[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 20945]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-06364]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-570-165, C-552-840]


Certain Paper Plates From the People's Republic of China and the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of Preliminary 
Determinations in the Countervailing Duty Investigations

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

DATES: Applicable March 26, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Kolberg (the Socialist Republic 
of Vietnam (Vietnam)) and Eliza DeLong (the People's Republic of China 
(China)), AD/CVD Operations, Offices I and V, respectively, Enforcement 
and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: 
(202) 482-1785 or (202) 482-3878, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On February 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of 
certain paper plates (paper plates) from China and Vietnam.\1\ 
Currently, the preliminary determinations are due no later than April 
19, 2024.
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    \1\ See Certain Paper Plates from the People's Republic of China 
and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing 
Duty Investigations, 89 FR 13043 (February 21, 2024) (Initiation 
Notice).
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Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

    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.
    On March 15, 2024, the petitioner \2\ submitted a timely request 
that Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determinations.\3\ The 
petitioner requested postponement because Commerce needs additional 
time to examine the number and nature of the subsidy programs under 
investigation, and the normal 65-day deadline for the preliminary 
determinations is not sufficient time for Commerce to adequately 
examine the amount of subsidies.\4\
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    \2\ The petitioner is the American Paper Plate Coalition.
    \3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Petitioner's Request to Postpone 
the Deadline for the Preliminary Determinations,'' dated March 15, 
2024 at 2.
    \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 
determinations, 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 determinations 
to no later than 130 days after the date on which these investigations 
were initiated, i.e., June 24, 2024.\5\ Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final 
determinations of these investigations will continue to be 75 days 
after the date of the preliminary determinations.
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    \5\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on Sunday, June 23, 2024. 
Commerce's practice dictates that where a deadline falls on a 
weekend or federal holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next 
business day, in this case Monday, June 24, 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).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: March 20, 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. 2024-06364 Filed 3-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P