Certain Infotainment Systems, Components Thereof, and Automobiles Containing the Same; Notice of Request for Statements on the Public Interest

AGENCY:

U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that the presiding administrative law judge has issued a Final Initial Determination on Section 337 Violation and a Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bonding in the above-captioned investigation. The Commission is soliciting comments on public interest issues raised by the recommended relief, should the Commission find a violation. This notice is soliciting public interest comments from the public only. Parties are to file public interest submissions pursuant to Commission rules.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lynde Herzbach, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205-3228. 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 Information System (“EDIS”) ( https://edis.usitc.gov ). Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal, telephone (202) 205-1810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (“section 337”) provides that if the Commission finds a violation it shall exclude the articles concerned from the United States unless the public interest factors listed in 19 U.S.C. 1337(d)(1) prevent such action. A similar provision applies to cease and desist orders. 19 U.S.C. 1337(f)(1).

The Commission is soliciting comments on public interest issues raised by the recommended relief should the Commission find a violation, specifically whether the Commission should issue:

(1) A limited exclusion order (“LEO”) against certain infotainment systems, components thereof, and automobiles containing same that are imported, sold for importation, and/or sold after importation by respondents: Toyota Motor Corporation of Toyota City, Japan; Toyota Motor North America, Inc. of Plano, TX; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. of Plano, TX; Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. of Plano, TX; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, Inc. of Princeton, IN; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. of Erlanger, KY; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. of Tupelo, MS; Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc. of San Antonio, TX; Panasonic Corporation of Osaka, Japan; Panasonic Corporation of North America of Newark, NJ; DENSO TEN Limited of Kobe City, Japan; DENSO TEN America Limited of Torrance, CA; Renesas Electronics Corporation of Tokyo, Japan; Renesas Electronics America, Inc. of Milpitas, CA; Japan Radio Corporation of Tokyo, Japan; Pioneer Corporation of Tokyo, Japan; Pioneer Automotive Technologies, Inc. of Farmington Hills, MI; DENSO Corporation of Kariya, Aichi, Japan; DENSO International America, Inc. of Southfield, MI; DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc. of Maryville, TN; DENSO Wireless Systems America, Inc. of Vista, CA; u-blox AG of Thalwil, Switzerland; u-blox America, Inc. of Reston, VA; u-blox San Diego, Inc. of San Diego, CA; and Socionext Inc. of Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan; and/or

(2) cease and desist orders (“CDOs”) against respondents: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Panasonic Corporation of North America; Pioneer Automotive Technologies, Inc.; DENSO TEN America Limited; DENSO International America, Inc.; DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee, Inc.; DENSO Wireless Systems America, Inc.; u-blox America, Inc.; u-blox San Diego, Inc.; and Renesas Electronics America, Inc.

The Commission is interested in further development of the record on the public interest in this investigation. Accordingly, parties are to file public interest submissions pursuant to 19 CFR 210.50(a)(4). In addition, members of the public are hereby invited to file submissions of no more than five (5) pages, inclusive of attachments, concerning the public interest in light of the administrative law judge's Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bonding issued in this investigation on November 13, 2019. Comments should address whether issuance of the LEOs and/or CDOs in this investigation, should the Commission find a violation, would affect the public health and welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, or United States consumers.

In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that:

(i) Explain how the articles potentially subject to the recommended orders are used in the United States;

(ii) Identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns in the United States relating to the recommended orders;

(iii) Identify like or directly competitive articles that complainants, their licensees, or third parties make in the United States which could replace the subject articles if they were to be excluded;

(iv) Indicate whether complainants, complainants' licensees, and/or third party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of articles potentially subject to the recommended exclusion order and/or a cease and desist order within a commercially reasonable time; and

(v) Explain how the LEO and CDO would impact consumers in the United States.

Written submissions from the public must be filed no later than by close of business on December 18, 2019.

Persons filing written submissions must file the original document electronically on or before the deadlines stated above and submit 8 true paper copies to the Office of the Secretary by noon the next day pursuant to section 210.4(f) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.4(f)). Submissions should refer to the investigation number (“Inv. No. 337-TA-1119”) in a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. (See Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, https://www.usitc.gov/secretary/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf.). Persons with questions regarding filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000). Any person desiring to submit a document to the Commission in confidence must request confidential treatment. All such requests should be directed to the Secretary to the Commission and must include a full statement of the reasons why the Commission should grant such treatment. See 19 CFR 201.6. Documents for which confidential treatment by the Commission is properly sought will be treated accordingly. All information, including confidential business information and documents for which confidential treatment is properly sought, submitted to the Commission for purposes of this Investigation may be disclosed to and used: (i) By the Commission, its employees and Offices, and contract personnel (a) for developing or maintaining the records of this or a related proceeding, or (b) in internal investigations, audits, reviews, and evaluations relating to the programs, personnel, and operations of the Commission including under 5 U.S.C. Appendix 3; or (ii) by U.S. government employees and contract personnel, solely for cybersecurity purposes. All contract personnel will sign appropriate nondisclosure agreements. All non-confidential written submissions will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Secretary and on EDIS.

The authority for the Commission's determination is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1337), and in part 210 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR part 210).