[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2899-2901]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00912]


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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 scheduling of roundtables, a symposium, and a hearing 
in connection with the investigation.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has established a schedule and procedure, set 
forth below, for conducting roundtables, an academic symposium, and a 
hearing in connection with this investigation. The Commission will hold 
seven roundtable discussions between March 1 and April 1, 2022, an 
academic symposium on April 5-6, 2022, and a hearing on April 19, 2022. 
The roundtables, academic symposium, and hearing will focus on the 
potential distributional effects of goods and services trade and trade 
policy on U.S. workers by skill, wage and salary level, gender, race/
ethnicity, age, and income level, especially as they affect 
underrepresented and underserved communities. The roundtables and 
hearing will afford an opportunity for interested persons to present 
information and views relating to the investigation, and the academic 
symposium will afford an opportunity for researchers and data experts 
to present work relevant to the investigation. The Commission 
instituted the investigation under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 
1930 following receipt, on October 14, 2021, of a request from the U.S. 
Trade Representative.

DATES: 
    Commission events:

March 1: Roundtable on Race and Ethnicity I (virtual)
March 8: Impacts on Underserved Communities (in-person/virtual hybrid; 
from Fresno, CA)
March 10: Roundtable on Race and Ethnicity II (virtual)
March 14: Roundtable on Gender and Orientation (virtual)
March 22: Roundtable on Disability, Age, and Education (virtual)
March 30: Impacts on Underserved Communities (in-person/virtual hybrid; 
from Detroit, MI)
April 1: Roundtable on Local Economic Impacts on Underserved 
Communities (virtual)
April 5-6 Academic Symposium (virtual)
April 19: Hearing (virtual)

    Filing deadlines relating to the roundtables:

February 15: Deadline for filing requests to appear at Roundtable on 
Race and Ethnicity I
February 22: Deadline for filing requests to appear at Roundtable on 
Impacts on Underserved Communities--Fresno, CA
February 24: Deadline for filing requests to appear at Roundtable on 
Race and Ethnicity II
February 28: Deadline for filing requests to appear at Roundtable on 
Gender and Orientation
March 8: Deadline for filing requests to appear at Roundtable on 
Disability, Age, and Education
March 16: Deadline for filing requests to appear at Roundtable on 
Impacts on Underserved Communities--Detroit, MI
March 18: Deadline for filing requests to appear at Roundtable on Local 
Economic Impacts on Underserved Communities

    Filing deadlines relating to the academic symposium:

February 11: Deadline for submitting requests to appear and a copy of 
abstract and CV
March 1: Deadline for submitting papers

    Filing deadlines relating to the hearing:

April 1: Deadline for filing requests to appear
April 5: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and statements
April 12: Deadline for filing electronic copies of oral hearing 
statements
May 6: Deadline for filing posthearing briefs and statements
May 17: Deadline for filing all other written submissions


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 
Jennifer Andberg, Office of External Relations (202-205-3404 or 
[email protected]).
    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). Hearing-
impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be 
obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation 
on November 23, 2021, and published notice of its investigation in the 
Federal Register on November 30, 2021 (86 FR 67970). As requested by 
the USTR, the Commission will, in its report, catalogue information on 
the distributional effects of trade and trade policy on workers in 
underrepresented and underserved

[[Page 2900]]

