[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 101 (Wednesday, May 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33575-33576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13078]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation 332-416]


The Economic Effects on the United States of the EU-South Africa 
Agreement on Trade, Development, and Cooperation

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request on April 12, 2000 from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-416, The Economic Effects on the United States of 
the EU-South Africa Agreement on Trade, Development, and Cooperation, a 
report to the President under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 
(19 U.S.C. 1332(g)).

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 17, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from 
Walker Pollard (202-205-3228) or Constance Hamilton (202-205-3263), 
Office of Economics, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, 
DC 20436. For information on the legal aspects of this investigation, 
contact William Gearhart of the Office of the General Counsel (202-205-
3091). Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on 
this matter can be obtained by contacting the TDD terminal on (202) 
205-1810.

Background

    USTR requested that the Commission's report include the following:
    <bullet> An analysis of the likely impact of the EU-South Africa 
agreement (EU-SA agreement) on U.S. trade and investment with South 
Africa.
    <bullet> An analysis of the potential trade diversionary effects of 
the EU-SA agreement and other relevant factors affecting U.S. trade 
with South Africa.
    <bullet> The percentage of trade in goods covered by the EU-SA 
agreement and a profile of South Africa's trade and investment 
patterns.
    <bullet> A summary of the EU-SA agreement's trade-related 
provisions including a descriptive summary of the staging provisions of 
the agreement and a list of all product categories on which tariffs 
will not drop to zero by the end of the 12-year implementation period.
    <bullet> A summary of relevant U.S. business views of the EU-SA 
agreement.
    As requested by the USTR, because the agreement will be implemented 
in stages, the Commission's economic analysis will look at the impact 
of the provisions that would be in effect in the first year of the 
agreement, mid-implementation and full implementation. In addition, 
because the agreement has implications for the Southern African Customs 
Union (SACU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the 
Commission's analysis will, as requested, include information on the 
effects on U.S. trade with the other SACU and SADC members and a 
discussion of the impact of the agreement on the members of the SACU 
and SADC in general. The report will contain a review and bibliography 
of existing academic and other literature relating to this topic.
    In addition to descriptive materials related to the agreement and 
its broad range of potential effects, the Commission will, as 
requested, conduct a formal quantitative economic analysis based on 
actual trade and related to economic variables from a recent 
representative, historical period. This analysis will report on export 
and import levels and at a sectoral level, to the extent possible, on 
changes in U.S. trade and investment with South Africa.
    The report will include a description of any models or data sets 
used in the quantitative assessments of the issues. These descriptions 
will include a discussion of the structure and function of the model 
and the type and breadth of data. The study will discuss the nature of 
the limitations and biases in any formal modeling conducted and how 
such factors may affect reported results, based on economic theory, 
reviews of any relevant economic literature, and more general 
descriptive analysis.
    The Commission plans to submit its report, The Economic Effects on 
the United States of the EU-South Africa Agreement on Trade, 
Development, and Cooperation, by April 12, 2001. The USTR indicated 
that the report will be classified as confidential.

Public Hearing

    A public hearing in connection with the investigation will be held 
at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW, 
Washington, DC, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on September 7, 2000. All 
persons shall have the right to appear, by counsel or in person, to 
present information and to be heard.

[[Page 33576]]

Requests to appear at the public hearing should be filed with the 
Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20436, no later than 5:15 p.m., August 17, 2000.
    Any prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) should be filed not 
later than 5:15 p.m., August 31, 2000; the deadline for filing post-
hearing briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m., September 21, 2000. In the 
event that, as of the close of business on August 17, 2000, 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 non-participant may call the Secretary of the Commission (202-205-
1806) after August 17, 2000, to determine 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 (original 
and 14 copies) concerning the matters to be addressed by the Commission 
in its report on this investigation.
    Commercial or financial information that a person desires the 
Commission to treat as confidential must be submitted on separate 
sheets of paper, each clearly marked ``Confidential Business 
Information'' at the top. All submissions requesting confidential 
treatment must conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the 
Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 201.6).
    All written submissions must conform with the provisions of section 
201.8 of the Commission's Rules. All written submissions, except for 
confidential business information, will be made available in the Office 
of the Secretary of the Commission for inspection by interested 
parties. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written 
statements relating to the Commission's report should be submitted to 
the Commission at the earliest practical date and should be received no 
later than the close of business on September 21, 2000. All submissions 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. The Commission's 
rules do not authorize filing submissions with the Secretary by 
facsimile or electronic means.
    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).

List of Subjects

    European Union, EU, South Africa, free trade area, FTA, imports, 
exports, foreign direct investment.

    Issued: May 18, 2000.
    By order of the Commission.
Donna R. Koehnke,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-13078 Filed 5-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P