July 7, 2022
News Release 22-074
Inv. No(s).
332-586
Contact: Jennifer Andberg, 202-205-1819
Censorship-Related Measures in China Cause Significant Annual Revenue Losses for Certain U.S. Industries, Reports USITC
Foreign censorship and related measures led to significant foregone revenues for U.S. businesses annually and restricted the opportunity of U.S. businesses to provide services to hundreds of millions of users in China, according to a new report by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission).
The investigation, Foreign Censorship, Part 2: Trade and Economic Effects on U.S. Businesses, was requested by the Senate Committee on Finance (Committee) in a letter received on April 8, 2021. This report is the second of two reports on foreign censorship requested by the Committee.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, reported on the impacts to U.S. businesses of foreign censorship in the key markets of China, Russia, Turkey, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia through the application of case studies and a survey. Findings from the report include:
- Based on the survey results, businesses providing media and digital services are those most likely to be affected by censorship-related measures in China. Almost a quarter of U.S. media and digital service providers in China that were able to enter the Chinese market, representing more than half of the 2020 global revenue of all U.S. media and digital service providers active in China, experienced censorship-related measures. A significantly higher share of large businesses experienced censorship-related measures in China than small and medium-sized businesses. For U.S. media and digital service providers that experienced censorship:
- Almost three-quarters were concerned about negative impacts on their operations in China, including their ability to provide products and services in China. Most also noted that censorship-related measures in China have become more challenging to manage in the past few years.
- Almost 40 percent indicated that they had to self-censor to provide their products or services in China.
- Over 40 percent experienced increased costs of doing business in China and/or lost revenue in China as a result of censorship-related measures.
- Based on the case studies, the Commission estimates that the largest impacts associated with censorship-related measures are the forgone revenues from market access denial to businesses that provide social media platforms, over-the-top communications services, and internet search services, as well as audiovisual content.
Foreign Censorship, Part 2: Trade and Economic Effects on U.S. Businesses (Investigation No. 332-586, USITC Publication 5334, July 2022) is available on the USITC’s website at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub5334.pdf. The first report, Foreign Censorship, Part 1: Policies and Practices Affecting U.S. Businesses (Investigation No. 332-585, USITC Publication 5244, December 2021), is available on the USITC’s website at https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub5244.pdf.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting report conveys the Commission’s objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
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January 12, 2022
News Release 22-005
Inv. No(s).
332-387
Contact: Jennifer Andberg, 202-205-1819
USITC ANNOUNCES PUBLIC EVENTS FOR INVESTIGATION ON DISTRIBUTIONAL EFFECTS OF TRADE AND TRADE POLICY ON U.S. WORKERS
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for the recently instituted investigation Distributional Effects of Trade and Trade Policy on U.S. Workers (332-587) and announced today the dates for seven roundtable discussions, an academic symposium, and a public hearing. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) requested the investigation and report in a letter received on October 14, 2021.
As requested by the USTR, the roundtables, symposium, and public hearing will focus on the potential distributional effects of goods and services trade and trade policy on U.S. workers by skill, wage and salary level, gender, race/ethnicity, age, and income level, especially as they affect underrepresented and underserved communities. The roundtables and public hearing will afford an opportunity for interested persons to present information and views relating to the investigation, and the academic symposium will afford an opportunity for researchers and data experts to present work relevant to the investigation.
The USITC is seeking input for the investigation from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the issues that USTR highlighted in its request. Additional information regarding the investigation and roundtables, symposium, and public hearing can be found at the investigation specific web page: https://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/ongoing/distributional_effects_332. Important dates for each of the events are included below.
Roundtables
Interested parties wishing to attend or participate in one of the roundtables (listed below) may do so by emailing DE@usitc.gov or calling (202) 536-9960.
| Theme |
Format |
Date of Roundtable |
Participation Registration Deadline |
| Race and Ethnicity I |
Virtual |
March 1, 2022 |
February 15, 2022 |
| Impacts on Underserved Communities – Fresno, CA |
In Person / Virtual Hybrid |
March 8, 2022 |
February 22, 2022 |
| Race and Ethnicity II |
Virtual |
March 10, 2022 |
February 24, 2022 |
| Gender and Orientation |
Virtual |
March 14, 2022 |
February 28, 2022 |
| Disability, Age, and Education |
Virtual |
March 22, 2022 |
March 8, 2022 |
| Impacts on Underserved Communities – Detroit, MI |
In Person / Virtual Hybrid |
March 30, 2022 |
March 16, 2022 |
| Local Impacts on Underserved Communities |
Virtual |
April 1, 2022 |
March 18, 2022 |
Academic Symposium
Persons interested either in presenting work (published or ongoing) or serving on a panel discussion at the academic symposium should submit abstracts and curriculum vitae (CV) by emailing DE@usitc.gov.
| Symposium Date |
Abstract/CV Submission Deadline
|
Academic Paper Submission Deadline
|
| April 5-6, 2022 |
February 11, 2022 |
March 1, 2022 |
Public Hearing
The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation at 9:30 a.m. on April 19, 2022. Information about how to participate in the hearing will be posted on the investigation-specific web page no later than March 1, 2022.
Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on April 1, 2021, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. See below for important information regarding filing a request to appear at a USITC hearing.
Written Submissions
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission. Submissions should be submitted no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 17, 2022.
All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection. See below for important information regarding the filing of written submissions for USITC investigations.
IMPORTANT: All filings to appear at the hearing and written submissions must be made through the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov). No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice. Persons with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the Office of the Secretary, Docket Services Division (EDIS3Help@usitc.gov), or consult the Commission’s Handbook on Filing Procedures.
Further information on the scope of the investigation is available in the USITC’s notice of investigation, dated November 24, 2021, and the second notice of investigation related to public events, dated January 12, 2022, which can be downloaded from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary at commissionhearings@usitc.gov.
About this investigation: USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
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August 21, 2020
News Release 20-097
Inv. No(s).
332-580
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC to Investigate Industry and Supply Chain Conditions Affecting COVID-19 Industry Sectors and Products
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for a new investigation on COVID-19 related industry sectors and particular products. The investigation, COVID-19 Related Goods: The U.S. Industry, Market, Trade, and Supply Chain Challenges, was requested by the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance in a letter received on August 13, 2020.
As requested, the USITC, an independent nonpartisan factfinding federal agency, will provide the following:
- a brief overview of key U.S. industry sectors producing COVID-related goods, including, but not limited to, medical devices; personal protective equipment; and medicines (pharmaceuticals). The overviews will include, to the extent practicable, information on U.S. production, employment, and trade.
- case studies on key products within each relevant industry sector, including N95 respirators, ventilators, vaccines, and COVID-19 test kits. The case studies will focus on products for which there were reported shortages in the first half of 2020, including those affected by supply chain fragility, blockages, or barriers, and will include information on:
- the U.S. industry, market, and trade, including, to the extent available:
- the product, including key components and the production process;
- the size and characteristics of the U.S. market;
- the U.S. manufacturing industry, including key producers of finished goods and intermediate inputs, the extent of U.S. production, and employment; and
- U.S. imports of finished goods and inputs, including leading source countries and supplying firms; and
- supply chain challenges and constraints, including, but not limited to:
- factors affecting domestic production, including, to the extent practicable, regulatory requirements that may impact entry into the market; and
- foreign trade barriers and restrictions and other factors that may affect U.S. imports of finished goods or inputs needed for domestic production.
The USITC expects to deliver its report to the Committees by December 15, 2020.
The USITC is seeking input for the investigation from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the issues for which the USITC is requested to provide information and advice. The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation on September 23, 2020. See below for important information regarding the format and location of the hearing.
Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on September 11, 2020, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. See below for important information regarding filing a request to appear at a USITC hearing.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission and should be submitted no later than 5:15 p.m. on October 2, 2020. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection. See below for important information regarding the filing of written submissions for USITC investigations.
IMPORTANT:
- All filings, including requests to appear at the hearing and written submissions, must be made through the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov). No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic filings will be accepted until further notice. Persons with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the Office of the Secretary, Docket Services Division (EDIS3Help@usitc.gov), or consult with Commission’s Handbook on Filing Procedures.
- Information concerning the format of the hearing and certain other hearing details will be announced on the Commission’s website at (https://www.usitc.gov/research_and_analysis/what_we_are_working_on.htm). Scroll down to the entry for this investigation and click on the link to “hearing instructions.” Interested parties should check the USITC website periodically for updates.
Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC’s notice of investigation, dated August 21, 2020, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or commissionhearings@usitc.gov.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
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February 12, 2020
News Release 20-013
Inv. No(s).
332-574
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC TO STUDY INCREASED RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCING IN MASSACHUSETTS
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input for an investigation on the potential economic effects of increased renewable energy commitments in New England and Massachusetts and the role of renewable electricity imports in meeting these commitments.
