Update on Potential Withdrawal of Tariff Concessions and Increase in Duties in Response to European Union (EU) Enlargement, 40779 [05-13843]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 134 / Thursday, July 14, 2005 / Notices Dated: July 5, 2005. C. Miller Crouch, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 05–13878 Filed 7–13–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P Representative at (202) 395–3320, for periodic updates on the status of these issues. Carmen Suro-Bredie, Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee. [FR Doc. 05–13843 Filed 7–13–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190–W5–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Update on Potential Withdrawal of Tariff Concessions and Increase in Duties in Response to European Union (EU) Enlargement Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice for the public on potential withdrawal of tariff concessions and increase in duties. Commercial Driver’s License Standards; Exemption Applications; School Bus Endorsement AGENCY: 18:32 Jul 13, 2005 Jkt 205001 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: Background: In Federal Register Notice 04–20543, dated September 10, 2004, and Federal Register Notice 04– 21762, dated September 28, 2004, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative sought comments concerning a list of goods for which tariff concessions maybe withdrawn and duties maybe increased in the event the United States cannot reach agreement with the European Union (EU) for adequate compensation owed under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules as a result of EU enlargement. The Trade Policy Subcommittee continue store view the public comments that it has received as a result of these FederalRegister notices. Pursuant to several extensions in the WTO, the U.S. Government would have had to notify the WTO by July 2, 2005 of its rights to withdrawal substantially equivalent concessions under GATT 1994 Article XXVIII:3 inrelation to the issue of EU enlargement. The European Communities has subsequently agreed to the extension of the rights of the United States’ and other interested WTO Members’ to withdraw substantially equivalent concessions for an additional six months, until February 1, 2006. The United States Government continues to seek an immediate negotiated resolution of the enlargement issue, and retains the right, in this period, to withdraw substantially equivalent concessions. The United States would notify the World Trade Organization at least 30 days before it with drew concessions on substantially equivalent concessions. It would also provide notification to the public of the list of goods affected at such time. The public is encouraged to call Laurie Molnar, Director for European and Mediterranean Trade Issues, Office of Europe and the Mediterranean, Office of the U.S. Trade VerDate jul<14>2003 [Docket No. FMCSA–2005–21603] SUMMARY: FMCSA proposes to grant a 2year exemption from the knowledge and skills tests required to obtain a school bus endorsement to a commercial driver’s license (CDL) under 49 CFR 383.123. The exemption would be limited to school bus drivers from 11 States who passed equivalent tests before September 30, 2002. DATES: Submit comments on or before August 15, 2005. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket Number FMCSA (insert docket number) by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590– 0001. • Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this notice. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https://dms.dot.gov including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading for further information. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40779 comments received, go to https:// dms.dot.gov and/or Room PL–401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Privacy Act: Anyone may search the electronic form of all comments received into any of DOT’s dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or of the person signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, or other entity). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register (65 FR 19477, Apr. 11, 2000). This statement is also available at https://dms.dot.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Lamm, Chief, State Programs Division (MC–ESS), (202) 366–6830, FMCSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On December 9, 1999, the President signed the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) (Pub. L. 106– 159, Stat. 1748). The legislation included 15 new provisions aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program. Section 214 of MCSIA directed the agency to establish a special CDL endorsement for drivers of school buses. The endorsement must, at a minimum include: 1. A driving skills test in a school bus; and 2. A knowledge test that addresses proper safety procedures for (A) loading and unloading children (B) using emergency exits (C) traversing highway rail grade crossings. The final rule implementing all 15 CDL provisions was published on July 31, 2002 [67 FR 49742] and became effective on September 30, 2002. Sec. 214 was addressed in 49 CFR 383.123. Under 49 CFR 384.301(b), States are allowed up to 3 years after the effective date to implement the new CDL requirements. By September 30, 2005, each State must pass enabling legislation and actively enforce the new provisions, including the school bus (‘‘S’’) endorsement. States that fail to meet the deadline will be out of substantial compliance with 49 U.S.C. 31311(a) and thus subject to the penalties specified in 49 CFR part 384, subpart D. In 2002, eleven States already had requirements for a CDL school bus endorsement (Alabama, Delaware, E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 40779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13843]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Update on Potential Withdrawal of Tariff Concessions and Increase 
in Duties in Response to European Union (EU) Enlargement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice for the public on potential withdrawal of tariff 
concessions and increase in duties.

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    Background: In Federal Register Notice 04-20543, dated September 
10, 2004, and Federal Register Notice 04-21762, dated September 28, 
2004, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative sought comments 
concerning a list of goods for which tariff concessions maybe withdrawn 
and duties maybe increased in the event the United States cannot reach 
agreement with the European Union (EU) for adequate compensation owed 
under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules as a result of EU 
enlargement. The Trade Policy Subcommittee continue store view the 
public comments that it has received as a result of these 
FederalRegister notices. Pursuant to several extensions in the WTO, the 
U.S. Government would have had to notify the WTO by July 2, 2005 of its 
rights to withdrawal substantially equivalent concessions under GATT 
1994 Article XXVIII:3 inrelation to the issue of EU enlargement. The 
European Communities has subsequently agreed to the extension of the 
rights of the United States' and other interested WTO Members' to 
withdraw substantially equivalent concessions for an additional six 
months, until February 1, 2006. The United States Government continues 
to seek an immediate negotiated resolution of the enlargement issue, 
and retains the right, in this period, to withdraw substantially 
equivalent concessions. The United States would notify the World Trade 
Organization at least 30 days before it with drew concessions on 
substantially equivalent concessions. It would also provide 
notification to the public of the list of goods affected at such time. 
The public is encouraged to call Laurie Molnar, Director for European 
and Mediterranean Trade Issues, Office of Europe and the Mediterranean, 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative at (202) 395-3320, for periodic 
updates on the status of these issues.

Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 05-13843 Filed 7-13-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W5-P
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