[Federal Register: July 28, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 144)]
[Notices]
[Page 44366]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28jy03-101]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation Nos. 332-350 and 332-351]
Monitoring of U.S. Imports of Tomatoes and Monitoring of U.S.
Imports of Peppers
AGENCY: International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Publication of monitoring reports in 2003.
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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of its intention to publish
the results of its monitoring of U.S. imports of tomatoes and U.S.
imports of peppers, other than chili peppers, in November 2003.
For further information concerning the conduct of these
investigations and rules of general application, consult the
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A
through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR
part 207).
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 21, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy McCarty (202-205-3324,
mccarty@usitc.gov) or Cathy Jabara (202-205-3309, jabara@usitc.gov),
Agriculture and Forest Products Division, Office of Industries, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington DC 20436,
for general information, or William Gearhart (202-205-3091,
wgearhart@usitc.gov), Office of the General Counsel, U.S. International
Trade Commission, for information on legal aspects. Hearing-impaired
persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting the
Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. General information
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its
Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these
investigations may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket
(EDIS-ON LINE) at http://dockets.usitc.gov/eol/public.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background.--Section 316 of the North American Free-Trade Agreement
Implementation Act (NAFTA Implementation Act) (19 U.S.C. 3881), directs
the Commission to monitor imports of fresh or chilled tomatoes (HTS
heading 0702.00) and fresh or chilled peppers, other than chili peppers
(HTS subheading 0709.60.00), until January 1, 2009. As a result of such
monitoring, the domestic industry producing a like or directly
competitive perishable agricultural product may request, in a global
safeguard petition filed under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 or
a bilateral safeguard petition filed under section 302 of the NAFTA
Implementation Act, that provisional relief be provided pending
completion of a full section 202 or 302 investigation. If provisional
relief is requested, the Commission has 21 days in which to make its
determination and to transmit any provisional relief recommendation to
the President. In response to the monitoring directive, the Commission
instituted investigation No. 332-350, Monitoring of U.S. Imports of
Tomatoes (59 FR 1763) and investigation No. 332-351, Monitoring of U.S.
Imports of Peppers (59 FR 1762).
Although section 316 of the NAFTA Implementation Act does not
require that the Commission publish reports on the results of its
monitoring activities, the initial notices of institution of these
investigations indicated that the Commission planned to publish reports
on the monitoring annually. Subsequently, the Commission has published
statistical reports in those years in which it was not conducting an
investigation under other statutory authority with respect to such
products. The most recent monitoring reports were published in November
2001 for tomatoes and in November 2002 for peppers.
Written submissions.--The Commission does not plan to hold a public
hearing in connection with preparation of the 2003 statistical reports.
However, interested persons are invited to submit written statements
concerning the matters to be addressed in the reports. Commercial or
financial information which a submitter desires the Commission to treat
as confidential must be provided on separate sheets of paper, each
clearly marked ``Confidential Business Information'' at the top. All
submissions requesting confidential treatment must conform with the
requirements of Sec. 201.6 of the Commission's rules of practice and
procedure (19 CFR 201.6). All written submissions, except for
confidential business information, will be made available in the Office
of the Secretary of the Commission for inspection by interested
persons. The Commission will not include any confidential business
information in its monitoring report, but may include such information
in a report to the President under section 202 or 302 if a request for
such an investigation were received. To be assured of consideration by
the Commission, written statements relating to the Commission's report
should be submitted to the Commission in accordance with Sec. 201.8 of
the Commission's rules at the earliest practical date and should be
received no later than the close of business on August 13, 2003. All
submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United States
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: July 22, 2003.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-19126 Filed 7-25-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P