13 C.F.R. PART 315—TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FIRMS


Title 13 - Business Credit and Assistance


Title 13: Business Credit and Assistance

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PART 315—TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE FOR FIRMS

Section Contents

Subpart A—General Provisions

§ 315.1   Purpose and scope.
§ 315.2   Definitions.
§ 315.3   Confidential Business Information.
§ 315.4   Eligible petitioners.
§ 315.5   TAAC scope, selection, evaluation and awards.
§ 315.6   Firm selection, evaluation and assistance.

Subpart B—Certification of Firms

§ 315.7   Certification requirements.
§ 315.8   Processing petitions for certification.
§ 315.9   Hearings.
§ 315.10   Loss of certification benefits.
§ 315.11   Appeals, final determinations and termination of certification.

Subpart C—Protective Provisions

§ 315.12   Recordkeeping.
§ 315.13   Audit and examination.
§ 315.14   Certifications.
§ 315.15   Conflicts of interest.

Subpart D—Adjustment Proposals

§ 315.16   Adjustment Proposals.

Subpart E—Assistance to Industries

§ 315.17   Assistance to Firms in import-impacted industries.


Authority:  42 U.S.C. 3211; 19 U.S.C. 2341 et seq.; Department of Commerce Organization Order 10–4.

Source:  70 FR 47019, Aug. 11, 2005, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—General Provisions
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§ 315.1   Purpose and scope.
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The regulations in this part set forth the responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce under Chapter 3 of Title II of the Trade Act concerning Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms. The statutory authority and responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce relating to Adjustment Assistance are delegated to EDA. EDA certifies Firms as eligible to apply for Adjustment Assistance, provides technical Adjustment Assistance to Firms and other recipients, and provides assistance to organizations representing trade injured industries.

§ 315.2   Definitions.
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In addition to the defined terms set forth in §300.3 of this chapter, the following terms used in this part shall have the following meanings:

Adjustment Assistance means technical assistance provided to Firms or industries under Chapter 3 of Title II of the Trade Act.

Adjustment Proposal means a Certified Firm's plan for improving its economic situation.

Certified Firm means a Firm which has been determined by EDA to be eligible to apply for Adjustment Assistance.

Confidential Business Information means any information submitted to EDA or TAACs by Firms that concerns or relates to trade secrets for commercial or financial purposes which is exempt from public disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4), 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4) and 15 CFR part 4.

Contributed Importantly, with respect to an Increase in Imports, refers to a cause which is important but not necessarily more important than any other cause. Imports will not be considered to have Contributed Importantly if other factors were so dominant, acting singly or in combination, that the worker separation or threat thereof or decline in sales or production would have been essentially the same, irrespective of the influence of imports.

Decreased Absolutely means a Firm's sales or production has declined by a minimum of five percent (5%) relative to its sales or production during the applicable prior time period, and:

(1) Irrespective of industry or market fluctuations; and

(2) Relative only to the previous performance of the Firm.

Directly Competitive means:

(1) Articles which are substantially equivalent for commercial purposes (i.e., are adapted to the same function or use and are essentially interchangeable); and

(2) Oil or natural gas (exploration, drilling or otherwise produced).

Firm means an individual proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation (including a development corporation), business trust, cooperative, trustee in bankruptcy or receiver under court decree and including fishing, agricultural entities and those which explore, drill or otherwise produce oil or natural gas. When a Firm owns or controls other Firms as described in this definition, for purposes of receiving benefits under this part, the Firm and such other Firms may be considered a single Firm when they produce like or Directly Competitive articles or are exerting essential economic control over one or more production facilities. Such other Firms include:

(1) Predecessor—see the following definition for Successor;

(2) Successor—a newly established Firm (that has been in business less than two years) which has purchased substantially all of the assets of a previously operating company (or in some cases a whole distinct division) (such prior company, unit or division, a “Predecessor”) and is able to demonstrate that it continued the operations of the Predecessor which has operated as an autonomous unit, provided that there were no significant transactions between the Predecessor unit and any related parent, subsidiary, or affiliate that would have affected its past performance, and that separate records are available for the Predecessor's operations for at least two years before the petition is submitted. The Successor Firm must have continued virtually all of the Predecessor Firm's operations by producing the same type of products, in the same plant, utilizing most of the same machinery and equipment and most of its former workers, and the Predecessor Firm must no longer be in existence;

(3) Affiliate—a company (either foreign or domestic) controlled or substantially beneficially owned by substantially the same person or persons that own or control the Firm filing the petition; or

(4) Subsidiary—a company (either foreign or domestic) that is wholly owned or effectively controlled by another company.

