[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26919-26921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08027]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-600]


USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation, 
2025 Report

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Scheduling of a public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) has 
scheduled a public hearing for Investigation No. 332-600, USMCA 
Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operations, 2025 
Report, for October 8, 2024.

DATES: 
    September 24, 2024: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the 
public hearing.
    September 26, 2024: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and 
statements.
    October 1, 2024: Deadline for filing electronic copies of oral 
hearing statements (testimony).
    October 8, 2024: Public hearing.
    October 16, 2024: Deadline for filing posthearing briefs.
    November 18, 2024: Deadline for filing all other written 
submissions.
    July 1, 2025: Transmittal of Commission report to the President, 
the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on 
Finance.

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 Mitch Semanik (202-205-
2034 or [email protected]), or Deputy Project Leaders Nathan 
Lotze (202-205-3231 or [email protected] or 202-205-3231) and 
Aaron Woodward (202-205-2663 or [email protected]) for 
information specific to these investigations. 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 at 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: The 2025 report will be the second of five reports that 
section 202A(g)(2) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4532(g)(2)) (``USMCA Implementation 
Act'') requires that the Commission provide on the USMCA automotive 
rules of origin (ROOs) and their impact on the U.S. economy, effect on 
U.S. competitiveness, and relevancy considering recent technology 
changes. In particular, the USMCA Implementation Act requires that the 
Commission report on the following:
    (1) The economic impact of the USMCA automotive ROOs on U.S. gross 
domestic product; U.S. exports and imports; U.S. aggregate employment 
and employment opportunities; production, investment, use of productive 
facilities, and profit levels in the U.S. automotive industries and 
other pertinent industries; wages and employment of workers in the U.S. 
automotive sector; and the interests of U.S. consumers.
    (2) The operation of the ROOs and their effects on the 
competitiveness of the United States with respect to

[[Page 26920]]

production and trade in automotive goods, taking into account 
developments in technology, production processes, or other related 
matters.
    (3) Whether the ROOs are relevant in light of technological changes 
in the United States.
    (4) Such other matters as the Commission considers relevant to the 
economic impact of the ROOs, including prices, sales, inventories, 
patterns of demand, capital investment, obsolescence of equipment, and 
diversification of production in the United States.
    The USMCA Implementation Act requires that the Commission transmit 
its report on July 1, 2025. The Commission is directed to submit 
additional reports on USMCA automotive ROOs every two years thereafter 
until 2031.
    Public hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m., October 8, 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., September 24, 
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., September 26, 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 should be submitted to 
the Commission electronically no later than 5:15 p.m., October 1, 2024. 
All posthearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 
5:15 p.m., October 16, 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 
of types of documents that may be filed'' section below.
    In the event that, as of the close of business on September 24, 
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's 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 parties 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., November 18, 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 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 relevant to the investigation that interested persons wish 
to make, regardless of whether they appeared at the hearing or filed a 
prehearing or posthearing brief, 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 comply with the requirements and procedures in section 201.6 
of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). 
Among other things, 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,

[[Page 26921]]

will be made available for inspection by interested persons.
    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: (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 CBI in a way that would reveal the operations of the firm 
supplying the information.
    Summaries of views of interested persons: Interested persons 
wishing to have a summary of their views included in the report should 
include a summary with a written submission no later than November 18, 
2024, and must use the Commission template, which can be downloaded 
from https://www.usitc.gov/docket_services/documents/firm_or_organization_summary_word_limit.pdf. The Commission template 
must be uploaded as a separate attachment to the written submission 
filing in EDIS. The summary may not exceed 500 words and should not 
include any CBI. The summary will be published as provided only if it 
utilizes the Commission-provided template, 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: April 11, 2024.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-08027 Filed 4-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P