WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding Turkey-Measures Affecting the Importation of Rice, 72686-72687 [E5-6905]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 6, 2005 / Notices
For the Commission, by the Division of
Market Regulation, pursuant to delegated
authority.10
Jonathan G. Katz,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5–6887 Filed 12–5–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010–01–P
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[05–22749]
Notice Correction; Request for
Comments Concerning Compliance
With Telecommunications Trade
Agreements
Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice of request for public
comment and reply comment;
correction.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Office of the United
States Trade Representative published a
document in the Federal Register of
November 16, 2005, concerning request
for comments and reply comments on
the operation, effectiveness, and
implementation of and compliance with
U.S. telecommunications trade
agreements. The document contained
the incorrect dates.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Arrow Augerot, 202–395–6099
Correction
In the Federal Register of November
16, 2005, in FR Document 05–22749, on
page 69621, in the third column, correct
the ‘‘Dates’’ caption to read:
DATES: Comments are due by noon on
December 16, 2005, and Reply
Comments by noon on January 13, 2006.
Dated: November 29, 2005.
Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. E5–6908 Filed 12–5–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W6–P
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket No. WTO/DS–334]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding
Regarding Turkey—Measures
Affecting the Importation of Rice
providing notice that on November 2,
2005, in accordance with the Marrakesh
Agreement Establishing the World
Trade Organization (‘‘WTO
Agreement’’), the United States
requested consultations regarding
Turkey’s import licensing regime and
domestic purchase requirement on
imports of rice. That request may be
found at https://www.wto.org contained
in a document designated as WT/
DS334/1. USTR invites written
comments from the public concerning
the issues raised in this dispute.
DATES: Although USTR will accept any
comments received during the course of
the consultations, comments should be
submitted on or before January 1, 2006
to be assured of timely consideration by
USTR.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
submitted (i) electronically, to
FR0604@ustr.gov, with ‘‘Turkey Rice
(DS334)’’ in the subject line, or (ii) by
fax, to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395–
3640, with a confirmation copy sent
electronically to the electronic mail
address above, in accordance with the
requirements for submission set out
below.
Jeff
Weiss, Assistant General Counsel, Office
of the United States Trade
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC, (202) 395–4498.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
127(b) of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C.
3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and
opportunity for comment be provided
after the United States submits or
receives a request for the establishment
of a WTO dispute settlement panel. In
an effort to provide additional
opportunity for comment, USTR is
providing notice that consultations have
been requested pursuant to the WTO
Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes
(‘‘DSU’’). If such consultations should
fail to resolve the matter and a dispute
settlement panel is established pursuant
to the DSU, such panel, which would
hold its meetings in Geneva,
Switzerland, would be expected to issue
a report on its findings and
recommendations within six to nine
months after it is established.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
AGENCY:
Major Issues Raised by the United
States
SUMMARY: The Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR) is
On November 2, 2005, the United
States requested the establishment of a
panel regarding Turkey’s import
licensing regime and domestic purchase
requirement on imports of rice. Those
measures include:
Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
10 17
CFR 200.30–3(a)(12).
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:44 Dec 05, 2005
Jkt 205001
PO 00000
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Sfmt 4703
• Decree No. 96/7794 related to the
General Assessment of the Regime
Regarding Technical Regulations and
Standardization for Foreign Trade
(Official Gazette, No. 22541, February 1,
1996, Repeated)
• Decision of the board of ministers:
Decree No. 2004/7135 related to the
implementation of a tariff quota for
certain types of paddy rice and rice
types imports (Official Gazette, No.
25439, April 20, 2004);
• A notification related to
implementation of tariff quotas for
certain types of paddy and rice imports,
from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat
(Official Gazette, No. 25445, April 27,
2004);
• Decision of the board of ministers:
Decree No. 2004/7333 related to the
management of quota and tariff
contingent on import (Official Gazette,
No. 25473, May 26, 2004);
• Decision of the board of ministers:
Decree No. 2004/7756 related to the
implementation of a tariff contingent on
the import of certain paddy rice and rice
types (Official Gazette, No. 25565,
August 27, 2004);
• A notification about the
implementation of a tariff contingent on
the import of certain paddy rice and rice
types, from the Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No.
25577, September 8, 2004);
• A notification on Standardization in
Foreign Trade, Notification No. 2005/05
(Official Gazette, No. 25687, December
31, 2004);
• A notification about the amendment
of the notification related to the
implementation of a tariff contingent on
the import of certain paddy rice and rice
types, from the Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No.
