[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 54533]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19395]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-580-910, C-821-827]


Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe 
From the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determinations in the Countervailing Duty Investigations

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

DATES: Applicable September 2, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caitlin Monks at (202) 482-2670 (the 
Russian Federation (Russia)); Moses Song or Natasia Harrison at (202) 
482-7885 or (202) 482-1240, respectively (the Republic of Korea 
(Korea)), 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 July 28, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated 
countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of seamless carbon 
and alloy steel standard, line, and pressure pipe (seamless pipe) from 
Russia and Korea.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determinations are due 
no later than October 1, 2020.
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    \1\ See Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and 
Pressure Pipe from the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation: 
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 85 FR 47170 
(August 4, 2020) (Initiation Notice).
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Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

    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 August 18, 2020, the petitioner submitted a timely request that 
Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determinations.\2\ According to 
the petitioner, additional time is necessary because the current 
preliminary determination is scheduled ``just 10 days after the current 
deadline for complete initial responses to Sections II and III of 
Commerce's questionnaire'' and ``to allow Commerce to fully analyze 
respondents' questionnaire responses, and any other filings such as new 
subsidy allegations and benchmark factual information, prior to the 
preliminary determination.'' \3\
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    \2\ The petitioner is Vallourec Star, LP (petitioner). See 
Petitioner's Letter, ``Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, 
Line, and Pressure Pipe from Korea and Russia: Request to Extend 
Preliminary Determinations,'' dated August 18, 2020.
    \3\ 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 determinations to no later 
than 130 days after the date on which these investigations were 
initiated, i.e., December 7, 2020.\4\ Pursuant to 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.
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    \4\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on Saturday, December 5, 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: August 27, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-19395 Filed 9-1-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P