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ITC Announces Hearing and Comment Deadline for its Report on Market Conditions for Certain Wool Articles in 2003-2004

The International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a notice announcing the scheduling of, among other things, a public hearing and the deadlines for submitting public comments in connection with its report on market conditions for certain wool articles in 2003-2004.

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According to the ITC, this schedule is for the second, and final, report in its investigation entitled, U.S. Market Conditions for Certain Wool Articles in 2002-2004, which was instituted on January 24, 2003 at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). (See ITT's Online Archives or 11/07/03 news, 03110740, for BP announcement of the first report, which covered 2002 and year-to-date 2003.)

ITC's Report Will Cover Market Conditions for Certain Clothing, Fabrics, & Yarns

As requested by the USTR, the ITC will provide information for 2003 and year-to-date 2004 (1st quarter 2004) on U.S. market conditions, including domestic demand, domestic supply, and domestic production for men's and boys' worsted wool suits, suit-type jackets, and trousers; worsted wool fabrics and yarn used in the manufacture of such clothing; and wool fibers used in the manufacture of such fabrics and yarn.

Also, as requested by the USTR, the ITC will provide, to the extent possible, data on (partial list): increases or decreases in sales and production of the subject domestically-produced worsted wool fabrics; increases or decreases in domestic production and consumption of the subject apparel items; and sales of the subject worsted wool fabrics lost by domestic manufacturers to imports benefiting from the temporary duty reductions on certain worsted wool fabrics under the tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) provided for in HTS 9902.51.11 and 9902.51.12.

The ITC states that the USTR requested that it submit the information in a confidential report by September 15, 2004 and that it issue a public version of the report as soon as possible thereafter.

The ITC states that a public hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2004; however, if as of the close of business on March 9, 2004 no witnesses are scheduled to appear, this hearing will be canceled. In addition, the ITC states that written statements relating to this report should be received no later than the close of business on April 11, 2004. See ITC's notice for listing of additional dates for requesting to appear at the public hearing, submissions of statements and briefs, etc.

ITC notice (Inv. No. 332-449, FR Pub 01/14/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-810.pdf