Part A—Relief From Imports Benefiting From the Agreement

§4061. Commencing of action for relief

(a) Filing of petition

A petition requesting action under this part for the purpose of adjusting to the obligations of the United States under the Agreement may be filed with the Commission by an entity, including a trade association, firm, certified or recognized union, or group of workers, that is representative of an industry. The Commission shall transmit a copy of any petition filed under this subsection to the United States Trade Representative.

(b) Investigation and determination

Upon the filing of a petition under subsection (a), the Commission, unless subsection (d) applies, shall promptly initiate an investigation to determine whether, as a result of the reduction or elimination of a duty provided for under the Agreement, a CAFTA–DR article is being imported into the United States in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to domestic production, and under such conditions that imports of the CAFTA–DR article constitute a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof to the domestic industry producing an article that is like, or directly competitive with, the imported article.

(c) Applicable provisions

The following provisions of section 2252 of this title apply with respect to any investigation initiated under subsection (b):

(1) Paragraphs (1)(B) and (3) of subsection (b).

(2) Subsection (c).

(3) Subsection (i).

(d) Articles exempt from investigation

No investigation may be initiated under this section with respect to any CAFTA–DR article if, after the date that the Agreement enters into force, import relief has been provided with respect to that CAFTA–DR article under this part.

(Pub. L. 109–53, title III, §311, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 488.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 107(d) of Pub. L. 109–53, see Effective and Termination Dates note below.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This part, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d), was in the original "this subtitle", meaning subtitle A (§§311–316) of title III of Pub. L. 109–53, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 488, which enacted this part and amended section 2252 of this title. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates

Section effective on the date the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement enters into force (Mar. 1, 2006) and to cease to have effect on the date the Agreement ceases to be in force with respect to the United States, and, during any period in which a country ceases to be a CAFTA–DR country, to cease to have effect with respect to such country, see section 107 of Pub. L. 109–53, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title.

§4062. Commission action on petition

(a) Determination

Not later than 120 days after the date on which an investigation is initiated under section 4061(b) of this title with respect to a petition, the Commission shall make the determination required under that section. At that time, the Commission shall also determine whether any CAFTA–DR country is a de minimis supplying country.

(b) Applicable provisions

For purposes of this part, the provisions of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 1330(d) of this title shall be applied with respect to determinations and findings made under this section as if such determinations and findings were made under section 2252 of this title.

(c) Additional finding and recommendation if determination affirmative

If the determination made by the Commission under subsection (a) with respect to imports of an article is affirmative, or if the President may consider a determination of the Commission to be an affirmative determination as provided for under paragraph (1) of section 1330(d) of this title, the Commission shall find, and recommend to the President in the report required under subsection (d), the amount of import relief that is necessary to remedy or prevent the injury found by the Commission in the determination and to facilitate the efforts of the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition. The import relief recommended by the Commission under this subsection shall be limited to the relief described in section 4063(c) of this title. Only those members of the Commission who voted in the affirmative under subsection (a) are eligible to vote on the proposed action to remedy or prevent the injury found by the Commission. Members of the Commission who did not vote in the affirmative may submit, in the report required under subsection (d), separate views regarding what action, if any, should be taken to remedy or prevent the injury.

(d) Report to President

Not later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which a determination is made under subsection (a) with respect to an investigation, the Commission shall submit to the President a report that includes—

(1) the determination made under subsection (a) and an explanation of the basis for the determination;

(2) if the determination under subsection (a) is affirmative, any findings and recommendations for import relief made under subsection (c) and an explanation of the basis for each recommendation; and

(3) any dissenting or separate views by members of the Commission regarding the determination and recommendation referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(e) Public notice

Upon submitting a report to the President under subsection (d), the Commission shall promptly make public such report (with the exception of information which the Commission determines to be confidential) and shall cause a summary thereof to be published in the Federal Register.

(Pub. L. 109–53, title III, §312, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 489.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 107(d) of Pub. L. 109–53, see Effective and Termination Dates note below.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This part, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this subtitle", meaning subtitle A (§§311–316) of title III of Pub. L. 109–53, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 488, which enacted this part and amended section 2252 of this title. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates

Section effective on the date the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement enters into force (Mar. 1, 2006) and to cease to have effect on the date the Agreement ceases to be in force with respect to the United States, and, during any period in which a country ceases to be a CAFTA–DR country, to cease to have effect with respect to such country, see section 107 of Pub. L. 109–53, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title.

§4063. Provision of relief

(a) In general

Not later than the date that is 30 days after the date on which the President receives the report of the Commission in which the Commission's determination under section 4062(a) of this title is affirmative, or which contains a determination under section 4062(a) of this title that the President considers to be affirmative under paragraph (1) of section 1330(d) of this title, the President, subject to subsection (b), shall provide relief from imports of the article that is the subject of such determination to the extent that the President determines necessary to remedy or prevent the injury found by the Commission and to facilitate the efforts of the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition.

(b) Exception

The President is not required to provide import relief under this section if the President determines that the provision of the import relief will not provide greater economic and social benefits than costs.

(c) Nature of relief

(1) In general

The import relief that the President is authorized to provide under this section with respect to imports of an article is as follows:

(A) The suspension of any further reduction provided for under Annex 3.3 of the Agreement in the duty imposed on such article.

