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USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation, 2025 Report Publication: Federal Register Agency: International Trade Commission Byline: Lisa Barton Date: 16 April 2024 Subject: American Government 
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26919-26921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08027]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-600]
USMCA Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operation,
2025 Report
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Scheduling of a public hearing.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) has
scheduled a public hearing for Investigation No. 332-600, USMCA
Automotive Rules of Origin: Economic Impact and Operations, 2025
Report, for October 8, 2024.
DATES:
September 24, 2024: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the
public hearing.
September 26, 2024: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and
statements.
October 1, 2024: Deadline for filing electronic copies of oral
hearing statements (testimony).
October 8, 2024: Public hearing.
October 16, 2024: Deadline for filing posthearing briefs.
November 18, 2024: Deadline for filing all other written
submissions.
July 1, 2025: Transmittal of Commission report to the President,
the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on
Finance.
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: Project Leader Mitch Semanik (202-205-
2034 or mitchell.semanik@usitc.gov), or Deputy Project Leaders Nathan
Lotze (202-205-3231 or nathan.lotze@usitc.gov or 202-205-3231) and
Aaron Woodward (202-205-2663 or aaron.woodward@usitc.gov) for
information specific to these investigations. For information on the
legal aspects of this investigation, contact Brian Allen (202-205-3034
or brian.allen@usitc.gov) or William Gearhart (202-205-3091 or
william.gearthart@usitc.gov) of the Commission's Office of the General
Counsel. The media should contact Jennifer Andberg, Office of External
Relations (202-205-3404 or jennifer.andberg@usitc.gov). Hearing-
impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be
obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal at 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: The 2025 report will be the second of five reports that
section 202A(g)(2) of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4532(g)(2)) (``USMCA Implementation
Act'') requires that the Commission provide on the USMCA automotive
rules of origin (ROOs) and their impact on the U.S. economy, effect on
U.S. competitiveness, and relevancy considering recent technology
changes. In particular, the USMCA Implementation Act requires that the
Commission report on the following:
(1) The economic impact of the USMCA automotive ROOs on U.S. gross
domestic product; U.S. exports and imports; U.S. aggregate employment
and employment opportunities; production, investment, use of productive
facilities, and profit levels in the U.S. automotive industries and
other pertinent industries; wages and employment of workers in the U.S.
automotive sector; and the interests of U.S. consumers.
(2) The operation of the ROOs and their effects on the
competitiveness of the United States with respect to
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production and trade in automotive goods, taking into account
developments in technology, production processes, or other related
matters.
(3) Whether the ROOs are relevant in light of technological changes
in the United States.
(4) Such other matters as the Commission considers relevant to the
economic impact of the ROOs, including prices, sales, inventories,
patterns of demand, capital investment, obsolescence of equipment, and
diversification of production in the United States.
The USMCA Implementation Act requires that the Commission transmit
its report on July 1, 2025. The Commission is directed to submit
additional reports on USMCA automotive ROOs every two years thereafter
until 2031.
Public hearing: A public hearing in connection with this
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m., October 8, 2024, 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 to the Commission no later than 5:15 p.m., September 24,
2024, 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 3 p.m. the business day prior
to the hearing.
All prehearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than
5:15 p.m., September 26, 2024. To facilitate the hearing, including the
preparation of an accurate written public transcript of the hearing,
oral testimony to be presented at the hearing should be submitted to
the Commission electronically no later than 5:15 p.m., October 1, 2024.
All posthearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than
5:15 p.m., October 16, 2024. 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
of types of documents that may be filed'' section below.
In the event that, as of the close of business on September 24,
2024, 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's 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 parties 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., November 18, 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:
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, 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) Oral hearing 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 relevant to the investigation 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 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 CBI
must also comply with the requirements and procedures in 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,
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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 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 no later than November 18,
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 to the written submission
filing in EDIS. 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: April 11, 2024.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2024-08027 Filed 4-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P