DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-81,054

HIGH COTTON ENTERPRISES, INC.
FORT PAYNE, 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 November 4, 2011 by a company official on behalf of
workers of High Cotton Enterprises, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama
(High Cotton Enterprises). The workers’ firm is engaged in
activities related to the production of unfinished greige good
socks.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers’ firm U.S. Census Bureau.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because 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.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of unfinished greige good socks by High Cotton
Enterprises have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because ratio of
aggregate U.S. imports to U.S. shipments of articles like or
directly competitive with the article produced by High Cotton
Enterprises has increased. The ratio of U.S. imports to U.S.
shipments was well over 700 percent in terms of quantity.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased aggregate U.S. imports contributed importantly to
the worker group separations and sales/production declines at
High Cotton Enterprises.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of High Cotton
Enterprises, Inc., Fort Payne, Alabama, who are engaged in
activities related to the production of unfinished greige good
socks 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 High Cotton Enterprises, Inc., Fort Payne,
Alabama, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after February 13, 2010, through two years
from the date of certification, and all workers in the
group threatened with total or partial separation from
employment on the 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 20th day of January, 2012.

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