[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72216-72217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-27238]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. Nos. TA-131-30 and TA-2104-16]


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

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: December 6, 2004.
SUMMARY: Following receipt on December 1, 2004, of a request from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation Nos. TA-131-30 and TA-2104-16, U.S.--Oman 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 Robert Carr, Project Leader (202-
205-3402; [email protected]), or Eric Land, Deputy Project Leader 
(202-205-3049; [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]). 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: On November 15, 2004, the USTR notified the Congress of 
the President's intent to initiate free trade agreement negotiations 
with the Sultanate of Oman (Oman). 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 Oman (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 2004 Harmonized Tariff System nomenclature and 2003 
trade data. The advice with respect to the removal of U.S. duties on 
imports from Oman 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 Oman 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 
that USTR considered it to be an interagency memorandum containing pre-
decisional advice and subject to the deliberative process privilege. 
The Commission expects to provide its report to USTR by February 28, 
2005.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with these 
investigations is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on January 5, 2005, 
at the United States International Trade Commission Building, 500 E 
Street SW, Washington, DC. This hearing will be held sequentially with 
a separate Commission hearing on January 5, 2005, in connection with 
its investigation U.S.--UAE FTA: Advice Concerning the Probable 
Economic Effects of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports (Inv. 
Nos. TA-131-31 and TA-2104-17). Requests to appear at the public 
hearing should be filed with the Secretary, not later than 5:15 p.m., 
December 17, 2004, in accordance with the requirements in the 
``Submissions'' section below. In the event that, as of the close of 
business on December 17, 2004, no witnesses are scheduled to appear, 
the hearing will be canceled. Any person interested in attending the 
hearing as an observer or non-participant may call the Secretary (202-
205-1806) after December 17, 2004 to determine 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 or briefs concerning these investigations. 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. 
Any prehearing statements or briefs should be filed not later than 5:15 
p.m., December 21, 2004; the deadline for filing posthearing statements 
or briefs is 5:15 p.m., January 12, 2005. All written submissions must 
conform with the provisions of Sec.  201.8 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.8). Section 201.8 of the rules 
requires 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 (see the following paragraph for further information 
regarding confidential business information). The Commission's rules do 
not authorize filing submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or 
electronic means, except to the extent permitted by Sec.  201.8 of the 
rules (see Handbook for

[[Page 72217]]

Electronic Filing Procedures, ftp://ftp.usitc.gov/pub/reports/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf).
    Any submissions that contain confidential business information must 
also conform with the requirements of Sec.  201.6 of the Commission's 
Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6). Section 201.6 of the 
rules requires 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. 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 some or all of the confidential business 
information submitted in the course of these investigations in the 
report it sends to the USTR and the President. However, should the 
Commission publish a public version of this report, such confidential 
business information will not be published in a manner that would 
reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.
    Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance 
in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Secretary at 
202-205-2000.

List of Subjects

    Oman, tariffs, and imports.

    Issued: December 7, 2004.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 04-27238 Filed 12-10-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P