[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 62 (Friday, March 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16345-16346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4737]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. NAFTA-103-014]


Probable Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American 
Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and opportunity to file written 
submissions.

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DATES: Effective Date: March 24 , 2006.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on March 20, 2006, from United 
States Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by the 
President and pursuant to section 103 of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3313), the Commission 
instituted investigation No. NAFTA-103-014,

[[Page 16346]]

Probable Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American Free 
Trade Agreement Rules of Origin.
    Background: According to the USTR's letter, U.S. negotiators have 
recently reached agreement in principle with representatives of the 
governments of Canada and Mexico on proposed modifications to Annexes 
401 and 403 of the NAFTA. Chapter 4 and Annexes 401 and 403 of the 
NAFTA set forth in the rules of origin for applying the tariff 
provisions of the NAFTA to trade in goods. Section 202(q) of the NAFTA 
Implementation Act (the Act) authorizes the President, subject to the 
consultation and layover requirements of section 103 of the Act, to 
proclaim such modifications to the rules as may from time to time be 
agreed to by the NAFTA countries. One of the requirements set out in 
section 103 of the Act is that the President obtain advice from the 
United States International Trade Commission.
    The USTR has requested that the Commission provide advice on the 
probable effect on U.S. trade under the NAFTA and on domestic 
industries as a result of proposed modifications to the rules of origin 
in NAFTA Annexes 401 and 403 for a number of products. A complete 
listing of the products and the proposed modifications is available 
from the Office of the Secretary to the Commission or by accessing the 
electronic version of this notice at the Commission's Internet site 
(http://www.usitc.gov). The current U.S. rules of origin can be found 
in General Note 12 of the 2005 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (see ``General Notes'' link at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/tariff_chapters_current/toc.html). As requested, the Commission will forward 
its advice to the USTR by August 14, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader, Edmund Cappuccilli 
(202-205-3368 or [email protected]) or Deputy Project 
Leader, Vincent Honnold (202-205-3314 or [email protected]). 
The above persons are in the Commission's Office of Industries. For 
more information on the legal aspects of the investigation, contact 
William Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel 
(202-205-3091 or [email protected]). The media should contact 
Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations at 202-205-1819 or 
[email protected]).
    Written Submissions: In lieu of a public hearing, interested 
parties are invited to submit written statements concerning any 
economic effect of the modifications. 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 should be submitted to the 
Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no 
later than the close of business on June 2, 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 each document be filed. In 
the event that confidential treatment of the document is requested, at 
least four (4) additional copies must be filed, from which the 
confidential business information must be deleted (see the following 
paragraph for further information regarding confidential business 
information). The Commission's rules authorize filing submissions with 
the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means only 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 this investigation in the report 
it sends to the USTR and the President. 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.
    The public record for this investigation 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 Office of the Secretary at 202-
205-2000.

    By order of the Commission

    Issued: March 27, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E6-4737 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P