[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 2429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-809]



[[Page 2429]]

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

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-2104-18]


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

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of termination of investigation.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 10, 2005.
SUMMARY: On January 5, 2005, the Commission received a letter from the 
Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) stating that 
the USTR has withdrawn his request for a Commission report, pursuant to 
section 2104(f) of the Trade Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(f)), assessing 
the likely impact of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Costa Rica, El 
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (Central America). 
Accordingly, the Commission has terminated investigation No. TA-2104-
18, U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economywide 
and Selected Sectoral Effects, which was instituted pursuant to that 
request. The public hearing in this investigation, scheduled for 
January 18, 2005, is canceled.
    Background: The Commission instituted the investigation following 
receipt of a request from the USTR on November 17, 2004. The Commission 
published notice of institution of the investigation in the Federal 
Register on December 28, 2004 (69 FR 77778). The January 5, 2005, 
letter from USTR noted that the USTR had requested the report in light 
of the fact that the Dominican Republic had enacted a tax on beverages 
sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that the United States 
regarded as incompatible with the Dominican Republic's obligations 
under the FTA that the United States had entered into with Central 
America and the Dominican Republic on August 5, 2004 (and on which the 
Commission had already provided a report). The letter stated that the 
Dominican Republic repealed the tax on December 29, 2004.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 10, 2005.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-809 Filed 1-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P