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Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 13, 1996 / Notices
companies will transfer technology to
Singapore companies that do not have
such technological capabilities. In any
event, respondents assert that petitioner
has not established that the TAF
program confers a subsidy, bounty or
grant on MARIS itself. Respondents also
note that MARIS does not receive a tax
benefit; rather, Mana does. As such,
respondents conclude that TAF does not
confer a benefit to MARIS. Petitioner
also makes a number of claims regarding
the countervailability of the TAF
exemption, including arguments to
support their assertion that this program
is specific. Respondents have replied to
these claims.
Department’s Position: In order for the
Department to find that benefits
conferred under a program are
countervailable, the Department must
determine at the outset whether a
benefit has been conferred on the
investigated company. In past reviews,
petitioner has alleged that the TAF
program would confer a countervailable
benefit if MARIS’ technical assistance
fee payments were excessive, thereby
allowing MARIS to artificially lower its
reported taxable profit. (See Certain
Refrigeration Compressors from the
Republic of Singapore; Final Results of
Administrative Review of Suspension
Agreement, 50 FR 30493–30494 (July
26, 1985), and Certain Refrigeration
Compressors from the Republic of
Singapore; Final Results of
Countervailing Duty Administrative
Review, 53 FR 25647–25648 (July 8,
1988).)
Petitioner now argues that in fact,
MARIS receives a benefit by paying
lower fees than it would absent the TAF
program. The Department has verified
in past reviews that such transactions
between MARIS and its non-
Singaporean licensor are ‘‘normal
commercial transactions’’ (See Certain
Refrigeration Compressors from the
Republic of Singapore; Preliminary
Results of Countervailing Duty;
Administrative Review, 51 FR 37055
(October 17, 1986), aff’d, Certain
Refrigeration Compressors from
Singapore, Final Results of
Countervailing Duty Administrative
Review, 52 FR 849 (January 9, 1987).) As
such, these payments are neither too
high nor too low (although the
Department found, in the 1985 review,
that the fees did not cover the costs of
the assistance provided, the licensor
raised its rates subsequent to that
review). While petitioner has assumed
that the result of the technical assistance
program is that Mana charges MARIS
lower fees for technical assistance than
it otherwise would, petitioner has
submitted no evidence that this is in
fact the case.
Because petitioner has not proven that
a benefit to MARIS, either direct or
indirect, exists with regard to this
program, and because no evidence on
the record indicates that benefits are
conferred on MARIS, the Department
concludes that MARIS has not been the
recipient of any benefits, including
countervailable benefits, under the TAF
program for the period of review.
Because the Department has
concluded that MARIS has not received
any benefits under the TAF program for
the period of review, the question of the
countervailability of the TAF program is
moot.
Final Results of Review
After considering the comments
received, we determine that the
signatories to the suspension agreement
have complied with the terms of the
suspension agreement, including the
payment of the provisional export
charge for the review period. From April
1, 1992, through October 1, 1992, a
provisional export charge rate of 4.05
percent was in effect, and from October
2, 1992, through March 31, 1993, a rate
of 5.52 percent was in effect.
We determine the total bounty or
grant to be 3.00 percent of the f.o.b.
value of the merchandise for the April
1, 1992 through March 31, 1993 review
period. Following the methodology
outlined in section B.4 of the agreement,
the Department determines that, for the
April 1, 1992, through October 1, 1992,
portion of the review period, and for the
October 2, 1992, through March 31,
1993, portion of the review period,
negative adjustments may be made to
the provisional export charge rates in
effect. The adjustments will equal the
difference between the provisional rates
in effect during the review period and
the rate determined in this review, plus
interest. These rates, established in the
notices of the final results of the seventh
and eighth administrative reviews of the
suspension agreement (See Certain
Refrigeration Compressors from the
Republic of Singapore; Final Results of
Countervailing Duty Administrative
Review, 56 FR 63714 (December 5,
1991); and 57 FR 46540 (October 9,
1992)) are 4.05 and 5.52 percent,
respectively. For this period the GOS
may refund or credit, in accordance
with section B.4.c of the agreement, the
difference to the companies, plus
interest, calculated in accordance with
section 778(b) of the Tariff Act.
The Department intends to notify the
GOS that the provisional export charge
rate on all exports of the subject
merchandise to the United States with
Outward Declarations filed on or after
the date of publication of the final
results of this administrative review
shall be 3.00 percent of the f.o.b. value
of the merchandise.
This administrative review and notice
are in accordance with section 751(a)(1)
of the Tariff Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(a)(1)
and section 355.22 of the Department’s
regulations (19 CFR 355.22(1994)).
Dated: March 4, 1996.
Susan G. Esserman,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. 96–5914 Filed 3–12–96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. 931090–4048]
RIN 0625–AA46
Allocation of Duty-Exemptions for
Calendar Year 1996 Among Watch
Producers Located in the Virgin
Islands
AGENCY: Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce; and Office of
the Secretary, Department of the
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: This action allocates 1996
duty-exemptions for watch producers
located in the Virgin Islands pursuant to
Pub. L. 97–446 as amended by Pub. L.
103–465.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Faye
Robinson, (202) 482–1660.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant
to Pub. L. 97–446 as amended by Pub.
