[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 51 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13920-13921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5072]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. Chile FTA-103-019]


Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the United 
States-Chile Free Trade Agreement 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 February 11, 2008, from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under authority delegated by 
the President and pursuant to section 103 of the United States-Chile 
Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 3805 note), the 
Commission instituted investigation No. Chile FTA-103-019, Probable 
Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the United States-Chile 
Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin.

DATES: February 11, 2008: Date of receipt of request from the USTR. 
March 6, 2008: Date of institution of investigation. May 1, 2008: 
Deadline for written statements. October 31, 2008: 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, 
statements, and briefs, should be addressed to the Secretary, United 
States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 
20436.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from 
Joanna Bonarriva, Office of Industries (202-205-3312, 
[email protected]) or Linda White, Office of Industries (202-
205-3427, [email protected]) for information specific to this 
investigation; for information on the 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). The public record for this investigation may be 
viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS-ONLINE) at http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/edis.htm. 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, U.S. 
negotiators have recently reached agreement in principle with 
representatives of the government of Chile on the proposed 
modifications to Annex 4.1 of the United States-Chile Free Trade 
Agreement (U.S.-Chile FTA) contained in the document attached to the 
letter. Chapter 4 and Annex 4.1 of the U.S.-Chile FTA set out the rules 
of origin for applying the tariff provisions of the FTA to trade in 
goods. Section 202(o) of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement 
Implementation Act (the Act) authorizes the President, subject to the 
consultation and layover requirements of section 103 of the Act, to 
proclaim such modifications to the rules as may from time to time be 
agreed to by both countries. One of the requirements set out in section 
103 of the Act is that the President obtain advice from the United 
States International Trade Commission.
    The USTR has requested that the Commission provide advice on the 
probable economic effect of the proposed modifications on U.S. trade 
under the U.S.-Chile FTA and on domestic industries. A complete list of 
the products and the proposed modifications 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 U.S. rules of origin can be found 
in General Note 26 of the 2008 Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United 
States (see ``General Notes'' link at http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/tariff_chapters_current/toc.html). As requested, the Commission will forward 
its advice to the USTR by October 31, 2008, and will issue a public 
version of its report (with any confidential business information 
deleted) as soon as possible thereafter.
    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 1, 2008. 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 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, 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 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

[[Page 13921]]

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: March 10, 2008.

    By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
 [FR Doc. E8-5072 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P