----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration [C-580-602] Certain Stainless Steel Cooking Ware From the Republic of Korea: Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, and Intent To Revoke Order In Part AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of initiation and preliminary results of changed circumstances countervailing duty administrative review, and intent to revoke order in part. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARY: In response to a request from Peregrine Outfitters, Inc. (Peregrine), a U.S. importer, the Department of Commerce (the Department) is initiating a changed circumstances countervailing duty administrative review and issuing an intent to revoke, in part, the countervailing duty order on certain stainless steel cooking ware from the Republic of Korea. Peregrine requested that the Department revoke the order in part with regard to imports of stainless steel camping cooking ware from the Republic of Korea, as described by Peregrine. Based on the fact that Revereware, Inc. (petitioner) has expressed no interest in the importation of stainless steel camping cooking ware, as described by Peregrine, we intend to partially revoke this order. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 12, 1997. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy S. Wei or James Terpstra, Office 4, Office of Antidumping/Countervailing Duty Enforcement, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. 20230; telephone (202) 482-4737. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicable Statute and Regulations Unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the statute are references to the provisions effective January 1, 1995, the effective date of the amendments made to the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (URAA). In addition, unless otherwise indicated, all citations to the Department's regulations are to the current regulations, as amended by the interim regulations published in the Federal Register on May 11, 1995 (60 FR 25130). Background On January 24, 1997, at Peregrine's request, the Department revoked in part the antidumping duty order on certain stainless steel cooking ware from the Republic of Korea with regard to stainless steel cooking ware (62 FR 3662). On March 31, 1997, Peregrine subsequently requested that the Department conduct a changed circumstances administrative review to determine whether to partially revoke the countervailing duty order on certain stainless steel cooking ware from the Republic of Korea with regard to stainless steel camping cooking ware (52 FR 2140, January 20, 1987). In addition, the petitioner informed the Department that it does not object to the changed circumstances review and has no interest in the importation or sale of stainless steel camping cooking ware as described by Peregrine. Scope of Review The merchandise covered by this changed circumstances review is stainless steel camping cooking ware from the Republic of Korea. This changed circumstances administrative review covers all manufacturers/ exporters of stainless steel cooking ware meeting the following specifications of stainless steel camping cooking ware: (1) Made of single-ply stainless steel having a thickness no greater than 6.0 millimeters; and (2) consists of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 quart saucepans without handles and 2.5, 4.0, 5.0 quart saucepans with folding bail handles and with lids that also serve as fry pans. This camping cooking ware can be nested inside each other in order to save space when packing for camping or backpacking. The order with regard to imports of other stainless steel cooking ware is not affected by this request. Initiation and Preliminary Results of Changed Circumstances Countervailing Duty Administrative Review, and Intent to Revoke Order In Part Pursuant to section 751(d) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), the Department may partially revoke a countervailing duty order based on a review under section 751(b) of the Act (i.e., a changed circumstances review). Section 751(b)(1) of the Act requires a changed circumstances administrative ---- page 25927 ---- review to be conducted upon receipt of a request containing sufficient information concerning changed circumstances. The Department's regulations at 19 CFR 355.25(d)(2) require that the Department conduct a changed circumstances administrative review under Sec. 355.22(h) based upon available information, including an affirmative statement of no interest from the petitioner in the proceeding. Section 355.25(d)(1)(i) further provides that the Department may revoke an order or revoke an order in part if it determines that the order under review is no longer of interest to interested parties. In addition, in the event that the Department concludes that expedited action is warranted, Sec. 355.22(h)(4) of the regulations permits the Department to combine the notices of initiation and preliminary results. Therefore, in accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and 751(d) of the Act, 19 CFR 355.25(d), and 355.22(h), we are initiating this changed circumstances administrative review and have determined that expedited action is warranted. Based on an affirmative statement of no interest by petitioner with respect to stainless steel camping cooking ware as described by Peregrine, as well as the fact that we have revoked the antidumping duty order in part with regard to stainless steel camping cooking ware (62 FR 3662, January 24, 1997), we have preliminarily determined that the portion of the countervailing duty order on certain stainless steel cooking ware from the Republic of Korea concerning stainless steel camping cooking ware, as described in Peregrine's request for a changed circumstances review, no longer is of interest to domestic interested parties. We have further concluded that expedited action is warranted, and are, therefore, combining these notices of initiation and preliminary results. We are hereby notifying the public of our intent to revoke in part the countervailing duty order as to imports of this type of stainless steel camping cooking ware from the Republic of Korea. If final revocation in part occurs, we will instruct the U.S. Customs Service to end the suspension of liquidation and to refund, with interest, any estimated countervailing duties collected for all unliquidated entries of the subject merchandise that are not subject to a final results of administrative review. The current requirement for a cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties will continue until publication of the final results of this changed circumstances review. Public Comment Parties to the proceeding may request disclosure within 5 days of the date of publication of this notice and any interested party may request a hearing within 10 days of publication. Any hearing, if requested, will be held no later than 28 days after the date of publication of this notice, or the first working day thereafter. Case briefs and/or written comments from interested parties may be submitted no later than 14 days after the date of publication of this notice. Rebuttal briefs and rebuttals to written comments or briefs, limited to the issues raised in those comments, may be filed no later than 21 days after the date of publication of this notice. All written comments or briefs shall be submitted in accordance with 19 CFR 355.31(e) and shall be served on all interested parties on the Department's service list in accordance with 19 CFR 355.31(g). Persons interested in attending the hearing should contact the Department for the date and time of the hearing. The Department will publish the final results of this changed circumstances review, including the results of its analysis of issues raised in any written comments. This notice is in accordance with sections 751(b)(1) and (d) of the Act and Sec. Sec. 355.22(h) and 355.25(d) of the Department's regulations. Dated: May 5, 1997. Robert S. LaRussa, Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration. [FR Doc. 97-12203 Filed 5-9-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Contents entry for this article reads as follows: International Trade Administration NOTICES Countervailing duties: Stainless steel cooking ware from-- Korea, 25926 ------------------------------------------------------------------------