[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8036-8037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4286]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-379]


Likely Impact of Providing Quota-Free and Duty-Free Entry To 
Textiles and Apparel From Sub-Saharan Africa

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of hearing.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: February 10, 1997.

SUMMARY: Following receipt on January 14, 1997 of a request from the 
Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives for an 
investigation under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1332 (g)), the Commission instituted Investigation No. 332-379, Likely 
Impact of Providing Quota-Free and Duty-Free Entry to Textiles and 
Apparel from Sub-Saharan Africa. As requested by the Committee, the 
Commission will provide the following in its report--
    (1) A review of any relevant literature on this issue prepared by 
governmental and non-governmental organizations;
    (2) An assessment of the competitiveness of the textile and apparel 
industries in Sub-Saharan African countries, to the extent possible;
    (3) A qualitative and quantitative assessment of the economic 
impact on U.S. producers, workers, and consumers of quota-free entry 
for imports of textiles and apparel from Sub-Saharan Africa. This 
assessment will address the potential shifting of global textile and 
apparel production facilities to Sub-Saharan Africa that might occur as 
a result of the changes contained in proposed legislation [H.R. 4198, 
African Growth and Opportunity: The End of Dependency Act of 1996, 
introduced in the 104th Congress by Mssrs. Crane, Rangel and 
McDermott]; and
    (4) A qualitative and quantitative assessment of the economic 
impact on U.S. producers, workers, and consumers of an elimination of 
the exclusion of textile and apparel products from Sub-Saharan African 
countries, from coverage under the Generalized System of Preferences in 
addition to quota-free entry for imports from these same countries.
    The Committee also requested that the Commission attempt to 
identify the

[[Page 8037]]

specific types of textiles and apparel products that are most likely to 
be produced in Sub-Saharan African countries, and which would have the 
most significant impact on U.S. producers, workers, and consumers. As 
requested by the Committee, the Commission will seek to provide its 
advice not later than September 2, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Cook, Office of Industries (202-
205-3471) or Mary Elizabeth Sweet, Office of Industries (202-205-3455), 
or William Gearhart, Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091) for 
information on legal aspects. The media should contact Margaret 
O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (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).

Background

    Among the provisions in H.R. 4198 is one relating to increased U.S. 
market access for textiles and apparel from Sub-Saharan Africa. 
According to the Committee's request, Sub-Saharan Africa supplied less 
than 1 percent, or about $400 million, of U.S. imports of textiles and 
apparel in 1995. H.R. 4198 provides that, until imports of these 
articles from Sub-Saharan Africa reach a much higher level, the 
transitional safeguards provided in Article 6 of the Uruguay Round 
Agreement on Textiles and Clothing should not apply. In addition, H.R. 
4198 would eliminate existing U.S. quotas on imports of textiles and 
apparel from Sub-Saharan Africa. The Sub-Saharan African countries 
currently covered by U.S. textiles and apparel quotas are Kenya and 
Mauritius.
    The Sub-Saharan African countries covered in this investigation 
include the following 48 countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina 
Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, 
Comoros, Congo, 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, Zaire, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Public Hearing

    A public hearing in connection with this investigation is scheduled 
to begin at 9:30 a.m. on May 1, 1997, at the U.S. International Trade 
Commission Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, D.C. All persons 
have the right to appear by counsel or in person, to present 
information, and to be heard. Persons wishing to appear at the public 
hearing should file a letter asking to testify with the Secretary, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, 
not later than the close of business (5:15 p.m.) on April 17, 1997. In 
addition, persons testifying should file prehearing briefs (original 
and 14 copies) with the Secretary by the close of business on April 17, 
1997. In the event that no requests to appear at the hearing are 
received by the close of business on April 17, 1997, the hearing will 
be canceled. Any person interested in attending the hearing as an 
observer or non-participant may call the Secretary (202-205-1816) after 
April 17, 1997 to determine whether the hearing will be held. 
Posthearing briefs/statements and other written submissions should be 
filed not later than the close of business on May 8, 1997.

Written Submissions

    In lieu of or in addition to appearing at the public hearing, 
interested persons are invited to submit written statements concerning 
the investigation. Written statements should be received by the close 
of business on May 8, 1997. Commercial or financial information which a 
submitter 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 
section 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 for inspection by interested 
persons. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary at the 
Commission's office in Washington, D.C.

    Issued: February 10, 1997

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-4286 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P