[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70787-70788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20671]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-482; Investigation No. Singapore FTA-103-015]


U.S.-Singapore FTA: Probable Economic Effect of Accelerated 
Tariff Elimination and Modification of Rules of Origin

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and request for written 
submissions.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on October 27, 2006, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)) and in accordance with section 
103 of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) 
Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the Commission instituted 
Investigation Nos. 332-482 and Singapore FTA-103-015, U.S.-Singapore 
FTA: Probable Economic Effect of Accelerated Tariff Elimination and 
Modification of Rules of Origin.

DATES: Effective Date: November 28, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from 
Vincent Honnold, Office of Industries (202-205-3314 or 
[email protected]); for information on legal aspects, 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 (202-205-1819 or 
[email protected]).
    Background: According to USTR's request letter, the United States 
and Singapore have agreed to enter into consultations to consider 
acceleration of the reduction or elimination of tariffs (including an 
increase in the quota level of certain tariff rate quotas) for certain 
articles, and a rules of origin change. Sections 201(b) and 202(o) of 
the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act 
(Act) authorize the President to proclaim modifications in duty 
treatment and rules of origin changes, respectively, subject to the 
consultation and layover requirements in section 103 of the Act. 
Section 103 requires that the President obtain advice regarding the 
proposed action from the Commission.
    The USTR requested that the Commission provide advice, with respect 
to three articles, as to the probable economic effect of accelerating 
the reduction or elimination of the U.S. tariff under the USSFTA on 
domestic industries producing like or directly competitive articles, 
and on consumers of the affected goods. The three articles are (1) 
preparations for infant use, put up for retail sale (HS 1901.10); (2) 
peanuts in snack products (HS 2008.11); and (3) polycarbonates (HS 
3907.40.00). The USTR also requested that the Commission provide advice 
on the probable effect of a modification in the rules of origin for 
photocopiers (HS 9009.12.00) on U.S. trade under the USSFTA, on total 
U.S. trade, and on domestic industries. Additional information 
concerning these articles 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 
USSFTA rules of origin can be found in General Note 25 of the 2006 
Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (see ``General Notes'' 
link at http://www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/bychapter/index.htm).
    As requested, the Commission will forward its advice to the USTR by 
February 5, 2007. USTR indicated that those sections of the 
Commission's report that analyze the probable economic effects, as well 
as other information that would reveal aspects of the probable effects 
advice, will be classified.
    Written Submissions: In lieu of a public hearing, interested 
parties are invited to submit written statements concerning the matters 
to be addressed by the Commission in 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 should be submitted 
to the Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received 
no later than the close of business on December 19, 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

[[Page 70788]]

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. 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 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: November 30, 2006.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E6-20671 Filed 12-5-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P