80 FR 54591 - Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of U.S. Restrictions

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 175 (September 10, 2015)

Page Range		54591-54592
FR Document		2015-22697

Following receipt of a letter on August 19, 2015, from the Committee on Finance of the United States Senate (Committee), the Commission has expanded the scope of investigation No. 332-552, Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of U.S. Restrictions, and extended to October 23, 2015, the deadline for filing written submissions to the Commission.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 175 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54591-54592]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22697]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-552]


Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of 
U.S. Restrictions

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Expansion of scope of investigation; extension of deadline for 
filing written submissions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a letter on August 19, 2015, from the 
Committee on Finance of the United States Senate (Committee), the 
Commission has expanded the scope of investigation No. 332-552, 
Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of U.S. 
Restrictions, and extended to October 23, 2015, the deadline for filing 
written submissions to the Commission.

DATES:  October 23, 2015: Deadline for filing all written submissions.
    March 17, 2016: Transmittal of Commission report to the Senate 
Committee on Finance.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States 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/edis3-internal/app.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader Heidi Colby-Oizumi 
(202-205-3391; [email protected]) or Deputy Project Leader Alissa 
Tafti (202-205-3244; [email protected]). For information on legal 
aspects, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel 
(202-205-3091; [email protected]). The media should contact 
Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819; 
[email protected]). General information concerning the 
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet address 
(http://www.usitc.gov).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.
    Background: The Commission instituted the investigation in response 
to a letter from the Committee on Finance dated December 17, 2014. In 
that letter the Committee asked that the Commission institute an 
investigation and provide a report that includes, to the extent 
possible, the following: (1) An overview of Cuba's imports of goods and 
services from 2005 to the present, including identification of major 
supplying countries, products, and market segments; (2) a description 
of how U.S. restrictions on trade, including those relating to export 
financing terms and travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens, affect Cuban 
imports of U.S. goods and services; and (3) for sectors where the 
impact is likely to be significant, a qualitative and, to the extent 
possible, quantitative estimate of U.S. exports of goods and services 
to Cuba in the event that statutory, regulatory, or other trade 
restrictions on U.S. exports of goods and services as well as travel to 
Cuba by U.S. citizens are lifted. The Committee also asked that the 
report include, to the extent possible, state-specific analysis of the 
impacts described above, and that the report be transmitted by 
September 15, 2015. In response, the Commission instituted the current 
investigation and published a notice of the investigation in the 
Federal Register on February 4, 2015 (80 FR 6137). The Commission also 
announced that it would hold a hearing in the course of the 
investigation, and the hearing was subsequently rescheduled to and held 
on June 2, 2015, with post-hearing briefs and statements due on June 9, 
2015, and all other written submissions due on June 19, 2015 (see 
Commission notice published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2015, 
80 FR 11689).
    In a letter dated and received on August 19, 2015, the Committee 
asked that the Commission expand the scope of its report to include:
    (1) A qualitative analysis of existing Cuban non-tariff measures, 
Cuban institutional and infrastructural factors, and other Cuban 
barriers that inhibit or affect the ability of U.S. and non-U.S. firms 
to conduct business in and with Cuba, with such measures, factors, and 
barriers to include, to the extent feasible, but not be limited to, the 
following topics: restrictions on trade and investment; property rights 
and ownership; customs duties and procedures; sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures; state trading; protection of intellectual 
property rights; and infrastructure as it affects telecommunications, 
port facilities, and the storage, transport, and distribution of goods;
    (2) a qualitative analysis of any effects that such measures, 
factors, and barriers would have on U.S. exports of goods and services 
to Cuba in the event of changes to statutory, regulatory, or other 
trade restrictions on U.S. exports of goods and services to Cuba; and
    (3) to the extent feasible, a quantitative analysis of the 
aggregate effects of Cuban tariff and non-tariff measures on the 
ability of U.S. and non-U.S. firms to conduct business in and with 
Cuba.
    In its letter of August 19, 2015, the Committee asked that the 
Commission transmit its completed report by March 17, 2016.
    Written Submissions: The Commission does not plan to hold a further 
public hearing in this investigation. However, interested parties are 
invited to file written submissions concerning this investigation. All 
written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, and all such 
submissions should be received no later than 5:15 p.m., October 23, 
2015. 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). Section 201.8 and the Commission's Handbook on Filing 
Procedures require that interested parties file documents 
electronically on or before the filing deadline and submit eight (8) 
true paper copies by 12:00 p.m. eastern time on the next business day. 
In the event that confidential treatment of a document is requested, 
interested parties must file, at the same time as the eight paper 
copies, at least four (4) additional true paper copies in which the 
confidential information must be deleted (see the following paragraph 
for further information regarding confidential business information). 
Persons with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the 
Secretary (202-205-2000).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information 
(CBI) 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

