[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32030-32031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15488]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation 332-395]


Effects on U.S. Trade of the European Union's Association 
Agreements With Selected Central and Eastern European Partners

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 2, 1998.

SUMMARY: Following receipt on April 15, 1998, of a request under 
section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. International Trade 
Commission (Commission) instituted investigation No. 332-395, Effects 
on U.S. Trade of the European Union's Association Agreements with 
Selected Central and Eastern European Partners. The Commission plans to 
submit its report to the USTR by April 15, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Manifold, Office of Economics 
(202-205-3271 or e-mail to [email protected]). The media should 
contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-
1819). General information concerning the Commission may also be 
obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).

Background

    The European Union (EU) has signed a number of trade-liberalizing 
agreements with trading partners in Central and Eastern Europe and the 
Mediterranean. These agreements have established the starting point for 
negotiations on EU membership, which will commence this year.
    To help it better understand the implications for the United States 
of such agreements, USTR requested on April 15, 1998 that the 
Commission conduct a fact-finding investigation under section 332(g) of 
the Tariff Act of 1930 to assess the effects on U.S. trade flows, 
sector-by-sector (including agriculture) of the European Union's 
association agreements with selected Central and Eastern European 
partners. As requested by the USTR, the Commission in its report on the 
investigation will:
    (1) Describe the trade and investment-related provisions of the 
association agreement, including trading partner tariff preferences for 
EU goods and estimate the percentage of trading partner imports of 
goods and services from the EU that are covered collectively by the 
provisions;
    (2) Analyze the changes in access to the trading partner's market 
such provisions create for the United States;
    (3) Identify the product sectors where notable changes have 
occurred or are likely to occur to imports from the United States as a 
result of the association agreements; and,
    (4) After examining trends in trade by the partner countries, 
analyze the likely effects of the agreements on U.S. industries in the 
identified sectors.
    In addition, as requested by USTR, the Commission will review, and 
compile a bibliography of, existing academic and other literature 
relating to this topic; solicit to the extent possible the views of 
U.S. firms having experience in the relevant markets; and discuss 
aggregate effects of all five agreements to the extent possible. USTR 
requested that these trends be placed in the context of other economic 
and policy developments that may also have had an impact on the 
country's trade and investment flows since entry-into-force of the 
agreements.

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 November 18, 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 noon 
November 6, 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 noon, 
November 6, 1998. The deadline for filing posthearing briefs or 
statements is November 25, 1998. Any confidential business information 
included in such briefs or statements to be submitted at the hearing 
must be submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth in 
section 201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 
CFR 201.6).
    In the event that, as of COB November 6, 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 November 6, 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 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 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 
November 25, 1998. All submissions should be addressed to the 
Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street 
SW, Washington, D.C. 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. 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

[[Page 32031]]

obtained by accessing its Internet server (http:www.usitc.gov).

    Issued: June 5, 1998.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-15488 Filed 6-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P