The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will hold a public hearing in connection with its general factfinding investigation concerning The Effects of EU Policies on the Competitive Position of the U.S. and EU Horticultural Products Sectors on Thursday, April 26, 2001. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Main Hearing Room, ITC Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC.

The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, is conducting the investigation at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative. The Commission will submit its report to the Committee by December 1, 2001.

Further information about this investigation is available on the ITC's Internet site at www.usitc.gov. Users are referred to a Federal Register notice (posted under "Official Notices" in the Information Center section) and a news release (posted under "News Releases" in the Information Center section) issued on December 13, 2000. The witness list is expected to be available by Wednesday, April 25, 2001; when available, it will be posted in the "This Week" section of the Internet site.

ITC 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 Senate Committee on Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means. 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 ITC 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.

ITC hearings are open to the media and the public. Due to building security requirements, broadcast media planning to cover this hearing are asked to contact Peg O'Laughlin at 202-205-1819 in advance.

     EVENT:     Public hearing in connection with ITC factfinding investigation The Effects of
                EU Policies on the Competitive Position of the U.S. and EU Horticultural
                Products Sectors

     TIME/DATE: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, April 26, 2001

     PLACE:     Main Hearing Room, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC

     CONTACT:   Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819