Petitioner Type: Company
Impact Date:
Filed Date: 12/02/2003
Most Recent Update: 01/09/2004
Determination Date: 01/09/2004
Expiration Date:
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-53,680
US AXLE, INC.
POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA
Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance, and
Alternative Trade 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 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 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:
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;
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
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 December 2, 2003 in response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers at U.S. Axle, Inc., Pottstown, Pennsylvania. The workers produce axles and shafts
The investigation revealed that criteria (I.C) and (II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that the subject company did not import axles or shafts, nor did it shift production abroad during 2001, 2002, or January through November of 2003.
A substantial portion of the sales of the subject firm were to the export market and thus not affected by imports.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm’s domestic customers regarding their purchases of axles and shafts in 2001-2002 and January to November, 2002-2003. During periods of declining purchases from the subject firm, customers reported only very minor imports, not sufficient to have contributed importantly to separations at the subject firm.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be certified eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance (TAA). Since the workers are denied eligibility to apply for TAA, the workers cannot be certified eligible for ATAA.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of U.S. Axle, Inc., Pottstown, Pennsylvania are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 9th day of January 2004.
/s/ Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance