International Trade Commission November 8, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Following receipt of a request letter on October 2, 2006, from the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives (Committee) under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. (332(g)), the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) instituted investigation No. 332-478, U.S.-China Trade: Implications of U.S.-Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends. Background: In its October 2, 2006 letter, the Committee requested that the Commission prepare three reports with respect to U.S.-China trade, with the first report to be delivered 12 months after receipt of the letter and the second and third reports, 18 and 24 months after receipt of the letter, respectively. This notice announces institution of the first of three investigations for the purpose of preparing the requested reports. The Commission will issue separate notices relating to the second and third reports at a later date (see below). As requested by the Committee, in its first report the Commission will analyze the principal trends and patterns in trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) between Asia-Pacific countries and the United States and their implications for the U.S.-China trade relationship. The report will include: (1) A discussion of the main factors influencing these trends; (2) an in-depth examination of the industries that have had a major effect on trade and investment patterns in recent years; and (3), if required, formal quantitative analyses that may help explain these trends and provide an assessment of the reliability of the data used in each analysis. The report will also review the relationship between international trade and FDI, the trade and investment policies in the major countries of the region, and their effect on economic activity both on a global scale and within the Asian and Pacific region. The Commission will provide its first report to the Committee by October 2, 2007. The Committee also directed that the Commission provide two other reports on U.S.-China trade. For the second report, the Committee asked the Commission to investigate the driving factors behind the rapid growth in U.S.-China trade. The Commission expects to initiate the investigation relating to this report in April 2007 and to provide its report to the Committee by April 2, 2008. For the third report, the Committee asked the Commission to provide an in-depth examination of China's integration with the global economy through processing trade and FDI, and its implications for U.S.-China trade and investment. The Commission expects to initiate the investigation relating to this report in October 2007 and to provide its report to the Committee by October 2, 2008.