canada claiming non–
subject status based on U.S. country of
origin will be treated as non–subject
U.S.-origin merchandise under the
antidumping and countervailing duty
orders, provided that these softwood
lumber products meet the following
condition: upon entry, the importer,
exporter, Canadian processor and/or
original U.S. producer establish to CBP’s
satisfaction that the softwood lumber
entered and documented as U.S.-origin
softwood lumber was first produced in
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Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the United States as a lumber product
satisfying the physical parameters of the
softwood lumber scope.3 The
presumption of non–subject status can,
however, be rebutted by evidence
demonstrating that the merchandise was
substantially transformed in Canada.
Initiation and Preliminary Results
Pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act),
the Department will conduct a changed
circumstances review upon receipt of
information concerning, or a request
from an interested party for a review of,
an antidumping duty order which
shows changed circumstances sufficient
to warrant a review of the order. As
indicated in the Background section, we
have received information indicating
ˆ
that Uniforet has changed its name to
Arbec. This constitutes changed
circumstances warranting a review of
the order. Therefore, in accordance with
section 751(b)(1) of the Act, we are
initiating a changed circumstances
review based upon the information
contained in Arbec’s submissions.
Section 351.221(c)(3)(ii) of the
regulations permits the Department to
combine the notice of initiation of a
changed circumstances review and the
notice of preliminary results if the
Department concludes that expedited
action is warranted. In this instance,
because we have on the record the
information necessary to make a
preliminary finding, we find that
expedited action is warranted and have
combined the notice of initiation and
the notice of preliminary results.
In making successor–in-interest
determinations, the Department
examines several factors including, but
not limited to, changes in: (1)
management; (2) production facilities;
(3) supplier relationships; and (4)
customer base. See, e.g.,
Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan:
Final Results of Changed Circumstances
Review, 67 FR 58 (January 2, 2002)
citing, Brass Sheet and Strip from
Canada: Notice of Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 57 FR 20460 (May 13, 1992).
While no single factor, or combination
of factors, will necessarily prove
dispositive, the Department will
generally consider the new company to
be the successor to its predecessor
company if the resulting operations are
essentially the same as the predecessor
company. Id. citing, Industrial
Phosphoric Acid from Israel; Final
3 See the scope clarification message (3034202),
dated February 3, 2003, to CBP, regarding treatment
of U.S.-origin lumber on file in the Central Records
Unit, Room B-099 of the main Commerce building.
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
26AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 165 / Friday, August 26, 2005 / Notices
Results of Changed Circumstances
Review, 59 FR 6944, 6945 (February 14,
1994). Thus, if the evidence
demonstrates that, with respect to the
production and sale of the subject
merchandise, the new company
operates as the same business entity as
its predecessor, the Department will
assign the new company the cash–
deposit rate of its predecessor.
In its June 29, 2005, submission,
Arbec argues that it merely changed its
ˆ
name to Arbec from Uniforet, and that
Arbec is the identical company to
ˆ
Uniforet. As such, Arbec states that the
company’s management, production
facilities, and supplier/customer
relationships have not changed. To
support its claims, Arbec submitted
numerous documents, including: (1)
copies of Certificate of Amendment
documents amending the name of
ˆ
Uniforet to Arbec; (2) a copy of a
resolution of the Annual and Special
ˆ
Meeting of Shareholders of Uniforet
ˆ
adopting the modification of Uniforet’s
corporate name; (3) a letter from Arbec
to the Department, dated May 25, 2005,
requesting the recognition of a name
change; and (4) a pre–name change
advertising flyer announcing the new
Arbec logo. Further, Arbec provided
information such as a chart of its
shareholders, a list of its production
facilities, and details on its supplier
management agreements, confirming
that its ownership, management,
production facilities, supply sources
and customer base are unchanged from
ˆ
those of its predecessor, Uniforet.
Based on the information submitted
by Arbec, we preliminarily find that
Arbec is the successor–in-interest to
ˆ
Uniforet. Based on the evidence
reviewed, we find that Arbec operates as
ˆ
the same business entity as Uniforet and
that the company’s senior management,
production facilities, supplier
relationships, and customers have not
changed. Thus, we preliminarily find
that Arbec should receive the same
antidumping duty cash–deposit rate
(i.e., 11.54 percent) with respect to the
ˆ
subject merchandise as Uniforet, its
predecessor company. This rate reflects
the ‘‘all others’’ rate from the
investigation as modified in the Notice
of Determination Under Section 129 of
the Uruguay Round Agreements Act:
Antidumping Measures on Certain
Softwood Lumber Products From
Canada, 70 FR 22636 (May 2, 2005).
