[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 5401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02444]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-072]


Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid and Derivative Products 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: Applicable February 7, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Galantucci at (202) 482-2923 or 
Jonathan Hill at (202) 482-3518, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and 
Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce, 
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On December 20, 2017, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of sodium 
gluconate, gluconic acid and derivative products from the People's 
Republic of China.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination is due 
no later than February 26, 2018.\2\
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    \1\ See Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid, and Derivative Products 
from the People's Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing 
Duty Investigation, 83 FR 499 (January 4, 2018).
    \2\ Commerce has exercised its discretion to toll deadlines for 
the duration of the closure of the Federal Government from January 
20 through 22, 2018. See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the 
Shutdown of the Federal Government,'' dated January 23, 2018 
(Tolling Memorandum). Accordingly, all deadlines in this segment of 
the proceeding have been extended by 3 days.
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Postponement of the Preliminary Determination

    Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in a CVD 
investigation within 65 days after the date on which Commerce initiated 
the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act permits 
Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 
130 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation 
if a petitioner makes a timely request for a postponement. Under 19 CFR 
351.205(e), a petitioner must submit a request for postponement 25 days 
or more before the scheduled date of the preliminary determination and 
must state the reason for the request. Commerce will grant the request 
unless it finds compelling reasons to deny the request.\3\
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    \3\ See 19 CFR 351.205(e).
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    On January 23, 2018, PMP Fermentation Products, Inc. (the 
petitioner) submitted a timely request pursuant to section 703(c)(1)(A) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(e) to postpone the preliminary 
determination. The petitioner stated that the purpose of its request 
was to provide Commerce with adequate time to solicit information from 
the respondents and to allow Commerce and interested parties sufficient 
time to analyze respondents' questionnaire responses.\4\
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    \4\ See Letter from the petitioner to Commerce, ``Countervailing 
Duty Investigation of Sodium Gluconate, Gluconic Acid and Derivative 
Products (GNA Products) from the People's Republic of China: 
Petitioner's Request to Postpone the Preliminary Determination,'' 
dated January 23, 2018.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner has stated the 
reason for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determination 
and the record does not present any compelling reasons to deny the 
request. Therefore, in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, 
and in light of the closure of the Federal Government from January 20 
through 22, 2018, Commerce is postponing the deadline for the 
preliminary determination to May 2, 2018.\5\ Pursuant to section 
705(a)(l) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the 
final determination will continue to be 75 days after the date of the 
preliminary determination, unless postponed at a later date.
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    \5\ Note that the revised deadline incorporates a 65-day 
postponement, i.e., to 130 days after the date on which this 
investigation was initiated, in addition to a 3-day extension due to 
closure of the Federal Government.
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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)(l).

    Dated: February 2, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing 
Operations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-02444 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P