Trade Barriers That U.S. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union; Institution of Investigation and Scheduling of Hearing, 45969-45970 [2013-18272]

Download as PDF pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 30, 2013 / Notices Commission’s rules; the deadline for filing is October 29, 2013. Parties may also file written testimony in connection with their presentation at the hearing, as provided in section 207.24 of the Commission’s rules, and posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of section 207.25 of the Commission’s rules. The deadline for filing posthearing briefs is November 14, 2013. In addition, any person who has not entered an appearance as a party to the investigation may submit a written statement of information pertinent to the subject of the investigation, including statements of support or opposition to the petition, on or before November 14, 2013. On November 27, 2013, the Commission will make available to parties all information on which they have not had an opportunity to comment. Parties may submit final comments on this information on or before December 2, 2013, but such final comments must not contain new factual information and must otherwise comply with section 207.30 of the Commission’s rules. All written submissions must conform with the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission’s rules; any submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the requirements of sections 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission’s rules. Please be aware that the Commission’s rules with respect to electronic filing have been amended. The amendments took effect on November 7, 2011. See 76 FR 61937 (Oct. 6, 2011) and the newly revised Commission’s Handbook on E-Filing, available on the Commission’s Web site at https://edis.usitc.gov. Additional written submissions to the Commission, including requests pursuant to section 201.12 of the Commission’s rules, shall not be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such submissions, or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request by a Commissioner or Commission staff. In accordance with sections 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the Commission’s rules, each document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on all other parties to the investigation (as identified by either the public or BPI service list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service. Issued: July 25, 2013. Lisa R. Barton, Acting Secretary to the Commission. Authority: This investigation is being conducted under authority of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published pursuant to section 207.21 of the Commission’s rules. Project Leader William Deese (202–205– 2626 or william.deese@usitc.gov) or Deputy Project Leader Tamar Khachaturian (202–205–3299 or tamar.khachaturian@usitc.gov) for information specific to this By order of the Commission. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:32 Jul 29, 2013 Jkt 229001 [FR Doc. 2013–18230 Filed 7–29–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7020–02–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 332–541] Trade Barriers That U.S. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union; Institution of Investigation and Scheduling of Hearing United States International Trade Commission. ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing. AGENCY: Following receipt of a letter from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) dated June 13, 2013 (received on June 18, 2013), under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted investigation No. 332–541, Trade Barriers that U.S. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union. DATES: September 13, 2013: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the public hearing. September 20, 2013: Deadline for filing pre-hearing briefs and statements. October 8, 2013: Public hearing. October 15, 2013: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs. October 15, 2013: Deadline for filing all other written statements. January 31, 2014: Transmittal of Commission report to the USTR. 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. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 45969 investigation. For information on the legal aspects of these investigations, contact William Gearhart of the Commission’s Office of the General Counsel (202–205–3091 or william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media should contact Margaret O’Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202–205– 1819 or margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov). Hearing-impaired individuals may obtain information on this matter 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 (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. Background: As requested by the USTR, the Commission will conduct an investigation and prepare a report that catalogues trade-related barriers that U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perceive as disproportionately affecting their exports to the EU, compared to those of larger U.S. exporters to the EU. In identifying these barriers to exporting, the Commission will use, to the extent appropriate, information and definitions contained in the three Commission reports on SMEs released in 2010, including definitions of ‘‘SME,’’ ‘‘disproportionate,’’ and ‘‘barrier,’’ any relevant literature, and information gathered from SMEs and others. As requested by the USTR, the Commission’s report will cover barriers faced by U.S. SMEs exporting both goods and services, and will focus primarily on barriers identified by U.S. SMEs that have experience in exporting to the EU. Also as requested, the report, to the degree practicable, will identify barriers by economic sector or by special issue and will focus on sectors with high concentrations of SMEs. The letter indicated that the United States, in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, will seek to strengthen U.S.-European Union (EU) cooperation to enhance the participation of SMEs in transatlantic trade, and to address trade barriers that may disproportionately impact small businesses. As requested by the USTR, the Commission (1) will base its report on available information, including information furnished by SMEs and interested parties following the Commission’s notice of investigation; (2) will address, where information is available, specific trade barriers in individual EU member states; (3) will provide, to the extent applicable, E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 45970 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 146 / Tuesday, July 30, 2013 / Notices qualitative distinctions among the identified trade-related barriers; and (4) will include suggestions gathered from SMEs or the relevant literature to strengthen U.S.-EU cooperation to enhance the participation of SMEs in transatlantic trade. As requested by the USTR, the Commission expects to transmit its report to the USTR by January 31, 2014. Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this investigation will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on October 8, 2013. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the Secretary, no later than 5:15 p.m., September 13, 2013, in accordance with the requirements in the ‘‘Submissions’’ section below. All prehearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., September 20, 2013; and all post-hearing briefs and statements should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., October 15, 2013. In the event that, as of the close of business on September 13, 2013, 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 contact the Office of the Secretary at 202–205–2000 after September 13, 2013, 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., October 15, 2013. 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 VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:32 Jul 29, 2013 Jkt 229001 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 identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be made available for inspection by interested parties. In the request letter, the USTR stated that the Office of the USTR intends to make the Commission’s reports available to the public in their entirety, and asked that the Commission not include any confidential business information or national security classified information in the report that the Commission sends to the USTR. 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. Issued: July 25, 2013. By order of the Commission. Lisa R. Barton, Acting Secretary to the Commission. [FR Doc. 2013–18272 Filed 7–29–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7020–02–P DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Notice of Lodging of Proposed Consent Decree Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Clean Water Act On July 19, 2013, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed consent decree with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama in the lawsuit entitled United States of America, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Geological Survey of Alabama v. BASF Corporation, Civil Action No. 13–00372–KD–M. The plaintiffs alleged that BASF Corporation, as successor in interest to BASF Performance Products LLC (f/k/a Ciba Corporation, f/k/a Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation), is liable under CERCLA and the Clean Water Act for damages for injury to, loss of, or destruction of natural resources under the trusteeship of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and the Geological Survey of Alabama. The claims arise from releases and threatened releases of hazardous substances, including the pesticide DDT and its degradation products, from a chemical production facility at the CibaGeigy Corporation (McIntosh Plant) Superfund Site near McIntosh, Washington County, Alabama. The consent decree requires BASF Corporation to pay $3.2 million into the Mobile Bay Watershed/Ciba-Geigy Site (AL) Restoration Account; $500,000 to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Game and Fish Fund; and $1.3 million to DOI and NOAA as reimbursement for damage assessment costs. Under the consent decree, the plaintiffs covenant not to sue or take civil judicial or administrative action against BASF Corporation under CERCLA or the Clean Water Act to recover natural resource damages related to the Site. The publication of this notice opens a period for public comment on the consent decree. Comments should be addressed to the Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and should refer to United States of America, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Geological Survey of Alabama v. BASF Corporation, D.J. Ref. No. 90–11–2–781/ 1. All comments must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice. Comments may be submitted either by email or by mail: To submit comments: Send them to: By e-mail ...... pubcommentees.enrd@usdoj.gov. Assistant Attorney General, U.S. DOJ—ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044–7611. By mail ......... During the public comment period, the consent decree may be examined and downloaded at this Justice Department Web site: https:// www.usdoj.gov/enrd/ Consent_Decrees.html. We will provide a paper copy of the consent decree upon written request and payment of reproduction costs. Please mail your request and payment to: Consent Decree Library, U.S. DOJ—ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044–7611. Please enclose a check or money order for $8.25 (25 cents per page E:\FR\FM\30JYN1.SGM 30JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 146 (Tuesday, July 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45969-45970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-18272]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-541]


