83 FR 24735 - Notice of Request for Public Comments and Public Hearing on Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Automobiles, Including Cars, SUVs, Vans and Light Trucks, and Automotive Parts

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 104 (May 30, 2018)

Page Range		24735-24737
FR Document		2018-11708

On May 23, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce initiated an investigation to determine the effects on the national security of imports of automobiles, including cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks, and automotive parts. This investigation has been initiated under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. Interested parties are invited to submit written comments, data, analyses, or other information pertinent to the investigation to the Department of Commerce by June 22, 2018. Rebuttal comments will be due by July 6, 2018. The Department of Commerce will also hold a public hearing on the investigation on July 19 and 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. This notice identifies the issues on which the Department is interested in obtaining the public's views. It also sets forth the procedures for public participation in the hearing.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 104 (Wednesday, May 30, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24735-24737]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11708]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Notice of Request for Public Comments and Public Hearing on 
Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Automobiles, 
Including Cars, SUVs, Vans and Light Trucks, and Automotive Parts

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments and public hearing.

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SUMMARY: On May 23, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce initiated an 
investigation to determine the effects on the national security of 
imports of automobiles, including cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks, 
and automotive parts. This investigation has been initiated under 
section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. Interested 
parties are invited to submit written comments, data, analyses, or 
other information pertinent to the investigation to the Department of 
Commerce by June 22, 2018. Rebuttal comments will be due by July 6, 
2018. The Department of Commerce will also hold a public hearing on the 
investigation on July 19 and 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. This notice 
identifies the issues on which the Department is interested in 
obtaining the public's views. It also sets forth the procedures for 
public participation in the hearing.

DATES: The due date for filing comments, for requests to appear at the 
public hearing, and for submissions of a summary of expected testimony 
at the public hearing is June 22, 2018.
    The due date is July 6, 2018 for rebuttal comments submitted in 
response to any comments filed on or before June 22, 2018.
    The public hearings will be held on July 19 and 20, 2018. The 
hearings will begin at 8:30 a.m. local time and conclude at 5:00 p.m. 
local time, each day.

ADDRESSES: Written comments: All written submissions must be in English 
and must be addressed to Section 232 Automobile and Automotive Parts 
Imports Investigation, and filed through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via 
www.regulations.gov, enter docket number DOC-2018-0002 on the home page 
and click ``search.'' The site will provide a search results page 
listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to 
this notice and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For 
further information on using www.regulations.gov, please consult the 
resources provided on the website by clicking on ``How to Use This 
Site'' on the left side of the home page). For alternatives to on-line 
submissions, please contact Sahra Park-Su at (202) 482-2811.
    Hearings: The public hearings will be held in the Department of 
Commerce's auditorium at 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 
20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sahra Park-Su, U.S. Department of 
Commerce (202) 482-2811. For more information about the section 232 
program, including the regulations and the text of previous 
investigations, see www.bis.doc.gov/232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 23, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (``Secretary'') 
initiated an

[[Page 24736]]

investigation under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 1862), to determine the effects on the national 
security of imports of automobiles, including cars, SUVs, vans and 
light trucks, and automotive parts. If the Secretary finds that 
automobiles and/or automotive parts are being imported into the United 
States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to 
impair the national security, the Secretary shall recommend actions and 
steps that should be taken to adjust automobile and/or automotive parts 
imports so that they will not threaten to impair the national security.

Written Comments

    This investigation is being undertaken in accordance with part 705 
of the National Security Industrial Base Regulations (15 CFR parts 700 
to 709) (``NSIBR''). Interested parties are invited to submit written 
comments, data, analyses, or information pertinent to this 
investigation to the U.S. Department of Commerce by June 22, 2018. 
Rebuttal comments submitted in response to comments received on or 
before June 22, 2018 may be filed no later than July 6, 2018.
    The Department is particularly interested in comments and 
information directed to the criteria listed in Sec.  705.4 of the NSIBR 
as they affect national security, including the following:
     The quantity and nature of imports of automobiles, 
including cars, SUVs, vans and light trucks, and automotive parts and 
other circumstances related to the importation of automobiles and 
automotive parts;
     Domestic production needed for projected national defense 
requirements;
     Domestic production and productive capacity needed for 
automobiles and automotive parts to meet projected national defense 
requirements;
     The existing and anticipated availability of human 
resources, products, raw materials, production equipment, and 
facilities to produce automobiles and automotive parts;
     The growth requirements of the automobiles and automotive 
parts industry to meet national defense requirements and/or 
requirements to assure such growth, particularly with respect to 
investment and research and development;
     The impact of foreign competition on the economic welfare 
of the U.S. automobiles and automotive parts industry;
     The displacement of any domestic automobiles and 
automotive parts causing substantial unemployment, decrease in the 
revenues of government, loss of investment or specialized skills and 
productive capacity, or other serious effects;
     Relevant factors that are causing or will cause a 
weakening of our national economy;
     The extent to which innovation in new automotive 
technologies is necessary to meet projected national defense 
requirements;
     Whether and, if so, how the analysis of the above factors 
changes when U.S. production by majority U.S.-owned firms is considered 
separately from U.S. production by majority foreign-owned firms; and
     Any other relevant factors.

Additional Requirements for Written Comments

    The www.regulations.gov website allows users to provide comments by 
filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by attaching a document using 
an ``Upload File'' field. The Department prefers that comments be 
provided in an attached document. The Department prefers submissions in 
Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in 
an application other than those two, please indicate the name of the 
application in the ``Type Comment'' field. Please do not attach 
separate cover letters to electronic submissions; rather, include any 
information that might appear in a cover letter in the comments 
themselves. Similarly, to the extent possible please include any 
exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in the same file as part of the 
submission itself rather than in separate files.
    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection, except confidential business information. Comments may be 
viewed on www.regulations.gov by entering docket number DOC-2018-0002 
in the search field on the home page.
    Material that is business confidential information will be exempted 
from public disclosure as provided for by Sec.  705.6 of the 
regulations. Anyone submitting business confidential information should 
clearly identify the business confidential portion of the submission, 
then file a statement justifying nondisclosure and referring to the 
specific legal authority claimed, and provide a non-confidential 
version of the submission which can be placed in the public file on 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    For comments submitted electronically containing business 
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential 
version should begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing 
business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. The file name of the non-
confidential version should begin with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' 
and ``P'' should be followed by the name of the person or entity 
submitting the comments or rebuttal comments. Filers submitting 
comments containing no business confidential information should name 
their file using the name of the person or entity submitting the 
comments.
    Communications from agencies of the United States Government will 
not be made available for public inspection. Please note that the 
submission of a summary of expected testimony at the public hearing is 
separate from the submission of other written comments and should be 
submitted separately.

Public Hearing

    Consistent with the interest of the U.S. Department of Commerce in 
soliciting public comments on issues affecting U.S. industry and 
national security, the Department is holding a public hearing as part 
of the investigation. The hearing will further assist the Department in 
determining whether imports of automobiles and automotive parts 
threaten to impair the national security and in recommending remedies 
if such a threat is found to exist. Public comments at the hearing 
should address the criteria listed in Sec.  [thinsp]705.4 of the NSIBR 
as they affect national security described above.
    The hearing will be held on July 19 and 20, 2018 at the U.S. 
Department of Commerce auditorium, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, DC 20230. The hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. local time 
and conclude at 5:00 p.m. local time, each day.

Procedure for Requesting Participation

    The Department encourages interested public participants to present 
their views orally at the hearing. Any person wishing to make an oral 
presentation at the hearing must submit a written request to the 
Department of Commerce by June 22, 2018. The request to appear must 
include a summary of the expected testimony, and may also be 
accompanied by additional material. Remarks at the hearing may be 
limited to five minutes to allow for possible questions from U.S. 
government representatives.
    All submissions must be in English and sent electronically via 
www.regulations.gov. To submit a request to appear at the hearing via 
www.regulations.gov, enter docket number DOC-2018-0002. In the ``Type

[[Page 24737]]

