[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 214 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67500-67501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22153]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-2104-19]


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

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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

DATES: Effective Date: October 28, 2005.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on October 19, 2005, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. TA-2104-19, U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement: Potential 
Economywide and Selected Sectoral Effects, under section 2104(f) of the 
Trade Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(f)), for the purpose of assessing the 
likely impact of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement with Oman on the United 
States economy as a whole and on specific industry sectors and the 
interests of U.S. consumers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leaders, Robert Wallace, 
Office of Industries (202-205-3458; [email protected]), or 
Nannette Christ, Office of Economics (202-205-3263; 
[email protected]). For information on legal aspects, contact 
William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-3091; 
[email protected]). The media should contact Margaret 
O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819; 
[email protected]).
    Background: As requested by the USTR, the Commission will prepare a 
report as specified in section 2104(f)(2)-(3) of the Trade Act of 2002 
assessing the likely impact of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement with Oman 
on the U.S. economy as a whole and on specific industry sectors, 
including the impact the agreement will have on the gross domestic 
product, exports and imports, aggregate employment and employment 
opportunities, the production, employment, and competitive position of 
industries likely to be significantly affected by the agreement, and 
the interests of U.S. consumers.
    In preparing its assessment, the Commission will review available 
economic assessments regarding the agreement, including literature 
concerning any substantially equivalent proposed agreement, and will 
provide in its assessment a description of the analyses used and 
conclusions drawn in such literature, and a discussion of areas of 
consensus and divergence between the various analyses and conclusions, 
including those of the Commission regarding the agreement.
    Section 2104(f)(2) requires that the Commission submit its report 
to the President and the Congress not later than 90 days after the 
President enters into the agreement, which he can do 90 days after he 
notifies the Congress of his intent to do so. On October 17, 2005, the 
President notified the Congress of his intent to enter into an FTA with 
Oman. The USTR requested that the Commission provide the report by 
February 3, 2006.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the 
investigation is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on December 7, 2005, 
at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW., 
Washington, DC. All persons shall have the right to appear, by counsel 
or in person, to present information and to be heard. Requests to 
appear at the public hearing should be filed with the Secretary, United 
States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 
20436, no later than 5:15 p.m., November 28, 2005. Any prehearing 
briefs (original and 14 copies) should be filed no later than 5:15 
p.m., December 1, 2005; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or 
statements is 5:15 p.m., December 15, 2005. In the event that, as of 
the close of business on November 28, 2005, no witnesses are scheduled 
to appear at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Any person 
interested in attending the hearing as an observer or non-participant 
may call the Secretary to the Commission (202-205-2000) after November 
28, 2005, for information concerning 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 concerning the matters to be addressed by the Commission in 
its report on this investigation. Submissions should be addressed to 
the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. 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 5:15 p.m., December 15, 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 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 business 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 section 201.8 of the rules (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]).
    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 intends to prepare only a public report in this 
investigation. The report that the Commission sends to the President 
and the Congress and makes available to the public will not contain 
confidential business information. Any confidential business 
information received by the Commission in this investigation and used 
in preparing the report will not be published in a manner that would 
reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information.
    The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS)

[[Page 67501]]

http://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing impaired individuals may obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's 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.

    Issued: November 1, 2005.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commision.
[FR Doc. 05-22153 Filed 11-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P