[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 7 (Friday, January 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1300-1301]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-00251]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-892]


Forged Steel Fittings From India: Postponement of Preliminary 
Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable January 10, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren Caserta, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-4737.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On November 12, 2019, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of forged steel 
fittings from India.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination is due 
no later than January 16, 2020.
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    \1\ See Forged Steel Fittings from India: Initiation of 
Countervailing Duty Investigation, 84 FR 64270 (November 21, 2019).

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[[Page 1301]]

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.\2\
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    \2\ See 19 CFR 351.205(e).
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    On November 27, 2019, Bonney Forge Corporation and the United 
Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied 
Industrial and Service Workers International Union (collectively, 
petitioners) 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 determination. The petitioners stated that the purpose of 
their request was to provide Commerce with sufficient time to select 
appropriate respondents and conduct a full investigation in light of 
the complex nature of the basket categories in which subject imports 
are classified.\3\
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    \3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Forged Steel Fittings from India: 
Request to Postpone Preliminary Determination,'' dated November 27, 
2019.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), 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, Commerce is postponing 
the deadline for the preliminary determination to March 23, 2020.\4\ 
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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    \4\ In this case, 130 days after initiation falls on Saturday, 
March 21, 2020. 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)(l).

    Dated: January 6, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-00251 Filed 1-9-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P