XN000022-1994-03-19 — Page 2

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SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1994

USA FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW RESULTS DRAW CONCERN

* * * * *

DIRECTOR-GENERAL ASSISTANT

EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERN

TRADE, MR

PETER S T PANG. AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW FIBRE SWEATERS FROM HONG

OF (SATURDAY) TODAY OF COMMERCE'S FINAL DETERMINATION OF THE FIRST IN THE ANTI-DUMPING CASE AGAINST MAN-MADE KONG.

+

"THE FINAL DETERMINATION IS A GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT,' PANG. *ALTHOUGH THE DUTY RATE FOR THE 14 COMPANIES IN THE SAMPLE GROUP THAN HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 31.72% TO 20.64%, IT IS STILL MUCH HIGHER

THE CURRENT RATE IS THE 5.86% PAID BY THESE COMPANIES UP TO NOW. ALREADY THE SUBJECT OF AN APPEAL BY HONG KONG COMPANIES.

p

SAID MR

U.S.

AND METHODOLOGY HAVE PRODUCED RESULTS

THE UNDER "WE DO FEEL THAT THE CALCULATIONS

WHICH ARE ANTI-DUMPING PROCEEDINGS

WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT THE SAMPLE UNREALISTIC AND UNFAIR. GROUP RATF DETERMINED IN THE REVIEW 'INCLUDES THE DUMPING MARGIN OF ONE BASIS OF UNVERIFIED INFORMATION COMPANY WHICH IS ARRIVED AT ON THE PROVIDED BY THE PETITIONER, THE U.S. NATIONAL KNITWEAR AND SPORTSWEARS ASSOCIATION (NKSA).

OF

"THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE DESPITE DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER THE U.S.

U.S. THE

COURT INJURY. ANY DOMESTIC

HAS SUFFERED INDUSTRY INTERNATIONAL TRADE HAS RULED THAT THE CASE REMAINS UNPROVEN, ALTHOUGH

IN OUR VIEW, THE DUTIES THE U.S. PETITIONER HAS APPEALED. SUSPENDED UNTIL THE APPEAL IS HEARD,

SHOULD BE

"THE

HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT

IS

IN CLOSE

WITH CONTACT THE HONG KONG

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDUSTRY, AND WILL ENCOURAGE SWEATER INDUSTRY TO CHALLENGE THIS LATEST DETERMINATION," HE SAID. "WE WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERING OUR OPTIONS UNDER GATT RULES.'

THE REGULATIONS,

DEPARTMENT OF 12 MONTHS

UNDER THE U.S. ANTI-DUMPING COMMERCE IS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT AN ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW FROM THE DATE OF THE ANTI-DUMPING ORDER IF A REQUEST FOR SUCH A REVIEW HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

IN 1991, A NUMBER OF HONG KONG COMPANIES WERE NAMED BY THE U.S. PERIOD PETITIONER SEEKING A FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW (COVERING THE

FOUR HONG KONG AUGUST 31.

EVENTUALLY 1991) AND APRIL 27, 1990 COMPANIES WERE SELECTED FOR INVESTIGATION.

-

THREE OF THE FOUR COMPANIES SUBMITTED THEIR RESPONSES

COMPANY ANOTHER DEPARTMENT OF

QUESTIONNAIRE. COMMERCE'S

RESPOND.

ΤΟ THE

DID

NOT

THE

WHICH

ON NOVEMBER 24, 1993, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCED PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION OF THE FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW IN IT ASSIGNED NEW RATES TO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF HONG KONG COMPANIES.

INVESTIGATION IN THE REVIEW

THE FOUR COMPANIES SELECTED FOR WERE ASSIGNED THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL RATES.

THE OF THESE,

THREE

COMPANIES

WHICH

THE WITH CO-OPERATED

5.86% FOR DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE RECEIVED A NIL RATE IN ONE CASE AND THE TWO OTHER.

/THE COMPANY