[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 15433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05610]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-570-118]
Wood Mouldings and Millwork Products From the People's Republic
of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the
Countervailing Duty Investigation
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Applicable March 18, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Gorelik or Faris Montgomery, AD/
CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6905 or (202)
482-1537, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On January 28, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce)
initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of wood
mouldings and millwork products (millwork products) from the People's
Republic of China.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination is due
no later than April 2, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See Wood Mouldings and Millwork Products from the People's
Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation,
85 FR 6513 (February 5, 2020) (Initiation Notice).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postponement of Preliminary Determination
Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act),
requires the Department to issue the preliminary determination in a
countervailing duty investigation within 65 days after the date on
which Commerce initiated the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1)
of the Act permits Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination
until no later than 130 days after the date on which Commerce initiated
the investigation if: (A) The petitioner makes a timely request for a
postponement; or (B) Commerce concludes that the parties concerned are
cooperating, that the investigation is extraordinarily complicated, and
that additional time is necessary to make a preliminary determination.
Under 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner must submit a request for
postponement 25 days or more before the scheduled date of the
preliminary determination and must state the reasons for the request.
Commerce will grant the request unless it finds compelling reasons to
deny the request.
On March 6, 2020, the petitioner \2\ submitted a timely request
that Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination.\3\ The
petitioner stated that it requests postponement ``because additional
time will be necessary to receive questionnaire responses and to ensure
that the Department {of Commerce{time} has sufficient time to review
all responses and request clarification and additional information as
necessary.'' \4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The petitioner is the Coalition of American Millwork
Producers.
\3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Wood Mouldings and Millwork
Products from the People's Republic of China: Request to Postpone
Preliminary Determination,'' dated March 6, 2020.
\4\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner has stated the
reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determination,
and Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny the request. Therefore,
in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, Commerce is
postponing the deadline for the preliminary determination to no later
than 130 days after the date on which this investigation was initiated,
i.e., June, 8, 2020.\5\ Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final determination of this
investigation will continue to be 75 days after the date of the
preliminary determination.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after
initiation would place the deadline on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
Commerce's practice dictates that where a deadline falls on a
weekend or federal holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next
business day. See Notice of Clarification: Application of ``Next
Business Day'' Rule for Administrative Determination Deadlines
Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10,
2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notification to Interested Parties
This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2)
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).
Dated: March 12, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-05610 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P