[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2694-2696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00535]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 332-583]


Cucumbers: Effect of Imports on U.S. Seasonal Markets, With A 
Focus on the U.S. Southeast

ACTION: Notice of investigation and scheduling of a public hearing.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt on December 7, 2020, of a request from the 
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), under section 332(g) of the Tariff 
Act of 1930, the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) 
instituted Investigation No. 332-583, Cucumbers: Effect of Imports on 
U.S. Seasonal Markets, with a Focus on the U.S. Southeast. The USTR 
asked that the investigation cover all imports that fall within the 
product description of U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule subheading 
0707.00 (cucumbers, including gherkins, fresh or chilled).

DATES: 
    March 25, 2021: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the 
public hearing.
    March 29, 2021: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and 
statements.
    April 1, 2021: Deadline for filing electronic copies of oral 
hearing statements.
    April 8, 2021: Public hearing.
    April 15, 2021: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and 
statements.
    April 27, 2021: Deadline for filing all other written submissions.
    December 7, 2021: Transmittal of Commission report to the USTR.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 
500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. All written submissions should be 
addressed to the Secretary, U.S. 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: Project Leader Lesley Ahmed 
([email protected] or 202-205-3459), or Deputy Project Leader 
Kelsi Van Veen (202-708-3086 or [email protected]) for 
information specific to these investigations. 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 (https://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: As requested by the USTR, the Commission in its report 
will focus on the effect of imports on the domestic seasonal markets of 
cucumbers, including gherkins, with a particular focus on production 
and competitiveness of such products grown in the Southeastern United 
States. In particular, the USTR asked that the report:
    (1) Include information on recent trends in trade in these products 
between the United States and its trading partners, including 
information on seasonal patterns of trade;
    (2) include descriptions of monthly price trends for these products 
in the United States, including an analysis and comparison of the 
prices of domestically produced and imported products in the U.S. 
market; and
    (3) focus primarily on the 2015-2020 time period.
    The USTR requested that the Commission transmit its report no later 
than 12 months following receipt of this request. In his request 
letter, the USTR stated that his office intends to make the 
Commission's report available to the public in its entirety and asked 
that the Commission not include any confidential business information.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. on April 8, 2021, 
using a videoconference platform. More detailed information about the 
hearing, including 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 
Investigation No. 332-583, Cucumbers: Effect of Imports on U.S. 
Seasonal Markets, with a Focus on the U.S. Southeast, and click on the 
link to ``Hearing Information.'' Interested parties should check the 
Commission's website periodically for updates.

[[Page 2695]]

    Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the 
Secretary no later than 5:15 p.m., March 25, 2021, in accordance with 
the requirements in the ``Written Submissions'' section below. All 
prehearing briefs and statements should be filed not later than 5:15 
p.m., March 29, 2021. To facilitate the hearing, including the 
preparation of an accurate written transcript of the hearing, oral 
testimony to be presented at the hearing must be submitted to the 
Commission electronically no later than noon, April 1, 2021. All post-
hearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., 
April 15, 2021. Post-hearing briefs and statements should address 
matters raised at the hearing. For a description of the different types 
of written briefs and statements, see the ``Definitions'' section 
below.
    In the event that, as of the close of business on March 25, 2021, 
no witnesses are scheduled to appear at the hearing, the hearing will 
be canceled. Any person interested in attending the hearing as an 
observer or nonparticipant should check the Commission website in the 
preceding paragraph for information concerning whether the hearing will 
be held.
    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 the 
dates provided for in this notice. 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.
    Definitions of Types of Documents That May be Filed; Requirements: 
In addition to requests to appear at the hearing, this notice provides 
for the possible filing of four types of documents: prehearing briefs, 
oral hearing statements, post-hearing briefs, and other written 
submissions.
    (1) Prehearing briefs refers to written materials relevant to the 
investigation and submitted in advance of the hearing, and includes 
written views on matters that are the subject of the investigation, 
supporting materials, and any other written materials that you consider 
will help the Commission in understanding your views. You should file a 
prehearing brief particularly if you plan to testify at the hearing on 
behalf of an industry group, company, or other organization, and wish 
to provide detailed views or information that will support or 
supplement your testimony.
    (2) Oral hearing statements (testimony) refers to the actual oral 
statement that you intend to present at the public hearing. Do not 
include any confidential business information in that statement. If you 
plan to testify, you must file a copy of your oral statement by the 
date specified in this notice. This statement will allow Commissioners 
to understand your position in advance of the hearing and will also 
assist the court reporter in preparing an accurate transcript of the 
hearing (e.g., names spelled correctly).
    (3) Post-hearing briefs refers to submissions filed after the 
hearing by persons who appeared at the hearing. Such briefs: (a) Should 
be limited to matters that arose during the hearing, (b) should respond 
to any Commissioner and staff questions addressed to you at the 
hearing, (c) should clarify, amplify, or correct any statements you 
made at the hearing, and (d) may, at your option, address or rebut 
statements made by other participants in the hearing.
    (4) Other written submissions refer to any other written 
submissions that interested persons wish to make, regardless of whether 
they appeared at the hearing, and may include new information or 
updates of information previously provided.
    There is no standard format that briefs or other written 
submissions must follow. However, each such document must identify on 
its cover (1) the type of document filed (i.e., prehearing brief, oral 
statement of (name), post-hearing brief, or written submission), (2) 
the name of the person or organization filing it, and (3) whether it 
contains confidential business information (CBI). If it contains CBI, 
it must comply with the marking and other requirements set out below in 
this notice relating to CBI. Submitters of written documents (other 
than oral hearing statements) are encouraged to include a short summary 
of their position or interest at the beginning of the document, and a 
table of contents when the document addresses multiple issues.
    Confidential Business Information: Any submissions that contain 
confidential business information must also conform to 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 written submissions, except for confidential business 
information, will be made available for inspection by interested 
parties.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will not include any 
confidential business information in its report. However, 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 way 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 that the Commission sends to 
the USTR 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.


[[Page 2696]]


    Issued: January 8, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-00535 Filed 1-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P