[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54840-54841]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7780]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-2104-023]


U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement: Potential Economy-Wide 
and Selected Sectoral Effects

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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EFFECTIVE DATE: September 14, 2006.
SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on August 25, 2006, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. TA-2104-023, U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement: 
Potential Economy-wide 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. Trade Promotion Agreement 
(TPA) with Colombia 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 James Stamps, Office 
of Economics (202-205-3227; [email protected]) or Michelle Vaca-
Senecal, Office of Industries (202-205-3356; [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. Trade Promotion Agreement with 
Colombia 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 August 24, 2006, the 
President notified the Congress of his intent to enter into a TPA with 
Colombia. The USTR requested that the Commission provide the report as 
soon as possible.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the 
investigation is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on October 5, 2006, 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., September 25, 2006. Any prehearing 
briefs should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., September 29, 2006, and 
any posthearing briefs or statements should be filed no later than 5:15 
p.m., October 16, 2006; all such briefs and statements must be 
submitted in accordance with the requirements below under ``written 
submissions.'' In the event that, as of the close of business on 
September 25, 2006, no witnesses are

[[Page 54841]]

scheduled to appear at the hearing, the hearing will be canceled. Any 
person interested in attending the hearing as an observer or 
nonparticipant may call the Secretary to the Commission (202-205-2000) 
after September 25, 2006, 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., October 16, 2006.
    All written submissions must conform with the provisions of Sec.  
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 Sec.  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) 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: September 14, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 06-7780 Filed 9-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P