Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

Topics:  Coalition of American Chassis Manufacturers

Jeffrey I. Kessler
Department of Commerce
29 October 2020

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 210 (Thursday, October 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68559-68560]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23972]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-135]


Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof From the People's 
Republic of China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the 
Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation

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

DATES: Applicable October 29, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hermes Pinilla at (202) 482-3477 or 
Jason Willoughby at (202) 482-5509, 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 19, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated 
a less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation of imports of certain 
chassis and subassemblies thereof (chassis) from the People's Republic 
of China.\1\ Currently, the deadline for the preliminary determination 
is January 6, 2021.
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    \1\ See Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the 
People's Republic of China: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value 
Investigation, 85 FR 52552 (August 26, 2020).
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Postponement of Preliminary Determination

    Section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the 
Act), requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in an 
LTFV investigation within 140 days after the date on which Commerce 
initiated the investigation. However, section 733(c)(1) of the Act 
permits Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no 
later than 190 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 September 17, 2020, the petitioner \2\ submitted a timely 
request that Commerce postpone the preliminary determination in this 
LTFV investigation.\3\ The petitioner stated that it requests 
postponement in order to collect the necessary information for 
determining the most accurate possible dumping margins, and that 
Commerce will need additional time to fully review questionnaire 
responses and issue supplementary questionnaire responses.\4\ 
Additionally, Commerce granted the petitioner's September 4, 2020, 
request \5\ that Commerce issue additional quantity and value 
questionnaires to Chinese producers of in-scope merchandise. The 
petitioner claims that additional time will be necessary for Commerce 
to issue these additional questionnaires and follow up on any 
responses. The petitioner requests that Commerce fully extend the 
preliminary determination by 50 days.
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    \2\ The petitioner is the Coalition of American Chassis 
Manufacturers.
    \3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain Chassis and Subassemblies 
Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Request for 
Postponement of Preliminary Determination,'' dated September 17, 
2020.
    \4\ Id.
    \5\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Certain Chassis and Subassemblies 
Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Request for Additional 
Quantity and Value Questionnaires,'' dated September 4, 2020.

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[[Page 68560]]

    For the reasons stated above and because there are no compelling 
reasons to deny the request, Commerce, in accordance with section 
733(c)(1)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(e), is postponing the 
deadline for the preliminary determination by 50 days (i.e., 190 days 
after the date on which the investigation was initiated). As a result, 
Commerce will issue its preliminary determination no later than 
February 25, 2021. In accordance with section 735(a)(1) of the Act and 
19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final determination in this 
investigation will continue to be 75 days after the date of the 
preliminary determination, unless postponed at a later date.
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: October 20, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-23972 Filed 10-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P