[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15672-15673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05195]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-149]


Gas Powered Pressure Washers From the People's Republic of China: 
Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty 
Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable March 14, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theodore Pearson or Konrad Ptaszynski, 
AD/CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-2631 or (202) 
482-6187, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On January 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of gas 
powered pressure washers from the People's Republic of China 
(China).\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination is due no later 
than March 27, 2023.
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    \1\ See Gas Powered Pressure Washers from the People's Republic 
of China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 88 FR 
4812 (January 25, 2023).
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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, if Commerce concludes that the parties 
concerned in the investigation are cooperating and determined the 
investigation is extraordinarily complicated, 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.
    Commerce has determined that at least one respondent company 
involved in the proceeding is cooperating because it filed a request 
for an extension of time to respond to the Affiliated Companies portion 
of the Initial CVD Questionnaire,\2\ and that the investigation is 
extraordinarily complicated.\3\ Specifically, Commerce will require 
additional time to analyze the questionnaire responses and issue 
appropriate requests for clarification and additional information, 
particularly regarding questions of affiliation and cross-ownership and 
program use by the respondents (i.e., Chongqing Dajiang Power Equipment 
Co., Ltd. (CDPE) and Jiangsu Jianghuai Engine Co., Ltd. (JD Power)), as 
well as 703(c)(1)(B) of the Act, Commerce is postponing the due date 
for the preliminary determination of this investigation to 130 days 
after the date on which this investigation was initiated, i.e., May 30, 
2023.\4\ Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19

[[Page 15673]]

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.
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    \2\ See JD Power's Letter, ``JD Power's Affiliated Companies 
Questionnaire Response Extension Request,'' dated March 6, 2023.
    \3\ See section 703(b)(1) of the Act.
    \4\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on Monday, May 29, 2023, which 
is a federal holiday. 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: March 8, 2023.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-05195 Filed 3-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P