On November 9, 2018, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) published in the Federal Register a notice announcing an investigation and scheduling of a public hearing [Investigation Nos. TA–131–043 and TPA– 105–004] on the probable economic effect of providing duty-free treatment for currently dutiable imports of a proposed U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement.
USTR requested that the ITC provide a report containing its advice as to the probable economic effect of providing duty-free treatment for imports of currently dutiable products from Japan on (i) industries in the United States producing like or directly competitive products, and (ii) consumers. The USTR asked that the ITC’s analysis consider each article in chapters 1 through 97 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) for which U.S. tariffs will remain, taking into account implementation of U.S. commitments in the WTO. The USTR asked that the advice be based on the HTS in effect during 2018 and trade data for 2017. In addition, the USTR requested that the Commission prepare an assessment of the probable economic effects of eliminating tariffs on imports from Japan of those agricultural products described in the list attached to the USTR’s request letter on (i) industries in the United States producing the products concerned, and (ii) the U.S. economy as a whole. The USTR’s request letter and list of agricultural products are posted on the ITC’s website.
The scheduling is:
November 26, 2018: Deadline for filing requests to appear at the public hearing. November 30, 2018: Deadline for filing prehearing briefs and statements. December 6, 2018: Public hearing. December 13, 2018: Deadline for filing post-hearing briefs and submissions. December 13, 2018: Deadline for filing all other written statements. January 24, 2019: Transmittal of Commission report to the USTR.
