DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-65,349

COLUMBIA FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.
NEWPORT, VERMONT

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 February 24, 2009, in response
to a petition filed by a Vermont State Workforce Office representative
on behalf of workers of Columbia Forest Products, Inc., Newport,
Vermont. The workers produce hardwood veneer.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B) (II.B) have not been met.
The subject firm did not shift production of hardwood veneer
abroad nor did it import this product in the period under
investigation.
The investigation further revealed that a substantial portion of
the subject firm's sales were internal in the period under
investigation. Furthermore, sales and production at the subject firm
increased in 2008 compared with 2007.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of hardwood veneer
and/or articles like or directly competitive in 2007, 2008, January
through February 2008 and the same period in 2009. The survey
revealed that respondents reduced import purchases in the relevant
period.
Aggregate United States imports for consumption of non-tropical,
non-coniferous veneer sheets declined substantially in 2008 compared
with 2007, and continued to decline in January 2009.
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 in the
investigation, I determine that all workers of Columbia Forest
Products, Inc., Newport, Vermont, 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 7th day of April 2009

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