AD: China Diamond Sawblades and Parts Thereof

The International Trade Administration (ITA) has made a preliminary affirmative antidumping (AD) duty determination that diamond sawblades and parts thereof (sawblades) from China are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. The period of investigation is October 1, 2004 - March 31, 2005.

Combination rates. In the initiation notice for this AD duty investigation, the ITA stated that it would calculate exporter/producer combination rates for certain respondents that are eligible for a separate rate in this AD duty investigation. (See ITT's Online Archives or 04/11/05 news, 05041110, for BP summary of an April 2005 policy bulletin outlining this change in practice with regard to combination rates. This policy bulletin also announced a new application process for obtaining separate rates.)

Liquidation suspended (except for BGY¹), preliminary critical circumstances for Bosun and China-wide entity. The ITA states that because of a preliminary critical circumstances finding for Bosun and the China-wide entity, it is directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend the liquidation of entries of sawblades exported from China by Bosun or the China-wide entity that have a time of entry on or after 90 days prior to December 29, 2005.

As preliminary critical circumstances were not found for exports from Hebei Jikai or the separate rates applicants, the ITA states that it is directing CBP to suspend the liquidation of entries of sawblades from China exported by these firms that have time of entry on or after December 29, 2005.

For exports from BGY¹, which has a preliminary de minimis AD margin, the ITA states that liquidation will not be suspended, and no bond or cash deposit will be required for the preliminary determination.

Post bond or cash deposit on/after Dec 29th. The ITA is also instructing CBP to require a cash deposit or the posting of a bond at the AD rates (equal to the weighted-average AD margin) listed below, for entries of sawblades from China with a time of entry on or after December 29, 2005, for the following exporter/producer combinations and the China-wide entity:

(Note: each of the separate rates applicants received a 14.96% preliminary AD rate.)

(a) preliminary de minimis rate for BGY of .11%; liquidation not suspended and no cash

deposit or bond is required.

¹ The ITA states that it preliminarily finds that BGY is affiliated with Advanced

Technology & Materials Co., Ltd. and Yichang HXF Circular Saw Industrial Co., Ltd.

(collectively, with respondent BGY, the "AT&M Group"), and should be treated as a

single entity for the purposes of this investigation.)

Postponement of Final AD Duty Determination

In addition, the ITA states that it is postponing its final AD duty determination for subject merchandise from China until no later than 135 days after December 29, 2005 and is also extending the provisional measures accordingly.

(See ITA notice for additional information, including the scope of the investigation (which is unchanged from the initiation notice), etc.

See ITT's Online Archives or 06/30/05 news, 05063035, for BP summary of the initiation of this AD duty investigation. See ITT's Online Archives or 10/17/05 news, 05101735, for BP summary of the postponement of the preliminary AD duty determination. See ITT's Online Archives or 12/30/05 news, 05123030 for BP summary of preliminary determination for sawblades from Korea.)

ITA Contact - Catherine Bertrand (202) 482-3207

ITA Notice (FR Pub 12/29/05) available athttp://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20051800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2005/pdf/05-24627.pdf