DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-92,840

ESCO COMPANY, LLC
A SUBSIDIARY OF MITSUI CHEMICALS AMERICA, INC
MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN

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 April 26, 2017 by a company official on behalf of
workers of ESCO Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals
America, Inc., Muskegon, Michigan ("ESCO"). The workers' firm
is engaged in activities related to the production of color
formers and intermediate chemicals (keto acid).
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm, and the firm's major declining
customer(s).
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/or production of color formers and intermediate chemicals
(keto acid) by ESCO have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because customer
imports of articles like or directly competitive with the
article produced by ESCO have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased customer imports contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at
ESCO.

Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of ESCO Company, LLC, a
subsidiary of Mitsui Chemicals America, Inc., Muskegon,
Michigan, who are engaged in activities related to the
production of color formers and intermediate chemicals (keto
acid) 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 ESCO Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Mitsui
Chemicals America, Inc., Muskegon, Michigan, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
April 25, 2016, 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 21st day of June 2017.
/s/Hope D. Kinglock
______________________________
HOPE D. KINGLOCK
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance