Wooden Bedroom Furniture From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review, 60812-60814 [E7-21101]
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60812
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 207 / Friday, October 26, 2007 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–890]
Wooden Bedroom Furniture From the
People’s Republic of China: Final
Results of Antidumping Duty Changed
Circumstances Review
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On July 30, 2007, the
Department of Commerce
(‘‘Department’’) issued its preliminary
results in the changed circumstances
review of the antidumping duty order
on wooden bedroom furniture (‘‘WBF’’)
from the People’s Republic of China
(‘‘PRC’’). See Wooden Bedroom
Furniture from the People’s Republic of
China: Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Changed
Circumstances Review, 72 FR 41492
(July 30, 2007) (‘‘Preliminary Results’’).
For these final results, we continue to
find that Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. is
the successor–in-interest to Nanhai
Jiantai Woodwork Co. (‘‘Nanhai
Jiantai’’), and that Tradewinds
International Enterprise Ltd.
(‘‘Tradewinds Intl’’) is not the
successor–in-interest to Nanhai Jiantai’s
affiliated exporter, Fortune Glory
Industrial Limited (‘‘Fortune Glory’’).
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 26, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Juanita H. Chen or Robert A. Bolling,
AD/CVD Operations, Office 8, Import
Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: 202–482–1904 or 202–482–
3434, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
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Background
On January 18, 2007, in response to a
joint request by Tradewinds Furniture
Ltd. and Tradewinds Intl (collectively,
‘‘Tradewinds’’), the Department
initiated a changed circumstances
review to determine whether
Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. and
Tradewinds Intl are successors–ininterest to Nanhai Jiantai and Fortune
Glory, respectively. See Wooden
Bedroom Furniture from the People’s
Republic of China: Initiation of
Antidumping Duty Changed
Circumstances Review, 72 FR 2262
(January 18, 2007). On July 30, 2007, the
Department issued its Preliminary
Results, finding that Tradewinds
Furniture Ltd. is the successor–ininterest to Nanhai Jiantai, and that
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15:23 Oct 25, 2007
Jkt 214001
Tradewinds Intl is not the successor–ininterest to Fortune Glory. See
Preliminary Results, 72 FR 41492. As
part of the Preliminary Results, the
Department invited interested parties to
submit case and rebuttal briefs, and
provided the opportunity for parties to
request a hearing. See 72 FR at 41495.
On August 6, 2007, Tradewinds
submitted a brief agreeing with the
Department’s finding for Tradewinds
Furniture Ltd. but contesting the finding
that Tradewinds Intl is not the
successor–in-interest to Fortune Glory.
No other parties submitted briefs. No
interested parties submitted a rebuttal
brief or requested a hearing.
Scope of Order
The product covered by the order is
wooden bedroom furniture. Wooden
bedroom furniture is generally, but not
exclusively, designed, manufactured,
and offered for sale in coordinated
groups, or bedrooms, in which all of the
individual pieces are of approximately
the same style and approximately the
same material and/or finish. The subject
merchandise is made substantially of
wood products, including both solid
wood and also engineered wood
products made from wood particles,
fibers, or other wooden materials such
as plywood, oriented strand board,
particle board, and fiberboard, with or
without wood veneers, wood overlays,
or laminates, with or without non–wood
components or trim such as metal,
marble, leather, glass, plastic, or other
resins, and whether or not assembled,
completed, or finished.
The subject merchandise includes the
following items: (1) wooden beds such
as loft beds, bunk beds, and other beds;
(2) wooden headboards for beds
(whether stand–alone or attached to side
rails), wooden footboards for beds,
wooden side rails for beds, and wooden
canopies for beds; (3) night tables, night
stands, dressers, commodes, bureaus,
mule chests, gentlemen’s chests,
bachelor’s chests, lingerie chests,
wardrobes, vanities, chessers,
chifforobes, and wardrobe–type
cabinets; (4) dressers with framed glass
mirrors that are attached to,
incorporated in, sit on, or hang over the
dresser; (5) chests–on-chests1,
1 A chest-on-chest is typically a tall chest-ofdrawers in two or more sections (or appearing to be
in two or more sections), with one or two sections
mounted (or appearing to be mounted) on a slightly
larger chest; also known as a tallboy.
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highboys2, lowboys3, chests of drawers4,
chests5, door chests6, chiffoniers7,
hutches8, and armoires9; (6) desks,
computer stands, filing cabinets, book
cases, or writing tables that are attached
to or incorporated in the subject
merchandise; and (7) other bedroom
furniture consistent with the above list.
The scope of the order excludes the
following items: (1) seats, chairs,
benches, couches, sofas, sofa beds,
stools, and other seating furniture; (2)
mattresses, mattress supports (including
box springs), infant cribs, water beds,
and futon frames; (3) office furniture,
such as desks, stand–up desks,
computer cabinets, filing cabinets,
credenzas, and bookcases; (4) dining
room or kitchen furniture such as dining
tables, chairs, servers, sideboards,
buffets, corner cabinets, china cabinets,
and china hutches; (5) other non–
bedroom furniture, such as television
cabinets, cocktail tables, end tables,
occasional tables, wall systems, book
cases, and entertainment systems; (6)
bedroom furniture made primarily of
wicker, cane, osier, bamboo or rattan; (7)
side rails for beds made of metal if sold
separately from the headboard and
footboard; (8) bedroom furniture in
which bentwood parts predominate10;
(9) jewelry armories11; (10) cheval
2 A highboy is typically a tall chest of drawers
usually composed of a base and a top section with
drawers, and supported on four legs or a small chest
(often 15 inches or more in height).
3 A lowboy is typically a short chest of drawers,
not more than four feet high, normally set on short
legs.
4 A chest of drawers is typically a case containing
drawers for storing clothing.
5 A chest is typically a case piece taller than it
is wide featuring a series of drawers and with or
without one or more doors for storing clothing. The
piece can either include drawers or be designed as
a large box incorporating a lid.
6 A door chest is typically a chest with hinged
doors to store clothing, whether or not containing
drawers. The piece may also include shelves for
televisions and other entertainment electronics.
7 A chiffonier is typically a tall and narrow chest
of drawers normally used for storing undergarments
and lingerie, often with mirror(s) attached.
8 A hutch is typically an open case of furniture
with shelves that typically sits on another piece of
furniture and provides storage for clothes.
9 An armoire is typically a tall cabinet or
wardrobe (typically 50 inches or taller), with doors,
and with one or more drawers (either exterior below
or above the doors or interior behind the doors),
shelves, and/or garment rods or other apparatus for
storing clothes. Bedroom armoires may also be used
to hold television receivers and/or other audiovisual entertainment systems.
10 As used herein, bentwood means solid wood
made pliable. Bentwood is wood that is brought to
a curved shape by bending it while made pliable
with moist heat or other agency and then set by
cooling or drying. See Customs’ Headquarters’
Ruling Letter 043859, dated May 17, 1976.
11 Any armoire, cabinet or other accent item for
the purpose of storing jewelry, not to exceed 24″ in
width, 18″ in depth, and 49″ in height, including
a minimum of 5 lined drawers lined with felt or
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 207 / Friday, October 26, 2007 / Notices
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mirrors12; (11) certain metal parts13;(12)
mirrors that do not attach to,
incorporate in, sit on, or hang over a
dresser if they are not designed and
marketed to be sold in conjunction with
a dresser as part of a dresser–mirror set;
and (13) upholstered beds14.
Imports of subject merchandise are
classified under subheading
9403.50.9040 of the HTSUS as ‘‘wooden
. . . beds’’ and under subheading
9403.50.9080 of the HTSUS as ‘‘other .
. . wooden furniture of a kind used in
the bedroom.’’ In addition, wooden
headboards for beds, wooden footboards
for beds, wooden side rails for beds, and
wooden canopies for beds may also be
entered under subheading 9403.50.9040
felt-like material, at least one side door (whether or
not the door is lined with felt or felt-like material),
with necklace hangers, and a flip-top lid with inset
mirror. See Issues and Decision Memorandum from
Laurel LaCivita to Laurie Parkhill, Office Director,
Concerning Jewelry Armoires and Cheval Mirrors in
the Antidumping Duty Investigation of Wooden
Bedroom Furniture from the People’s Republic of
China, dated August 31, 2004. See also Wooden
Bedroom Furniture from the People’s Republic of
China: Notice of Final Results of Changed
Circumstances Review and Revocation in Part, 71
FR 38621 (July 7, 2006).
12 Cheval mirrors are, i.e., any framed, tiltable
mirror with a height in excess of 50″ that is
mounted on a floor-standing, hinged base.
Additionally, the scope of the order excludes
combination cheval mirror/jewelry cabinets. The
excluded merchandise is an integrated piece
consisting of a cheval mirror, i.e., a framed tiltable
mirror with a height in excess of 50 inches,
mounted on a floor-standing, hinged base, the
cheval mirror serving as a door to a cabinet back
that is integral to the structure of the mirror and
which constitutes a jewelry cabinet lined with
fabric, having necklace and bracelet hooks,
mountings for rings and shelves, with or without a
working lock and key to secure the contents of the
jewelry cabinet back to the cheval mirror, and no
drawers anywhere on the integrated piece. The fully
assembled piece must be at least 50 inches in
height, 14.5 inches in width, and 3 inches in depth.
See Wooden Bedroom Furniture From the People’s
Republic of China: Final Results of Changed
Circumstances Review and Determination To
Revoke Order in Part, 72 FR 38621 (January 9,
2007).
13 Metal furniture parts and unfinished furniture
parts made of wood products (as defined above)
that are not otherwise specifically named in this
scope (i.e., wooden headboards for beds, wooden
footboards for beds, wooden side rails for beds, and
wooden canopies for beds) and that do not possess
the essential character of wooden bedroom
furniture in an unassembled, incomplete, or
unfinished form. Such parts are usually classified
under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (‘‘HTSUS’’) subheading 9403.90.7000.
14 Upholstered beds that are completely
upholstered, i.e., containing filling material and
completely covered in sewn genuine leather,
synthetic leather, or natural or synthetic decorative
fabric. To be excluded, the entire bed (headboards,
footboards, and side rails) must be upholstered
except for bed feet, which may be of wood, metal,
or any other material and which are no more than
nine inches in height from the floor. See Wooden
Bedroom Furniture from the People’s Republic of
China: Final Results of Changed Circumstances
Review and Determination to Revoke Order in Part,
72 FR 7013 (February 14, 2007).
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15:23 Oct 25, 2007
Jkt 214001
of the HTSUS as ‘‘parts of wood’’ and
framed glass mirrors may also be
entered under subheading 7009.92.5000
of the HTSUS as ‘‘glass mirrors . . .
framed.’’ This order covers all wooden
bedroom furniture meeting the above
description, regardless of tariff
classification. Although the HTSUS
subheadings are provided for
convenience and customs purposes, our
written description of the scope of this
proceeding is dispositive.
Final Results Of Review
As noted in the Preliminary Results,
in a changed circumstances review
involving a successor–in-interest
determination, the Department typically
examines several factors including, but
not limited to, changes in: (1)
management; (2) production facilities;
(3) supplier relationships; and (4)
customer base. See Certain Cut–toLength Carbon Steel Plate from
Romania: Initiation and Preliminary
Results of Changed Circumstances
Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review, 70 FR 22847 (May 3, 2005).
While no single factor or combination of
factors will necessarily be dispositive,
the Department generally will consider
the new company to be the successor to
the predecessor if the resulting
operations are essentially the same as
those of the predecessor company. See,
e.g., Notice of Initiation of Antidumping
Duty Changed Circumstances Review:
Certain Forged Stainless Steel Flanges
from India, 71 FR 327 (January 4, 2006).
Analysis of Comments Received
Due to their proprietary nature, all
issues raised in the post–preliminary
comments by parties in this review (i.e.,
whether Tradewinds Intl is the
successor–in-interest to Fortune Glory)
are addressed in the memorandum to
the file, ‘‘Decision Memorandum for the
Changed Circumstances Review of
Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. and
Tradewinds International Enterprise
Ltd. on the Antidumping Duty Order on
Wooden Bedroom Furniture From the
People’s Republic of China,’’ dated
October 19, 2007 (‘‘Decision
Memorandum’’). The Decision
Memorandum is a proprietary
document, for which a public version is
available on file in the Central Records
Unit in room B–099 of the main
Department building.
Tradewinds Furniture Ltd.
Tradewinds concurs with the
Department’s preliminary findings with
respect to the successorship of
Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. Moreover,
there has been no information submitted
to the record that indicates the
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60813
Department should change its finding
with regards to Tradewinds Furniture
Ltd. As a result, for the reasons stated
in the Preliminary Results, we continue
to find that Tradewinds Furniture Ltd.
is the successor–in-interest to Nanhai
Jiantai.
Therefore, we will instruct U.S.
Customs and Border Protection to apply
the cash deposit rate established for
Nanhai Jiantai to all entries of
merchandise exported by Tradewinds
Furniture Ltd. The cash deposit
determination from this changed
circumstances review will apply to all
entries of the subject merchandise
entered, or withdrawn from warehouse,
for consumption on or after the date of
publication of the final results of this
changed circumstances review. See
Notice of Final Results of Antidumping
Duty Changed Circumstances Review;
Certain Forged Stainless Steel Flanges
From India, 71 FR 31156, 31157 (June
1, 2006). This cash deposit rate shall
remain in effect until further notice.
Tradewinds International Enterprise
Ltd.
While Tradewinds asserts that its
submitted documentation supports a
finding that Tradewinds Intl is the
successor–in-interest to Fortune Glory,
and should be legally entitled to the
Fortune Glory rate, we find that
Tradewinds failed to provide sufficient
evidence indicating that Tradewinds
Intl is ‘‘essentially the same’’ as Fortune
Glory for a successor–in-interest
finding. Contrary to Tradewinds’
argument, while we noted in our
Preliminary Results that Fortune Glory
has not transferred its export functions
to Tradewinds Intl, it is not the sole
reason we determined Tradewinds Intl
is not essentially the same as Fortune
Glory. Rather, the Department looks to
a totality of the factors. While
Tradewinds submitted some
documentation to demonstrate the
creation of Tradewinds Intl (including
the business certification and naming of
Tradewinds Intl), upon an examination
of all the documentation submitted,
against the factors required to support a
finding of successor–in-interest,
including proprietary factors that cannot
be discussed in this public Federal
Register notice, Tradewinds has failed
to establish that such creation is
essentially unchanged from Fortune
Glory. See Decision Memorandum, at 3–
6. Significantly, it is not possible to
compare the factors the Department
typically examines between the
predecessor company Fortune Glory
(i.e., management, production facilities,
supplier relationships, sales facilities,
and customer base) to those of the
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60814
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 207 / Friday, October 26, 2007 / Notices
requesting company Tradewinds Intl
because, as Tradewinds itself
acknowledges, the successor–in-interest
has yet to occur. Specifically,
Tradewinds states that ‘‘{n}o structural,
management, employee, supplier,
customer, or other changes are
anticipated as a result of the transfer’’
(emphasis added). Despite Tradewinds’
assurances that operations will
eventually be essentially the same, the
Department cannot base a ruling on
speculation, as it provides the
Department with no record evidence to
analyze. For a more detailed discussion,
including relevant factors of a
proprietary nature, see the Decision
Memorandum.
As a result, we continue to find that
Tradewinds Intl is not the successor–ininterest to Fortune Glory at this time
and, therefore, should not be given the
same antidumping duty treatment as
Fortune Glory.
This notice is issued and published in
accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and
777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended, and 19 C.F.R. 351.216.
Dated: October 19, 2007.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E7–21101 Filed 10–25–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 062006A]
RIN 0648–XD10
Taking of Threatened or Endangered
Marine Mammals Incidental to
Commercial Fishing Operations;
Issuance of Permit
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS
hereby issues a permit for a period of 3
years to authorize the incidental, but not
intentional, taking of three stocks of
endangered marine mammals by the
California/Oregon (CA/OR) drift gillnet
fishery. The three stocks are: fin whale,
California/Oregon/Washington (CA/OR/
WA) stock; humpback whale, Eastern
North Pacific (ENP) stock; and sperm
whale, CA/OR/WA stock. This
authorization is based in part on a
determination that this incidental take
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15:23 Oct 25, 2007
Jkt 214001
will have a negligible impact on the
affected marine mammal stocks.
DATES: This permit is effective for a 3–
year period beginning October 26, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the reference
materials may be obtained from
Protected Resources Division, NMFS,
Southwest Region, 501 West Ocean
Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA
90802–4213. Attention: Christina Fahy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Monica DeAngelis, NMFS, Southwest
Region, Protected Resources Division,
(562) 980–3232 or Christina Fahy, (562)
980–4023.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to the Marine Mammal Protection Act
(MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361, et seq.), NMFS
is issuing a permit to authorize the
taking of three stocks of endangered
marine mammals (fin whale, California/
Oregon/Washington (CA/OR/WA) stock;
humpback whale, Eastern North Pacific
(ENP) stock; and sperm whale, CA/OR/
WA stock) incidental to the CA/OR drift
gillnet fishery. This fishery is the only
Category I or II fishery with a recent
history of taking these three stocks of
marine mammals, and in recent history
this fishery has taken no other stocks of
threatened or endangered marine
mammals. Therefore, only this fishery
and these three stocks of marine
mammals are affected by this permit.
