[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2034-2035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-759]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP); Schedule of Hearings and
Deadlines for Submitting Comments on Petitions for the 2000 GSP Country
Practices Review and Announcement of Termination of the Worker Rights
Review of Swaziland and the Intellectual Property Rights Review of
Moldova
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to set forth the timetable for
hearings and public comments on petitions requesting modifications in
the status of GSP beneficiary countries in regard to their practices,
as specified in 15 CFR 2007.0(a) and (b). In addition, the notice
announces the termination of the worker rights review of Swaziland and
the intellectual property rights review of Moldova. The reviews have
been concluded since the two countries have brought their laws and
practices into conformity with GSP statutory requirements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: GSP Subcommittee, Office of the United
States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518, Washington,
DC 20508 (Tel. 202/395-6971). Public versions of all documents relating
to this review are available for public inspection by appointment in
the USTR public reading room between 9:30-12 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. (Tel.
202/395-6186).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program is authorized pursuant to
Title V of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``the Trade Act'') (19
U.S.C. 2461 et seq.). The GSP program grants duty-free treatment to
designated eligible articles that are imported from designated
beneficiary developing countries. USTR has received a number of
petitions requesting that certain practices in certain beneficiary
developing countries be reviewed to determine whether such countries
are in compliance with the eligibility criteria set forth in sections
502(b) and 502(c) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2462(b) and 2462(c)).
Petitions Accepted for Review Regarding Country Practices
Pursuant to 15 CFR 2007.0(b), the Trade Policy Staff Committee
(TPSC) has accepted petitions to review the GSP status of Brazil,
Pakistan, and Russia. The petitions involving Brazil and Russia were
submitted by the International Intellectual Property Alliance and that
involving Pakistan by the American Textile Manufacturers Institute. A
decision on a petition relating to internationally recognized workers'
rights in Peru has been deferred, and we will continue to closely
monitor and assess the Government of Peru's workers' right practices
over the next several months.
Any modifications to the list of beneficiary developing countries
for purposes of the GSP program resulting from the Country Practices
Review will take effect on such date as will be notified in a future
Federal Register notice.
It also should be noted that public comment on the workers' rights
review of Guatemala, initiated by the U.S.
[[Page 2035]]
Trade Representative, may be accommodated in the process described
below.
A. Opportunities for Public Comment
The GSP Subcommittee of the TPSC invites comments in support of, or
in opposition to, any of the petitions that have been accepted for
review by the TPSC. Submissions should comply with 15 CFR Part 2007,
including sections 2007.0, and 2007.1. All submissions should identify
the subject article(s) in terms of the current Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (``HTS'') nomenclature.
Any comments should be accompanied by fourteen (14) copies, and
submitted, in English, to the Chairman of the GSP Subcommittee of the
Trade Policy Staff Committee, 600 17th Street, NW, Room 518,
Washington, DC 20508. Information submitted will be subject to public
inspection by appointment with the staff of the USTR public reading
room, except for information submitted in confidence pursuant to 15 CFR
2007.7. If the document contains business confidential information, an
original and fourteen (14) copies of a public version of the submission
along with an original and fourteen (14) copies of the confidential
version must be submitted. In addition, any document containing
confidential information should be clearly marked ``business
confidential'' at the top and bottom of each page of the document. The
public version should also be clearly marked at the top and bottom of
every page (either ``public version'' or ``nonconfidential''). Comments
should be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on February 5, 2001.
B. Notice of Public Hearings
Hearings will be held on March 9, 2001 beginning at 10 a.m. at the
Office of the U.S. Trade Representatives, 1724 F Street, NW.,
Washington, DC. The hearings will be open to the public and a
transcript of the hearings will be made available for public inspection
or can be purchased from the reporting company. No electronic media
coverage will be allowed.
All interested parties wishing to present oral testimony at the
hearings must submit the name, address, and telephone number of the
witness(es) representing their organization to the Chairman of the GSP
Subcommittee. Such requests to present oral testimony at the public
hearings should be accompanied by fourteen (14) copies, in English, of
a written brief or statement, and should be received by 5:00 p.m. on
February 23, 2001. Oral testimony before the GSP Subcommittee will be
limited to five minute presentations that summarize or supplement
information contained in the briefs or statements submitted for the
record. Post-hearing and rebuttal briefs or statements should conform
to the regulations cited above and be submitted in fourteen (14)
copies, in English, no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2001.
Interested persons not wishing to appear at the public hearings may
also submit pre-hearing written briefs or statements by 5:00 p.m. on
February 23, 2001 and post-hearing and rebuttal written briefs or
statements by April 6, 2001.
Jon Rosenbaum,
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 01-759 Filed 1-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-M