[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 237 (Monday, December 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 73428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29761]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-987]


Hardwood and Decorative Plywood From the People's Republic of 
China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing 
Duty Investigation

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Lindgren, Lingjun Wang or Toni 
Page, AD/CVD Operations, Office 6, Import Administration, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
3870, (202) 482-2316 and (202) 482-1398, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On October 17, 2012, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
initiated the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of hardwood and 
decorative plywood, from the People's Republic of China.\1\ Currently, 
the preliminary determination for this investigation is due no later 
than December 24, 2012. The Department originally extended the deadline 
for this preliminary determination from December 21, 2012 until 
December 23, 2012. As explained in the memorandum from the Assistant 
Secretary for Import Administration, the Department exercised its 
discretion to toll deadlines for the duration of the closure of the 
Federal Government from October 29, through October 30, 2012 \2\ 
Therefore, the due date for the preliminary determination was extended 
to Sunday, December 23, 2012. However, it is the Department's long-
standing practice to make a determination on the next business day when 
the statutory deadline falls on a weekend, federal holiday, or any 
other day when the Department is closed.\3\ Accordingly, the 
preliminary determination is currently Monday, December 24, 2012.
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    \1\ See Hardwood and Decorative Plywood From the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 
77 FR 64955 (October 24, 2012).
    \2\ See Memorandum to the Record from Paul Piquado, Assistant 
Secretary for Import Administration, regarding ``Tolling of 
Administrative Deadlines as a Result of the Government Closure 
During Hurricane Sandy,'' dated October 31, 2012.
    \3\ 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).
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Postponement of Due Date for the 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 CVD 
investigation within 65 days after the date on which the Department 
initiated the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act 
permits the Department to postpone making the preliminary determination 
until no later than 130 days after the date on which it initiated the 
investigation if the petitioner makes a timely request for an 
extension. In the instant investigation, the Coalition for Fair Trade 
of Hardwood Plywood and its individual members (Petitioners), made a 
timely request on November 28, 2012 that we postpone the preliminary 
CVD determination.\4\
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    \4\ See Petitioners' November 28, 2012 letter requesting 
postponement of the preliminary determination.
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    The Department finds no compelling reason to deny the request. 
Therefore, pursuant to section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, we are 
extending the due date for the preliminary determination to no later 
than 130 days after the date on which this investigation was initiated, 
i.e., to February 24, 2013. However, as discussed above, the Department 
is tolling all deadlines an additional two days due to the closing of 
the Federal Government in late October. Thus, the new deadline for the 
preliminary determination in this case will be February 26, 2013.
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

     Dated: December 4, 2012.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-29761 Filed 12-7-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P