Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act: Impact on U.S. Industries and Consumers and on Beneficiary Countries

AGENCY:

United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of opportunity to submit comments in connection with the eighteenth report covering 2005 and 2006.

DATES:

Effective Date: April 30, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Walker Pollard (202-205-3228; walker.pollard@usitc.gov), Country and Regional Analysis Division, Office of Economics, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20436. The media should contact Peg O'Laughlin, Public Affairs Officer (202-205-1819; margaret.olaughlin@usitc.gov).

Background: Section 215(a)(1) of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) (19 U.S.C. 2704(a)(1)), as amended, requires that the Commission submit biennial reports to the Congress and the President regarding the economic impact of the Act on U.S. industries and consumers, and on beneficiary countries. Section 215(b)(1) requires that the reports include, but not be limited to, an assessment regarding:

(1) The actual effect of CBERA on the U.S. economy generally as well as on specific domestic industries which produce articles that are like, or directly competitive with, articles being imported from beneficiary countries under the Act; and

(2) The probable future effect of CBERA on the U.S. economy generally and on such domestic industries.

Notice of institution of the investigation was published in the Federal Register of May 14, 1986 (51 FR 17678). The eighteenth report, covering calendar years 2005 and 2006, is to be submitted by September 30, 2007.

Written Submissions: The Commission does not plan to hold a public hearing in connection with the preparation of this eighteenth report. However, interested persons are invited to submit written submissions concerning the matters to be addressed in the report. All written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436. To be assured of consideration by the Commission, written submissions 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 June 8, 2007. 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 business information (CBI) must be deleted (see the following paragraph for further information regarding CBI). 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 or edis@usitc.gov).

Any submissions that contain CBI must also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's rules (19 CFR 201.6). Section 201.6 of the rules requires that the cover of the document and the individual pages clearly be marked as to whether they are the “confidential” or “nonconfidential” version, and that the CBI be clearly identified by means of brackets. All written submissions, except for CBI, will be made available for inspection by interested parties.

The Commission intends to publish only a public report in this investigation. Accordingly, any CBI received by the Commission in this investigation will not be published in a manner that would reveal the operations of the firm supplying the information. The report will be made available to the public on the Commission's Web site.

The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov . Hearing-impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained 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.