82 FR 48681 - Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper From Canada: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 201 (October 19, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 48681]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22686]



[[Page 48681]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-122-862]


Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper From Canada: Postponement of 
Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

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


DATES: Applicable October 19, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Whitley Herndon at (202) 482-6274, AD/
CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 29, 2017, the Department of Commerce (Department) 
initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation on certain uncoated 
groundwood paper from Canada.\1\ Currently, the preliminary 
determination in this investigation is due no later than November 2, 
2017.
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    \1\ See Certain Uncoated Groundwood Paper from Canada: 
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 82 FR 41603 
(September 1, 2017).
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Postponement of Preliminary Determination

    Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), 
requires the Department to issue the preliminary determination in a CVD 
investigation within 65 days after the date on which the Department 
initiated the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1) of the Act 
permits the Department to postpone the preliminary determination until 
no later than 130 days after the date on which the Department initiated 
the investigation if: (A) The petitioner \2\ makes a timely request for 
a postponement; or (B) the Department 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. The Department will grant the request unless it finds 
compelling reasons to deny the request.
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    \2\ In this investigation, the petitioner is North Pacific Paper 
Company.
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    On September 21, 2017, the petitioner submitted a timely request 
that we postpone the CVD preliminary determination. In its request, the 
petitioner cited the need for the Department to have sufficient time to 
thoroughly investigate each of the alleged subsidies, including by 
issuing any supplemental questionnaires.\3\ In accordance with 19 CFR 
351.205(e), the petitioner has stated the reasons for requesting a 
postponement of the preliminary determination, and the Department finds 
no compelling reason to deny the request. Therefore, pursuant to 
section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, we are extending the due date for the 
preliminary determination to no later than 130 days after the date on 
which this investigation was initiated, i.e., to January 8, 2018.\4\ 
Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the 
deadline for the final determination will continue to be 75 days after 
the date of the preliminary determination.
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    \3\ See letter from the petitioner, ``Certain Uncoated 
Groundwood Paper from Canada/Petitioner's Request for Postponement 
of CVD Preliminary Determination and Extension of New Subsidy 
Allegations Deadline,'' dated September 21, 2017.
    \4\ The actual deadline is January 6, 2018, which is a Saturday. 
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 section 703(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: October 13, 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. 2017-22686 Filed 10-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P