[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 115 (Thursday, June 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34643-34644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9455]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-476]


Advice Concerning the Addition of Certain Pharmaceutical Products 
and Chemical Intermediates to the Pharmaceutical Appendix to the 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation.

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DATES: Effective Date: June 12, 2006.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on May 25, 2006, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
Investigation No. 332-476, Advice Concerning the Addition of Certain 
Pharmaceutical

[[Page 34644]]

Products and Chemical Intermediates to the Pharmaceutical Appendix to 
the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, under section 
332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information specific to these 
investigations may be obtained from Philip Stone, Project Leader (202-
205-3424; [email protected]), Office of Industries, 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: As one part of the market access tariff results of the 
Uruguay Round negotiations, the United States and 21 other countries 
agreed to reciprocal elimination of duties on certain pharmaceutical 
products and chemical intermediates used primarily for the production 
of pharmaceuticals. In the Uruguay Round Agreement Act (URAA), Congress 
authorized the President to grant duty-free treatment to new 
pharmaceutical products and chemical intermediates. One of the 
requirements set out in the URAA is that the President ``obtain advice 
regarding the proposed action'' from the Commission. Pursuant to 
section 115 of the URAA and section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, 
the USTR requests that the Commission provide advice in the form of 
additional information on the pharmaceutical products and chemical 
intermediates currently under consideration. The USTR specifically 
requests (1) a summary description of the products contained in the 
existing Pharmaceutical Appendix and the modifications made to that 
Appendix; (2) an explanation of the relationship between the various 
elements in the Appendix and the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States; and (3) an estimate of the current U.S. imports and, 
where possible, current U.S. exports of the products included in the 
existing Pharmaceutical Appendix and the proposed additions to the 
Appendix.
    A list of the proposed additions to the Pharmaceutical Appendix is 
available on the Commission's Web site at http://www.usitc.gov/ind_econ_ana/combined_tables_pharma_332.pdf. The Commission expects to 
provide its report to the USTR by September 1, 2006.
    Written Submissions: The Commission does not plan to hold a public 
hearing in connection with preparation of this report. However, 
interested parties are invited to submit written statements containing 
pertinent data such as levels of exports and imports for the items 
included in this investigation. All submissions should be addressed to 
the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436, and should be received no later than 
5:15 p.m. EDT on June 21, 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 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 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://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/rules/documents/handbook_on_electronic_filing.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.
    In his request letter, the USTR stated that he intends to make the 
Commission's report available to the public in its entirety, and asked 
that the Commission not include any confidential business or national 
security confidential information in the report. The report that the 
Commission sends to the USTR will not contain any such 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 these investigations may be viewed on the 
Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm. Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that 
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting our 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: June 13, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E6-9455 Filed 6-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P