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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 15, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3921-3923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-00677]

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-606]

Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act: Impact on U.S. Industries 
and Consumers and on Beneficiary Countries

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of preparation of 2025 biennial report and scheduling of 
a public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has begun preparation of its 2025 report, as 
required by section 215 of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, 
and has scheduled a public hearing for February 20, 2025, in connection 
with the report. The report will cover trade during calendar years 2023 
and 2024.

DATES: 
    February 5, 2025: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the 
public hearing.
    February 7: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and statements.
    February 12: Deadline for filing electronic copies of public 
hearing oral statements.
    February 20: Public hearing.
    March 6: Deadline for filing posthearing briefs and statements.
    March 13: Deadline for filing all other written submissions related 
to this investigation.
    September 30: Deadline for 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 must be 
submitted electronically and addressed to the Secretary, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. 
The Commission cannot accept paper copies at this time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader Alan Fox (202-205-3267 
or [email protected]) or Deputy Project Leader Chang Hong (202-205-
2791 or [email protected]) for information specific to this 
investigation. For information on the legal aspects of this 
investigation, contact Brian Allen ([email protected] or 202-205-
3034) or William Gearhart (202-205-3091 or [email protected]) 
of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel. The media should 
contact Claire Huber, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or 
[email protected]).
    The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. 
General information concerning the Commission may be obtained by 
accessing its internet address (https://www.usitc.gov). Hearing-
impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be 
obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on 202-205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: The report is required by section 215 of the Caribbean 
Economic Recovery Act (19 U.S.C. 2704). The Act requires the Commission 
to submit to Congress and the President biennial

[[Page 3922]]

reports, by September 30 of each reporting year, regarding the economic 
impact of the Act on United States industries and consumers and on the 
economy of the beneficiary countries.
    The Commission is required to provide an assessment of the effect, 
during the period covered by the report, on the United States economy 
generally as well as on those specific domestic industries which 
produce articles that are like, or directly competitive with, articles 
being imported into the United States from beneficiary countries; and 
the probable future effect the Act will have on the United States 
economy generally, as well as on such domestic industries.
    Public hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held in-person beginning at 9:30 a.m. on February 
20, 2025, 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 no later than 5:15 p.m., February 5, 2025, 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 Chair, 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 not later than 
5:15 p.m., February 7, 2025. 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 12, 2025. All 
posthearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 5:15 
p.m., March 6, 2025. 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 February 5, 2025, 
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., March 13, 2025. 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, 
hearing oral 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) Hearing oral 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 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 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 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 its report. However, all 
information, including CBI, submitted in this investigation may be 
disclosed to and used: (i) by the Commission, its

[[Page 3923]]

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 on or before March 13, 
2025, 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: January 8, 2025.
Susan Orndoff,
Supervisory Attorney, Docket Services Division.
[FR Doc. 2025-00677 Filed 1-14-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
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