[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 115 (Monday, June 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35703-35704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15158]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-415]


U.S. Trade and Investment With Sub-Saharan Africa

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of preparation of fourth report and opportunity to 
submit information and comments.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: June 10, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt on March 12, 2000, of a letter from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-415, U.S. Trade and Investment with Sub-Saharan 
Africa, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1332(g)) for the purpose of preparing a series of five annual reports. 
This is the fourth report in the series, and the Commission plans to 
transmit this fourth report to the USTR by December 10, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurie-Ann Agama, Office of Economics 
(202-205-3220), or William Gearhart, Office of the General Counsel 
(202-205-3091) for information on legal aspects of the investigation. 
The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External 
Relations (202-l819). Hearing impaired individuals are advised that 
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the 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, 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

    The USTR requested that the Commission prepare a series of annual 
reports for five years containing the following information:
    1. For the last five years (and the latest quarter available), data 
on U.S. merchandise trade and services trade with sub-Saharan Africa 
(SSA), including statistics by country, by major sectors, and by the 
top 25 commodities.
    2. A summary of U.S. and total foreign direct investment and 
portfolio investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
    3. Statistical information on U.S. imports from sub-Saharan Africa 
under the AGOA and GSP programs by country and by major product 
categories/commodities; and information on AGOA-related investment.
    4. Updates on regional integration in sub-Saharan Africa including 
statistics on U.S. trade with major regional groupings (ECOWAS, WAEMU, 
COMESA, SADC, SACU, EAC, IGAD, IOC and CEMAC) and, where applicable, 
information on each group's tariff structure.
    5. A description of major U.S. trade capacity-building initiatives 
related to SSA, a summary of multilateral and U.S. bilateral assistance 
to the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, and a description of major non-
U.S. trade preference programs for countries in SSA.
    6. Sector profiles for sub-Saharan Africa, including information on 
trade, investment, industry and policy developments, by major sector. 
The six sector profiles in this investigation include: agricultural, 
fisheries and forest products; chemicals; petroleum and energy-related 
products; minerals and metals; textiles and apparel; and transportation 
equipment.
    7. Country-by-country profiles on each of the 48 countries in sub-
Saharan Africa, including information on major trading partners, by 
country. Summary of the trade, services, and investment climates in 
each of the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, including a description of 
the basic tariff structure (e.g., the average tariff rate and the 
average agricultural tariff rate), as well as significant impediments 
to trade, such as import bans.
    The 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa covered in this 
investigation include: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, 
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, C[ocirc]te d'Ivoire, Djibouti, 
Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, 
Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, 
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of 
the Congo, Rwanda, S[atilde]o Tom[eacute] and Principe, Senegal, 
Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, 
Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
    The USTR requested that the Commission provide its first report by 
December 10, 2000, and annually for a period of 4 years thereafter. The 
second report in the series was delivered to USTR on December 10, 2001 
and the third report was delivered on December 10, 2002. The Commission 
expects to deliver the fourth report by December 10, 2003.

Written Submissions

    The Commission does not plan to hold a public hearing in connection 
with this fourth report. However, interested persons are invited to 
submit written statements concerning matters to be addressed in the 
report. Commercial or financial information that a person desires the 
Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted in accordance 
with Sec.  201.6 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure 
(19 CFR 201.6). The Commission may include such confidential business 
information in the report it sends to USTR. The Commission's rules do 
not authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary

[[Page 35704]]

by facsimile or electronic means, except to the extent permitted by 
Sec.  201.8 of the Commission's rules, as amended, 67 FR 68036 (Nov. 8, 
2002). All written submissions must conform with the provisions of 
Sec.  201.8 of the Commission's rules of practice and procedure (19 CFR 
201.8). All written statements, 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 July 28, 2003. All submissions should be 
addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington DC 20436.
    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.

    Issued: June 11, 2003.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-15158 Filed 6-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P