Escape-clause investigations pending before the Tariff Commission at one time or another during the period July 1, 1956-June 30, 1957--Continued

13. Stainless steel flatware-----: Origin of investigation: Application by

(Investigation

No. 61; sec. 7)

Stainless Steel Flatware Manufacturers

: Association, Englishtown, N. J.

: Application received: Apr. 11, 1957.

: Investigation instituted: Apr. 18, 1957.

: Hearing scheduled: July 16, 1957.

: Investigation in process.

Escape-clause investigations pending before the Tariff Commission at one time or another during the period July 1, 1956-June 30, 1957--Continued

Investigations Completed or Dismissed

During the period covered by this report the Tariff Commission completed 7 escape-clause investigations, dismissed 1 investigation at the applicant's request, and terminated 1 investigation without formal findings. In 2 of the completed investigations--those of cotton pillowcases and certain jute fabrics--the Commission found that escape-clause relief was not warranted. In 5 of the completed investigations--those of fresh or frozen groundfish fillets, velveteen fabrics, straight pins, safety pins, and violins and violas--the Commission found that escape-clause relief was warranted. The investigations that the Commission completed or dismissed during the period covered by this report are discussed further below. Groundfish fillets (third investigation)

In response to an application by the Massachusetts Fisheries Association, Inc., of Boston, Mass., and others, the Tariff Commission on January 16, 1956, instituted a third escape-clause investigation of fresh or frozen groundfish fillets provided for in paragraph 717 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930. 1/ The Commission held a public hearing from June 5 to 8, 1956.

In this investigation, a report on which was submitted to the

President on October 12, 1956, 2/ the Commission unanimously found that escape-clause relief was warranted with respect to the specified products. The Commission also found that in order to remedy the

1/ Cod, haddock, hake, pollock, cusk, and rosefish, fresh or frozen (whether or not packed in ice), all the foregoing, filleted, skinned, boned, sliced, or divided into portions.

2/ U. S. Tariff Commission, Groundfish Fillets (1956): Report to the President on Escape-Clause Investigation No. 47.... 1956 (processed).

serious injury to the domestic industry concerned it was necessary

that the duty on imports that enter under the tariff quota be increased from 1-7/8 cents per pound to 2.8125 cents per pound, and that the duty on imports in excess of the quota be increased from 2-1/2 cents per pound to 3.75 cents per pound. Accordingly, the Commission recommended that the President modify the tariff concession that the United States had granted on these products in the General Agreement

on Tariffs and Trade.

On December 10, 1956, the President announced that he had decided not to increase the import duties on groundfish fillets.

Velveteen fabrics

On January 26, 1956, in response to an application by the Crompton Co., of West Warwick, R. I., A. D. Julliard & Co., Inc., of New York, N. Y., and the Merrimack Manufacturing Co., Inc., of Lowell, Mass., the Tariff Commission instituted an escape-clause investigation of velveteen fabrics classifiable under paragraph 909 of the Tariff Act 1/ of 1930.

The Commission held a public hearing from June 19 to 21, 1956. In this investigation, a report on which was submitted to the President on October 24, 1956, 2/ the Commission unanimously found that escape-clause relief was warranted with respect to the specified cotton velveteen fabrics. The Commission also found (Commissioner Jones dissenting) that in order to remedy the serious injury to the domestic industry concerned it was necessary that the duty on imports

1/ Velveteen fabrics (not including ribbons), cut or uncut, whether or not the pile covers the entire surface, wholly or in chief value of cotton.

2/ U. S. Tariff Commission, Cotton Velveteen Fabrics: Report to the President on Escane-Clause Investication No. 49., 1956 (processed).

of plain-back velveteens be increased to 46-7/8 percent ad valorem and the duty on imports of twill-back velveteens be increased to 56-1/4 percent ad valorem. (Commissioner Jones found that an adequate remedy for the serious injury would be provided if a duty of 44 percent ad valorem were imposed on imports of all cotton velveteens, plain-back as well as twill-back). Accordingly, the Commission recommended that the President modify the tariff concession that the United States had granted on these products in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. On December 21, 1956, the President informed the chairmen of the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Ways and Means that he was extending the period of his consideration of the escapeclause case relating to cotton velveteen fabrics.

On January 22, 1957, the President announced that, in view of Japan's announcement of a broad program to control its exports of textiles to the United States, he had decided not to act on the Tariff Commission's recommendations with respect to cotton velveteen fabrics.

Cotton pillowcases

In response to an application by the Riegel Textile Corp., of New York, N. Y., the Tariff Commission on March 6, 1956, instituted an escape-clause investigation of pillowcases, wholly or in chief value of cotton, provided for in paragraph 911 (b) of the Tariff Act of 1930. The Commission held a public hearing on September 11, 1956. In this investigation, the report on which was issued on November 1/ 21, 1956, the Commission found (Commissioners Brossard and Schreiber

dissenting) 2/ that escape-clause relief was not warranted with respect

1/ U. S. Tariff Commission, Cotton Pillowcases: Report on EscapeClause Investigation No. 51..., 1956 (processed).

2 Commissioner Talbot was absent on leave during the hearings in the investigation and did not participate in the Commission's decision or in the preparation of the report.