DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-50,204

KOKUSAI SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT CORPORATION
BILLERICA FACILITY
BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS

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, 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 27, 2002 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Kokusai
Semiconductor Equipment Corporation, Billerica Facility,
Billerica, Massachusetts. The workers produced vertical
diffusion furnaces (200mm and 300mm wafers).
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(I)(C) and
(a)(II)(B) have not been met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
shift production of vertical diffusion furnaces (200mm and 300mm
wafers) from 2000 to 2001 and also from January through November
in 2001 and 2002.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of vertical
diffusion furnaces (200mm and 300mm wafers) from the subject
firm. The subject firm's major declining customers reported no
imports of vertical diffusion furnaces (200mm and 300mm wafers)
during the period under investigation.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Kokusai Semiconductor Equipment Corporation, Billerica Facility,
Billerica, Massachusetts, 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 11th day of March 2003.


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