[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 109 (Thursday, June 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26444-26445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11794]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION


Notice of Receipt of Complaint; Solicitation of Comments Relating 
to the Public Interest

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade 
Commission has received a complaint entitled Certain Laparoscopic 
Surgical Staplers, Reload Cartridges, and Components Thereof, DN 3391; 
the Commission is soliciting comments on any public interest issues 
raised by the complaint or complainant's filing pursuant to the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa R. Barton, Secretary to the 
Commission, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-2000. The public version of 
the complaint can be accessed on the Commission's Electronic Document 
Information System (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov, and will be 
available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 
5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-
2000.
    General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained 
by accessing its internet server at United States International Trade 
Commission (USITC) at https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this 
investigation may be viewed on the Commission's Electronic Document 
Information System (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired 
persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by 
contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has received a complaint and 
a submission pursuant to Sec.  210.8(b) of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure filed on behalf of Ethicon LLC; Ethicon Endo-
Surgery, Inc.; and Ethicon US, LLC on May 30, 2019. The complaint 
alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1337) in the importation into the United States, the sale for 
importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of 
certain laparoscopic surgical staplers, reload cartridges, and 
components thereof. The complaint names as respondents: Intuitive 
Surgical Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA; Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. of 
Sunnyvale, CA; Intuitive Surgical Holdings, LLC of Sunnyvale, CA; and 
Intuitive Surgical S.DE R.L. DE C.V. of Mexico. The complainant 
requests that the Commission issue a limited exclusion order, cease and 
desist orders, and impose a bond upon respondents' alleged infringing 
articles during the 60-day Presidential review period pursuant to 19 
U.S.C. 1337(j).
    Proposed respondents, other interested parties, and members of the 
public are invited to file comments, not to exceed five (5) pages in 
length, inclusive of attachments, on any public interest issues raised 
by the complaint or Sec.  210.8(b) filing. Comments should address 
whether issuance of the relief specifically requested by the 
complainant in this investigation would affect the public health and 
welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United 
States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles 
in the United States, or United States consumers.
    In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that:
    (i) Explain how the articles potentially subject to the requested 
remedial orders are used in the United States;
    (ii) identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the 
United States relating to the requested remedial orders;
    (iii) identify like or directly competitive articles that 
complainant, its licensees, or third parties make in the United States 
which could replace the subject articles if they were to be excluded;
    (iv) indicate whether complainant, complainant's licensees, and/or 
third party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of 
articles potentially subject to the requested exclusion order and/or a 
cease and desist order within a commercially reasonable time; and
    (v) explain how the requested remedial orders would impact United 
States consumers.
    Written submissions on the public interest must be filed no later 
than by close of business, eight calendar days after the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. There will be 
further opportunities for comment on the public interest after the 
issuance of any final initial determination in this investigation. Any 
written submissions on other issues should be filed no later than by 
close of business nine calendar days after the date of publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register. Complainant may file a reply to 
any written submission no later than the date on which complainant's 
reply would be due under Sec.  210.8(c)(2) of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.8(c)(2)).
    Persons filing written submissions must file the original document 
electronically on or before the deadlines stated above and submit 8 
true paper copies to the Office of the Secretary by noon the next day 
pursuant to Sec.  210.4(f) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure (19 CFR 210.4(f)). Submissions should refer to the docket 
number (``Docket No. 3391'') in a prominent place on the cover page 
and/or the first page. (See Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, 
Electronic Filing Procedures \1\). Persons with questions regarding 
filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures: https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in 
confidence must request confidential treatment. All such requests 
should be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and must include 
a full statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such 
treatment. See 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which confidential treatment 
by the Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. All 
such requests should be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and 
must include a full statement of the reasons why the Commission should 
grant such treatment. See 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which 
confidential treatment by the Commission is properly sought will be 
treated accordingly. All information, including confidential business 
information and documents for which confidential treatment is properly 
sought, submitted to the Commission for purposes of this Investigation 
may be disclosed to and used: (i) By the Commission, its employees and 
Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the 
records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal 
investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the 
programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 
U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract

[[Page 26445]]

personnel,\2\ solely for cybersecurity purposes. All nonconfidential 
written submissions will be available for public inspection at the 
Office of the Secretary and on EDIS.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure 
agreements.
    \3\ Electronic Document Information System (EDIS): https://edis.usitc.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This action is taken under the authority of section 337 of the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and of Sec. Sec.  
201.10 and 210.8(c) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure 
(19 CFR 201.10, 210.8(c)).

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: May 31, 2019.
 Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2019-11794 Filed 6-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P