81 FR 812 - A Centennial History of the United States International Trade Commission

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 4 (January 7, 2016)

The United States International Trade Commission (``Commission'') is requesting submissions to form parts of a planned Centennial History of the United States International Trade Commission.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 812-813]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00005]


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 INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION


A Centennial History of the United States International Trade 
Commission

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Call for submissions.

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SUMMARY: The United States International Trade Commission 
(``Commission'') is requesting submissions to form parts of a planned 
Centennial History of the United States International Trade Commission.

DATES: Submissions will be accepted if:
    1. The author provides written notice to the Secretary to the 
Commission by January 29, 2016, of the intent to file a submission.
    2. The author files the submission by April 29, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Documents responsive to this notice should be filed with 
Lisa R. Barton, Secretary, preferably by electronic mail to 
[email protected]. If electronic transmission is not available, 
documents can be mailed to the Secretary, United States International 
Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa R. Barton, Secretary, telephone 
(202) 205-2000, United States International Trade Commission. 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 also be obtained by 
accessing its Internet server at http://www.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The Commission was created by Public Law 64-271 enacted on 
September 8, 1916. The Commission is planning to commemorate the 100th 
anniversary of its founding by publishing a Centennial History of the 
agency.
    The Commission's strategic plan describes the agency in the 
following terms: ``For decades, the Commission, an independent, 
nonpartisan agency, has fulfilled its mandate to provide Congress and 
the President with objective, thorough, and succinct analysis on the 
most critical trade issues of the day.'' The Commission seeks to place 
the agency and its mandate for

[[Page 813]]

independence, lack of partisanship, and objectivity in its historical 
context. The Commission intends to focus on this mandate as a theme of 
the book.
    The book is planned to include the following chapters:

Chapter 1. Introduction

The agency and its mission 100 years on
An independent, nonpartisan agency:
    A technical, not policy, mission
    aspects of independence (budget, litigation, etc.)
The framework of the book; summary of chapters

Chapter 2. The Creation of the Tariff Commission

The perceived need for an agency
President Wilson's initiative
Communications between Administration and Congress
Evolution of organic legislation
The Tariff Commission opens its doors

Chapter 3. Evolution of the Agency, 1917-2016

Early activities
Debates over the number of Commissioners
Tie-breaker provisions
Debate over the strong Chairmanship
Issues with Commissioner and Chairman appointments
Old DC and NYC offices, new building, libraries
Agency alumni strengthen the trade community

Chapter 4. Tariff-Related Proceedings

Tariffs before the creation of the Tariff Commission
Early Tariff Commission activities
Commission role in the drafting of the 1930, 1962 (TSUS), and 1988 
(HTS) tariff schedules
The Tariff Schedule of the United States
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule
World Customs Organization activities
The 484(f) Committee
Miscellaneous tariff bills
Recommendations to the President updating the HTS

Chapter 5. Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations

The problems of dumping and subsidization
Antidumping and countervailing duty activities prior to the 1979 Act
Practice from the 1979 Act to the Uruguay Round Implementation Act
Practice since the URAA
Litigation

Chapter 6. Safeguards

Development of the concept under domestic law (the Reciprocal Trade 
Agreements Act and various extensions)
Inclusion of the concept in international agreements (the GATT and 
WTO Safeguards Agreement and in bilateral free trade agreements)
Commission investigations under executive orders and U.S. trade 
legislation (the 1951, 1962, 1974, 1988, and 1994 trade legislation)
Three prominent cases--footwear (1968), autos (1980), and steel 
(2001)
China safeguards
The lack of cases in recent years

Chapter 7. Intellectual Property Investigations

The problem of unfair imports
The first statute
Section 337
Patent infringement
Trademark infringement
Non-IP investigations
The evolution of the injury requirement
The surge of investigations
Presidential overrides; the Samsung/Apple case
Selected recent developments: e.g., domestic industry, public 
interest
Litigation

Chapter 8. Industry and Economic Analysis for Congress

Reports prepared for Congress vs. reports for the President
Fact-finding investigations under the 1916 act and section 332 of 
the Tariff Act
Fact-finding investigations under other authorities
Economic modeling

Chapter 9. Industry and Economic Analysis for the Executive Branch

Role prior to World War II, war time role, and supporting role in 
trade negotiations
Role in supporting STR and USTR with fact-finding reports and trade 
negotiation advice

Chapter 10. Conclusion

Summary of the book

    This table of contents is preliminary and has not yet been 
finalized. The Commission is willing to entertain suggestions from 
prospective authors for modifications to the table.
    The Commission is seeking authors to prepare chapters for the book 
(other than the Conclusion). Each submission for a chapter on one of 
the Commission's functions would need to address the following: Why 
Congress felt the need for legislation on the subject of the chapter 
(e.g., antidumping and countervailing duty determinations); why the 
Commission was selected to provide such determinations (such as the 
need for objectivity); and how the Commission has implemented the law. 
The Commission is willing to accept submissions that are a joint effort 
of two or more co-authors. Submissions should be consistent with the 
above-described mandate of non-partisanship and objectivity.
    Once filed, each submission will undergo an extensive review 
process. The Commission reserves the right to edit each submission for 
form, style, and content. The agency provides no guarantee that a 
submission will be published in the Centennial History. Publication of 
a chapter will not result in monetary remuneration.
    The Commission is considering convening a conference at which 
submissions for the Centennial History would be discussed. All authors 
whose contributions have been accepted for the book would have an 
opportunity to participate in the conference. In addition, authors 
whose contributions do not become part of the book may be permitted to 
participate. Their contributions would also be considered for inclusion 
in the proceedings of the conference.
    As stated above, a prospective author must provide written notice 
to the Commission by January 29, 2016, of the intent to file a 
submission. This intent to file must include the following information:

1. Name(s)
2. Institutional Affiliation(s)
3. Status (e.g., doctoral student, Assistant Professor, practitioners)
4. Email address(es)
5. Mailing Address(es)
6. One (1) page single-spaced abstract of the chapter(s) in Microsoft 
Word format.

    Once the Commission has received the notices, each author will 
receive a packet including: A tentative offer to publish, a voluntary 
services agreement, and guidelines on editorial styles and compliance 
with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 4, 2016.
William R. Bishop,
Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2016-00005 Filed 1-6-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P