Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 249 / Friday, December 29, 2023 / Notices 90225 

schedules an appointment for the 

appeal and sends an appointment notice 

to the individual. 

Individuals who appeal SSA’s 

decision regarding eligibility or 

continuing eligibility for Medicare Part 

D Extra Help must complete Form SSA– 

1021. The respondent may mail the 

completed form to either the local field 

office or to the Wilkes-Barre Direct 

Operations Center. The respondent may 

also complete the form with assistance 

from an SSA technician via an in-person 

interview at the Field Office or over the 

telephone. SSA technicians enter all 

claims into Medicare Application 

Processing System (MAPS), which 

automatically adjudicates claims based 

on the data the technicians input. 

Respondents are Medicare beneficiaries, 

or proper applicants acting on behalf of 

a Medicare beneficiary, who do not 

agree with the outcome of an SSA Extra 

Help eligibility determination and want 

to file an appeal. 

Type of Request: Revision of an OMBapproved information collection. 

Modality of completion Number of 

respondents 

Frequency of 

response 

Average 

burden per 

response 

(minutes) 

Estimated 

total annual 

burden 

(hours) 

Average 

theoretical 

hourly cost 

amount 

(dollars) * 

Average wait 

time in 

field office 

(minutes) ** 

Total annual 

opportunity 

cost 

(dollars) *** 

SSA–1021—(Paper 

version) ..................... 1,859 1 10 310 * $29.76 ........................ *** $9,226 

SSA–1021—(Internet 

version: MAPS) ........ 5,291 1 10 882 * $29.76 ** 24 *** $89,220 

Totals .................... 7,150 ........................ ........................ 1,192 ........................ ........................ *** $98,446 

* We based this figure on average U.S. worker’s hourly wages; State and local government worker’s salaries; and attorney representative 

payee wages as reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics data (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm). 

** We based this figure on the average FY 2023 wait times for field offices, based on SSA’s current management information data.

*** This figure does not represent actual costs that SSA is imposing on recipients of Social Security payments to complete this application; 

rather, these are theoretical opportunity costs for the additional time respondents will spend to complete the application. There is no actual 

charge to respondents to complete the application. 

Dated: December 26, 2023. 

Naomi Sipple, 

Reports Clearance Officer, Social Security 

Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28774 Filed 12–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4191–02–P 

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES 

TRADE REPRESENTATIVE 

Extension of Exclusions and Request 

for Comments: China’s Acts, Policies 

and Practices Related to Technology 

Transfer, Intellectual Property and 

Innovation 

AGENCY: Office of the United States 

Trade Representative (USTR). 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In prior notices, the U.S. 

Trade Representative modified the 

actions in the Section 301 investigation 

of China’s acts, policies and practices 

related to technology transfer, 

intellectual property and innovation by 

excluding from additional duties certain 

products of China. In September 2023, 

the U.S. Trade Representative 

determined to extend 352 previously 

reinstated exclusions and 77 COVIDrelated exclusions through December 

31, 2023. This notice announces the 

U.S. Trade Representative’s 

determination to extend for five months, 

through May 31, 2024, these same 

exclusions. This notice also announces 

that USTR is opening of a docket for 

public comments on whether to further 

extend particular exclusions. 

DATES: The extension announced in this 

notice will extend the reinstated and 

COVID-related product exclusions 

through May 31, 2024. 

January 22, 2024: The public docket 

on the web portal at http://

comments.USTR.gov will open for 

interested persons to submit comments. 

February 21, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET: 

To be assured of consideration, submit 

written comments on the public docket 

by this time. 

ADDRESSES: You must submit all 

comments through the online portal: 

https://comments.ustr.gov/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

general questions about this notice, 

contact Senior Associate General 

Counsel Philip Butler or Assistant 

General Counsel Edward Marcus at 

(202) 395–5725. For specific questions 

on customs classification or 

implementation of the product 

exclusions, contact traderemedy@

cbp.dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

A. Background 

In the course of this investigation, the 

U.S. Trade Representative has imposed 

additional duties on products of China 

in four tranches. See 83 FR 28719 (June 

20, 2018); 83 FR 40823 (August 16, 

2018); 83 FR 47974 (September 21, 

2018), as modified by 83 FR 49153 

(September 28, 2018); and 84 FR 43304 

(August 20, 2019), as modified by 84 FR 

69447 (December 18, 2019) and 85 FR 

3741 (January 22, 2020). For each 

tranche of additional duties, the U.S. 

