[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 4, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 5652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2515]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-449]


U.S. Market Conditions for Certain Wool Articles in 2002-04

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and request for public comments.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: January 24, 2003.

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on December 30, 2002, the Commission instituted 
Investigation No. 332-449, U.S. Market Conditions for Certain Wool 
Articles in 2002-04, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
U.S.C. 1332(g)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact Lisa 
Ferens (202) 205-3486; [email protected]); of the Office of Industries; 
for information on legal aspects, contact William Gearhart (202) 205-
3091; [email protected]; of the Office of the General Counsel. The 
media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Public Affairs Officer (202-
205-1819). Hearing impaired individuals may obtain information on this 
matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. 
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 about the Commission 
may be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed 
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) http://edis.usitc.gov.

Background

    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide information 
on U.S. market conditions, including domestic demand, supply, and 
increases in domestic production for men's and boys' worsted wool 
suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers; worsted wool fabric and yarn 
used in the manufacture of such clothing; and wool fibers used to make 
such fabrics and yarn. As requested, the Commission will also provide, 
to the extent practicable, data on:
    (1) Increases or decreases in sales and production of the subject 
domestically-produced worsted wool fabrics;
    (2) Increases or decreases in domestic production and consumption 
of the subject apparel items;
    (3) The ability of domestic producers of the subject worsted wool 
fabrics to meet the needs of domestic manufacturers of the subject 
apparel items in terms of quantity and ability to meet market demands 
for the apparel items;
    (4) Sales of the subject worsted wool fabrics lost by domestic 
manufacturers to imports benefitting from the temporary duty reductions 
on certain worsted wool fabrics under HTS headings 9902.51.11 and 
9902.51.12;
    (5) Loss of sales by domestic manufacturers of the subject apparel 
items related to the inability to purchase adequate supplies of the 
subject worsted wool fabrics on a cost competitive basis; and
    (6) The price per square meter of imports and domestic sales of the 
subject worsted wool fabrics. The USTR requested that the Commission 
provide two confidential reports. The first report will provide, to the 
extent information is publicly available or is available from 
discussions with representatives of trade and industry, an update on 
market conditions for the subject wool products and a summary of any 
major changes with respect to the above factors, for the year 2002 and 
year-to-date 2002-03. The Commission will transmit this report to the 
USTR by October 27, 2003. The Commission will transmit the second 
report, providing data for 2003 and year-to-date 2003-04, by October 
25, 2004. The USTR requested that the Commission issue public versions 
of the reports as soon as possible thereafter, with any business 
confidential information deleted.
    In the request letter, the USTR noted that section 5102 of the 
Trade Act of 2002, signed by the President on August 6, 2002, amends 
headings 9902.51.21 and 9902.51.12 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States (HTS) to extend, through December 31, 2005, the 
temporary reductions of tariffs and the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) in 
those headings for imports of certain worsted wool fabric, certified by 
the importer as suitable for use in men's or boys' suits, suit-type 
jackets, and trousers. The USTR also noted that, under section 504 of 
the Trade and Development Act of 2000, the President is required to 
monitor U.S. market conditions, including domestic demand, domestic 
supply, and increases in domestic production for men's and boys' 
worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers; worsted wool 
fabric and yarn used in the manufacture of such clothing; and wool 
fibers used in the manufacture of such fabrics and yarn. He noted that 
the President, in Proclamation 7383 (December 1, 2000), delegated to 
the USTR the authority to monitor these market conditions.

Written Submissions

    The Commission intends to hold a public hearing in connection with 
the second report under this investigation, but not the first report. 
However, interested parties are invited to submit written statements 
(original and 14 copies) concerning the matters to be addressed by the 
Commission in its first report on this investigation at the earliest 
practical date, and such statements should be received no later than 
the close of business on June 9, 2003. Commercial or financial 
information that a person desires the Commission to treat as 
confidential must be submitted on separate sheets of paper, each 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). The Commission's Rules do not authorize filing of 
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except 
to the extend permitted by section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules, as 
amended, 67 FR 68036 (November 8, 2002). 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 Commission may include confidential business 
information submitted in the course of this investigation in its 
reports to the USTR. In the public version of these reports, however, 
the Commission will not publish confidential business information in a 
manner that would reveal the individual operations of the firm 
supplying the information. All submissions should be addressed to the 
Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20436.
    List of Subjects: Tariffs, imports, wool, fabric, and suits.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 29, 2003.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-2515 Filed 2-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P