[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12717-12718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04154]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-986]


Hardwood and Decorative Plywood From the People's Republic of 
China: Postponement of Preliminary Determination of Antidumping Duty 
Investigation

AGENCY: Import Administration, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.

DATES: Effective Date: February 25, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Marksberry at (202) 482-7906, 
AD/CVD Operations, Office 9, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 17, 2012, the Department of 
Commerce (``Department'') initiated an antidumping duty investigation 
on hardwood and decorative plywood from

[[Page 12718]]

the People's Republic of China.\1\ The notice of initation stated that, 
unless postponed, the Department would issue its preliminary 
determination no later than 140 days after the date of issuance of the 
initiation, in accordance with section 773(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act 
of 1930, as amended (``the Act''). The preliminary determination is 
currently due no later than March 8, 2013.\2\
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    \1\ See Hardwood and Decorative Plywood From the People's 
Republic of China: Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation, 77 
FR 65172 (October 25, 2012).
    \2\ As explained in the memorandum from the 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 October 29, through October 30, 2012. Thus, 
all deadlines in this segment of the proceeding have been extended 
by two days. The revised deadline for the preliminary determination 
of this investigation is now March 8, 2012. See Memorandum to the 
Record from Paul Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Import 
Administration, regarding ``Tolling of Administrative Deadlines As a 
Result of the Government Closure During Hurrican Sandy,'' dated 
October 31, 2012.
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    On Feburary 5, 2013, the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood 
Plywood (``Petitioners''), made a timely request, pursuant to 19 CFR 
351.205(e), for postponement of the preliminary determination, in order 
to allow additional time for the Department to review the respondents' 
sections C and D questionnaire submissions, as well as other 
information critical to the proceeding, such as comments on the 
selection of a surrogate country and submissions of publicly available 
information to value the factors of production reported by the 
respondents.\3\ Because there are no compelling reasons to deny the 
request, in accordance with section 733(c)(1)(A) of the Act, the 
Department is postponing the deadline for the preliminary determination 
by 50 days.
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    \3\ See Letter to the Department, from Petitioners; Re: Hardwood 
and Decorative Plywood from the People's Republic of China, dated 
February 5, 2013.
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    An extension of 50 days from the current deadline of March 8, 2013, 
would result in a new deadline of April 27, 2013. Because April 27, 
2013, falls on a Saturday, the due date for the preliminary 
determination is now April 29, 2013.\4\ The deadline for the final 
determination will continue to be 75 days after the date of the 
preliminary determination, unless extended.
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    \4\ Department 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, 24533 
(May 10, 2005).
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    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: February 14, 2013.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-04154 Filed 2-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P