Import investigations: Steel wire rod; monitoring developments in domestic industry,
[Federal Register: March 26, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 58)]
[Notices]
[Page 16496-16497]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr01-93]
INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation No. TA-204-6]
Certain Steel Wire Rod: Monitoring Developments in the Domestic Industry
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Institution and scheduling of an investigation under section 204(a) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. Sec. 2254(a)) (the Act).
SUMMARY: The Commission instituted the investigation for the purpose of preparing the report to the President and the Congress required by section 204(a)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974 on the results of its monitoring of developments with respect to the domestic certain steel wire rod industry since the President imposed a tariff-rate quota on imports of certain steel wire rod \1\ effective March 1, 2000.
\1\ The imported article covered by this investigation is defined as hot-rolled bars and rods, in irregularly wound coils, of circular or approximately circular solid cross section, having a diameter of 5 mm or more but less than 19 mm, of non-alloy or alloy steel, except such bars and rods of free-machining steel or of alloy steel containing by weight 24 percent or more of nickel. Free- machining steel is any steel product containing by weight one or more of the following elements, in the specified proportions: 0.03 percent or more of lead, 0.05 percent or more of bismuth, 0.08 percent or more of sulfur, more than 0.04 percent of phosphorus, more than 0.05 percent of selenium, and/or more than 0.01percent of tellurium. Certain steel wire rod is provided for in subheadings 7213.91, 7213.99, 7227.20, and 7227.90.60 of the Harmonized Schedule of the United States (HTS). The scope of this investigation does not cover concrete reinforcing bars and rods, or bars and rods of stainless steel or tool steel, which are provided for in other HTS subheadings. Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are wire rod of tire cord quality, valve spring quality, class III pipe wrap quality, aircraft cold heading quality, aluminum cable steel reinforced (``ACSR'') quality, piano wire string quality, grade 1085 annealed bearing quality, and grade 1080 tire bead wire quality. These products are described in detail in the annex to Presidential Proclamation 7273 (65 FR 8624, February 18, 2000).
For further information concerning the conduct of this investigation, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 206, subparts A and F (19 CFR part 206).
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 16, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Baker (202-205-3180), Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter 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. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket (EDIS-ON-LINE) at http:// dockets.usitc.gov/eol/public.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Following receipt of a report from the Commission in July 1999 under section 202 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. Sec. 2252) containing an equally divided determination on the question of whether certain steel wire rod was being imported into the United States in such increased quantities as to be a substantial cause of serious injury or the threat of serious injury to the domestic wire rod industry, and containing remedy recommendations, the President, on February 16, 2000, pursuant to section 203 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. Sec. 2253), issued Proclamation 7273, announcing that he considered the determination of the Commissioners voting in the affirmative to be the determination of the Commission, and imposing import relief in the form of a tariff-rate quota on imports of certain steel wire rod for a period of 3 years and 1 day, effective March 1, 2000. Section 204(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. Sec. 2254(a)(1)) requires that the Commission, so long as any action under section 203 of the Trade Act remains in effect, monitor developments with respect to the domestic industry, including the progress and specific efforts made by workers and firms in the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition. Section 204(a)(2) requires, whenever the initial period of an action under section 203 of the Trade Act exceeds 3 years, that the Commission submit a report on the results of the monitoring under section 204(a)(1) to the President and the Congress not later than the mid- point of the initial period of the relief, or by August 30, 2001, in this case. Section 204(a)(3) requires that the Commission hold a hearing in the course of preparing each such report.
Participation in the Investigation and Service List
Persons wishing to participate in the investigation as parties must file an entry of appearance with the Secretary to the Commission, as provided in section 201.11 of the Commission's rules, not later than 14 days after publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The Secretary will prepare a service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to this investigation upon the expiration of the period for filing entries of appearance.
Public Hearing
As required by statute, the Commission has scheduled a hearing in connection with this investigation. The hearing will be held beginning at 9:30 a.m. on July 11, 2001, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filedin writing with the Secretary to the Commission on or before July 2, 2001. All persons desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral presentations should attend a prehearing conference to be held at 9:30 a.m. on July 6, 2001, at the U.S. International Trade Commission Building. Oral testimony and written materials to be submitted at the hearing are governed by sections 201.6(b)(2) and 201.13(f) of the Commission's rules. Parties must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony in camera no later than 7 days prior to the date of the hearing.
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Written Submissions
Each party is encouraged to submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. The deadline for filing prehearing briefs is July 3, 2001. Parties may also file posthearing briefs. The deadline for filing posthearing briefs is July 18, 2001. In addition, any person who has not entered an appearance as a party to the investigation may submit, on or before July 18, 2001, a written statement concerning the matters to be addressed in the Commission's report to the President. All written submissions must conform with the provisions of section 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain confidential business information must also conform with the requirements of section 201.6 of the Commission's rules. The Commission's rules do not authorize filing of submissions with the Secretary by facsimile or electronic means.
In accordance with section 201.16(c) of the Commission's rules, each document filedby a party to the investigation must be served on all other parties to the investigation (as identified by the service list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.
Authority: This investigation is being conducted under the authority of section 204(a) of the Trade Act of 1974; this notice is published pursuant to section 206.3 of the Commission's rules.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: March 20, 2001. Donna R. Koehnke, Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-7440Filed3-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
