E5-6712. Notice of Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Stainless Steel Bar from Germany

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

November 30, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew Smith or Brandon Farlander, AD/CVD Operations, Office 1, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington DC 20230; telephone [phone] and 482-0182, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On March 7, 2002, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) published an antidumping duty order on stainless steel bar from Germany. See Notice of Amended Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and Antidumping Duty Order: Stainless Steel Bar from Germany, 67 FR 10382 (March 7, 2002). On October 10, 2003, the Department published an amended antidumping duty order on stainless steel bar from Germany. See Notice of Amended Antidumping Duty Orders: Stainless Steel Bar from France, Germany, Italy, Korea, and the United Kingdom, 68 FR 58660 (October 10, 2003).

On March 1, 2005, the Department published its Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request Administrative Review, 70 FR 9918 (March 1, 2005). On March 31, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(b), the Department received a timely request for review from BGH Edelstahl Freital GmbH, BGH Edelstahl Lippendorf GmbH, BGH Edelstahl Lugau GmbH, and BGH Edelstahl Siegen GmbH (collectively “BGH”), and Stahlwerke Ergste Westig GmbH/Ergste Westig South Carolina (“SEW”). On March 31, Carpenter Technology Corp., Crucible Specialty Metals Division of Crucible Materials Corp., and Electralloy Corp. requested that the Department conduct an administrative review of BGH.

In accordance with 19 CFR 351.221(b)(1), we published a notice of initiation of this antidumping duty administrative review on April 22, 2005. See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 70 FR 20862 (April 22, 2005). The period of review (“POR”) is March 1, 2004, through February 28, 2005.

Extension of Time Limits for 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 antidumping duty order for which a review is requested and issue the final results within 120 days after the date on which the preliminary results are published. However, 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 these deadlines to a maximum of 365 days and 180 days, respectively.

Due to the Department's recent determination to collapse the affiliated companies comprising the BGH Group of Companies, Inc., determining the accuracy of reported home market sales, and the complexity of sales and cost issues, it is not practicable to complete the preliminary results of this review within the original time limit (i.e., December 1, 2005). Therefore, the Department is extending the time limit for completion of the preliminary results to no later than January 30, 2006, in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.

We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i)(1) of the Act.

Dated: November 23, 2005.

Stephen J. Claeys,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.