[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 84 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24327-24328]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8256]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. TA-2104-025]


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

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request from the United States Trade 
Representative (USTR) on March 30, 2007, the Commission instituted 
investigation No. TA-2104-025, U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement: 
Potential Economy-wide and Selected Sectoral Effects, under Sec.  
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.-Panama Trade Promotion 
Agreement (TPA) on the U.S. economy as a whole and on specific industry 
sectors and the interests of U.S. consumers.

DATES: March 30, 2007: Receipt of request.
    May 7, 2007: Deadline for receipt of requests to appear at hearing.
    May 10, 2007: Deadline for filing pre-hearing briefs and 
statements.
    May 16, 2007, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing.
    May 23, 2007: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and 
statements and all other written submissions.
    September 12, 2007: Anticipated date for transmitting report to 
USTR and the Congress.

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: Project Leader Jennifer Baumert, 
Office of Industries (202-205-3450; [email protected]) or 
Deputy Project Leader Alan Treat, Office of Industries (202-205-3426; 
[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 at 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 
Secretary at 202-205-2000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As requested by the USTR, the Commission 
will prepare a report as specified in Sec.  2104(f)(2)-(3) of the Trade 
Act of 2002 assessing the likely impact of the U.S.-Panama Trade 
Promotion Agreement 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 March 30, 2007, the 
President notified the Congress of his intent to enter into a TPA with 
Panama. The USTR requested that the Commission provide its report as 
soon as possible.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with the 
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. on May 16, 2007, at 
the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., 
Washington, DC. All persons will 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 no 
later than 5:15 p.m., May 7, 2007. Any pre-hearing briefs and 
statements should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m., May 10, 2007, and 
any post-hearing briefs and statements should be filed no later than 
5:15 p.m., May 23, 2007; 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 May 7, 
2007, 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 nonparticipant may call the Secretary to the Commission 
(202-205-2000) after May 7, 2007, 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. 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., May 23, 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, 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

[[Page 24328]]

facsimile or electronic means, except to the extent permitted by Sec.  
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.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: April 26, 2007.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E7-8256 Filed 5-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P