Trade Representative established a 

process by which interested persons 

could request the exclusion of particular 

products subject to the action. With few 

exceptions, most of these exclusions 

expired in 2019 and 2020. 

Reinstated Exclusions 

On October 8, 2021, the U.S. Trade 

Representative invited the public to 

submit comments on whether to 

reinstate certain exclusions previously 

granted and extended. See 86 FR 56345 

(October 8, 2021). On March 28, 2022, 

the U.S. Trade Representative 

determined to further modify the action 

by reinstating 352 expired exclusions. 

The reinstated exclusions applied as of 

October 12, 2021, and extended through 

December 31, 2022. See 87 FR 17380 

(March 28, 2022) (March 28 notice). On 

December 21, 2022, the U.S. Trade 

Representative determined to extend the 

352 reinstated exclusions through 

September 30, 2023. See 87 FR 78187 

(December 21, 2022). 

COVID-Related Exclusions 

On March 25, 2020, USTR requested 

public comments on proposed 

modifications to exclude from 

additional duties certain medical-care 

products related to the U.S. response to 

COVID. 85 FR 16987 (March 25, 2020). 

On December 29, 2020, USTR 

announced 99 product exclusions for 

medical-care products and products 

related to the U.S. COVID response. 85 

FR 85831 (December 20, 2020). For 


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background on previous extensions to 

exclusions related to the U.S. response 

to COVID, see prior notices including 86 

FR 13785 (March 10, 2021), 86 FR 63438 

(November 16, 2021), 87 FR 33871 (June 

03, 2022), and 87 FR 73383 (November 

29, 2022). On May 17, 2023, the U.S. 

Trade Representative determined to 

extend 77 of the COVID-related 

exclusions through September 30, 2023. 

See 88 FR 31580 (May 17, 2023) (May 

17 notice). 

Four-Year Review 

In accordance with section 307(c)(3) 

of the Trade Act of 1974, on September 

8, 2022, USTR announced that it would 

be conducting a review of the July 6, 

2018 and August 23, 2018 actions, as 

modified. See 87 FR 26797 (May 5, 

2022); 87 FR 55073 (September 8, 2022). 

In a notice published on October 17, 

2022 (87 FR 62914), USTR announced 

that it was opening a docket on 

November 15, 2022 (USTR–2022–0014) 

for interested persons to submit 

comments with respect to any aspect of 

Section 307(c) considerations, including 

whether certain tariff headings 

(including those with a product specific 

exclusion) should remain covered by 

the actions. 

To allow for consideration under the 

four-year review, on September 11, 

2023, the U.S. Trade Representative 

determined to extend the 429 product 

specific exclusions still in effect (352 

reinstated exclusions and 77 COVIDrelated exclusions) through December 

31, 2023. See 88 FR 62423 (September 

11, 2023) (September 11 notice). 

B. Determination To Further Extend 

Exclusions 

In light of public comments submitted 

in the four-year review, the U.S. Trade 

Representative has determined that it is 

appropriate to seek comments on 

whether to further extend any of the 429 

product specific exclusions. 

Accordingly, to provide time for public 

comments and pursuant to sections 

301(b), 301(c) and 307(a) of the Trade 

Act of 1974, as amended, the U.S. Trade 

Representative will extend the 429 

exclusions for five months, until May 

31, 2024. The U.S. Trade 

Representative’s determination 

considers public comments previously 

submitted, advice of advisory 

committees, and advice of the 

interagency Section 301 Committee. 

The extensions announced in the 

notice are available for any product that 

meets the description in the product 

exclusion. Further, the scope of each 

exclusion and modification is governed 

by the scope of the ten-digit 

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 

United States (HTSUS) subheadings and 

product descriptions in annex A and 

annex B of the September 11, 2023 

notice. U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection will issue instructions on 

entry guidance and implementation. 

