The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is not a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of pneumatic directional control valves from Japan that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Chairman Stephen Koplan, Vice Chairman Deanna Tanner Okun, and Commissioners Marcia E. Miller and Jennifer A. Hillman voted in the negative. Commissioner Lynn M. Bragg voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's negative determination, the case will end.

The Commission's public report Pneumatic Directional Control Valves from Japan (Investigation No. 731-TA-988 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3491, March 2002) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after March 28, 2002, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: The imported product subject to this investigation is all pneumatic directional control valves, whether assembled or unassembled, regardless of size, configuration, intended or actual use, method of actuation, and material(s) employed in construction, other than aerospace-type fluid power valves. The subject merchandise includes, but is not necessarily limited to, manual, mechanical, air-operated, and solenoid type pneumatic directional control valves. (1)

Status of Proceedings:

1. Type of investigation: Preliminary antidumping.
2. Petitioners: The Pneumatics Group, a trade association of pneumatic directional control valve
   producers and wholesalers consisting of Festo Corp. of Hauppage, NY; IMI Norgren, Inc., of
   Littleton, Co; Numatics, Inc., of Highland, MI; and Parker Hannifin Corp., of Cleveland, OH.
3. Preliminary investigation instituted by the USITC: January 14, 2002.
4. Preliminary conference: February 4, 2002.
5. USITC vote: February 27, 2002.
6. USITC determination to the U.S. Department of Commerce: February 28, 2002.

U.S. Industry:

1. Number of producers in 2001: up to 35
2. Location of producers' plants: Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Kentucky,
   Colorado, Indiana, and Texas.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2001: (2)
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2001: (2)
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. shipments of imports to total U.S. consumption in 2001: (2)

U.S. Imports:

1. From the subject country during 2001: (2)
2. From other countries during 2001: (2)
3. Leading source during 2001: Japan 

(1) Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are aerospace-type pneumatic fluid power valves, defined as pneumatic fluid power valves that have been certified for use in airframes, aircraft engines, or other aerospace applications pursuant to standards established or required by the Federal Aviation Administration or Department of Defense in the United States, or by the counterparts of these agencies in other countries.

(2) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.