[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 161 (Monday, August 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48976-48977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16606]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-471]


Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized 
System of Preferences, 2005 Special Review on Watches

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of hearing.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt on August 9, 2005 of a request from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332 (g)), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-471, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to 
the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2005 Special Review on 
Watches.
    Background: As requested by the USTR, in accordance with sections 
503(a)(1)(A), 503(e), and 131(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended 
(1974 Act), and under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the 
Commission will provide advice with respect to the probable economic 
effect on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive 
articles and on consumers of the elimination of U.S. import duties for 
all beneficiary developing countries under the GSP for the following 
HTS subheadings: 9102.11.10, 9102.11.25, 9102.11.30, 9102.11.45, 
9102.19.20, 9102.19.40, and 9102.91.40. In providing its advice on 
these articles, the USTR asked that the Commission assume that the 
benefits of the GSP would not apply to imports that would be excluded 
from receiving such benefits by virtue of competitive need limits 
specified in section 503(c)(2)(A) of the 1974 Act. In his letter, the 
USTR also requested that the Commission provide advice concerning other 
modifications to the GSP as part of the 2005 review. The Commission 
will provide that advice in November 2005 in its report on 
investigation No. 332-470, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to 
the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2005 Review.
    In addition, as requested by the USTR, the Commission will provide 
advice with respect to HTS subheadings 9102.11.10, 9102.11.25, 
9102.11.30, 9102.11.45, 9102.19.20, 9102.19.40, and 9102.91.40, as to 
the probable economic effect on United States industries (defined for 
watches and watch bands, straps and bracelets as those located in the 
United States and United States insular possessions) manufacturing or 
assembling watches, watch bands, straps or bracelets of the elimination 
of U.S. import duties under the GSP program. In addition to advice on 
the probable economic effect on these industries as a single geographic 
unit, the Commission will also provide separate advice on the probable 
economic effect of such action on the watch manufacturing and assembly 
industry and the watch band, strap, and bracelet manufacturing and 
assembly industry and for each geographic area (the United States and 
the United States insular possessions).
    As requested, the Commission will also provide, to the extent 
possible, data and analysis on the following factors for the most 
recent three year period for the United States industries (as defined 
above) manufacturing or assembling watches or manufacturing or 
assembling watch bands, straps or bracelets: annual production, 
capacity, capacity utilization, domestic shipments, exports, 
inventories, employment, wages, financial experience (including 
prices), the potential decline in output, market share, profits, 
productivity and return on investment, the potential negative effects 
on cash flow, the ability to raise capital and investment, any rapid 
increases in import penetration and the likelihood that such 
penetration will rise to an injurious level, factors affecting domestic 
prices, and any other factors that the Commission deems relevant. The 
Commission will also provide data for the most recent three-year 
period, to the extent possible, on the following factors for current 
and potential foreign producers: current and potential production 
capacity and capacity utilization, domestic shipments, and exports to 
the United States and other markets.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will seek to provide its 
advice no later than February 17, 2006.

DATES: Effective August 9, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader, Cynthia B. Foreso 
((202) 205-3348 or [email protected]) or Deputy Project Leader, 
Alan Treat ((202) 205-3426 or [email protected])
    The above persons are in the Commission's Office of Industries. For 
more information on legal aspects of the investigation, contact William 
Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel at (202) 
205-3091 or [email protected]. The media should contact 
Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations at (202) 205-1819 or 
[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-ONLINE) at http://edis.usitc.gov/hvwebex.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation is scheduled to begin on September 29, 2005 following the 
close of the hearing on investigation No. 332-470, Advice Concerning 
Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 
2005 Review (Investigation No. 332-470), at the United States 
International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, 
DC. All persons have the right to appear by counsel or in person, to 
present information, and to be heard. Persons wishing to appear at the 
public hearing should file a letter with the Secretary, United States 
International Trade Commission, 500 E St., SW., Washington, DC 20436, 
not later than the close of business (5:15 p.m.) on September 9, 2005, 
in accordance with the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section 
below.
    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., September 12, 2005; the deadline for filing posthearing 
statements or briefs is 5:15 p.m., November 7, 2005. 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). 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

[[Page 48977]]

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 section 201.8 of 
the rules (see Handbook for Electronic Filing Procedures, http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/pubs/electronic_filing_handbook.pdf).
    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 201.6 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. As requested by the USTR, the Commission 
will publish a public version of the report. However, in the public 
version, the Commission will not publish confidential business 
information 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.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: August 15, 2005
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 05-16606 Filed 8-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P