DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-58,563

AUTHENTIC SPECIALTY FOODS, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF DESC SA DE CV
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS OF DSS
ROSEMEAD, CALIFORNIA

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 December 30, 2005 in
response to a petition filed by a state workforce representative on
behalf of workers at Authentic Specialty Foods, Inc., a subsidiary
of DESC S.a. DE C.v., Rosemead, California. The workers produced
salsas and taco sauces.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.B),
(a)(2)(A)(I.C), and (a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that subject firm sales and
production of salsas and taco sauces increased from 2004 to 2005.
Also, the investigation revealed that the subject firm did not
report a declining customer base during the relevant period.
Moreover, the subject firm did not import salsas and taco
sauces, nor did it shift production to a foreign country during
2004 or 2005.
The investigation also revealed that the subject plant
recently shifted production to another domestic location due to
high production costs resulting from a degrading facility and
outmoded machinery. The shift in production contributed to the
layoffs at the subject plant.
The investigation further revealed that the subject firm
leased workers on-site from DSS to produce salsas and taco salsas.
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 of the facts obtained, I determine that
all workers of Authentic Specialty Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of
DESC S.a. DE C.v., including on-site leased workers of DSS,
Rosemead, California, are denied eligibility to apply for adjust-
ment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and
alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the
Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 17th day of January 2006.


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