Increase in Imports means an increase of imports of Directly Competitive or Like Articles with articles produced by such Firm that Contributed Importantly to the applicable Total or Partial Separation or threat thereof, and to the applicable decline in sales or production.

Like Articles means any articles which are substantially identical in their intrinsic characteristics.

Partial Separation means, with respect to any employment in a Firm, either:

(1) A reduction in an employee's work hours to eighty (80) percent or less of the employee's average weekly hours during the year of such reductions as compared to the preceding year; or

(2) A reduction in the employee's weekly wage to eighty (80) percent or less of his/her average weekly wage during the year of such reduction as compared to the preceding year.

Person means an individual, organization or group.

Record means any of the following:

(1) A petition for certification of eligibility to qualify for Adjustment Assistance;

(2) Any supporting information submitted by a petitioner;

(3) The report of an EDA investigation with respect to petition; and

(4) Any information developed during an investigation or in connection with any public hearing held on a petition.

Significant Number or Proportion of Workers means five (5) percent of a Firm's work force or fifty (50) workers, whichever is less. An individual farmer or fisherman is considered a Significant Number or Proportion of Workers.

Substantial Interest means a direct material economic interest in the certification or non-certification of the petitioner.

TAAC means a Trade Adjustment Assistance Center, as more fully described in §315.5.

Threat of Total or Partial Separation means, with respect to any group of workers, one or more events or circumstances clearly demonstrating that a Total or Partial Separation is imminent.

Total Separation means, with respect to any employment in a Firm, the laying off or termination of employment of an employee for lack of work.

§ 315.3   Confidential Business Information.
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EDA will follow the procedures set forth in 15 CFR 4.7 for the submission of Confidential Business Information. Submitters should clearly mark and designate as confidential any Confidential Business Information.

§ 315.4   Eligible petitioners.
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Eligible petitioners for assistance under this part shall be:

(a) Trade Adjustment Assistance Centers (“TAACs”). A TAAC can be a(n):

(1) University affiliate;

(2) State or local government affiliate; or

(3) Non-profit organization.

(b) Firms; or

(c) Organizations assisting or representing industries in which a substantial number of Firms or workers have been certified as eligible to apply for Adjustment Assistance under Sections 223 or 251 of the Trade Act, including:

(1) Existing agencies;

(2) Private individuals;

(3) Firms;

(4) Universities;

(5) Institutions;

(6) Associations;

(7) Unions; or

(8) Other non-profit industry organizations.

§ 315.5   TAAC scope, selection, evaluation and awards.
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(a) TAAC purpose and scope. (1) TAACs are available to assist Firms in obtaining Adjustment Assistance in all fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. TAACs provide Adjustment Assistance in accordance with this part either through their own staffs or by arrangements with outside consultants. Information concerning TAACs serving particular areas may be obtained from the TAAC Web site at http://www.taacenters.org or from EDA. See the annual FFO for the appropriate points of contact and addresses.

(2) Prior to submitting a petition for Adjustment Assistance to EDA, a Firm should determine the extent to which a TAAC can provide the required Adjustment Assistance. EDA will provide Adjustment Assistance through TAACs whenever EDA determines that such assistance can be provided most effectively in this manner. Requests for Adjustment Assistance will normally be made through TAACs.

(3) TAACs generally provide Adjustment Assistance to a Firm by providing the following:

(i) Assistance to a Firm in preparing its petition for certification;

(ii) Assistance to a Certified Firm in diagnosing its strengths and weaknesses and developing its Adjustment Proposal; and

(iii) Assistance to a Certified Firm in the implementation of its Adjustment Proposal.

(b) TAAC selection. TAACs are selected in accordance with the following:

(1) EDA invites currently funded TAACs to submit either new or amended applications, provided they have performed in a satisfactory manner and complied with previous and/or current conditions in their Cooperative Agreements with EDA and contingent upon availability of funds. Such TAACs shall submit an application on a form approved by OMB, as well as a proposed budget, narrative scope of work, and such other information as requested by EDA. Acceptance of an application or amended application for a Cooperative Agreement does not assure funding by EDA; and

(2) EDA will invite new TAACs to submit proposals through an FFO, and if such proposals are acceptable, EDA will invite an application on a form approved by OMB. An application will contain a narrative scope of work, proposed budget and such other information as requested by EDA. Acceptance of an application does not assure funding by EDA.

(c) TAAC evaluation. (1) EDA generally evaluates currently funded TAACs based on:

(i) Performance under Cooperative Agreements with EDA and compliance with the terms and conditions of such Cooperative Agreements;

(ii) Proposed scope of work, budget and application or amended application; and

(iii) Availability of funds.

(2) EDA generally evaluates new TAACs based on:

(i) Competence in administering business assistance programs;

(ii) Background and experience of staff;

(iii) Proposed scope of work, budget and application; and

(iv) Availability of funding.

(d) TAAC award requirements. (1) EDA generally funds TAACs for twelve (12) months.

(2) There are no Matching Share requirements for Adjustment Assistance provided by the TAACs to Firms for certification or for administrative expenses of the TAACs.

§ 315.6   Firm selection, evaluation and assistance.
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(a) Firm selection. Firms participate in the Trade Adjustment Assistance program in accordance with the following:

(1) Firms apply for certification through a TAAC by completing a petition for certification. The TAAC will assist Firms in completing such petitions (at no cost to the Firms);

(2) Firms certified in accordance with the procedures described in §§315.7 and 315.8 must prepare an Adjustment Proposal for Adjustment Assistance from the TAAC, and submit it to EDA for approval;

(3) Certified Firms that have submitted approvable Adjustment Proposals within the time limits described in §315.10 may begin implementation of their proposals. The Firm may submit a request to the TAAC for Adjustment Assistance in implementing an accepted Adjustment Proposal; and

(4) EDA determines whether the Adjustment Assistance requested in the Adjustment Proposal is eligible based upon the evaluation criteria set forth in subpart D of this part.

(b) Firm evaluation. For certification, EDA evaluates Firms' petitions strictly on the basis of fulfillment of the requirements set forth in §315.7.

(c) Firm award requirements. (1) Firms generally receive Adjustment Assistance over a two-year (2) period.

(2) Matching Share requirements are as follows:

(i) Each Firm must pay at least twenty-five (25) percent of the cost of the preparation of its Adjustment Proposal. Each Firm requesting $30,000 or less in total Adjustment Assistance in its approved Adjustment Proposal must pay at least twenty-five (25) percent of the cost of that Adjustment Assistance. Each Firm requesting more than $30,000 in total technical assistance in its approved Adjustment Proposal must pay at least fifty (50) percent of the cost of that Adjustment Assistance.

(ii) Organizations representing trade-injured industries must pay at least fifty (50) percent of the total cash cost of the Adjustment Assistance, in addition to appropriate in-kind contributions.

Subpart B—Certification of Firms
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§ 315.7   Certification requirements.
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(a) EDA may certify a Firm as eligible to apply for Adjustment Assistance under Section 251(c) of the Trade Act if it determines that the petition for certification meets one of the requirements set forth in paragraph (b) of this section. In order to be certified, a Firm must meet all of the criteria listed under any one of the three (3) requirements in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b)(1) Twelve-month (12) decline. Based upon a comparison of the most recent twelve-month (12) period for which data are available and the immediately preceding twelve-month (12) period:

(i) A Significant Number or Proportion of Workers in the Firm has undergone Total or Partial Separation or a Threat of Total or Partial Separation;

(ii) Either sales or production of the Firm has Decreased Absolutely; or sales or production, or both, of any article that accounted for not less than twenty-five (25) percent of the total production or sales of the Firm during the twelve-month (12) period preceding the most recent twelve-month (12) period for which data are available have Decreased Absolutely; and

(iii) An Increase in Imports has occurred; or

(2) Interim sales or production decline. Based upon an interim sales or production decline:

(i) Sales or production has Decreased Absolutely for, at minimum, the most recent six-month (6) period during the most recent twelve-month (12) period for which data are available as compared to the same six-month (6) period during the immediately preceding twelve-month (12) period;

(ii) During the same base and comparative period of time as sales or production has Decreased Absolutely, a Significant Number or Proportion of Workers in such Firm has undergone Total or Partial Separation or a Threat of Total or Partial Separation; and

(iii) During the same base and comparative period of time as sales or production has Decreased Absolutely, an Increase in Imports has occurred; or

(3) Interim employment decline. Based upon an interim employment decline:

(i) A Significant Number or Proportion of Workers in such Firm has undergone Total or Partial Separation or a Threat of Total or Partial Separation during, at a minimum, the most recent six-month (6) period during the most recent twelve-month (12) period for which data are available as compared to the same six-month (6) period during the immediately preceding twelve-month (12) period; and

(ii) Either sales or production of the Firm has Decreased Absolutely during the twelve-month (12) period preceding the most recent twelve-month (12) period for which data are available; and

(iii) An Increase in Imports has occurred.

§ 315.8   Processing petitions for certification.
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(a) Firms shall consult with a TAAC for guidance and assistance in the preparation of their petitions for certification.

(b) A Firm seeking certification shall complete a petition (OMB Control No. 0610–0091) in the form prescribed by EDA with the following information about such Firm:

(1) Identification and description of the Firm, including legal form of organization, economic history, major ownership interests, officers, directors, management, parent company, Subsidiaries or Affiliates, and production and sales facilities;

(2) Description of goods and services produced and sold;

(3) Description of imported Directly Competitive or Like Articles with those produced;

(4) Data on its sales, production and employment for the two most recent years;

(5) Copies of its audited financial statements, or if not available, unaudited financial statements, copies of its SEC Form 10–K annual reports, and federal income tax returns for the two (2) most recent years;

(6) Copies of unemployment insurance reports for the two (2) most recent years;

(7) Information concerning its major customers and their purchases (or its bids, if there are no major customers); and

(8) Such other information as EDA considers material.

(c) EDA shall determine whether the petition has been properly prepared and can be accepted. Promptly thereafter, EDA shall notify the petitioner that the petition has been accepted or advise the TAAC that the petition has not been accepted, but may be resubmitted at any time without prejudice when the specified deficiencies have been corrected. Any resubmission will be treated as a new petition.

(d) EDA will publish a notice of acceptance of a petition in the Federal Register.

(e) EDA will initiate an investigation to determine whether the petitioner meets the requirements set forth in Section 251(c) of the Trade Act and §315.7.

(f) A petitioner may withdraw a petition for certification if EDA receives a request for withdrawal before it makes a certification determination or denial. A Firm may submit a new petition at any time thereafter in accordance with the requirements of this section and §315.7.

(g) Following acceptance of a petition, EDA will:

(1) Make a determination based on the Record as soon as possible after the petitioning Firm or TAAC has submitted all material. In no event may the determination period exceed sixty (60) days from the date on which EDA accepted the petition; and

(2) Either certify the petitioner as eligible to apply for Adjustment Assistance or deny the petition. In either event, EDA shall promptly give written notice of action to the petitioner. Any written notice to the petitioner or any parties as specified in §315.10(d) of a denial of a petition shall specify the reason(s) for the denial. A petitioner shall not be entitled to resubmit a petition within one (1) year from the date of denial, provided, EDA may waive the one-year (1) limitation for good cause.

§ 315.9   Hearings.
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EDA will hold a public hearing on an accepted petition if the petitioner, or any person, organization, or group found by EDA to have a Substantial Interest in the proceedings, submits a request for a hearing no later than ten (10) days after the date of publication of the Notice of Acceptance in the Federal Register, under the following procedures:

(a) The petitioner and other interested Persons shall have an opportunity to be present, to produce evidence and to be heard;

(b) A request for public hearing must be delivered by hand or by registered mail to EDA. A request by a Person other than the petitioner shall contain:

(1) The name, address and telephone number of the Person requesting the hearing; and

(2) A complete statement of the relationship of the Person requesting the hearing to the petitioner and the subject matter of the petition, and a statement of the nature of its interest in the proceedings.

(c) If EDA determines that the requesting party does not have a Substantial Interest in the proceedings, a written notice of denial shall be sent to the requesting party. The notice shall specify the reasons for the denial;

(d) EDA shall publish a notice of a public hearing in the Federal Register, containing the subject matter, name of petitioner, and date, time and place of the hearing; and

(e) EDA shall appoint a presiding officer for the hearing who shall respond to all procedural questions.

§ 315.10   Loss of certification benefits.
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A Firm may fail to obtain benefits of certification, regardless of whether its certification is terminated, for any of the following reasons:

(a) Failure to submit an acceptable Adjustment Proposal within two (2) years after date of certification. While approval of an Adjustment Proposal may occur after the expiration of such two-year (2) period, a Firm must submit an acceptable Adjustment Proposal before such expiration;

(b) Failure to submit documentation necessary to start implementation or modify its request for Adjustment Assistance consistent with its Adjustment Proposal within six (6) months after approval of the Adjustment Proposal, where two (2) years have elapsed since the date of certification. If the Firm anticipates needing a longer period to submit documentation, it should indicate the longer period in its Adjustment Proposal. If the Firm is unable to submit its documentation within the allowed time, it should notify EDA in writing of the reasons for the delay and submit a new schedule. EDA has the discretion to accept or refuse a new schedule;

(c) EDA has denied the Firm's request for Adjustment Assistance, the time period allowed for the submission of any documentation in support of such request has expired, and two (2) years have elapsed since the date of certification; or

(d) Failure to diligently pursue an approved Adjustment Proposal where two (2) years have elapsed since the date of certification.

§ 315.11   Appeals, final determinations and termination of certification.
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(a) Any petitioner may appeal in writing to EDA from a denial of certification, provided that EDA receives the appeal by personal delivery or by registered mail within sixty (60) days from the date of notice of denial under §315.8(g). The appeal must state the grounds on which the appeal is based, including a concise statement of the supporting facts and applicable law. The decision of EDA on the appeal shall be the final determination within the Department. In the absence of an appeal by the petitioner under this paragraph, the determination under §315.8(g) shall be final.

(b) A Firm, its representative or any other interested domestic party aggrieved by a final determination under paragraph (a) of this section may, within sixty (60) days after notice of such determination, begin a civil action in the United States Court of International Trade for review of such determination, in accordance with Section 284 of the Trade Act.

(c) Whenever EDA determines that a Certified Firm no longer requires Adjustment Assistance or for other good cause, EDA will terminate the certification and promptly publish notice of such termination in the Federal Register. The termination will take effect on the date specified in the published notice.

(d) EDA shall immediately notify the petitioner and shall state the reasons for any termination.

Subpart C—Protective Provisions
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§ 315.12   Recordkeeping.
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Each TAAC shall keep records that fully disclose the amount and disposition of Trade Adjustment Assistance funds so as to facilitate an effective audit.

§ 315.13   Audit and examination.
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EDA and the Comptroller General of the United States shall have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any books, documents, papers, and records of a Firm, TAAC or other recipient of Adjustment Assistance pertaining to the award of Adjustment Assistance.

§ 315.14   Certifications.
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EDA will provide no Adjustment Assistance to any Firm unless the owners, partners, members, directors or officers thereof certify:

(a) The names of any attorneys, agents, and other Persons engaged by or on behalf of the Firm for the purpose of expediting applications for such Adjustment Assistance; and

(b) The fees paid or to be paid to any such Person.

§ 315.15   Conflicts of interest.
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EDA will provide no Adjustment Assistance to any Firm under this part unless the owners, partners, or officers execute an agreement binding them and the Firm for a period of two (2) years after such Adjustment Assistance is provided, to refrain from employing, tendering any office or employment to, or retaining for professional services any Person who, on the date such assistance or any part thereof was provided, or within one (1) year prior thereto, shall have served as an officer, attorney, agent, or employee occupying a position or engaging in activities which involved discretion with respect to the provision of such Adjustment Assistance.

Subpart D—Adjustment Proposals
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§ 315.16   Adjustment Proposals.
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EDA evaluates Adjustment Proposals based on the following process:

(a) EDA must receive the Adjustment Proposal within two (2) years after the date of the certification of the Firm;

(b) The Adjustment Proposal must include a description of any Adjustment Assistance requested to implement such proposal including financial and other supporting documentation as EDA determines is necessary, based upon either:

(1) An analysis of the Firm's problems, strengths and weaknesses and an assessment of its prospects for recovery; or

(2) If EDA so determines, other available information; and

(c) The Adjustment Proposal must:

(1) Be reasonably calculated to contribute materially to the economic adjustment of the Firm (i.e., that such proposal will constructively assist the Firm to establish a competitive position in the same or a different industry);

(2) Give adequate consideration to the interests of a sufficient number of separated workers of the Firm, by providing, for example, that the Firm will:

(i) Give a rehiring preference to such workers;

(ii) Make efforts to find new work for a number of such workers; and

(iii) Assist such workers in obtaining benefits under available programs; and

(3) Demonstrate that the Firm will make all reasonable efforts to use its own resources for its recovery, though under certain circumstances, resources of related Firms or major stockholders will also be considered.

Subpart E—Assistance to Industries
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§ 315.17   Assistance to Firms in import-impacted industries.
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(a) Whenever the International Trade Commission makes an affirmative finding under Section 202(B) of the Trade Act that increased imports are a substantial cause of serious injury or threat thereof with respect to an industry, EDA shall provide to the Firms in such industry assistance in the preparation and processing of petitions and applications for benefits under programs which may facilitate the orderly adjustment to import competition of such Firms.

(b) EDA may provide Adjustment Assistance, on such terms and conditions as EDA deems appropriate, for the establishment of industry-wide programs for new product development, new process development, export development or other uses consistent with the purposes of the Trade Act and this part.

(c) Expenditures for Adjustment Assistance under this section may be up to $10,000,000 annually per industry, subject to availability of funds, and shall be made under such terms and conditions as EDA deems appropriate.

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