03-13262. Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars from Latvia: Extension of the Time Limit for the Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

May 28, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Kemp or Constance Handley at [phone] or [phone], respectively; Office of AD/CVD Enforcement 5, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

Time Limits

Statutory Time Limits

Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires the Department of Commerce (the Department) to complete the preliminary results of an administrative review within 245 days after the last day of the anniversary month of an order/finding for which a review is requested and 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 these time periods, section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act allows the Department to extend the time limit for the preliminary results to a maximum of 365 days after the last day of the anniversary month of an order/finding for which a review is requested, and for the final results to 180 days (or 300 days if the Department does not extend the time limit for the preliminary results) from the date of publication of the preliminary results.

Background

On September 3, 2002, Joint Stock Company Liepajas Metalurgs, a Latvian producer of subject merchandise, requested an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bars from Latvia. On October 24, 2002, the Department published a notice of initiation of the administrative review, covering the period January 30, 2001, through August 31, 2002 (67 FR 65336). The preliminary results are currently due no later than June 2, 2003.

Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of Review

We determine that it is not practicable to complete the preliminary results of this review within the original time limit for the reasons stated in our memorandum from Gary Taverman, Director, Office V, to Holly Kuga, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, which is on file in the Central Records Unit, Room B-099 of the main Commerce building. Therefore, the Department is extending the time limit for completion of the preliminary results by two months until no later than August 4, 2003. We intend to issue the final results no later than 120 days after publication of the preliminary results notice.

This extension is in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act.

Dated: May 21, 2003.

Holly A. Kuga,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for AD/CVD Enforcement II.