As a result, if these preliminary
results are adopted in our final results
of this changed circumstances review,
we will instruct U.S. Customs and
Border Protection to continue to
suspend shipments of subject
merchandise made by Arbec at
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:18 Aug 25, 2005
Jkt 205001
ˆ
Uniforet’s cash deposit rate (i.e., 11.54
percent ‘‘all others’’ rate). This deposit
rate shall remain in effect until
publication of the final results of the
second administrative review of the
order, which covers the period May 1,
2003, through April 30, 2004, in which
ˆ
Uniforet is a respondent. See Notice of
Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Administrative Review and Partial
Rescission: Certain Softwood Lumber
Products From Canada, 70 FR 33063,
June 7, 2005.
Public Comment
Any interested party may request a
hearing within 30 days of publication of
this notice. See 19 CFR 351.310(c). Any
hearing, if requested, will be held 44
days after the date of publication of this
notice, or the first working day
thereafter. Interested parties may submit
case briefs and/or written comments not
later than 30 days after the date of
publication of this notice. Rebuttal
briefs and rebuttals to written
comments, which must be limited to
issues raised in such briefs or
comments, may be filed not later than
37 days after the date of publication of
this notice. Parties who submit
arguments are requested to submit with
the argument: (1) a statement of the
issue; (2) a brief summary of the
argument; and (3) a table of authorities.
Consistent with section 351.216(e) of
the Department’s regulations, we will
issue the final results of this changed
circumstances review no later than 270
days after the date on which this review
was initiated, or within 45 days if all
parties agree to our preliminary finding.
We are issuing and publishing this
finding and notice in accordance with
sections 751(b)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the
Act and section 351.216 of the
Department’s regulations.
Dated: August 22, 2005.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E5–4702 Filed 8–25–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–583–816]
Certain Stainless Steel Butt–Weld Pipe
Fittings from Taiwan: Notice of
Amended Final Results Pursuant to
Final Court Decision
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
AGENCY:
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Fmt 4703
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50301
On June 14, 2005, in Alloy
Piping Products, Inc., Flowline Division,
et al. v. United States, Slip Op. 05–69,
(‘‘Alloy Piping II’’), the Court of
International Trade (‘‘CIT’’) affirmed the
Department of Commerce’s (the
‘‘Department’’) Final Results of
Determination Pursuant to Remand
(‘‘Remand Results’’), dated February 14,
2005, and entered a judgment order.
This litigation related to the
Department’s review of the antidumping
order on certain stainless steel butt–
weld pipe fittings from Taiwan,
covering the period June 1, 1999,
through May 31, 2000. See Certain
Stainless Steel Butt–Weld Pipe Fittings
Final Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review, 66 FR 65899,
65900, (December 21, 2001) (‘‘Final
Results’’). As no further appeals have
been filed and there is now a final and
conclusive court decision in this action,
we are amending the final results of
review in this proceeding and we will
instruct U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (‘‘CBP’’) to liquidate entries
subject to this review.
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 26, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex
Villanueva, AD/CVD Operations, Office
9, Import Administration, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department
of Commerce, 1401 Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230,
telephone 202–482–3208, fax 202–482–
9089.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Background
Following publication of the Final
Results, Alloy Piping Products, Inc.,
Flowline Division, Markovitz
Enterprises, Inc., Gerlin Inc., and Taylor
Forge Stainless Inc., (the ‘‘Petitioners’’)
and Ta Chen, filed a lawsuit with the
CIT challenging the Department’s
findings. In Alloy Piping v. United
States, Slip Op. 04–134, (CIT 2004)
(‘‘Alloy Piping I’’), the CIT instructed
the Department to (1) reopen the record,
seek additional relevant information
regarding employee bonuses, and
recalculate the general and
administrative (‘‘G&A’’) expenses of Ta
Chen; and (2) reconsider Ta Chen’s U.S.
indirect selling expenses and to account
for all of Ta Chen’s U.S. selling
expenses incurred during fiscal year
1999.
