Denied
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TAW-63785  /  American Woodmark (Ham Lake, MN)

Petitioner Type: State
Impact Date:
Filed Date: 08/01/2008
Most Recent Update: 08/27/2008
Determination Date: 08/27/2008
Expiration Date:

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-63,785

American Woodmark
Ham Lake, Minnesota


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 August 1, 2008, in response to
a petition filed by a State Workforce Official on behalf of workers of
American Wood Mark Corporation, Ham Lake, Minnesota. The workers
produce kitchen cabinets and accessories; and bath cabinets.
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 firm did not import
or shift production of kitchen cabinets and accessories; and bath
cabinets, to a foreign country during the relevant period.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of kitchen cabinets
and accessories; and bath cabinets during 2006, 2007 and January
through July 2008 over the corresponding 2007 period. The survey
revealed no customer import purchases during the relevant period.
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 during this
investigation, I determine that workers of American Wood Mark
Corporation, Ham Lake, Minnesota, 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 25th day of August 2008
/s/ Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance