[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 129 (Monday, July 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40319-40320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14294]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-650-651 (Preliminary)]


Phosphate Fertilizers from Morocco and Russia; Institution of 
Countervailing Duty Investigations and Scheduling of Preliminary Phase 
Investigations

AGENCY:  United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of 
investigations and commencement of preliminary phase countervailing 
duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-650-651 (Preliminary) pursuant to the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act'') to determine whether there is a 
reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is 
materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the 
establishment of an industry in the United States is materially 
retarded, by reason of imports of phosphate fertilizers from Morocco 
and Russia, provided for in subheadings 3103.11.00, 3103.19.00, 
3105.20.00, 3105.30.00, 3105.40.00, 3105.51.00, and 3105.59.00 of the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be 
subsidized by the Governments of Morocco and Russia. Unless the 
Department of Commerce (``Commerce'') extends the time for initiation, 
the Commission must reach a preliminary determination in countervailing 
duty investigations in 45 days, or in this case by August 10, 2020. The 
Commission's views must be transmitted to Commerce within five business 
days thereafter, or by August 17, 2020.

DATES: Applicable June 26, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
     Calvin Chang ((202) 205-3062), Office of Investigations, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. 
Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by 
contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. 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. General information concerning the Commission may also be 
obtained by accessing its internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The 
public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's 
electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Background.--These investigations are being instituted, pursuant to 
section 703(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a)), in 
response to a petition filed on June 26, 2020, by The Mosaic Company, 
Plymouth, Minnesota.
    For further information concerning the conduct of these 
investigations and rules of general application, consult the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A and 
B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigation and public service list.--
Persons (other than petitioners) wishing to participate in the 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec. Sec.  201.11 and 
207.10 of the Commission's rules, not later than seven days after 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Industrial users 
and (if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail 
level) representative consumer organizations have the right to appear 
as parties in Commission countervailing duty investigations. The 
Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and 
addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to 
these investigations upon the expiration of the period for filing 
entries of appearance.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to Sec.  207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in these investigations available to authorized 
applicants representing interested parties (as defined in 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9)) who are parties to the investigations under the APO issued in 
the investigations, provided that the application is made not later 
than seven days after the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. A separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary 
for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Conference.-- In light of the restrictions on access to the 
Commission building due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission is 
conducting its Title VII (antidumping and countervailing duty) 
preliminary phase staff conferences through submissions of written 
opening remarks and written testimony, staff questions and written 
responses to those questions, and postconference briefs. Requests to 
appear at the conference should be emailed 
to[email protected] (DO NOT FILE ON EDIS) on or before 
July 15, 2020. A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the 
Commission's deliberations may request permission to participate by 
submitting a short statement. Please note the Secretary's Office will 
accept only electronic filings during 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.
    Written submissions.--As provided in Sec. Sec.  201.8 and 207.15 of 
the Commission's rules, any person may submit to the Commission on or 
before July 22, 2020, a written brief containing information and 
arguments pertinent to the subject matter of the investigations. 
Parties may file written opening remarks and testimony to the 
Commission on or before July 15, 2020. Staff questions will be provided 
to the parties on July 17, 2020, and written responses should be 
submitted to the Commission on or before July 22, 2020. All written 
submissions must conform with the provisions of Sec.  201.8 of the 
Commission's rules; any submissions that contain BPI must also conform 
with the requirements of Sec. Sec.  201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the 
Commission's rules. The Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures, 
available on the Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf, elaborates upon the 
Commission's procedures with respect to filings.
    In accordance with Sec. Sec.  201.16(c) and 207.3 of the rules, 
each document filed by a party to the investigations must be served on 
all other parties to the investigations (as identified by either the 
public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be 
timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing 
without a certificate of service.
    Certification.--Pursuant to Sec.  207.3 of the Commission's rules, 
any person submitting information to the Commission in connection with 
these investigations must certify that the information is accurate and 
complete to the best of the submitter's knowledge. In making the 
certification, the submitter will acknowledge that any information that 
it submits to the Commission during these investigations may be

[[Page 40320]]

disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its employees and 
Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the 
records of these or related investigations or reviews, 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, solely for cybersecurity purposes. All contract 
personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements.

    Authority:  These investigations are being conducted under 
authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is 
published pursuant to Sec.  207.12 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: June 29, 2020.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2020-14294 Filed 7-2-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P