[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 51161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25878]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration
[NAFTA-01548 and TA-W-33,336]


Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Erie, PA; Notice of Negative 
Determination on Reconsideration

    On July 31, 1997, the Department issued an Affirmative 
Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration for the workers 
and former workers of the subject firm. The United Paperworkers 
International Union (UPIU) asserted that production of boxes in Mexico 
will increase when the Erie plant closes. The notice was published in 
the Federal Register on August 13, 1997 (62 FR 43354).
    The Department initially denied NAFTA-TAA to workers of Inland 
Paperboard and Packaging, Inc. because criteria (3) and (4) of the 
group eligibility requirements in paragraph (a)(1) of Section 250 of 
the Trade Act, as amended, were not met. There were no company imports 
of corrugated shipping boxes from Mexico or Canada, nor was there a 
shift in production from the workers' firm to Mexico or Canada. The 
layoffs were attributable to company's decision to close the Erie plant 
and open a new production facility in Ohio.
    The Department initially denied TAA to workers of Inland Paperboard 
and Packaging, Inc. because the ``contributed importantly'' group 
eligibility requirement of Section 222(3) of the Trade Act of 1974, as 
amended, was not met. The investigation revealed that the company 
decided to close the Erie plant and open a new production facility in 
Ohio. The parent company retained the Erie customer base.
    The UPIU request for reconsideration asserts that Inland is 
exporting boxes to Mexico where they are loaded with Mexican products 
and returned to the United States. Inland's exports of corrugated 
shipping containers to Mexico or any other country is not a basis for a 
worker group certification. The Department is required examine import 
impact of articles like or directly competitive with the product 
produced at the worker's firm. Shipping containers filled with articles 
produced in foreign countries and shipped to the United States cannot 
be considered like or directly competitive with the articles produced 
at the Erie plant.
    The UPIU also asserts that Inland Paperboard and Packaging, Inc. is 
increasing production at their Mexican corrugated box factory, and is 
building production capacity abroad. The Erie workers could be 
certified only if the company or customers of the subject firm were 
increasing imports of corrugated shipping containers. The company 
reported no imports of shipping containers.
    Investigation on reconsideration shows that there was no corporate-
wide decline in sales or production of corrugated shipping containers 
at Inland Paperboard and Packaging. New information provided by the 
company reveals that production at the Erie plant served a regional 
market. Customer accounts serviced by Erie are being handled by other 
Inland facilities in the region. Since there was no decline in sales, a 
customer survey was not conducted.

Conclusion

    After reconsideration, I affirm the original notice of negative 
determination of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance 
for workers and former workers of Inland Paperboard and Packaging, 
Erie, Pennsylvania, under Section 250 and Section 223 of the Trade Act 
of 1974.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 22nd day of September 1997.
Grant D. Beale,
Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 97-25878 Filed 9-29-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M