25767, March 26, 2005);
• A notification about the amendment
of the notification related to the
implementation of a tariff contingent
(customs duty) on the import of certain
paddy rice and rice types, from the
Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official
Gazette, No. 25812, May 11, 2005);
• Decision of the board of ministers:
Decree No. 2005/9315 related to the
implementation of a tariff contingent on
the import of certain types of paddy rice
and rice types (Official Gazette, No.
25935, September 13, 2005);
• A notification related to the
implementation of a tariff contingent on
the import of certain paddy rice and rice
types, from the Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No.
25943, September 21, 2005); and
• Any amendments or extensions to
these measures, and any related or
implementing measures.
E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM
06DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 6, 2005 / Notices
Under Turkey’s import regime for
rice, Turkey requires an import license
to import rice. However, Turkey appears
to fail to grant licenses to import rice at
the bound rate of duty. In addition,
Turkey operates a tariff-rate quota for
rice imports requiring that in order to
import specified quantities of rice at
reduced tariff levels, importers must
purchase specified quantities of
domestic rice, including from the
Turkish Grain Board (TMO), Turkish
producers, or producer associations
(‘‘the domestic purchase requirement’’).
Turkey appears to administer the
domestic purchase requirement through
its import licensing regime.
USTR believes these measures are
inconsistent with Turkey’s obligations
under Article 2.1 and paragraph 1(a) of
Annex 1 of the TRIMs Agreement;
Articles III (including paragraphs 4, 5,
and 7) and XI:1 of the GATT 1994;
Article 4.2 of the Agriculture
Agreement; and Articles 1.2, 1.3, 1.4,
1.5, 1.6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5(a), 3.5(b), 3.5(d),
3.5(e), 3.5(f), 3.5(g), 3.5(h), 3.5(k), 5.1,
5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of the Import Licensing
Agreement.
Public Comment: Requirements for
Submissions
Interested persons are invited to
submit written comments concerning
the issues raised in the dispute.
Comments should be submitted (i)
electronically, to FR0604@ustr.gov, with
‘‘Turkey Rice (DS334)’’ in the subject
line, or (ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at
(202) 395–3640, with a confirmation
copy sent electronically to the electronic
mail address above. USTR encourages
the submission of documents in Adobe
PDF format as attachments to an
electronic mail. Interested persons who
make submissions by electronic mail
should not provide separate cover
letters; information that might appear in
a cover letter should be included in the
submission itself. Similarly, to the
extent possible, any attachments to the
submission should be included in the
same file as the submission itself, and
not as separate files.
Comments must be in English. A
person requesting that information
contained in a comment submitted by
that person be treated as confidential
business information must certify that
such information is business
confidential and would not customarily
be released to the public by the
commenter. Confidential business
information must be clearly designated
as such and ‘‘BUSINESS
CONFIDENTIAL’’ must be marked at the
top and bottom of the cover page and
each succeeding page.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:44 Dec 05, 2005
Jkt 205001
Information or advice contained in a
comment submitted, other than business
confidential information, may be
determined by USTR to be confidential
in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of
the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C.
2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that
information or advice may qualify as
such, the submitter—
(1) Must clearly so designate the
information or advice;
(2) Must clearly mark the material as
‘‘SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE’’ at the
top and bottom of the cover page and
each succeeding page; and
(3) Is encouraged to provide a nonconfidential summary of the
information or advice.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the
URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR will
maintain a file on this dispute
settlement proceeding, accessible to the
public, in the USTR Reading Room,
which is located at 1724 F Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20508. The public file
will include non-confidential comments
received by USTR from the public with
respect to the dispute; if a dispute
settlement panel is convened, the U.S.
submissions to that panel, the
submissions, or non-confidential
summaries of submissions, to the panel
received from other participants in the
dispute, as well as the report of the
panel; and, if applicable, the report of
the Appellate Body. An appointment to
review the public file (Docket WTO/DS–
334, Turkey Rice Dispute) may be made
by calling the USTR Reading Room at
(202) 395–6186. The USTR Reading
Room is open to the public from 9:30
a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
Daniel Brinza,
Assistant United States Trade Representative
for Monitoring and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E5–6905 Filed 12–5–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190–W6–P
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket No. WTO/DS335]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding
Regarding United States—
Antidumping Measure on Shrimp From
Ecuador
Office of the United States
Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Office of the United
States Trade Representative (‘‘USTR’’) is
providing notice that on November 17,
2005, Ecuador requested consultations
with the United States under the
PO 00000
Frm 00083
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72687
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the
World Trade Organization (‘‘WTO
Agreement’’) concerning the final
affirmative antidumping determination
with respect to certain frozen
warmwater shrimp from Ecuador issued
by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
That request may be found at https://
www.wto.org contained in a document
designated as WT/DS335/1. USTR
invites written comments from the
public concerning the issue raised in
this dispute.
DATES: Although USTR will accept any
comments received during the course of
the dispute settlement proceedings,
comments should be submitted on or
before January 1, 2006 to be assured of
timely consideration by USTR.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be
submitted (i) electronically, to
FR0603@ustr.eop.gov, Attn: ‘‘Ecuador
Shrimp AD Dispute (DS335)’’ in the
subject line, or (ii) by fax, to Sandy
McKinzy at (202) 395–3640. For
documents sent by fax, USTR requests
that the submitter provide a
confirmation copy to the electronic mail
address listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff
Weiss, Assistant General Counsel, Office
of the United States Trade
Representative, 600 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20508, (202) 395–4498.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
127(b) of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (‘‘URAA’’) (19 U.S.C.
3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and
opportunity for comment be provided
after the United States submits or
receives a request for the establishment
of a WTO dispute settlement panel. In
an effort to provide additional
opportunity for comment, USTR is
providing notice that consultations have
been requested pursuant to the WTO
Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes
(‘‘DSU’’). If such consultations should
fail to resolve the matter and a dispute
settlement panel is established pursuant
to the DSU, such panel, which would
hold its meetings in Geneva,
Switzerland, would be expected to issue
a report on its findings and
recommendations within six to nine
months after it is established.
Issue Raised by Ecuador
On December 23, 2004, the
Department of Commerce published in
the Federal Register notice of its
affirmative final less-than-fair-value
(‘‘LTFV’’) determination in an
investigation concerning certain frozen
and canned warmwater shrimp from
Ecuador (69 FR 76913). On February 1,
2005, Commerce published an amended
E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM
06DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72686-72687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6905]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
[Docket No. WTO/DS-334]
WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding Turkey--Measures
Affecting the Importation of Rice
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is
providing notice that on November 2, 2005, in accordance with the
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO
Agreement''), the United States requested consultations regarding
Turkey's import licensing regime and domestic purchase requirement on
imports of rice. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org
contained in a document designated as WT/DS334/1. USTR invites written
comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.
DATES: Although USTR will accept any comments received during the
course of the consultations, comments should be submitted on or before
January 1, 2006 to be assured of timely consideration by USTR.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (i) electronically, to
FR0604@ustr.gov, with ``Turkey Rice (DS334)'' in the subject line, or
(ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at (202) 395-3640, with a confirmation
copy sent electronically to the electronic mail address above, in
accordance with the requirements for submission set out below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Weiss, Assistant General Counsel,
Office of the United States Trade Representative, 600 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC, (202) 395-4498.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 127(b) of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act (URAA) (19 U.S.C. 3537(b)(1)) requires that notice and
opportunity for comment be provided after the United States submits or
receives a request for the establishment of a WTO dispute settlement
panel. In an effort to provide additional opportunity for comment, USTR
is providing notice that consultations have been requested pursuant to
the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement
of Disputes (``DSU''). If such consultations should fail to resolve the
matter and a dispute settlement panel is established pursuant to the
DSU, such panel, which would hold its meetings in Geneva, Switzerland,
would be expected to issue a report on its findings and recommendations
within six to nine months after it is established.
