November 29, 2007
News Release 07-119
Inv. No. 731-TA-909 (Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC or Commission) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on low enriched uranium from France would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determination and the Department of Commerce's recent affirmative finding, the existing order on imports of this product from France will remain in place.

Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, Vice Chairman Shara L. Aranoff, and Commissioners Charlotte R. Lane, Irving A. Williamson, and Dean A. Pinkert voted in the affirmative. Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun did not participate in this review.

Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.

The Commission's public report Low Enriched Uranium from France (Inv. No. 731-TA-909 (Review), USITC Publication 3967, December 2007) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.

Copies may be requested after January 3, 2008, by calling 202-205-2000 or by contacting the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by fax at 202-205-2104.

BACKGROUND

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 ITC 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 (ITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other 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 ITC'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.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) review concerning Low Enriched Uranium from France was instituted on January 3, 2007.

On April 9, 2007, the Commission voted to conduct a full review. Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, Vice Chairman Shara L. Aranoff, and Commissioners Charlotte R. Lane and Dean A. Pinkert concluded that both the domestic group response and the respondent group response were adequate and voted for full reviews. Commissioner Irving A. Williamson concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted full reviews. Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun did not participate in these reviews.

Information concerning the reasons for the Commission's vote to conduct a full review was published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2007. That notice and a record of the Commission's vote is posted on the ITC's Internet site at http://info.usitc.gov/oinv/sunset.NSF (under "Low Enriched Uranium - France").

In addition, a record of the Commission's vote to conduct a full review 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.