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E) requires
NMFS to allow the taking of marine
mammals from species or stocks listed
as threatened or endangered under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) incidental to
commercial fishing operations if NMFS
determines that: (1) incidental mortality
and serious injury will have a negligible
impact on the affected species or stock;
(2) a recovery plan has been developed
or is being developed for such species
or stock under the ESA; and (3) where
required under section 118 of the
MMPA, a monitoring program has been
established, vessels engaged in such
fisheries are registered in accordance
with section 118 of the MMPA, and a
take reduction plan has been developed
or is being developed for such species
or stock.
MMPA section 101(a)(5)(E)(ii)
requires NMFS to publish a list of the
fisheries for which the necessary
determinations have been made for the
taking of threatened or endangered
marine mammals incidental to the
fisheries’ operations. This list of
fisheries currently contains the three
fisheries that are the subject of this
notice and identified in Table 1. The
MMPA also requires NMFS, upon such
determinations, to issue a permit to
those fisheries in which vessels are
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
required to be registered (Category I and
II fisheries).
The 2007 List of Fisheries indicates
that two Category III fisheries (CA
lobster, prawn, shrimp, rock crab, fish
pot and CA/OR/WA crab pot) have a
history of taking humpback whales.
NMFS is currently in the process of
characterizing the trap and pot fisheries
off the west coast of the United States
and assessing the impact, based on the
available information, to determine if
reclassifying these fisheries is
warranted. As provided by the MMPA,
the taking of this stock of humpback
whales would be authorized, if it were
to occur and the owner or master of the
vessel reported the take, as required by
MMPA section 118(e). MMPA section
101(a)(5)(E)(ii) states that (1) permits are
not required for Category III fisheries
because participants are not required to
register their vessels and (2) that after an
appropriate negligible impact
determination is completed, taking
threatened or endangered marine
mammals would not be a violation, so
long as any injury or mortality is
reported in accordance with MMPA
section 118.
History of Applying Negligible Impact
in Fisheries
Among the requirements of MMPA
section 101(a)(5)(E) to issue a permit to
take ESA-listed marine mammals
incidental to commercial fishing, NMFS
must determine whether the incidental
taking from commercial fisheries would
have a negligible impact on the affected
stock or stocks of threatened or
endangered marine mammals.
Negligible impact determinations are
required only in MMPA section
101(a)(5), and they are used in the
procedures to authorize the take of
small numbers of any stock of marine
mammals incidental to activities other
than commercial fishing (termed the
‘‘Small Take Program’’) and to permit
the take of threatened or endangered
marine mammals incidental to
commercial fishing operations. That is,
within the MMPA’s provisions for the
Small Take Program, NMFS must
determine if the taking (by harassment,
injury, and mortality) incidental to
specified activities will have a
negligible impact on the affected stocks
of marine mammals (MMPA sections
101(a)(5)(A)(I) and 101(A)(5)(D)(i)(I)).
For permitting the take of threatened or
endangered marine mammals incidental
to fishing operations, NMFS must
determine if mortality and serious
injury incidental to commercial
fisheries will have a negligible impact
on the affected species or stocks of
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 207 (Friday, October 26, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60812-60814]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-21101]
[[Page 60812]]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-890]
Wooden Bedroom Furniture From the People's Republic of China:
Final Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review
AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On July 30, 2007, the Department of Commerce (``Department'')
issued its preliminary results in the changed circumstances review of
the antidumping duty order on wooden bedroom furniture (``WBF'') from
the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). See Wooden Bedroom Furniture
from the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Duty Changed Circumstances Review, 72 FR 41492 (July 30, 2007)
(``Preliminary Results''). For these final results, we continue to find
that Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. is the successor-in-interest to Nanhai
Jiantai Woodwork Co. (``Nanhai Jiantai''), and that Tradewinds
International Enterprise Ltd. (``Tradewinds Intl'') is not the
successor-in-interest to Nanhai Jiantai's affiliated exporter, Fortune
Glory Industrial Limited (``Fortune Glory'').
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 26, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juanita H. Chen or Robert A. Bolling,
AD/CVD Operations, Office 8, Import Administration, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14\th\ Street and
Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 202-482-1904
or 202-482-3434, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 18, 2007, in response to a joint request by Tradewinds
Furniture Ltd. and Tradewinds Intl (collectively, ``Tradewinds''), the
Department initiated a changed circumstances review to determine
whether Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. and Tradewinds Intl are successors-
in-interest to Nanhai Jiantai and Fortune Glory, respectively. See
Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People's Republic of China:
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review, 72 FR 2262
(January 18, 2007). On July 30, 2007, the Department issued its
Preliminary Results, finding that Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. is the
successor-in-interest to Nanhai Jiantai, and that Tradewinds Intl is
not the successor-in-interest to Fortune Glory. See Preliminary
Results, 72 FR 41492. As part of the Preliminary Results, the
Department invited interested parties to submit case and rebuttal
briefs, and provided the opportunity for parties to request a hearing.
