DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-51,374

INDEPENDENT TOOL & MANUFACTURING, INC.
MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA

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 March 31, 2003 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of
Independent Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., Meadville, Pennsylvania.
The workers produce mold and die components and are not separately
identifiable by product line.
The investigation revealed that criterion I.C of (a)(2)(A) and
II.B of (a)(2)(B) have not been met.
The subject firm did not increase imports of mold and die
components nor did it shift production abroad.
The Department of Labor surveyed the major declining customers
of the subject firm regarding their purchases of mold and die
components during the period under investigation. The survey
revealed no imports of mold and die components during the relevant
period.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Independent Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., Meadville, Pennsylvania,
are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 23rd day of April 2003


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