The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has initiated an investigation into the economic effects of U.S. restraints on imports. The investigation will be the third update of a report that originally was requested by the U.S. Trade Representative in 1992. That report was published in 1993, and updates were published in 1995 and 1999. Results of the current investigation are scheduled for publication in June 2002.

The study will examine the effects on consumers and on various industries as well as the employment of tariff and non-tariff barriers. It will not include such programs as antidumping and countervailing duty actions, nor will it include retaliatory measures under sections 201, 301, 337, or 406 of U.S. trade laws.

The ITC, an independent fact-finding government agency, is seeking input from the business community for its investigation and expects to hold a hearing on this topic in early December. Written statements and requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E St. S.W., Washington, DC 20436. More information about the scope of the investigation, The Economic Effects of Significant U.S. Import Restraints: Third Update (Investigation No. 332-325), is available on ITC's Web site (www.usitc.gov) in the notice of investigation dated Aug. 13, 2001.