[Federal Register: June 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 115)]
[Notices]
[Page 35703-35704]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jn03-106]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 332-415]
U.S. Trade and Investment With Sub-Saharan Africa
AGENCY: International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice of preparation of fourth report and opportunity to
submit information and comments.
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EFFECTIVE DATE: June 10, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt on March 12, 2000, of a letter from the
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted
investigation No. 332-415, U.S. Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan
Africa, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
1332(g)) for the purpose of preparing a series of five annual reports.
This is the fourth report in the series, and the Commission plans to
transmit this fourth report to the USTR by December 10, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie-Ann Agama, Office of Economics
(202-205-3220), or William Gearhart, Office of the General Counsel
(202-205-3091) for information on legal aspects of the investigation.
The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External
Relations (202-l819). Hearing impaired individuals are advised that
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the 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, 202-205-2000. General information
about the Commission may be obtained by accessing its Internet server
(http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) http://edis.usitc.gov
.
Background
The USTR requested that the Commission prepare a series of annual
reports for five years containing the following information:
1. For the last five years (and the latest quarter available), data
on U.S. merchandise trade and services trade with sub-Saharan Africa
(SSA), including statistics by country, by major sectors, and by the
top 25 commodities.
2. A summary of U.S. and total foreign direct investment and
portfolio investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
3. Statistical information on U.S. imports from sub-Saharan Africa
under the AGOA and GSP programs by country and by major product
categories/commodities; and information on AGOA-related investment.
4. Updates on regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa including
statistics on U.S. trade with major regional groupings (ECOWAS, WAEMU,
COMESA, SADC, SACU, EAC, IGAD, IOC and CEMAC) and, where applicable,
information on each group's tariff structure.
5. A description of major U.S. trade capacity-building initiatives
related to SSA, a summary of multilateral and U.S. bilateral assistance
to the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, and a description of major non-
U.S. trade preference programs for countries in SSA.
6. Sector profiles for sub-Saharan Africa, including information on
trade, investment, industry and policy developments, by major sector.
The six sector profiles in this investigation include: agricultural,
fisheries and forest products; chemicals; petroleum and energy-related
products; minerals and metals; textiles and apparel; and transportation
equipment.
7. Country-by-country profiles on each of the 48 countries in sub-
Saharan Africa, including information on major trading partners, by
country. Summary of the trade, services, and investment climates in
each of the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including a description of
the basic tariff structure (e.g., the average tariff rate and the
average agricultural tariff rate), as well as significant impediments
to trade, such as import bans.
The 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa covered in this
investigation include: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros,
Democratic Republic of the Congo, C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, Djibouti,
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of
the Congo, Rwanda, S[atilde]o Tom[eacute] and Principe, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The USTR requested that the Commission provide its first report by
December 10, 2000, and annually for a period of 4 years thereafter. The
second report in the series was delivered to USTR on December 10, 2001
and the third report was delivered on December 10, 2002. The Commission
expects to deliver the fourth report by December 10, 2003.
Written Submissions
The Commission does not plan to hold a public hearing in connection
with this fourth report. However, interested persons are invited to
submit written statements concerning matters to be addressed in the
report. Commercial or financial information that a person desires the
Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted in accordance
with Sec. 201.6 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure
(19 CFR 201.6). The Commission may include such confidential business
information in the report it sends to USTR. The Commission's rules do
not authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary
[[Page 35704]]
by facsimile or electronic means, except to the extent permitted by
Sec. 201.8 of the Commission's rules, as amended, 67 FR 68036 (Nov. 8,
2002). All written submissions must conform with the provisions of
Sec. 201.8 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure (19 CFR
201.8). All written statements, except for confidential business
information will be made available for inspection by interested persons
in the Office of the Secretary to the Commission. To be assured of
consideration, written statements relating to the Commission's report
should be submitted at the earliest possible date and should be
received not later than July 28, 2003. All submissions should be
addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington DC 20436.
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.
Issued: June 11, 2003.
By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-15158 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P