2010-9077. Dynamic Random Access Memory Semiconductors from the Republic of Korea: Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Countervailing Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

April 20, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shane Subler at [phone] or David Neubacher at [phone]; AD/CVD Operations, Office 1, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On September 22, 2009, the Department of Commerce (“the Department”) published a notice of initiation of administrative review of the countervailing duty order on dynamic random access memory semiconductors from the Republic of Korea, covering the period January 1, 2008 through August 10, 2008. See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews and Requests for Revocation in Part, 74 FR 48224 (September 22, 2009).

Statutory Time Limits

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 and the final results of review within 120 days after the date on which the preliminary results are published. If it is not practicable to complete the review within this 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.

Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results

This administrative review is extraordinarily complicated due to the complexity of the countervailable subsidy practices found in the investigation and a new subsidy allegation. Because the Department requires additional time to review, analyze, and possibly verify the information, and to issue supplemental questionnaires, it is not practicable to complete this review within the original time limit (i.e., by May 10, 2010).¹ Therefore, the Department is extending the time limit for completion of the preliminary results by 120 days to not later than September 7, 2010, in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.

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

Dated: April 14, 2010.

Barbara E. Tillman,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations.

Footnotes

1.  As explained in the memorandum from the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, the Department has exercised its discretion to toll deadlines for the duration of the closure of the Federal Government from February 5, through February 12, 2010. As a result, all deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended by seven days, and the revised deadline for the preliminary determination became May 10, 2010. See Memorandum to the Record from Ronald Lorentzen, DAS for Import Administration, regarding “Tolling of Administrative Deadlines As a Result of the Government Closure During the Recent Snowstorm,” dated February 12, 2010.