DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-53198

CELANESE ACETATE
A DIVISION OF CELANESE AG
NARROWS, VIRGINIA

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 October 9, 2003 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Celanese Acetate, a
division of Celanese AG, Narrows, Virginia. The workers at the
subject firm produce acetate filter tow and acetate filament yarn.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
import acetate filter tow or acetate filament yarn during 2001,
2002, or January through September of 2003.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the subject firm
did not shift production of acetate filter tow are acetate filament
yarn abroad during the relevant period.
Additionally, the Department of Labor surveyed the subject
firm's major declining customers regarding their purchases of
imported acetate filter tow and acetate filament yarn. This
investigation revealed no increase in imports of these products
among the major declining customers.
Moreover, aggregate U.S. imports for consumption of both
acetate filter tow and acetate filament yarn decreased during the
period of January through September of 2003 when compared to the
same period in 2002.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Celanese
Acetate, a division of Celanese AG, Narrows, Virginia are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of
the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 17th day of November 2003

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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