C. Request for Public Comment 

On January 22, 2024, USTR will open 

a docket to receive public comments on 

whether to further extend particular 

exclusions beyond May 31, 2024. USTR 

will evaluate each exclusion on a caseby-case basis. The focus of the 

evaluation will be on the availability of 

products covered by the exclusion from 

sources outside of China, efforts 

undertaken to source products covered 

by the exclusion from the United States 

or third countries, why additional time 

is needed, and on what timeline, if any, 

the sourcing of products covered by 

exclusion is likely to shift outside of 

China. In addition, USTR will consider 

whether or not extending the exclusion 

will impact U.S. interests, including the 

overall impact of the exclusion on the 

goal of obtaining the elimination of 

China’s acts, policies and practices 

covered in the Section 301 

investigation. 

D. Procedures To Comment on 

Particular Exclusions 

The 352 reinstated exclusions can be 

found in the Annex of the March 28 

notice. See also 87 FR 62485 (October 

14, 2022); 87 FR 62486 (October 14, 

2022); 88 FR 46362 (July 19, 2023) The 

77 COVID-related exclusions can be 

found in the Annex of the May 17 

notice. See also 88 FR 38120 (June 12, 

2023). For ease of reference, USTR is 

also posting a list of the exclusions at 

http://comments.USTR.gov. 

As noted above, the public docket on 

the portal will be open from January 22, 

2024 to February 21 2024. Fields on the 

comment form marked with an asterisk 

(*) are required fields. Fields with gray 

(BCI) notation are for business 

confidential information, which will not 

be publicly available. Fields with a 

green (Public) notation will be publicly 

available. Additionally, interested 

persons will be able to upload 

documents to supplement their 

comments. Commenters will be able to 

review the public version of their 

comments before they are posted. 

Set forth below is a summary of the 

information to be entered on the 

exclusion comment form. 

• Contact information, including the 

full legal name of the organization 

making the comment, whether the 

commenter is a third party (e.g., law 

firm, trade association or customs 

broker) submitting on behalf of an 

organization or industry, and the name 

of the third party organization, if 

applicable. 

• The exclusion covered by the 

comment. 

• Whether you support or oppose 

extending the exclusion beyond May 31, 

2024. 

• The availability of products covered 

by the exclusion from sources outside of 

China. 

• Efforts undertaken to source the 

product from the United States or third 

countries. 

• Why additional time is needed to 

shift sourcing out of China and on what 

timeline, if any, you expect sourcing to 

shift outside of China. 

E. Submission Instructions 

To be assured of consideration, you 

must submit your comment when the 

public docket on the portal is open— 

from January 22, 2024 to February 21, 

2024. Interested persons seeking to 

comment on more than one exclusion 

must submit a separate comment for 

each exclusion. By submitting a 

comment, the commenter certifies that 

the information provided is complete 

and correct to the best of their 

knowledge. 

Annex A 

The U.S. Trade Representative has 

determined to extend all exclusions 

previously extended under heading 

9903.88.67 and U.S. notes 20(ttt)(i), 

20(ttt)(ii), 20(ttt)(iii), and 20(ttt)(iv) to 

subchapter III of chapter 99 of the 

HTSUS. See 88 FR 62423 (September 

11, 2023). The extension is effective 

with respect to goods entered for 

consumption, or withdrawn from 

warehouse for consumption, on or after 

12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on 

January 1, 2024, and before 11:59 p.m. 

eastern daylight time on May 31, 2024. 

Effective on January 1, 2024, the article 

description of heading 9903.88.67 of the 

HTSUS is modified by deleting 

‘‘December 31, 2023,’’ and by inserting 

‘‘May 31, 2024,’’ in lieu thereof. 

Annex B 

The U.S. Trade Representative has 

determined to extend all exclusions 

previously extended under heading 

9903.88.68 and U.S. notes 20(uuu)(i), 

20(uuu)(ii), 20(uuu)(iii), and 20(uuu)(iv) 

to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the 

HTSUS. See 88 FR 62423 (September 

11, 2023). The extension is effective 

with respect to goods entered for 

consumption, or withdrawn from 

warehouse for consumption, on or after 

12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on 

January 1, 2024, and before 11:59 p.m. 

eastern daylight time on May 31, 2024. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 249 / Friday, December 29, 2023 / Notices 90227 

Effective on January 1, 2024, the article 

description of heading 9903.88.68 of the 

HTSUS is modified by deleting ‘‘January 

1, 2024,’’ and by inserting ‘‘June 1, 

2024,’’ in lieu thereof. 

