Notice2022-23856
U.S.-Pacific Islands Trade and Investment: Impediments and Opportunities
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Published
November 3, 2022
Issuing agencies
International Trade Commission
Abstract
Following receipt on September 29, 2022, of a request from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted Investigation No. 332-593, U.S.- Pacific Islands Trade and Investment: Impediments and Opportunities. The USTR requested that the Commission conduct an investigation and provide a report that analyzes Pacific Island trade with the United States and identifies impediments to and opportunities for increased trade flows between the United States and the Pacific Islands, and for increased U.S. investment in the Pacific Islands.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 212 (Thursday, November 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 212 (Thursday, November 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66323-66325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23856]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-593]
U.S.-Pacific Islands Trade and Investment: Impediments and
Opportunities
ACTION: Notice of investigation and scheduling of a public hearing.
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SUMMARY: Following receipt on September 29, 2022, of a request from the
United States Trade Representative (USTR), under section 332(g) of the
Tariff Act of 1930, the U.S. International Trade Commission
(Commission) instituted Investigation No. 332-593, U.S.- Pacific
Islands Trade and Investment: Impediments and Opportunities. The USTR
requested that the Commission conduct an investigation and provide a
report that analyzes Pacific Island trade with the United States and
identifies impediments to and opportunities for increased trade flows
between the United States and the Pacific Islands, and for increased
U.S. investment in the Pacific Islands.
DATES:
January 31, 2023: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the
public hearing.
February 2, 2023: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and
statements.
February 7, 2023: Deadline for filing electronic copies of oral
hearing statements.
February 14, 2023: Public hearing.
February 21, 2023: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and
statements.
April 17, 2023: Deadline for filing all other written submissions.
September 29, 2023: Transmittal of Commission report to the USTR.
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 <a href="https://edis.usitc.gov">https://edis.usitc.gov</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader Steven LeGrand
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a5d6d1c0d3c0cb8bc9c0c2d7c4cbc1e5d0d6ccd1c68bc2cad3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2d5e59485b48430341484a5f4c43496d585e44594e034a425b">[email protected]</span></a> or 202-205-
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3094) or Deputy Project Leader Robert Ireland (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#76041914130402581f04131a1718123603051f021558111900"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f1839e93948385df9883949d909f95b18482988592df969e87">[email protected]</span></a>
or 202-708-4101) for information specific to this investigation. For
information on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact Brian
Allen (<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a4c6d6cdc5ca8ac5c8c8c1cae4d1d7cdd0c78ac3cbd2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3351415a525d1d525f5f565d7346405a47501d545c45">[email protected]</span></a> or 202-205-3034) or William Gearhart of
the Commission's Office of the General Counsel
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1d6c8cdcdc8c0cc8fc6c4c0d3c9c0d3d5e1d4d2c8d5c28fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aaddc3c6c6c3cbc784cdcfcbd8c2cbd8deeadfd9c3dec984cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a> or 202-205-3091). The media should contact
Jennifer Andberg, Office of External Relations
(<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e242b202027282b3c602f202a2c2b3c290e3b3d273a2d60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c26292222252a293e622d22282e293e2b0c393f25382f622b233a">[email protected]</span></a> or 202-205-1819). Hearing-impaired
individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the
Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. 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.
General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by
accessing its website (<a href="https://www.usitc.gov">https://www.usitc.gov</a>).
Background: As requested by the USTR under section 332(g) of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), the Commission will include the
following in its report:
<bullet> An overview of the Pacific Island economies, including
major sectors in production, consumption, trade, and employment.
<bullet> A description of goods and services exports from the
Pacific Islands during the period 2017-21, and identification of major
factors that impact those exports to the United States.
<bullet> A description of the use of the U.S. General System of
Preferences (GSP) program by the Pacific Island countries and
identification of the goods from the Pacific Islands that enter the
United States under GSP, sectors in which these programs might be
underutilized, and factors affecting utilization of GSP.
<bullet> A description of foreign investment in the Pacific Islands
during the period 2017-21; and identification of major factors
affecting investment from the United States.
<bullet> Identification of major products (including goods covered
by the GSP program) and services in the Pacific Islands with greatest
potential for export sales to the United States, sectors with U.S.
investment potential, and the factors that impede trade and investment
with the United States for these products and sectors using qualitative
analysis and, to the extent data are available, quantitative analysis.
<bullet> A description of initiatives and/or technical assistance
that could address such trade and investment impediments, if found
during the Commission's research.
The 22 Pacific Island economies covered in this investigation are
Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga,
Tuvalu, and Vanuatu (independent countries); Federated States of
Micronesia, Palau, and Marshall Islands (Freely Associated States);
Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa
(U.S. territories); and Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia,
Niue, Pitcairn Islands, Tokelau, and Wallis and Futuna (non-independent
countries and territories).
The USTR requested that the Commission transmit its report no later
than 12 months following receipt of this request. In its request
letter, the USTR stated that it intends to make the Commission's report
available to the public in its entirety and asked that the report not
include any confidential business information or classified
information.
Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this
investigation will be held in-person beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
February 14, 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
<a href="https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html">https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html</a>.
Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the
Secretary no later than 5:15 p.m., Tuesday, January 31, 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., Thursday, February 2, 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, February
7, 2023. All post-hearing briefs and statements should be filed no
later than 5:15 p.m., Tuesday, February 21, 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 January 31, 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 the
date specified in this notice. 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,
<a href="https://edis.usitc.gov">https://edis.usitc.gov</a>). 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, post-hearing 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.
[[Page 66325]]
(2) Oral hearing statements (testimony) refers to the actual oral
statement that you intend to present at the public 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) Post-hearing 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.
There is no standard format that a brief or other written
submission must follow. However, each such document must identify on
its cover (1) the type of document filed (i.e., prehearing brief, oral
statement of (name), post-hearing brief, or written submission), (2)
the name of the person or organization filing it, and (3) 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 its report. 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 that the Commission sends to
the USTR should include a summary with their written submission 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,
should be in MS Word format or a format that can be easily converted to
MS Word, 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 full written submission can be
found.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: October 28, 2022.
Katherine Hiner,
Acting Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2022-23856 Filed 11-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.