[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19893-19894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5787]


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 INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-325]


The Economic Effects of Significant U.S. Import Restraints: Fifth 
Update

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice of fifth update report and scheduling of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has announced the schedule for its Fifth update 
report in investigation No. 332-325, The Economic Effects of 
Significant U.S. Import Restraints, and has established deadlines for 
the submission of requests to appear at the hearing and for the filing 
of written submissions as set forth below. The investigation was 
requested by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in May 
1992. That request called for an initial investigation and subsequent 
updates, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 
1332(g)).

DATES: Effective Date: April 7, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Fox, Project Leader 
([email protected], or 202-205-3267), or Sandra Rivera, Deputy Project 
Leader ([email protected], or 202-205-3007) in the Commission's 
Office of Economics. For information on the legal aspects of this 
investigation, contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General 
Counsel ([email protected], or 202-205-3091). The media should 
contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-
1819; [email protected]).
    Background: The Commission instituted this investigation following 
receipt on May 15, 1992 of a request from the USTR. The request asked 
that the Commission conduct an investigation assessing the quantitative 
economic effects of significant U.S. import restraints on the U.S. 
economy, and prepare periodic update reports following the submission 
of the first report. The first report was delivered to the USTR in 
November 1993, the first update in December 1995, the second update in 
May 1999, the third update in June 2002, and the fourth update in June 
2004.
    In this fifth update, the Commission will assess the economic 
effects of

[[Page 19894]]

significant tariff and non-tariff U.S. import restraints on U.S. 
consumers, on the activities of U.S. firms, on the income and 
employment of U.S. workers, and on the net economic welfare of the 
United States. The assessment will not include import restraints 
resulting from final antidumping or countervailing duty investigations, 
section 337 and 406 investigations, or section 301 actions.
    The initial notice of institution of this investigation was 
published in the Federal Register of June 17, 1992 (57 FR 27063).
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the 
investigation will be held at the U.S. International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on 
July 13, 2006. 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, U.S. 
International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20436, no later than 5:15 p.m., June 2, 2006. Any prehearing briefs 
(original and 14 copies) should be filed not later than the close of 
business, June 8, 2006; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or 
statements is the close of business, August 11, 2006. In the event 
that, as of the close of business on June 2, 2006, 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 June 5, 2006, to determine 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. To be assured of consideration by the 
Commission, written statements relating 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., June 16, 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 by 
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, http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/pubs/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 for inspection by interested 
parties.
    USTR requested that all reports in this series be released in their 
entirety to the public. Accordingly, the Commission intends to prepare 
only a public report in this investigation. The report that the 
Commission sends to the USTR and make 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.
    Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this 
matter can be obtained 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. General information concerning 
the Commission may be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed 
on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

List of Subjects

    U.S. Import Restraints, Nontariff measures (NTM), Tariffs, Imports.

    Issued: April 12, 2006.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E6-5787 Filed 4-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P