DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,005

VERMONT FASTENERS MANUFACTURING
DIVISION OF IFC U.S.A. CORPORATION
SWANTON, VERMONT

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. 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 January 14, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a state agency representative on
behalf of workers at Vermont Fasteners Manufacturing, a division of
IFC U.S.A. Corporation, Swanton, Vermont. The workers at the
subject facility produced high strength steel structural bolts.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II. B) have not been met.
The investigation revealed that the subject facility did not
import high strength steel structural bolts in 2002 or 2003.
The investigation revealed that there was not a shift in
production of high strength steel structural bolts during the
relevant period.
The output of high strength steel structural bolts produced by
Vermont Fasteners Manufacturing in Swanton, Vermont, is exported to
its foreign-based parent company. Additionally, the partial closure
of the subject facility is attributable to reorganization by the
subject firm's parent company.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in this
investigation, I determine that all workers of Vermont Fasteners
Manufacturing, a division of IFC U.S.A., Swanton, Vermont are
denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section
223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 19th day of February 2004

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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