The Department complied with the
CIT’s remand instructions and issued its
final results of redetermination pursuant
to remand on February 14, 2005. See
Final Results of Redetermination
Pursuant to Remand (‘‘Remand
Results’’). In the Remand Results, the
Department reopened the record, sought
E:\FR\FM\26AUN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 165 (Friday, August 26, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50299-50301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-4702]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-122-838]
Notice of Initiation and Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty
Changed Circumstances Review: Certain Softwood Lumber Products from
Canada
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: In response to a request from Produits Forestiers Arbec Inc.
(Arbec), the Department of Commerce is initiating a changed
circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on certain softwood
lumber products from Canada and preliminarily finds that Arbec is the
successor-in-interest to Unifor[ecirc]t Inc. (Unifor[ecirc]t).
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 26, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Constance Handley or Saliha Loucif,
AD/CVD Operations, Office 1, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
0631or (202) 482-1779, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background:
On May 22, 2002, the Department of Commerce (Department) issued the
antidumping duty order on Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada.
See Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair
Value and Antidumping Duty Order: Certain Softwood Lumber Products From
Canada, 67 FR 36067 (May 22, 2002). On June 29, 2005, Arbec requested
that the Department initiate a changed circumstances review, in
accordance with section 351.216 of the Department's regulations, to
confirm that Arbec is the successor-in-interest to Unifor[ecirc]t. In
its request, Arbec stated that it changed its name to Arbec from
Unifor[ecirc]t on May 9, 2005, and provided supporting documentation.
Scope of the Order
The products covered by this order are softwood lumber, flooring
and siding (softwood lumber products). Softwood lumber products include
all products classified under headings 4407.1000, 4409.1010, 4409.1090,
and 4409.1020, respectively, of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS), and any softwood lumber, flooring and siding
described below. These softwood lumber products include:
(1) coniferous wood, sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled,
whether or not planed, sanded or finger-jointed, of a thickness
exceeding six millimeters;
(2) coniferous wood siding (including strips and friezes for
parquet flooring, not assembled) continuously shaped (tongued, grooved,
rabbeted, chamfered, v-jointed, beaded, molded, rounded or the like)
along any of its edges or faces, whether or not planed, sanded or
finger-jointed;
(3) other coniferous wood (including strips and friezes for parquet
flooring, not assembled) continuously shaped (tongued, grooved,
rabbeted, chamfered, v-jointed, beaded, molded, rounded or the like)
along any of its edges or faces (other than wood moldings and wood
dowel rods) whether or not planed, sanded or finger-jointed; and
(4) coniferous wood flooring (including strips and friezes for
parquet flooring, not assembled) continuously shaped (tongued, grooved,
rabbeted, chamfered, v-jointed, beaded, molded, rounded or the like)
along any of its edges or faces, whether or not planed, sanded or
finger-jointed.
Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and
customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise under
investigation is dispositive. Preliminary scope exclusions and
clarifications were published in three separate Federal Register
notices.
Softwood lumber products excluded from the scope:
trusses and truss kits, properly classified under HTSUS
4418.90
I-joist beams
assembled box spring frames
pallets and pallet kits, properly classified under HTSUS
4415.20
garage doors
edge-glued wood, properly classified under HTSUS
4421.90.97.40 (formerly HTSUS 4421.90.98.40)
properly classified complete door frames
properly classified complete window frames
properly classified furniture
Softwood lumber products excluded from the scope only if they meet
certain requirements:
Stringers (pallet components used for runners): if they
have at least two notches on the side, positioned at equal distance
from the center, to properly accommodate forklift blades, properly
classified under HTSUS 4421.90.97.40 (formerly HTSUS 4421.90.98.40).
Box-spring frame kits: if they contain the following
wooden pieces - two side rails, two end (or top) rails and varying
numbers of slats. The side rails and the end rails should be radius-cut
at both ends. The kits should be individually packaged, they should
contain the exact number of wooden components needed to make a
particular box spring frame,
[[Page 50300]]
with no further processing required. None of the components exceeds 1''
in actual thickness or 83'' in length.
Radius-cut box-spring-frame components, not exceeding 1''
in actual thickness or 83'' in length, ready for assembly without
further processing. The radius cuts must be present on both ends of the
boards and must be substantial cuts so as to completely round one
corner.
Fence pickets requiring no further processing and properly
classified under HTSUS 4421.90.70, 1'' or less in actual thickness, up
to 8'' wide, 6' or less in length, and have finials or decorative
cuttings that clearly identify them as fence pickets. In the case of
dog-eared fence pickets, the corners of the boards should be cut off so
as to remove pieces of wood in the shape of isosceles right angle
triangles with sides measuring 3/4 inch or more.
