03-9335. U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economywide and Selected Sectoral Effects

AGENCY:

United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Scheduling of public hearing and notice of opportunity to submit comments.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

April 10, 2003.

SUMMARY:

The public hearing on this matter has been scheduled for May 1, 2003. Notice of institution for this investigation was published in the Federal Register on March 19, 2003 (68 FR 13324).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Further information may be obtained from James Stamps, Project Leader, Office of Economics (202-205-3227). For information on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091). For media information, contact Peg O'Laughlin (202-205-1819). Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the TDD terminal on (202-205-1810).

Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the 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 May 1, 2003. All persons shall have the right to appear, by counsel or in person, to present information and to be heard. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, no later than 5:15 p.m., April 21, 2003. Any prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., April 24, 2003; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m., May 8, 2003. In the event that, as of the close of business on April 21, 2003, no witnesses are scheduled to appear at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Any person interested in attending the hearing as an observer or non-participant may call the Secretary of the Commission (202-205-1816) after April 21, 2003, to determine whether the hearing will be held.

Written Submission: In lieu of or in addition to participating in the hearing, interested parties are invited to submit written statements (original and 14 copies) concerning the matters to be addressed by the Commission in its report on this investigation. Commercial or financial information that a submitted desires the Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate sheets of paper, each clearly marked “Confidential Business Information” at the top. All submissions requesting confidential treatment must conform with the requirements of § 201.6 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure (19 CFR 201.6). 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 intends to publish only a public report in this investigation. Accordingly, any confidential business information received by the Commission in this investigation and used in preparing the report will not be published in a manner that would reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written statements relating to the Commission's report should be submitted to the Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 8, 2003. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except to the extent permitted by § 201.8 of the Commission's rules, as amended, 67 FR 68036 (Nov. 8, 2002). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.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. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).

List of Subjects

• Chile, tariffs, trade, imports and exports

Issued: April 10, 2003.

By order of the Commission.

Marilyn R. Abbott,

Secretary to the Commission.