[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29885-29886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14085]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 332-350 and 332-351]


Monitoring of U.S. Imports of Tomatoes and Monitoring of U.S. 
Imports of Peppers

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission

ACTION: Publication of monitoring reports in 1999.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: May 25 , 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, Timothy 
McCarty (202-205-3324) or Lowell Grant (202-205-3312), Agricultural and 
Forest Products Division, Office of Industries, or for information on 
legal aspects, William Gearhart (202-205-3091), Office of the General 
Counsel, U.S. International Trade Commission. Hearing impaired persons 
can obtain information on these studies 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.ustic. gov).

BACKGROUND: Section 316 of the North American Free-Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act (NAFTA Implementation Act), 19 U.S.C. 3381, directs 
the Commission to monitor imports of fresh or chilled tomatoes (HTS 
heading 0702.00) and fresh or chilled peppers, other than chili peppers 
(HTS subheading 0709.60.00) until January 1, 2009. As a result of such 
monitoring, the domestic industry producing a like or directly 
competitive perishable agricultural product may request, in a global 
safeguard petition filed under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 or 
a bilateral safeguard petition filed under section 302 of the NAFTA 
Implementation Act, that provisional relief be provided pending 
completion of a full section 202 or 302 investigation. If provisional 
relief is requested, the Commission has 21 days in which to make its 
decision and to transmit any provisional relief recommendation to the 
President. In response to the monitoring directive, the Commission 
instituted investigation No. 332-350, Monitoring of U.S. Imports of 
Tomatoes (59 FR 1763) and investigation No. 332-351, Monitoring of U.S. 
Imports of Peppers (59 FR 1762).

[[Page 29886]]

    Although section 316 of the NAFTA Implementation Act does not 
require the Commission to publish reports on the results of its 
monitoring activities, the Commission has published statistical reports 
in those years in which it was not conducting an investigation under 
other statutory authority with respect to such products.

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS: The Commission does not plan to hold a public 
hearing in connection with preparation of the 1999 statistical reports. 
However, interested persons are invited to submit written statements 
concerning the matters to be addressed in the reports. Commercial or 
financial information which a submitter desires the Commission to treat 
as confidential must be provided 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 
persons. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written 
statements relating to the Commission's report should be submitted to 
the Commission in accordance with Sec. 201.8 of the Commission's rules 
at the earliest practical date and should be received no later than the 
close of business on June 30, 1999. All submissions should be addressed 
to the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.
    The Commission plans to publish both monitoring reports in 
September 1999.

    Issued: May 26, 1999.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-14085 Filed 6-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P