Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of U.S. Restrictions, 54591-54592 [2015-22697]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 175 / Thursday, September 10, 2015 / Notices Dated: September 3, 2015. Yolande Norman, Acting Assistant Director, Program Support. [FR Doc. 2015–22878 Filed 9–9–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–05–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 332–552] Overview of Cuban Imports of Goods and Services and Effects of U.S. Restrictions United States International Trade Commission. ACTION: Expansion of scope of investigation; extension of deadline for filing written submissions. AGENCY: 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. SUMMARY: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader Heidi Colby-Oizumi (202–205–3391; heidi.colby@usitc.gov) or Deputy Project Leader Alissa Tafti (202–205–3244; alissa.tafti@usitc.gov). For information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel (202–205–3091; william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media should contact Margaret O’Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202–205– 1819; margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov). General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet address (https:// www.usitc.gov).Hearing impaired individuals may obtain information on VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Sep 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 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 PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 54591 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 nonU.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 E:\FR\FM\10SEN1.SGM 10SEN1 54592 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 175 / Thursday, September 10, 2015 / Notices 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 INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 337–TA–921] mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Certain Marine Sonar Imaging Devices, Including Downscan and Sidescan Devices, Products Containing the Same, and Components Thereof; Notice of Commission Determination To Review the Final Initial Determination in Part; Schedule for Filing Written Submissions on the Issues Under Review and on Remedy, Public Interest, and Bonding U.S. International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined to reviewin-part the final initial determination SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Sep 09, 2015 Jkt 235001 (‘‘ID’’) issued by the presiding administrative law judge (‘‘ALJ’’) in the above-captioned investigation on July 2, 2015. The Commission requests certain briefing from the parties on the issues under review, as indicated in this notice. The Commission also requests briefing from the parties and interested persons on the issues of remedy, the public interest, and bonding. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy Grace D. Noyola, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205–3438. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation are or will be available for inspection during official business hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205–2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) at https:// edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on (202) 205–1810. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission instituted this investigation on July 14, 2014, based on a complaint filed by Navico, Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Navico Holding AS, of Egersund, Norway (collectively, ‘‘Navico’’). 79 Fed. Reg. 40778 (July 14, 2014). The complaint alleged violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, by reason of the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain marine sonar imaging devices, including downscan and sidescan devices, products containing the same, and components thereof. Id. The complaint alleged the infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,305,840 (‘‘the ’840 patent’’), 8,300,499 (‘‘the ’499 patent’’), and 8,605,550 (‘‘the ’550 patent’’). Id. The notice of investigation named Garmin International, Inc. and Garmin USA, Inc., each of Olathe, Kansas, Garmin (Asia) Corporation of New Taipei City, Taiwan (collectively, ‘‘Garmin’’), and Garmin North America, Inc. as respondents. Id. The Office of Unfair Import Investigations (‘‘OUII’’) was also named as a party. Id. The Commission later terminated the investigation as to Garmin North PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 America, Inc. and various of the asserted claims. Notice (Dec. 31, 2014) (determining not to review Order No. 10 (Dec. 2, 2014)); Notice (Jan. 9, 2015) (determining not to review Order No. 11 (Dec. 11, 2014)); Notice (Jan. 13, 2015) (determining not to review Order No. 13 (Dec. 17, 2014)). On July 2, 2015, the ALJ issued a final ID finding no violation of section 337 with respect to all three asserted patents. Specifically, the ALJ found that the asserted claims of each patent are not infringed and were not shown to be invalid for anticipation or obviousness. The ALJ found that the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement was not satisfied with respect to the ’550 patent. The ALJ also issued a Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bonding (‘‘RD’’), recommending, if the Commission finds a section 337 violation, that a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order should issue and that a bond should be imposed at a reasonable royalty of eight percent for each infringing device imported during the period of presidential review. On July 20, 2015, Navico, Garmin, and OUII timely filed petitions for review challenging various findings in the final ID. On July 28, 2015, the parties filed responses. On August 5, 2015, Navico and Garmin filed a postRD statement on the public interest under Commission Rule 210.50(a)(4). The Commission did not receive any post-RD public interest comments from the public. See 80 FR 39799 (July 10, 2015). Having examined the record of this investigation, including the ID, the petitions for review, and the responses thereto, the Commission has determined to review the ALJ’s determination of no violation in part. Specifically, the Commission has determined to review (1) the ALJ’s construction of the limitation ‘‘single linear downscan transducer element’’ recited in claims 1 and 23 of the ’840 patent (and its variants in the ’499 and ’550 patents); (2) the ALJ’s construction of the limitation ‘‘combine’’ (and its variants) recited in claims 1, 24, and 43 of the ’499 patent; (3) the ALJ’s findings of noninfringement with respect to the three asserted patents; (4) the ALJ’s findings of validity with respect to the three asserted patents; and (5) the ALJ’s finding regarding the economic prong of the domestic industry requirement with respect to the ’550 patent. The Commission has determined not to review the remaining issues decided in the final ID. The parties are requested to brief their positions on the issues under review E:\FR\FM\10SEN1.SGM 10SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 175 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54591-54592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22697]


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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; heidi.colby@usitc.gov) or Deputy Project Leader Alissa 
Tafti (202-205-3244; alissa.tafti@usitc.gov). For information on legal 
aspects, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel 
(202-205-3091; william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media should contact 
Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819; 
margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov). General information concerning the 
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet address 
(https://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
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