2021-12316. Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin From India and the Russian Federation: Postponement of Preliminary Determinations in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations

AGENCY:

Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

DATES:

Applicable June 11, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alexis Cherry at [phone] (India) or Jaron Moore at [phone] (the Russian Federation (Russia)), AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On February 16, 2021, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigations of imports of polytetrafluoroethylene resin from India and Russia.^[1] Currently, the preliminary determinations are due no later than July 6, 2021.

Postponement of Preliminary Determinations

Section 733(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in an LTFV investigation within 140 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation. However, section 733(c)(1) of the Act permits Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 190 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation if: (A) The petitioner makes a timely request for a postponement; or (B) Commerce concludes that the parties concerned are cooperating, that the investigation is extraordinarily complicated, and that additional time is necessary to make a preliminary determination. Under 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioner must submit a request for postponement 25 days or more before the scheduled date of the preliminary determination and must state the reasons for the request. Commerce will grant the request unless it finds compelling reasons to deny the request.

On June 3, 2021, the petitioner ^[2] submitted a timely request that Commerce postpone the preliminary determinations in these LTFV investigations.^[3] The petitioner stated that it requests postponement so that Commerce may review the petitioner's comments on the questionnaire responses, issue supplemental questionnaires, and conduct a complete and thorough analysis in these investigations.^[4]

For the reasons stated above, and because there are no compelling reasons to deny the request, Commerce, in accordance with section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act, is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determinations by 50 days (i.e., 190 days after the date on which these investigations were initiated). As a result, Commerce will issue its preliminary determinations no later than August 25, 2021. In accordance with section 735(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final determinations in these investigations will continue to be 75 days after the date of the preliminary determinations, unless postponed at a later date.

Notification to Interested Parties

This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

Dated: June 7, 2021.

Christian Marsh,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Footnotes

1.  See Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from India and the Russian Federation: Initiation of Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigations, 86 FR 10926 (February 23, 2021).

2.  The petitioner is Daikin America, Inc.

3.  See Petitioner's Letters, “Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from India: Request to Extend Due Date for Preliminary Determination,” dated June 3, 2021; and “Granular Polytetrafluoroethylene Resin from Russia: Request to Extend Due Date for Preliminary Determination,” dated June 3, 2021.

4.  Id.