L. 103–465, the Departments of the
Interior and Commerce (the
Departments) share responsibility for
the allocation of duty exemptions
among watch assembly firms in the
United States insular possessions and
the Northern Mariana Islands. In
accordance with Section 303.3(a) of the
regulations (15 CFR Part 303), this
action establishes the total quantity of
duty-free insular watches and watch
movements for 1996 at 5,100,000 units
and divides this amount among the
three insular possessions of the United
States and the Northern Mariana
Islands. Of this amount, 3,600,000 units
may be allocated to Virgin Islands
producers, 500,000 to Guam producers,
500,000 to American Samoa producers
and 500,000 to Northern Mariana
Islands producers (59 F.R. 8847).
The criteria for the calculation of the
1996 duty-exemption allocations among
10319
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 13, 1996 / Notices
insular producers are set forth in
Section 303.14 of the regulations.
The Departments have verified the
data submitted on application form
ITA–334P by producers presently
located in the Virgin Islands and
inspected the current operations of all
producers in accordance with Section
303.5 of the regulations.
In calendar year 1995 the Virgin
Islands watch assembly firms shipped
1,760,923 watches and watch
movements into the customs territory of
the United States under Pub. L. 97–446
as amended by Pub. L. 103–465. The
dollar amount of creditable corporate
income taxes paid by Virgin Islands
producers during calendar year 1995
plus the creditable wages paid by the
industry during calendar year 1995 to
residents of the territory totalled
$5,164,107. These data include
unverified data provided by a producer
which closed operations in 1995.
There are no producers in Guam,
American Samoa or the Northern
Mariana Islands.
The calendar year 1996 Virgin Islands
annual allocations set forth below are
based on the data verified by the
Departments in the Virgin Islands. The
allocations reflect adjustments made in
data supplied on the producers’ annual
application forms (ITA–334P) as a result
of the Departments’ verification.
The duty-exemption allocations for
calendar year 1996 in the Virgin Islands
are as follows:
Name of Firm/Annual Allocation
Belair Quartz, Inc.—500,000
Hampden Watch Co., Inc.—250,000
Progress Watch Co., Inc.—500,000
Unitime Industries, Inc.—500,000
Tropex, Inc.—400,000
Susan G. Esserman,
Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
Allen Stayman,
Director, Office of Insular Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96–5915 Filed 3–12–96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS; 4310–93–P
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
[I.D. 030796F]
Atlantic Tuna Fisheries; Yellowfin Tuna
Statistics
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
SUMMARY: As required under the
Fisheries Act of 1995, NMFS is
publishing preliminary statistics on the
level of U.S. recreational and
commercial catch of Atlantic yellowfin
tuna since 1980. These statistics are
published to inform the public of trends
in yellowfin tuna recreational and
commercial landings.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
May 13, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding these
preliminary statistics should be sent to
William Hogarth, Acting Chief, Highly
Migratory Species Management
Division, Office of Fisheries
Conservation and Management (F/CM),
National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD
20910. Clearly mark the outside of the
envelope ‘‘Yellowfin Tuna Statistics.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Hogarth at 301–713–2339, fax
number: 301–713–0596.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
required under the Fisheries Act of
1995, Title III, Atlantic Tunas
Convention Act, section 309(a), the table
below provides preliminary statistics on
the level of U.S. recreational and
commercial catch of Atlantic yellowfin
tuna since 1980. Final statistics on the
level of U.S. recreational and
commercial catch of Atlantic yellowfin
tuna since 1980 will be published
within 140 days of enactment of the
Fisheries Act of 1995.
Dated: March 8, 1996.
Richard W. Surdi,
Acting Director, Office of Fisheries
Conservation and Management, National
Marine Fisheries Service.
U.S. YELLOWFIN TUNA LANDINGS BY GEAR TYPE, 1980–1994
[In metric tons]
Longline
Rod and
Reel
Handgear
Pair trawl
Troll
Purse seine
Other 1
Total
1980 ................................
24.00
....................
....................
....................
....................
473.00
1621.00
2118
1981 ................................
43.00
....................
....................
....................
....................
322.00
1501.00
1866
1982 ................................
0
....................
....................
....................
....................
82.00
801.00
883
1983 ................................
76.00
....................
7.00
....................
31.00
112.00
....................
226
1984 ................................
113.00
....................
20.00
....................
39.00
1080.00
....................
1252
1985 ................................
1654.00
30.00
184.00
....................
....................
4387.00
4.00
6259
1986 ................................
3784.00
1163.00
173.00
....................
....................
647.00
7.00
5774
1987 ................................
4681.91
3590.95
315.93
....................
386.72
81.70
0.93
9058
1988 ................................
8418.33
1304.68
166.08
....................
334.64
42.00
2.45
10268
1989 ................................
6418.48
1676.49
72.81
....................
132.39
35.11
14.79
8350
1990 ................................
4420.35
388.37
23.09
....................
280.91
266.73
26.17
5406
1991 ................................
4276.95
1274.75
87.19
32.42
186.88
996.00
1.98
6856
1992 ................................
5607.76
949.59
76.61
13.06
103.42
375.95
32.00
7158
1993 ................................
3351.54
1411.01
56.94
41.83
112.70
208.39
16.63
5199
1994 ................................
2899.07
2 5103.53
13.45
34.33
16.85
24.60
2.03
2 8094
1 Other includes trawl, handgear, gillnet, harpoon, trap, unclassified.
2 Under revision.