Final Results of Expedited Sunset Review of Countervailing Duty Order: Top-of-the-Stove Stainless Steel Cookware from South Korea

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY:

On March 1, 2005, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) initiated a sunset review of the countervailing duty (“CVD”) order on top-of-the-stove stainless steel cookware from South Korea pursuant to section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”). See Notice of Initiation of Five-year (“Sunset”) Reviews, 70 FR 9919

(March 1, 2005). On the basis of a notice of intent to participate and an adequate substantive response filed on behalf of the domestic interested parties and no response from respondent interested parties (in this case, no response), the Department conducted an expedited sunset review of this CVD order pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(B). As a result of this sunset review, the Department finds that revocation of the CVD order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the level indicated in the “Final Results of Review” section of this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 4, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Tipten Troidl or David Goldberger, AD/CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20230; telephone: (202) 482-1767 or (202) 482-4136, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On March 1, 2005, the Department initiated a sunset review of the CVD order on top-of-the-stove stainless steel cookware from Korea pursuant to section 751(c) of the Act. See Notice of Initiation of Five-year (“Sunset”) Reviews, 70 FR 9919 (March 1, 2005). On

March 16, 2005, the Department received a notice of intent to participate from the following domestic interested parties: Paper Allied Industrial Chemical & Energy Workers, Local 7-0850 (“PACE”) and Vita Craft Corporation (“Vita”), which make up the Stainless Steel Cookware Committee (“Committee”), an ad hoc coalition of domestic producers and employees, and Regal Ware, Inc. (collectively “domestic interested parties”), within the deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(1)(i). The domestic interested parties claimed interested party status under sections 771(9)(C), (D), (E) and (F) of the Act, as an ad hoc association which is comprised of domestic producers of the subject merchandise.

On March 31, 2005, the Department received a complete substantive response from the domestic interested parties within the 30-day deadline specified in 19 CFR 351.218(d)(3)(i). However, the Department did not receive a substantive response from any government or respondent interested party to this proceeding. As a result, pursuant to section 751(c)(3)(B) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.218(e)(1)(ii)(C)(2), the Department conducted an expedited review of this CVD order.

Scope of the Order

The merchandise subject to this CVD order is top-of-the-stove stainless steel cookware (“cookware”) from Korea. The subject merchandise is all non-electric cooking ware of stainless steel which may have one or more layers of aluminum, copper or carbon steel for more even heat distribution. The subject merchandise includes skillets, frying pans, omelette pans, saucepans, double boilers, stock pots, dutch ovens, casseroles, steamers, and other stainless steel vessels, all for cooking on stove top burners, except tea kettles and fish poachers.

Excluded from the scope of the order is stainless steel oven ware and stainless steel kitchen ware. Certain stainless steel pasta and steamer inserts and certain stainless steel eight-cup coffee percolators are within the scope (63 FR 41545 (August 4, 1998) and 58 FR 11209 (February 24, 1993), respectively).

Moreover, as a result of a changed circumstances review, the Department revoked the order in part with regards to certain stainless steel camping ware that: (1) is 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 with lids that also serve as fry pans (62 FR 32767, June 17, 1997).

Cookware is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule (“HTS”) item numbers 7323.93.00 and 9604.00.00. The HTS item numbers are provided for convenience and customs purposes only. The written description remains dispositive.

Analysis of Comments Received

All issues raised in this review are addressed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum (“Decision Memorandum”) from Barbara E. Tillman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, to Holly A. Kuga, Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, dated September 27, 2005, which is hereby adopted by this notice. Parties can find a complete discussion of all issues raised in this review and the corresponding recommendation in this public memorandum which is on file in the Central Records Unit room B-099 of the main Commerce building. In addition, a complete version of the Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly on the Web at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/frn. The paper copy and electronic version of the Decision Memorandum are identical in content.

Final Results of Review

The Department determines that revocation of the countervailing duty order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of a countervailable subsidy at the rates listed below:

Notification Regarding Administrative Protective Order:

This notice serves as the only reminder to parties subject to administrative protective order (“APO”) of their responsibility concerning the return or destruction of proprietary information disclosed under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Timely notification of return/destruction of APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and the terms of an APO is a sanctionable violation.

We are issuing and publishing the results and notice in accordance with sections 751(c), 752, and 777(i)(1) of the Act.