See 72 FR at 41495. On August 6, 2007, Tradewinds submitted a brief
agreeing with the Department's finding for Tradewinds Furniture Ltd.
but contesting the finding that Tradewinds Intl is not the successor-
in-interest to Fortune Glory. No other parties submitted briefs. No
interested parties submitted a rebuttal brief or requested a hearing.
Scope of Order
The product covered by the order is wooden bedroom furniture.
Wooden bedroom furniture is generally, but not exclusively, designed,
manufactured, and offered for sale in coordinated groups, or bedrooms,
in which all of the individual pieces are of approximately the same
style and approximately the same material and/or finish. The subject
merchandise is made substantially of wood products, including both
solid wood and also engineered wood products made from wood particles,
fibers, or other wooden materials such as plywood, oriented strand
board, particle board, and fiberboard, with or without wood veneers,
wood overlays, or laminates, with or without non-wood components or
trim such as metal, marble, leather, glass, plastic, or other resins,
and whether or not assembled, completed, or finished.
The subject merchandise includes the following items: (1) wooden
beds such as loft beds, bunk beds, and other beds; (2) wooden
headboards for beds (whether stand-alone or attached to side rails),
wooden footboards for beds, wooden side rails for beds, and wooden
canopies for beds; (3) night tables, night stands, dressers, commodes,
bureaus, mule chests, gentlemen's chests, bachelor's chests, lingerie
chests, wardrobes, vanities, chessers, chifforobes, and wardrobe-type
cabinets; (4) dressers with framed glass mirrors that are attached to,
incorporated in, sit on, or hang over the dresser; (5) chests-on-
chests\1\, highboys\2\, lowboys\3\, chests of drawers\4\, chests\5\,
door chests\6\, chiffoniers\7\, hutches\8\, and armoires\9\; (6) desks,
computer stands, filing cabinets, book cases, or writing tables that
are attached to or incorporated in the subject merchandise; and (7)
other bedroom furniture consistent with the above list.
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\1\ A chest-on-chest is typically a tall chest-of-drawers in two
or more sections (or appearing to be in two or more sections), with
one or two sections mounted (or appearing to be mounted) on a
slightly larger chest; also known as a tallboy.
\2\ A highboy is typically a tall chest of drawers usually
composed of a base and a top section with drawers, and supported on
four legs or a small chest (often 15 inches or more in height).
\3\ A lowboy is typically a short chest of drawers, not more
than four feet high, normally set on short legs.
\4\ A chest of drawers is typically a case containing drawers
for storing clothing.
\5\ A chest is typically a case piece taller than it is wide
featuring a series of drawers and with or without one or more doors
for storing clothing. The piece can either include drawers or be
designed as a large box incorporating a lid.
\6\ A door chest is typically a chest with hinged doors to store
clothing, whether or not containing drawers. The piece may also
include shelves for televisions and other entertainment electronics.
\7\ A chiffonier is typically a tall and narrow chest of drawers
normally used for storing undergarments and lingerie, often with
mirror(s) attached.
\8\ A hutch is typically an open case of furniture with shelves
that typically sits on another piece of furniture and provides
storage for clothes.
\9\ An armoire is typically a tall cabinet or wardrobe
(typically 50 inches or taller), with doors, and with one or more
drawers (either exterior below or above the doors or interior behind
the doors), shelves, and/or garment rods or other apparatus for
storing clothes. Bedroom armoires may also be used to hold
television receivers and/or other audio-visual entertainment
systems.
