[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75630-75631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-32241]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. TA-131-27 and TA-2104-9]


U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable 
Economic Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigations and scheduling of hearing.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: December 24, 2003.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on December 8, 2003, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation Nos. TA-131-27 and TA-2104-9, U.S.-Panama Free Trade 
Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable Economic Effect of Providing 
Duty-Free Treatment for Imports, 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 these 
investigations may be obtained from Queena Fan, Project Leader (202-
205-3055; [email protected]), or Tracy Quilter, Deputy Project Leader 
(202-205-3437; [email protected]), Office of Industries, United States 
International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, 20436. For information 
on the legal aspects of these investigations, contact William Gearhart 
of the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091; 
[email protected]). General information concerning the Commission may 
also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).
    Background: On November 18, 2003, the USTR notified the Congress of 
the President's intent to initiate free trade agreement negotiations 
with Panama. Accordingly, the USTR, pursuant to section 131 of the 
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2151), requested the Commission to provide 
a report including advice as to the probable economic effect of 
providing duty-free treatment for imports of products of Panama (i) on 
industries in the United States producing like or directly competitive 
products, and (ii) on consumers. In preparing the advice, the 
Commission's 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 
Panama will assume that any known U.S. nontariff 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. nontariff 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 Panama on (i) industries in the United 
States producing the product concerned, and (ii) the U.S. economy as a 
whole.
    The Commission expects to provide its report to the USTR by April 
8, 2004. The USTR indicated that the Commission's report will be 
classified and considered to be an interagency memorandum containing 
pre-decisional advice and subject to the deliberative process 
privilege.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the 
investigations will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC beginning at 9:30 a.m. on 
February 10, 2004. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be 
filed with the Secretary, no later than 5:15 p.m., January 23, 2004, in 
accordance with the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below. 
In the event that, as of the close of business on

[[Page 75631]]

January 23, 2004, 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-
205-2000) after January 23, 2004, to determine whether the hearing will 
be held. This will be a joint hearing at which the Commission will also 
take testimony in connection with its investigations U.S.-Andean 
Countries Free Trade Agreement: Advice Concerning the Probable Economic 
Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports (investigation Nos. 
TA-131-28 and TA-2104-10).
    Statements and Briefs: In lieu of or in addition to participating 
in the hearing, interested parties are invited to submit written 
statements or briefs concerning the investigation in accordance with 
the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below. Any prehearing 
briefs or statements should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., January 
26, 2004; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 
5:15 p.m., February 17, 2004. 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 February 
17, 2004.
    Submissions: All written submissions including requests to appear 
at the hearing, statements, and briefs should be addressed to the 
Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20436. All written submissions must conform with 
the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8); any submissions that contain confidential 
business information must also conform with the requirements of section 
201.6 of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 
201.6). Section 201.8 of the rules require that a signed original (or a 
copy designated as an original) and fourteen (14) copies of each 
document be filed. In the event that confidential treatment of the 
document is requested, at least four (4) additional copies must be 
filed, in which the confidential information must be deleted. Section 
201.6 of the rules require that the cover of the document and the 
individual pages be clearly marked as to whether they are the 
``confidential'' or ``nonconfidential'' version, and that the 
confidential business information be clearly identified by means of 
brackets.
    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 (19 CFR 201.8) 
(see Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, ftp://ftp.usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf). Persons with questions 
regarding electronic filing should contact the Secretary (202-205-2000 
or [email protected]).
    All written submissions, except for confidential business 
information, will be made available for inspection by interested 
parties. Accordingly, any confidential business information received by 
the Commission in these investigations and used in preparing the report 
will not be published in a manner that would reveal the operations of 
the firm supplying the information.
    The public record for these investigations 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

    Panama, imports, and tariffs.

    Issued: December 24, 2003.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-32241 Filed 12-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P