[Federal Register: December 31, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 250)]
[Notices]
[Page 75630-75631]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31de03-134]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation Nos. TA-131-27 and TA-2104-9]
U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable
Economic Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports
AGENCY: International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigations and scheduling of hearing.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: December 24, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on December 8, 2003, from the
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted
investigation Nos. TA-131-27 and TA-2104-9, U.S.-Panama Free Trade
Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable Economic Effect of Providing
Duty-Free Treatment for Imports, 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 these
investigations may be obtained from Queena Fan, Project Leader (202-
205-3055; qfan@usitc.gov), or Tracy Quilter, Deputy Project Leader
(202-205-3437; tquilter@usitc.gov), Office of Industries, United States
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, 20436. For information
on the legal aspects of these investigations, contact William Gearhart
of the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091;
wgearhart@usitc.gov). General information concerning the Commission may
also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov
).
Background: On November 18, 2003, the USTR notified the Congress of
the President's intent to initiate free trade agreement negotiations
with Panama. Accordingly, the USTR, pursuant to section 131 of the
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2151), requested the Commission to provide
a report including advice as to the probable economic effect of
providing duty-free treatment for imports of products of Panama (i) on
industries in the United States producing like or directly competitive
products, and (ii) on consumers. In preparing the advice, the
Commission's 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
Panama will assume that any known U.S. nontariff 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. nontariff 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 Panama on (i) industries in the United
States producing the product concerned, and (ii) the U.S. economy as a
whole.
The Commission expects to provide its report to the USTR by April
8, 2004. The USTR indicated that the Commission's report will be
classified and considered to be an interagency memorandum containing
pre-decisional advice and subject to the deliberative process
privilege.
Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the
investigations will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission
Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC beginning at 9:30 a.m. on
February 10, 2004. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be
filed with the Secretary, no later than 5:15 p.m., January 23, 2004, in
accordance with the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below.
In the event that, as of the close of business on
[[Page 75631]]
January 23, 2004, 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 (202-
205-2000) after January 23, 2004, to determine whether the hearing will
be held. This will be a joint hearing at which the Commission will also
take testimony in connection with its investigations U.S.-Andean
Countries Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable Economic
Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports (investigation Nos.
TA-131-28 and TA-2104-10).
Statements and Briefs: In lieu of or in addition to participating
in the hearing, interested parties are invited to submit written
statements or briefs concerning the investigation in accordance with
the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below. Any prehearing
briefs or statements should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., January
26, 2004; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is
5:15 p.m., February 17, 2004. 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 February
17, 2004.
Submissions: All written submissions including requests to appear
at the hearing, statements, and briefs should be addressed to the
Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20436. All written submissions must conform with
the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice
and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8); any submissions that contain confidential
business information must also conform with the requirements of section
201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR
201.6). Section 201.8 of the rules require that a signed original (or a
copy designated as an original) and fourteen (14) copies of each
document be filed. In the event that confidential treatment of the
document is requested, at least four (4) additional copies must be
filed, in which the confidential information must be deleted. Section
201.6 of the rules require that the cover of the document and the
individual pages be clearly marked as to whether they are the
``confidential'' or ``nonconfidential'' version, and that the
confidential business information be clearly identified by means of
brackets.
The Commission's rules do not authorize filing 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://ftp.usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf
). Persons with questions
regarding electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000
or edis@usitc.gov).
All written submissions, except for confidential business
information, will be made available for inspection by interested
parties. Accordingly, any confidential business information received by
the Commission in these investigations and used in preparing the report
will not be published in a manner that would reveal the operations of
the firm supplying the information.
The public record for these investigations may be viewed on the
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.
Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this
matter can be obtained by contacting our 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.
List of Subjects
Panama, imports, and tariffs.
Issued: December 24, 2003.
By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-32241 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P