[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49791-49792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21201]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-457]


Economywide Simulation Modeling: Technical Analysis of the Free 
Trade Area of the Americas

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt on July 21, 2003, of a request from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332 (g)), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-457, Economywide Simulation Modeling: Technical 
Analysis of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
    Background: The USTR stated that the purpose of the investigation 
and report is to assist the Administration in examining the economic 
impacts that might result from the Free Trade Area of the Americas 
(FTAA) by attempting to link large-scale models. As requested by the 
USTR, the Commission will provide a report to the USTR containing the 
following:
    (1) Changes in production, trade, and prices that may be associated 
with implementation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) with 
specified regional and sectoral aggregations, as estimated using the 
Commission's U.S. CGE (computable general equilibrium) Model, and
    (2) trade policy changes to be used with specified regional and 
sectoral aggregations, as employed in the Global Trade Analysis Project 
(GTAP) CGE Model.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide its report no 
later than 6 months from the date of receipt of the letter. The USTR 
stated that the Commission's analytical products and working papers in 
this investigation are to be classified as confidential and that the 
USTR considers the Commission's analytical products to be inter-agency 
memoranda that will contain pre-decisional advice subject to the 
deliberative process privilege. Accordingly, the Commission does not 
plan to issue a public report.
    By way of background, the USTR noted the ongoing FTAA negotiations 
and that the Administration is conducting an environmental review of 
the proposed trade agreement. The USTR also referenced efforts 
connected to this review involving the Commission, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic 
Research Service, to link large-scale models, on an experimental basis, 
in order to estimate and examine aspects of the environmental effects 
of the trade agreement. Additional information on this review process 
can be found on USTR's Web site (http://www.ustr.gov/environment/analysis.pdf).

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 11, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    (1) Project Manager, William Donnelly (202-205-3225 or 
[email protected])
    (2) Deputy Project Manager, David Ingersoll (202-205-2218 or 
[email protected])
    Mr. Donnelly is in the Commission's Office of Economics and Mr. 
Ingersoll is in the Commission's Office of Industries. For information 
on legal aspects of the investigation, contact William Gearhart of the 
Commission's Office of the General Counsel at 202-205-3091 or 
[email protected].
    Written Submissions: The Commission does not plan to hold a public 
hearing in this investigation. However, interested persons are invited 
to submit written statements concerning the investigation. Written 
statements should be received by the close of business on October 1, 
2003. Commercial or financial information which a submitter desires the 
Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate 
sheets of paper, each clearly marked ``Confidential Business 
Information'' at

[[Page 49792]]

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 persons. The Commission may include such 
confidential business information in the report it sends to USTR. All 
submissions should be addressed to the Secretary at the Commission's 
office in Washington, DC. The Commission's rules do not authorize 
filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic 
means, except to the extent permitted by section 201.8 of the 
Commission's Rules (19 CFR 201.18) (see Handbook for Electronic Filing 
Procedures, ftp://ftp.usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf). Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that 
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting our TDD 
terminal on (202) 205-1810.

    Issued: August 13, 2003.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-21201 Filed 8-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P