MESSAGE NO: 3057113 DATE: 02 26 1993
CATEGORY: ADA TYPE: INI
REFERENCE: REFERENCE DATE:
CASES: A - 588 - 829 - -
- - - -
- - - -

PERIOD COVERED: 02 08 1993 TO

LIQ SUSPENSION DATE:

TO: REGIONAL DIRECTORS, COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS
DISTRICT DIRECTORS, AREA AND PORT DIRECTORS

FROM: DIRECTOR, IMPORT SPECIALIST DIVISION

RE: INITIATION OF ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF DEFROST
TIMERS FROM JAPAN


1. THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ANNOUNCED ON FEBRUARY 8, 1993, ITS
INITIATION OF ANTIDUMPING DUTY INVESTIGATION OF DEFROST TIMERS
FROM JAPAN.

2. THE PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO THIS INVESTIGATION ARE
ELECTRO-MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC DEFROST TIMERS FOR RESIDENTIAL
REFRIGERATORS. ELECTRO-MECHANICAL DEFROST TIMERS ARE COMPRISED
OF SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT MAKE OR BREAK ELECTRIC CIRCUITS BY
ACTIVATING TWO SETS OF ELECTRICAL CONTACT POINTS--ONE TO
DISCONNECT THE COMPRESSOR (THE COOLING MECHANISM) AND THE OTHER
TO CONNECT THE DEFROST HEATER. THE ARTICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A
SYNCHRONOUS OR SUBSYNCHRONOUS MOTOR. THE DEFROST TIMER
DISCONNECTS THE COMPRESSOR BY OPENING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AFTER
THE COMPRESSOR ITSELF HAS RUN FOR A LENGTH OF TIME PREDETERMINED
BY THE MANUFACTURER DEPENDING ON THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE MODEL.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE COMPRESSOR RUN CYCLE (AND SIMULTANEOUSLY
WITH THE COMPRESSOR'S DISCONNECTION) THE DEFROST HEATER IS
ACTIVATED AND RUNS FOR A PRESET TIME (AGAIN DEPENDING ON THE
MODEL), AS PREDETERMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER. ELECTRONIC DEFROST
TIMERS HAVE A SIMILAR FUNCTION BUT OPERATE WITH GREATER
EFFICIENCY. THIS IS BECAUSE A MICROPROCESSOR IN THE DEVICE USES
INFORMATION GATHERED DURING THE DEFROST CYCLE TO ADJUST THE
COMPRESSOR RUN TIME. THIS SYSTEM DEFROSTS ONLY WHEN NEEDED,
THEREBY IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE REFRIGERATOR.

THE DEFROST TIMERS SUBJECT TO THIS INVESTIGATION ARE CURRENTLY
CLASSIFIABLE UNDER SUBHEADING 9107.00.400 OF THE HARMONIZED
TARIFF SCHEDULE OF THE UNITED STATES (HTSUS). THE HTSUS
SUBHEADINGS ARE PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE AND CUSTOMS PURPOSES.
THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION IS
DISPOSITIVE.
3. FOR FURTHER REPORTING PURPOSES, THIS CASE HAS BEEN ASSIGNED
THE FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION NUMBER: (A-588-829).

4. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS MATTER BY CUSTOMS
OFFICERS, THEY SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE IMPORT SPECIALIST
DIVISION, OTHER AGENCY BRANCH, CUSTOMS HEADQUARTERS BY E-MAIL TO
ATTRIBUTE "HQ OAB." THE IMPORTING PUBLIC AND OTHER INTERESTED
PARTIES SHOULD CONTACT JAMES MAEDER, OFFICE OF ANTUDMPING
INVESTIGATIONS, IMPORT ADMINISTRATION, INTERNATIONAL TRADE
ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AT (202) 482-3330.

6. THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THE RELEASE OF THIS INFORMATION.


NANCY MCTIERNAN