communities. The Commission will gather information through multiple 
means, including:
    (1) Roundtable discussions among representatives of 
underrepresented and underserved 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; 
underrepresented and underserved communities as listed in the Executive 
Order include Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American persons, 
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color; 
members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, 
and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons in 
specific age, skill, or income groups; persons who live in rural areas; 
and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or 
inequality;
    (2) an academic symposium focused on academic or similar research 
on the distributional effects of trade and trade policy on 
underrepresented and underserved communities, 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 hearing open to any individual wishing to present views in 
accordance with the investigation.
    As the roundtables, symposium and hearing presentations are open to 
the public, persons participating should not include confidential 
business information (CBI) in any written submissions or presentations 
intended for use in the roundtables and symposium and in their oral 
presentations at the hearing.
    Roundtables: The Commission will hold multiple roundtables for the 
purpose of seeking information and views from representatives of 
underrepresented and underserved communities on the distributional 
effects of trade and trade policy on U.S. workers by skill, wage and 
salary level, gender, race/ethnicity, age, and income level. Each 
roundtable will have a theme (designated as specified in the DATES 
section of this notice); however, any person is welcome to present 
views in accordance with the investigation at these events, regardless 
of roundtable theme.
     The virtual roundtables will be open to the public and 
will be held via an online videoconferencing platform, beginning at 1 
p.m. Eastern Time on the dates specified in the DATES section of this 
notice.
     In-person roundtables will be held in Fresno, California 
and Detroit, Michigan beginning at 1 p.m. local time on the dates 
specified in the DATES section of this notice. These in-person 
roundtables will be conducted in a hybrid format, thus allowing in-
person and virtual participation by registrants and virtual attendance 
by the public. In-person roundtables may transition to an entirely 
virtual format depending on public health developments, and updates 
regarding the format of these roundtables will be posted on the 
investigation website.
    All of the roundtables will be recorded and transcribed. Those 
wishing to attend or participate in a roundtable should register by 
5:15 p.m. EST on the day specified in the DATES section above by 
emailing [email protected] or calling (202) 536-9960. Attendees and 
participants will receive further information upon registration. In 
addition, details about individual roundtables will be posted at the 
investigation website. Interested parties should check the 
investigation website periodically for updates.
    Symposium: The Commission will hold the public academic symposium 
via an online videoconferencing platform, beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST on 
April 5-6, 2022. Persons interested either in presenting work 
(published or ongoing) or serving on a panel discussion at the 
symposium should submit an abstract and curriculum vitae (CV) by 
emailing [email protected]. The abstract should be a document of 
approximately one page in length that includes the presenter's name, 
affiliation, email contact information, and job title. The abstract 
should also provide a summary of the presenter's original academic 
work(s) related to distributional effects, as described in the 
Background section.
    Requests to present work or serve on a panel at the academic 
symposium should be emailed or submitted by 5:15 p.m. on February 11, 
2022. Following the February 11th submission of abstracts and CVs, 
potential participants should submit papers and presentations by 5:15 
on March 1 by emailing [email protected].
    Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this investigation 
will be held via an online videoconferencing platform, beginning at 
9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on April 19, 2022. Public testimony at this 
hearing should focus on the distributional effects described above. 
Information about how to participate in or view the hearing 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. 332-587, 
Distributional Effects of Trade and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers, and 
click on the link to ``Hearing Instructions.'' Interested parties 
should check the Commission's website periodically for updates. 
Information about the hearing will also be posted on the investigation 
specific website (https://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/ongoing/distributional_effects_332).
    Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed with the 
Secretary to the Commission no later than 5:15 p.m., April 1, 2022, 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., April 5, 2022. To facilitate the hearing, including the 
preparation of an accurate written public transcript of the hearing, 
oral testimony to be presented at the hearing must be submitted to the 
Commission electronically no later than noon, April 12, 2022. All 
posthearing briefs and statements should be filed not later than 5:15 
p.m., May 6, 2022. Posthearing 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.
    If, as of the close of business on April 1, 2022, 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 contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-
2000 after April 4, 2022, 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 5:15 
p.m., May 17, 2022. All written submissions must conform to the

[[Page 2901]]

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, posthearing 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 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) Posthearing 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.
    In accordance with the provisions of section 201.8 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8) the 
document must identify on its cover (1) the investigation number and 
title and the type of document filed (i.e., prehearing brief, oral 
statement of (name), posthearing brief, or written submission), (2) the 
name and signature of the person filing it, (3) the name of the 
organization that the submission is filed on behalf of, and (4) 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 the report it sends to the USTR. 
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 should include a summary with 
their written submission on or before May 17, 2022, 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 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 
written submission can be found.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 12, 2022.
William Bishop,
Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-00912 Filed 1-18-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P