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The scope of the order excludes the following items: (1) seats,
chairs, benches, couches, sofas, sofa beds, stools, and other seating
furniture; (2) mattresses, mattress supports (including box springs),
infant cribs, water beds, and futon frames; (3) office furniture, such
as desks, stand-up desks, computer cabinets, filing cabinets,
credenzas, and bookcases; (4) dining room or kitchen furniture such as
dining tables, chairs, servers, sideboards, buffets, corner cabinets,
china cabinets, and china hutches; (5) other non-bedroom furniture,
such as television cabinets, cocktail tables, end tables, occasional
tables, wall systems, book cases, and entertainment systems; (6)
bedroom furniture made primarily of wicker, cane, osier, bamboo or
rattan; (7) side rails for beds made of metal if sold separately from
the headboard and footboard; (8) bedroom furniture in which bentwood
parts predominate\10\; (9) jewelry armories\11\; (10) cheval
[[Page 60813]]
mirrors\12\; (11) certain metal parts\13\;(12) mirrors that do not
attach to, incorporate in, sit on, or hang over a dresser if they are
not designed and marketed to be sold in conjunction with a dresser as
part of a dresser-mirror set; and (13) upholstered beds\14\.
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\10\ As used herein, bentwood means solid wood made pliable.
Bentwood is wood that is brought to a curved shape by bending it
while made pliable with moist heat or other agency and then set by
cooling or drying. See Customs' Headquarters' Ruling Letter 043859,
dated May 17, 1976.
\11\ Any armoire, cabinet or other accent item for the purpose
of storing jewelry, not to exceed 24 in width,
18 in depth, and 49 in height, including a
minimum of 5 lined drawers lined with felt or felt-like material, at
least one side door (whether or not the door is lined with felt or
felt-like material), with necklace hangers, and a flip-top lid with
inset mirror. See Issues and Decision Memorandum from Laurel
LaCivita to Laurie Parkhill, Office Director, Concerning Jewelry
Armoires and Cheval Mirrors in the Antidumping Duty Investigation of
Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People's Republic of China, dated
August 31, 2004. See also Wooden Bedroom Furniture from the People's
Republic of China: Notice of Final Results of Changed Circumstances
Review and Revocation in Part, 71 FR 38621 (July 7, 2006).
\12\ Cheval mirrors are, i.e., any framed, tiltable mirror with
a height in excess of 50 that is mounted on a floor-
standing, hinged base. Additionally, the scope of the order excludes
combination cheval mirror/jewelry cabinets. The excluded merchandise
is an integrated piece consisting of a cheval mirror, i.e., a framed
tiltable mirror with a height in excess of 50 inches, mounted on a
floor-standing, hinged base, the cheval mirror serving as a door to
a cabinet back that is integral to the structure of the mirror and
which constitutes a jewelry cabinet lined with fabric, having
necklace and bracelet hooks, mountings for rings and shelves, with
or without a working lock and key to secure the contents of the
jewelry cabinet back to the cheval mirror, and no drawers anywhere
on the integrated piece. The fully assembled piece must be at least
50 inches in height, 14.5 inches in width, and 3 inches in depth.
See Wooden Bedroom Furniture From the People's Republic of China:
Final Results of Changed Circumstances Review and Determination To
Revoke Order in Part, 72 FR 38621 (January 9, 2007).
\13\ Metal furniture parts and unfinished furniture parts made
of wood products (as defined above) that are not otherwise
specifically named in this scope (i.e., wooden headboards for beds,
wooden footboards for beds, wooden side rails for beds, and wooden
canopies for beds) and that do not possess the essential character
of wooden bedroom furniture in an unassembled, incomplete, or
unfinished form. Such parts are usually classified under the
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (``HTSUS'')
subheading 9403.90.7000.
\14\ Upholstered beds that are completely upholstered, i.e.,
containing filling material and completely covered in sewn genuine
leather, synthetic leather, or natural or synthetic decorative
fabric. To be excluded, the entire bed (headboards, footboards, and
side rails) must be upholstered except for bed feet, which may be of
wood, metal, or any other material and which are no more than nine
inches in height from the floor. See Wooden Bedroom Furniture from
the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Changed
Circumstances Review and Determination to Revoke Order in Part, 72
FR 7013 (February 14, 2007).
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Imports of subject merchandise are classified under subheading
9403.50.9040 of the HTSUS as ``wooden . . . beds'' and under subheading
9403.50.9080 of the HTSUS as ``other . . . wooden furniture of a kind
used in the bedroom.'' In addition, wooden headboards for beds, wooden
footboards for beds, wooden side rails for beds, and wooden canopies
for beds may also be entered under subheading 9403.50.9040 of the HTSUS
as ``parts of wood'' and framed glass mirrors may also be entered under
subheading 7009.92.5000 of the HTSUS as ``glass mirrors . . . framed.''
This order covers all wooden bedroom furniture meeting the above
description, regardless of tariff classification. Although the HTSUS
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, our
written description of the scope of this proceeding is dispositive.
