[Federal Register: September 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 172)]
[Notices]
[Page 51648-51649]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04se08-61]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. Australia FTA-103-021]
Viscose Rayon Staple Fiber: Probable Effect of Modification of
U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution of investigation.
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SUMMARY: Following a request received August 14, 2008, from the Office
of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under authority
delegated by the President and pursuant to section 104 of the United
States-Australia Free Trade Agreement (USAFTA) Implementation Act, the
U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted
Investigation No. Australia FTA-103-021, Viscose Rayon Staple Fiber:
Probable Effect of Modification of U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement
Rules of Origin.
DATES: September 17, 2008: Deadline for filing all written statements.
October 23, 2008: Transmittal of Commission report to the Office of the
United States Trade Representative.
ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission
Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436. The public record
for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic
docket (EDIS) at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leaders Jackie Jones (202-205-
3466 or jackie.jones@usitc.gov) or Don Sussman (202-205-3331 or
donald.sussman@usitc.gov) for information specific to this
investigation. For information on the legal aspects of this
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
(202-205-1819 or margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov). Hearing-impaired
individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the
Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General information
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its
Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). 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.
Background: Chapter 4 and Annex 4-A of the USAFTA contain the rules
of origin for textiles and apparel for application of the tariff
provisions of the USAFTA. These rules are set forth for the United
States in general note 28 to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS).
According to the request letter, U.S. negotiators have recently reached
agreement in principle with representatives of the Government of
Australia to modify the USAFTA rules of origin for certain yarns
because it has been determined that U.S. and Australian producers are
not able to produce viscose rayon staple fiber in commercial quantities
in a timely manner. Information supplied to the Commission indicates
that the yarns affected include blends of viscose rayon staple fibers
with synthetic fibers, e.g., polyester, and with other artificial
fibers, e.g., acetate. Section 203(o) of the United States-Australia
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the Act) authorizes the
President, subject to the consultation and layover requirements of
section 104 of the Act, to proclaim such modifications to the rules of
origin as are necessary to implement an agreement with Australia
pursuant to Article 4.2.5 of the Agreement. One of the requirements set
out in section 104 of the Act is that the President obtains advice
regarding the proposed action from the United States International
Trade Commission.
The request letter asks that the Commission provide advice on the
probable effect of the proposed modification of the USAFTA rules of
origin noted above on U.S. trade under the USAFTA, on total U.S. trade,
and on domestic producers of the affected articles. As requested, the
Commission will submit its advice to USTR by
[[Page 51649]]
October 23, 2008, and shortly thereafter will issue a public version of
the report with any confidential business information deleted.
Additional information concerning the articles and the proposed
modifications can be obtained by accessing the electronic version of
this investigation and the USTR request letter at the Commission
Internet site (http://www.usitc.gov). The current USAFTA rules of
origin applicable to U.S. imports can be found in general note 28 of
the 2008 HTS (see General Notes link at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/
bychapter/index.htm). The HTS subheading affected is 5510.90. All other
subheadings covered by the current rules of origin would experience no
change.
Written Submissions: No public hearing is planned. However,
interested parties are invited to submit written statements concerning
this investigation. All written submissions should be addressed to the
Secretary, and should be received not later than 5:15 p.m., September
17, 2008. All written submissions must conform to the provisions of
section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19
CFR 201.8). Section 201.8 requires that a signed original (or a copy so
designated) and fourteen (14) copies of each document be filed. In the
event that confidential treatment of a document is requested, at least
four (4) additional copies must be filed, in which the confidential
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,
http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/rules/documents/
handbook_on_electronic_filing.pdf). Persons with questions regarding
electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000).
Any submissions that contain confidential business information must
also conform to 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 non-
confidential version, and that the confidential business information is
clearly identified by means of brackets. All written submissions,
except for confidential business information, will be made available
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.
Issued: August 28, 2008.
By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E8-20495 Filed 9-3-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P