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###### International Trade Commission

          - [Investigation No. 332-606]

# AGENCY:

United States International Trade Commission.

# ACTION:

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

# 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                         *alan.fox@usitc.gov*) or Deputy Project Leader Chang Hong (202-205-2791 or                         *chang.hong@usitc.gov*) for information specific to this investigation. For information on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact Brian Allen (                        *brian.allen@usitc.gov*                         or 202-205-3034) or William Gearhart (202-205-3091 or                         *william.gearhart@usitc.gov*) of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel. The media should contact Claire Huber, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or                         *claire.huber@usitc.gov*).                    

                        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                           ( print 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                           ( print 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