[Federal Register: February 4, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 23)]
[Notices]
[Page 5652]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04fe03-63]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-449]
U.S. Market Conditions for Certain Wool Articles in 2002-04
AGENCY: International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation and request for public comments.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 24, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade
Representative (USTR) on December 30, 2002, the Commission instituted
Investigation No. 332-449, U.S. Market Conditions for Certain Wool
Articles in 2002-04, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19
U.S.C. 1332(g)).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact Lisa
Ferens (202) 205-3486; lferens@usitc.gov); of the Office of Industries;
for information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart (202) 205-
3091; wgearhart@usitc.gov; of the Office of the General Counsel. The
media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Public Affairs Officer (202-
205-1819). Hearing impaired individuals may obtain information on this
matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.
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. General information about the Commission
may be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov
). The public record for this investigation may be viewed
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) http://edis.usitc.gov.
Background
As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide information
on U.S. market conditions, including domestic demand, supply, and
increases in domestic production for men's and boys' worsted wool
suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers; worsted wool fabric and yarn
used in the manufacture of such clothing; and wool fibers used to make
such fabrics and yarn. As requested, the Commission will also provide,
to the extent practicable, data on:
(1) Increases or decreases in sales and production of the subject
domestically-produced worsted wool fabrics;
(2) Increases or decreases in domestic production and consumption
of the subject apparel items;
(3) The ability of domestic producers of the subject worsted wool
fabrics to meet the needs of domestic manufacturers of the subject
apparel items in terms of quantity and ability to meet market demands
for the apparel items;
(4) Sales of the subject worsted wool fabrics lost by domestic
manufacturers to imports benefitting from the temporary duty reductions
on certain worsted wool fabrics under HTS headings 9902.51.11 and
9902.51.12;
(5) Loss of sales by domestic manufacturers of the subject apparel
items related to the inability to purchase adequate supplies of the
subject worsted wool fabrics on a cost competitive basis; and
(6) The price per square meter of imports and domestic sales of the
subject worsted wool fabrics. The USTR requested that the Commission
provide two confidential reports. The first report will provide, to the
extent information is publicly available or is available from
discussions with representatives of trade and industry, an update on
market conditions for the subject wool products and a summary of any
major changes with respect to the above factors, for the year 2002 and
year-to-date 2002-03. The Commission will transmit this report to the
USTR by October 27, 2003. The Commission will transmit the second
report, providing data for 2003 and year-to-date 2003-04, by October
25, 2004. The USTR requested that the Commission issue public versions
of the reports as soon as possible thereafter, with any business
confidential information deleted.
In the request letter, the USTR noted that section 5102 of the
Trade Act of 2002, signed by the President on August 6, 2002, amends
headings 9902.51.21 and 9902.51.12 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States (HTS) to extend, through December 31, 2005, the
temporary reductions of tariffs and the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) in
those headings for imports of certain worsted wool fabric, certified by
the importer as suitable for use in men's or boys' suits, suit-type
jackets, and trousers. The USTR also noted that, under section 504 of
the Trade and Development Act of 2000, the President is required to
monitor U.S. market conditions, including domestic demand, domestic
supply, and increases in domestic production for men's and boys'
worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers; worsted wool
fabric and yarn used in the manufacture of such clothing; and wool
fibers used in the manufacture of such fabrics and yarn. He noted that
the President, in Proclamation 7383 (December 1, 2000), delegated to
the USTR the authority to monitor these market conditions.
Written Submissions
The Commission intends to hold a public hearing in connection with
the second report under this investigation, but not the first report.
However, interested parties are invited to submit written statements
(original and 14 copies) concerning the matters to be addressed by the
Commission in its first report on this investigation at the earliest
practical date, and such statements should be received no later than
the close of business on June 9, 2003. Commercial or financial
information that a person desires the Commission to treat as
confidential must be submitted on separate sheets of paper, each marked
``Confidential Business Information'' at the top. All submissions
requesting confidential treatment must conform with the requirements of
section 201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19
CFR 201.6). The Commission's Rules do not authorize filing of
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except
to the extend permitted by section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules, as
amended, 67 FR 68036 (November 8, 2002). All written submissions,
except for confidential business information, will be made available in
the Office of the Secretary to the Commission for inspection by
interested parties. The Commission may include confidential business
information submitted in the course of this investigation in its
reports to the USTR. In the public version of these reports, however,
the Commission will not publish confidential business information in a
manner that would reveal the individual operations of the firm
supplying the information. All submissions should be addressed to the
Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20436.
List of Subjects: Tariffs, imports, wool, fabric, and suits.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: January 29, 2003.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-2515 Filed 2-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P