Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China's Compliance With WTO Commitments, 36071-36072 [2017-16204]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices On July 25, 2017 (82 FR 34472), the Secretary of Agriculture announced an Country additional in-quota quantity of the TRQ for raw cane sugar for the remainder of FY2017 (ending September 30, 2017) in Thailand ............................ 1,548 the amount of 244,690 metric tons raw Zimbabwe ......................... 1,327 value (MTRV). The conversion factor is 1 metric ton equals1.10231125 short USTR based these allocations on the tons. This quantity is in addition to the countries’ historical shipments to the minimum amount to which the United United States. The allocations of the raw States is committed under the World cane sugar WTO TRQ to countries that Trade Organization (WTO) Uruguay are net importers of sugar are Round Agreements (1,117,195 MTRV). conditioned on receipt of the The Department of Agriculture also has appropriate verifications of origin. determined that all sugar entering the Certificates for quota eligibility must United States under the FY2017 raw accompany imports from any country sugar TRQ will be permitted to enter for which an allocation has been U.S. Customs territory through October provided. 31, 2017, a month later than the typical entry date deadline. USTR is allocating Sharon E. Bomer Lauritsen, this total quantity of 244,690 MTRV to Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, the following countries in the amounts Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy. specified below: FY 2017 raw cane sugar unused reallocation (MTRV) [FR Doc. 2017–16289 Filed 7–31–17; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F7–P FY2017 raw cane sugar increase (MTRV) Country OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Fiscal Year 2017 Allocation of Additional Tariff-Rate Quota Volume for Raw Cane Sugar Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice of country-by-country allocations of additional Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 in-quota quantity of the tariffrate quota (TRQ) for imported raw cane sugar as announced by Secretary of Agriculture on July 25, 2017. DATES: This notice is applicable on August 2, 2017. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald Baumgarten, Office of Agricultural Affairs, (202) 395–9583 or Ronald_Baumgarten@ustr.eop.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Additional U.S. Note 5 to Chapter 17 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS), the United States maintains TRQs for imports of raw cane and refined sugar. Section 404(d)(3) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 3601(d)(3)) authorizes the President to allocate the in-quota quantity of a TRQ for any agricultural product among supplying countries or customs areas. The President delegated this authority to the United States Trade Representative under Presidential Proclamation 6763 (60 FR 1007, January 4, 1995). sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 Argentina .............................. Australia ................................ Belize .................................... Brazil ..................................... Colombia ............................... Costa Rica ............................ Ecuador ................................ El Salvador ........................... Fiji ......................................... Guatemala ............................ Guyana ................................. Honduras .............................. India ...................................... Jamaica ................................ Malawi ................................... Mauritius ............................... Mozambique ......................... Nicaragua ............................. Panama ................................ Peru ...................................... Philippines ............................ South Africa .......................... Swaziland ............................. Thailand ................................ Zimbabwe ............................. 15,575 30,064 3,984 13,962 8,693 5,433 3,984 9,417 3,260 17,386 4,347 3,622 2,898 3,984 3,622 4,347 4,709 7,606 10,504 14,851 48,898 8,331 5,795 5,071 4,347 USTR based these allocations on the countries’ historical shipments to the United States. The allocations of the raw cane sugar TRQ to countries that are net importers of sugar are conditioned on receipt of the appropriate verifications of origin, and certificates for quota eligibility must accompany imports from any country for which an allocation has been provided. Sharon E. Bomer Lauritsen, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy. [FR Doc. 2017–16288 Filed 7–31–17; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F7–P PO 00000 Frm 00146 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 36071 OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE [Docket Number USTR–2017–0011] Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China’s Compliance With WTO Commitments Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing. AGENCY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking comments and will convene a public hearing to assist the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare its annual report to Congress on China’s compliance with the commitments made in connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). DATES: September 20, 2017: Deadline for filing requests to appear and a summary of expected testimony at the October 4, 2017 public hearing, and for filing prehearing briefs, statements, or comments concerning China’s compliance with WTO commitments. October 4, 2017: The TPSC will convene a public hearing in Washington, DC concerning China’s compliance with WTO commitments. ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments in section 3 below. The docket number is USTR–2017–0011. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 395–3475. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning written comments or participation in the public hearing, contact Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395–3475. Direct all other questions to Terrence J. McCartin, Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for China Affairs, at (202) 395–3900, or Philip D. Chen, Chief Counsel for China Enforcement, at (202) 395–3150. