[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 15433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05610]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-118]


Wood Mouldings and Millwork 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 March 18, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irene Gorelik or Faris Montgomery, AD/
CVD Operations, Office VIII, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-6905 or (202) 
482-1537, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 28, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of wood 
mouldings and millwork products (millwork products) from the People's 
Republic of China.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination is due 
no later than April 2, 2020.
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    \1\ See Wood Mouldings and Millwork Products from the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 
85 FR 6513 (February 5, 2020) (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 the Department to issue the preliminary determination in a 
countervailing duty 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: (A) The petitioner makes a timely request for a 
postponement; or (B) Commerce 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. 
Commerce will grant the request unless it finds compelling reasons to 
deny the request.
    On March 6, 2020, the petitioner \2\ submitted a timely request 
that Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination.\3\ The 
petitioner stated that it requests postponement ``because additional 
time will be necessary to receive questionnaire responses and to ensure 
that the Department {of Commerce{time}  has sufficient time to review 
all responses and request clarification and additional information as 
necessary.'' \4\
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    \2\ The petitioner is the Coalition of American Millwork 
Producers.
    \3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Wood Mouldings and Millwork 
Products from the People's Republic of China: Request to Postpone 
Preliminary Determination,'' dated March 6, 2020.
    \4\ Id.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner has 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 this investigation was initiated, 
i.e., June, 8, 2020.\5\ 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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    \5\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on Saturday, June 6, 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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Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: March 12, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-05610 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P