Megan Grimball, 

Co-Chair of Section 301 Committee, Office 

of the United States Trade Representative. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28770 Filed 12–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3390–F4–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Office of the Secretary 

[Docket No. DOT–OST–2023–0177] 

Transforming Transportation Advisory 

Committee; Public Meeting 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), 

Department of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of 

Transportation (OST) announces a 

public meeting of the Transforming 

Transportation Advisory Committee 

(TTAC) on Thursday, January 18, 2024. 

This notice announces the date, time, 

and location of the meeting, which will 

be virtually open to the public. The 

purpose of the TTAC is to provide 

information, advice, and 

recommendations to the Secretary on 

matters relating to transportation 

innovations. 

DATES: This meeting will be held on 

Thursday, January 18, 2024 from 9 a.m. 

to 3 p.m. eastern time (ET). A link 

allowing for live viewing of the meeting 

will be posted to https://

www.transportation.gov/ttac ahead of 

the meeting start time. 

ADDRESSES: The TTAC members will be 

meeting in-person at USDOT 

Headquarters in Washington, DC. The 

public may attend the meeting virtually, 

with information available on the 

USDOT TTAC website (https://

www.transportation.gov/ttac) at least 

one week in advance of the meeting 

date. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Vincent White, Jr., Senior Advisor for 

Innovation and TTAC Designated 

Federal Officer, Office of the Secretary, 

ttac@dot.gov, (202) 770–8887. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation 

(Secretary) established TTAC as a 

Federal Advisory Committee in 

accordance with the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463, 5 U.S.C. 

app. 2) to provide information, advice, 

and recommendations to the Secretary 

on matters relating to transportation 

innovations. TTAC is tasked with 

advice and recommendations to the 

Secretary about needs, objectives, plans, 

and approaches for transportation 

innovations. 

Description of Duties: TTAC will 

undertake only tasks assigned to it by 

the Secretary of Transportation or 

designee and provide direct, first-hand 

information, advice, and 

recommendations by meeting and 

exchanging ideas on the tasks assigned. 

In addition, TTAC will respond to adhoc informational requests from OST. 

II. Agenda 

At the meeting, the agenda will cover 

the following topics: 

1. Call to Order, Official Statement of 

the Designated Federal Officer, 

Meeting Logistics 

2. Opening Remarks 

3. Overview of Committee Purpose 

4. Committee Member Introductions 

5. Committee Business 

6. Break for Lunch 

7. DOT Leadership Remarks 

8. Committee Business 

9. Recap of Meeting Progress and 

Review of Next Steps 

III. Public Participation 

The meeting will be open to the 

public via livestream. Members of the 

public who wish to observe the virtual 

meeting can access the livestream 

accessible on the following website: 

https://www.transportation.gov/ttac. 

We are committed to providing equal 

access to this meeting for all 

participants. Sign language 

interpretation and live-captioning will 

be available during the livestream. If 

you need alternative formats or services 

because of a disability, such as 

interpretation or other ancillary aids, or 

if you require translation into a language 

other than English, please contact the 

person listed in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 

notice no later than Thursday, January 

11, 2024. 

Members of the public may also 

submit written materials, questions, and 

comments to the Committee in advance 

to the individual listed in the FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 

this notice no later than Thursday, 

January 11, 2024. 

All advance submissions will be 

reviewed by the Designated Federal 

Officer. If approved, advance 

submissions shall be circulated to the 

TTAC members for review prior to the 

meeting. All advance submissions will 

become part of the official record of the 

meeting. 

Authority: The Committee is a 

discretionary Committee under the 

authority of the U.S. Department of 

Transportation (DOT), established in 

accordance with the provisions of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. app. 2. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on December 

22, 2023. 

Vincent Gerard White Jr., 

Senior Advisor for Innovation. 

[FR Doc. 2023–28771 Filed 12–28–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P 


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