February 23, 2023
News Release 23-020
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-669
Contact: Elizabeth Nesbitt, 202-205-1819
USITC Makes Determination in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Cased Pencils from China

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revocation of the existing antidumping duty order on cased pencils from China 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, the existing order on imports of this product from China will remain in place. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative. 

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 Cased Pencils from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-669 (Fifth Review), USITC Publication 5411, March 2023) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review. 

The report will be available by March 31, 2023; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.


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 USITC 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 (USITC) 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 USITC’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 Cased Pencils from China (Fifth Review) was instituted on August 1, 2022.

On November 4, 2022, the Commission voted to conduct an expedited review. Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review. 

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct an expedited 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.

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July 27, 2017
News Release 17-106
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-669 (Fourth Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Makes Determination in Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Cased Pencils from China

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty order on imports of cased pencils from China 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, the existing antidumping duty order on imports of this product from China will remain in place.

Chairman Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Vice Chairman David S. Johanson, and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative.

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 Cased Pencils from China (Inv. No. 731-TA-669 (Fourth Review), USITC Publication 4715, August 2017) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the review.

The report will be available by September 5, 2017; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.


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 USITC 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 (USITC) 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 USITC’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 Cased Pencils from China was instituted on June 1, 2016.

On September 6, 2016, the Commission voted to conduct a full review.  Vice Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Meredith M. Broadbent and F. Scott Kieff concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review.  Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Dean A. Pinkert and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review. 

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.

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September 6, 2016
News Release 16-112
Inv. No(s). 731-TA-669 (Fourth Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Will Conduct Full Five-Year (Sunset) Review Concerning Cased Pencils from China

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission) has voted to conduct a full five-year (“sunset”) review concerning the antidumping order on cased pencils from China.

As a result of the vote, the Commission will conduct a full review to determine whether revocation of the order would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

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 USITC 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 (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s notice of institution in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file with the Commission responses that discuss the likely effects of revoking the order under review and provide other pertinent 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 USITC'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.

Vice Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Meredith M. Broadbent and F. Scott Kieff concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate, but that circumstances warranted a full review.  Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Dean A. Pinkert and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for an expedited review.

A record of the Commission’s vote on this matter 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. 

The record of the Commission's vote is also posted on the USITC's Internet site at http://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/caseProf/list?sort=caseTitle&order=asc.  From this page, search “cased pencils” using the search box in the upper right corner.

The Federal Register notice will indicate whether any further information or statements will be available.  The Commission will issue a report after it completes its review.

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