[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 251 (Friday, December 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 83084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33256]



[[Page 83084]]

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-424]


U.S.-Israel Agricultural Trade: Likely Effects on the U.S. and 
Israeli Agricultural; Industries of U.S.-Israel Trade Conducted in a 
Free Trade Environment

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission (ITC).

ACTION: Initiation of investigation and notice of hearing.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: December 21, 2000.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on December 1, 2000, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), pursuant to authority under 
section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-424, U.S.-Israel Agricultural Trade: Likely 
Effects on the U.S. and Israeli Agricultural Industries of U.S.-Israel 
Trade Conducted in a Free Trade Environment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact 
Stephen Burket (202-205-3318; [email protected]), John Fry (202-708-
4157; [email protected]), or Cathy Jabara (202-205-3309; 
[email protected]), Agriculture and Forest Products Division, Office of 
Industries. For information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart 
(202-205-3091; [email protected]), 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.usitc.gov).

Background

    The United States-Israel Agreement on Trade in Agricultural 
Products (ATAP), an adjunct to the 1985 Agreement on the establishment 
of a Free Trade Area between the Government of Israel and the 
Government of the United States (FTA Agreement), is a five-year 
agreement signed in 1996 and expiring on December 31, 2001. The FTA 
Agreement applies, in full, to trade in all products between the two 
countries. However, the United States and Israel held differing 
interpretations as to the meaning of certain rights and obligations 
related to agricultural products under the FTA Agreement. In the 
interest of achieving practical improvements in agricultural trade 
between the two countries, the United States in 1996 entered into the 
ATAP with Israel. In 2001, the Governments of the United States and 
Israel will initiate review of the ATAP to seek ways to improve the 
Agreement prior to its expiration. In order to assist USTR in preparing 
for these negotiations, under authority delegated by the President and 
pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, USTR requested 
that the ITC conduct a study analyzing the likely effect on both the 
U.S. and Israeli agricultural industries of U.S.-Israel agricultural 
trade conducted in a free trade environment. USTR requested that the 
Commission's report include the following:

     An analysis of the effects on free U.S./Israel trade in 
agriculture at the industry level, focusing on the main products 
traded or likely to be traded by the United States and Israel. In 
preparing this analysis, the Commission should assume that the new 
ATAP would include elimination of tariffs and tariff-rate quotas on 
agricultural products so as to calculate its maximum potential 
impact. To the extent possible, and depending on data availability, 
the analysis should include the use of partial equilibrium analysis 
and other quantitative methods.
     A review of existing Israeli non-tariff barriers to 
agricultural trade and an analysis of their impact on U.S. 
agricultural exports to Israel.

    The Commission plans to submit its report U.S.-Israel Agricultural 
Trade: Likely Effects on the U.S. and Israeli Agricultural Industries 
of U.S.-Israel Trade Conducted in a Free Trade Environment on June 1, 
2001. USTR indicated that portions of the report will be classified as 
confidential.

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 March 6, 2001. 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., February 20, 2001. Any prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) 
should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., February 22, 2001; the 
deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m., 
March 16, 2001. In the event that, as of the close of business on 
February 21, 2001, 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 February 21, 2001, to determine whether 
the hearing will be held.

Written Submissions

    Commercial or financial information that a person desires the 
Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate 
sheets of paper, each clearly marked ``Confidential Business 
Information'' at the top. The Commission's Rules do not authorize 
filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic 
means. All written submissions must conform with the provisions of 
section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 
CFR 201.8). All submissions requesting confidential treatment must 
conform with the requirements of Sec. 201.6 of the Commission's Rules 
(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, written statements relating to the 
Commission's report should be submitted at the earliest possible date 
and should be received not later than March 16, 2001. 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 information concerning the 
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov).
    List of Subjects: ATAP, imports, exports, tariffs, agricultural 
trade, Israel, non-tariff barriers.

    Issued: December 22, 2000.

    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-33256 Filed 12-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P