DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-56,330

IBERIA SUGAR COOPERATIVE, INC.
NEW IBERIA, LOUISIANA

Negative Determinations 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 January 12, 2005, in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Iberia Sugar Cooperative, Inc., New Iberia, Louisiana.
The workers produce raw cane sugar and blackstrap molasses.
The investigation revealed that criteria (I.C) and (II.B) have
not been met.
The investigation revealed that there were no company imports
of raw cane sugar and blackstrap molasses, nor was there a shift in
production from the subject facility to a foreign country during
the period under investigation.
The United States Department of Labor conducted a survey of a
major customer of the subject firm regarding its purchases of raw
cane sugar and blackstrap molasses in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The
survey revealed that the respondent did not import during the
relevant period.
United States aggregate imports of raw, solid cane sugar
declined in January through November 2004 compared with the same
period in 2003. In addition, aggregate imports of a broad combined
category of sugars declined as a percent of total U.S. production
of sugar in fiscal year (beginning October 1) 2003/2004 compared
with the same period one year earlier.
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 assis-
tance (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 Iberia
Sugar Cooperative, Inc., New Iberia, Louisiana 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 16th day of February, 2005

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