(a) Application for technical assistance from small businesses. An applicant for technical assistance under 19 U.S.C. 1339(b) must certify that it qualifies as a small business under the appropriate size standard(s) and that it is an independently owned and operated company. An application for technical assistance is available from the Office and on the Commission's Web site. The application must be signed under oath by an officer or principal of the applicant. The completed application should be submitted to the Office at the address set forth in §213.2(a).

(b) Application for technical assistance from joint applicants, trade associations and unions. If several businesses jointly or simultaneously from the same industry apply for technical assistance, each business must meet the appropriate SBA size standard(s) and so certify. If a trade association applies for technical assistance, an officer of the trade association must certify that eighty (80) percent of the trade association's members are companies that meet the appropriate size standard(s) and provide a listing of members of the association. If a union applies for technical assistance, an officer of the union must certify that the union has less than ten thousand (10,000) members within the industry for which trade relief is being sought. Applications for trade associations or for unions to request technical assistance are available from the Office. Applications must be signed under oath by an officer of the association or union and completed applications should be submitted to the Office as set forth in §213.2(a).

(c) Determination of eligibility and notification of determination. The Office shall determine whether the applicant is eligible for technical assistance and notify the applicant of the determination within ten (10) days of receipt of a properly completed application. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1339(c)(1), the Office's determination of eligibility is not reviewable by any other agency or by any court.

(d) Notification to administering agencies. When an applicant seeks technical assistance on matters involving the trade laws, and the Office determines that the applicant is eligible for technical assistance, the Office shall:

(1) Promptly notify the appropriate administering agency or agencies of the Office's determination that the applicant is eligible to receive technical assistance; and

(2) Consult with the administering agency or agencies as to the provision of technical assistance to that applicant.

[54 FR 33883, Aug. 17, 1989, as amended at 80 FR 39380, July 9, 2015