2020-09031. Certain Child Resistant Closures With Slider Devices Having a User Actuated Insertable Torpedo for Selectively Opening the Closures and Slider Devices Therefor; Notice of Request for Statements on the Public Interest

AGENCY:

U.S. International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

Notice is hereby given that, on April 21, 2020, the presiding administrative law judge (“ALJ”) issued an Initial Determination Granting Summary Determination on Violation of Section 337 and Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bonding in the above-captioned investigation. On April 22, 2020, the ALJ issued a Notice of Errata thereto. 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:

Richard P. Hadorn, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone [phone]. Copies of non-confidential documents filed in connection with this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email [e-mail]. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal, telephone [phone].

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: (1) A general exclusion order (“GEO”) directed to certain child resistant closures with slider devices having a user actuated insertable torpedo for selectively opening the closures and slider devices therefor imported, sold for importation, and/or sold after importation that infringe one or more of claims 1, 3, 5, and 8-10 of U.S. Patent No. 9,505,531; claims 1, 4, 6-8, 11, 12, 15, and 19 of U.S. Patent No. 9,554,628; and claims 1, 3, 5, and 8 of U.S. Patent No. 10,273,058; and (2) if the Commission declines to issue a GEO, then a limited exclusion order (“LEO”) directed to certain child resistant closures with slider devices having a user actuated insertable torpedo for selectively opening the closures and slider devices therefor imported, sold for importation, and/or sold after importation by defaulting respondents Dalian Takebishi Packing Industry Co., Ltd. of Dalian, China and Dalian Altma Industry Co., Ltd. of Dalian, Liaoning, China that infringe one or more of the above claims.

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 ALJ's Recommended Determination on Remedy and Bonding issued in this investigation on April 21, 2020. Comments should address whether issuance of the remedial orders 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 GEO and LEOs are used in the United States;

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

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

(iv) Indicate whether complainant, its licensees, and/or third-party suppliers have the capacity to replace the volume of articles potentially subject to the recommended GEO and LEOs within a commercially reasonable time; and

(v) Explain how the recommended GEO and LEOs would impact consumers in the United States.

Written submissions from the public must be filed no later than by close of business on May 21, 2020.

Persons filing written submissions must file the original document electronically on or before the deadlines stated above. The Commission's paper filing requirements in 19 CFR 210.4(f) are currently waived. 85 FR 15798 (Mar. 19, 2020). Submissions should refer to the investigation number (“Inv. No. 337-TA-1171”) in a prominent place on the cover page and/or the first page. (See Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, https://www.usitc.gov/​documents/​handbook_​on_​filing_​procedures.pdf.). Persons with questions regarding filing should contact the Secretary ([phone]). 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).

By order of the Commission.

Issued: April 23, 2020.

Lisa Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.