DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,272

MERCEDES-BENZ UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM TALENT TREE
VANCE, ALABAMA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 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 workers of a Firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially separated; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in the sales or
production of such firm.


The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on May 20, 2009 on behalf of workers of Mercedes-Benz
United States International, Inc., Vance, Alabama. The workers
assemble Mercedes-Benz GL class, M class and R class vehicles
(the latter two are considered premium crossover utility
vehicles). The workers are not separately identifiable by
vehicle.
The investigation revealed that the worker group includes
on-site leased workers of Talent Tree.
The investigation revealed that workers of the Vance
facility who are engaged in employment related to the assembly
of automobiles meet the criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
portion of workers has been separated.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of automobiles by Mercedes-Benz United
States International, Inc. decreased in January through July
2009 compared with the same period in 2008.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because Mercedez-
Benz corporate imports of articles like or directly
competitive with some of the automobiles assembled in Vance
have increased. Specifically, imports of premium crossover-
utility vehicles increased absolutely and relatively in
January through July 2009 compared with the same period in
2008 and represent a significant portion of total sales of
like articles by Mercedes-Benz.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Mercedes-Benz United
States International, Inc., Vance, Alabama, who are engaged in
employment related to the assembly of automobiles meet the
worker group certification criteria under Section 222(a) of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section 223 of the
Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Mercedes-Benz United States International,
Inc., including on-site leased workers from Talent Tree,
Vance, Alabama, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after May 18, 2008, through two years
from the date of certification, and all workers in the


group threatened with total or partial separation from
employment on date of certification through two years from
the date of certification, are eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the
Trade Act of 1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 13th day of August, 2009


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