[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 44160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20085]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-063]


Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings 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: Applied September 21, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis McClure at (202) 482-5973 or 
Jinny Ahn at (202) 482-0339, 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 August 2, 2017, the Department initiated a countervailing duty 
(CVD) investigation of cast iron soil pipe fittings from the People's 
Respublic of China.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination is due 
no later than October 6, 2017.
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    \1\ See Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings From the People's Republic 
of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 82 FR 
37048 (August 8, 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 CVD 
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 petitioner \2\ makes a timely request for 
a postponement; or (B) the Department concludes that the parties 
concerned are cooperating, 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.
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    \2\ The petitioner is Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute (CISPI).
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    On September 5, 2017, the petitioner submitted a timely request 
that the Department postpone the preliminary CVD determination.\3\ The 
petitioner stated that it requests postponement of the preliminary 
determination because the Department selected at least one trading 
company as a mandatory respondent, and has not yet received 
questionnaire responses. Therefore, postponing the preliminary 
determination would allow for receipt and review of these responses.
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    \3\ See the petitioner's letter, ``Re: Cast Iron Soil Pipe 
Fittings from the People's Republic of China: Request to Extend the 
Preliminary Determination,'' dated September 5, 2017.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner stated the 
reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determination, 
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 determination 
to no later than 130 days after the date on which this investigation 
was initiated, i.e., December 11, 2017.\4\ Pursuant to section 
705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the 
final determination of this investigation will continue to be 75 days 
after the date of the preliminary determination.
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    \4\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on Sunday, December 10, 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: September 15, 2017.
Gary Taverman
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, performing the non-exclusive duties of the Assistant 
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-20085 Filed 9-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P