[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 37048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16688]



[[Page 37048]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-876, C-570-061]


Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber From the People's Republic of 
China and India: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the 
Countervailing Duty Investigations

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

DATES: Applicable August 8, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yasmin Bordas at (202) 482-3813 
(People's Republic of China (PRC)); Trisha Tran at (202) 482-4852 
(India), AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On June 20, 2017, the Department of Commerce (the Department) 
initiated countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of fine 
denier polyester fiber (fine denier PSF) from the PRC and India.\1\ 
Currently, the preliminary determinations are due no later than August 
24, 2017.
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    \1\ See Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber From India and the 
People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty 
Investigations, 82 FR 29029 (June 27, 2017) (Initiation Notice).
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Postponement of 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, section 
703(c)(1) of the Act permits the Department to postpone the preliminary 
determination until no later than 130 days after the date on which the 
Department initiated the investigation if: (A) The petitioners makes a 
timely request for a postponement; or (B) the Department concludes that 
the parties concerned are cooperating, and determines 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. The Department will grant 
the request unless it finds compelling reasons to deny the request.
    On July 26, 2017, the petitioners \2\ submitted a timely request 
that the Department postpone the preliminary CVD determinations.\3\ The 
petitioners state that they request postponement of the preliminary 
determinations because the current deadline for initial questionnaire 
responses is August 30, 2017, in the India investigation and September 
1, 2017, in the PRC investigation. According to the petitioners, 
postponement of the preliminary determination deadline in each case 
would allow sufficient time for the Department and interested parties 
to analyze questionnaire responses and permit the issuance of 
supplemental questionnaires, if necessary.
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    \2\ The petitioners are DAK Americas LLC, Nan Ya Plastics 
Corporation, America, and Auriga Polymers Inc.
    \3\ Letter from the petitioners, ``Fine Denier Polyester Staple 
Fiber from the People's Republic of China and India--Petitioners' 
Request for Postponement of the Preliminary Determinations,'' dated 
July 26, 2017.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioners have stated 
the reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary 
determinations, and the Department finds no compelling reason to deny 
the request. Therefore, in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the 
Act, the Department is postponing the deadline for the preliminary 
determinations to no later than 130 days after the date on which these 
investigations were initiated, i.e., October 30, 2017.\4\ Pursuant to 
section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for 
the final determinations of these investigations will continue to be 75 
days after the date of the preliminary determinations.
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    \4\ Postponing the preliminary determinations to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on Saturday, October 28, 2017. 
The Department'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).
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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: August 2, 2017.
Carole Showers,
Executive Director, Office of Policy, performing the duties of Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-16688 Filed 8-7-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P