(B) An increase in the rate of duty imposed on such article to a level that does not exceed the lesser of—

(i) the column 1 general rate of duty imposed under the HTS on like articles at the time the import relief is provided; or

(ii) the column 1 general rate of duty imposed under the HTS on like articles on the day before the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

(2) Progressive liberalization

If the period for which import relief is provided under this section is greater than 1 year, the President shall provide for the progressive liberalization (described in article 8.2.3 of the Agreement) of such relief at regular intervals during the period of its application.

(d) Period of relief

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2), any import relief that the President is authorized to provide under this section may not, in the aggregate, be in effect for more than 4 years.

(2) Extension

(A) In general

If the initial period for any import relief provided under this section is less than 4 years, the President, after receiving a determination from the Commission under subparagraph (B) that is affirmative, or which the President considers to be affirmative under paragraph (1) of section 1330(d) of this title, may extend the effective period of any import relief provided under this section, subject to the limitation under paragraph (1), if the President determines that—

(i) the import relief continues to be necessary to remedy or prevent serious injury and to facilitate adjustment by the domestic industry to import competition; and

(ii) there is evidence that the industry is making a positive adjustment to import competition.

(B) Action by Commission

(i) Upon a petition on behalf of the industry concerned that is filed with the Commission not earlier than the date which is 9 months, and not later than the date which is 6 months, before the date on which any action taken under subsection (a) is to terminate, the Commission shall conduct an investigation to determine whether action under this section continues to be necessary to remedy or prevent serious injury and whether there is evidence that the industry is making a positive adjustment to import competition.

(ii) The Commission shall publish notice of the commencement of any proceeding under this subparagraph in the Federal Register and shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, hold a public hearing at which the Commission shall afford interested parties and consumers an opportunity to be present, to present evidence, and to respond to the presentations of other parties and consumers, and otherwise to be heard.

(iii) The Commission shall transmit to the President a report on its investigation and determination under this subparagraph not later than 60 days before the action under subsection (a) is to terminate, unless the President specifies a different date.

(e) Rate after termination of import relief

When import relief under this section is terminated with respect to an article—

(1) the rate of duty on that article after such termination and on or before December 31 of the year in which such termination occurs shall be the rate that, according to the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3 of the Agreement would have been in effect 1 year after the provision of relief under subsection (a); and

(2) the rate of duty for that article after December 31 of the year in which termination occurs shall be, at the discretion of the President, either—

(A) the applicable rate of duty for that article set out in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3 of the Agreement; or

(B) the rate of duty resulting from the elimination of the tariff in equal annual stages ending on the date set out in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3 of the Agreement for the elimination of the tariff.

(f) Articles exempt from relief

No import relief may be provided under this section on—

(1) any article subject to import relief under chapter 1 of title II of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.); or

(2) imports of a CAFTA–DR article of a CAFTA–DR country that is a de minimis supplying country with respect to that article.

(Pub. L. 109–53, title III, §313, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 490.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 107(d) of Pub. L. 109–53, see Effective and Termination Dates note below.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Trade Act of 1974, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), is Pub. L. 93–618, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 1978. Chapter 1 of title II of the Act is classified generally to part 1 (§2251 et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 12 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 2101 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates

Section effective on the date the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement enters into force (Mar. 1, 2006) and to cease to have effect on the date the Agreement ceases to be in force with respect to the United States, and, during any period in which a country ceases to be a CAFTA–DR country, to cease to have effect with respect to such country, see section 107 of Pub. L. 109–53, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title.

§4064. Termination of relief authority

(a) General rule

Subject to subsection (b), no import relief may be provided under this part after the date that is 10 years after the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

(b) Exception

If an article for which relief is provided under this part is an article for which the period for tariff elimination, set out in the Schedule of the United States to Annex 3.3 of the Agreement, is greater than 10 years, no relief under this part may be provided for that article after the date on which that period ends.

(Pub. L. 109–53, title III, §314, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 492.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 107(d) of Pub. L. 109–53, see Effective and Termination Dates note below.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This part, referred to in text, was in the original "this subtitle", meaning subtitle A (§§311–316) of title III of Pub. L. 109–53, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 488, which enacted this part and amended section 2252 of this title. For complete classification of subtitle A to the Code, see Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates

Section effective on the date the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement enters into force (Mar. 1, 2006) and to cease to have effect on the date the Agreement ceases to be in force with respect to the United States, and, during any period in which a country ceases to be a CAFTA–DR country, to cease to have effect with respect to such country, see section 107 of Pub. L. 109–53, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title.

§4065. Compensation authority

For purposes of section 123 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2133), any import relief provided by the President under section 4063 of this title shall be treated as action taken under chapter 1 of title II of such Act [19 U.S.C. 2251 et seq.].

(Pub. L. 109–53, title III, §315, Aug. 2, 2005, 119 Stat. 492.)

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 107(d) of Pub. L. 109–53, see Effective and Termination Dates note below.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Trade Act of 1974, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 93–618, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 1978. Chapter 1 of title II of the Act is classified generally to part 1 (§2251 et seq.) of subchapter II of chapter 12 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 2101 of this title and Tables.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates

Section effective on the date the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement enters into force (Mar. 1, 2006) and to cease to have effect on the date the Agreement ceases to be in force with respect to the United States, and, during any period in which a country ceases to be a CAFTA–DR country, to cease to have effect with respect to such country, see section 107 of Pub. L. 109–53, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title.