[Federal Register: August 22, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 163)]
[Notices]
[Page 50808-50809]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22au03-95]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Inv. Nos. TA-131-25 and TA-2104-5]
U.S.-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning
the Probable Economic Effect
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: August 15, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on August 6, 2003, from the
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted
investigation Nos. TA-131-25 and TA-2104-5, U.S.-Dominican Republic
Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable Economic Effect,
under section 131 of the Trade Act of 1974 and section 2104(b)(2) of
the Trade Act of 2002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information specific to this
investigation may be obtained from George Serletis, Project Leader,
(202) 205-3315; gserletis@usitc.gov, or Vincent Honnold, Deputy Project
Leader, (202) 205-3314; vhonnold@usitc.gov, Office of Industries,
United States International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436. For
information on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact William
Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel, (202) 205-3091;
wgearhart@usitc.gov. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the 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) at http://edis.usitc.gov
.
Background
As requested by the USTR pursuant to section 131 of the Trade Act
of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2151), in its report the Commission will provide
advice as to the probable economic effect of providing duty-free
treatment for imports of products of the Dominican Republic (i) on
industries in the United States producing like or directly competitive
products, and (ii) on consumers. The import analysis will consider each
article in chapters 1 through 97 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of
the United States for which U.S. tariffs will remain after the United
States fully implements its Uruguay Round tariff commitments. The
import advice will be based on the 2003 Harmonized Tariff System
nomenclature and 2002 trade data. The advice with respect to the
removal of U.S. duties on imports from the Dominican Republic will
assume that any known U.S. non-tariff barrier will not be applicable to
such imports. The Commission will note in its report any instance in
which the continued application of a U.S. non-tariff barrier to such
imports would result in different advice with respect to the effect of
the removal of the duty.
As also requested, pursuant to section 2104(b)(2) of the Trade Act
of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(b)(2)), the Commission will provide advice as
to the probable economic effect of eliminating tariffs on imports of
certain agricultural products of the Dominican Republic on (i)
industries in the United States producing the product concerned, and
(ii) the U.S. economy as a whole.
USTR indicated that the Commission's report will be classified and
considered to be an inter-agency memorandum containing pre-decisional
advice and subject to the deliberative process privilege. The
Commission expects to provide its report to USTR by December 8, 2003.
Public Hearing
A public hearing in connection with this investigation will be held
at the United States International Trade Commission Building, 500 E
Street, SW., Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on October 7, 2003.
All persons shall have the right to appear, by counsel or in person, to
present information and to be heard. Requests to appear at the public
hearing should be filed with the Secretary, United States International
Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436, no later
than 5:15 p.m., September 22, 2003. Any prehearing briefs (original and
14 copies) should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., September 25,
2003; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 5:15
p.m., October 16, 2003. In the event that, as of the close of business
on September 22, 2003, no witnesses are scheduled to appear at the
hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Any person interested in
attending the hearing as an observer or non-participant may call the
Secretary to the Commission (202-205-1806) after September 22, 2003,
for information concerning whether the hearing will be held.
Written Submissions
In lieu of or in addition to participating in the hearing,
interested parties are invited to submit written statements (original
and 14 copies)
[[Page 50809]]
concerning the matters to be addressed by the Commission in its report
on this investigation. Commercial or financial information that a
submitter desires the Commission to treat as confidential must be
submitted 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
section 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 to
the Commission for inspection by interested parties. The Commission may
include such confidential business information in the report it sends
to the USTR. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written
statements relating to the Commission's report should be submitted to
the Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no
later than the close of business on October 16, 2003. All submissions
should be addressed to the Secretary at the Commission's office in
Washington, DC. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing of
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except
to the extent permitted by section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules (19
CFR 201.8) (see Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, ftp://usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf
).
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 concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server
(http://www.usitc.gov).
By order of the Commission.
Issued: August 18, 2003.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-21495 Filed 8-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P