Comment'' field, include name, address, email address, and telephone 
number of the person presenting the testimony, as well as the 
organization or company that they represent. Attach a summary of the 
testimony, and pre-hearing submission if provided, by using the 
``Upload File'' field. The file name should include the name of the 
person who will be presenting the testimony.
    The request to speak should include (1) the name and address of the 
person requesting to make a presentation; (2) a daytime phone number 
where the person who would be making the oral presentation may be 
contacted before the hearing; (3) the organization or company they 
represent; and (4) an email address.
    Please note that the submission of a summary of expected testimony 
at the public hearing is separate from the request for written 
comments. Since it may be necessary to limit the number of persons 
making presentations, the written request to participate in the public 
hearing should describe the individual's interest in the hearing and, 
where appropriate, explain why the individual is a proper 
representative of a group or class of persons that has such an 
interest. If all interested parties cannot be accommodated at the 
hearing, the summaries of the oral presentations will be used to 
allocate speaking time and to ensure that a full range of comments is 
heard.
    Each person selected to make a presentation will be notified by the 
Department of Commerce no later than 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on 
July 12, 2018. The Department will arrange the presentation times for 
the speakers. Persons selected to be heard are requested to bring 20 
copies of their oral presentation and of all exhibits to the hearing 
site on the day of the hearing. All such material must be of a size 
consistent with ease of handling, transportation and filing. While 
large exhibits may be used during a hearing, copies of such exhibits in 
reduced size must be provided to the hearing panel. Written submissions 
by persons not selected to make presentations will be made part of the 
public record of the proceeding. Confidential business information may 
not be submitted at a public hearing. In the event confidential 
business information is submitted it will be handled according to the 
same procedures applicable to such information provided in the course 
of an investigation. See 15 CFR 705.6. The hearing will be recorded.
    The transcript of the hearing will be available on 
www.regulations.gov in docket number DOC-2018-0002.

Conduct of the Hearing

    The Department reserves the right to select the persons to be heard 
at the hearing, to schedule their respective presentations, and to 
establish the procedures governing the conduct of the hearing. Each 
speaker may be limited to 5 minutes, and comments must be directly 
related to the criteria listed in 15 CFR 705.4 of the regulations. 
Attendees will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis.
    A Department official will be designated to preside at the hearing. 
The presiding officer shall determine all procedural matters during the 
hearing. Representatives from the Department, and other U.S. Government 
agencies as appropriate, will make up the hearing panel. This will be a 
fact-finding proceeding; it will not be a judicial or evidentiary-type 
hearing. Only members of the hearing panel may ask questions, and there 
will be no cross-examination of persons presenting statements. However, 
questions submitted to the presiding officer in writing may, at the 
discretion of the presiding officer, be posed to the presenter. No 
formal rules of evidence will apply to the hearing.
    Any further procedural rules for the proper conduct of the hearing 
will be announced by the presiding officer.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be received by the Department of Commerce no later than June 22, 
2018 by contacting the Department of Commerce official identified in 
this Notice.

    Dated: May 24, 2018.
Wilbur L. Ross,
Secretary of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 2018-11708 Filed 5-25-18; 4:15 pm]
 BILLING CODE P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 30, 2018 / Notices 24737

