[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47177-47178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17812]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. NAFTA-103-6]


Probable Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American 
Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and request for written 
submissions.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: July 29, 2004.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on July 26, 2004, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by 
the President and pursuant to section 103 of the North American Free 
Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3313), the 
Commission instituted investigation No. NAFTA-103-6, Probable Effect of 
Certain Modifications to the North American Free Trade Agreement Rules 
of Origin, to provide advice to the President on the probable effect on 
U.S. trade under the NAFTA and on domestic industries of certain 
modifications to the rules of origin in NAFTA Annexes 401 and 403.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from Laura 
Polly, Office of Industries (202-205-3408, [email protected]), or 
Warren Payne, Office of Industries (202-205-3317, 
[email protected]). For information on the legal aspects of this 
investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General 
Counsel (202-205-3091, [email protected]). The media should 
contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of Public Affairs (202-205-1819, 
[email protected]).
    Background: According to the USTR's letter, U.S. negotiators have 
recently reached agreement in principle with representatives of the 
governments of Canada and Mexico on proposed modifications to Annexes 
401 and 403 of the NAFTA. Chapter 4 and Annexes 401 and 403 of the 
NAFTA contain the rules of origin for application of the tariff 
provisions of the NAFTA to trade in goods. Section 202(q) of the North 
American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (the Act) authorizes

[[Page 47178]]

the President, subject to the consultation and layover requirements of 
section 103 of the Act, to proclaim such modifications to the rules as 
may from time to time be agreed to by the NAFTA countries. One of the 
requirements set out in section 103 of the Act is that the President 
obtain advice from the United States International Trade Commission.
    A list of the proposed modifications to Annexes 401 and 403 is 
available from the Office of the Secretary to the Commission or by 
accessing the electronic version of this notice at the Commission's 
Internet site (http://www.usitc.gov). The current U.S. rules of origin 
can be found in General Note 12 of the 2004 Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States (see ``General Notes'' link at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/tariff_chapters_current/toc.html).
    As requested, the Commission will forward its advice by September 
24, 2004. This investigation, although the first to be formally 
designated as a ``NAFTA-103'' investigation, has been designated as 
investigation No. NAFTA-103-6 because the Commission has previously 
provided NAFTA rules of origin advice to the President pursuant to 
section 103. For docketing and record keeping purposes, we are 
designating advice provided on September 5, 1995 as investigation No. 
NAFTA-103-1 (also docketed as investigation No. 332-363, see 
description in the Federal Register of June 7, 1995 (60 FR 30099)); 
advice provided on September 29, 1995 as investigation No. NAFTA-103-2 
(also docketed as investigation No. 332-364, see description in the 
Federal Register of September 7, 1995 (60 FR 46626)); advice provided 
on September 10, 1999 as investigation No. NAFTA-103-3 (see description 
in the Federal Register of August 6, 1999 (64 FR 42961)); advice 
provided on September 14, 2001 as investigation No. NAFTA-103-4 (see 
description in the Federal Register of August 7, 2001 (66 FR 41268)); 
and advice provided on October 24, 2001 as investigation No. NAFTA-103-
5 (see description in the Federal Register of October 4, 2001 (66 FR 
50680)).
    Written Submissions: No public hearing is being scheduled in 
connection with preparing this advice. However, interested parties are 
invited to submit written statements (original and 14 copies) 
concerning any economic effect of the modifications. 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 to 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'' versions, 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. The Commission may include confidential business information 
submitted in the course of this investigation in the report that it 
sends to the President. The USTR has also requested that the Commission 
prepare and make available a public version of its report; the 
Commission will not publish confidential business information in the 
public version of its report in a manner that would reveal the 
operations of the firm supplying the information.
    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 must be received no 
later than the close of business on August 27, 2004. All submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436. 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]).
    The public record for this report 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

    NAFTA, rules of origin.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: July 29, 2004.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-17812 Filed 8-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P