[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 70 (Thursday, April 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18491-18492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6904]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-490 and Investigation No. NAFTA-103-017]


Certain Sugar Goods: Probable Economic Effect of Tariff 
Elimination Under NAFTA for Goods of Mexico

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 March 15, 2007 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 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Implementation 
Act (19 U.S.C. 3313), the Commission instituted Investigation Nos. 332-
490 and NAFTA-103-017, Certain Sugar Goods: Probable Economic Effect of 
Tariff Elimination under NAFTA for Goods of Mexico.

DATES: March 15, 2007: Date of receipt of request.
    April 5, 2007: Date of institution of investigation.
    May 4, 2007: Deadline for written statements, including any post-
hearing briefs.
    June 15, 2007: Transmittal of report to the USTR.

ADDRESSES: All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing 
rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission 
Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions, 
including requests to appear at the hearing, statements, and briefs, 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436. The public record 
for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic 
docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from 
Douglas Newman, Office of Industries (202-205-3328 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]). Hearing impaired individuals are advised 
that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the TDD 
terminal on (202-205-1810). General information concerning the 
Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server 
(http://www.usitc.gov). 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According to the USTR's letter, the 
President may

[[Page 18492]]

eliminate duties on between 175,000 and 250,000 metric tons, raw value, 
of sugar goods of Mexico that are classified in the tariff items listed 
below. Duties on these goods would be eliminated on October 1, 2007. 
Section 201(b) of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act (Act) authorizes the President, subject to the 
consultation and layover requirements in section 103(a) of the Act, to 
proclaim such modifications as the United States may agree to with 
Mexico or Canada regarding the staging of any duty treatment set forth 
in Annex 302.2 of the NAFTA. Section 103(a) requires the President to 
obtain advice regarding the proposed action from the Commission.
    The USTR requested that the Commission provide advice as to the 
probable economic effect on domestic industries producing like or 
directly competitive articles, workers in these industries, and on 
consumers of the affected goods, of eliminating the U.S. tariff under 
the NAFTA on between 175,000 and 250,000 metric tons, raw value, of 
sugar goods of Mexico falling under the following Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule subheadings: (1) 1701.11.50 (raw cane sugar); (2) 1701.12.50 
(raw beet sugar); (3) 1701.91.30 (refined sugar, containing added 
coloring); (4) 1701.99.50 (other refined sugar); (5) 1702.90.20 (other 
sugar and syrups, containing 6 percent or less soluble non-sugar 
solids); and (6) 2106.90.46 (sugar syrups, containing added coloring).
    As requested, the Commission will provide its advice to the USTR by 
June 15, 2007. USTR has classified as Confidential the sections of the 
report that analyze probable economic effects, as well as other 
information that would reveal any aspect of the probable economic 
effects advice. USTR also requested that the Commission issue, as soon 
as possible after June 15, a public version of its report with any 
confidential business information deleted. Accordingly, the Commission 
will issue a public version of the report as soon as possible after 
June 15 and completion of USTR's review for classification purposes. 
The public version of the report will not include any sections of the 
report or information that USTR has classified as Confidential, or any 
information that the Commission considers to be confidential business 
information.
    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 May 4, 2007. 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, 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 Sec.  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. 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 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, the Commission will 
not publish such confidential business information in the public 
version of its report in a manner that would reveal the operations of 
the firm supplying the information.

    Issued: April 6, 2007.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E7-6904 Filed 4-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P