AD/CV: India Commodity Matchbooks

The ITA has also initiated a countervailing duty investigation to determine whether manufacturers, producers, or exporters of commodity matchbooks from India receive countervailable subsidies.

Comments on Product Characteristics for AD Questionnaire Due Dec. 1st

In order to consider the suggestions of interested parties in developing and issuing an AD duty questionnaire, the ITA is requesting comments regarding the appropriate physical characteristics of commodity matchbooks to be reported in response to the AD duty questionnaire.

This information will be used to identify the key physical characteristics of the subject merchandise in order to more accurately report the relevant factors and costs of production, as well as to develop appropriate product comparison criteria.

Comments on product characteristics to be reported in response to the AD questionnaire must be submitted by December 1, 2008. (Rebuttal comments are due December 8, 2008.)

Comments on AD/CV Respondent Selection Due Dec. 4th/Dec. 1st

For the AD duty investigation, the ITA intends to select respondents based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports during the period of investigation. The ITA requests comments regarding the CBP data and respondent selection in the AD duty investigation by December 4, 2008.

For the CV duty investigation, the petitioner claims that there is only one Indian producer/exporter of commodity matchbooks that shipped to the U.S. during the proposed period of investigation. The ITA invites comments regarding the CBP data and respondent selection in the CV duty investigation by December 1, 2008.

Comments on Scope of AD/CV Investigations Due Dec. 15th

Comments on the scope of the AD and CV investigations are due by December 15, 2008.

Scope of the Investigations

The scope of these investigations covers commodity matchbooks, also known as commodity book matches, paper matches or booklet matches¹. Commodity matchbooks typically, but do not necessarily, consist of twenty match stems which are usually made from paperboard or similar material tipped with a match head composed of any chemical formula. The match stems may be stitched, stapled or otherwise fastened into a matchbook cover of any material, on which a striking strip composed of any chemical formula has been applied to assist in the ignition process.

Commodity matchbooks included in the scope of these investigations may or may not contain printing. For example, they may have no printing other than the identification of the manufacturer or importer.

Commodity matchbooks may also be printed with a generic message such as "Thank You" or a generic image such as the American Flag, with store brands (e.g., Kroger, 7-Eleven, Shurfine or Giant); product brands for national or regional advertisers such as cigarettes or alcoholic beverages; or with corporate brands for national or regional distributors (e.g., Penley Corp. or Diamond Brands). They all enter retail distribution channels. Regardless of the materials used for the stems of the matches and regardless of the way the match stems are fastened to the matchbook cover, all commodity matchbooks are included in the scope of these investigations.

All matchbooks, including commodity matchbooks, typically comply with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Safety Standard for Matchbooks, codified at 16 CFR 1202.1 et seq.

Exclusions to the scope of the investigations. The scope of these investigations excludes promotional matchbooks, often referred to as "not for resale," or "specialty advertising" matchbooks, as they do not enter into retail channels and are sold to businesses that provide hospitality, dining, drinking or entertainment services to their customers, and are given away by these businesses as promotional items. Such promotional matchbooks are distinguished by the physical characteristic of having the name and/or logo of a bar, restaurant, resort, hotel, club, caf/coffee shop, grill, pub, eatery, lounge, casino, barbecue or individual establishment printed prominently on the matchbook cover. Promotional matchbook cover printing also typically includes the address and the phone number of the business or establishment being promoted².

Also excluded are all other matches that are not fastened into a matchbook cover such as wooden matches, stick matches, box matches, kitchen matches, pocket matches, penny matches, household matches, strike-anywhere matches (aka "SAW" matches), strike-on-box matches (aka "SOB" matches), fireplace matches, barbeque/grill matches, fire starters, and wax matches.

HTS classification. The merchandise subject to these investigations is properly classified under Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 3605.00.0060. Subject merchandise may also enter under HTS 3605.00.0030.

Although the HTS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise under investigation is dispositive.

¹Such commodity matchbooks are also referred to as "for resale" because they always enter into retail channels, meaning businesses that sell a general variety of tangible merchandise, e.g. convenience stores, supermarkets, dollar stores, drug stores and mass merchandisers.

²The gross distinctions between commodity matchbooks and promotional matchbooks may be summarized as follows: (1) if it has no printing, or is printed with a generic message such as "Thank You" or a generic image such as the American Flag, or printed with national or regional store brands or corporate brands, it is commodity; (2) if it has printing, and the printing includes the name of a bar, restaurant, resort, hotel, club, caf/coffee shop, grill, pub, eatery, lounge, casino, barbecue, or individual establishment prominently displayed on the matchbook cover, it is promotional.

- comments on product characteristics for AD questionnaire due by 12/01/08

-comments on AD data/respondent selection due 12/04/08

-comments on CV data/respondent selection due 12/01/08

- comments on scope of investigations due by 12/15/08

- ITA's preliminary AD duty determination due by 01/22/09

-ITA's preliminary CV duty determination due by 04/07/09

-International Trade Commission's prelim AD/CV injury determinations due 12/15/08

ITA AD notice (FR Pub 11/24/08) available a http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-27893.pdf

ITA CV notice (FR Pub 11/24/08) available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-27875.pdf

ITA fact sheet available at http://ia.ita.doc.gov/download/factsheets/factsheet-india-matchbooks-init-111808.pdf