[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 70 (Monday, April 12, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 19153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8244]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-891]


Hand Trucks and Certain Parts Thereof From the People's Republic 
of China: Notice of Postponement of Preliminary Antidumping Duty 
Determination

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of postponement of preliminary antidumping duty 
determination in an antidumping investigation.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is postponing the preliminary 
determination in the antidumping investigation of hand trucks and 
certain parts thereof from the People's Republic of China from April 
21, 2004 until no later than May 17, 2004. This postponement is made 
pursuant to section 733(c)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 12, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Audrey Twyman, or John Brinkmann, 
Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3534, or (202) 482-4126, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Statutory Time Limits

    Sections 733(b)(1)(A) and 735(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (``the Act''), require the Department of Commerce 
(``Department'') to issue the preliminary determination in an 
antidumping investigation within 140 days after the date on which the 
Department initiates an investigation, and a final determination within 
75 days after the date of its preliminary determination. However, if it 
is not practicable to complete the investigation within the time 
period, sections 733(c)(1) and 735(a)(2) of the Act allow the 
Department to extend these deadlines to a maximum of 190 days and 135 
days, respectively.

Background

    On December 9, 2003, the Department published in the Federal 
Register the notice of initiation of the antidumping investigation on 
hand trucks and certain parts thereof from the People's Republic of 
China (``PRC''). (See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping Duty 
Investigation: Hand Trucks and Certain Parts Thereof From the People's 
Republic of China, 68 FR 68591). The preliminary determination is 
currently due no later than April 21, 2004.

Extension of Time Limits for Preliminary Determination

    Under section 733(c)(1)(B) of the Act, the Department can extend 
the period for reaching a preliminary determination until not later 
than the 190th day after the date on which the administering authority 
initiates an investigation if the Department concludes that the parties 
concerned are cooperating and determines that: (i) The case is 
extraordinarily complicated by reason of (I) the number and complexity 
of the transactions to be investigated or adjustments to be considered, 
(II) the novelty of the issues presented, or (III) the number of firms 
whose activities must be investigated, and (ii) additional time is 
necessary to make the preliminary determination.
    We have concluded that the statutory criteria for postponing the 
preliminary determination have been met. Specifically, the parties 
concerned are cooperating in this investigation. Furthermore, 
additional time is necessary to complete the preliminary determination 
due to the large variety of factor of production inputs and the need to 
develop surrogate value information for these inputs. Also, additional 
time is needed to address novel issues that have been raised in this 
investigation.
    Pursuant to section 733(c)(1)(B) of the Act, we have determined 
that this investigation is ``extraordinarily complicated'' and 
additional time is necessary. We are, therefore, postponing the 
preliminary determination by 26 days to May 17, 2004.
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: April 6, 2004.
James J. Jochum,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-8244 Filed 4-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P