Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

Jeffrey I. Kessler
Department of Commerce
12 August 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 48666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17631]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-552-829]


Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires From the Socialist 
Republic of Vietnam: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the 
Countervailing Duty Investigation

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


DATES: Applicable August 12, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Romani or Thomas Schauer, AD/
CVD Operations, Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International 
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0198 or (202) 
482-0410, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 22, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated a 
countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of passenger vehicle 
and light truck tires from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.\1\ 
Currently, the preliminary determination is due no later than August 
26, 2020.
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    \1\ See Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from the 
Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing Duty 
Investigation, 85 FR 38850 (June 29, 2020).
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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 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.\2\
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    \2\ See 19 CFR 351.205(e).
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    On July 24 and August 4, 2020, the petitioner \3\ submitted timely 
requests that Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination.\4\ 
According to the petitioner, additional time is necessary ``to permit 
Commerce to review respondents' initial full questionnaire responses, 
any comments thereon and rebuttal factual information filed in 
response, and any supplemental questionnaire responses before 
determining preliminary subsidy rates.'' \5\ The petitioner further 
elaborates that an extension of the deadline for the preliminary 
results is warranted ``{g{time} iven the number of programs under 
investigation, including Commerce's first investigation of a currency 
undervaluation subsidy under its new rules.'' \6\ Consistent with 19 
CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner stated the reasons for its request, and 
Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny that 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, until 
October 30, 2020. 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, unless postponed at a later date.
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    \3\ The petitioner is the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, 
Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers 
International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC.
    \4\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck 
Tires from Vietnam: Request to Extend Deadline for Preliminary 
Determination,'' dated July 24, 2020 (First Request); and 
Petitioner's Letter, ``Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from 
Vietnam: Second Request to Extend Deadline for Preliminary 
Determination,'' dated August 4, 2020 (Second Request).
    \5\ See First Request at 1; and Second Request at 1.
    \6\ See First Request at 2; and Second Request at 2.
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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: August 4, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-17631 Filed 8-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P