A preinstitution proceeding is commenced by filing with the Secretary a signed original complaint and the requisite number of true copies.

(a)

(1) A complaint filed under this section shall be filed in paper form with the Secretary as follows.

(i) An original and eight (8) true paper copies of the nonconfidential version of the complaint shall be filed. All exhibits, appendices, and attachments to this version of the complaint shall be filed in electronic form on CD-ROM, DVD, or other portable electronic media approved by the Secretary.

(ii) An original and eight (8) true paper copies of the confidential version of the complaint shall be filed. All exhibits, appendices, and attachments to this version of the complaint shall be filed in electronic form on CD-ROM, DVD, or other portable electronic media approved by the Secretary.

(iii) For each proposed respondent, one true copy of the nonconfidential version of the complaint and one true copy of the confidential version of the complaint, if any, along with one true copy of the nonconfidential exhibits and one true copy of the confidential exhibits shall be filed, and

(iv) For the government of the foreign country in which each proposed respondent is located as indicated in the complaint, one true copy of the nonconfidential version of the complaint shall be filed.

(2) If the complainant is seeking temporary relief, the complainant must also file:

(i) An original and eight (8) true paper copies of the nonconfidential version of the motion for temporary relief. All exhibits, appendices, and attachments to this version of the motion shall be filed in electronic form on CD-ROM, DVD, or other portable electronic media approved by the Secretary.

(ii) An original and eight (8) true paper copies of the confidential version of the motion for temporary relief. All exhibits, appendices, and attachments to this version of the motion shall be filed in electronic form on CD-ROM, DVD, or other portable electronic media approved by the Secretary; and

(iii) For each proposed respondent, one true copy of the nonconfidential version of the motion and one true copy of the confidential version of the motion along with one true copy of the nonconfidential exhibits and one true copy of the confidential exhibits filed with the motion.

(b) Provide specific information regarding the public interest. Complainant must file, concurrently with the complaint, a separate statement of public interest, not to exceed five pages, inclusive of attachments, addressing how issuance of the requested relief, i.e., a general exclusion order, a limited exclusion order, and/or a cease and desist order, in this investigation could 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. If the complainant files a confidential version of its submission on public interest, it shall file a public version of the submission no later than one business day after the deadline for filing the submission. In particular, the submission should:

(1) Explain how the articles potentially subject to the requested remedial orders are used in the United States;

(2) Identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns relating to the requested remedial orders;

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

(4) Indicate whether the complainant, its licensees, and/or third parties have the capacity to replace the volume of articles subject to the requested remedial orders in a commercially reasonable time in the United States; and

(5) State how the requested remedial orders would impact consumers.

(c) Publication of notice of filing.

(1) When a complaint is filed, the Secretary to the Commission will publish a notice in the Federal Register inviting comments from the public and proposed respondents on any public interest issues arising from the complaint and potential exclusion and/or cease and desist orders. In response to the notice, members of the public and proposed respondents may provide specific information regarding the public interest in a written submission not to exceed five pages, inclusive of attachments, to the Secretary to the Commission within eight (8) calendar days of publication of notice of the filing of a complaint. Comments that substantively address allegations made in the complaint will not be considered. Members of the public and proposed respondents may address how issuance of the requested exclusion order and/or a cease and desist order in this investigation could 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. If a member of the public or proposed respondent files a confidential version of its submission, it shall file a public version of the submission no later than one business day after the deadline for filing the submission. Submissions should:

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

(ii) Identify any public health, safety, or welfare concerns relating to the requested remedial orders;

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

(iv) Indicate whether the complainant, its licensees, and/or third parties have the capacity to replace the volume of articles subject to the requested remedial orders in a commercially reasonable time in the United States; and

(v) State how the requested remedial orders would impact consumers.

(2) Complainant may file a reply to any submissions received under paragraph (c)(1) of this section not to exceed five pages, inclusive of attachments, to the Secretary to the Commission within three (3) calendar days following the filing of the submissions. If the complainant files a confidential version of its submission, it shall file a public version of the submission no later than one business day after the deadline for filing the submission.

(d) Upon the initiative of the Commission. The Commission may upon its initiative commence a preinstitution proceeding based upon any alleged violation of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930.

[59 FR 39039, Aug. 1, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 32444, June 22, 1995; 68 FR 32978, June 3, 2003; 73 FR 38320, July 7, 2008; 76 FR 61945, Oct. 6, 2011; 76 FR 64808, Oct. 19, 2011; 78 FR 23841, Apr. 19, 2013]