DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-51,800

MERIDIAN AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS
EXTERIOR COMPOSITES DIVISION
CENTRALIA, ILLINOIS

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 May 16, 2003 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Meridian Automotive,
Exterior Composites Division, Centralia, Illinois. The workers
produced fenders, tailgates and hoods for the automotive
industry.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(I)(C) and
(a)(II)(B) have not been met.
The investigation also revealed that sales and employment
declined from 2001 to 2002 and also declined from January
through April 2003 when compared to the same time period in
2002. Production at the subject firm increased from 2001 to
2002 and also from January through April 2003 when compared to
the same time period in 2002.
The investigation also revealed that the subject firm did
not import fenders, tailgates and hoods for the automotive
industry from 2001 through June 2003.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of fenders,
tailgates and hoods for the automotive industry from the subject
firm. The subject firm's major declining customers did not
purchase from foreign firms during the period under
investigation.
The subject firm shifted a portion of the production for
specific customers to Mexico in 2001. Workers of Meridian
Automotive, Exterior Composites Division, Centralia, Illinois,
affected by that shift in production were certified eligible to
apply for NAFTA-TAA under Section 250 of the Trade Act.


Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Meridian Automotive, Exterior Composites Division, Centralia,
Illinois 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 15th day of August, 2003.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance