[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15215-15216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8150]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation 332-391]


Overview and Analysis of Current U.S. Unilateral Economic 
Sanctions

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation, scheduling of public hearing, and 
notice of opportunity to submit comments.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: March 23, 1998.

SUMMARY: Following receipt on February 19, 1998, of a request under 
section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) from the 
Committee on Ways and Means (the Committee) of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, the U.S. International Trade Commission (the 
Commission) instituted investigation No. 332-391, Overview and Analysis 
of Current U.S. Unilateral Economic Sanctions. The Commission plans to 
submit its report to the Committee by August 19, 1998.

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Stamps, Office of Economics (202-
205-3227 or e-mail to [email protected]). The media should contact 
Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819). 
Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this 
investigation can be obtained by contacting the Commission's TDD 
terminal on 202-205-1810. General information concerning the Commission 
may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://
www.usitc.gov).

Background

    As requested by the Committee, the Commission in its report on the 
investigation will provide:
    (1) A description of U.S. unilateral economic sanctions in effect 
including, to the extent possible, a description of economic sanctions 
imposed by states and localities;
    (2) To the extent possible, a survey of affected U.S. industries on 
the costs and effects of U.S. unilateral economic sanctions;
    (3) A review of recent literature on the economic effects of 
national-level economic sanctions; and
    (4) A proposed methodology to analyze in future studies the short-
and long-term costs of U.S. unilateral sanctions and their impact on 
the U.S. economy.
    In its request, the Committee defined the term ``unilateral 
economic sanctions'' to mean any unilateral restriction or condition on 
economic activity with respect to a foreign country or foreign entity 
that is imposed by the United States for reasons of foreign policy or 
national security. The Committee said that the Commission should 
exclude from this definition: (1) U.S. economic sanctions imposed 
pursuant to a multilateral regime when the other members of that regime 
have agreed to impose substantially equivalent measures; (2) U.S. 
measures imposed to remedy unfair trade practices or to enforce United 
States rights under a trade agreement, including under section 337 of 
the Tariff Act of 1930, title VII of that Act, title III of the Trade 
Act of 1974, sections 1374 and 1377 of the Omnibus Trade and 
Competitiveness Act of 1988 (19 U.S.C. 3103 and 3106), and section 3 of 
the Act of March 3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10b-1); (3) any measure imposed to 
remedy market disruption or to respond to injury to a domestic injury 
for which increased imports are a substantial cause or threat thereof, 
including remedies under sections 201 and 406 of the Trade Act of 1974, 
and textile import restrictions including those imposed under section 
204 of the Agricultural Act of 1956 (7 U.S.C. 1784); (4) any action 
taken under title IV of the Trade Act of 1974, including the enactment 
of a joint resolution under section 402(d)(2) of that Act; (5) any 
measure imposed to restrict imports of agricultural commodities to 
protect food safety or to ensure the orderly marketing of commodities 
in the United States, including actions taken under section 22 of the 
Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 624); (6) any measures imposed to 
restrict imports of any other products in order to protect domestic 
health or safety; (7) any measure authorized by, or imposed under, a 
multilateral or bilateral trade agreement to which the United States is 
a signatory, including the Uruguay Round Agreements, the North American 
Free Trade Agreement, the United States-Israel Free Trade Agreement, 
and the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement; and (8) any export 
control imposed on any item on the United States Munitions List.

Public Hearing

    A public hearing in connection with this investigation will be held 
in the Commission Hearing Room, 500 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20436, 
beginning at 9:30 am on May 14 (and May 15 if needed), 1998. All 
persons will have the right to appear by counsel or in person, to 
present testimony, and to be heard. Requests to appear at the public 
hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary, United States 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20436, 
on or before April 30, 1998. Persons testifying at the hearing are 
encouraged to file prehearing briefs or statements; the deadline for 
filing such briefs or statements (a signed original and 14 copies) is 
April 30, 1998. The deadline for filing posthearing briefs or 
statements is May 22, 1998. Any confidential business information 
included in such briefs or statements or to be submitted at the hearing 
must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 
Sec. 201.6 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure (19 CFR 
201.6).
    In the event that, as of COB April 30, 1998, no witnesses have 
filed a request 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 to the Commission (202-205-1816) 
after April 30, 1998, to determine whether the hearing will be held.

Written Submissions

    In lieu of or in addition to participating in the hearing, 
interested persons are invited to submit written statements concerning 
the matters to be addressed in the report. Commercial or financial 
information that a party desires the Commission to treat a 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 
Sec. 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 in the Office of the Secretary to the Commission. To be assured 
of consideration by the Commission, written statements relating to the 
Commission's report should be submitted at the earliest practical date 
and should be received not later than COB May 22, 1998. All submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade

[[Page 15216]]

Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.

Accessibility

    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.

    Issued: March 24, 1998.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-8150 Filed 3-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P