Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 87 /Wednesday, May 6, 1998 / Notices 25069

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

COMMISSION

[Investigation 332–393]

Ammonium Nitrate: A Comparative

Analysis of Factors Affecting Global

Trade

AGENCY: United States International

Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and

scheduling of public hearing.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 27, 1998.

SUMMARY: Following receipt of a request

on April 2, 1998, from the Senate

Committee on Finance, the Commission

instituted investigation No. 332–393,

Ammonium Nitrate: A Comparative

Analysis of Factors Affecting Global

Trade, under section 332(g) of the Tariff

Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Industry-specific information may be

obtained from Ms. Elizabeth Nesbitt

(202–205–3355), Office of Industries,

U.S. International Trade Commission,

Washington, DC 20436. For information

on the legal aspects of this investigation

contact Mr. 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:

In its report, the Commission will, as

requested by the Committee in its letter,

provide a comparative analysis of

factors affecting global trade in

ammonium nitrate, with special

emphasis on the industries in the

United States, the European Union, and

Russia. As requested, the Commission

will provide the following information,

to the extent information is available,

with data presented for the most recent

five-year period, or except as noted:

• An overview of the world

ammonium nitrate market, including

examination of consumption (for the

most recent 10-year period), import, and

export trends, and information on future

consumption in the major markets;

• Industry profiles of the principal

manufacturers and traders, their pattern

of ownership and investment, including

the extent to which government

programs may affect production and

may impede trade in ammonium nitrate

between the specified countries.

Examples of such programs cited by the

Committee are farm policies, industrial

policies, economic policies, trade

policies, and other governmental

measures that may affect the cost of raw

materials and transportation;

• An overview of the ammonium

nitrate production process, with

information on costs of production,

including those of its major raw material

components, and the principal sources

of these feedstocks; and

• Information on trends in domestic

and export prices of ammonium nitrate.

In its request letter the Committee

noted that the United States is a major

producer and consumer of nitrogenous

fertilizers, including urea and

ammonium nitrate. The Committee

stated that it has recently come to its

attention that U.S. ammonium nitrate

producers have concerns about

competitive conditions affecting their

industry, including increased imports of

ammonium nitrate from Russia. The

producers believe that these increased

imports are the indirect result of the

European Union’s (EU) imposition of an

antidumping order in 1995 on EU

imports of ammonium nitrate from

Russia. The letter continues by stating

that moreover, the producers are

concerned about additional imports of

Russian ammonium nitrate into the

United States as a result of the EU’s

recent institution of a review of the

original order.

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 June 16,

1998. All persons shall 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, U.S.

International Trade Commission, 500 E

Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, no

later than 5:15 p.m., June 2, 1998. Any

prehearing briefs (original and 14

copies) should be filed not later than

5:15 p.m., June 4, 1998; the deadline for

filing post-hearing briefs or statements

is 5:15 p.m., June 30, 1998. In the event

that, as of the close of business on June

2, 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 (202–205–1816) after

June 2, 1998, 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 concerning the matters to be

addressed by the Commission in its

report on this investigation. Commercial

or financial information that a submitter

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, 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 5:15 p.m. on June

30, 1998. All submissions should be

addressed to the Secretary, U.S.

International Trade Commission, 500 E

Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.

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

Ammonium nitrate, ammonia, natural

gas, urea.

Issued: April 28, 1998.

By order of the Commission.

Donna R. Koehnke,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–12012 Filed 5–5–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7020–02–P

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 753–TA–34]

In the Matter of Extruded Rubber

Thread from Malaysia; Notice of

Commission Determination to Conduct

a Portion of the Hearing in Camera

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade

Commission.

ACTION: Closure of a portion of a

Commission hearing to the public.

SUMMARY: Upon request of respondents

in the above-captioned investigation,

the Commission has determined to

conduct a portion of its hearing

scheduled for May 5, 1998 in camera.

See Commission rules 207.23(d),

201.13(m) and 201.35(b)(3) (19 CFR

207.23(d), 201.13(m) and 201.35(b)(3)).

The remainder of the hearing will be

open to the public. The Commission has