[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 165 (Monday, August 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68468-68469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19135]



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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-604]


Andean Trade Preference Act: Impact on U.S. Industries and 
Consumers and on Drug Crop Eradication and Crop Substitution

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of opportunity to submit information relating to matters 
to be addressed in the Commission's 21st report on the impact of the 
Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA).

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SUMMARY: Section 206 of the ATPA requires the Commission to report 
biennially to Congress and the President by September 30 of each 
reporting year on the economic impact of the ATPA on U.S. industries 
and U.S. consumers, and on the effectiveness of the ATPA in promoting 
drug-related crop eradication and crop substitution efforts by 
beneficiary countries.

DATES: 
    September 10, 2024: Deadline for filing written submissions.
    September 30, 2024: Transmittal of Commission report to Congress 
and the President.

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: Co-Project Leaders Erika Bethmann 
(202-205-3001 or [email protected]) or Wen Jin ``Jean'' Yuan 
(202-205-2383 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: Section 206 of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA) 
(19 U.S.C. 3204) requires that the Commission submit biennial reports 
to Congress and the President regarding the economic impact of the ATPA 
on U.S. industries and consumers and, in conjunction with other 
agencies, the effectiveness of the ATPA in promoting drug-related crop 
eradication and crop substitution efforts of the beneficiary countries. 
Section 206(b) of the ATPA requires that each report include:
    (1) the actual effect of the ATPA on the U.S. economy generally as 
well as on specific domestic industries which produce articles that are 
like, or directly competitive with, articles being imported under the 
ATPA from beneficiary countries;
    (2) the probable future effect that the ATPA will have on the U.S. 
economy generally and on such domestic industries before the provisions 
of the ATPA terminate; and
    (3) the estimated effect that the ATPA has had on drug-related crop 
eradication and crop substitution efforts of beneficiary countries.
    Under the statute, the Commission is required to prepare this 
report regardless of whether duty-free treatment or other preferential 
treatment was provided during the period covered by the report. During 
the period to be covered by this report, calendar years 2022 and 2023, 
no imports entering the United States received preferential treatment 
under the ATPA.
    The Commission does not plan to hold a public hearing in 
conjunction with this investigation. The Commission will submit its 
report by September 30, 2024. The notice announcing institution of the 
investigation for the purpose of preparing the first report under the 
statute was published in the Federal Register of March 10, 1994 (59 FR 
11308). Notice providing opportunity to file written submissions in 
connection with the 20th report was published in the Federal Register 
of July 20, 2022 (85 FR 31209).
    Written submissions: 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., September 10, 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: 
This notice provides for the possible filing of one type of document: 
written submissions.
    Written submissions refers to any written submissions that 
interested persons wish to make 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., 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 
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). 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, will be made available for inspection by 
interested persons.
    The Commission will not include any CBI in the report that it sends 
to Congress and the President. However, all information, including CBI, 
submitted in this investigation may be

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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 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 on or before September 10, 
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 with the written submission, 
which is filed on EDIS under the document type ``Briefs and Written 
Submissions.'' 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: August 19, 2024.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-19135 Filed 8-23-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P