[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 45 (Monday, March 8, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10755-10756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5159]


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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-2104-11]


U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economywide and 
Selected Sectoral Effects

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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

SUMMARY: Following receipt on February 17, 2004 of a request from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. TA-2104-11, U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement: 
Potential Economywide and Selected Sectoral Effects, under section 
2104(f) of the Trade Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(f)).
    Background: As requested by the USTR, the Commission will prepare a 
report as specified in section 2104(f)(2)-(3) of the Trade Act of 2002 
assessing the likely impact of the U.S. Free Trade agreement with 
Australia on the United States economy as a whole and on specific 
industry sectors and the interests of U.S. consumers. The report will 
assess the likely impact of the agreement on the United States economy 
as a whole and on specific industry sectors, including the impact the 
agreement will have on the gross domestic product, exports and imports, 
aggregate employment and employment opportunities, the production, 
employment, and competitive position of industries likely to be 
significantly affected by the agreement, and the interests of United 
States consumers.
    In preparing its assessment, the Commission will review available 
economic assessments regarding the agreement, including literature 
regarding any substantially equivalent proposed agreement, and will 
provide in its assessment a description of the analyses used and 
conclusions drawn in such literature, and a discussion of areas of 
consensus and divergence between the various analyses and conclusions, 
including those of the Commission regarding the agreement.
    Section 2104(f)(2) requires that the Commission submit its report 
to the President and the Congress not later than 90 days after the 
President enters into the agreement, which he can do 90 days after he 
notifies the Congress of his intent to do so. The President notified 
the Congress on February 13, 2004, of his intent to enter into an FTA 
with Australia.
    The Commission has begun its assessment, and it will seek public 
input for the investigation through a public hearing on March 30, 2004 
(see below).

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 2, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Jennings, Project Leader, 
Office of Economics (202-205-3260). For information on the legal 
aspects of this investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Office 
of the General Counsel (202-205-3091 or [email protected]). 
For media information, contact Peg O'Laughlin (202-205-1819). 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 this 
investigation is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on March 30, 2004, at 
the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be 
filed with the Secretary, no later than 5:15 p.m., March 16, 2004 in 
accordance with the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below. 
In the event that, as of the close of business on March 16, 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 March 
16, 2004, to determine whether the hearing will be held.
    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., March 
22, 2004; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 
5:15 p.m., April 6, 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 clearly be 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 intends to publish only a public report in this 
investigation. 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.
    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).

[[Page 10756]]

Persons with questions regarding electronic filing should contact the 
Secretary (202-205-2000 or [email protected]).

    Issued: March 3, 2004.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-5159 Filed 3-5-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P