DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,715

MERIX CORPORATION
INCLUDING LEASED WORKERS OF EXPRESS PERSONNEL
AND XENIUM
FOREST GROVE, OREGON

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. 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 October 1, 2004, in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Merix Corporation, Forest Grove, Oregon. The workers
are engaged in employment related to the production of printed
circuit boards.
The investigation further revealed that leased workers of
Express Personnel and Xenium worked at Merix Corporation, Forest
Grove, Oregon to produce printed circuit boards.
The investigation revealed that criteria (I.B) and (II.B) have
not been met.
The investigation revealed that sales and production at the
subject firm increased from fiscal year ending December 27, 2003
compared to fiscal year ending December 21, 2002 and during the
first nine months of 2004 over the corresponding 2 003 period.
The investigation also revealed the subject firm did not
import printed circuit boards, nor did it transfer production to a
foreign country during the relevant period under investigation.
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 Merix
Corporation, Forest Grove, Oregon including lease workers of
Express Personnel and Xerium working at Merix Corporation, Forest
Grove, Oregon 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 assis-
tance under Section 226, as amended.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 9th day of November, 2004.


/s/ Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance