US DoC postponement of preliminary determination in the countervailing duty investigation on forged steel from China
On October 25, 2017, the Department of Commerce (the Department) initiated a countervailing duty investigation of forged steel fittings from the People's Republic of China. Currently, the preliminary determination is due no later than December 29, 2017.
Section 703(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires the Department to issue the preliminary determination in a CVD investigation within 65 days after the date on which the Department initiated the investigation. However, section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act permits the Department to postpone the preliminary determination until no later than 130 days after the date on which the Department initiated the investigation if the petitioners make a timely request for a postponement. Under 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioners 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. The Department will grant the request unless it finds compelling reasons to deny the request.
On November 24, 2017, the petitioners submitted a timely request that the Department postpone the preliminary CVD determination. Noting the comments filed with respect to respondent selection and the scope of the investigation, the petitioners stated that a postponement is necessary due to the difficulty in determining which companies imported subject merchandise, and the possibility that the Department may find it necessary to select additional respondents or issue quantity and value questionnaires. Finally, the petitioners state that a postponement is necessary to allow them sufficient time to identify additional subsidy benefits not addressed in the Petition once the Department identifies the mandatory respondents.
In accordance with 19 CFR 351.205(e), the petitioners stated the reasons for requesting a postponement of the preliminary determination, and the Department finds no compelling reason to deny the request. Therefore, in accordance with section 703(c)(1)(A) of the Act, the Department 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., March 5, 2018.[4] 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, unless postponed at a later date.
This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 703(c)(2) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).
Source : Strategic Research Institute