Major Issues Raised by the United States
On November 2, 2005, the United States requested the establishment
of a panel regarding Turkey's import licensing regime and domestic
purchase requirement on imports of rice. Those measures include:
Decree No. 96/7794 related to the General Assessment of
the Regime Regarding Technical Regulations and Standardization for
Foreign Trade (Official Gazette, No. 22541, February 1, 1996, Repeated)
Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2004/7135
related to the implementation of a tariff quota for certain types of
paddy rice and rice types imports (Official Gazette, No. 25439, April
20, 2004);
A notification related to implementation of tariff quotas
for certain types of paddy and rice imports, from the Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25445, April 27, 2004);
Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2004/7333
related to the management of quota and tariff contingent on import
(Official Gazette, No. 25473, May 26, 2004);
Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2004/7756
related to the implementation of a tariff contingent on the import of
certain paddy rice and rice types (Official Gazette, No. 25565, August
27, 2004);
A notification about the implementation of a tariff
contingent on the import of certain paddy rice and rice types, from the
Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25577, September
8, 2004);
A notification on Standardization in Foreign Trade,
Notification No. 2005/05 (Official Gazette, No. 25687, December 31,
2004);
A notification about the amendment of the notification
related to the implementation of a tariff contingent on the import of
certain paddy rice and rice types, from the Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25767, March 26, 2005);
A notification about the amendment of the notification
related to the implementation of a tariff contingent (customs duty) on
the import of certain paddy rice and rice types, from the Foreign Trade
Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25812, May 11, 2005);
Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2005/9315
related to the implementation of a tariff contingent on the import of
certain types of paddy rice and rice types (Official Gazette, No.
25935, September 13, 2005);
A notification related to the implementation of a tariff
contingent on the import of certain paddy rice and rice types, from the
Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25943, September
21, 2005); and
Any amendments or extensions to these measures, and any
related or implementing measures.
[[Page 72687]]
Under Turkey's import regime for rice, Turkey requires an import
license to import rice. However, Turkey appears to fail to grant
licenses to import rice at the bound rate of duty. In addition, Turkey
operates a tariff-rate quota for rice imports requiring that in order
to import specified quantities of rice at reduced tariff levels,
importers must purchase specified quantities of domestic rice,
including from the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), Turkish producers, or
producer associations (``the domestic purchase requirement''). Turkey
appears to administer the domestic purchase requirement through its
import licensing regime.
USTR believes these measures are inconsistent with Turkey's
obligations under Article 2.1 and paragraph 1(a) of Annex 1 of the
TRIMs Agreement; Articles III (including paragraphs 4, 5, and 7) and
XI:1 of the GATT 1994; Article 4.2 of the Agriculture Agreement; and
Articles 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5(a), 3.5(b), 3.5(d),
3.5(e), 3.5(f), 3.5(g), 3.5(h), 3.5(k), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of the
Import Licensing Agreement.
Public Comment: Requirements for Submissions
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments
concerning the issues raised in the dispute. Comments should be
submitted (i) electronically, to FR0604@ustr.gov, with ``Turkey Rice
(DS334)'' in the subject line, or (ii) by fax, to Sandy McKinzy at
(202) 395-3640, with a confirmation copy sent electronically to the
electronic mail address above. USTR encourages the submission of
documents in Adobe PDF format as attachments to an electronic mail.
Interested persons who make submissions by electronic mail should not
provide separate cover letters; information that might appear in a
cover letter should be included in the submission itself. Similarly, to
the extent possible, any attachments to the submission should be
included in the same file as the submission itself, and not as separate
files.
Comments must be in English. A person requesting that information
contained in a comment submitted by that person be treated as
confidential business information must certify that such information is
business confidential and would not customarily be released to the
public by the commenter. Confidential business information must be
clearly designated as such and ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' must be marked
at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page.
Information or advice contained in a comment submitted, other than
business confidential information, may be determined by USTR to be
confidential in accordance with section 135(g)(2) of the Trade Act of
1974 (19 U.S.C. 2155(g)(2)). If the submitter believes that information
or advice may qualify as such, the submitter--
(1) Must clearly so designate the information or advice;
(2) Must clearly mark the material as ``SUBMITTED IN CONFIDENCE''
at the top and bottom of the cover page and each succeeding page; and
(3) Is encouraged to provide a non-confidential summary of the
information or advice.
Pursuant to section 127(e) of the URAA (19 U.S.C. 3537(e)), USTR
will maintain a file on this dispute settlement proceeding, accessible
to the public, in the USTR Reading Room, which is located at 1724 F
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. The public file will include non-
confidential comments received by USTR from the public with respect to
the dispute; if a dispute settlement panel is convened, the U.S.
submissions to that panel, the submissions, or non-confidential
summaries of submissions, to the panel received from other participants
in the dispute, as well as the report of the panel; and, if applicable,
the report of the Appellate Body. An appointment to review the public
file (Docket WTO/DS-334, Turkey Rice Dispute) may be made by calling
the USTR Reading Room at (202) 395-6186. The USTR Reading Room is open
to the public from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday.
Daniel Brinza,
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Monitoring and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. E5-6905 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W6-P
