[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67970-67971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26060]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-587]


Distributional Effects of Trade and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of investigation.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt on October 14, 2021 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. 332-587, Distributional Effects of Trade 
and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers, for the purpose of conducting a two-
part investigation, with the Commission in part one to provide a public 
report that catalogues information on the distributional effects on 
under-represented and under-served communities of trade and trade 
policy, and with the Commission in part two to expand its research and 
analysis capabilities so that future probable economic effects advice 
includes estimates of the potential distributional effects of trade and 
trade policy, including goods and services imports, on U.S. workers. In 
preparing its public report, the USTR asked the Commission to gather 
information through roundtable discussions among representatives of 
under-represented and under-served communities, and through a symposium 
focused on academic or similar research on the distributional effects 
on under-represented and under-served communities of trade and trade 
policy. The Commission will also hold a public hearing following the 
roundtables and symposium. The Commission will issue a second notice, 
to be published in the Federal Register by January 31, 2022 that sets 
out the format and dates for the roundtables, symposium, and hearing,

[[Page 67971]]

and how members of the public may participate in them.

DATES: 
    TBD: Roundtable discussions (notification by separate FRN by 
January 31, 2022).
    TBD: Symposium (notification by separate FRN by January 31, 2022).
    TBD: Public Hearing (notification by separate FRN by January 31, 
2022).
    October 14, 2022: Transmittal of Commission report to USTR.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices are in the U.S. International Trade 
Commission Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. Due to the COVID 
19 pandemic, the Commission's building is currently closed to the 
public. Once the building reopens, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Co-Project Leader Jennifer Powell 
(202-205-3450 or [email protected]), Co-Project Leader 
Stephanie Fortune-Taylor (202-205-2749 or [email protected]), or Deputy Project Leader Sarah Scott (202-708-1397 
or [email protected]) for information specific to this 
investigation. 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.
    The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. 
General information concerning the Commission may be obtained by 
accessing its internet address (https://www.usitc.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: As requested in the letter 
received from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on October 14, 2021, 
the Commission will conduct the investigation in two parts 
concurrently.
    More specifically, the USTR asked the Commission in part one of the 
investigation to catalogue in a public report information on the 
distributional effects on under-represented and under-served 
communities of trade and trade policy. Information for part one will be 
gathered through (1) roundtable discussions among representatives of 
under-represented and under-served communities that have been 
identified in the Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and 
Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government 
(E.O. 13985, January 20, 2021), as well as think tanks, academics and 
researchers, unions, State and local governments, non-Federal 
governmental entities, civil society experts, community-based 
stakeholders, such as minority-owned businesses, business incubators, 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving 
Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), other 
minority serving institutions (MSIs), and local and national civil 
rights organizations; (2) a symposium focused on academic or similar 
research on the distributional effects on under-represented and under-
served communities of trade and trade policy, including results of 
existing analysis, evaluation of methodologies, the use of public and 
restricted data in current analysis, identifying gaps in data and/or in 
the economic literature, and proposed analysis that could be done with 
restricted data; and (3) a critical review of the economic literature 
on the distributional effects on under-represented and under-served 
communities of trade and trade policy including, among other things, 
the data limitations raised in these analyses. Information regarding 
the date and format of the roundtables and symposium will be specified 
in a future notice.
    The Commission will publish a notice in the Federal Register by 
January 31, 2022 of the time, place, and procedures to be followed in 
holding a public hearing, roundtable discussions, and a symposium. As 
requested by the USTR, the Commission will deliver the report requested 
on part one of the investigation on October 14, 2022. Since the USTR 
has indicated that she intends to make this report available to the 
public in its entirety, the Commission will not include confidential 
business or national security classified information in its report.
    In part two of the investigation, internally the Commission will 
further develop models that can analyze the potential distributional 
effects of trade and trade policy, including with respect to goods and 
services imports, on U.S. workers. The Commission will also seek to 
identify any data limitations that, if removed, could substantially 
speed the time to complete the analysis or allow for improved analysis. 
The USTR asked that the Commission brief USTR staff on its efforts in 
this regard. The Commission will not prepare or publish a report in 
connection with part two.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: November 24, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-26060 Filed 11-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P