[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 55640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-19901]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-201-854]


Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh From Mexico: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable September 9, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Tucker or Ian Hamilton, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2044 or (202) 482-4798, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On July 20, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated a 
countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of standard steel 
welded wire mesh from Mexico.\1\ Currently, the preliminary 
determination is due no later than September 23, 2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico: Initiation 
of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 85 FR 45181 (July 27, 2020) 
(Initiation Notice).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See 19 CFR 351.205(e).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On August 28, 2020, the petitioners \3\ submitted a timely request 
that Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination.\4\ The 
petitioners requested postponement of the preliminary determination 
because they stated that additional time is necessary for Commerce to 
conduct its investigation and permit interested parties sufficient time 
to develop the record in this investigation.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The petitioners are Insteel Industries, Inc.; Mid South Wire 
Company; National Wire LLC; Oklahoma Steel & Wire Co.; and Wire Mesh 
Corp.
    \4\ See Petitioners' Letter, ``Countervailing Duty Investigation 
of Standard Steel Welded Wire Mesh from Mexico: Petitioners' Request 
to Postpone Preliminary Determination,'' dated August 28, 2020.
    \5\ Id. at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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 of this 
investigation will continue to be 75 days after the date of the 
preliminary determination.
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: September 2, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-19901 Filed 9-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P