[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]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION


Temporary Change to Antidumping/Countervailing Duty Conference 
and Hearing Procedures

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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

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