DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,631

MERIX CORPORATION
FOREST GROVE, OREGON

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
eligibility 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 on July 16, 2001, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Merix
Corporation, Forest Grove, Oregon. The workers were engaged in
employment related to the production of printed circuit boards.
The workers are not separately identifiable by product.
This investigation revealed that production and employment
at the subject plant decreased during the relevant time period.
The Department of Labor surveyed major customers of the
subject firms regarding their purchases of printed circuit boards
in the 1999-2000 and January to October, 2000-2001 periods.
Respondents indicated that they reduced purchases from the
subject firm and increased imports in one or more sets of time
periods.
The Merix Corporation, Forest Grove, Oregon was previously
certified for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TA-W-35,051) that
expired on January 19, 2001.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced by Merix
Corporation, Forest Grove, Oregon, contributed importantly to the
decline in sales or production and to the total or partial
separation of workers of that firm. In accordance with the
provisions of the Trade Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers at Merix Corporation, Forest Grove, Oregon, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after January 20, 2001, 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 in Washington, D. C. this 25th day of March, 2002

/s/ Edward A. Tomchick
____________________________
EDWARD A. TOMCHICK
Director, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance