[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 55412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19784]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-834-811]


Silicon Metal From the Republic of Kazakhstan: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable September 8, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Justin Neuman at (202) 482-0486, 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 20, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated 
the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of silicon metal from the 
Republic of Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan).\1\ Currently, the preliminary 
determination is due no later than September 23, 2020.
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    \1\ See Silicon Metal from the Republic of Kazakhstan: 
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 85 FR 45173 (July 
27, 2020) (Initiation).
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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: (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 24, 2020, the petitioners \2\ submitted a timely request 
that Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination.\3\ The 
petitioners stated that, due to the number and nature of subsidy 
programs under investigation, the normal 65-day deadline for the 
preliminary determination would not provide sufficient time for 
Commerce to adequately examine the amount of subsidies that producers 
and exporters of subject merchandise in Kazakhstan receive.\4\ 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, 
pursuant to section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, we are extending the due 
date for the preliminary determination to no later than 130 days after 
the date on which this investigation was initiated, i.e., to November 
27, 2020. Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) 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.
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    \2\ The petitioners are Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. and 
Mississippi Silicon LLC.
    \3\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Silicon Metal from the Republic 
of Kazakhstan: Petitioners' Request to Postpone the Deadline for the 
Preliminary Determination,'' dated August 24, 2020.
    \4\ Id.
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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: September 1, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-19784 Filed 9-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P