An official website of the United States government. 
News Release 10-039
Inv. No(s). 332-512
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today released a public version of its confidential report on the probable economic effect of waiving the competitive need limit for Thailand for radial motorcar tires (HTS 4011.10.10) under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP).
The report, Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2009 Review of a Competitive Need Limit Waiver, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
"Competitive need limits" represent the maximum import level of a product, in terms of the dollar value or share of total imports, that is eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP. Once the limit is reached, trade is considered "competitive," benefits are no longer needed, and imports of the article become ineligible for GSP treatment, unless a waiver is granted. With respect to the competitive need limit in section 503(c)(2)(A)(i)(I) of the 1974 Act, the Commission, as requested, used the dollar value limit of $140 million.
The USTR published full article descriptions in the Federal Register (75FR505) on January 5, 2010.
The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, submitted a confidential version of the report to the USTR on March 30, 2010.
Advice Concerning Possible Modifications to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, 2009 Review of a Competitive Need Limit Waiver (Investigation No. 332-512, USITC publication 4140, April 2010) is available on the ITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4140.pdf.
A CD-ROM of the report may be requested by sending an email to pubrequest@ustic.gov, by calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subjects investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigation reports are subsequently released to the public unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
-- 30 --