Comment’’ field, include name, address, Conduct of the Hearing value (LTFV). The period of
email address, and telephone number of The Department reserves the right to investigation (POI) is April 1, 2016,
the person presenting the testimony, as select the persons to be heard at the through March 31, 2017.
well as the organization or company hearing, to schedule their respective DATES: Applicable May 30, 2018.
that they represent. Attach a summary presentations, and to establish the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
of the testimony, and pre-hearing procedures governing the conduct of the Patrick O’Connor, AD/CVD Operations,
submission if provided, by using the hearing. Each speaker may be limited to Office IV, Enforcement and Compliance,
‘‘Upload File’’ field. The file name 5 minutes, and comments must be International Trade Administration,
should include the name of the person directly related to the criteria listed in U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401
who will be presenting the testimony. 15 CFR 705.4 of the regulations. Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,
The request to speak should include Attendees will be seated on a first-come, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482–0989.
(1) the name and address of the person first-served basis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
requesting to make a presentation; (2) a A Department official will be
daytime phone number where the Background
designated to preside at the hearing. The
person who would be making the oral presiding officer shall determine all On January 5, 2018, Commerce
presentation may be contacted before procedural matters during the hearing. published the Preliminary
the hearing; (3) the organization or Representatives from the Department, Determination of this antidumping duty
company they represent; and (4) an and other U.S. Government agencies as investigation, as provided by section
email address. appropriate, will make up the hearing 735 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
Please note that the submission of a panel. This will be a fact-finding amended (the Act). Commerce
summary of expected testimony at the proceeding; it will not be a judicial or preliminarily found that fine denier PSF
public hearing is separate from the evidentiary-type hearing. Only members from India was sold at LTFV.1 A
request for written comments. Since it of the hearing panel may ask questions, summary of the events that have
may be necessary to limit the number of and there will be no cross-examination occurred since Commerce published the
persons making presentations, the of persons presenting statements. Preliminary Determination, as well as a
written request to participate in the However, questions submitted to the full discussion of the issues raised by
public hearing should describe the presiding officer in writing may, at the interested parties for this final
individual’s interest in the hearing and, discretion of the presiding officer, be determination, may be found in the
where appropriate, explain why the posed to the presenter. No formal rules Issues and Decision Memorandum.2 The
individual is a proper representative of of evidence will apply to the hearing. Issues and Decision Memorandum is a
a group or class of persons that has such Any further procedural rules for the public document and is on file
an interest. If all interested parties proper conduct of the hearing will be electronically via Enforcement and
cannot be accommodated at the hearing, announced by the presiding officer. Compliance’s Antidumping and
the summaries of the oral presentations Countervailing Duty Centralized
will be used to allocate speaking time Special Accommodations Electronic Service System (ACCESS).
and to ensure that a full range of This meeting is physically accessible ACCESS is available to registered users
comments is heard. to people with disabilities. Requests for at https://access.trade.gov, and to all
Each person selected to make a sign language interpretation or other parties in the Central Records Unit,
presentation will be notified by the auxiliary aids should be received by the room B8024 of the main Department of
Department of Commerce no later than Department of Commerce no later than Commerce building. In addition, a
8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July June 22, 2018 by contacting the complete version of the Issues and
12, 2018. The Department will arrange Department of Commerce official Decision Memorandum can be accessed
the presentation times for the speakers. identified in this Notice. directly at http://enforcement.trade.gov/
Persons selected to be heard are Dated: May 24, 2018. frn/.
requested to bring 20 copies of their oral Commerce has exercised its discretion
Wilbur L. Ross,
presentation and of all exhibits to the to toll deadlines for the duration of the
Secretary of Commerce.
hearing site on the day of the hearing. closure of the Federal Government from
[FR Doc. 2018–11708 Filed 5–25–18; 4:15 pm] January 20 through 22, 2018. The
All such material must be of a size
consistent with ease of handling,
BILLING CODE P revised deadline for the final
transportation and filing. While large determination in this investigation is
exhibits may be used during a hearing, now May 23, 2018.3
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
copies of such exhibits in reduced size
1 See Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber from
must be provided to the hearing panel. International Trade Administration India: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of
Written submissions by persons not Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of
selected to make presentations will be [A–533–875]
Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional
made part of the public record of the Measures 83 FR 662 (January 5, 2018), and
Fine Denier Polyester Staple Fiber accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum
proceeding. Confidential business From India: Final Affirmative (collectively, Preliminary Determination).
information may not be submitted at a Determination of Sales at Less Than 2 See Memorandum, ‘‘Fine Denier Polyester
public hearing. In the event confidential Fair Value Staple Fiber from India: Issues and Decision
business information is submitted it will Memorandum for the Final Affirmative
be handled according to the same AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, Determination in the Less Than Fair Value,’’ dated
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this
procedures applicable to such International Trade Administration, notice (Issues and Decision Memorandum).
information provided in the course of an Department of Commerce. 3 See Memorandum for The Record from

investigation. See 15 CFR 705.6. The SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce Christian Marsh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
hearing will be recorded. (Commerce) determines that fine denier Enforcement and Compliance, performing the non-
exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant
The transcript of the hearing will be polyester staple fiber (fine denier PSF) Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance,
available on www.regulations.gov in from India is being, or is likely to be, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the
docket number DOC–2018–0002. sold in the United States at less than fair Continued

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Document Created: 2018-05-30 01:01:37
Document Modified: 2018-05-30 01:01:37

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		Notice of request for public comments and public hearing.
Dates		The due date for filing comments, for requests to appear at the public hearing, and for submissions of a summary of expected testimony at the public hearing is June 22, 2018.
Contact		Sahra Park-Su, U.S. Department of Commerce (202) 482-2811. For more information about the section 232 program, including the regulations and the text of previous investigations, see www.bis.doc.gov/232.
FR Citation		83 FR 24735