[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 55231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14614]



[[Page 55231]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-555-004, C-557-831, C-549-852, C-552-842]


Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled 
Into Modules, From Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, 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 July 3, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dusten Hom or Garry Kasparov 
(Cambodia), Preston Cox or Scarlet Jaldin (Malaysia), Shane Subler or 
Henry Wolfe (Thailand), and Frank Schmitt (the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam (Vietnam)), AD/CVD Operations, Offices I, VI, and VIII, 
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230; telephone: (202) 482-5075, (202) 482-1397, (202) 482-5041, (202) 
482-4275, (202) 482-6241, (202) 482-0574, and (202) 482-4880, 
respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 14, 2024, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
initiated countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of 
crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into 
modules (solar cells), from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and 
Vietnam.\1\ Currently, the preliminary determinations are due no later 
than July 18, 2024.
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    \1\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled Into Modules, from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing Duty 
Investigations, 89 FR 43816 (May 20, 2024).
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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 \2\ 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.
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    \2\ The petitioner is the American Alliance for Solar 
Manufacturing Trade Committee.
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    On June 18, 2024, the petitioner submitted timely requests that 
Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determinations.\3\ The petitioner 
stated that it requests postponement for Commerce to receive and 
analyze initial responses, to allow petitioner's counsel and other 
interested parties to analyze responses, and for Commerce to issue 
supplemental questionnaires and receive responses prior to making its 
preliminary CVD determinations.\4\
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    \3\ See Petitioner's Letters, ``Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic 
Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules from Cambodia: Request 
to Postpone Preliminary Determination,'' ``Crystalline Silicon 
Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled into Modules from 
Malaysia: Request to Postpone Preliminary Determination,'' 
``Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled 
into Modules from Thailand: Request to Postpone Preliminary 
Determination,'' and ``Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, 
Whether or Not Assembled into Modules from the Socialist Republic of 
Vietnam: Request to Postpone Preliminary Determination,'' all dated 
June 18, 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 
determinations, and Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny the 
requests. 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., September 23, 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 determinations to 130 days after 
the date of initiation would place the deadlines on Saturday, 
September 21, 2024. 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: June 27, 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. 2024-14614 Filed 7-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P