AD: Italy, United Kingdom Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof
The International Trade Administration (ITA) has announced that it is initiating changed circumstances reviews of the antidumping (AD) duty orders on ball bearings and parts thereof from Italy and the United Kingdom.
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ITA to Determine If Somecat, SNFA UK Are Post-Acquisition Successors-in-Interest, Etc.
According to the ITA, Somecat S.p.A. (Somecat), a subsidiary of Societe Nouvelle de Fabrication Aeronautique S.A.S.U. (SNFA), and SKF Industries S.p.A. (SKF Italy) notified the ITA of a change in ownership of SNFA. Additionally, SNFA Bearings Ltd. (SNFA UK), a subsidiary of SNFA, and SKF UK Ltd. filed a similar notification.
(The ITA states that Somecat, SNFA UK, SKF Italy, and SKF UK notified the ITA that, on July 4, 2006, through its subsidiary SKF Holding France S.A., AB SKF purchased all outstanding shares of SNFA.)
According to the ITA, Somecat and SKF Italy stated that, because Somecat and SKF Italy will continue to operate as separate and distinct businesses, Somecat is not the successor-in-interest to SKF Italy nor is SKF Italy a successor-in-interest to the pre-acquisition Somecat. Accordingly, SKF Italy and Somecat asserted, it would be inappropriate to assign the SKF Italy cash-deposit rate to entries of subject merchandise from Somecat.
The ITA adds that SNFA UK and SKF UK stated that, because SNFA UK and SKF UK will continue to operate as separate and distinct businesses until a planned relocation of SNFA UK's manufacturing facilities occurs later in 2007, SNFA UK is not the successor-in-interest to SKF UK nor is SKF UK the successor-in-interest to the pre-acquisition SNFA UK. Accordingly, SKF UK and SNFA UK asserted, it would be inappropriate to assign the SKF UK cash-deposit rate to entries of subject merchandise from SNFA UK.
ITA Determines Changed Circumstances Reviews are Warranted
The ITA states that although SKF Italy, SKF UK, Somecat, and SNFA UK assert that conduct of changed circumstances reviews for the Italy and United Kingdom proceedings would be premature, the ITA determines that the information submitted demonstrates changed circumstances sufficient to warrant changed circumstances reviews of these AD duty orders.
ITA to Issue Questionnaire, Preliminary Results, Etc.
The ITA will issue questionnaires requesting factual information for the reviews and will publish a notice of preliminary results of the AD duty changed-circumstances reviews in the Federal Register.
The ITA adds that during the course of these changed circumstances reviews, it will not change the cash deposit requirements for the subject merchandise. The cash deposit rates will be altered, if warranted, pursuant only to the final results of this review.
(See ITA notice for more information including the scope of the order, etc. See ITT's Online Archives or 03/14/07 news, 07031425, for BP summary of the initiation of the changed circumstances review of ball bearings and parts thereof from France.)
ITA contact - Kristin Case (202) 482-3174
ITA Notice (FR Pub 03/09/07) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-4290.pdf