[[Page 54592]]

identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, except for 
confidential business information, will be made available for 
inspection by interested parties.
    The Committee has asked that the Commission's report not contain 
any confidential business information. Any confidential business 
information received by the Commission in this investigation and used 
in preparing this report will not be published in a manner that would 
reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.
    Summaries of Written Submissions: The Commission intends to publish 
summaries of the positions of interested persons in an appendix to its 
report. Persons wishing to have a summary of their position included in 
the appendix should include a summary with their written submission. 
The summary may not exceed 500 words, should be in MSWord format or a 
format that can be easily converted to MSWord, 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. In the appendix the Commission will 
identify 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: September 3, 2015.
Lisa R. Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2015-22697 Filed 9-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7020-02-P

54592 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 175 / Thursday, September 10, 2015 / Notices

identified by means of brackets. All (‘‘ID’’) issued by the presiding America, Inc. and various of the
written submissions, except for administrative law judge (‘‘ALJ’’) in the asserted claims. Notice (Dec. 31, 2014)
confidential business information, will above-captioned investigation on July 2, (determining not to review Order No. 10
be made available for inspection by 2015. The Commission requests certain (Dec. 2, 2014)); Notice (Jan. 9, 2015)
interested parties. briefing from the parties on the issues (determining not to review Order No. 11
The Committee has asked that the under review, as indicated in this (Dec. 11, 2014)); Notice (Jan. 13, 2015)
Commission’s report not contain any notice. The Commission also requests (determining not to review Order No. 13
confidential business information. Any briefing from the parties and interested (Dec. 17, 2014)).
confidential business information persons on the issues of remedy, the On July 2, 2015, the ALJ issued a final
received by the Commission in this public interest, and bonding. ID finding no violation of section 337
investigation and used in preparing this FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: with respect to all three asserted
report will not be published in a manner Lucy Grace D. Noyola, Office of the patents. Specifically, the ALJ found that
that would reveal the operations of the General Counsel, U.S. International the asserted claims of each patent are
firm supplying the information. Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., not infringed and were not shown to be
Summaries of Written Submissions: Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) invalid for anticipation or obviousness.
The Commission intends to publish 205–3438. Copies of non-confidential The ALJ found that the economic prong
summaries of the positions of interested documents filed in connection with this of the domestic industry requirement
persons in an appendix to its report. investigation are or will be available for was not satisfied with respect to the
Persons wishing to have a summary of inspection during official business ’550 patent. The ALJ also issued a
their position included in the appendix hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Recommended Determination on
should include a summary with their Office of the Secretary, U.S. Remedy and Bonding (‘‘RD’’),
written submission. The summary may International Trade Commission, 500 E recommending, if the Commission finds
not exceed 500 words, should be in Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, a section 337 violation, that a limited
MSWord format or a format that can be telephone (202) 205–2000. General exclusion order and a cease and desist
easily converted to MSWord, and information concerning the Commission order should issue and that a bond
should not include any confidential may also be obtained by accessing its should be imposed at a reasonable
business information. The summary will Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). royalty of eight percent for each
be published as provided if it meets The public record for this investigation infringing device imported during the
these requirements and is germane to may be viewed on the Commission’s period of presidential review.
the subject matter of the investigation. On July 20, 2015, Navico, Garmin,
electronic docket (EDIS) at http://
