[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 47 (Friday, March 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16723-16724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04979]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-163]


Certain Glass Wine Bottles 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 8, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Preston Cox, Scarlet Jaldin, or 
Theodora Mattei, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, 
International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401

[[Page 16724]]

Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
5041, 202-482-4275, or (202) 482-4834, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On January 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation on imports of 
certain glass wine bottles (wine bottles) from the People's Republic of 
China.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determination is due no later than 
March 25, 2024.\2\
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    \1\ See Certain Glass Wine Bottles from the People's Republic of 
China: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 89 FR 4905 
(January 25, 2024).
    \2\ The deadline for the preliminary determination, 65 days 
after initiation, is March 23, 2024, which is a Saturday. Commerce's 
practice dictates that, when a deadline falls on a weekend or 
Federal holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next business day, 
in this case Monday, March 25, 2024. 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) (Next Business Day Rule).
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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 an 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 February 29, 2024, the U.S. Glass Producers Coalition (the 
petitioner) timely filed a request for Commerce to postpone the 
preliminary CVD determination.\3\ The petitioner requested postponement 
of the preliminary determination because Commerce needs additional time 
to collect and analyze questionnaire responses from the Government of 
China and the mandatory respondents in this investigation, given the 
complexity of the issues presented and the number of subsidy programs 
under investigation, and to issue supplemental questionnaires.\4\
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    \3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Request for Postponement of the 
Preliminary Determination,'' dated February 29, 2024.
    \4\ Id.
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    In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner has stated the 
reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determination, 
and Commerce finds there are no compelling reasons 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 no 
later than 130 days after the date on which this investigation was 
initiated, i.e., May 28, 2024.\5\ 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.
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    \5\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on May 27, 2024, which is a 
Federal holiday. Therefore, the appropriate deadline is the next 
business day, in this case Tuesday, May 28, 2024. See Next Business 
Day Rule.
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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 4, 2024.
Ryan Majerus,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024-04979 Filed 3-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P