The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will hold a public hearing in connection with its general factfinding investigation concerning Advice on Providing Additional GSP Benefits for Sub-Saharan Africa on Thursday, July 27, 2000. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Main Hearing Room, ITC Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC.

The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, is conducting the investigation at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative. The Commission will submit its confidential report to the USTR by October 2, 2000. A public version will be published soon thereafter.

Further information about this investigation is available on the ITC's Internet site at www.usitc.gov. Users are referred to a Federal Register notice issued on June 15, 2000 (posted under "notices"), and a news release issued on June 16, 2000 (posted under "News Releases"). The witness list is expected to be available by Wednesday, July 26, 2000; when available, it will be posted in the "This Week" section of the Internet site.

ITC general factfinding investigations cover matters related to tariffs or trade and generally are conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Senate Committee on Finance, or the House Committee on Ways and Means. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The ITC makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the ITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. The ITC subsequently releases general factfinding investigation reports to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.

ITC hearings are open to the media and the public. Due to building security requirements, broadcast media planning to cover this hearing are asked to contact Peg O'Laughlin at 202- 205-1819 in advance.

EVENT:     Public hearing in connection with ITC factfinding investigation Advice
                on Providing Additional GSP Benefits for Sub-Saharan Africa

TIME/DATE: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 27, 2000

PLACE:     Main Hearing Room, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC

CONTACT:   Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819