USITC to conduct reviews on lightweight thermal paper from China and Germany

WASHINGTON, USA: The US International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission) has voted to conduct full five-year ("sunset") reviews concerning the countervailing duty order on certain lightweight thermal paper from China and the antidumping duty orders on certain lightweight thermal paper from China and Germany (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-451 and 731-TA-1126-1127 (Review)).

As a result of these votes, the Commission will conduct full reviews to determine whether revocation of these orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission's notice of institution in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file with the Commission responses that discuss the likely effects of revoking the order under review and provide other pertinent information.

Generally, within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

With respect to imports from China, chairman Irving A. Williamson and commissioners Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, and Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and that the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted full reviews.

With respect to imports from Germany, chairman Irving A. Williamson and commissioners Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, and Meredith M. Broadbent concluded that both the domestic group response and the respondent group response for this review were adequate and voted for a full review.

Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff and F. Scott Kieff did not participate in these adequacy determinations.

A record of the Commission's votes on these matters is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

The record of the Commission's votes is also posted on the USITC's Internet site at http://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/caseProf/list?sort=caseTitleℴ=asc. From this page, search "thermal paper" using the search box in the upper right corner.

The Federal Register notice will indicate whether any further information or statements will be available. The Commission will issue a report after it completes its reviews.