[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 61 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16179-16180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4609]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. Nos. TA-131-33 and TA-2104-22]


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

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigations and scheduling of public hearing.

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DATES: Effective Date: March 24, 2006.
SUMMARY: Following receipt on March 17, 2006, of a request from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation Nos. TA-131-033 and TA-2104-022, U.S.-Malaysia 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 Heidi Colby-Oizumi, Project Leader 
(202-205-3391; [email protected]), Office of Industries, or James 
Fetzer, Deputy Project Leader (202-708-5403; [email protected]), 
Office of Economics, 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]). General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
internet server (http://www.usitc.gov).

Background

    On March 8, 2006, the USTR notified the Congress of the President's 
intent to enter into negotiations for a free trade agreement with 
Malaysia. 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 Malaysia (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 2006 Harmonized Tariff System nomenclature and 2005 trade data. The 
advice with respect to the removal of U.S. duties on imports from 
Malaysia 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 Malaysia on (i) industries in the 
United States producing the product concerned, and (ii) the U.S. 
economy as a whole.
    The Commission expects to provide its report to USTR by June 30, 
2006. USTR indicated that those sections of the Commission's report 
that relate to the analysis of probable economic effects will be 
classified.

Public Hearing

    A public hearing in connection with these investigations is 
scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on April 19, 2006, at the United States 
International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, 
DC. Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the 
Secretary, no later than 5:15 p.m., April 4, 2006, in accordance with 
the requirements in the ``Submissions'' section below. Any person 
interested in attending the hearing as an observer or non-participant 
may call the Secretary (202-205-2000) after April 4, 2006 to determine 
whether the hearing will be held.

Statements and Briefs

    In lieu of or in addition to participating in the hearing, 
interested parties are invited to submit written statements or briefs 
concerning these investigations in accordance with the requirements in 
the ``Submissions'' section below. Any prehearing statements or briefs 
should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., April 6, 2006; the deadline 
for filing post-hearing statements or briefs is 5:15 p.m., April 25, 
2006.

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 these 
investigations. 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., April 25, 2006. 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

[[Page 16180]]

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 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 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.
    The public record for these investigations may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at 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 Secretary at 202-205-2000.
    List of Subjects: Malaysia, tariffs, and imports.

    Issued: March 24, 2006.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E6-4609 Filed 3-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P