[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 193 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57650-57651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23321]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation No. 332-500]


Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized 
System of Preferences, 2008 Review of Additions and Removals

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Institution of investigation and scheduling of hearing.

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SUMMARY: Following receipt on September 24, 2008 of a request from the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) under section 332(g) of the 
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332 (g)), the Commission instituted 
investigation No. 332-500, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to 
the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2008 Review of Additions 
and Removals.

DATES: 
    October 14, 2008: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the 
public hearing.
    October 15, 2008: Deadline for filing pre-hearing briefs and 
statements.
    October 30, 2008: Public hearing.
    November 5, 2008: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and 
statements and other written submissions.
    December 19, 2008: Transmittal of report to 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, 
including requests to appear at the hearing, statements, and briefs, 
should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade 
Commission, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information may be obtained from 
Cynthia B. Foreso, Project Leader, Office of Industries (202-205-3348 
or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#32514b5c465a5b531c545d4057415d7247415b46511c555d44"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1a7963746e72737b347c75687f69755a6f69736e79347d756c">[email protected]</span></a>) or Eric Land, Deputy Project Leader, 
Office of Industries (202-205-3349 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#adc8dfc4ce83c1ccc3c9edd8dec4d9ce83cac2db"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="adc8dfc4ce83c1ccc3c9edd8dec4d9ce83cac2db">[email protected]</span></a>). For more 
information on legal aspects of the investigation, contact William 
Gearhart of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel (202-205-
3091 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#02756b6e6e6b636f2c656763706a6370764277716b76612c656d74"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7b0aeababaea6aae9a0a2a6b5afa6b5b387b2b4aeb3a4e9a0a8b1">[email protected]</span></a>). The media should contact Margaret 
O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#402d213227213225346e2f2c213527282c292e0035332934236e272f36"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="204d415247415245540e4f4c415547484c494e6055534954430e474f56">[email protected]</span></a>). Hearing-impaired individuals may obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
at 202-205-1810. General information concerning the Commission may also 
be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). 
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.
    Background: As requested by the USTR, in accordance with sections 
503(a)(1)(A), 503(e), and 131(a) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended 
(19 U.S.C. 2463(a)(1)(A), 19 U.S.C. 2463(e), and 19 U.S.C. 2151(a)), 
and pursuant to the authority of the President delegated to the United 
States Trade Representative by sections 4(c) and 8(c) and (d) of 
Executive Order 11846 of March 31, 1975, as amended, and pursuant to 
section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)), the 
Commission will provide advice as to the probable economic effect on 
U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles and on 
consumers of the elimination of U.S. import duties for all beneficiary 
developing countries under the GSP program on articles provided for in 
HTS subheadings 0710.10.00, 0710.30.00, 0710.40.00, 0710.80.97.22, 
0710.80.97.24, 0710.80.97.26, 2008.92.90.40, 2009.41.20, 2009.49.20, 
3901.20.10, and 4412.39.50.30. Also, as requested by

[[Page 57651]]

USTR, pursuant to section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, the 
Commission will provide advice as to the probable economic effect on 
U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles and on 
consumers of the removal from eligibility for duty-free treatment under 
the GSP program of articles provided for in HTS subheadings 3907.60.00 
from India, 3907.60.00 from Indonesia, and 3908.10.00 from Thailand. 
The Commission expects to provide its advice by December 19, 2008. The 
USTR indicated that those sections of the Commission's report and 
related working papers that contain the Commission's advice and model 
inputs and results will be classified as ``confidential.''
    Public Hearing: A public hearing in connection with this 
investigation will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. on October 30, 2008 
at the United States International Trade Commission Building, 500 E 
Street SW., Washington, DC. All persons 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, 
United States International Trade Commission, 500 E St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20436, not later than the close of business (5:15 p.m.) 
on October 14, 2008, in accordance with the requirements in the 
``Written Submissions'' section below.
    Written Submissions: In lieu of or in addition to participating in 
the hearing, interested parties are invited to submit written 
statements or briefs concerning these investigations. All written 
submissions, including requests to appear at the hearing, statements, 
and briefs, should be addressed to the Secretary. Pre-hearing briefs 
and statements should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., October 15, 
2008; and post-hearing briefs and statements and all other written 
submissions should be filed not later than 5:15 p.m., November 5, 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 
a 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, in which the confidential information must be deleted (see the 
following paragraph for further information regarding confidential 
business information). The Commission's rules do not authorize filing 
submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means, except 
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).
    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 information submitted in the course of 
this investigation in the report it sends to the USTR.
    As requested by the USTR, the Commission will publish a public 
version of the report, which will exclude portions of the report that 
the USTR has classified as confidential as well as any confidential 
business information.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: September 29, 2008.
Marilyn R. Abbott,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. E8-23321 Filed 10-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P


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