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: 1. Background China became a Member of the WTO on December 11, 2001. In accordance with section 421 of the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–286), by December 11th of each year USTR has to submit a report to Congress on China’s compliance with commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including both multilateral commitments and any bilateral E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1 36072 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 147 / Wednesday, August 2, 2017 / Notices sradovich on DSKBCFCHB2PROD with NOTICES commitments made to the United States. In accordance with section 421, and to assist in preparing this year’s report, the TPSC is soliciting public comments. You can view last year’s report on USTR’s Web site: https://ustr.gov/sites/ default/files/2015-Report-to-CongressChina-WTO-Compliance.pdf. The terms of China’s accession to the WTO are contained in the Protocol on the Accession of the People’s Republic of China (including its annexes) (Protocol), the Report of the Working Party on the Accession of China (Working Party Report), and the WTO agreements. You can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on the WTO Web site: https://docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/L/432, WT/ MIN(01)/3, WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.1, WT/ MIN(01)/3/Add.2). 2. Public Comments and Hearing USTR invites written comments and/ or oral testimony on China’s compliance with commitments made in connection with its accession to the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in the following areas: a. Trading rights. b. Import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariffrate quotas, quotas, import licenses); c. Export regulation. d. Internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, government procurement, trade-related investment measures, taxes and charges levied on imports and exports). e. Intellectual property rights (including intellectual property rights enforcement). f. Services. g. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform. h. Other WTO commitments. In addition, given the United States’ view that China should be held accountable as a full participant in, and beneficiary of, the international trading system, USTR requests that commenters specifically identify unresolved compliance issues that warrant review and evaluation by USTR’s China Enforcement Task Force. We must receive written comments no later than Wednesday, September 20, 2017. The TPSC will convene a public hearing on Wednesday, October 4, 2017. If necessary, the hearing will continue on the next business day. The hearing will be held at 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508 and will be open to the public and to the press. We must receive your written requests to present VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:43 Aug 01, 2017 Jkt 241001 oral testimony at the hearing and prehearing briefs, statements, or comments by Wednesday, September 20, 2017. You must make the intent to testify notification in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field under docket number USTR–2017– 0011 on the www.regulations.gov Web site and you should include the name, address, telephone number and email address, if available, of the person presenting the testimony. You should attach a summary of the testimony by using the ‘‘Upload File’’ field. The name of the file also should include who will be presenting the testimony. Remarks at the hearing should be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible questions from the TPSC. You should submit all documents in accordance with the instructions in section 3 below. We will make a transcript of the hearing available on www.regulations.gov within approximately two weeks of the date of the hearing. 3. Requirements for Submissions In order to be assured of consideration, we must receive your written comments and notifications of intent to testify in English by Wednesday, September 20, 2017. USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. On the first page of the submission, please identify it as ‘‘China’s WTO Compliance.’’ To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR–2017–0011 on the home page and click ‘‘search.’’ The site will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice and click on the link entitled ‘‘Comment Now!’’ For further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ‘‘How to Use Regulations.gov’’ on the bottom of the home page. We will not accept handdelivered submissions. The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to submit comments by filling in a ‘‘Type Comment’’ field or by attaching a document using an ‘‘Upload File’’ field. USTR prefers that you submit comments in an attached document. If you attach a document, it is sufficient to type ‘‘See attached’’ in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the ‘‘Type Comment’’ field. PO 00000 Frm 00147 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 For any comments submitted electronically containing business confidential information, the file name of the business confidential version should begin with the characters ‘‘BC’’. Any page containing business confidential information must be clearly marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ on the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing business confidential information also must submit a public version of their comments that we will place in the docket for public inspection. The file name of the public version should begin with the character ‘‘P’’. The ‘‘BC’’ and ‘‘P’’ should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files. As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through www.regulations.gov. You must make any alternative arrangements with Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. You can contact Ms. Jamison at (202) 395–3475. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. We will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except business confidential information. You can view comments on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant docket number in the search field on the home page. Edward Gresser, Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. 2017–16204 Filed 8–1–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290–F7–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2017–0180] Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\02AUN1.SGM 02AUN1

