[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30254-30255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14747]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION


Electrolytic Manganese Dioxide From Greece and Japan

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission (Commission).

ACTION: Request for comments regarding the institution of section 
751(b) review investigations concerning the Commission's affirmative 
determinations in the following investigations:

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[[Page 30255]]



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                                                   Action taken by the Commission                          Action taken by the Dept. of Commerce        
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              Country                                          Date of        Federal Register                          Date of       Federal Register  
                                       Investigation No.    determination         citation             Order No.         order            citation      
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Greece............................  731-TA-406                  04/10/89   54 FR 16010            A-484-801              04/17/89  54 FR 15243          
Japan.............................  731-TA-408                   4/10/89   54 FR 16010            A-588-806              04/17/89  54 FR 15244          
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SUMMARY: The Commission invites comments from the public on whether 
changed circumstances exist sufficient to warrant the institution of 
investigations pursuant to section 751(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 
(the Act),<SUP>1</SUP> to review the affirmative determinations of the 
Commission in the above investigations. The purpose of the proposed 
review investigations is to determine whether revocation of the 
existing antidumping orders on imports of electrolytic manganese 
dioxide (EMD) from Greece and Japan is likely to lead to continuation 
or recurrence of material injury.<SUP>2</SUP> EMD is provided for in 
subheading 2820.10.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States.

    \1\ 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1675(b).
    \2\ 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1675(b)(2)(A).
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Fischer (202-205-3179) or Vera 
Libeau (202-205-3176), Office of Investigations, U.S. International 
Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-
impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting 
the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. 
General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by 
accessing its internet server at http://www.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 26, 1998, the Commission received a request to review its 
affirmative determination, as it applied to imports from Greece (the 
request), in the light of changed circumstances, pursuant to section 
751(b) of the Act.<SUP>3</SUP> The request was filed by counsel on 
behalf of Eveready Battery Company, St. Louis, MO. Eveready Battery is 
one of three U.S. producers of EMD. The company is a captive producer 
of EMD and a purchaser of EMD from other U.S. and foreign 
manufacturers. EMD is a major ingredient in the manufacture of dry cell 
batteries used in portable electronic devices.
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    \3\ 19 U.S.C. Sec. 1675(b).
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    The alleged changed circumstances in the request include:
    (1) Structural changes in battery consumption (and therefore in EMD 
consumption) have created significantly increased demand for batteries; 
existing U.S. EMD producers are operating at full capacity and cannot 
meet the increased demand for regular or high-drain EMD; forecast 
growth in demand for batteries and EMD during the next few years will 
consume all U.S. production of EMD as well as all available capacity 
from qualified producers in countries not subject to antidumping 
orders.
    (2) In addition to the two types of EMD examined in the 
Commission's 1988 investigations-low-drain carbon-zinc EMD used in 
zinc-chloride batteries and low-to-moderate drain alkaline EMD used in 
alkaline batteries of all sizes--there is now a third recognized type 
of EMD--high-drain alkaline EMD used in AA and AAA size alkaline 
batteries suited to meet the power requirements of new high-drain 
electronic products that have flooded the market in the 1990s; imports 
from Greece would likely be of a different type of EMD (high-drain EMD) 
than the EMD originally before the Commission in 1988.
    (3) At the time of the Commission's original investigations in 
1988, imports of EMD from Greece represented less than 1 percent of 
total U.S. imports; under subsequent and current trade law, the 
Commission could have excluded imports from Greece as negligible 
imports; should the existing antidumping duty order be revoked, 
available EMD from Greece would be limited to such a small quantity 
that it could have no material impact on EMD producers in the United 
States.
    Because some of the alleged changed circumstances predominantly 
relate to the domestic industry and are not limited to imports from 
Greece, submissions should also address the possibility of the 
Commission self-initiating a review of the outstanding order on Japan.

Written Comments Requested

    Pursuant to Sec. 207.45(b) of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedure,<SUP>4</SUP> the Commission requests comments concerning 
whether the alleged changed circumstances are sufficient to warrant 
institution of review investigations.
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    \4\ 19 CFR 207.45(b).
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    Written Submissions
    In accordance with section 201.8 of the Commission's 
rules,<SUP>5</SUP> the signed original and 14 copies of all written 
submissions must be filed with the Secretary to the Commission, 500 E 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20436. All comments must be filed no later 
than July 6, 1998, which is at least 30 days after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The Commission's 
determination regarding initiation of review investigations is due 
within 30 days of the close of the comment period. Any person desiring 
to submit a document (or portion thereof) to the Commission in 
confidence must request business confidential treatment under section 
Sec. 201.6 of the Commission's rules.<SUP>6</SUP> Such requests should 
be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and must include a full 
statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such 
treatment. Each sheet must be clearly marked at the top ``Confidential 
Business Information.'' The Commission will either accept the 
submission in confidence or return it. All nonconfidential written 
submissions will be available for public inspection in the Office of 
the Secretary.
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    \5\ 19 CFR 201.8.
    \6\ 19 CFR 201.6.
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    Copies of the non-confidential version of the request and any other 
documents in this matter are available for public inspection during 
regular business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the 
Secretary to the Commission; telephone 202-205-2000.

    Issued: May 29, 1998.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-14747 Filed 6-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P