In the appendix the Commission will and OUII timely filed petitions for
edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired
identify the name of the organization review challenging various findings in
persons are advised that information on
furnishing the summary, and will the final ID. On July 28, 2015, the
this matter can be obtained by parties filed responses. On August 5,
include a link to the Commission’s contacting the Commission’s TDD
Electronic Document Information 2015, Navico and Garmin filed a post-
terminal on (202) 205–1810. RD statement on the public interest
System (EDIS) where the full written SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
submission can be found. under Commission Rule 210.50(a)(4).
Commission instituted this investigation The Commission did not receive any
By order of the Commission. on July 14, 2014, based on a complaint post-RD public interest comments from
Issued: September 3, 2015. filed by Navico, Inc. of Tulsa, the public. See 80 FR 39799 (July 10,
Lisa R. Barton, Oklahoma, and Navico Holding AS, of 2015).
Secretary to the Commission. Egersund, Norway (collectively, Having examined the record of this
[FR Doc. 2015–22697 Filed 9–9–15; 8:45 am]
‘‘Navico’’). 79 Fed. Reg. 40778 (July 14, investigation, including the ID, the
2014). The complaint alleged violations petitions for review, and the responses
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, thereto, the Commission has determined
as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, by reason to review the ALJ’s determination of no
INTERNATIONAL TRADE of the importation into the United violation in part. Specifically, the
COMMISSION States, the sale for importation, and the Commission has determined to review
sale within the United States after (1) the ALJ’s construction of the
[Investigation No. 337–TA–921] importation of certain marine sonar limitation ‘‘single linear downscan
imaging devices, including downscan transducer element’’ recited in claims 1
Certain Marine Sonar Imaging Devices, and sidescan devices, products
Including Downscan and Sidescan and 23 of the ’840 patent (and its
containing the same, and components variants in the ’499 and ’550 patents);
Devices, Products Containing the thereof. Id. The complaint alleged the
Same, and Components Thereof; (2) the ALJ’s construction of the
infringement of certain claims of U.S. limitation ‘‘combine’’ (and its variants)
Notice of Commission Determination Patent Nos. 8,305,840 (‘‘the ’840
To Review the Final Initial recited in claims 1, 24, and 43 of the
patent’’), 8,300,499 (‘‘the ’499 patent’’), ’499 patent; (3) the ALJ’s findings of
Determination in Part; Schedule for and 8,605,550 (‘‘the ’550 patent’’). Id.
Filing Written Submissions on the noninfringement with respect to the
The notice of investigation named three asserted patents; (4) the ALJ’s
Issues Under Review and on Remedy, Garmin International, Inc. and Garmin
Public Interest, and Bonding findings of validity with respect to the
USA, Inc., each of Olathe, Kansas, three asserted patents; and (5) the ALJ’s
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Garmin (Asia) Corporation of New finding regarding the economic prong of
Commission. Taipei City, Taiwan (collectively, the domestic industry requirement with
ACTION: Notice. ‘‘Garmin’’), and Garmin North America, respect to the ’550 patent.
Inc. as respondents. Id. The Office of The Commission has determined not
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Unfair Import Investigations (‘‘OUII’’) to review the remaining issues decided
the U.S. International Trade was also named as a party. Id. The in the final ID.
Commission has determined to review- Commission later terminated the The parties are requested to brief their
in-part the final initial determination investigation as to Garmin North positions on the issues under review

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Sep 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\10SEN1.SGM 10SEN1

Document Created: 2015-12-15 10:04:07
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 10:04:07

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Expansion of scope of investigation; extension of deadline for filing written submissions.
Dates		October 23, 2015: Deadline for filing all written submissions.
Contact		Project Leader Heidi Colby-Oizumi (202-205-3391; [email protected]) or Deputy Project Leader Alissa Tafti (202-205-3244; [email protected]). For information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091; [email protected]). The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819; [email protected]). General information concerning the
FR Citation		80 FR 54591