[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 176 (Thursday, September 10, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 55801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-20037]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

19 CFR Part 351

[Docket No. 200904-0234]
RIN 0625-AB10


Regulations To Improve Administration and Enforcement of 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Laws; Extension of Comment Period 
To Allow Submissions of Rebuttal Comments and Requirement of Electronic 
Submission of Comments and Rebuttal Comments

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period for rebuttal 
comments and requirement of electronic submissions.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is extending the comment 
period for the proposed rule, entitled ``Regulations to Improve 
Administration and Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Laws,'' which published in the Federal Register on August 13, 2020, 
solely to allow parties the opportunity to submit rebuttal comments. 
During the extension period, parties may only submit rebuttals to 
comments that were submitted by other parties as of September 14, 2020. 
Additionally, Commerce will only be able to accept electronically 
submitted comments following the publication of this document in the 
Federal Register.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, written comments must be 
received no later than September 14, 2020, and written rebuttal 
comments must be received no later than September 28, 2020. The 
September 14, 2020 deadline for comments on the proposed rule is 
unchanged. ADDRESSES: Following publication of this document in the 
Federal Register, submit comments and rebuttal comments only through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov, Docket 
No. ITA-2020-0001. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Department is not 
able to accept comments submitted by mail or hand-delivery at this 
time.
    All rebuttal comments submitted during the additional 14-day period 
permitted by this document will be a matter of public record and will 
generally be available on the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov. Commerce will not accept response comments 
accompanied by a request that part or all of the material be treated 
confidentially because of its business proprietary nature or for any 
other reason. Therefore, do not submit confidential business 
information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
    Any questions concerning the process for submitting comments should 
be submitted to Enforcement & Compliance (E&C) Communications office at 
(202) 482-0063 or [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott McBride at (202) 482-6292; David 
Mason at (202) 482-5051; or Jessica Link at (202) 482-1411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  On August 13, 2020 (85 FR 49472), Commerce 
published a proposed rule entitled ``Regulations to Improve 
Administration and Enforcement of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Laws'' in the Federal Register with a comment period ending no later 
than September 14, 2020. Commerce has subsequently received requests 
for two extensions of time--one for comments on the proposed rule and 
an additional extension for parties to submit comments in response to 
comments made by other parties on the proposed rule (available on the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov, Docket No. 
ITA-2020-0001).
    Commerce has determined that no extension of time is warranted for 
comments on the proposed rule because the existing comment period 
allows adequate time for interested persons to fully consider the 
proposal and submit comments. Thus, Commerce will not grant an 
extension for the submission of such comments.
    However, Commerce agrees that the public and the agency would 
benefit if parties have the opportunity to submit rebuttal comments in 
response to comments filed by other parties on the proposed rule. 
Accordingly, Commerce is granting an extension of time solely for the 
purpose of allowing the public to file such rebuttal comments. Commerce 
will consider all rebuttal comments submitted by September 28, 2020. 
Submissions received after September 14, 2020 must respond to comments 
which were filed on or before that date and should not include original 
arguments regarding the proposed rule. Otherwise, Commerce will 
disregard submissions during that period of time in drafting its final 
rule which do not respond to comments submitted by other parties.
    Thus, comments on the proposed rule are due on September 14, 2020. 
Commerce will not modify this deadline. However, as stated above, 
Commerce has determined to allow parties to submit rebuttals to 
comments on the proposed rule that were submitted on or before 
September 14, 2020. Such rebuttal comments will be due September 28, 
2020. Commerce will not consider comments on the proposed rule 
submitted after September 14, 2020, which are not responsive to 
comments submitted by other parties on or before September 14, 2020.
    Furthermore, although the proposed rule indicated that comments 
might also be submitted by mail or hand delivery/courier, due to the 
COVID-19 situation Commerce will not be able to receive such 
submissions. Accordingly, from the date of publication of this document 
in the Federal Register, all comments and rebuttal comments must be 
submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.Regulations.gov.

    Dated: September 4, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-20037 Filed 9-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P