[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22953-22954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10544]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-552-824]


Countervailing Duty Investigation of Laminated Woven Sacks From 
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of Preliminary 
Determination

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

DATES: Applicable May 17, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Martin at (202) 482-3936 or 
Ariela Garvett at (202) 482-3609, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and 
Compliance, Office IV, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On March 27, 2018, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated 
a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of laminated woven 
sacks (LWS) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.\1\ Currently, the 
preliminary determination is due no later than May 31, 2018.
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    \1\ See Laminated Woven Sacks From the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 83 FR 
14253 (April 3, 2018) (Initiation Notice).
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Postponement of 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) 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, under part (A), the petitioners \2\ make a timely request for a 
postponement; or under part (B), Commerce 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 
petitioners 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. Commerce will grant the request 
unless it finds compelling reasons to deny the request.
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    \2\ The petitioners are the Laminated Woven Sacks Fair Trade 
Coalition and its individual members Polytex Fibers Corporation and 
ProAmpac Holdings Inc.
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    On May 4, 2018, the petitioners submitted a timely request that 
Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination.\3\ The petitioners 
state that they request postponement of the preliminary determination 
because the current deadline does not provide adequate time for 
Commerce to issue questionnaires, receive responses, or to issue and 
receive responses to supplement questionnaires prior to Commerce's 
currently scheduled preliminary determination date. According to the 
petitioners, postponement of the preliminary determination deadline by 
the maximum extension of 65 additional days in this case would allow 
sufficient time for Commerce to develop the record in this 
investigation.
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    \3\ Letter from the petitioners, ``Re: Laminated Woven Sacks 
from Vietnam: Request to Extend the Deadline for Preliminary 
Determination,'' dated May 4, 2018.
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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 
determination, and Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny the 
request. Therefore, in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, 
Commerce is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determination 
to no later than 130 days after the date on which the investigation was 
initiated, i.e., August 6, 2018.\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 Saturday, August 4, 2018. 
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).


[[Page 22954]]


    Dated: May 10, 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. 2018-10544 Filed 5-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P