[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46184-46185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17537]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-345]


Shifts in U.S. Merchandise Trade 2004

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2004.

ACTION: Opportunity to submit written statements in connection with the 
July 2005 Web site update containing information for 2004.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has prepared and published annual reports on 
U.S. trade shifts in selected industries/commodity areas under 
investigation No. 332-345 since 1993.

[[Page 46185]]

The Commission plans to publish the 2004 Web site update in July 2005, 
which will cover shifts in U.S. trade in 2004 compared with trade in 
2003. Comments and suggestions regarding the Web site update to be 
completed in July 2005 are welcome in written submissions as specified 
below.
    The ITC has changed the structure of this year's report, converting 
exclusively to a Web-based format (with added focus on sectoral issues) 
that can be accessed at http://www.usitc.gov/tradeshifts/default.htm. 
This new format includes links to ITC research and other resources 
allowing quick access to analyses and data, as well as links to other 
organizations that have related information. Future improvements also 
anticipate additional features, such as mid-year data and information 
updates. User feedback on the revised format is encouraged by providing 
access to the ITC online Reader Satisfaction Survey (http://reportweb.usitc.gov/reader_survey/readersurvey.html).
    A CD-ROM version of the report containing 2003 data may be 
requested by contacting the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205-2000 
or by fax at (202) 205-2104. Interested parties may also provide 
comments by downloading the survey form and business reply mailer for 
this publication from the Commission's Web site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the merchandise trade 
shifts information may be directed to the project leader, Heather 
Sykes, Office of Industries ((202) 205-3436). For information on the 
legal aspects, please contact William Gearhart, Office of General 
Counsel ((202) 205-3091). The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, 
Public Affairs Officer ((202) 205-1819). Hearing impaired individuals 
are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by 
contacting the TDD terminal on (202) 205-2648.
    Background: The initial notice of institution of this investigation 
was published in the Federal Register of September 8, 1993 (58 F.R. 
47287). The Commission expanded the scope of this investigation to 
cover services trade in a separate report, which it announced in a 
notice published in the Federal Register of December 28, 1994 (59 F.R. 
66974). The merchandise trade report has been published in the current 
series under investigation No. 332-345 annually since September 1993. 
This year's Web-based format identifies the key trends affecting 
principal foreign markets and 10 major U.S. sectors. In addition, U.S. 
industry and market profiles covering each sector for full-years 1999-
2003, to include domestic consumption, production, employment, and 
import penetration, are provided for more than 250 major industry/
commodity groups and subgroups examined in the study.
    Written Submissions: No public hearing is planned. However, 
interested persons are invited to submit written comments or 
suggestions concerning the July 2005 report. 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. All written submissions, except for confidential business 
information, will be made available for inspection by interested 
parties. In the public version of the report, however, the Commission 
will not publish confidential business information in a manner that 
could 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). Persons with questions 
regarding electronic filing should contact the Secretary ((202) 205-
2000 or [email protected].) To be assured of consideration by the 
Commission, written statements related 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 December 
29, 2004. All submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United 
States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20436.

    Issued July 28, 2004.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-17537 Filed 7-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P