[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 15, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13771-13772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05810]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-039]


Certain Amorphous Silica Fabric 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: Effective Date: March 15, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yasmin Bordas at (202) 482-3813, John 
Corrigan at (202) 482-7438, or Emily Maloof at (202) 482-5649, AD/CVD 
Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On February 16, 2016, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
initiated a countervailing duty investigation on certain amorphous 
silica fabric from the People's Republic of China.\1\ Currently, the 
preliminary determination is due no later than April 21, 2016.
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    \1\ See Certain Amorphous Silica Fabric from the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 
81 FR 8909 (February 23, 2016).
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Postponement of the Preliminary Determinations

    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 the Department initiated the investigation. However, if the 
petitioner makes a timely request for an extension in accordance with 
19 CFR 351.205(e), section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act allows the 
Department to postpone the preliminary determination until no later 
than 130 days after the date on which the Department initiated the 
investigation.
    On March 8, 2016, Petitioner \2\ submitted a timely request 
pursuant to section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(e) to 
postpone the

[[Page 13772]]

preliminary determination.\3\ In its request, Petitioner states: ``Due 
to the number and nature of subsidy programs under investigation, and 
due to the fact that the Department has sent quantity and value 
questionnaires to select mandatory respondents, Petitioner believes 
that the normal 65-day deadline for a preliminary determination in a 
countervailing duty investigation would not provide sufficient time for 
the Department to examine adequately the amount of subsidies that 
producers and exporters of subject merchandise in China receive.'' \4\
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    \2\ Auburn Manufacturing, Inc.
    \3\ See Letter from Petitioner, ``Certain Amorphous Silica 
Fabric from the People's Republic of China: Petitioner's Request to 
Extend the Deadline for the Preliminary Determination,'' dated March 
8, 2016.
    \4\ Id., at 1.
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    For the reasons stated above and because there are no compelling 
reasons to deny the request, the Department, in accordance with section 
703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, is postponing the deadline for the preliminary 
determination to no later than 130 days after the day on which the 
investigation was initiated. As a result, the Department will issue its 
preliminary determination no later than June 27, 2016.\5\ In accordance 
with section 735(a)(1) of the Act, the deadline for the final 
determination of this investigation will continue to be 75 days after 
the date of the preliminary determination, unless postponed at a later 
date.
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    \5\ The deadline based on a 65-day extension would be June 25, 
2016, which is a Saturday. Department 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).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: March 9, 2016.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-05810 Filed 3-14-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P