[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 240 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 80774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27422]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-427-831, A-588-879, A-469-822]


Methionine From France, Japan and Spain: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations

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

DATES: Applicable December 14, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zachary Shaykin at (202) 482-2638 
(France); Robert Scully at (202) 482-0572 (Japan); and Elizabeth Bremer 
at (202) 482-4987 (Spain); 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 August 18, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated 
less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigations of imports of methionine 
from France, Japan, and Spain.\1\ Currently, the preliminary 
determinations are due no later than January 5, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Methionine from France, Japan and Spain: Initiation of 
Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 85 FR 52324 (August 25, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

    Section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the 
Act), requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in an 
LTFV investigation within 140 days of the date on which Commerce 
initiated the investigation. However, section 733(c)(1) of the Act 
permits Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no 
later than 190 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 December 1, 2020, Novus International, Inc. (the petitioner) 
submitted a timely request that Commerce postpone the preliminary 
determinations in these LTFV investigations.\2\ The petitioner stated 
that it requests postponement due to concerns that Commerce will need 
further information and complete questionnaire responses. Under the 
current timeline, the petitioner believes that Commerce will not have 
complete responses and sufficient information to issue these 
preliminary determinations.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Methionine from France, Spain, 
and Japan: Request to Extend Preliminary Determinations,'' dated 
December 1, 2020.
    \3\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For the reasons stated above, and because there are no compelling 
reasons to deny the request, Commerce, in accordance with section 
733(c)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(e), is postponing the 
deadline for these preliminary determinations by 50 days (i.e., 190 
days after the date on which these investigations were initiated). As a 
result, Commerce will issue its preliminary determinations no later 
than February 24, 2021. In accordance with section 735(a)(1) of the Act 
and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final determinations in 
these investigations will continue to be 75 days after the date of the 
preliminary determinations, unless postponed at a later date.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: December 8, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-27422 Filed 12-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P