[Federal Register: March 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 50)]
[Notices]
[Page 12380-12381]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr03-78]
[[Page 12380]]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. TA-204-9]
Steel: Monitoring Developments in the Domestic Industry
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution and scheduling of an investigation under section
204(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2254(a)) (the Act).
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SUMMARY: The Commission instituted the investigation for the purpose of
preparing the report to the President and the Congress required by
section 204(a)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 on the results of its
monitoring of developments with respect to the domestic steel industry
since the President imposed tariffs and tariff-rate quotas on imports
of certain steel products,\1\ effective March 20, 2002.
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\1\ Subheadings 9903.72.30 through 9903.74.24 of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States cover the steel products
included in these safeguard measures as well as specifying products
and sources excluded from the safeguard measures. In the 2003 HTS,
subheadings 9903.72.30 through 9903.72.48 cover carbon and alloy
steel slabs; subheadings 9903.72.50 through 9903.73.39 cover carbon
and alloy steel flat-rolled products (including plates and other
hot-rolled steel, cold-rolled steel other than grain-oriented steel,
and clad, coated, and plated steel); subheadings 9903.73.42 through
9903.73.62 cover certain carbon and alloy steel bars, rods, and
light shapes; subheadings 9903.73.65 through 9903.73.71 cover carbon
steel concrete reinforcing bars (rebars); subheadings 9903.73.74
through 9903.73.86 cover certain carbon and alloy steel non-seamless
pipes and tubes; subheadings 9903.73.88 through 9903.73.95 cover
certain tube and pipe fittings; subheadings 9903.73.97 through
9903.74.16 cover stainless steel bars, rods, angles, shapes, and
sections; and subheadings 9903.74.18 through 9903.74.24 cover
stainless steel wire.
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For further information concerning the conduct of this
investigation, hearing procedures, and rules of general application,
consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201,
subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 206, subparts A and F
(19 CFR part 206).
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 5, 2003.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Haines (202-205-3200),
Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can 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. General information
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its
internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this
internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this
investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket
(EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background.--Following receipt of a report from the Commission in
December 2001 under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2252) containing affirmative determinations and remedy recommendations,
the President, on March 5, 2002, pursuant to section 203 of the Trade
Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2253), issued Proclamation 7529, imposing import
relief in the form of tariffs and tariff-rate quotas on imports of
certain steel products for a period of 3 years and 1 day, effective
March 20, 2002. Section 204(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2254(a)(1)) requires that the Commission, so long as any action under
section 203 of the Trade Act remains in effect, monitor developments
with respect to the domestic industry, including the progress and
specific efforts made by workers and firms in the domestic industry to
make a positive adjustment to import competition. Section 204(a)(2)
requires, whenever the initial period of an action under section 203 of
the Trade Act exceeds 3 years, that the Commission submit a report on
the results of the monitoring under section 204(a)(1) to the President
and the Congress not later than the mid-point of the initial period of
the relief, or by September 19, 2003, in this case. Section 204(a)(3)
requires that the Commission hold a hearing in the course of preparing
each such report.
Participation in the investigation and service list.--Persons
wishing to participate in the investigation as parties must file an
entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as provided
in section 201.11 of the Commission's rules, not later than 21 days
after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The Secretary
will prepare a service list containing the names and addresses of all
persons, or their representatives, who are parties to this
investigation upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of
appearance.
Limited disclosure of confidential business information (CBI).--
Pursuant to section 206.17 of the Commission's rules, the Secretary
will make CBI gathered in this investigation available to authorized
applicants under an administrative protective order (APO) issued in the
investigation, provided that the application is made not later than 21
days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. A
separate service list will be maintained by the Secretary for those
parties authorized to receive CBI under the APO.
Public hearings.--As required by statute, the Commission has
scheduled hearings in connection with this investigation. The hearings
will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. on July 10, 2003 (stainless steel
products), July 15, 2003 (carbon and alloy flat products), July 17,
2003 (carbon and alloy long products), and July 22, 2003 (carbon and
alloy tubular products), at the U.S. International Trade Commission
Building, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC. Requests to appear at the
hearings should be filed in writing with the Secretary to the
Commission on or before June 20, 2003. Requests should identify the
products to be addressed and the amount of time requested. All persons
desiring to appear at the hearings and make oral presentations should
attend a prehearing conference to be held at 9:30 a.m. on July 7, 2003,
at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Oral testimony and
written materials to be submitted at the hearings are governed by
sections 201.6(b)(2) and 201.13(f) of the Commission's rules. Parties
must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony
in camera no later than 7 days prior to the date of the hearing.
Written submissions.--Each party is encouraged to submit a
prehearing brief to the Commission. The deadline for filing prehearing
briefs is July 2, 2003. Parties may also file posthearing briefs. The
deadlines for filing posthearing briefs are July 18, 2003 (for material
covered at the hearing on July 10, 2003), July 25, 2003 (for material
covered at the hearings on July 15 and 17, 2003) and August 1, 2003
(for material covered at the hearing on July 22, 2003). In addition,
any person who has not entered an appearance as a party to the
investigation may submit, on or before August 1, 2003, a written
statement concerning the matters to be addressed in the Commission's
report to the President. All written submissions must conform with the
provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any submissions
that contain confidential business information must also conform with
the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's rules. Any CBI
that is provided will be subject to limited disclosure under the APO
(see above) and may be included in the report that the Commission sends
to the President. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing of
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic
[[Page 12381]]
means, except to the extent permitted by section 201.8 of the
Commission's rules, as amended, 67 Fed. Reg. 68036 (November 8, 2002).
In accordance with section 201.16(c) of the Commission's rules,
each document filed by a party to the investigation must be served on
all other parties to the investigation (as identified by the service
list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary
will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.
Authority: This investigation is being conducted under the
authority of section 204(a) of the Trade Act of 1974; this notice is
published pursuant to section 206.3 of the Commission's rules.
Dated: March 10, 2003.
By order of the Commission.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 03-6123 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P