U.S. origin lumber shipped to Canada for minor processing
and imported into the United States, is excluded from the scope of this
order if the following conditions are met: 1) the processing occurring
in Canada is limited to kiln-drying, planing to create smooth-to-size
board, and sanding, and 2) the importer establishes to U.S. Customs and
Border Protection's (CBP) satisfaction that the lumber is of U.S.
origin.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For further clarification pertaining to this exclusion, see
the additional language concluding the scope description below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Softwood lumber products contained in single family home
packages or kits,\2\ regardless of tariff classification, are excluded
from the scope of the orders if the following criteria are met:
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\2\ To ensure administrability, we clarified the language of
this exclusion to require an importer certification and to permit
single or multiple entries on multiple days, as well as instructing
importers to retain and make available for inspection specific
documentation in support of each entry.
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1. The imported home package or kit constitutes a full package of
the number of wooden pieces specified in the plan, design or blueprint
necessary to produce a home of at least 700 square feet produced to a
specified plan, design or blueprint;
2. The package or kit must contain all necessary internal and
external doors and windows, nails, screws, glue, subfloor, sheathing,
beams, posts, connectors and, if included in purchase contract,
decking, trim, drywall and roof shingles specified in the plan, design
or blueprint;
3. Prior to importation, the package or kit must be sold to a
retailer of complete home packages or kits pursuant to a valid purchase
contract referencing the particular home design plan or blueprint, and
signed by a customer not affiliated with the importer;
4. The whole package must be imported under a single consolidated
entry when permitted by CBP, whether or not on a single or multiple
trucks, rail cars or other vehicles, which shall be on the same day
except when the home is over 2,000 square feet;
5. The following documentation must be included with the entry
documents:
a copy of the appropriate home design, plan, or blueprint
matching the entry;
a purchase contract from a retailer of home kits or
packages signed by a customer not affiliated with the importer;
a listing of inventory of all parts of the package or kit
being entered that conforms to the home design package being entered;
in the case of multiple shipments on the same contract,
all items listed immediately above which are included in the present
shipment shall be identified as well.
We have determined that the excluded products listed above are
outside the scope of this order provided the specified conditions are
met. Lumber products that CBP may classify as stringers, radius cut
box-spring-frame components, and fence pickets, not conforming to the
above requirements, as well as truss components, pallet components, and
door and window frame parts, are covered under the scope of this order
and may be classified under HTSUS subheadings 4418.90.40.90,
4421.90.70.40, and 4421.90.98.40. Due to changes in the 2002 HTSUS
whereby subheading 4418.90.40.90 and 4421.90.98.40 were changed to
4418.90.45.90 and 4421.90.97.40, respectively, we are adding these
subheadings as well.
In addition, this scope language has been further clarified to now
specify that all softwood lumber products entered from Canada claiming
non-subject status based on U.S. country of origin will be treated as
non-subject U.S.-origin merchandise under the antidumping and
countervailing duty orders, provided that these softwood lumber
products meet the following condition: upon entry, the importer,
exporter, Canadian processor and/or original U.S. producer establish to
CBP's satisfaction that the softwood lumber entered and documented as
U.S.-origin softwood lumber was first produced in the United States as
a lumber product satisfying the physical parameters of the softwood
lumber scope.\3\ The presumption of non-subject status can, however, be
rebutted by evidence demonstrating that the merchandise was
substantially transformed in Canada.
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\3\ See the scope clarification message (3034202), dated
February 3, 2003, to CBP, regarding treatment of U.S.-origin lumber
on file in the Central Records Unit, Room B-099 of the main Commerce
building.
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Initiation and Preliminary Results
Pursuant to section 751(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended
(the Act), the Department will conduct a changed circumstances review
upon receipt of information concerning, or a request from an interested
party for a review of, an antidumping duty order which shows changed
circumstances sufficient to warrant a review of the order. As indicated
in the Background section, we have received information indicating that
Unifor[ecirc]t has changed its name to Arbec. This constitutes changed
circumstances warranting a review of the order. Therefore, in
accordance with section 751(b)(1) of the Act, we are initiating a
changed circumstances review based upon the information contained in
Arbec's submissions.
Section 351.221(c)(3)(ii) of the regulations permits the Department
to combine the notice of initiation of a changed circumstances review
and the notice of preliminary results if the Department concludes that
expedited action is warranted. In this instance, because we have on the
record the information necessary to make a preliminary finding, we find
that expedited action is warranted and have combined the notice of
initiation and the notice of preliminary results.
