[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 120 (Thursday, June 22, 1995)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 32442-32444] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-15179] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION 19 CFR Part 210 Filing of Complaints and Supplements to Complaints Alleging Unfair Practices in Import Trade AGENCY: International Trade Commission. [[Page 32443]] ACTION: Final rulemaking. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Commission hereby revises its final rules for investigations and related proceedings under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337). The revised rules require section 337 complainants to file equal numbers of confidential and nonconfidential copies of their complaints and to file them on the same date. The revised rules impose the same requirements for filing supplements to complaints. The revised rules are being adopted in response to concerns expressed by interested members of the public and for the purpose of streamlining the administrative process by improving the speed and efficiency of the Commission's distribution and service of nonconfidential copies of complaints, including supplements thereto. EFFECTIVE DATE: In accordance with the 30-day advance publication requirement imposed by 5 U.S.C. 553(d), the effective date of these revised rules is July 24, 1995. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: P.N. Smithey, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone 202- 205-3061. Hearing-impaired individuals can obtain information concerning the proposed rulemaking by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On August 1, 1994, the Commission published final rules for 19 CFR part 210.1 Final rule 210.4(f)(3)(i) imposed a 10-day deadline for section 337 complainants to file nonconfidential copies of their complaints after the confidential version was filed. \1\ 59 FR 39020, Part II (Aug. 1, 1994), as corrected by 59 FR 64286 (Dec. 14, 1994) and amended by 59 FR 67622 (Dec. 30, 1994). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- On March 29, 1995, the Commission published a notice containing proposed revisions to the part 210 rules which would require section 337 complainants to file equal numbers of confidential and nonconfidential copies of their complaints and to file them on the same date.2 The Customs and International Trade Bar Association (CITBA) was the only organization that responded to the notice of proposed rulemaking. The CITBA expressed approval of the proposed rules. \2\ 60 FR 16087 (Mar. 29, 1995). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section-by-Section Analysis of the Revised Rules The commentary that preceded the proposed rules in the notice of proposed rulemaking published on March 29, 1995, constitutes the preamble to the revised rules set forth in the present notice.3 \3\ See the Section-by-Section analysis of the proposed rules, which appeared in 60 FR at 16087-16088. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Revised rule 210.52(e) is identical to proposed rule 210.52(e). Revised rules 210.4(f)(3), 210.5(a), and 210.8(a) differ slightly from the correspondingly numbered proposed rules. The proposed rules required complainants to file nonconfidential copies of their complaints concurrently with the confidential copies. Upon further reflection, the Commission decided that revised rules 210.4(f)(3), 210.5(a), and 210.8(a) should impose the same requirements for the filing of supplements to section 337 complaints. Regulatory Analysis The revised rules adopted in this notice do not meet the criteria enumerated in section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866,4 and therefore do not constitute a significant regulatory action for purposes of that Executive Order. \4\ 58 FR 51735, Oct. 4, 1993. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act,5 the Commission hereby certifies 6 that the revised rules set forth in this notice are not likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small business entities. The Commission notes that most section 337 complainants are not small businesses. Moreover, the revised rules merely increase the number of copies that section 337 complainants must file for two categories of submissions: Complaints and supplements to complaints. \5\ 5 U.S.C. 601 note. \6\ Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605(b). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In any event, the Regulatory Flexibility Act is inapplicable to this rulemaking, because it is not one for which a notice of proposed rulemaking was required under 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or another statute.7 Though the Commission chose to publish such a notice on March 29, 1995, the revised rules are ``agency rules of procedure or practice'' and thus were exempt from the notice requirement imposed by 5 U.S.C. 553(b). \7\ See 5 U.S.C. 603(a). List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 210 Administrative practice and procedure, Imports, and investigations, Investigations of unfair acts and unfair methods of competition in U.S. import trade. For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the U.S. International Trade Commission hereby amends part 210 of title 19 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows: PART 210--ADJUDICATION AND ENFORCEMENT 1. The authority citation for part 210 continues to read as follows: Authority: 19 U.S.C. 1333, 1335, and 1337. 2. Paragraph (f)(3) of Sec. 210.4 is revised to read as follows: Sec. 210.4 Written submissions; representations; sanctions. * * * * * (f) Specifications; filing of documents. * * * (3)(i) If a complaint, a supplement to a complaint, a motion for temporary relief, or the documentation supporting a motion for temporary relief contains confidential business information as defined in Sec. 201.6(a) of this chapter, the complainant shall file nonconfidential copies of the complaint, the supplement to the complaint, the motion for temporary relief, or the documentation supporting the motion for temporary relief concurrently with the requisite confidential copies, as provided in Sec. 210.8(a) of this part. (ii) Persons who file the following submissions that contain confidential business information covered by an administrative protective order, or that are the subject of a request for confidential treatment, must file nonconfidential copies and serve them on the other parties to the investigation or related proceeding within 10 calendar days after filing the confidential version with the Commission: (A) A response to a complaint and all supplements and exhibits thereto; (B) All submissions relating to a motion to amend the complaint or notice of investigation; and (C) All submissions addressed to the Commission. Other sections of this part may require, or the Commission or the administrative law judge may order, the filing and service of nonconfidential copies of other kinds of confidential submissions. If the submitter's ability to prepare a nonconfidential copy is dependent upon receipt of the nonconfidential version of an initial determination, or a Commission order or opinion, or a ruling by the administrative law judge or the Commission as to whether some or all of the information at issue is entitled to confidential treatment, the nonconfidential copies of the submission must be filed within 10 calendar days after service of the Commission or administrative law judge document in question. The time periods [[Page 32444]] for filing specified in this paragraph apply unless the Commission, the administrative law judge, or another section of this part specifically provides otherwise. * * * * * 3. Paragraph (a) of Sec. 210.5 is revised to read as follows: Sec. 210.5 Confidential business information. (a) Definition and submission. Confidential business information shall be defined and identified in accordance with Sec. 201.6 (a) and (c) of this chapter. Unless the Commission, the administrative law judge, or another section of this part states otherwise, confidential business information shall be submitted in accordance with Sec. 201.6(b) of this chapter. In the case of a complaint, any supplement to the complaint, and a motion for temporary relief filed under this part, the number of nonconfidential copies shall be prescribed by Sec. 210.8(a) of this part. * * * * * 4. Paragraph (a) of Sec. 210.8 is revised to read as follows: Sec. 210.8 Commencement of preinstitution proceedings. (a) Upon receipt of complaint. A preinstitution proceeding is commenced by filing with the Secretary a signed original complaint and the requisite number of true copies. The complainant shall file 14 confidential copies of the complaint, 14 nonconfidential copies, plus one confidential copy and one nonconfidential copy for each person named in the complaint as violating section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and one nonconfidential copy for the government of each foreign country of any person or persons so named. The same requirements apply for the filing of a supplement to the complaint. If the complainant is seeking temporary relief, the complainant must file 14 confidential copies of the motion, 14 nonconfidential copies, plus one additional confidential copy and one additional nonconfidential copy of the motion for such relief for each proposed respondent, and one nonconfidential copy for the government of the foreign country of the proposed respondent. The additional copies of the complaint and motion for temporary relief for each proposed respondent and the appropriate foreign government are to be provided notwithstanding the procedures applicable to a motion for temporary relief, which require service of the complaint and motion for temporary relief by the complainant. * * * * * 5. Paragraph (e) of Sec. 210.52 is revised to read as follows: Sec. 210.52 Motions for temporary relief. * * * * * (e) If the complaint, the motion for temporary relief, or the documentation supporting the motion for temporary relief contains confidential business information as defined in Sec. 201.6(a) of this chapter, the complainant must follow the procedure outlined in Secs. 210.4(a), 210.5(a), 201.6 (a) and (c), 210.8(a), and 210.55 of this part. Issued: June 13, 1995. By Order of the Commission. Donna R. Koehnke, Secretary. [FR Doc. 95-15179 Filed 6-21-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7020-02-P