E9-3538. Silicon Metal from the People's Republic of China: Extension of Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Commerce (“Department”) is extending the time limit for the preliminary results of the administrative review of silicon metal from the People's Republic of China (“PRC”). This review covers the period June 1, 2007, through May 31, 2008.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

February 19, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bobby Wong or Jerry Huang, AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20230; telephone: [phone] or [phone], respectively.

Background

On July 30, 2008, the Department published a notice of initiation of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on silicon metal from the PRC. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, Request for Revocation in Part, and Deferral of Administrative Review, 73 FR 44220 (July 30, 2008). The preliminary results of this review are currently due no later than March 2, 2009.

Statutory Time Limits

In antidumping duty administrative reviews, section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (“the Act”), requires the Department to make a preliminary determination within 245 days after the last day of the anniversary month of an order for which a review is requested and a final determination within 120 days after the date on which the preliminary results are published. However, if it is not practicable to complete the review within these time periods, section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act allows the Department to extend the time limit for the preliminary determination to a maximum of 365 days after the last day of the anniversary month.

Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Review

We determine that it is not practicable to complete the preliminary results of this administrative review within the original time limit because the Department requires additional time to analyze questionnaire responses, issue supplemental questionnaires, conduct verification, and to evaluate surrogate value submissions for purposes of the preliminary results.

Therefore, the Department is extending the time limit for completion of the preliminary results of this administrative review by 120 days. The preliminary results will now be due no later than June 30, 2009. The final results continue to be due 120 days after the publication of the preliminary results.

We are issuing and publishing this notice in accordance with sections 751(a)(3)(A) and 777(i) of the Act.

Dated: February 12, 2009.

John M. Andersen,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.