[Federal Register: May 7, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 88)]
[Notices]               
[Page 30723-30724]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07my02-78]                         

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-415]

 
U.S. Trade and Investment With Sub-Saharan Africa

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of preparation of third report and opportunity to submit 
information and comments.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: April 29, 2002.
SUMMARY: Following receipt on April 12, 2000, of a letter from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-415, U.S. Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan 
Africa, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1332(g)) for the purpose of preparing a series of five annual reports. 
This is the third report in the series, and the Commission plans to 
transmit this third report to the USTR by December 10, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Laurie-Ann Agama, Office of 
Economics (202-205-3220), or Mr. William Gearhart, Office of the 
General Counsel (202-205-3091) for information on legal aspects of the 
investigation. The media should contact Ms. Margaret O'Laughlin, Office 
of External Relations (202-l819).
    Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this 
matter can be obtained by contacting the TDD terminal on 202-205-1810.

Background

    Pursuant to authority under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 
1930, the USTR requested that the Commission prepare a series of annual 
report for five years containing the following information:
    1. For the last five years (and the latest quarter available), data 
for U.S. merchandise trade and U.S. services trade with sub-Saharan 
Africa, including statistics by country, by major sectors, and by the 
top 25 commodities, as well as statistics on imports from sub-Saharan 
Africa under the GSP program by country and major product categories/
commodities.
    2. Country-by-country profiles of the economies of each sub-Saharan 
African country, including information on major trading partners, by 
country.
    3. Sector profiles for sub-Saharan Africa, including information on 
trade, investment, industry and policy developments, by major sector. 
The five sector profiles in this investigation include: petroleum and 
energy, minerals and mining, chemicals and related products, 
agricultural products, and textiles, apparel and footwear.
    4. A summary of the trade, services, and investment climates in 
each of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including a description of 
the basic tariff structure (e.g., the average tariff rate and the 
average agricultural tariff rate). The summaries should also include 
information on significant impediments to trade, including any import 
bans.
    5. Updates on regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa and 
statistics on U.S. trade with major regional groupings (COMESA, EAC, 
ECOWAS, IGAD, SACU, SADC, and WAEMU). Where applicable, information 
should be provided on the regional group's tariff structure.
    6. A description of the U.S. tariff structure for imports from 
Africa.
    7. A summary of U.S. and total foreign direct investment and 
portfolio investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
    8. Information on sub-Saharan African privatization efforts based 
on publicly available information.

[[Page 30724]]

    9. A summary of multilateral and U.S. bilateral assistance to the 
countries of sub-Saharan Africa.
    The USTR requested that the Commission provide its first report by 
December 2000, and annually for a period of 4 years thereafter. The 
second report in the series was delivered to USTR on December 10, 2001. 
The third report shall be delivered no later than December 10, 2002. 
The 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa covered in this investigation 
include: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape 
Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, 
Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, 
Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, 
Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao 
Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South 
Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
    Written Submissions: The Commission does not plan to hold a public 
hearing in connection with this third report. However, interested 
persons are invited to submit written statements concerning matters to 
be addressed in the report. Commercial or financial information that a 
person desires the Commission to treat as confidential must be 
submitted on separate sheets of paper, each clearly marked 
``Confidential Business Information'' at the top. The Commission's 
Rules do not authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary by 
facsimile or electronic means.
    All written submissions must conform with the provisions of section 
201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 C.F.R 
201.8). All submissions requesting confidential treatment must conform 
with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's Rules (19 
CFR 201.6). All written statements, except for confidential business 
information will be made available for inspection by interested persons 
in the Office of the Secretary to the Commission. To be assured of 
consideration, written statements relating to the Commission's report 
should be submitted at the earliest possible date and should be 
received not later than July 19, 2002. All submissions should be 
addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street, SW, Washington D.C. 20436. Persons with 
mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access 
to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-
205-2000.
    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: May 2, 2002.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-11285 Filed 5-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P