[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 27, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31805-31807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11359]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-578]
Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2020
Review
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice of institution of investigation and scheduling of public
hearing.
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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on May 4, 2020, from the United
States Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. International Trade
Commission (Commission) instituted Investigation No. 332-578,
Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2020 Review,
for the purpose of providing advice and information relating to the
possible addition of articles and removal of articles.
DATES:
June 3, 2020: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the public
hearing.
June 3, 2020: Deadline for filing pre-hearing briefs and
statements.
June 19, 2020: Public hearing.
June 29, 2020: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and
statements.
June 29, 2020: Deadline for filing all other written submissions.
August 31, 2020: Transmittal of Commission report to the USTR.
Because COVID-19 mitigation measures are in effect, the Commission
will hold the public hearing virtually. For further information on the
hearing, see the section below on ``public hearing'' and also the
Commission's ongoing investigations website (https://usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/what_we_are_working_on.htm), before June 22, 2020
for details about the hearing format.
ADDRESSES: All Commission offices are located in the United States
International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington,
DC. All written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary,
United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW,
Washington, DC 20436. The public record for this investigation may be
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information specific to this
investigation may be obtained from Sharon Ford, Project Leader, Office
of Industries (202-205-3084 or [email protected]), or Greg LaRocca,
Deputy Project Leader, Office of Industries (202-205-3405 or
[email protected]) or Marin Weaver, Technical Advisor, Office
of Industries (202-205-3461 or [email protected]). For information
on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact William Gearhart of
the Commission's Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or
[email protected]). The media should contact Margaret
O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or
[email protected]). Hearing-impaired individuals may obtain
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal
at 202-205-1810. General information concerning the Commission may also
be obtained by accessing its website (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons
with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining
access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at
202-205-2000.
Background: In his letter, the USTR requested the advice and
information described below.
[[Page 31806]]
(1) Advice as to the probable economic effect on total U.S.
imports, on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive
articles, and on U.S. consumers of the elimination of U.S. import
duties on the articles in Table A for all beneficiary developing
countries under the GSP program. In accordance with sections
503(a)(1)(A), 503(e), and 131(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended
(``the 1974 Act'') and pursuant to the authority of the President
delegated to the USTR by sections 4(c) and 8(c) and (d) of Executive
Order 11846 of March 31, 1975, as amended, and pursuant to section
332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the USTR notified the Commission that
the articles identified in Table A of the Annex to the USTR request
letter are being considered for designation as eligible articles for
purposes of the GSP program. The USTR requested that the Commission
provide its advice as to the probable economic effect on total U.S.
imports, U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive
articles, and on U.S. consumers of the elimination of U.S. import
duties on the articles identified in Table A of the Annex to the USTR
request letter for all beneficiary developing countries under the GSP
program (see Table A below).
Table A--2020 GSP Annual Review--Petitions Submitted To Add Products to
the List of Eligible Articles for the Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP)
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HTS provision Brief description
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0603.11.00............................. Sweetheart, Spray and other
Roses, fresh cut.
0603.11.0010........................... Sweetheart roses, fresh,
suitable for bouquets or for
ornamental purposes.
0603.11.0030........................... Spray roses, fresh, suitable
for bouquets or for ornamental
purposes.
0603.11.0060........................... Roses, fresh, suitable for
bouquets for ornamental
purposes, nesoi.
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(2) Advice as to the probable economic effect of the removal from
eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP program for these
articles from all countries on total U.S. imports, on U.S. industries
producing like or directly competitive articles, and on U.S. consumers.
The USTR notified the Commission that six articles from all beneficiary
developing countries are being considered for removal from eligibility
for duty-free treatment under the GSP program. Under authority
delegated by the President, pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff
Act of 1930, with respect to the articles listed in Table B of the
Annex to the USTR request letter, the USTR requested that the
Commission provide its advice as to the probable economic effect of the
removal from eligibility for duty-free treatment under the GSP program
for these articles from all beneficiary developing countries on total
U.S. imports, on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive
articles, and on U.S. consumers (see Table B below).
Table B--2020 GSP Annual Review--Petitions Submitted To Remove Duty-Free
Status for a Product on the List of Eligible Articles for the GSP
Program
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HTS provision Brief description
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1006.10.00............................. Rice in the husk (paddy or
rough).
1006.20.20............................. Basmati rice, husked.
1006.20.40............................. Husked (brown) rice, other than
Basmati.
1006.30.10............................. Rice semi-milled or wholly
milled, whether or not
polished or glazed, parboiled.
1006.30.90............................. Rice semi-milled or wholly
milled, whether or not
polished or glazed, other than
parboiled.
1006.40.00............................. Broken rice.
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Time for reporting, HTS detail, portions of report to be
classified. As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide the
requested advice and information by August 31, 2020. The USTR asked
that the Commission issue, as soon as possible thereafter, a public
version of the report containing only the unclassified information,
with any confidential business information deleted. As requested, the
Commission will provide its probable economic effect advice and
statistics (profile of the U.S. industry and market and U.S. import and
export data) and any other relevant information or advice separately
and individually for each U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule provision for
all products subject to the request. The USTR indicated that those
sections of the Commission's report and working papers that contain the
Commission's advice and assessment of probable economic effects on
domestic industries, on U.S. imports, and on U.S. consumers, will be
classified as ``confidential.'' The USTR also stated that his office
considers the Commission's report to be an inter-agency memorandum that
will contain pre-decisional advice and be subject to the deliberative
process privilege.
Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. on June 19, 2020,
virtually. Information about the virtual hearing and how to participate
will be posted on the Commission's website at (https://usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/what_we_are_working_on.htm). Once on that web
page, scroll down to the entry for investigation No. 332-578,
Generalized System of Preferences: Possible Modifications, 2020 Review,
and click on the link to ``hearing instructions''. Requests to appear
at the public hearing should be filed with the Secretary no later than
5:15 p.m., June 3, 2020. All pre-hearing briefs and statements should
be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., June 3, 2020; and all post-hearing
briefs and statements should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., June 29,
2020. All requests to appear, and pre- and post-hearing briefs and
statements should be filed in accordance with the requirements of the
``written submissions'' section below.
Written Submissions: In lieu of or in addition to participating in
the hearing, interested parties are invited to file written submissions
concerning this investigation. All written submissions should be
addressed to the Secretary, and should be received not later than 5:15
p.m., June 29, 2020. All written submissions must conform to the
provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and
Procedure (19 CFR 201.8), as temporarily amended by 85 FR 15798 (March
19, 2020). Under that rule waiver, the Office of the Secretary will
accept only electronic filings at this time. Filings must be made
through the Commission's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS,
https://edis.usitc.gov). No in-person paper-based filings or paper
copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice.
Persons with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the
Office of the Secretary, Docket Services Division (202-205-1802), or
consult the Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures.
Confidential Business Information: 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 CFR 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 ``non-confidential'' version,
and that the confidential business information is clearly identified by
means of brackets. All
[[Page 31807]]
written submissions, except for confidential business information, will
be made available for inspection by interested parties.
The Commission may include some or all of the confidential business
information submitted in the course of this investigation in the report
it sends to the USTR. Additionally, all information, including
confidential business information, submitted in 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
personnel for cybersecurity purposes. The Commission will not otherwise
disclose any confidential business information in a manner that would
reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.
Summaries of Written Submissions: Persons wishing to have a summary
of their position included in the report should include a summary with
their written submission and should mark the summary as having been
provided for that purpose. The summary should be clearly marked as
``summary for inclusion in the report'' at the top of the page. The
summary may not exceed 500 words, should be in MS Word format or a
format that can be easily converted to MS Word, and should not include
any confidential business information. The summary will be published as
provided if it meets these requirements and is germane to the subject
matter of the investigation. The Commission will list the name of the
organization furnishing the summary and will include a link to the
Commission's Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) where the
full written submission can be found.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: May 21, 2020.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-11359 Filed 5-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P