Public Hearing on Establishment of Import Restrictions on Certain Steel Products From the Russian Federation to the United States

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 125(f) of the Trade Act of 1974, the

Department of Commerce has scheduled a public hearing on the potential

establishment of import restrictions on certain steel products from the

Russian Federation to the United States.

DATES: The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning

the public hearing and/or public comments, contact Lesley Stagliano at

(202) 482-0190 or Lyn Baranowski at (202) 482-3208. All other questions

should be directed to Edward Yang at (202) 482-0406.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 23, 1999.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 1, 1990, pursuant to Title IV of the

Trade Act of 1974 (the Trade Act), the Governments of the United States

of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics entered into the

Agreement on Trade Relations Between the United States of America and

the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. On June 17, 1992, this

agreement became effective between the United States and the Russian

Federation (the 1992 Agreement). Article XI of the 1992 Agreement

provides that the Parties will consult with a view toward finding means

of remedying or preventing actual or threatened market disruption, and

it authorizes the Parties to take action, including the imposition of

import restrictions, to achieve this goal.

In February 1999, the United States Department of Commerce and the

Ministry of Trade of the Russian Federation entered into negotiations

and consultations pursuant to Article XI of the Agreement on Trade

Between the United States of America and the Russian Federation. The

Parties mutually agree that the conditions of Article XI have been met

with respect to U.S. imports of certain steel products from Russia.

Pursuant to Article XI, the United States proposes to establish

import restrictions on Russian exports to the United States of the

following 16 steel products:

1. Certain Cold-Rolled Carbon Steel Quality Products

2. Semifinished Steel Products

3. Galvanized Sheet Products

4. Other Metallic Coated Flat Rolled Products

5. Certain Tin Mill Products

6. Electrical Sheet Products

7. Heavy Structural Shapes

8. Rails

9. Hot-Rolled Bars

10. Cold Finished Bars

11. Pipe and Tube Products

12. Wire Rod Products

13. Tool Steel

14. Drawn Wire Products

15. Hot-Rolled Stainless and Alloy Sheet, Strip, and Plate

16. Pig Iron

Each category of steel would have a separate export limit. In

addition to the issuance of export licenses by the Ministry of Trade of

the Russian Federation, and consistent with the requests of the Russian

officials, the United States would establish a border enforcement

mechanism to ensure compliance with the export limits. The border

mechanism will be in the form of denial of entry for any shipment of

steel, covered by the categories listed above, which exceeds the limits

or lacks the required documents.

Section 125(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2135(c)) provides that

whenever the United States, acting in pursuance of any of its rights or

obligations under any trade agreement entered into pursuant to the

Trade Act, modifies any obligation with respect to the trade of any

foreign country or instrumentality, the President is authorized to

proclaim increased duties or other import restrictions, to the extent,

at such times, and for such periods as he deems necessary or

appropriate, in order to exercise the rights or fulfill the obligations

of the United States.

Section 125(f) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2135(f)) requires the

President to provide the opportunity for interested parties to present

views at a public hearing prior to taking action pursuant to section

125(b), (c), or (d) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2135(b), (c), or (d)).

Such an opportunity is being provided by the holding of such a hearing

on Tuesday, March 2, 1999, at the United States Department of Commerce.

In addition, the Department will separately publish in the Federal

Register the proposed agreement establishing import restrictions on

Russian exports to the United States. For convenience, the Department

will also post this agreement on its Import Administration website

(http://www.ita.doc.gov/import__admin/records).

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Pursuant to section 125(f) of the Trade Act

of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2135(f)), the International Trade Administration of

the Department of Commerce, has scheduled a public hearing beginning at

1:30 p.m., on March 2, 1999, at Room 4830 of the Herbert C. Hoover

Building, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW,

Washington, DC.

REQUESTS TO PRESENT ORAL TESTIMONY: Parties wishing to testify orally

at the hearing must provide written notification of their intention not

later than 5:00 p.m., February 26, 1999 to Robert S. LaRussa, Assistant

Secretary for Import Administration: In re Public Hearing on

Establishment of Import Restrictions on Certain Steel Products From the

Russian Federation to the United States, Room 1870, Herbert C. Hoover

Building, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW,

Washington, DC. The notification should include (1) the name of the

person presenting the testimony, their address and telephone number;

(2) the organization or company they are representing, if appropriate;

(3) a list of issues to be addressed; and (4), if applicable, any

request for an extension of the time limitation on the oral

presentation. This notification may be submitted via facsimile to Vicki

Sullivan at (202) 273-0957. Those parties presenting oral testimony

must also submit a written brief, in 20 copies, not later than 10:00

a.m., March 2, 1999, to the above-mentioned address. Hearing

presentations should be limited to no more than five minutes to allow

for possible questions from the Chairman and the panel. Additional time

for oral presentations may be granted as time and the number of

participants permit. Any business proprietary material must be clearly

marked as such on the cover page (or letter) and succeeding pages. Such

submissions must be accompanied by a public summary thereof.

WRITTEN BRIEFS: Those persons not wishing to participate in the hearing

may submit written comments, in 20 typed copies, not later than 10:00

a.m., March 2, 1999, to Robert S. LaRussa, Assistant Secretary for

Import Administration: In re Public Hearing on Establishment of Import

Restrictions on Certain Steel Products From the Russian Federation to

the United States, Room 1870, Herbert C. Hoover Building, U.S.

Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC.

Comments should state clearly the position taken and describe with

particularity the evidence supporting

[[Page 9051]]

that position. Any business proprietary material must be clearly marked

as such on the cover page (or letter) and succeeding pages. Such

submissions must be accompanied by a public summary thereof. Public

submissions will be available for public inspection at the Import

Administration Central Records Unit. An appointment to review the file

may be made by contacting Joni Myers at (202) 482-0865.

Dated: February 22, 1999.

Richard W. Moreland,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Import Administration.

[FR Doc. 99-4643 Filed 2-22-99; 10:13 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P