Final Results Of Review
As noted in the Preliminary Results, in a changed circumstances
review involving a successor-in-interest determination, the Department
typically examines several factors including, but not limited to,
changes in: (1) management; (2) production facilities; (3) supplier
relationships; and (4) customer base. See Certain Cut-to-Length Carbon
Steel Plate from Romania: Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed
Circumstances Antidumping Duty Administrative Review, 70 FR 22847 (May
3, 2005). While no single factor or combination of factors will
necessarily be dispositive, the Department generally will consider the
new company to be the successor to the predecessor if the resulting
operations are essentially the same as those of the predecessor
company. See, e.g., Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty Changed
Circumstances Review: Certain Forged Stainless Steel Flanges from
India, 71 FR 327 (January 4, 2006).
Analysis of Comments Received
Due to their proprietary nature, all issues raised in the post-
preliminary comments by parties in this review (i.e., whether
Tradewinds Intl is the successor-in-interest to Fortune Glory) are
addressed in the memorandum to the file, ``Decision Memorandum for the
Changed Circumstances Review of Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. and
Tradewinds International Enterprise Ltd. on the Antidumping Duty Order
on Wooden Bedroom Furniture From the People's Republic of China,''
dated October 19, 2007 (``Decision Memorandum''). The Decision
Memorandum is a proprietary document, for which a public version is
available on file in the Central Records Unit in room B-099 of the main
Department building.
Tradewinds Furniture Ltd.
Tradewinds concurs with the Department's preliminary findings with
respect to the successorship of Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. Moreover,
there has been no information submitted to the record that indicates
the Department should change its finding with regards to Tradewinds
Furniture Ltd. As a result, for the reasons stated in the Preliminary
Results, we continue to find that Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. is the
successor-in-interest to Nanhai Jiantai.
Therefore, we will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to
apply the cash deposit rate established for Nanhai Jiantai to all
entries of merchandise exported by Tradewinds Furniture Ltd. The cash
deposit determination from this changed circumstances review will apply
to all entries of the subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from
warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication of the
final results of this changed circumstances review. See Notice of Final
Results of Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review; Certain
Forged Stainless Steel Flanges From India, 71 FR 31156, 31157 (June 1,
2006). This cash deposit rate shall remain in effect until further
notice.
Tradewinds International Enterprise Ltd.
While Tradewinds asserts that its submitted documentation supports
a finding that Tradewinds Intl is the successor-in-interest to Fortune
Glory, and should be legally entitled to the Fortune Glory rate, we
find that Tradewinds failed to provide sufficient evidence indicating
that Tradewinds Intl is ``essentially the same'' as Fortune Glory for a
successor-in-interest finding. Contrary to Tradewinds' argument, while
we noted in our Preliminary Results that Fortune Glory has not
transferred its export functions to Tradewinds Intl, it is not the sole
reason we determined Tradewinds Intl is not essentially the same as
Fortune Glory. Rather, the Department looks to a totality of the
factors. While Tradewinds submitted some documentation to demonstrate
the creation of Tradewinds Intl (including the business certification
and naming of Tradewinds Intl), upon an examination of all the
documentation submitted, against the factors required to support a
finding of successor-in-interest, including proprietary factors that
cannot be discussed in this public Federal Register notice, Tradewinds
has failed to establish that such creation is essentially unchanged
from Fortune Glory. See Decision Memorandum, at 3-6. Significantly, it
is not possible to compare the factors the Department typically
examines between the predecessor company Fortune Glory (i.e.,
management, production facilities, supplier relationships, sales
facilities, and customer base) to those of the
[[Page 60814]]
requesting company Tradewinds Intl because, as Tradewinds itself
acknowledges, the successor-in-interest has yet to occur. Specifically,
Tradewinds states that ``{n{time} o structural, management, employee,
supplier, customer, or other changes are anticipated as a result of the
transfer'' (emphasis added). Despite Tradewinds' assurances that
operations will eventually be essentially the same, the Department
cannot base a ruling on speculation, as it provides the Department with
no record evidence to analyze. For a more detailed discussion,
including relevant factors of a proprietary nature, see the Decision
Memorandum.
As a result, we continue to find that Tradewinds Intl is not the
successor-in-interest to Fortune Glory at this time and, therefore,
should not be given the same antidumping duty treatment as Fortune
Glory.
This notice is issued and published in accordance with sections
751(b)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, and 19
C.F.R. 351.216.
Dated: October 19, 2007.
David M. Spooner,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-21101 Filed 10-25-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S