In making successor-in-interest determinations, the Department
examines several factors including, but not limited to, changes in: (1)
management; (2) production facilities; (3) supplier relationships; and
(4) customer base. See, e.g., Polychloroprene Rubber from Japan: Final
Results of Changed Circumstances Review, 67 FR 58 (January 2, 2002)
citing, Brass Sheet and Strip from Canada: Notice of Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 57 FR 20460 (May 13, 1992).
While no single factor, or combination of factors, will necessarily
prove dispositive, the Department will generally consider the new
company to be the successor to its predecessor company if the resulting
operations are essentially the same as the predecessor company. Id.
citing, Industrial Phosphoric Acid from Israel; Final
[[Page 50301]]
Results of Changed Circumstances Review, 59 FR 6944, 6945 (February 14,
1994). Thus, if the evidence demonstrates that, with respect to the
production and sale of the subject merchandise, the new company
operates as the same business entity as its predecessor, the Department
will assign the new company the cash-deposit rate of its predecessor.
In its June 29, 2005, submission, Arbec argues that it merely
changed its name to Arbec from Unifor[ecirc]t, and that Arbec is the
identical company to Unifor[ecirc]t. As such, Arbec states that the
company's management, production facilities, and supplier/customer
relationships have not changed. To support its claims, Arbec submitted
numerous documents, including: (1) copies of Certificate of Amendment
documents amending the name of Unifor[ecirc]t to Arbec; (2) a copy of a
resolution of the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of
Unifor[ecirc]t adopting the modification of Unifor[ecirc]t's corporate
name; (3) a letter from Arbec to the Department, dated May 25, 2005,
requesting the recognition of a name change; and (4) a pre-name change
advertising flyer announcing the new Arbec logo. Further, Arbec
provided information such as a chart of its shareholders, a list of its
production facilities, and details on its supplier management
agreements, confirming that its ownership, management, production
facilities, supply sources and customer base are unchanged from those
of its predecessor, Unifor[ecirc]t.
Based on the information submitted by Arbec, we preliminarily find
that Arbec is the successor-in-interest to Unifor[ecirc]t. Based on the
evidence reviewed, we find that Arbec operates as the same business
entity as Unifor[ecirc]t and that the company's senior management,
production facilities, supplier relationships, and customers have not
changed. Thus, we preliminarily find that Arbec should receive the same
antidumping duty cash-deposit rate (i.e., 11.54 percent) with respect
to the subject merchandise as Unifor[ecirc]t, its predecessor company.
This rate reflects the ``all others'' rate from the investigation as
modified in the Notice of Determination Under Section 129 of the
Uruguay Round Agreements Act: Antidumping Measures on Certain Softwood
Lumber Products From Canada, 70 FR 22636 (May 2, 2005).
As a result, if these preliminary results are adopted in our final
results of this changed circumstances review, we will instruct U.S.
Customs and Border Protection to continue to suspend shipments of
subject merchandise made by Arbec at Unifor[ecirc]t's cash deposit rate
(i.e., 11.54 percent ``all others'' rate). This deposit rate shall
remain in effect until publication of the final results of the second
administrative review of the order, which covers the period May 1,
2003, through April 30, 2004, in which Unifor[ecirc]t is a respondent.
See Notice of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review and Partial Rescission: Certain Softwood Lumber Products From
Canada, 70 FR 33063, June 7, 2005.
Public Comment
Any interested party may request a hearing within 30 days of
publication of this notice. See 19 CFR 351.310(c). Any hearing, if
requested, will be held 44 days after the date of publication of this
notice, or the first working day thereafter. Interested parties may
submit case briefs and/or written comments not later than 30 days after
the date of publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs and rebuttals
to written comments, which must be limited to issues raised in such
briefs or comments, may be filed not later than 37 days after the date
of publication of this notice. Parties who submit arguments are
requested to submit with the argument: (1) a statement of the issue;
(2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities.
Consistent with section 351.216(e) of the Department's regulations,
we will issue the final results of this changed circumstances review no
later than 270 days after the date on which this review was initiated,
or within 45 days if all parties agree to our preliminary finding. We
are issuing and publishing this finding and notice in accordance with
sections 751(b)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and section 351.216 of the
Department's regulations.
Dated: August 22, 2005.
Ronald K. Lorentzen,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E5-4702 Filed 8-25-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S