E9-3539. Certain Polyester Staple Fiber from the People's Republic of China: Extension of Time Limit for the Preliminary Results of the Administrative Review

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

February 19, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Emeka Chukwudebe, 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].

Background

On July 30, 2008, the Department published a notice of initiation of an administrative review of certain polyester staple fiber from the People's Republic of China covering the period December 26, 2006, through May 31, 2008. 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 are currently due no later than March 2, 2009.

Statutory Time Limits

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 of Preliminary Results

We determine that it is not practicable to complete the preliminary results of this review within the original time limit because the Department requires additional time to analyze the supplemental questionnaire responses, possibly issue additional supplemental questionnaires, and evaluate the most appropriate surrogate values on the administrative record to use in this segment of the proceeding. Therefore, the Department is extending the time limit for completion of the preliminary results 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 11, 2009.

Gary Taverman,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.