E9-28269. First Antidumping Duty Administrative Review of Sodium Hexametaphosphate from the People's Republic of China: Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

November 25, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Walker, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On April 27, 2009, the Department of Commerce (“Department”) published in the Federal Register a notice of initiation of an administrative review of sodium hexametaphosphate from the People's Republic of China (“PRC”), covering the period September 14, 2007 - February 28, 2009. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Request for Revocation in Part, 74 FR 19042 (April 27, 2009) (“Initiation”). From May 26, 2009 to October 28, 2009, the respondent in this review submitted responses to the Department's antidumping duty questionnaires. The preliminary results of this administrative review are currently due on December 1, 2009.

Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results

Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”), requires the Department to issue the preliminary results of an administrative review within 245 days after the last day of the anniversary month of an order for which a review is requested. If it is not practicable to complete the review within the time period, section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act allows the Department to extend this deadline to a maximum of 365 days.

The Department determines that completion of the preliminary results of this review within the statutory time period is not practicable, given the extraordinarily complicated nature of the proceeding. The Department requires more time to gather and analyze a significant amount of information pertaining to the respondent's corporate structure and ownership, sales practices, and manufacturing methods. The Department also requires additional time to analyze the questionnaire responses and conduct verification. Therefore, given the number and complexity of issues in this case, and in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act, we are extending the time period for issuing the preliminary results of review by 60 days until January 30, 2010. The final results continue to be due 120 days after the publication of the preliminary results.

This notice is published pursuant to sections 751(1)(3)(A) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2).

Dated: November 19, 2009.

John M. Andersen,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.