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News Release 16-114
Inv. No(s). U.S.-Morocco FTA-103-030
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) is seeking input on a newly initiated investigation concerning proposed modifications of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (U.S.-Morocco FTA) rules of origin.
The investigation, Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the U.S.-Morocco FTA Rules of Origin, was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) in a letter received on August 24, 2016. The letter included an attachment detailing the certain textile and apparel articles affected by the proposed modifications.
As requested by the USTR, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide advice on the probable economic effect of the proposed U.S.-Morocco FTA rules of origin modifications on U.S. trade under U.S.-Morocco FTA, total U.S. trade, and on domestic producers of the affected articles.
The USITC expects to submit its advice to the USTR by January 24, 2017. A public version of the report, with all confidential business information deleted, will be released as soon as possible thereafter.
The USITC is seeking input for its new investigation from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the articles for which the USITC is requested to provide information and advice. The USITC will not hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation; however, the USITC welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436 and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on October 13, 2016.
Further information on the scope of this investigation, the proposed rules of origin modifications, and the procedures for written submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated September 8, 2016, which can be downloaded from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Secretary at the above address.
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.