[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55273-55274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21929]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-445]


Conditions of Competition in the U.S. Market for Wood Structural 
Building Components

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

[[Page 55274]]


ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 19, 2002.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of the request on July 31, 2002, from the 
Senate Committee on Finance, the Commission instituted investigation 
No. 332-445 Conditions of Competition in the U.S. Market for Wood 
Structural Building Components, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act 
of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)).
    As requested by the Committee, the Commission will conduct an 
investigation and provide a report on competitive conditions in the 
U.S. market for structural building components. In its report the 
Commission will provide, to the extent possible, the following:

    1. An overview of the North American market for prefabricated wood 
structural building components (including a description of the 
principal structural wood components in production and trade, and their 
non-wood substitutes);
    2. A description of the U.S. industry, and the industry in the 
principal countries supplying the U.S. market, including recent trends 
in production, capacity, employment, and consumption;
    3. Trade patterns (both imports and exports), factors affecting 
trade patterns (including tariffs and other border measures), and 
competitive conditions affecting U.S. production and trade;
    4. Views of industry, homebuilders, and other interested parties on 
future developments in the supply of and the demand for U.S. wood 
structural building components, including the effect of imports 
(including factors affecting imports such as tariffs and other border 
measures) and non-wood substitutes on U.S. production and housing 
construction; and
    5. A comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. 
industry and major U.S. suppliers in such areas as raw material supply, 
technological capabilities, plant and equipment modernization, and 
present capacity and potential capacity expansion.

    As requested by the Committee, the Commission's report will cover 
structural building components including, but not limited to, beams and 
arches, roof and floor trusses, I-joists, prefabricated partitions and 
panels (including headers) for buildings and other structural wood 
members, and cover the period 1997-2002 to the extent possible. As 
requested, the Commission will transmit its report to the Committee by 
April 30, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Industry-specific information may be 
obtained from Alfred Forstall, Project Leader (202-205-3443 or 
[email protected]) or Vincent Honnold, Deputy Project Leader (202-
205-3314 or [email protected]), Office of Industries, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436. For information 
on legal aspects of this investigation, contact William Gearhart of the 
Office of General Counsel (202-205-3091or [email protected]). Hearing 
impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be 
obtained by contacting the TDD terminal on (202-205-1810).
    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 
December 5, 2002. 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., November 21, 2002. Any 
prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) should be filed not later 
than 5:15 p.m., November 25, 2002; the deadline for filing post-hearing 
briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m., December 19, 2002. In the event 
that, as of the close of business on November 21, 2002, 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 (202-205-1806) after November 21, 
2002, 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 (original and 14 copies) 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 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 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 in the 
Office of the Secretary to the Commission for inspection by interested 
parties. The Senate Committee on Finance has requested that the 
Commission prepare a public report (containing no confidential business 
information). Accordingly, any confidential business information 
received by the Commission in this investigation and used in preparing 
the report will not be published in a manner that would reveal the 
operations of the firm supplying the information. 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 December 19, 2002. 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

    Wood structural building components, tariffs, and imports.

    Issued: August 23, 2002.

By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 02-21929 Filed 8-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P