82 FR 41609 - Certain Softwood Lumber Products From Canada: Postponement of Final Determination of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation and Extension of Provisional Measures

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 169 (September 1, 2017)

The Department of Commerce (the Department) is postponing until November 13, 2017, the deadline for issuing the final determination in the less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation of certain softwood lumber products (softwood lumber) from Canada, and is extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period of not more than six months. As the deadline for the final determination of the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of softwood lumber from Canada is aligned with the deadline for the final determination of the LTFV investigation, the final CVD determination will also be issued no later than November 13, 2017.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 169 (Friday, September 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41609-41610]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18643]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-122-857]


Certain Softwood Lumber Products From Canada: Postponement of 
Final Determination of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation and Extension 
of Provisional Measures

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (the Department) is postponing 
until November 13, 2017, the deadline for issuing the final 
determination in the less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation of 
certain softwood lumber products (softwood lumber) from Canada, and is 
extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period 
of not more than six months. As the deadline for the final 
determination of the countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of 
softwood lumber from Canada is aligned with the deadline for the final 
determination of the LTFV investigation, the final CVD determination 
will also be issued no later than November 13, 2017.

DATES: Applicable September 1, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Bailey, AD/CVD Operations, 
Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0193.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On April 28, 2017, and June 30, 2017, respectively, the Department 
published its preliminary determinations in the CVD and LTFV 
investigations of softwood lumber from Canada.\1\ In the CVD 
Preliminary Determination, at the request of the petitioner,\2\ the 
Department aligned the final deadline for the CVD investigation with 
the final determination of the LTFV investigation.\3\
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    \1\ See Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada: 
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, and 
Alignment of Final Determination with Final Antidumping Duty 
Determination, 82 FR 19657 (April 28, 2017) (CVD Preliminary 
Determination) and Certain Softwood Lumber Products from Canada: 
Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair 
Value, 82 FR 29833 (June 30, 2017) (LTFV Preliminary Determination).
    \2\ The Committee Overseeing Action for Lumber International 
Trade Investigations or Negotiations (the petitioner).
    \3\ See CVD Preliminary Determination, 82 FR at 19657-19658.
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    On May 26, 2017, and June 26, 2017, Canfor Corporation (Canfor), 
Resolute FP Canada Inc. (Resolute), Tolko Marketing and Sales Ltd. and 
Tolko Industries Ltd. (Tolko), and West Fraser Mills Ltd., (West 
Fraser) (collectively, the Company Respondents), requested that the 
Department fully extend the deadline for the final LTFV determination, 
and extend the application of the provisional measures from a four-
month period to a period of not more than six months.\4\
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    \4\ See Letters from Canfor, Resolute, Tolko, and West Fraser 
dated May 26, 2017, June 26, 2017, May 26, 2017, and May 26, 2017, 
respectively.
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Postponement of Final LTFV Determination and Aligned Final CVD 
Determination

    Given the complexity of these investigations and the volume of 
information on the records of these proceedings that needs to be 
analyzed, the Department finds that postponement is warranted in the 
LTFV investigation and the aligned CVD investigation covering softwood 
lumber from Canada. Further, because of the ongoing discussions between 
the Governments of the United States and Canada focusing on a durable 
solution to this long-standing trade dispute, postponement of these 
aligned investigations is also warranted. This additional time will 
afford the Department the time to both address the factual and legal 
matters on the records of these proceedings, as well as continue 
discussions on this broader cross-border trade dispute.
    Therefore, pursuant to 735(a)(2)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended, the Department is (1) postponing the LTFV final determination 
until no later than November 13, 2017, which is 135 days after the date 
of the publication of the LTFV Preliminary Determination, and (2) 
extending the provisional measures from a four-month period to a period 
of not more than six months. Further, as noted above, because the CVD 
investigation is aligned with the LTFV investigation, the Department 
will also issue its final determination in the CVD investigation no 
later than November 13, 2017.\5\
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    \5\ Postponing the final determinations to 135 days after the 
publication of the LTFV Preliminary Determination would place the 
deadline on Sunday, November 12, 2017. The Department'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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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(g).


[[Page 41610]]


    Dated: August 28, 2017.
Gary Taverman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty 
Operations, Performing the Non-Exclusive Functions and Duties of the 
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-18643 Filed 8-31-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P