[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 92 (Thursday, May 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29531-29532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11244]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-033]


Large Residential Washers From the People's Republic of China: 
Postponement of Preliminary Determination of Antidumping Duty 
Investigation

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

DATES: Effective Date: May 12, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Goldberger at (202) 482-4136 or 
Brian Smith at (202) 482-1766, Office II, AD/CVD Operations, 
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street 
and Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On January 5, 2016, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
initiated the antidumping duty investigation of large residential 
washers (washing machines) from the People's Republic of China 
(PRC).\1\ The notice of initiation stated that the Department, in 
accordance with section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), would issue its 
preliminary determination for this investigation, unless postponed, no 
later than 140 days after the date of the initiation. As explained in 
the memorandum from the Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and 
Compliance, the Department has exercised its discretion to toll all 
administrative deadlines due to the recent closure of the Federal 
Government.\2\ All deadlines in this investigation have been extended 
by four business days.\3\ The revised deadline for the preliminary 
determination of this antidumping duty investigation is currently May 
31, 2016.\4\
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    \1\ See Large Residential Washers From the People's Republic of 
China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation, 81 FR 1398 
(January 12, 2016).
    \2\ See Memorandum to the Record from Ron Lorentzen, Acting A/S 
for Enforcement and Compliance, ``Tolling of Administrative 
Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure During Snowstorm 
Jonas'' (January 27, 2016).
    \3\ Id.
    \4\ Where the deadline falls on a weekend/holiday, the 
appropriate date is the next business day. Because the deadline for 
the preliminary determination of this antidumping duty investigation 
is Monday, May 30, 2016, a federal holiday, the appropriate date is 
the next business day, Tuesday, May 31, 2016.
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Period of Investigation

    The period of investigation is April 1, 2015, through September 30, 
2015.

Postponement of Preliminary Determination

    Section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act permits the Department to postpone 
the time limit for the preliminary determination if it receives a 
timely request from the petitioner for postponement. The Department may 
postpone the preliminary determination under section 733(c)(1) of the 
Act no later than 190 days after the date on which the administering 
authority initiates an investigation.
    On May 2, 2016, Whirlpool Corporation (the petitioner), made a 
timely request pursuant to section 733(c)(1) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. 
1673(c)(1) and 19 CFR 351.205(e) for a 50-day postponement of the 
preliminary determination in this investigation.\5\ The petitioner 
stated that a postponement is necessary given the unprecedented number 
of factors of production that need to be accurately classified and 
valued, and the amount of

[[Page 29532]]

time that will be needed for the Department to conduct a complete and 
thorough analysis. The petitioner further stated that a postponement is 
needed to allow time to address the various deficiencies in the 
questionnaire responses submitted in this case. The petitioner 
submitted its request more than 25 days before the scheduled date of 
the preliminary determination.\6\
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    \5\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Large Residential Washers 
from the People's Republic of China: Petitioner's Request for 
Extension of the Preliminary Determination'' (May 2, 2016).
    \6\ See 19 CFR 351.205(e).
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    For the reasons stated above, and because there are no compelling 
reasons to deny the petitioner's request, the Department is postponing 
the preliminary determination in this investigation in accordance with 
section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(2) and (e) by 50 
days until July 19, 2016.\7\
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    \7\ Where the deadline falls on a weekend/holiday, the 
appropriate date is the next business day. Because 190 days after 
the date on which the administering authority initiated this 
investigation is Wednesday, July 13, 2016, and all deadlines in this 
investigation were extended by four business days, the appropriate 
date is Tuesday, July 19, 2016.
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    The deadline for the final determination will continue to be 75 
days after the date of the preliminary determination, unless extended.
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: May 5, 2016.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-11244 Filed 5-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P