Agencies

Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 147 (Wednesday, August 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36071-36072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16204]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2017-0011]


Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning 
China's Compliance With WTO Commitments

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Request for comments and notice of public hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is seeking 
comments and will convene a public hearing to assist the Office of the 
United States Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare its annual report 
to Congress on China's compliance with the commitments made in 
connection with its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

DATES: September 20, 2017: Deadline for filing requests to appear and a 
summary of expected testimony at the October 4, 2017 public hearing, 
and for filing pre-hearing briefs, statements, or comments concerning 
China's compliance with WTO commitments.
    October 4, 2017: The TPSC will convene a public hearing in 
Washington, DC concerning China's compliance with WTO commitments.

ADDRESSES: USTR strongly prefers electronic submissions made through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments in section 3 below. The docket 
number is USTR-2017-0011. For alternatives to on-line submissions, 
please contact Yvonne Jamison, Trade Policy Staff Committee, at (202) 
395-3475.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning 
written comments or participation in the public hearing, contact Yvonne 
Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Direct all other questions to Terrence J. 
McCartin, Acting Assistant United States Trade Representative for China 
Affairs, at (202) 395-3900, or Philip D. Chen, Chief Counsel for China 
Enforcement, at (202) 395-3150.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    China became a Member of the WTO on December 11, 2001. In 
accordance with section 421 of the U.S.-China Relations Act of 2000 
(Pub. L. 106-286), by December 11th of each year USTR has to submit a 
report to Congress on China's compliance with commitments made in 
connection with its accession to the WTO, including both multilateral 
commitments and any bilateral

[[Page 36072]]

commitments made to the United States. In accordance with section 421, 
and to assist in preparing this year's report, the TPSC is soliciting 
public comments. You can view last year's report on USTR's Web site: 
https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2015-Report-to-Congress-China-WTO-Compliance.pdf.
    The terms of China's accession to the WTO are contained in the 
Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China (including 
its annexes) (Protocol), the Report of the Working Party on the 
Accession of China (Working Party Report), and the WTO agreements. You 
can find the Protocol and Working Party Report on the WTO Web site: 
https://docsonline.wto.org (document symbols: WT/L/432, WT/MIN(01)/3, 
WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.1, WT/MIN(01)/3/Add.2).

2. Public Comments and Hearing

    USTR invites written comments and/or oral testimony on China's 
compliance with commitments made in connection with its accession to 
the WTO, including, but not limited to, commitments in the following 
areas:
    a. Trading rights.
    b. Import regulation (e.g., tariffs, tariff-rate quotas, quotas, 
import licenses);
    c. Export regulation.
    d. Internal policies affecting trade (e.g., subsidies, standards 
and technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, 
government procurement, trade-related investment measures, taxes and 
charges levied on imports and exports).
    e. Intellectual property rights (including intellectual property 
rights enforcement).
    f. Services.
    g. Rule of law issues (e.g., transparency, judicial review, uniform 
administration of laws and regulations) and status of legal reform.
    h. Other WTO commitments.
    In addition, given the United States' view that China should be 
held accountable as a full participant in, and beneficiary of, the 
international trading system, USTR requests that commenters 
specifically identify unresolved compliance issues that warrant review 
and evaluation by USTR's China Enforcement Task Force.
    We must receive written comments no later than Wednesday, September 
20, 2017.
    The TPSC will convene a public hearing on Wednesday, October 4, 
2017. If necessary, the hearing will continue on the next business day. 
The hearing will be held at 1724 F Street NW., Washington, DC 20508 and 
will be open to the public and to the press. We must receive your 
written requests to present oral testimony at the hearing and pre-
hearing briefs, statements, or comments by Wednesday, September 20, 
2017. You must make the intent to testify notification in the ``Type 
Comment'' field under docket number USTR-2017-0011 on the 
www.regulations.gov Web site and you should include the name, address, 
telephone number and email address, if available, of the person 
presenting the testimony. You should attach a summary of the testimony 
by using the ``Upload File'' field. The name of the file also should 
include who will be presenting the testimony. Remarks at the hearing 
should be limited to no more than five minutes to allow for possible 
questions from the TPSC.
    You should submit all documents in accordance with the instructions 
in section 3 below.
    We will make a transcript of the hearing available on 
www.regulations.gov within approximately two weeks of the date of the 
hearing.

3. Requirements for Submissions

    In order to be assured of consideration, we must receive your 
written comments and notifications of intent to testify in English by 
Wednesday, September 20, 2017. USTR strongly encourages commenters to 
make on-line submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. On 
the first page of the submission, please identify it as ``China's WTO 
Compliance.''
    To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number 
USTR-2017-0011 on the home page and click ``search.'' The site will 
provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with 
this docket. Find a reference to this notice and click on the link 
entitled ``Comment Now!'' For further information on using the 
www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided on 
the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use Regulations.gov'' on the 
bottom of the home page. We will not accept hand-delivered submissions.
    The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to submit comments by 
filling in a ``Type Comment'' field or by attaching a document using an 
``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers that you submit comments in an 
attached document. If you attach a document, it is sufficient to type 
``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field. USTR prefers 
submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If you 
use an application other than those two, please indicate the name of 
the application in the ``Type Comment'' field.
    For any comments submitted electronically containing business 
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential 
version should begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing 
business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Filers of submissions 
containing business confidential information also must submit a public 
version of their comments that we will place in the docket for public 
inspection. The file name of the public version should begin with the 
character ``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed by the name of 
the person or entity submitting the comments. Filers submitting 
comments containing no business confidential information should name 
their file using the name of the person or entity submitting the 
comments.
    Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic 
submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a 
cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent 
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in 
the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files.
    As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
www.regulations.gov. You must make any alternative arrangements with 
Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. You can contact 
Ms. Jamison at (202) 395-3475. General information concerning USTR is 
available at www.ustr.gov.
    We will post comments in the docket for public inspection, except 
business confidential information. You can view comments on the 
www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant docket number in 
the search field on the home page.

Edward Gresser,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative.
[FR Doc. 2017-16204 Filed 8-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F7-P

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