Trade Barriers That U.S. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 
Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union; Institution of 
Investigation and Scheduling of Hearing

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a letter from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) dated June 13, 2013 (received on June 18, 2013), 
under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), the 
U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted 
investigation No. 332-541, Trade Barriers that U.S. Small and Medium-
sized Enterprises Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union.

DATES: 

September 13, 2013: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the 
public hearing.
September 20, 2013: Deadline for filing pre-hearing briefs and 
statements.
October 8, 2013: Public hearing.
October 15, 2013: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs.
October 15, 2013: Deadline for filing all other written statements.
January 31, 2014: Transmittal of Commission report to the USTR.

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 William Deese (202-205-
2626 or william.deese@usitc.gov) or Deputy Project Leader Tamar 
Khachaturian (202-205-3299 or tamar.khachaturian@usitc.gov) for 
information specific to this investigation. For information on the 
legal aspects of these investigations, contact William Gearhart of the 
Commission's Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or 
william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media should contact Margaret 
O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or 
margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov). Hearing-impaired individuals may obtain 
information on this matter 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 (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.
    Background: As requested by the USTR, the Commission will conduct 
an investigation and prepare a report that catalogues trade-related 
barriers that U.S. small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perceive 
as disproportionately affecting their exports to the EU, compared to 
those of larger U.S. exporters to the EU. In identifying these barriers 
to exporting, the Commission will use, to the extent appropriate, 
information and definitions contained in the three Commission reports 
on SMEs released in 2010, including definitions of ``SME,'' 
``disproportionate,'' and ``barrier,'' any relevant literature, and 
information gathered from SMEs and others. As requested by the USTR, 
the Commission's report will cover barriers faced by U.S. SMEs 
exporting both goods and services, and will focus primarily on barriers 
identified by U.S. SMEs that have experience in exporting to the EU. 
Also as requested, the report, to the degree practicable, will identify 
barriers by economic sector or by special issue and will focus on 
sectors with high concentrations of SMEs.
    The letter indicated that the United States, in the Transatlantic 
Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, will seek to 
strengthen U.S.-European Union (EU) cooperation to enhance the 
participation of SMEs in transatlantic trade, and to address trade 
barriers that may disproportionately impact small businesses.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission (1) will base its report 
on available information, including information furnished by SMEs and 
interested parties following the Commission's notice of investigation; 
(2) will address, where information is available, specific trade 
barriers in individual EU member states; (3) will provide, to the 
extent applicable,

[[Page 45970]]

qualitative distinctions among the identified trade-related barriers; 
and (4) will include suggestions gathered from SMEs or the relevant 
literature to strengthen U.S.-EU cooperation to enhance the 
participation of SMEs in transatlantic trade. As requested by the USTR, 
the Commission expects to transmit its report to the USTR by January 
31, 2014.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on 
October 8, 2013. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be 
filed with the Secretary, no later than 5:15 p.m., September 13, 2013, 
in accordance with the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section 
below. All pre-hearing briefs and statements should be filed no later 
than 5:15 p.m., September 20, 2013; and all post-hearing briefs and 
statements should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., October 15, 2013. 
In the event that, as of the close of business on September 13, 2013, 
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 contact the Office of the Secretary 
at 202-205-2000 after September 13, 2013, 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., October 15, 2013. 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 identified by means of 
brackets. All written submissions, except for confidential business 
information, will be made available for inspection by interested 
parties.
    In the request letter, the USTR stated that the Office of the USTR 
intends to make the Commission's reports available to the public in 
their entirety, and asked that the Commission not include any 
confidential business information or national security classified 
information in the report that the Commission sends to the USTR. 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.

     Issued: July 25, 2013.

    By order of the Commission.
Lisa R. Barton,
Acting Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2013-18272 Filed 7-29-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
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