[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50808-50809]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21495]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. Nos. TA-131-25 and TA-2104-5]


U.S.-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning 
the Probable Economic Effect

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: August 15, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on August 6, 2003, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation Nos. TA-131-25 and TA-2104-5, U.S.-Dominican Republic 
Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable Economic Effect, 
under section 131 of the Trade Act of 1974 and section 2104(b)(2) of 
the Trade Act of 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information specific to this 
investigation may be obtained from George Serletis, Project Leader, 
(202) 205-3315; [email protected], or Vincent Honnold, Deputy Project 
Leader, (202) 205-3314; [email protected], Office of Industries, 
United States International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436. For 
information on the legal aspects of this investigation, contact William 
Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel, (202) 205-3091; 
[email protected]. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that 
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the TDD 
terminal on (202) 205-1810. General information concerning the 
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these investigations may 
be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

Background

    As requested by the USTR pursuant to section 131 of the Trade Act 
of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2151), in its report the Commission will provide 
advice as to the probable economic effect of providing duty-free 
treatment for imports of products of the Dominican Republic (i) on 
industries in the United States producing like or directly competitive 
products, and (ii) on consumers. The import analysis will consider each 
article in chapters 1 through 97 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of 
the United States for which U.S. tariffs will remain after the United 
States fully implements its Uruguay Round tariff commitments. The 
import advice will be based on the 2003 Harmonized Tariff System 
nomenclature and 2002 trade data. The advice with respect to the 
removal of U.S. duties on imports from the Dominican Republic will 
assume that any known U.S. non-tariff barrier will not be applicable to 
such imports. The Commission will note in its report any instance in 
which the continued application of a U.S. non-tariff barrier to such 
imports would result in different advice with respect to the effect of 
the removal of the duty.
    As also requested, pursuant to section 2104(b)(2) of the Trade Act 
of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(b)(2)), the Commission will provide advice as 
to the probable economic effect of eliminating tariffs on imports of 
certain agricultural products of the Dominican Republic on (i) 
industries in the United States producing the product concerned, and 
(ii) the U.S. economy as a whole.
    USTR indicated that the Commission's report will be classified and 
considered to be an inter-agency memorandum containing pre-decisional 
advice and subject to the deliberative process privilege. The 
Commission expects to provide its report to USTR by December 8, 2003.

Public Hearing

    A public hearing in connection with this investigation will be held 
at the United States International Trade Commission Building, 500 E 
Street, SW., Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on October 7, 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., September 22, 2003. Any prehearing briefs (original and 
14 copies) should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., September 25, 
2003; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 5:15 
p.m., October 16, 2003. In the event that, as of the close of business 
on September 22, 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 to the Commission (202-205-1806) after September 22, 2003, 
for information concerning 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)

[[Page 50809]]

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 
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 in the Office of the Secretary to 
the Commission for inspection by interested parties. The Commission may 
include such confidential business information in the report it sends 
to the USTR. 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 October 16, 2003. 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 201.8) (see Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, ftp://usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf).
    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).

    By order of the Commission.
    Issued: August 18, 2003.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-21495 Filed 8-21-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P