Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of Closure of Case 017-CP-05, Protection of Intellectual Property in Pakistan, in the 2005 Annual Country Practice Review, 3914 [E6-809]

Download as PDF 3914 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 24, 2006 / Notices Initiative (PSI). The Board will also review specific classified arms control and nonproliferation issues as potential first topics for the Board’s consideration. In addition, the agenda will include administrative matters related to the Board’s first meeting. For Further Information Contact: Matthew Zartman, Deputy Executive Director of the Arms Control and Nonproliferation Advisory Board, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, phone: (202) 647–0440. Dated: January 9, 2006. George W. Look, Executive Director of the Secretary’s Arms Control and Nonproliferation Advisory Board, Department of State. [FR Doc. E6–822 Filed 1–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–27–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 5281] Title: Statement of Policy on J–1 Agriculture Training Programs Department of State. Statement of policy. AGENCY: ACTION: Effective Date: This policy is effective January 24, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stanley S. Colvin, Director, Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation, U.S. Department of State, SA–44, 301 4th St., SW., Room 734, Washington, DC 20547. E-mail: jexchanges@state.gov; FAX: 202–203– 5087. SUMMARY: The Department hereby announces its policy regarding agriculture training programs, which are governed by the Department’s Exchange Visitor Program regulations appearing in 22 CFR part 62. Since 1949 the Department has permitted designated sponsors to conduct programs designed to train individuals in many industrial, professional, agricultural, and other occupational skills. Training programs utilizing the J visa are regulated by the Department under the authority of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended (Fulbright-Hays Act), 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.; the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J); the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998, Public Law 105–277; as well as other statutory enactments, Reorganization Plans and Executive Orders. Regulations dealing with training programs appear at 22 CFR 62.22. rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1 DATES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:44 Jan 23, 2006 Jkt 208001 In 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined the Department’s management of the J visa Summer Work Travel and Trainee programs to ensure that only authorized activities are carried out under the programs and to identify potential risks of the programs and the data available to the Department to assess those risks. (‘‘Stronger Action Needed to Improve Oversight and Assess Risks of the Summer Work Travel and Trainee Categories of the Exchange Visitor Program,’’ GAO–06–106, October 2005.) Among other things, the GAO Report found that there was a potential that the trainee programs could be misused as employment programs and that trainees could be exploited by employers or other third parties. Agricultural training programs were found to be particularly problematic because of the potential for fraud. Abuses of the training regulations were not hidden; there were cases where there was not even an attempt to represent jobs as training, and which certain employers referred to their program participants as employees, rather than trainees. In one case cited, four trainees were placed with dairy farms that had an agreement with the program sponsor. Only one of the trainees had a firm grasp of English, and only one of the four farms participating in the program had a structured training plan. There were questions as to whether such programs were merely utilizing trainees for cheap labor and whether the trainees were simply receiving enough training to perform their work. (GAO Report, pp. 17, 21). The Department has taken steps to address these concerns. Among other things, the Department has consulted with the Department of Labor and the Department of Agriculture in order to develop ways to better monitor agricultural training programs and to determine whether such agriculture training programs are subject to, and if so, whether they are in compliance with, existing statutes such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 201, et seq., and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act, Public Law 97–470, 29 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. Pending the Department’s resolution of these outstanding issues, the Department of State will not designate any new J visa agricultural training programs, nor will it permit currentlydesignated training programs offering agricultural training to expand the agricultural training component of their programs. Redesignation of programs will continue as required by existing regulations. PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: January 18, 2006. Stanley S. Colvin, Director, Office of Exchange Coordination, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. E6–820 Filed 1–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–05–P OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of Closure of Case 017– CP–05, Protection of Intellectual Property in Pakistan, in the 2005 Annual Country Practice Review Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice announces closure of the review for case 017–CP– 05, Protection of Intellectual Property in Pakistan. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Marideth Sandler, Executive Director of the GSP Program, Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Room F–220, 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. The telephone number is (202) 395–6971 and the facsimile number is (202) 395–9481. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program provides for the duty-free importation of designated articles when imported from beneficiary developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (the ‘‘Trade Act’’), and is implemented in accordance with Executive Order 11888 of November 24, 1975, as modified by subsequent Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations. In the 2005 Annual Review, the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is reviewing petitions concerning the country practices of certain beneficiary developing countries of the GSP program. As a result of that review, the TPSC has decided to close the review for case 017–CP–05 regarding protection of intellectual property rights in Pakistan. The Petitioner was the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA). The results of other ongoing country practice reviews in the 2005 Annual Review will be announced in the Federal Register at a later date. Marideth J. Sandler, Executive Director, GSP Program. [FR Doc. E6–809 Filed 1–23–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190–W6–P E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 3914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-809]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Generalized System of Preferences (GSP): Notice of Closure of 
Case 017-CP-05, Protection of Intellectual Property in Pakistan, in the 
2005 Annual Country Practice Review

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces closure of the review for case 017-CP-
05, Protection of Intellectual Property in Pakistan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Marideth Sandler, Executive Director 
of the GSP Program, Office of the United States Trade Representative 
(USTR), Room F-220, 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508. The 
telephone number is (202) 395-6971 and the facsimile number is (202) 
395-9481.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The GSP program provides for the duty-free 
importation of designated articles when imported from beneficiary 
developing countries. The GSP program is authorized by Title V of the 
Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2461, et seq.), as amended (the ``Trade 
Act''), and is implemented in accordance with Executive Order 11888 of 
November 24, 1975, as modified by subsequent Executive Orders and 
Presidential Proclamations.
    In the 2005 Annual Review, the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy 
Staff Committee (TPSC) is reviewing petitions concerning the country 
practices of certain beneficiary developing countries of the GSP 
program. As a result of that review, the TPSC has decided to close the 
review for case 017-CP-05 regarding protection of intellectual property 
rights in Pakistan. The Petitioner was the International Intellectual 
Property Alliance (IIPA). The results of other ongoing country practice 
reviews in the 2005 Annual Review will be announced in the Federal 
Register at a later date.

Marideth J. Sandler,
Executive Director, GSP Program.
[FR Doc. E6-809 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-W6-P
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