The ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will conduct the investigation for the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The USTR requested the investigation, U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement: Probable Economic Effects on the Economy as a Whole of Eliminating Tariffs on Certain Agricultural Products, in a letter received June 19, 2002.

As requested by the USTR, the ITC will assess the economic impact of eliminating tariffs on certain agricultural products from Chile. In estimating the effects, the Commission will conduct a quantitative analysis of the likely trade and economywide impacts of eliminating the agricultural tariffs specified in the letter. The ITC will submit its report, which will be confidential, to the USTR by September 19, 2002.

A list of the products involved in the investigation may be obtained electronically by downloading the request letter from the ITC's electronic document information system (EDIS On-Line, http://dockets.usitc.gov/eol/public/ (select "332" at the left and scroll to bottom for the link to this investigation)). A hard copy of the request letter can be obtained from the investigation's project leader, Jonathan Coleman, by phone (202-205-3465) or e-mail (jcoleman@usitc.gov).

The ITC will not hold a public hearing in connection with this investigation. However, the ITC welcomes written submissions for the record in this investigation. Written statements (one original and 14 copies) should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than July 19, 2002. All written submissions should be address to the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

Further information on the scope of the investigation is available in the ITC's notice of investigation, dated July 2, 2002, which can be downloaded from the ITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-1806.

ITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, 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 Commission 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. General factfinding investigation reports subsequently are cleared to the public unless (like this one) they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.