[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4844-4846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-01468]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-595]


Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act: Impact on U.S. Industries 
and Consumers and on Beneficiary Countries

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of preparation of 2023 Biennial Report and scheduling of 
a public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has begun preparation of its 2023 report 
required by section 215 of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act 
and has scheduled a public hearing for March 9, 2023, in connection 
with the report. The report will cover trade during calendar years 2021 
and 2022, and the Commission will transmit its report to the Congress 
and the President by September 30, 2023.
    Filing deadlines relating to the hearing:

February 23: Deadline for filing requests to appear
February 27: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and statements
March 2: Deadline for filing electronic copies of oral hearing 
statements
March 9: Hearing
March 16: Deadline for filing posthearing briefs and statements
March 28: Deadline for filing all other written submissions

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 must be 
submitted electronically and addressed to the Secretary, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. 
The Commission cannot accept paper copies at this time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader Stephanie Fortune-
Taylor (202-205-2749 or [email protected]) or Deputy 
Project Leader Chang Hong (202-205-2791 or [email protected]) for 
information specific to this investigation. For information on the 
legal aspects of this investigation, contact Brian Allen (202-205-3034 
or [email protected]) or William Gearhart (202-205-3091 or 
[email protected]) of the Commission's Office of the General 
Counsel. The media should contact Elizabeth Nesbitt, Office of External 
Relations (202-205-3355 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:
    Background: The report is required by section 215 of the Caribbean 
Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2704). The Act requires the Commission 
to submit to Congress and the President biennial reports, by September 
30 of each reporting year, regarding the economic impact of the Act on 
United States industries and consumers and on the economy of the 
beneficiary countries
    The Commission is required to provide an assessment of the effect, 
during the period covered by the report, on the United States economy 
generally as well as on those specific domestic industries which 
produce articles that are like, or directly competitive with,

[[Page 4845]]

articles being imported into the United States from beneficiary 
countries; and the probable future effect which the Act will have on 
the United States economy generally, as well as on such domestic 
industries.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held in-person beginning at 9:30 a.m. on 
Thursday, March 9, 2023, in the Main Hearing Room of the U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington DC 20436. 
The hearing can also be accessed remotely using the WebEx 
videoconference platform. A link to the hearing will be posted on the 
Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html.
    Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the 
Secretary no later than 5:15 p.m., Thursday, February 23, 2023, in 
accordance with the requirements in the ``Written Submissions'' section 
below. Any requests to appear as a witness via videoconference must be 
included with your request to appear. Requests to appear as a witness 
via videoconference must include a statement explaining why the witness 
cannot appear in person; the Chairman, or other person designated to 
conduct the investigation, may at their discretion for good cause 
shown, grant such requests. Requests to appear as a witness via 
videoconference due to illness or a positive COVID-19 test result may 
be submitted by 3pm the business day prior to the hearing.
    All prehearing briefs and statements should be filed not later than 
5:15 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2023. 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, Thursday 
March 2, 2023. All post-hearing briefs and statements should be filed 
no later than 5:15 p.m., Thursday, March 16, 2023. 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 2, 2023, 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 as indicated two 
paragraphs above 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., March 28, 2023. 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, 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 it 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.
    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.

[[Page 4846]]

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 March 28, 2023 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 20, 2023.
Katherine Hiner,
Acting Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2023-01468 Filed 1-24-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P