April 17, 2014
News Release 14-035
Inv. Nos. TA-131-039 and 332-548
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched two investigations concerning trade in environmental goods.

The first investigation will assess the probable economic effect of removing duties on environmental goods, and the second investigation will provide trade information and estimates for certain specified environmental goods.

The investigations were requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on April 4, 2013. In the request letter, the USTR noted that the he had recently notified Congress of the President's intent to enter into negotiations with a group of WTO members to eliminate tariffs on environmental goods.

As requested, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will conduct two investigations and provide two reports to the USTR. Both reports will be confidential. The USITC will base its analysis on a list of goods provided by the USTR as an attachment to the request letter.

• The first investigation, Environmental Goods Trade Agreement: Advice on the Probable Economic Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports, will assess the economic effects of providing duty-free treatment for imports of certain environmental goods and related products on U.S. industries and consumers. This report will be delivered to USTR on August 4, 2014.
• The second investigation, U.S. Environmental Goods Trade, will provide trade information and estimates for certain specified environmental goods, including information on the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) nomenclature, specific product examples, major U.S. producers, the estimated value of U.S. imports and exports, key U.S. export markets, and tariff rates in key environmental goods markets. This report will be delivered to USTR on October 6, 2014.

The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the first investigation on May 14, 2014. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 6, 2014, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000. (The USITC will not hold a hearing in connection with the second investigation.)

The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record for both investigations. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on May 19, 2014, for the first investigation and July 1, 2014, for the second investigation. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

Further information on the scope of the investigations and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC's notices of investigation, dated April 17, 2014, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/332/131_039_notice04172014sgl.pdf (TA-131-039) and http://www.usitc.gov/secretary/fed_reg_notices/332/332_548_notice04172014sgl.pdf (332-548)) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-2000.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as these, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigations reports are subsequently released to the public, unless, like these, they are classified as confidential by the requester for national security reasons.