[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 74 (Thursday, April 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 21266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07967]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Temporary Change to Antidumping/Countervailing Duty Conference
and Hearing Procedures
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The United States International Trade Commission (Commission)
provides notice that, to address concerns related to COVID-19, it is
temporarily waiving and amending certain of the Commission's rules that
permit participants to appear in-person to give oral presentations,
written witness testimony, or statements at antidumping/countervailing
duty (AD/CVD) preliminary phase conferences, and final phase
investigation and five-year review hearings held under Title VII of the
Tariff Act of 1930.
DATES: Immediately and until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may direct telephone inquiries to
Lisa R. Barton, Secretary to the Commission, the Office of the
Secretary at (202) 205-2000. You may direct email inquiries to
[email protected]. Hearing impaired persons can obtain information on
this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal at (202) 205-
1810. You may find general information concerning the Commission at
https://www.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 201.4(b) of the Commission's Rules
of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.4(b)) permits the Commission to
amend, waive, suspend, or revoke Commission rules for ``good and
sufficient reason'' if the rule is not a matter of procedure required
by law. The procedures permitting participants to make oral statements
or presentations, or submit written witness testimony, at AD/CVD
proceedings are not procedures required by law. Therefore, to address
concerns related to COVID-19, the Commission has determined that there
is good and sufficient reason to waive and amend certain Commission
rules. This rule waiver and amendment is effective immediately and
until further notice, which will be provided in a subsequent Federal
Register notice. Waiver and amendment of these rules will mitigate
disruption to Title VII investigations while the USITC building is
closed.
Specifically, the Commission temporarily waives the provisions of
Rules 201.13(f) and (h), 207.15, and 207.24(b) (19 CFR 201.13(f) and
(h), 207.15, and 207.24(b)) that require or permit participants to
submit presentations, statements, and written witness testimony at in-
person AD/CVD conferences and hearings.
The Commission has approved the temporary amendment of Rule
207.24(b) (19 CFR 207.24(b)) to permit parties to submit written
presentations and written witness testimony, and to permit nonparties
to submit brief written statements. The Commission has also approved
the temporary amendment of Rule 207.15 (19 CFR 207.15) to instruct each
party to provide written witness testimony in accordance with the
schedule and instructions specified by the Director or presiding
official. All such filings shall comply with the procedures set forth
in the Commission's Electronic Document Information System website at
https://edis.usitc.gov.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: April 10, 2020.
William Bishop,
Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020-07967 Filed 4-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P