[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16027-16029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-04649]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-603]


Rice: Global Competitiveness and Impacts on Trade and the U.S. 
Industry

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

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

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SUMMARY: Following receipt on February 5, 2024, of a request from the 
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means (Committee) 
under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the U.S. International 
Trade Commission (Commission) instituted Investigation No. 332-603, 
Rice: Global Competitiveness and Impacts on Trade and the U.S. 
Industry. The Committee requested that the Commission conduct an 
investigation and produce a report on the global competitiveness of the 
U.S. rice industry.

DATES: 
    April 8, 2024: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the public 
hearing.
    April 11, 2024: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and 
statements.
    April 22, 2024: Deadline for filing electronic copies of oral 
hearing statements.
    April 30, 2024: Public hearing.
    May 22, 2024: Deadline for filing posthearing briefs.
    July 12, 2024: Deadline for filing all other written submissions.
    March 5, 2025: Transmittal of Commission report to the Committee.

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

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electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader Renee Berry (202-205-
3498 or [email protected]) or Deputy Project Leaders Patrick Crotty 
(202-205-2224 or [email protected]) and Tyler Daun (202-205-3329 
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 Jennifer Andberg, Office of External 
Relations (202-205-3404 or [email protected]). Hearing-
impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be 
obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810. 
General information concerning the Commission may be obtained by 
accessing its internet address (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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: As requested by the Committee, the Commission has 
instituted an investigation under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) to produce a report on the global 
competitiveness of the U.S. rice industry. This report will contain 
updates to the Commission's 2015 report on the same topic (Rice: Global 
Competitiveness of the U.S. Industry, Pub. 4530) where significant 
changes have been observed during the 2018 to 2023 period. 
Specifically, the report will contain:
     information on recent developments in the rice industries 
in the United States and other major global producing and exporting 
countries, such as Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, 
Pakistan, Paraguay, Thailand, Uruguay, and Vietnam;
     information on recent trade trends and developments in the 
global market for rice, including U.S. and major foreign supplier 
imports and exports;
     a comparison of the competitive strengths and weaknesses 
of rice production in and exports from the United States and other 
major exporting countries, focusing on factors affecting delivered 
cost, product differentiation, and reliability of supply, as well as 
government policies and programs that directly or indirectly affect 
rice production and exporting in these countries;
     a qualitative and, to the extent possible, quantitative 
assessment of the impact of government policies and programs, including 
public stockholding programs and export restrictions, of major 
producing and exporting countries on U.S. rice production, product 
revenues and profits, consumption, trade, and prices, as well as on 
food security in developing countries; and
     an overview of the impact on the U.S. rice industry of 
exports of rice from the highlighted countries to the United States and 
to traditional export markets of the United States.
    As requested by the Committee, the Commission will deliver the 
report no later than March 5, 2025. The Committee asked that the 
Commission not include confidential business or national security 
classified information in its report. However, as detailed below, 
participants may submit confidential information to the Commission to 
inform its understanding of these issues, and such information will be 
protected in accordance with the Commission's Rules of Practice and 
Procedure. Participants are strongly encouraged to provide any 
supporting data and information along with their views.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m., April 30, 2024, 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 hearing should be filed with the 
Secretary to the Commission no later than 5:15 p.m., April 8, 2024, 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 3 p.m. the business day prior to the hearing.
    All prehearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 
5:15 p.m., April 11, 2024. 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 22, 2024. All 
posthearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 5:15 
p.m., May 22, 2024. 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. In the event that, as of the close of business on April 8, 2024, 
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 above for information concerning whether the hearing will be 
held.
    Written submissions: In lieu of or in addition to participating in 
the hearing, interested persons are invited to file written submissions 
concerning this investigation. All written submissions should be 
addressed to the Secretary, and should be received no later than 5:15 
p.m., July 12, 2024. 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 includes 
written views on matters that are the subject of the investigation, 
supporting materials, and any other written materials that you

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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 (CBI) 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 refers 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 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 CBI 
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 ``nonconfidential'' version, and that the CBI is 
clearly identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, 
except for CBI, will be made available for inspection by interested 
persons.
    As requested by the Committee, the Commission will not include any 
CBI in its report. However, all information, including CBI, submitted 
in this investigation may be disclosed to and used by: (i) 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) U.S. Government employees 
and contract personnel for cybersecurity purposes. The Commission will 
not otherwise disclose any CBI 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 July 12, 2024, 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 CBI. 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 where the written 
submission can be found.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: February 29, 2024.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-04649 Filed 3-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P