Certain Pasta From Italy: Extension of Final Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review

AGENCY:

Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

DATES:

Effective Date: November 4, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mark Young at (202) 482-6397, AD/CVD Operations, Office 3, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

Statutory Time Limits

Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), requires the Department to issue (1) the preliminary results of a review within 245 days after the last day of the anniversary month of an order or finding for which a review is requested, and (2) the final results within 120 days after the date on which the preliminary results are published. However, if it is not practicable to complete the review within that time period, section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act allows the Department to extend the time limit for the preliminary results to a maximum of 365 days and the final results to a maximum of 180 days (or 300 days if the Department does not extend the time limit for the preliminary results) from the date of the publication of the preliminary results. See also 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2).

Background

On August 22, 2003, the Department published a notice of initiation of the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain pasta from Italy, covering the period July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003 (68 FR 50750). On March 17, 2004, the Department fully extended the preliminary results of the review by 120 days (69 FR 12641). On August 6, 2004, the Department published the preliminary results of its review (69 FR 47880). The final results of this review are currently due no later than December 6, 2004.

Extension of Final Results of Reviews

We determine that it is not practicable to complete the final results of this review within the original time limit because the Department needs additional time to fully consider parties' arguments regarding the application of facts available with respect to Barilla Alimentare, S.p.A., and certain respondents' proposed modifications to the wheat codes. Therefore, we are extending the deadline for the final results of the above-referenced review until February 2, 2005.

This extension is in accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.213(h)(2).