[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19199-19200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9694]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation 332-405]


Probable Economic Effects of the Reduction or Elimination of U.S. 
Tariffs

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: April 13, 1999.

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on March 15, 1999, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-405, Probable Economic Effects of the Reduction 
or Elimination of U.S. Tariffs, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act 
of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)).
    As requested by USTR, the Commission will provide advice as to the 
probable economic effects on U.S. industries producing like or directly 
competitive articles, and on consumers, of modifying tariffs under 
three scenarios, as follows:
    1. The effects resulting from changes in the levels of dutiable 
imports from all U.S. trading partners if all tariffs were reduced by 
at least 50 percent, with tariffs of 5 percent ad valorem or less 
reduced to free;
    2. The effects resulting from changes in the levels of dutiable 
imports from all U.S. trading partners if tariffs were eliminated; and
    3. The effects resulting from tariff elimination on dutiable 
imports from Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) trading partners 
alone.
    The request covers each article for which tariffs will remain after 
full implementation of the staged duty reductions resulting from the 
Uruguay Round or subsequent World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements 
(e.g., the Information Technology Agreement). The USTR requested the 
Commission to provide the advice in a confidential report by November 
17, 1999.
    In her letter, the USTR noted that ``[T]his request by no means 
implies that we intend to take action on these tariff measures. It 
merely indicates our interest in obtaining factual advice from the 
Commission on the probable economic effects of their reduction or 
elimination.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Industry-specific information may be 
obtained from Robert Wallace, Project Leader (202-205-3458) or James 
Lukes, Deputy Project Leader (202-205-3426), Office of Industries, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436. For information 
on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact William Gearhart of 
the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091). Hearing impaired 
individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained 
by contacting the TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810.

Background

    In her letter to the Commission, the USTR stated that a new round 
of multilateral negotiations will be launched at the WTO's Third 
Ministerial Conference. The letter noted that the WTO Agreements 
mandate further negotiations on agriculture and that many WTO members 
are advocating new negotiations on industrial tariffs. The letter also 
noted that, within our hemisphere, President Clinton and other leaders 
at the Miami and Santiago Summits of the Americas have called for the 
completion of an FTAA no later than the year 2005, and that 
agricultural and industrial tariffs will be one area addressed in the 
FTAA negotiations.
    The Commission will provide the probable economic effects advice at 
an 8-digit subheading level of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTS). There are a total of 6,424 current HTS subheadings 
for which tariffs will remain after full implementation of the staged 
duty reductions resulting from the Uruguay Round or subsequent WTO 
agreements. A list of these HTS subheadings is available on the 
Commission's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/invfrn.htm#332. A 
printed copy of the list is also available for inspection in the docket 
section of the Secretary's office.

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 June 15, 1999, and continuing 
on June 16 if necessary. 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., June 1, 1999. Any 
prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) should be filed not later 
than 5:15 p.m., June 3, 1999; the deadline for filing post-hearing 
briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m., August 10, 1999. To allow sufficient 
time for full consideration, the Commission encourages all persons who 
appear at the public hearing to submit any prepared statements and 
accompanying material to the Secretary by 5:15 p.m., June 10, 1999. In 
the event that, as of the close of business on June 1, 1999, 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-
1806) after June 1, 1999, to determine whether the hearing will be 
held.

Written Submissions

    In lieu of or in addition to participating in the hearing, 
interested parties are invited to submit written statements concerning 
the matters to be addressed by the Commission in its report on this 
investigation. Commercial or financial information that 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 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 in the Office of the Secretary of the Commission for 
inspection by interested parties. 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 the close of business on August 
10, 1999. 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.
    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

[[Page 19200]]

information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing 
its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).

List of Subjects

    WTO, FTAA, Tariffs, and Imports.

    Issued: April 14, 1999.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-9694 Filed 4-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P