DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-50,035

STRONG WOOD PRODUCTS, INC.
STRONG, MAINE

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance. The group eligibility
requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers under Section
222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be satisfied in
either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly competitive
with articles produced by such firm or subdivision have
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in sales or
production of such firm or subdivision; or



II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm
firm, have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers' firm
or subdivision to a foreign country of articles like or
directly competitive with articles which are produced by
such firm or subdivision; and

C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free trade
agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country
under the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth
and Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic
Recovery Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly
competitive with articles which are or were produced
by such firm or subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on November 8, 2002, in
response to a petition filed by the company on behalf of workers of
Strong Wood Products, Inc., Strong, Maine. The workers produce
toothpicks and three and six inch wood dowels and are not
separately identifiable by product line.
The investigation revealed that criterion (A)(2)(A)(I.C) and
criterion (A)(2)(B) (II.B) are not met.
This investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
import toothpicks or three and six-inch wood dowels during 2000-
2001 and January through October 2001-2002.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the subject

firm did not shift production of its toothpicks or its three and

six-inch dowels during the relevant period.

The Department surveyed the subject firm's major declining
customers regarding their purchases of toothpicks or three and six-
inch wood dowels. This survey revealed no increase in import
purchases of toothpicks or three and six-inch wood dowels while
reducing purchases from the subject firm.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Strong
Wood Products, Inc., Strong, Maine, are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade
Act of 1974, as amended.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 10th day of February 2003


/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance