[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35004-35005]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14792]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-453]


Conditions of Competition for Milk Protein Products in the U.S. 
Market

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 5, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of the request on May 14, 2003, from the 
Senate Committee on Finance, the Commission instituted investigation 
No. 332-453 Conditions of Competition for Milk Protein Products in the 
U.S. Market, 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 for milk 
protein products in the U.S. market. In its report the Commission will 
provide, to the extent possible, the following:
    [sbull] An overview of the global market for milk proteins in their 
various forms, including such factors as consumption, production, and 
trade during the period 1998-2002;
    [sbull] Profiles of the milk protein industries of the United 
States and major dairy exporting countries, and in particular, the 
industries of Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union;
    [sbull] Information on the overall level of government support and 
other government intervention affecting producers of milk proteins in 
the United States and in each of the above-referenced trading partners 
together with a discussion of competitive factors, including government 
policies, that impact U.S. production, use, and trade in milk protein 
products in their various forms;
    [sbull] Information on U.S. imports and exports of milk protein in 
its various forms with data broken down, to the extent possible, by 
protein content, end use, and manufacturing processes;
    [sbull] A history of U.S. tariff classification of milk proteins 
and tariff treatment of these products, including any fees or quotas 
imposed under section 22 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, tariff 
rate quotas established pursuant to the Uruguay Round Agreements, and 
U.S. Customs Service classification decisions;
    [sbull] A qualitative and, to the extent possible, quantitative 
assessment of how imported milk proteins affect farm level milk prices 
in the United States; and,
    [sbull] Other information relating to competitive factors 
affecting: (1) The U.S. industry that imports and consumes milk 
proteins; (2) the U.S. industry that supplies competitive products, and 
(3) the competitive factors, including government policies, that impact 
potential U.S. production of milk proteins in their various forms.
    As requested by the Committee, the Commission's report will provide 
information on the competitiveness of a variety of milk proteins in the 
U.S. market, focusing on milk protein concentrate, casein, and 
caseinate and the market for those products compared with other milk 
proteins, including whole milk, skim milk, dried whole milk, dried skim 
milk, whey, dried whey, and whey protein concentrates, covering the 
period 1998-2002. As

[[Page 35005]]

requested, the Commission will transmit its report to the Committee by 
May 14, 2004. The Committee indicated that it intends to make the 
report public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Industry-specific information may be 
obtained from Jonathan Coleman, Project Leader (202-205-3465 or 
[email protected]) or Warren Payne, Deputy Project Leader (202-205-
3317 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 (202-205-3091 or [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 4, 2003. 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 20, 2003. Any prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) 
should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., November 24, 2003, the 
deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m., 
December 18, 2003. In the event that, as of the close of business on 
November 20, 2003, 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 20, 2003, 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 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 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 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 
18, 2003. 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, except to the extent 
permitted by section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules, as amended, 67 FR 
8036 (Nov. 8, 2002). The public record for this investigation may be 
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that 
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting our 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.

List of Subjects

    Milk proteins, government intervention, tariffs, and imports.

    Issued: June 5, 2003.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-14792 Filed 6-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P