DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-81,893

ASAHI KASEI SPANDEX AMERICA, INC.
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM
EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS
GOOSE CREEK, SOUTH CAROLINA

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 August 15, 2012 by a company official on behalf of
workers of Asahi Kasei Spandex America, Inc., Goose Creek
South Carolina. The worker group also consists of on-site
leased workers from Express Employment Professionals. The
workers' firm is engaged in activities related to the
production of spandex (elastomeric yarn).
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 spandex (elastomeric yarn) by workers at
Goose Creek, South Carolina have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because company
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
spandex (elastomeric yarn) produced by workers of Asahi Kasei
Spandex America, Inc., Goose Creek South Carolina have
increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased company imports contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at
Asahi Kasei Spandex America, Inc., Goose Creek South Carolina.

Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Asahi Kasei Spandex
America, Inc., including on-site leased workers from Express
Employment Professionals, Goose Creek, South Carolina, who are
engaged in activities related to the production of spandex
(elastomeric yarn) 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 Asahi Kasei Spandex America, Inc.,
including leased on-site workers of Express Employment
Professionals, Goose Creek, South Carolina, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or
after August 14, 2011 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 7th day of September, 2012.


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