DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-50,911

BENTON VENEER COMPANY
BENTON, ARKANSAS

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 February 14, 2003 in
response to a petition filed by State of Arkansas Employment
Security Department, Rapid Response Unit, on behalf of workers at
Benton Veneer Company, Benton, Arkansas. The workers produced
hardwood face veneers.
The investigation revealed that criteria I.C. and II.B. have
not been met.
There has not 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.
The subject firm did not import hardwood face veneers.
The Department conducted a survey of major declining customers
of the subject firm regarding their purchases of hardwood veneer
face in 2001 and 2002. The survey revealed that none of the
respondents increased their imports of hardwood face veneers, while
decreasing their purchases from the subject firm during in the
relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Benton
Veneer Company, Benton, Arkansas 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 19th day of March 2003.


/s/ Ellott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance