[Federal Register: March 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 62)]
[Notices]
[Page 16345-16346]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31mr06-94]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. NAFTA-103-014]
Probable Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American
Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation and opportunity to file written
submissions.
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DATES: Effective Date: March 24 , 2006.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on March 20, 2006, from United
States Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by the
President and pursuant to section 103 of the North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3313), the Commission
instituted investigation No. NAFTA-103-014,
[[Page 16346]]
Probable Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American Free
Trade Agreement Rules of Origin.
Background: According to the USTR's letter, U.S. negotiators have
recently reached agreement in principle with representatives of the
governments of Canada and Mexico on proposed modifications to Annexes
401 and 403 of the NAFTA. Chapter 4 and Annexes 401 and 403 of the
NAFTA set forth in the rules of origin for applying the tariff
provisions of the NAFTA to trade in goods. Section 202(q) of the NAFTA
Implementation Act (the Act) authorizes the President, subject to the
consultation and layover requirements of section 103 of the Act, to
proclaim such modifications to the rules as may from time to time be
agreed to by the NAFTA countries. One of the requirements set out in
section 103 of the Act is that the President obtain advice from the
United States International Trade Commission.
The USTR has requested that the Commission provide advice on the
probable effect on U.S. trade under the NAFTA and on domestic
industries as a result of proposed modifications to the rules of origin
in NAFTA Annexes 401 and 403 for a number of products. A complete
listing of the products and the proposed modifications is available
from the Office of the Secretary to the Commission or by accessing the
electronic version of this notice at the Commission's Internet site
(http://www.usitc.gov). The current U.S. rules of origin can be found
in General Note 12 of the 2005 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United
States (see ``General Notes'' link at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/tariff_chapters_current/toc.html
). As requested, the Commission will forward
its advice to the USTR by August 14, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader, Edmund Cappuccilli
(202-205-3368 or edmund.cappuccilli@usitc.gov) or Deputy Project
Leader, Vincent Honnold (202-205-3314 or vincent.honnold@usitc.gov).
The above persons are in the Commission's Office of Industries. For
more information on the legal aspects of the investigation, contact
William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel
(202-205-3091 or william.gearhart@usitc.gov). The media should contact
Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations at 202-205-1819 or
margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov).
Written Submissions: In lieu of a public hearing, interested
parties are invited to submit written statements concerning any
economic effect of the modifications. Submissions should be addressed
to the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436. To be assured of consideration by
the Commission, written statements should be submitted to the
Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no
later than the close of business on June 2, 2006. 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). Section
201.8 of the rules requires that a signed original (or 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, from which the
confidential business information must be deleted (see the following
paragraph for further information regarding confidential business
information). The Commission's rules authorize filing submissions with
the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means only to the extent
permitted by section 201.8 of the rules (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).
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 201.6 of the
rules requires 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. 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 some or all of the confidential business
information submitted in the course of this investigation in the report
it sends to the USTR and the President. As requested by the USTR, the
Commission will publish a public version of the report. However, in the
public version, the Commission will not publish confidential business
information in a manner that would reveal the operations of the firm
supplying the information.
The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov. 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.
By order of the Commission
Issued: March 27, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E6-4737 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P