[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15789-15790]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07588]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-549-836, C-570-070]


Rubber Bands From Thailand and the People's Republic of China: 
Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Countervailing Duty 
Investigations

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

DATES: Applicable April 12, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shanah Lee at (202) 482-6386 
(Thailand) and Kristen Johnson at (202) 482-4793 (the People's Republic 
of China), 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 February 20, 2018, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on rubber bands from 
Thailand and the People's Republic of China.\1\ Currently, the 
preliminary determinations of these investigations are due no later 
than April 26, 2018.
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    \1\ See Rubber Bands from Thailand, the People's Republic of 
China, and Sri Lanka: Initiation of Countervailing Duty 
Investigations, 83 FR 8429 (February 27, 2018). Pursuant to section 
703(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, the countervailing 
duty investigation on rubber bands from Sri Lanka was terminated 
following the International Trade Commission's determination that 
imports of rubber bands from Sri Lanka that are alleged to be sold 
at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of Sri 
Lanka are negligible. See Rubber Bands from China, Sri Lanka, and 
Thailand; Determinations, 83 FR 12594 (March 22, 2018).

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[[Page 15790]]

Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

    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.\2\
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    \2\ See 19 CFR 351.205(e).
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    On March 27, 2018, Alliance Rubber Co. (the petitioner) submitted a 
timely request, pursuant to section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 
351.205(e), to postpone fully the preliminary determinations.\3\ The 
petitioner stated that the purpose of its request is to provide 
Commerce with adequate time to analyze fully `questionnaire responses 
to determine the extent to which countervailable subsidies are used by 
the respondents.\4\
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    \3\ See Letter from the petitioner, ``Petitioner's Request for 
Postponement of the Preliminary Determinations,'' dated March 27, 
2018.
    \4\ Id. at 2.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner stated the 
reason for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determinations 
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, 
Commerce is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determinations 
to July 2, 2018.\5\ In accordance with 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, unless postponed at a later date.
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    \5\ The actual deadline is June 30, 2018, which is a Saturday. 
Commerce'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: April 6, 2018.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2018-07588 Filed 4-11-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P