[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15373-15374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-05724]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-533-907]


Sodium Nitrite From India: Postponement of Preliminary 
Determination in the Countervailing Duty Investigation

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


DATES: Applicable March 18, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eva Kim, AD/CVD Operations, Office IV, 
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230, telephone: (202) 482-8283.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On February 8, 2022, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) 
published the initiation of countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of 
imports of sodium nitrite from India and Russia.\1\ Currently, the 
preliminary determinations are due no later than April 8, 2022.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Sodium Nitrite from India and the Russian Federation: 
Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigations, 87 FR 7108 
(February 8, 2022).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
countervailing duty investigation within 65 days after the date on 
which Commerce initiated the investigation. However, section

[[Page 15374]]

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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The petitioner is Chemtrade Chemicals US, LLC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On March 14, 2022, the petitioner submitted a timely request that 
Commerce postpone the preliminary CVD determination of sodium nitrite 
from India.\3\ The petitioner requested postponement due to the 
complexity of this investigation and posited that more time is needed 
for Commerce to conduct a complete and thorough analysis.\4\ The 
petitioner noted that it ``identified twenty-one different subsidy 
programs that potentially benefit the mandatory respondent, Deepak 
Nitrite Limited,'' and that Commerce's preliminary determination is 
currently due on April 8, 2022,\5\ ``which is just two weeks after the 
current deadline for complete initial responses to Sections II and III 
of Commerce's questionnaires.'' \6\ In accordance with 19 CFR 
351.205(e), the petitioner has stated its 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., June 13, 2022.\7\ 
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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Sodium Nitrite from India: 
Request for Extension of the Preliminary Determination of the 
Countervailing Duty Investigation,'' dated March 14, 2022.
    \4\ Id.
    \5\ See 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1) (explaining that the preliminary 
countervailing duty determination is due 65 days after the date of 
initiation). This investigation was initiated on February 2, 2022.
    \6\ Id.
    \7\ Postponing the preliminary determination to 130 days after 
initiation would place the deadline on Sunday, June 12, 2022. 
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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

    Dated: March 14, 2022.
Lisa W. Wang,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2022-05724 Filed 3-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P