[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17496-17497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5021]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-474]


Medical Devices and Equipment: Competitive Conditions Affecting 
U.S. Trade in Japan and Other Principal Foreign Markets

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of hearing.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 3, 2006.

SUMMARY: Following receipt on March 9, 2006, of a request from the 
Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives 
(Committee) under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
(332(g)), the Commission instituted investigation No. 332-474, Medical 
Devices and Equipment: Competitive Conditions Affecting U.S. Trade in 
Japan and Other Principal Foreign Markets.
    Background: As requested by the Committee, the Commission will 
conduct an investigation under section 332(g) and prepare a report 
assessing competitive conditions affecting U.S. trade of medical 
devices and equipment in principal foreign markets.
    In preparing its report, the Commission will, as requested, closely 
examine the regulatory conditions of competition affecting U.S. sales 
and trade of medical devices and equipment in Japan, and other 
principal foreign markets, for the most recent 5-year period. The 
Commission will focus on the main U.S. exports of medical devices and 
equipment to these markets during this period, and compare Japan's 
regulatory conditions to those of the other major foreign markets for 
U.S.-made medical devices and equipment.
    This report will also include, to the extent possible, for the most 
recent 5-year period: (1) An overview of the global market for medical 
devices and equipment, including production, consumption, and trade; 
(2) profiles of the medical device and equipment industries in the 
United States and principal foreign producer countries; (3) an analysis 
of U.S. trade in medical devices and equipment with major competitor 
countries including a description of trade practices, regulatory 
measures such as product approvals, and government and private 
expenditures on medical research; and (4) an examination of bilateral 
and multilateral trade agreements that have addressed regulatory issues 
in major foreign markets, including Japan's, and the implications for 
the U.S. medical device and equipment industry.

[[Page 17497]]

    The Commission will provide its report to the Committee by March 9, 
2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Co-Project Leader, Christopher Johnson 
(202-205-3488 or [email protected]).
    Co-Project Leader, Heather Sykes (202-205-3436 or 
[email protected]). Industry-specific information may be obtained 
from the above persons. For more information on legal aspects of the 
investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of 
the General Counsel at 202-205-3091 or [email protected]. The 
media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations 
at 202-205-1819 or [email protected]. Hearing impaired 
individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained 
by contacting the TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these 
investigations may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS-ONLINE) at http://edis.usitc.gov/hvwebex.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. on July 11, 2006, at 
the United States International Trade Commission Building, 500 E 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. All persons have the right to appear by 
counsel or in person, to present information, and to be heard. Persons 
wishing to appear at the public hearing should file a letter with the 
Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E St., 
SW., Washington, DC 20436, not later than the close of business (5:15 
p.m. e.s.t.) on June 27, 2006, in accordance with the requirements in 
the ``Submissions'' section below.
    Written Submissions: In lieu of or in addition to participating in 
the hearing, interested parties are invited to submit written 
statements or briefs concerning this investigation. All written 
submissions, including requests to appear at the hearing, statements, 
and briefs, should be addressed to the Secretary, United States 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20436. Any prehearing statements or briefs should be filed not later 
than close of business, June 29, 2006; the deadline for filing 
posthearing statements or briefs is close of business, July 25, 2006. 
All written submissions must conform with the provisions of section 
201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 C.F.R. 
201.8). Section 201.8 of the rules requires that a signed original (or 
a copy designated as an original) and fourteen (14) copies of each 
document be filed. In the event that confidential treatment of the 
document is requested, at least four (4) additional copies must be 
filed, in which the confidential information must be deleted (see the 
following paragraph for further information regarding confidential 
business information). The Commission's rules do not authorize filing 
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except 
to the extent permitted by section 201.8 of the rules (see Handbook for 
Electronic Filing Procedures, ftp://ftp.usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information must 
also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 C.F.R. 201.6). Section 201.6 of the 
rules requires that the cover of the document and the individual pages 
be clearly marked as to whether they are the ``confidential'' or 
``nonconfidential'' version, and that the confidential business 
information be clearly identified by means of brackets. All written 
submissions, except for confidential business information, will be made 
available in the Office of the Secretary to the Commission for 
inspection by interested parties.
    In its request letter, the Committee stated that it intends to make 
the Commission's report available to the public in its entirety, and 
asked that the Commission not include any confidential business or 
national security confidential information in the report it sends to 
the Committee. The report that the Commission sends to the Committee 
will not contain any such information. Any confidential business 
information received by the Commission in this investigation and used 
in preparing the report will not be published in a manner that would 
reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.
    Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance 
in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Secretary at 
202-205-2000.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: April 3, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E6-5021 Filed 4-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P