DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,272

TWEAVE, INC.
NORTON, MASSACHUSETTS

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 February 17, 2004 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Tweave, Inc.,
Norton, Massachusetts. The workers produce woven fabric.
The investigation revealed that criteria I.C. and II.B. have
not been met.
Sales declines at the subject firm are limited to the first
month of 2004 and are wholly attributable to a decrease in sales to
foreign buyers of woven fabric. Loss of export sales cannot be
used as a basis for certification under the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended.
There was no production shift to a foreign location during the
relevant period.
Petitioners also filed as adversely affected secondary workers
as suppliers to a firm or subdivision primarily affected by
increased imports or a shift of production abroad.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
the following group eligibility requirements under Section 222(b)
must be met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in the
workers' firm or an appropriate subdivision of the firm
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;

(2) the workers' firm (or subdivision) is a supplier or
downstream producer to a firm (or subdivision) that
employed a group of workers who received a certification
of eligibility to apply for trade adjustment assistance
benefits and such supply or production is related to the
article that was the basis for such certification; and

(3) either-

(A) the workers' firm is a supplier and the component
parts it supplied for the firm (or subdivision) described
in paragraph (2) accounted for at least 20 percent of the
production or sales of the workers' firm; or

(B) a loss of business by the workers' firm with the firm
(or subdivision) described in paragraph (2) contributed
importantly to the workers' separation or threat of
separation.

The investigation revealed that criterion (2) has not been
met.
Petitioners allege that job losses were due to their firm
losing business as a supplier to a firm that shifted production
abroad or was affected by increased imports. The investigation
revealed, however, that was not the case. The firm identified by
the petitioners as being adversely affected by imports is not
currently under certification for trade adjustment assistance.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Tweave,
Inc., Norton, Massachusetts are denied eligibility to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 1st day of March 2004

/s/ Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance