2021-11670. Organic Soybean Meal From India: Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

AGENCY:

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

DATES:

Applicable June 3, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lauren Caserta, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

On April 20, 2021, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) initiated a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation of imports of organic soybean meal from India.^[1] Currently, the preliminary determination is due no later than June 25, 2021.

Postponement of Preliminary Determination

Section 703(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires Commerce to issue the preliminary determination in a CVD investigation within 65 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1) of the Act permits Commerce to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 130 days after the date on which Commerce initiated the investigation if: (A) The petitioner ^[2] 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 May 26, 2021, the petitioners submitted a timely request that Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination.^[3] The petitioners stated that they request postponement of the preliminary determination of this CVD investigation to provide Commerce with sufficient time to analyze adequately all alleged subsidies received by the mandatory respondents during the period of investigation.^[4]

In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioners stated the reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determination, and Commerce finds no compelling reason to deny the request. Therefore, in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, Commerce is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determination to no later than 130 days after the date on which this investigation was initiated, i.e., August, 30, 2021.^[5] Pursuant to section 705(a)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(1), the deadline for the final determination of this investigation will continue to be 75 days after the date of the preliminary determination.

This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

Dated: May 27, 2021.

Christian Marsh,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Footnotes

1.  See Organic Soybean Meal From India: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation, 86 FR 22136 (April 27, 2021).

2.  The petitioners are: Organic Soybean Processors of America (OSPA) and American Natural Processors, LLC, Organic Production Services, LLC, Professional Proteins, Ltd., Sheppard Grain Enterprises LLC, Simmons Grain Company, Super Soy, LLC, and Tri-State Crush LLC.

3.  See Petitioners' Letter, “Organic Soybean Meal from India: Petitioners' Request to Postpone the Countervailing Duty Investigation Preliminary Determination,” dated May 26, 2021.

4.  Id. at 2.

5.  Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after initiation would place the deadline on Saturday, August 28, 2021. Commerce's practice dictates that where a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next business day. See Notice of Clarification: Application of “Next Business Day” Rule for Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10, 2005).