The investigation, Renewable Electricity: Potential Economic Effects of Increased Commitments in Massachusetts, was requested by the House Committee on Ways and Means in a letter received on January 23, 2020.
As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide the following information, to the extent practical:
- an overview of the current situation and recent trends in New England and Massachusetts electricity markets with regard to domestic and imported electricity sources and rates for residential and commercial uses, and the status of the transition from nuclear and fossil fuels to renewable sources, including:
- a description of Massachusetts’ most recent renewable energy goals and commitments as compared to previous commitments and initiatives,
- the renewable energy goals and commitments in other New England states, and
- the potential available resources to meet Massachusetts’ and New England’s goals;
- a quantitative analysis of the potential economic effects on Massachusetts and the broader New England region of Massachusetts reaching its goals and commitments for renewable electricity sourcing (including the potential economic effects on residential and commercial electricity consumers);
- a quantitative analysis of the likely effects on greenhouse gas emissions of meeting these goals and commitments; and
- relevant case studies involving other states, regions, or countries that provide insights into the potential economic effects of imports of hydroelectricity, including on efforts to meet
- renewable energy targets, the rates paid by commercial and residential consumers, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The USITC expects to deliver the report to the Committee by January 25, 2021.
The USITC is seeking input for its new investigation from all interested parties. The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation at 9:30 a.m. on May 7, 2020. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on April 16, 2020, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington D.C. 20436.
The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary to the Commission at the above address and should be submitted no later than 5:15 p.m. on July 28, 2020. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.
Further information on the scope of this investigation and appropriate submissions appears in the USITC’s notice of investigation, dated February 12, 2020, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address, or at 202-205-2000.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting report conveys the Commission’s objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
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October 18, 2019
News Release 19-105
Inv. No(s).
332-565
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Releases Report Concerning the Economic Effects of Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions Enacted in Last Year’s Miscellaneous Tariff Bill
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released a report on the effects on the U.S. economy of duty suspensions and reductions enacted under the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act (AMCA).
The report, American Manufacturing Competiveness Act: Effects of Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions on the U.S. Economy, was triggered by the September 13, 2018, enactment of the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act of 2018 (MTB Act of 2018).
As required by the AMCA, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, prepared a report concerning the effects on the U.S. economy of duty suspensions and reductions enacted pursuant to AMCA.
The USITC’s report provides a broad assessment of the economic effects of duty suspensions and reductions on U.S. producers, purchasers, and consumers, as well as case studies looking at the effects on groups of products covered by the MTB Act of 2018. The report also includes recommendations from interested parties with respect to those domestic industry sectors that might benefit from permanent duty suspensions or reductions, with a particular focus on inequities created by tariff inversions. Much of the information in this report comes from a survey conducted by the Commission after the duty suspensions and reductions became effective.
Main Findings:
- As of March 2019, over 90 percent of firms responding to the Commission’s questionnaire imported or planned to import goods under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 9902 headings (provisions) that provide temporary duty suspensions and reductions; about one-third of these firms have increased or planned to increase imports. Between November 2018 and May 2019, importers saved $179 million in duties on imports of $5.4 billion.
- As of March 2019, many responding firms stated they had not had enough time to take full advantage of the duty suspensions and reductions. Some respondents also reported that section 301 tariffs on products of China have lessened the positive impacts of the duty relief.
- As a result of the duty relief, nearly a quarter of responding manufacturers reported a decrease in production costs. Among all respondents, many expected future increases in sales volumes, number of customers, and investment in new product development. Compared with larger firms, more responding small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) reported that the duty relief has had positive effects on virtually all business operations.
- Chemicals firms account for the largest share of 9902 headings and imports. Thus, the largest number of responding firms reporting benefits from the duty relief are in the Chemicals group.
- The results of the Commission’s economic modeling suggest that the temporary duty relief will lead to a small increase in output, welfare, and gross domestic product (GDP) in the United States. Moreover, the average price of goods imported under the 9902 provisions will likely decline, although not by the full amount of the duty reduction.
American Manufacturing Competiveness Act: Effects of Temporary Duty Suspensions and Reductions on the U.S. Economy (Investigation No. 332-565, USITC Publication 4987, October 2019) is available on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4987.pdf.
USITC general factfinding investigations cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
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Section 332, Tariff Act of 1930, General Factfinding Investigations
Under section 332, the USITC investigates a wide variety of trade matters.
When: Upon request from the President, the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the USTR, or upon its own motion, the USITC initiates a factfinding investigation on any matter involving tariffs or international trade, including conditions of competition between U.S. and foreign industries.
An official website of the United States government. 
