E9-1774. Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2008 Review of Competitive Need Limit Waivers

AGENCY:

United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Institution of investigation and scheduling of hearing.

SUMMARY:

Following receipt of a request on January 12, 2009 from the United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted investigation No. 332-506, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2008 Review of Competitive Need Limit Waivers.

DATES:

February 4, 2009: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the public hearing.

February 6, 2009: Deadline for filing pre-hearing briefs and statements.

February 27, 2009: Public hearing.

March 6, 2009: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and statements and other written submissions.

April 13, 2009: Transmittal of 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:

Information specific to this investigation may be obtained from Eric Land, Project Leader, Office of Industries (202-205-3349 or [e-mail]) or Gail Burns, Deputy Project Leader, Office of Industries (202-205-2501 or [e-mail]). For information on the legal aspects of these investigations, contact William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or [e-mail]). The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or [e-mail]). 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: As requested by the USTR, under the authority delegated by the President, pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, and in accordance with sections 503(d)(1)(A) of the Trade Act of 1974 (1974 Act) (19 U.S.C. 2463(d)(1)(A)), the Commission will provide advice on whether any industry in the United States is likely to be adversely affected by a waiver of the competitive need limits specified in section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act for the following countries and articles provided for in the noted subheadings of the Harmonized Tariff System (HTS): Argentina for HTS subheading 4107.91.80 and 7202.99.20; Brazil for HTS subheading 2922.41.00; India for HTS subheading 7202.41.00; Indonesia for HTS subheading 3907.60.00; and Turkey for HTS subheading 7413.00.10. As requested, the Commission will also provide advice in accordance with section 503(c)(2)(E) of the 1974 Act with respect to whether like or directly competitive products were being produced in the United States on January 1, 1995. In addition, as requested, the Commission will provide advice as to the probable economic effect on total U.S. imports, and on consumers, of the petitioned waivers. As requested by the USTR, the Commission will use the dollar value limit of $135,000,000 for purposes of section 503(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the 1974 Act.

As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide its advice by April 13, 2009. The USTR indicated that those sections of the Commission's report and related working papers that contain the Commission's advice will be classified as “confidential.”

Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this investigation will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on February 27, 2009. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the Secretary no later than 5:15 p.m. February 4, 2009. Any pre-hearing briefs and other statements relating to the hearing should be filed with the Secretary not later than 5:15 p.m. February 6, 2009, and all post-hearing briefs and statements and any other written submissions should be filed with the Secretary not later than 5:15 p.m. March 6, 2009. All requests to appear and pre- and post-hearing briefs and statements must be filed in accordance with the requirements in the “Written Submissions” section below. In the event that, as of the close of business on February 4, 2009, no witnesses are scheduled to appear at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Persons interested in learning whether the hearing has been cancelled should call the Office of the Secretary after February 4, 2009, at 202-205-2000.

Written Submissions: In lieu of or in addition to participating in the hearing, interested parties are invited to file written submissions concerning this investigation. All such submissions should be addressed to the Secretary and should be received not later than 5:15 p.m. March 6, 2009 (see earlier dates for filing requests to appear and for filing pre-hearing briefs and statements). All written submissions must conform with 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 with 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 be clearly identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be made available in the Office of the Secretary to the Commission for inspection by interested parties. The Commission may include some or all of the confidential business information submitted in the course of the investigation in the report it sends to the USTR.

As requested by the USTR, the Commission will publish a public version of the report, which will exclude portions of the report that the USTR has classified as well as any business confidential information.

By order of the Commission.

Issued: January 23, 2009.

Marilyn R. Abbott,

Secretary to the Commission.