The U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration has postponed its preliminary determination on the dumping of ball bearings from China.

Originally scheduled for no later than August 12, the determination vote is now set for October 1, 2002.

Commerce took the action at the request of the original complainant in the case, the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA). On July 16, the ABMA petitioned the ITC to postpone its preliminary determination for an additional 50 days. Commerce agreed, setting the new date of October 1, 2002.

eBearing contacted ABMA President David Rohn and asked him to comment on their postponement request.

Mr. Rohn responded, "The extension was requested for a couple of reasons. First, the company responses submitted raised quite a number of questions. We asked for an extension so that we could properly review and provide comments, added information, and in general clarify the questions raised. Second, DOC officials were interested in touring a bearing facility, to get a first-hand look and better understanding for the production process. It would have been nearly impossible for us to set that up under the original deadline. For these two reasons we decided to request the extension."

Extensions and postponements are common practice, especially in complex trade issues, and the delay is not expected to have any influence on the commission's October 1 preliminary determination vote.

After that preliminary determination, Commerce then has 75 days to issue the final determination.