The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has begun work on its fifth annual report on U.S.-African trade flows and the effects of the Uruguay Round Agreements and U.S. trade and development policy on them.

The report is the last in a series of five to be issued in the course of the ITC's investigation U.S.-Africa Trade Flows and Effects of the Uruguay Round Agreements and U.S. Trade and Investment Policy. The reports in this series will assist the President in developing a comprehensive trade and development policy for the countries of Africa, as required by the Uruguay Round Agreements (URA) implementing legislation. The reports were requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) under the Africa Policy Section of the Statement of Administrative Action that Congress approved with the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

As requested, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will include the following information in its report:

• an update of U.S.-African trade and investment flows for the latest year available, including both overall trade and in the following major sectors: agriculture, forest products, textiles and apparel, footwear, energy, chemicals, minerals and metals, machinery, transportation equipment, electronics technology, miscellaneous manufactures, and services;

• basic trade flow information for U.S. trade with the following regional trade groups: the Southern African Customs Union, the Southern African Development Community, Western African Economic and Monetary Union, and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, The Economic Community of West African States, the Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation, The Indian Ocean Commission, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development;

• an identification of major developments in the World Trade Organization and in U.S. trade/economic activities which significantly affect U.S.-African trade and investment flows by sector during the last year. Similarly, to the extent possible, changing trade and economic activities within African countries that have a significant impact will be highlighted; and,

• an update on progress in regional integration in Africa.

As with previous reports in this series, the ITC will limit its study to the following countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), Cote 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, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Commission expects to submit its report to the USTR by October 29, 1999.

The ITC seeks input for the report from all interested parties. The Commission does not plan to hold a public hearing in connection with the fifth annual report; however, interested parties may submit written statements concerning the matters to be addressed in the report.

Written submissions should be addressed to The Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20436. Written statements should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 21, 1999.

Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the ITC's notice of investigation, dated March 9, 1999, which may be obtained from the ITC Internet server (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-1806.