Field Hearings and Guidance

General Information on the Investigations

At the request of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. International Trade Commission is conducting two investigations that will lead to two reports. The first concerns digital trade -- defined as U.S. domestic commerce and international trade in products and services that is facilitated by use of the Internet and Internet-based technologies. The second seeks to identify barriers to international trade faced by small and medium-sized businesses, including those in the digital industry. General information about these investigations can be found at:

  • Inv. No. 332-540 (Digital Trade): Federal Register notice, News Release
  • Inv. No. 332-541 (Trade Barriers): Federal Register notice, News Release

NOTE: The Federal Register notices include important information concerning participation in Commission hearings in these investigations, such as the deadlines to register to appear at a hearing and for filing hearing-related documents and other written submissions.

Hearings in the Silicon Valley, California: The USITC will hold two hearings in connection with these investigations in the Silicon Valley.

Photo Credit: NASA

Wednesday, September 25, 2013, 9:30 a.m.: Digital Trade in the U.S. and Global Economies, Part 2: Inv. No. 332-540 How to participate

Thursday, September 26, 2013, 9:30 a.m.: Trade Barriers that U.S. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Perceive as Affecting Exports to the European Union: Inv. No. 332-541

How to participate

Location: NASA Ames Research Center, NASA Research Park, Building 152, Room 171, 200 Dailey Road, Moffett Field, CA

Arrival Time: The Secretary will advise witnesses of the time they should arrive at the hearing.

Deadlines:

  • Registering to appear: Thursday, September 12, 2013
  • Submitting pre-hearing briefs: Thursday, September 18, 2013
  • Submitting post-hearing briefs: Tuesday, October 15, 2013
  • Submitting written submissions:
  • Trade Barriers investigation: Tuesday, October 15, 2013
  • Digital Trade investigation: Friday, March 21, 2014

    Why is the USITC conducting these investigations? More ...

    What kind of information is the USITC looking for? More ...

    Why should I participate? More ...

    How will the USITC use the information I provide? More ...

    What happens at a USITC hearing? More ...