[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14961-14962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6863]



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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigations Nos. 731-TA-700-701 (Final)]


Commission Determination To Conduct a Portion of the Hearing in 
Camera

    In the Matter of: Disposable Lighters From the People's Republic 
of China and Thailand.

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Closure of a portion of a Commission hearing to the public.

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SUMMARY: Upon request of respondent Thai Merry Co., Ltd. (Thai Merry) 
in the above-captioned final investigations, the Commission has 
unanimously determined to conduct a portion of its hearing scheduled 
for March 21, 1995, in camera. See Commission rules 207.23(d), 
201.13(m) and 201.35(b)(3) (19 CFR 207.23(d), 201.13(m) and 
201.35(b)(3), as amended, 59 FR 66719 (Dec. 28, 1994)). The remainder 
of the hearing will be open to the public. The Commission has 
unanimously determined that the seven-day advance notice of the change 
to a meeting was not possible. See Commission rule 201.35(a), (c)(1) 
(19 CFR 201.35(a), (c)(1), as amended, 59 FR 66719 (Dec. 28, 1994)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda M. Hughes, Esq., Office of the 
General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone 202-205-3083. Hearing-impaired 
individuals are advised that information on this matter may be obtained 
by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission believes that Thai Merry has 
justified the need for a closed session. Because petitioner BIC 
Corporation is the sole domestic producer, a full discussion of 
petitioner's financial condition and of many of the indicators that the 
Commission examines in assessing material reason by reason of subject 
imports can only occur if at least part of the hearing is held in 
camera. In addition, because Thai Merry is the sole participating Thai 
respondent in these investigations and because the Commission's 
preliminary determination that there was a reasonable indication that 
imports from Thailand pose a threat of material injury to the domestic 
industry, any discussion of Thai producer and importer data as required 
by the Commission's analysis of the statutory factors pertaining to a 
finding of threat of material injury by reason of those imports will 
necessitate disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI). Thus, 
such a discussion can only occur if a portion of the hearing is held in 
camera. In making this decision, the Commission nevertheless reaffirms 
its belief that whenever possible its business should be conducted in 
public.
    The hearing will include the usual public presentations by 
petitioner and by respondents, with questions from the Commission. In 
addition, the hearing will include an in camera session for a 
presentation including BPI by respondents and for questions from the 
Commission relating to the BPI. For any in camera session the room will 
be cleared of all persons except: those who have been granted access to 
BPI under a Commission administrative protective order (APO) and are 
included on the Commission's APO service list in these investigations. 
See 19 CFR 201.35(b)(1), (2). In addition, if petitioner's BPI will be 
discussed in the in camera session, personnel of petitioner may also be 
granted access to the closed session. Similarly, if respondents' BPI 
will be discussed in the in camera session, personnel of respondents 
may also be granted access to the closed session. See 19 CFR 
201.35(b)(1), (2). The time for the parties' presentations and 
rebuttals in the in camera session will be taken from their respective 
overall allotments for the hearing. All persons planning to attend the 
in camera portions of the [[Page 14962]] hearing should be prepared to 
present proper identification.

    Authority: The General Counsel has certified, pursuant to 
Commission Rule 201.39 (19 CFR 201.39) that, in her opinion, a 
portion of the Commission's hearing in Disposable Lighters from the 
People's Republic of China and Thailand, Invs. Nos. 731-TA-700-701 
(Final) may be closed to the public to prevent the disclosure of 
BPI.

    Issued: March 15, 1995.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-6863 Filed 3-20-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P