DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,413

SPORTSWEAR USA
WALLACE, NORTH CAROLINA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273) as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act
of 1988 (P. L. 100-418), the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of eli-
gibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
each of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the
Act must be met. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on June 11, 2001, filed by the company on behalf of
workers at Sportswear USA, Wallace, North Carolina. The workers
produced boys' suits, blazers, pants and vests.
Investigation findings revealed that the subject plant
experienced declines in sales and levels of employment.
The investigation also revealed that a major customer of the
subject firm has increased its imports of products like and
directly competitive with those it formerly purchased from the
subject firm.
United States imports of men's and boys' suits have increased
during the past year. The ratio of imports to domestic shipments
in 1999 was 168 percent.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Trade Adjustment Assistance
has been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA
4936). A determination on that petition will be made concurrently
with this determination.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investi-
gation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles like or
directly competitive with those produced by Sportswear USA,
Wallace, North Carolina, contributed importantly to the decline in
sales and production and to the total or partial separation of
workers of the subject firm. In accordance with the provisions of
the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers at Sportswear USA, Wallace, North Carolina,
who became totally or partially separated from employment
on or after May 29, 2000, through two years from the date
of certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."

Signed at Washington, D.C., this 29th day of August 2001.
/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer
Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance