[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14732-14733]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6023]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[A-570-979]


Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled 
Into Modules, 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: March 13, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Pedersen or Drew Jackson, AD/CVD 
Operations, Office 4, Import Administration, International Trade 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230, telephone: (202) 482-
2769 or (202) 482-4406, respectively.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Postponement of Preliminary Determination

    On November 16, 2011, the Department of Commerce (``Department'') 
published a notice of initiation of an antidumping duty investigation 
of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled 
into modules, from the People's Republic of China.\1\ The period of 
investigation is April 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011. The notice 
of initiation stated that, unless postponed, the Department would issue 
its preliminary determination for this investigation no later than 140 
days after the date of the initiation in accordance with section 
773(b)(1)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (``the Act''), and 
19 CFR 351.205(b)(1). The preliminary determination of the antidumping 
duty investigation is currently due no later than March 27, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not 
Assembled Into Modules, From the People's Republic of China: 
Initiation of Antidumping Duty Investigation, 76 FR 70960 (November 
16, 2011).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On March 2, 2012, SolarWorld Industries America Inc. 
(``Petitioner''), made a timely request pursuant to section 733(c)(1) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(2) and (e) for postponement of the 
preliminary determination in this investigation.\2\ Petitioner 
requested a 30-day postponement of the preliminary determination in 
order to provide the Department with sufficient time to review the 
questionnaire responses and issue appropriate requests for 
clarification and additional information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ See Letter from Petitioner to the Secretary of Commerce, 
``Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Cells, Whether or Not Assembled 
into Modules, from the People's Republic of China: Request to Extend 
Preliminary Determination in Antidumping Duty Investigation,'' dated 
March 2, 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Sections 733(c)(1)(B)(i) and (ii) of the Act permit the Department 
to extend the time limits for the preliminary determination if it 
concludes that the parties concerned are cooperating and determines 
that the case is extraordinarily complicated by reason of the number 
and complexity of the transactions to be investigated or adjustments to 
be considered, the novelty of issues presented, or the number of firms 
whose activities must be investigated, and additional time is necessary 
to make the preliminary determination. The Department may postpone 
making the preliminary determination under section 733(c)(1)(B) of the 
Act until not later than the 190th day after the date on which the 
administering authority initiates an investigation under section 732(c) 
of the Act, or an investigation is initiated under section 732(a) of 
the Act.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See generally section 733(c)(1)(B) of the Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Department has concluded that the parties concerned are 
cooperating with the antidumping duty investigation and the nature of 
this case is extraordinarily complicated. Since the initiation of this 
investigation, the mandatory respondents filed timely, extensive 
questionnaire and supplemental questionnaire responses. Further, the 
instant investigation involves a technologically sophisticated product 
that is manufactured through a complex, multi-stage production process 
using numerous factors of production (``FOP''). Accordingly, the 
methodology employed to report FOP data is inherently complex. 
Moreover, additional time is necessary in order to

[[Page 14733]]

issue the preliminary determination. For the forgoing reasons, the 
Department determines that this investigation in extraordinarily 
complicated within the meaning of section 733(c)(1)(B)(i) of the Act 
and that a full extension of the preliminary determination is 
necessary.
    Accordingly, in accordance with section 733(c)(1) of the Act, we 
are fully extending the due date for the preliminary determination to 
no later than 190 days after the day on which the investigation was 
initiated. Thus the new deadline for issuing the preliminary 
determination is May 16, 2012.
    This notice is issued and published pursuant to section 733(c)(2) 
of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(f)(1).

    Dated: March 6, 2012.
Paul Piquado,
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-6023 Filed 3-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P